Well, I am now in Pattaya. And the most depressing news of this month is that a majority of both the Electoral College and the general populace of the USA have revealed how stupid they are. How anyone can watch this bombastic, misogynistic, racist, microcephalic moron for more than 5 minutes on TV, and not realize what he is, and the danger he presents, astounds me.

Never have I been more grateful to not be associated with a ‘tribe’ that has so little in the way of critical thinking skills that they would allow something like this to happen. I am not saying that Ms. Harris was any great shakes either, but at least I do not have any doubts about her basic sanity. How can the US decide they want as a president someone who cannot even be bothered to read the intelligence briefs he has given because he “already knows all he needs to.” I highly recommend the book Profiles In Ignorance by Adam Borowitz. Well, maybe not. Anyone who reads it will probably end up being even more depressed than they are already.

I find myself more and more withdrawing from life. I’m happy here in Pattaya but I am spending most of the time redecorating my condominium.

Although I have written about this before, a very basic analysis shows that I spend probably more than 98% of any given day inside this apartment. Thus, I have no problem with spending a little bit of time, effort, and money to make sure that it is exactly what pleases me. And I am enjoying the process. I truly do love this space that I have found.

In the next week or so I will replace the clunky cabinets with industrial wire frame shelves. My landlord has graciously agreed to remove the TVs which I simply don’t use. And the old furniture is going to his staff and their families.

I have put below photos of both before and after, and I hope that people enjoy seeing the difference.

Two friends of mine live in the middle of Valencia, Spain. Thankfully they were alright after the floods last week.

There is not much to say that is new. I am continuing with my calisthenics. I can do 4 pullups now versus zero 4 months ago. I am continuing to study languages to some extent everyday. Thai continues to be an uphill battle. But I have nothing to lose by persevering.

I have had a few Internet problems here. But what a difference from the nightmare I experienced in the Philippines. Here, I open an app on the phone and enter my data, including, in my case, the ability to input statistics from speedtest.net, and within 30 minutes somebody was calling me to make an appointment to come figure out what is going on. An appointment for the next day. In fact, as I write I am sitting here waiting for them to show up at 2:00 PM.

I bought myself a new keyboard for the laptop today. I am constantly realizing that this is my new permanent residence and that I should equip it accordingly instead of treating it like a hotel room. 😊

I find myself looking at people and wondering what unique set of events brought them to where they are today. It is interesting. 😊

I go to a sauna that is owned by a young Russian and his wife or girlfriend. I know them to smile in greeting but not more than that. And I don’t particularly want to. But I wonder how, in this wonderful world that we live in, they came to leave Russia and end up owning a sauna in Thailand. 😊Although I am reclusive I do enjoy people watching here.

A quote from Louis L’Amour and some thoughts:

“People often think of the law as restrictions, but it needn’t be, unless it’s carried to extremes. Laws can give us freedom, because they offer security from the cruel, the brutal, and the thieves of property.

And my comment here is that law HAS been taken to extremes, and furthermore, “the cruel, the brutal, and the thieves of property (and rights)” are the people who create and manipulate the laws themselves. So - my call to resistance. Use your critical thinking skills and best judgement. If you think a law is stupid, then disregard it as best possible. Make life difficult for bureaucrats and bureaucracies in every way possible. Misspell addresses. Transpose digits in phone numbers. Leave negative reviews. Do your best to show them up for the maliciously stupid drones that they are.

And a related quote which needs no explanation …

“What we have most to fear, I believe, are those within our own borders who think less of country than of themselves, who are ambitious for money, for power, for land. Some of these men would subvert anything, anything at all, my dear sir, for their own profit. They would even twist the laws of their own country in their desire to acquire wealth or power. Such men are always prepared to listen to a smooth-talking man with a proposal.“

And … simply because I find him eminently quotable …

“The ‘people’ is an abstraction. It is one of those general terms that has no meaning in fact. For ‘the people’ is in reality many peoples, with many interests, many possibilities.”