Bob

That funny or something, monkey boy? Probably about as funny as my asking if this happens to be you attending to him in the attached photo.....

No big deal, Xian, but I sent you a private message because I didn't want to continue the somewhat irrlevant comments on this thread. And it was sent as a "private" message but, again, no big deal. I was only pointing out what I thought were illogical positions and not blasting you personally. If you and I ever run into each other in LOS, I feel compelled to take you for a fish dinner (and, of course, then keep mumbling whether you can taste GT's feet at all...haha).

You know, I got to thinking (yea, I know, that's dangerous). From now on, I'm going to be a little wary of having a fish dinner in Thailand. Lord/Buddha knows, what I would be about to eat had been previously dining on GT's feet! Yuck!

Geez, xian, rather far out on a limb, aren't ya? I'm guessing you eat fish occasionally but that somehow it's okay to catch the fish and suffocate it to death while letting these little fish eat dead skin from feet (and/or changing their water) is cruel or something? Srange thinking. Speaking of thinking, they don't.

Hell, he sure gets around. He was spotted yesterday in a Dunkin Donuts shop in Cleveland! Just a hunk (dirigible-sized) of burning love....

What I don't understand or can fathom is the apparent Mormon tenet that only 144,000 are going to make it to heaven. You're kinda fucked, aren't ya, if they've already been chosen? In a somewhat related story, I was up in Luang Prabang, Laos, with the bf a few years back and I was sitting in the lobby of a resort there waiting for the bus to town. There was a group of about 15 people (60 to 75 years old) that were taking group photos and I volunteered to help them out so they all could be in the photo. After that, we were talking and it turned out that they were a group of Mormon missionaries on vacation for the weekend from their regular haunts in Phenom Phen, Cambodia, where they were converting the heathens to Mormanism. While I didn't say anything, I began to get steamed and I really wanted to ask them why they couldn't find 144,000 dumb asses in Utah instead of coming to asia to screw up the minds of a perfectly good buddhists. But I held my tongue. P.S. Like GT said in the initial post, Madonna should have used her "tongue" earlier. There, I'm back on subject?

While it'd be nice that we will live to see major advances using stem cells, it probably isn't that likely. But you got me thinking about whether my stem cells can enlarge a certain stem that I have.....

Like you noted, I think it all depends on how low you re-size your photos. If my memory is right, this board will accept something about 500 x 500 pixels before it makes them smaller. Here's a photo that's 359 x 450 pixels and I'll see if that posts completely (this is a photo of my favorite statue at Viharna Sien just outside of Pattaya - and I thought the statue was talking to me....): [i see the entire photo here instead of one of those "reduced" boxes so I'm hoping you see the same. Yet, I now notice some other posted photos that aren't any bigger than this one are getting the "reduced" boxes - so maybe the technonerds can answer the question more accurately]

As strange as it sounds, I've found that all electronics are more expensive in Southeast Asia than here in the states. Sounds crazy - given they make the stuff over there - but I know it's true for computers, camera cards, flat screen monitors, cameras, etc. When I begin living in Thailand, I'll buy the bigger items (e.g., computer and monitor) there as I won't want to haul them over. For example, the camera noted above (Sony DSC T700) can be purchased for $369.99 on Amazon or as low as $279.00 at Prestige Camera. (Possibly lower somewhere else, I only did a quick search).

Nope, not out (other than outside the states - besides a couple of US friends that I know from my travels to Thailand). Just a personal choice in my view and largely contingent on one's personal circumstances.

As I mentioned on another board, Topjohn, have fun - but I'm simply exhausted reading through your intinerary. I over-scheduled myself the first few trips to Thailand and I've learned that I ultimately have more fun being planted in one locale. But, then again, I've gotten older than dirt so maybe that's why I've slowed down and don't like to move around as much. Maybe I need some energy drinks....(is a rum and coke a legitimate energy drink???).

I'm not Mormon but maybe it's a bit over the top to simply assert that a large group's religious beliefs are moronic. That might be said about every religious group. But poking fun at them is okay by me. Do you know why Mormons never have sex standing up? It's because they don't want anyone to ever accuse them of dancing..... Am I on topic yet?

Today, saw a brief tv interview with some spa owner (I think in California) about the same topic. Some concerns were raised about whether the procedure is sanitary and the owner responded that they change the water after each "cleansing." Rather stupid answer, I thought, as they don't change the fish (which, if carrying nasty germs or infections, just carry on in the newly added "fresh" water). In that spa, they were doing it in little plastic tubs. Probably relatively safe and sounds like some new age thing to me; regardless, my feet won't be used for bait anytime soon.

Just so you aren't wondering, I give you my official "GROAN...." Very punny indeed and, in your honor, for breakfast tomorrow my fish are going to have toest & jam.......

Yep, it's funny as hell when Leno does that (and makes me want to cower in the fear that the world will find out how many dumbasses live over here). On the other hand, I also suspect that he could do the same funny bit in almost any city in the world (and I'm sure they edit so as to highlight the stupid answers given).

Lol. After being together 8 years this month, he knows, he knows. And I don't need to keep repeating it to him (he hears me gasp much too often).

While things sure look ugly and might get uglier, one of the hallmarks of the depression (at least here in the states) was that a lot of ordinary people lost their life savings when the banks failed. Nowadays, that really can't happen given the government guarantees accounts through the FDIC (even if the bank goes in the toilet, you're protected now for up to $250,000.00 in any one bank - and, given 95%+ of the people hardly have that kind of money, probably almost nobody will lose any savings even if their bank goes down). Other social programs for the poor, at least here in the states, would probably also prevent what we think of as the breadlines. Many experts expect that unemployment here might rise to as high as 8% to 10% so that also would be a substantial difference.

I just don't think it's wise to get into the game of suggesting that the citizens of your country or my country are dumber, more susceptible to celebrity, etc. And, given I'm from the US, perhaps I might be in at least as good (or better?) position than you to know how folks around here feel about celebrity? But.....since you seem to be going there, out of humor I offer the following:

Although best not to over-generalize, my experiences would reflect that (1) Thai drivers generally drive recklessly (2) they generally don't take directions/suggestions/corrections very well or at all. My Chiangmai bf used to work at a guesthouse where the owner would allow him to take one of the cars while I was in town. While I had the convenience of a driver, most of those driving events took a few years out of my life. He had no clue about taking a curve (you actually begin to turn slightly before the curve - and also slow down a little if need be), no clue about how far to follow behind a car in front of him, and no general road sense. When negotiating the curves on the way to Chiangrai, it seemed each curve was a test of the limits of the tires adhering to the road and the suspension of the car. On one trip to Lampang, I saw (mind you, I'm sitting in the back seat behind the driver bf) a motorsy driver acting weird about 80 yards ahead (he had his front wheel in the left highway lane and was acting like he was about to go ahead) and I told my bf to watch out for him. Given that my bf had every right to the right-of-way, he cruised ahead instead of either slowing down or moving over to the empty right lane - and the motorsy idiot hit our car (of course, right in the rear left door next to me). Then, idiot driver panics and stopped/parked the car in the middle of the two-lane highway (I immediately turned around, saw tons of traffic speeding out way and screamed for him to get off the road). By the way, the dumbass motorsy driver, drunk as a skunk, was only shaken up and not seriously hurt. That little fun event only cost me a year or two of my life (not to mention several thousand baht for the car repair). It was only 3 years ago that the bf (then 26) got his driver's license and I questioned him quite a bit about what type of training, road tests, etc., he was required to complete. The answer was shocking -not much at all. He got his general (no restrictions) license the day after he applied. Some people have good natural instincts on the road, others need a fair amount of training to gather those instincts, and some never have a clue. You-know-who doesn't have a clue and I'm quite happy he no longer has access to a car. But, oh yea, he's a lousy motorsy driver too. Early this year, he was "hit by a girl" on Taipae Road (in reality, he turned left from far right lane and he caused the collision with the girl who was riding in his blind spot). That only cost her a broken leg, him a broken wrist, and some dumbass falang a lotta baht for injuries and repairs.....

I hope she is not offered the job or, if offered, that she turns it down. The most pressing need for the Obama administration will be a forceful voice in the Senate and, in my view, Hillary is that person. Additionally, I think the country needs Hillary in a position to be a forceful counter-balance to Obama administration policies that occasionally may go astray (I hope that doesn't happen but who would be better than Hillary to make Obama and other Democrats to think twice?). As Secretary of State, she certainly could voice her opinions but she ultimately would have to be subservient to the positions of President Obama. That's not the Hillary I know or want around and I think she could more easily enunciate her positions and affect policy as an outsider and one of the more important voices of the Senate.

The three favorite items in order how I and my Chiangmai bf enjoyed them were: 1. Spending the day at Sentosa Island (and take the cable car over). You'll have a blast. You'll get a lot of photos on this day. 2. Night safari at the zoo....best in the world. 3. Spending some time just walking around Chinatown (about a 3-4 square block area with lots of little shops and a fun place to pick up a souvenir and just people watch). We also went to Jurong Bird Park and that was fine. What we didn't do was go shopping in all of the ungodly Pradas, Tiffanys, etc.. We picked one of those boutique hotels from the internet and only stayed one night (the entire room and bathroom were together about 9 feet by 8 feet (if it was that big). Because a buddy of mine had stayed there before, we packed off to Goodwood Place which was more expensive (about $160.00 per night) but the nicest/richest place I've stayed in Southeast Asia. Rooms were huge and extremely nice. P.S. I just checked a couple of internet sites and the Goodwood Park Hotel will set you back by about $300.00 per night. We were there in November of 2005 and I know we only paid $160.00 per night (and got that rate by just walking up to the desk). We must have been extremely lucky.

I'm not sure we're asking for any sympathy here in the states. But, Steve, maybe you can explain something to me. Thailand, which certainly does not have the expansive gun rights that are prevalent in the United States, has almost three times* the murder rate than the United States. How would you explain that? [*That's what's reported and, while I trust the reported figures in the US, buddha only knows if the reported figures in Thailand are anywhere near reality.]

Huh? Of course it will. Some rather deft logic there. If it's legal, the girls/boys and the pimps are no longer criminals. Before it was legalized in Nevada, the mob controlled prostitution there and, of course, the mob, the pimps, and all workers were definitely "criminals." No more according to the FBI, i.e., the mob basically has left the prostitution trade there. And there are medical checks, more encouragement of safe sex, and even some worker rights. Certainly better than before and rather de-criminalized by definition.

Yep, that's the place (I knew they owned the joint across the street but I never went there). And, yes, probably better to label the places as "gay friendly" rather than "gay." If you go to this particular bar, I'll bet you'll find the owner very friendly and helpful with advice about activities occurring in LP. He was with us.

I said "presuming", laurence, as even this little weasel deserves a trial. I've learned not to believe everything I read in the newspapers; besides, it wouldn't take much for an Arizona cop to get a 8-year-old to confess (one simple proctological exam with a flashlight ought to do it....).