Retiring to Bali with my Harley

[Shadrach]

I agree with you about Britain, the place went downhill at amazing speed. Even worse than France....
I was first in the UK in 1969 for a schooltrip, later worked there for about a year in the 80's (London, Sizewell, Newcastle). When I see on TV what it has become it find it really sad.
And don't start me on Boris J. !
I left France many years ago for SEA, and now retired since 7 years in Bali.
It's not paradise, but at 71 it's a decent compromise. And no way I go back to France !

The Asian drama of course is permanently present, but I have known worse (Thailand for example..)
All the best, man but forget about bringing your bike over !

I don't know about life in Europe, but I can speak for America. Luckily it's such a big country, everyone can pick and choose where there want to live, if they are financially able. Lately looking at what the press says about all the politics, it looks more scary than what I remember for a long time. Trump and his gang want to shove Christianity down everyone throats, and lock up the borders, give the rich a free ride, and tax the poor, starve the poor kids, I think it would be a disaster if he gets elected to be President again. I'm glad Biden dropped out, and gave over the reins to Kamala. It would be refreshing to have a Woman of mixed ethnicity become President. It's been far too long with rich, white conservative men in control.
I don't like that schools are allowing people to promote transgender operations in the classroom.along with pushing Christianity as the only religion. Keep that stuff at home. As I've said before, I think better, more affordable health care, along with higher quality, education for all. Should be the number one priority for all nations.
If this was the case, then there wouldn't be so much wasteful energy being put into militarization, and war.
Also I agree about leaving the Harley back home. The tax bringing it here would be outrageous!

 

[Balifrog]

I'm glad Biden dropped out, and gave over the reins to Kamala. It would be refreshing to have a Woman of mixed ethnicity become President.

It will sure be "interesting" (to put it mildly) to see Trump lose to a mixed Indian / Jamaican female....

I doubt it will pass peacefully !

 

[Bob]

It would be refreshing to have a Woman of mixed ethnicity become President. It's been far too long with rich, white conservative men in control.

Why not a giant pygmy if novelty is the goal? I'd rather have someone capable, with good sense and the country's best interests at heart. We're not going to get that from either the R or the D.

I don't like that schools are allowing people to promote transgender operations in the classroom.

Your Woman of mixed ethnicity supports all that.

along with pushing Christianity as the only religion. Keep that stuff at home. As I've said before, I think better, more affordable health care, along with higher quality, education for all. Should be the number one priority for all nations.

I'll vote for you if you run on that.

 

[jstar]

Promote transgender operations? Wow.

I would be much more concerned that 4,240 books were banned in schools and libraries. In 2023 alone. And almost half were because of LGBTQ+ or racial topics.

 

[fastpitch17]

Evidently I am not getting the messages. It is my understanding that no one in any school is or plans on promoting trans gender operations or even agendas. I understand it to be more of educating people that they do exist and are just as human as everyone else.

Do people understand that it is red states that have banned books, all sex education besides abstinence, and are attempting to make Christianity the only accepted religion? In the US there is a Bible belt in the Southeast US. All red, all the lowest on the education ladder and the highest in teen pregnancy.

I agree that education across the board needs to be addressed. I feel private schools should not get tax money. I think sex education should be mandatory at maybe 3 levels of school designed for those levels of understanding. I believe that if you are going to teach the birds and bees, know that birds and bees come in different colors and have different taste.

I think Kamala is coming on as a unifier of people. Kind of wild if the first female president of the US is a mixed race female with neither of her races considered white. Maybe karma for maga.

 

[Bob]

Evidently I am not getting the messages. It is my understanding that no one in any school is or plans on promoting trans gender operations or even agendas. I understand it to be more of educating people that they do exist and are just as human as everyone else.

Do people understand that it is red states that have banned books, all sex education besides abstinence, and are attempting to make Christianity the only accepted religion? In the US there is a Bible belt in the Southeast US. All red, all the lowest on the education ladder and the highest in teen pregnancy.

I agree that education across the board needs to be addressed. I feel private schools should not get tax money. I think sex education should be mandatory at maybe 3 levels of school designed for those levels of understanding. I believe that if you are going to teach the birds and bees, know that birds and bees come in different colors and have different taste.

I think Kamala is coming on as a unifier of people. Kind of wild if the first female president of the US is a mixed race female with neither of her races considered white. Maybe karma for maga.

It sounds like we're balancing overreactions from one extreme with overreactions from the other extreme.
Nobody should under existing laws be promoting a transgender agenda. But there have been allegations that teachers or guidance counselors have pushed students in that direction. I had a lady tell me that a guidance counselor suggested to her 11 year old tomboy daughter that she might be happier as a boy, to consider the change, (edit to add that the counselor offered to put the girl in touch with a doctor) and to not mention the discussion to her parents. And it seems like California's new law about parental notification of pronoun changes would enable such shenanigans.
It's not just the Southeastern states that fail on sex ed and pushing one religion; there are a few Western and Midwestern ones too. The push in some states to not teach about slavery and racial issues, and to use government money for private schools, is really short sighted.
Ideally if Harris wins she'll show a side we haven't seen yet and be a competent and wise leader.

 

[Hawk256]

It sounds like we're balancing overreactions from one extreme with overreactions from the other extreme.
Nobody should under existing laws be promoting a transgender agenda. But there have been allegations of teachers or guidance counselors have pushed students in that direction. I had a lady tell me that a guidance counselor suggested to her 11 year old tomboy daughter that she might be happier as a boy, to consider the change, and to not mention the discussion to her parents. And it seems like California's new law about parental notification of pronoun changes would enable such shenanigans.
It's not just the Southeastern states that fail on sex ed and pushing one religion; there are a few Western and Midwestern ones too. The push in some states to not teach about slavery and racial issues, and to use government money for private schools, is really short sighted.
Ideally if Harris wins she'll show a side we haven't seen yet and be a competent and wise leader.

Not to mention that some of "banned" books (which actually only means the school library can't stock it, the public library will likely have it) are literally targeting 10 years olds on how to have anal and oral sex with graphic depictions. Serioulsly that should be fine?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Perfectly_Normal
Just one example

 

[fastpitch17]

Not to mention that some of "banned" books (which actually only means the school library can't stock it, the public library will likely have it) are literally targeting 10 years olds on how to have anal and oral sex with graphic depictions. Serioulsly that should be fine?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_Perfectly_Normal
Just one example

How many books banned? So, you use one book to justify banning thousands? Perhaps guidelines for what can be available at different age levels would be more appropriate than just thinking that if a book showes the same sex individuals standing together it must be banned.

Why is it that the far right push to ban everything except the greatness of straight white people can't use 1% if their brain to release some rational thinking? Why are these books even being banned when leaders of the movement to ban them are actively involved with sex with others besides their spouses is OK? Maybe as long as that sex is with another white person it is OK. Wives with husband's approval of course.

Let's face it. The far right push is to have control over everything they can. Smart people want to offer guidence so individuals can make their own choices based on their individual interest. The far right want to tell people what they can and can not think or do.

I have been afforded the gift of critical thinking, having an open mind, and the ability to make my own decisions concerning my life. Maybe not all my decisions worked out as planned but they were my decisions and no one else to blame. I was also given the ability and encouraged to dream, imagine, fantasize, and set goals. Everyone has the ability to have the same. Unfortunately, those on the far right are trying to take them all away.

 

[Pak Tani]

A while ago I stumbled upon this gem: International technical guidance
on sexuality education (.pdf). An effort of the UN, through UNESCO, to educate underdeveloped countries like Indonesia about how to teach their kids about sex. It's from 2018 so it's a bit outdated given the topic is so contemporary and subject to constant development.

Learning objectives (5-8 years)
Key idea: It is important to understand the
difference between biological sex and gender
Learners will be able to:
▶ define gender and biological sex and describe how they
are different (knowledge);
▶ reflect on how they feel about their biological sex and
gender (skill).

I would be interested to know how much traction this effort got in Indonesia since it introduces masturbation to 9-year-olds and transsexuality. Are any teachers on this forum using the guidelines from this UNESCO project in their schools?

 

[Hawk256]

How many books banned? So, you use one book to justify banning thousands? Perhaps guidelines for what can be available at different age levels would be more appropriate than just thinking that if a book showes the same sex individuals standing together it must be banned.

Why is it that the far right push to ban everything except the greatness of straight white people can't use 1% if their brain to release some rational thinking? Why are these books even being banned when leaders of the movement to ban them are actively involved with sex with others besides their spouses is OK? Maybe as long as that sex is with another white person it is OK. Wives with husband's approval of course.

Let's face it. The far right push is to have control over everything they can. Smart people want to offer guidence so individuals can make their own choices based on their individual interest. The far right want to tell people what they can and can not think or do.

I have been afforded the gift of critical thinking, having an open mind, and the ability to make my own decisions concerning my life. Maybe not all my decisions worked out as planned but they were my decisions and no one else to blame. I was also given the ability and encouraged to dream, imagine, fantasize, and set goals. Everyone has the ability to have the same. Unfortunately, those on the far right are trying to take them all away.

Do some research. Listen to excerpts from some of the books that have been "banned" and see if you agree that basic porn is accpetable for children. Some of the passages embarrass me and that's not an easy task. I'm not sure what critcal thinking, the abilty to dream imagine, fantasize and set goals has to do with letting children read graphic porn but you do you.

 

[fastpitch17]

Do some research. Listen to excerpts from some of the books that have been "banned" and see if you agree that basic porn is accpetable for children. Some of the passages embarrass me and that's not an easy task. I'm not sure what critcal thinking, the abilty to dream imagine, fantasize and set goals has to do with letting children read graphic porn but you do you.

Are the banned books only referencing sexuality? What about slavery or the idea that there are other religions besides Christianity? Let's just cancel US history. Must be one parent who is offended by it. Add the other parents who don't like this or that we can just eliminate all the history. Of course, keep the world history where the world is 6,000 years old and humans lived with the dinosaurs. Ban your Bible. I mean it all started with Adam and Eve who had 2 sons of which one killed the other but all managed to continue to populate the world. Damn, that Eve must have been busy until her daughters were old enough to breed with their relatives. Weird, huh? Best to just ban every book that has any reference to religion. That would probably lead to better education than a book about having 2 dad's.

Like I said, guidance about what can be available based on age and education levels if allowed at all. As for being available in public libraries, not all. Many a librarian have written in social media of their problems with banned books. So, having an open mind and the ability of critical thinking is what would be needed to perform this guidance. The lack of it would just ban whatever a single parent finds unfit for their child. There's a whole cult with that absence of human brain function. Goes by the name maga.

Maybe you don't like the idea that there are people that didn't come out of the same mold as you. Like it or not, they exist and are as much human as you are.

 

[Hawk256]

Are the banned books only referencing sexuality? What about slavery or the idea that there are other religions besides Christianity? Let's just cancel US history. Must be one parent who is offended by it. Add the other parents who don't like this or that we can just eliminate all the history. Of course, keep the world history where the world is 6,000 years old and humans lived with the dinosaurs. Ban your Bible. I mean it all started with Adam and Eve who had 2 sons of which one killed the other but all managed to continue to populate the world. Damn, that Eve must have been busy until her daughters were old enough to breed with their relatives. Weird, huh? Best to just ban every book that has any reference to religion. That would probably lead to better education than a book about having 2 dad's.

Like I said, guidance about what can be available based on age and education levels if allowed at all. As for being available in public libraries, not all. Many a librarian have written in social media of their problems with banned books. So, having an open mind and the ability of critical thinking is what would be needed to perform this guidance. The lack of it would just ban whatever a single parent finds unfit for their child. There's a whole cult with that absence of human brain function. Goes by the name maga.

Maybe you don't like the idea that there are people that didn't come out of the same mold as you. Like it or not, they exist and are as much human as you are.

How did this to be about me and all these other things? The only thing I said is don't give the kids porn. Nothing about any of the other subjects or topics at all. I actually detest censorship in general. Also I am not a Christian and never have been. You seem to have a lot anger about people having an opinon different to yours and seem to make a lot assumptions based on a single statement. Surely I'm not the only one to see the irony in that.

 

[fastpitch17]

How did this to be about me and all these other things? The only thing I said is don't give the kids porn. Nothing about any of the other subjects or topics at all. I actually detest censorship in general. Also I am not a Christian and never have been. You seem to have a lot anger about people having an opinon different to yours and seem to make a lot assumptions based on a single statement. Surely I'm not the only one to see the irony in that.

Because you come across supporting banning books and let's face it, banned books run the gamont of social and cultural interest for more families than not. Banning books are instigated by a very small number of individuals but affect the masses. Shouldn't there be a better way than just up and banning what these individuals don't want others to see or understand?

It's not the books that are the problem, it is the process. Books with more hardcore porn would not make it through a vetting process. At the same time, if there were books that include gay sex of some level, why would that church going straight high school individual even want to check it out? Curiosity? Have questions? Surely can't ask a parent. Plenty of books depicting hetero sex and you could argue that is just as pornographic as depicting gay sex.

Go ahead, ban all with gay porn but it's really not about gay porn. It's all about fear and that fear has pulled in the weak minds that have spread across the US in private which is leading to a cultural and historical cleansing of US society to please a few. I doubt the book banning even started with some book on gay porn. But hey, let's just jump in our orange wool covered wagon so no one can know the real us.

I notice you never addressed the cult part. I seem to remember 4 years ago your defense of the orange turd cult and if you get your wish this time you can celebrate Project 2025. Then you won't have to worry about books since education in and of itself will be controlled by fascist administrators working directly for a wanna b dictator. How sweet it is.

 

[El_Goretto]

As a former owner and rider of a Harley in Indonesia, if you love your bike, don't attempt to bring it here for several reasons (aside from import tax and restrictions):
1. HDs are made to be driven on temperate open roads, especially those with air cooled engines (which I believe your V-Rod is water cooled but also much more complex), not in jammy hot and humid Indonesian roads.
2. Spare parts are expensive and hard to come by
3. There isn't any good HD mechanic here. It's total amateur hour, they have no idea what they're doing. Just imagine that the technical training is in English and all mechanics here are minimum or below minimum wage workers who don't speak a word of English and have never seen a torque wrench in their life.

So for these reasons, your bike will be destroyed by the traffic and weather, and when it comes time to fix it, they will do a rubbish job that will add more problems than they fix, while waiting for parts for months.

Most HD owners here have more money than sense and only ride those bikes as a means to show off and be part of a special class of society, mostly composed of corrupt businessmen, police, army and politicians. As such, they keep throwing money at their broken bike and all mechanic shops know it and abuse it.

In short, don't do it.

 

[Bob]

Because you come across supporting banning books and let's face it, banned books run the gamont of social and cultural interest for more families than not. Banning books are instigated by a very small number of individuals but affect the masses. Shouldn't there be a better way than just up and banning what these individuals don't want others to see or understand?

It's not the books that are the problem, it is the process. Books with more hardcore porn would not make it through a vetting process. At the same time, if there were books that include gay sex of some level, why would that church going straight high school individual even want to check it out? Curiosity? Have questions? Surely can't ask a parent. Plenty of books depicting hetero sex and you could argue that is just as pornographic as depicting gay sex.

Go ahead, ban all with gay porn but it's really not about gay porn. It's all about fear and that fear has pulled in the weak minds that have spread across the US in private which is leading to a cultural and historical cleansing of US society to please a few. I doubt the book banning even started with some book on gay porn. But hey, let's just jump in our orange wool covered wagon so no one can know the real us.

I notice you never addressed the cult part. I seem to remember 4 years ago your defense of the orange turd cult and if you get your wish this time you can celebrate Project 2025. Then you won't have to worry about books since education in and of itself will be controlled by fascist administrators working directly for a wanna b dictator. How sweet it is.

I know you didn't address that post to me, and please don't take this as me attempting to answer on anyone's behalf.
Someone not agreeing with one edge of a political spectrum doesn't put them on the opposite edge. A few times in the US, I'd say something like 'Biden's an infirm grifter with bad policies and no principles other than money' and then be promptly accused of being MAGA, and that couldn't be further from the truth.
As for grade / primary school libraries, books overtly dealing with sexuality of any sort don't belong there, the same as very violent books or those really endorsing aggression, opiate abuse, misogyny, etc. Cormac McCarthy and Fifty Shades aren't for fourth graders. A problem though is morons taking mention as endorsement, like in Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird.
There is plenty of hubris and low level thought, and a few good ideas, across the US political spectrum.

 

[Hawk256]

Because you come across supporting banning books and let's face it, banned books run the gamont of social and cultural interest for more families than not. Banning books are instigated by a very small number of individuals but affect the masses. Shouldn't there be a better way than just up and banning what these individuals don't want others to see or understand?

It's not the books that are the problem, it is the process. Books with more hardcore porn would not make it through a vetting process. At the same time, if there were books that include gay sex of some level, why would that church going straight high school individual even want to check it out? Curiosity? Have questions? Surely can't ask a parent. Plenty of books depicting hetero sex and you could argue that is just as pornographic as depicting gay sex.

Go ahead, ban all with gay porn but it's really not about gay porn. It's all about fear and that fear has pulled in the weak minds that have spread across the US in private which is leading to a cultural and historical cleansing of US society to please a few. I doubt the book banning even started with some book on gay porn. But hey, let's just jump in our orange wool covered wagon so no one can know the real us.

I notice you never addressed the cult part. I seem to remember 4 years ago your defense of the orange turd cult and if you get your wish this time you can celebrate Project 2025. Then you won't have to worry about books since education in and of itself will be controlled by fascist administrators working directly for a wanna b dictator. How sweet it is.

Boy you are really wound up over a single statement that kids books shouldn't have porn. Nothing more, nothing less was said. As I have already said I don't support banning anything when it comes to adults. Also if by defence of Trump or by a cult you mean that I was not willing to burn Trump at the stake for every percevied offense without a trial, then I guess I am guilty. However, overall I have never supported Trump, MAGA or Project 2025. You are clearly making that up becasue you have nothing else to defend your own position with.