KhorTose

Since we keep mentioning Donald Trump in this tread, I thought I would share this great article by Johann Hari who comments on Trump and the Republican Party. For the non-brits who read this Johann Hari is an award-winning journalist who writes twice-weekly for the Independent, one of Britain's leading newspapers, and the Huffington Post. He also writes for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Le Monde, Le Monde Diplomatique, The New Republic, El Mundo, The Guardian, The Melbourne Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, South Africa's Star, The Irish Times, and a wide range of other international newspapers and magazines Great article and a good web site to bookmark: http://johannhari.com/ Oh the article name is "Donald Trump's lunacy reveals an important truth about Republicans" It may not still be on the first page.

Actually this is far from the final word on the issue. Like all parts of the Constitution it has been subject to interpretation by the courts and Congress.

The whole birth certificate issue is nothing more then hidden racism. One right wing commentator still questioned the birth certificate because it said Obama was an African American and he said it should have said Negro. What a crock. Not one word was said when Ford became President and he was not born in a state (Obama-Hawaii) but in the Panama Canal which technically was not part of the USA. As for Trump's running for President, sadly it is no more sickening then W. Bush running and winning the Presidency twice.

My BF and I visited Macau last year and we thought we were in little Reno (Nevada, USA). I must admit that it is attracting a lot of tourist from the mainland and elsewhere but have to agree that not all progress like this may by good. We ate at MGM and found high prices and so-so food. Toured the other clubs but did not go in. Some beautiful casinos and new hotels, but not to my taste and not quite Vegas. Oh, do not take the ferry on foggy days. We waited hours on the boat to get clearance for the passage. Not fun at all.

I remember coming to Thailand four years ago with my IPhone and showing tuk tuk, and cab drivers where I wanted to go on my GPS map. I have yet to meet one driver who can see the map and recognize where they are and where I want to go. As for parking, I can always find a parking place even at the crowded events. All I ever have to do is find a gap large enough for my car as no one parallel parks.

Yes, it is still a mess.

Duuuuuhhhhh, Thank you.

You know it is obvious when even the Wall Street Journal calls Thailand a state going Rogue.

Allow me: The title is "Hold the Halo" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/opinion/24dowd.html?_r=1&ref=maureendowd

Truer words were never spoken.

No Josan the crucified were not always naked, but yes the Filipinos are not following the good book according to their sect leader the Pope through his appointed delegates. That they are not following the good book which we call the Bible should not be a surprise to you. As a government worker you should see on a daily basis that your Buddhist generals are also not following your good Buddhist teachings either. How any Buddhist can kill and imprison monks is just as astonishing to me as the Filipinos allowing themselves to be crucified.

Well said, if this world does survive it will be because we do learn to control our population, and people will look back on these Popes and condemn them to the judgement of history.

Thanks for the tidbit. I did not know this, but I have to agree that if you were going to use one piece to set your standard, Beethoven's ninth is a great choice.

Last year I ran across this lecture and justI posted this on another web site in response to a statement by Z909, but can't help but feel it belongs here. It has to do with the essential requirement that government have external threats. With a corollary that the more a government has internal dissent the more it needs an external threat to justify it's existence. I give you professor Rodney Barker of Gresham College who is not the first to come to this conclusion, but presents it very well. Here is an excerpt. Barker wrote:Government, and obedience to it, is normally justified by the dangers which are thereby prevented This was the case put by Thomas Hobbes, writing in 1651 in a Europe in a turmoil of civil wars, where firm government could seem the obvious and only response to the threat from all kinds of internal and external enemies, and where the existence of those enemies and those threats was the clearest possible justification for governments to command, and subjects to obey:.................................. Government is necessary because otherwise each person would be an enemy to every other There are of course real threats. Crime exists within societies, and other societies which threaten them with invasion or raids on their resources. So a prima facie case will always exists for national unity in support of government, the muting of criticism, and extensions of governmental power. But it is not simply that government is a response to the existence of threats and enemies. Governments frequently spend a lot of energy in giving graphic accounts of enemies and the threats they pose. If there were no threats, there would on this scenario be no need for government. Hobbes was right, but only half right. Government may be necessary because otherwise people will be threatened, harmed, robbed, and killed by those who can accurately be described as their enemies. But from the side of government, the greater the threat, the firmer the grounds on which the case for government is based, the greater the justification for calling for loyal obedience The more grave the threat is presented as being, the more threatening or wicked the described enemy, the greater the case for unity, the greater the case against criticism and dissent, the greater the case for governmental power. That of course raises a fundamental question about what Government is, what it does, and what it is for. The essential functions of government: internal order; justice; external defence; the well being of subjects. One and three are responses to enemies, and therefore the depiction of enemies justifies and requires governmental action So Hobbes's argument can be reversed: Not so much government as a response to enemies, as Government as dependent on enemies, and the governing identity as constantly enhanced by enmity narratives. Without threats and enemies, without foreign perils and internal crime and disorder, government would be reduced to a welfare organization. You can hear the lecture on this web site: http://www.gresham.a.../lectures-and-e ... ed-enemies

You would be more then welcome.

I also choose Rits place over the others, as I feel much safer leaving my cameras, phone and other stuff siting out if I decide to go for a walk or, when it was possible, to swim there. I've tried the others, but nobody watches your stuff like they do at Rits. The only drawback is that he had a fight with Tui and when I was last there the food came from elsewhere.

As much as China would like to see the end of this regime, I doubt they would cooperate. In the meantime China is being forced to deal with thousands of refugees from North Korea. Some human rights organizations estimate some 300,000 North Koreans are now living in China. The official figure is between 30,000--50,000. The best solution for North Korea may be to authorize the CIA to execute members of a certain family and hope the regime change would lead to a more positive outcome. I just hope if they try it, they do better then they did with Castro. Yes I know this is now illegal under US law, but I think it is time we took a good look at that law. Like it or not I think it may be moral at times to sacrifice the one for the good of the many..

dele

It may be a little off topic, but you asked. That depends on the Farang and what he is looking for. Let us start with sex: If you like fem boys, most people head for Pattaya or Bangkok, but there are some up here in Chiang mai, but you have to find them as they are seldom in the clubs. Butch boys are more common up North but many bars down South cater to just this crowd. With the advent of Gay Romeo, you can find any type of boy anywhere. So that should not be a criteria that takes up that much of your time. Financial considerations: In order of cost the most expensive is Bangkok, followed by Pattaya, then Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and the rest of the country towns. For example you could probably live in Udon Thani for half the cost of living in Bangkok. Until the advent of GayRomeo it was somewhat difficult to meet interested Asians in these smaller places, but that is not a problem anymore, but do take into account that English skills are weaker in the outskirts. Shopping and the ability to obtain needful things: Bangkok has everything, but unless it is a specialty item stores and malls arn't that hard to find in the country. Healthcare: All the major cities have good hospitals and the level of care is fair to good. Bangkok and Pattaya have the best hospitals as they are set up just to cater to farangs. Transportation: If getting around is important the best connections are in Bangkok, Pattaya,, and Chiang Mai, Both Bangkok and Chiang mai have Interfational flights, but Bangkok has 50 to Chiang mai's one. You do not need a car/motorcy in most cities, but would need one in the outlying towns, Pace of life: Hectic in Bangkok, less so in Pattaya and even less in Chiang mai. Police routinely collect tea money in Bangkok and Pattaya from farangs, and abet rackets like the infamous jet skis Rarely do you find that in Chiang Mai and other areas. Local Culture/entertainment:The Thai culture is made up of many influences. More homogeneous in the South. Up North you have Thai, Lanna Thai, Lao (Issan), Shan, Karen, and fifty+ different hill tribes. All three major cities have entertainment like concerts, movies, cultural events, etc. Pattaya has a beach and Chiang Mai has mountains and jungle trails with hiking and other outdoor things prominent.. From a personal point of view the most important consideration is Friends and activities:: Bangkok and Pattaya have thousands of temporary tourist and many full time farangs. It is very important to take a good look at who resides where. Bangkok and Pattaya have large gay communities, but I have found little or no mixing between the gay communities and the straight retired community. In Chiang mai and I suspect in the smaller towns there is only one community and everyone is friendly to everyone. As to the class of people who find in each town, I am not going to get myself into trouble here. You look hard and make that decision yourself. All of the above is only my opinion and i am sure others may see thing differently, so in the final analysis it is "UP TO YOU". PS: Left out Phuket, as I have found no redeeming reason for anyone to live there.

The very hi-so Glass Onion in Chiang Mai has added a new bar accross the path called Cosmos---no web site yet---and a very well stocked wine store. Glass Onion has Ac and Cosmos is an open air bar. The boys who work at these bars are gay, but the customer crowd is mixed, but just about everyone in Chiang Mai is gay friendly. Great place to go with your boy or friends for a drink.

All right,. From what you stated above I now know what would be perfect for you. Next time you are in Thailand come up to Chiang Mai and meet some of the best ex-pats in Thailand. Chiang Mai is more for those who want one boy friends, a healthy mixed straight and gay community, good food, and a far less hectic scene then you will ever find in the South, and some very bright people. Okay I may be the exception to the last, but do give us a try. In the meantime, I am very glad to see you on this board and appreciate your insightful input.

Agree, if we do not aggressively move to solve the population problem, we cannot solve any of the other problems the world now faces from ecology to energy supply.

Who isn't more competent then those two. Great replies and thanks for that excellent guardian article FH. Definitely food for thought, but I think I am with Z909 on this and would be very reluctant to invest right now in China despite its unparalleled track record.