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Much safer than driving to work on icy road and dealing with bullshit everyday. I think its a real health hazard.

I also had my important passport pages photocopied and laminated in this shop earlier this year!

Yes, truth be told, I usually keep my passport in the hotel safe also. Obviously, it will rarely lead to trouble. One should be aware, however, that this can be technically illegal in some countries, and might get oneself in hot water in some of them.

I can confirm that they are still in business as of two weeks ago. Address is still Carrera 16A 57-14. I can also confirm that there are more guys than what you see on the website.

I said in my earlier post that I have mine done is a small shop on Saladaeng. It's on I think the first corner on the same side as Senso and probably around 50 meters or so prior to Senso. Cost earlier this year was I think Bt. 4.

According to an article on today's CNN site, a prisoner due to be executed by firing squad in Utah in September, had his death delayed because the prisoner was suffering from dementia. A new "competency hearing" had been set for December but the prisoner died two days ago. I am against the death penalty, but primarily because there have been too many cases where it was subsequently proved that the murdered prisoner was in fact innocent. I agree that number is very small, but I cannot accept any state has the right to end a person's life without cast-iron proof - and that is near impossible to obtain in most cases. Even confessions are no guarantee of guilt. Apologies and monetary payment are no substitute for wrongly taking a life. In this most recent case, there is another issue. The prisoner had been on death row for a staggering 37 years! That is more than double the average of 18 years which death row prisoners have to wait prior to execution. I find this utterly absurd. The mental pain and anxiety anyone must go through having to wait 37 - or even just 18 - years knowing that at some time in the future you are going to die must be ghastly. I admit some of the crimes allegedly committed were probably even more ghastly, but in my view that is no reason for the state to punish a condemned person effectively twice. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/27/us/menzies-utah-dementia-inmate-dies

Yes sorry Peter and others. In my initial message I should have specified that I was only talking about Thailand. I repeat -- do not carry your original passport. It is worth a fortune to pickpockets. We are always told that it is the law that you must carry your passport as Thais must carry their ID cards. At a time of some troubles (forget which) one of the more notorious police area chiefs produced a poster in English aimed at farang stating what to do if stopped by police. It included tips like -- insist, if being searched, or urine checked that it is done in in a well lighted area. You CAN take photos of the officer etc. About ten tips as I remember. And one that said that it is only necessary to carry a good copy of your passport and visa(?). I have lived and worked here in the centre of Bangkok, involving many night taxi trips etc, for 25 years plus and holidaymaking more than that, and although stopped and searched many times have NEVER been asked for my original passport, the copy sufficed. Well, those are MY experiences. I wonder if anyone else can recall the original police poster (as in 'poster' stuck on a wall). It could have been Thong Lor or Asoke police that issued it. And Peter, any idea of a print shop that laminates near to Silom or Phrom Pong? My big local one claimed not to do it.

I have never carried my passport around with me when overseas except for the currency exchanges that require the passport and then it goes straight back to the room safe after the transaction, I carry my driver's license and a photocopy of my passport information page and visa / stamp page. On my last trip to Bangkok X-One currency exchange accepted the photocopy as identification. I also have my passport in an RFID sleeve which helps to keep it in very good condition.

This seems rather like a post I made some months ago about the online stripchat site. Quite recently a number of Chinese have appeared on the site, many in groups of three or four, all very young, very skinny and play rather silly games before eventually stripping off. They get much higher tips than almost all the westerners. Solo Chinese are also becoming common. A couple of days ago, my bf asked me to look at the screen. It was the page of a young 20ish Chinese who got from the same viewer two 'donations' of 2,200 tokens. He ended up that session with a masturbation show and 5,100 tokens. I understand from the web that 'models' on stripchat earn 5 US cents per token. By my reckoning he earned $255 for about four hours 'work'. Yet most young western models spend longer online and are lucky to end up with between 100 and 200 tokens. So clearly there are some in some countries very hppy to pay way over the odds for whatever tickles their fancy!

Rainfall in the south of Thailand is far from uncommon even into the middle of December. I recall a 5 night stay in Phuket in mid-December 1996 when it poured with rain every day.

Being here on a long term visa, my answer is simple. I take a photo of my passport details page and another of the visa. I cut to size, back one to another and then have it laminated. I always carry that in my backpack or back pocket. There are shops offering lamination all over the place, even one on Saladaeng just before you come to Senso. I realise this is less easy for those here on short trips visa free. Then it is the arrival stamp the police are interested in. So just a quick photo copy of that and the details page should suffice. No need to risk losing your passport and it saves a trip to a police station if for any reason they ask for it.

A real probem for this complex is that it housed mostly elderly people. The largest age grouping was those aged 65 and above. CNN has reported that of recent buyers, the youngest was in their 60s. It was one of the government's low cost housing complexs of which there are many in Hong Kong. Private rentals are so high that a broom cupbord in the city centre is basically unaffordable for most. Government public housing is sold at very substantial discounts resulting in long waiting lists. Residents of Wang Fuk Court became concerned about the cladding and fireproofing over a year ago when they started writing to the government about it. Between July 2024 and November 20 2025 the Labour Department had carred out 16 safety checks, the latest reminding the contractors of the need for fireproofing of materials. The death toll is now 94 with that total expected to rise to several hundred. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/27/asia/hong-kong-fire-survivors-questions-intl-hnk

I'm baffled. we keep our extras in a storage place outside of the kitchen. You'd have to walk there, grab a bottle of something and come back to the kitchen. It never happens. That said, some friends had to leave town suddenly for a funeral, and their kitchen was a mess, and their fridge had spoiled food so we cleaned it all up for them. They didn't need to come home to that. I was shocked at how many double bottles of stuff there were in their fridge. Who does that? Why? Don't you have a place where you put these things so when you look for the open one you find it? It probably helps that I have some ADHD, so if I'm not anal about where I put things, I lose track of them quickly. A lesson I reteach myself regularly.

unspeakable horror for those trapped inside , many likely will perish without trace in such heat

strays are in the best position to escape as likely they are not tied to anything and their instinct told them to run away

it's also how carrot or leek is sold on any market, if price posted seems to high we move to the next stall, if its acceptable , we stop and buy

I wonder what rules are for North Korea. I personally don't carry passport with me most of the times , Thailand or any country, but always have drivers licence in case I need to be identified i.e. hit by the bus. I understand it may be risky and lead to problems with police but losing passport is BIG inconvenience so I rather keep it in the safe. statistically speaking last time I was stopped by police and asked for ID was in early 90ties in my own city. It looks I looked similar to somebody police was actively searching in the area. As for USA nowadays , yes , with all that illegal immigrants hunting instigated by What Is His Name ? , if one doesn't look like WASP he better carry something with him as painfully legal resident sent to El Salvador learned.

Isn't capitalism interesting!? A transaction occurs when/if the lowest price which a seller will accept is meets the highest price the buyer agrees to pay. It is how stock trading is done on Wall Street and it is true for lust markets as well. A bit sad but true.

You are right, there are always some risk involved. You don't want to be under the influence, overly tired, or not feeling well. That way you can use your best intuition and observation to limit those risks as much as possible, whether the danger be bodily harm, theft or disease. It is interesting to consider how those risks have changed over time. With doxy and Prep the disease risks have been lowered. Be careful with using translation apps alas, since you don't want your (unlocked!) phone to be grabbed away from you. In the past you maybe risked losing a few tan notes, now you might risk losing your whole digital life to the phone snatcher. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, non?

Today was the airing of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, signaling the start of the holiday season.... It was a holly, jolly event as always, with a huge turnout and audience, waiting for the Grand finale when SANTA appears , signaling Xmas is just around the corner.... BUT, this year there was something different about Santas arrival......his wife, Mrs Claus..... While Santa was the stereotypical Old, WHITE guy, Mrs Claus was WOKE ! She was a youngish ASIAN woman, with black hair..... If there were any MAGA's in the crowd, their heads exploded....... So MAGA, how do ya feel about Woke Santa and his Asian bride ???? As soon as the MAGA's process it, Jesse Waters will be ranting on Fox News about it...... Santa and Mrs Claus are about to be CANCELLED ! Posted immediately on X..... Post Conversation Bobby Gerould @BobbyGerould Asian Mrs. Claus in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! 3:01 PM · Nov 27, 2025 · 241 Views '

FYI spelling error lol I was trying to say “I know a brothel there” “Anytime you invite some back”

US: 8 U.S.C. § 1304(e) 8 C.F.R. § 264.1

That depends on the country, obviously. Some actually do require foreigners have their actual passports on them (though it's probably not going to lead to serious trouble if one has only a copy in most cases). China (People’s Republic of China) Foreigners are required to carry passports; police can demand identification. Local regulations often require presentation during checks. Singapore Foreigners must carry passports or valid identity documents; police have authority to require ID. South Korea Foreigners are expected to carry passports or an Alien Registration Card (ARC). Police may request ID. Japan While residents use the Residence Card, short-term visitors should carry passports; authorities can request ID for immigration/police checks. United Arab Emirates (including Dubai, Abu Dhabi) Foreigners must carry passports or Emirates ID (if resident); police may demand ID; fines or detention possible for non-compliance. Saudi Arabia Foreigners must carry passports or iqama (residency permit) and present to authorities on demand. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman Similar Gulf practice: foreigners expected to carry passport or residency permit (iqama/permit) and present to police/immigration upon request. Turkey Visitors are required to have passports available when requested by police; residents carry residence permits. Egypt Foreigners must have passport or travel documents; police/authorities can request ID. Thailand Foreigners must carry passports or national ID/entry documents; police conduct spot checks and fines for failure to produce passport/reporting requirements for overstays/registration. Vietnam Law requires foreigners to carry passports or temporary residence permits and present them to police upon request. Malaysia Foreigners must carry passports or valid identity documents; routine checks occur. Indonesia Foreigners must carry passports; police/immigration can request ID. India No universal statute forcing all foreigners to carry passports at all times, but in practice authorities (police, immigration) can require proof of identity; certain states or situations (e.g., protected areas) have stricter checks. Pakistan Foreigners expected to carry passports and visas/registration; police/immigration checks enforced. Iran Foreign nationals are required to carry passports and visas/permits; presenting to authorities is required. Many African states (examples) South Africa: foreigners required to carry passports or valid permits; police checks common. Kenya: foreigners must carry passports/permits; immigration and police checks frequent. Nigeria: foreigners should carry passports; enforcement varies. Latin America (examples) Cuba: strict about carrying passport and tourist card for visitors. Some countries (e.g., Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia) commonly require visitors to be able to produce passport/entry stamp when requested—practice varies by location and enforcement. Source: https://www.quora.com/Which-countries-require-foreigners-to-carry-passports-at-all-times

Some good news. My friend and her elderly father have been rescued and taken to a shelter. Both are fine. But many others are waiting to be rescued or for supplies. Every life is precious and I can't imagine the toll this disaster has taken on the livestock, pets and strays.

we do, even without global warming