YimSiam

That's a conversation between two people, neither of whom appear capable of speaking English...

Ah, the Thai pendulum, ever swings back...

Hans Rosling, Swedish statistician and data guru - did some great stuff promoting fact-based analysis and decision-making, love his youtube videos on visual presentations of data. He'll be missed as we head into a Trump-and-friends era.

I got a mind-bending BJ from one named Rabbit/Kratay on Wednesday. Remarkable skills, really well done, she's really able to put her tongue on the pulse of your excitement.

At least when Hong Kong brought out their "octopus" card that strung together different public services, transport, cash purchases etc they named it something that suggests a creeping, slimy influence extending throughout our lives -- rather than Rabbit, which seems a bit like a teenager with a credit card and permission to fuck anything that moves...

Jason Bourne and Jack Reach-around on a flight - jesus, they both sucked. Bourne is worn so thin you can see through by now, no creativity left, and action not up to snuff with prior films. Embarrassing for all involved - except what's-his-name, Tommy from The Fugitive - he does a good job as CIA director, visibly rotting from within. He's got some face at this point, that guy... Tom Cruise and some chick in desert camo constantly breaking into short sprints across public parks was about all I picked up from Jack Reacher - also, that high security military prisons are just slightly less difficult to escape than a Girl Scouts meeting. I guess the people are looking for angry heroes these days, and these guys fit the profile - shame to have the Bourne series reach this sad level, it had some high points over the years. There's a point at which Bourne literally jumps a shark in an armored vehicle, I think.

They're screwing themselves, those Swiss - give the woman a passport, wait til she's left the country, then cancel it and be done with her...

Seems they have - fast and cheap in US, UK. Apparently just takes two days for the processing, plus the shipping in of samples, and some admin time - the companies that use US labs from Thailand say 5-7 days, with notification by email. I guess it must be slower in Thailand because it's only the forensics institutes of govt outfits, and they're pretty busy doing DNA for all elephants, select Burmese criminal suspects, and bizarre Japanese surrogacy enterprises -- no room left on the priority list for guys like me, who after a few years has suddenly decided it's absolutely urgent for me to get a definitive answer on paternity... I suppose it's better to keep off the top priority lists - as you're either dead, about to be in very hot water that'll make you wish you were dead, or you're a pachyderm being held as a pet or performer, of dubious parentage to boot...

I think I've falling off this endanged species list at least temporarily, as evidenced by my having recently posted a request for information about DNA testing in Bangkok...

I just spent two years in Damascus, with my view overlooking the office of what I think was pretty much an impossible job during that time: Syria Ministry of Tourism...

Meat-based booze - an idea whose time has come! YimSiam

Yeah, that still seems to be the Bumrungrad M.O. - check in and pay them, and then do the tests at Ramathibodi Hospital - the lady I talked to at Bumrungrad was helpful, she said don't do it through them, just go direct to Ramathibodi. I've got a mutual friend of both the mother and I to help with language, etc, so that shouldn't be a problem. My plan is to do a Thai hospital test, as well as use one of the labs that take the samples for shipment to USA - I'll be a bit more comfortable receiving my report from a US-based lab, I think. In this age of instant results, it's disappointing to here that Ramathibodi results may take two months or more - though I hope the US results are provided much more quickly. Of all the things - including medical care - easily available in Thailand, odd that they have a restrictive and slow paternity test system! You'd think it'd be in the country's interest to ensure prompt, accurate DNA testing is available. Off to Thailand shortly - though with much more trepidation than any prior trip! Thanks for inputs - YimSiam

This is what I'm worried about... probably a little paranoid on my side, but the mother is a master at ensuring favorable outcomes, and a wizard of manipulation, so... taking precautions. Multiple tests, and I'm not telling her where we're doing it until the day of the test - just want to be as confident as I can be in the outcome.

Well, if it's a Jewish kid, it ain't mine. That much I know.

Will Hava Nagila help with the paternity test? Because if so, I can learn the damn words!

Just saw the latest Star Wars, Rogue One. More of the same retread as the last one, which is more than fine with me. Not much reference to the old ones - at least not relevant to the last one - and minimal humor this time. Minimal character development, really. Just the same old type of folks doing the same missions.

The number of products available now in Colorado - and I presume Washington State and soon several others - is just staggering. Once the legitimate commercial forces were released on the cannabis market, things have just gone crazy - dozens of strains of weed, myriad edibles, and an ever-increasing array of products that concentrate the THC in various forms. From a guy who used to smoke Mexican ditchweed back in his youth, the current landscape is like something out of science fiction...

Anyone here have recent experience or knowledge of DNA testing in Bangkok? Seems I have need to go and check the paternity of a young girl with features rather similar to my own... The birthday and blood type match, but I will of course only be at full ease (if one can call it that) once the DNA has been confirmed (and yes, I suppose, reconfirmed by a second test... can never be too careful...). Any advice on where to go for a reliable test carried out with integrity? What's required - blood from both myself and the child, I guess? Cost is not a consideration, just want to be confident there's not a mix up (or, my conspiracy-minded self whispers, influence in the process). And how long does it take? Result is conclusive, or still leaves room for doubt? Many thanks. YimSiam

Doesn't look to have been that bad, really. For once I'm with the Thais who claim that things have been exaggerated and the media has unfairly condemned them... it was just a bit of alarm, then passed... YimSiam

Always enjoy a good Werner! From "Even Dwarves Started Small" (the title alone...) through to the fake Go The Fuck To Sleep! (or Werner Herzog reads Where's Waldo?... brilliant) he's got a unique spin - except in Happy People, in which he kind of rips off Ulrike Ottinger's Taiga. The fires of Kuwait, Little Dieter Loves to Fly, Fitzcarraldo and Aguirre Wrath of God, there's tons of 'em and you may have to show a little patience, but there's always some good craziness in there. YimSiam

I think maybe the more literal meaning of "enriched" may have more success!

I take great pride in the terrible things that have happened to me, and congratulate those Thais who have contributed to my adventures.

Jordan gets refugees, though has neither the most, nor the highest per capita - so those of you heading to Hungary for the porn stars might want to take this chart with a grain of salt...

By design, I assume! Kind of like the Pattaya emergency announcements are not in Russian...

Japanese calling something racist is probably meant as a compliment...