Bob

And, like September of 2006, it only takes them one meeting and a couple of beers to declare themselves back in business. If the prior constitution didn't restrain them at all, why would anyone believe that the new one will? The new consititution, by the way, has a provision that says that one is allowed to protest anyone who violates the constitution - but only so long as the protest is peaceful. Geez, it just wouldn't be fair to have citizens shooting at tanks taking over your government, would it?

I don't have a clue what will happen with the baht (my tea leaves are too murky) but the asian stock markets have joined the dive (and perhaps losing a larger percentage than has the US market). I'm guessing that will have some effect on the baht but only god or buddha may know that. I'd guess that the baht will start appreciating in about 2 weeks to coincide with my arrival in LOS. Happens every damn time the last year or two....hehe.

I was planning on just having 800,000+ baht in my account in Chiangmai but it would seem the easiest thing to do is just get the embassy letter. Sounds like they'll certify anything you say on the form. Isn't this a very easy way for those without the necessary income or assets to get around the immigration rule in the first place? Or do you also have to show them a bank book with the income coming in per month (and/or the 800,000 baht)? Confusing.

Ok, a somewhat unrelated question but: What do you really have to show the US embassy to obtain the so-called proof of income letter. For somebody that's retired, you're not really earning income in the wage sense so, if you just show the embassy copies of investments (IRA accounts, mutual fund accounts, etc.), is that enough?

Thanks, GT. Some rather cute individuals in those photos. And, if I may be so bold (stupid) to say, two (to-remain-unidentified) photos seemed to contain friggin' serial killers or something!

I don't understand it! You've provided 4-5 posts/responses in the last 24 hours and there are no protests [flag burnings, gnashing of teeth (or tooth in the case of one former poster), or planted IED's] that you're posting too much?!? And, with respect to your pay here, is it just a fixed salary or so much per post or word? P.S. Like many current political television ads, I do wish to note that I am "Bob" and I approve of this message. I further wish to note that nothing in this post was intended seriously and was offered solely to elevate GB's blood pressure so he could chuckle when he read this "PS."

Probably no good answer, Geezer. If you were exceptionally nice, off the kid for three days and watch him take three treatments (and use some balm on the red circle marks where you touched him with the ten-foot pole!).

No, I'm guessing that they only banned correct spelling.

I wish the Princess a very honored and splendid send-off; however, that 200,000 million baht might possibly be better spent on other Thai citizens that are still with us. Just a thought.

After all the massages I've had in Thailand - mostly at the Olde Thai Medicine Hospital in Chiangmai but I too have been to the Blind Institute in Pattaya - I've never really asked for any particular massage and I wonder, based on Buseang's comments, if you can ask them to focus on your back, neck, or whatever? Not sure why I never asked but I haven't. Based on my experience, 95% of regular Thai massage is focused on your feet, legs, and arms with very little attention given to the neck or back area. Or, alternatively, is there any massage place that specifically treats people with sore backs?

Perhaps in the minority, I am a great fan of Suvarnabhumi. It's a great airport which is easy to use. And, compared with Don Muang, switching from international to domestic is a breeze. Not having enough customs/immigration officers manning the various stations is hardly the airport's fault - but I do agree it is annoying to wait in a crowded queue while various booths are unmanned and some of the officers are exercising their turtle genes.

Welcome back...and good luck. [That's all I'm saying as saying any more only assists turning this into a soap opera! ]

I'm happy you'll continue to occasionally post.....I've enjoyed the information you've provided for many, many, years (here, your prior board, and elsewhere). And don't blame you for resigning as moderator. I would never agree to moderate a forum unless I was given the power to permanently deep-six the occasional dork/bug that irritates. Trusting somebody enough to let them moderate yet not trusting the person enough to give them enough power to tell a dork to go bye-bye is hardly fair or reasonable. Hey, I'll volunteer to moderate, GT, if you need a moderator - but only on the condition that I have the power to ban a pesky idiot or two. Just kidding as, given my occasional lack of patience, I'd be moderating only myself within a few days.....

Ain't life grand? Somewhat sounds like a lot of marriages out there. The guy, entering the relatiionship, figures it's 90% sex, he gets his laundry done and meals cooked, and he can still do 98% of his usual play pattern as he did before. The gal thinks it's 90% romance. Then these fond dreams are interrupted by reality. Seriously, I'm reluctant to offer any advice, mainly because it's presumptuous of me doing so and because I don't have a clue as to what either party truly thinks or wants. Your boyfriend's behavior, though, does seems to telling you a lot and it appears to me you're not listening much. Maybe I'm a hard ass but I believe what behavior tells me long before I believe verbal assertions to the contrary. I've been in a relationship with a Thai guy (he's 29) for over six years and I've experienced some of the same frustrations you're talking about. When together, we're generally fine but we do have our testy moments (egads....I think we're almost human). But, when apart, I've grown to understand that he has his life and I have mine. It used to irritate me that I was left out of his life but, to be fair, I've left him out of my life - he really doesn't know squat about my life and he really has no background or experience to understand my life or me most of the time. Hard to blame him for that. Ultimately, I've convinced myself that relationships which are long-distance most of the time simply cannot be the type of relationship that people dream about or want. I think they ultimately can work when the parties are together most of the time and that's what I am hoping will occur when we start doing that in a year or so; yet, I'm not so silly as to not to understand that our permanently living together might well be the beginning of the end. I just don't worry about that now (i.e., I try not to "tink too much") and just take it day by day. Enjoy what good times you have. We (me included) sometimes play the "papa" role. We're furnishing the funds for various endeavors (for me, it's mainly university education - which seemingly will never ends as it's heading into it's 5th and 6th years!) and sometimes we think we, like our fathers, have the right to know everything he's doing. I got over that silly notion years ago. And sometimes we think our maturity (to the extent that assertion is real) seems to convince us we know better about damn near everything. I've gotten over that silly notion too. In any event, wish you well in sorting out reality, his dreams, your dreams, and the price of tea in China.

No surprise here - but it would be funny as hell if both tapes showed up on You Tube....

Respectfully, saying rape is not a sex crime but only a crime of violence may be the more politically popular thing to say these days but the notion defies common sense. Sure it's a crime of violence but it surely is a sexual crime too (which is why societies and legislatures call the conduct "rape" or "criminal sexual conduct" versus simply calling it "violence" or an "assault"). Sexual violence also, unfortunately, is learned behavior and, to this day, I have not known of a case where the offender wasn't also a victim of similar conduct in the past. That, of course, excuses nothing and, equally unfortunately, often means society has no choice but to treat the offender to harsher and longer incarceration and/or treatment as he/she is likely to offend again.

No problem, Dick....and,now that I think of it, my description was one of those "duh" answers. Guess that'd be arabic numerals. Oh well, you get the point (i.e., if the kid has one of the new national identity cards, one would have to be pretty dense to misunderstand the birthday). But one would still have to make sure that the card looked legitmate and carried the holder's photograph.

In Thailand, election = erection. Same as driving a cataract in Japan?

All of the newly issued Thai national identity cards have the birthdate in roman numerals. I understand that maybe all the Thai's don't have the newest version but, since the cards (I think) have to be renewed every 6 years and it's been at least 3 years since I've seen the new cards around, a lot of them should have them. Here's a copy of one:

R.I.P, Brian/Boxer. Met him a few years back and, like David in Pattaya, was more than eager to help out the newbes. Will miss him and his photographs which kept us all posted of many events and places in Thailand. Condolences to his family and friends.

All flexible water lines (like for the sink sprayer and connections to your washer) are prone to failure and the damage that can be done by a failure can be huge. You can purchase special hoses designed to never burst to replace those and they supposedly are guaranteed against failure (but they are 3-4 times the cost of the regular hoses). But they work. But like GB, when I leave for any lengthy trip (like to LOS), I turn off the main water line as I'm not going to risk damage from any failure in the plumbing system. And, if you're in freezing weather, it might be wise to drain the water lines should the furnace fail as you'd really hate to tear into the walls to fix frozen/split copper or galvanized piping.

"...nice to see you can string a sentence together in your own words.." Sorry, GB, I just thought that line was worth repeating due to the reverse humor it engenders.

Nah, even sober he's blind. If you two get married, should we throw sticky rice?

JBee, although you don't really say it, you're almost suggesting that this board (or others) actually promote underage kids in the bars. If that's what you meant, you're simply wrong and I would join luvthai and Up2U with their appropriate comments. Also, if you're suggesting that the boards knowingly promote bars which are known to employ underage kids, I'd say "hogwash" to that suggestion too. Where are the posts (i.e., put your money where your mouth is)? Have some bars which have an underage problem been promoted by a few posts here and there? I suppose that's occurred but, even if that's happened, you have no right to label this board or others as promoters of the problem. While you have every right to rail against the problem of underage kids involved in sex and drugs, your misguided aim occurred on a board where the moderator and other posters have a long and consistent history of condemning the practice in Pattaya or elsewhere.

Whether I do or don't like a given show, I wish the new/revised venue well. The difference in posting styles couldn't be more clearer than in this thread. Kevin's post, as quoted by Wowpow, is simple news without the girly giddiness and sashays of gossip expressed higher up in this thread. When I read a post wondering if the poster was reaching new orgasmic heights while thinking that his minions (us, I guess) will shower him with rose-smelling tampons for granting us the largesse of his secretly-held knowledge, I simply want to barf.