JRinPDX

Lack of accountability. (driven by priority of 'face' and institutionalized by anti-defamation laws)

It is not pushing for democracy; it is pushing for integrity. (lacking throughout)

My only comment is that if you get involved you can't back out when it gets dirty, so think it through. No one likes to watch an abusive relationship but it is their relationship not yours.

Very common for this to become a dangerous triangle, where the persecutor turns to the rescuer as his next victim. I'd help but find a way to keep arms-length.

Interesting.. this question came up just as I was preparing a similar list.. I'm going in for open-heart surgery tomorrow and am compiling a list of who's to be emailed re/the outcome (I'm expecting that to be positive!). But building the list makes you think.

I've partitioned into who simply needs to be notified, who cares a lot, but will then quickly move-on and who really, really cares. (Spouse, kids, sister, a couple of close friends for 35 years)

All my legal paperwork is in order, BTW and I encourage everyone to do that.

I can't wait to be back in Thailand in a few months. I STILL have to meet my tirak's mom as we met in the States. (My 2nd Thai wife.. maybe I should write a book.)

I'd hire a driver; done it several times and it has always worked out well. Not that expensive; you get to relax and enjoy scenery and (some) conversation. We broke down once (water pump went out.. random), he dealt with it. Finding a place to park.. not to worry; he can drop you and then he deals with it.

Can't vote......Not enough options.

Agree.. we need to be able to vote for multiple reasons.

I have grown avocados from stones and one is now about ten years old and about 12m tall. I'm a bad (read lazy) gardener and just let them get on with it and let nature take its course. Maybe that is why they have never produced fruit?

Grown from the pit, they are almost always sterile; they have to be grafted.

I grew up on an avocado farm in So.Cal. but that was 40 years ago.. so full disclaimers here re/memories. The nitrogen seems a bit high. But, there are so many variables: the current soil conditions, frequency and amount of water, etc. One thing I've learned, long since: you need the right combination of bacteria and fungi. Whatever's naturally there should be fine.. just don't kill them off. It can make a difference between surviving and thriving as they help 'escort' the right ions from the fertilizers to the roots.

In USA, we have a phone app, to take picture of cars parked in disabled spots without disabled tags. I'm not sure if it goes directly to police or to a 3rd party, but the upshot is a multi-hundred-dollar fine. Of course, notifying the police in LOS could be problematic in itself.

Remember.. the video will have date-time recorded. (I have a similar setup)

For small amounts, Moneygram is cheaper than Western Union. For larger amounts, wire transfer is best. If sending from the US, I've found that sending in $ is better. If you send in ThB, wires take days longer and cost more as they route through a correspondent bank to do the exchange. I've also found it convenient to open an account in my country and just leave an extra ATM card w/MIL or sister.

A new 'hub'

I haven't used travelers' checks in 30 years; didn't know they were still in use! My advice: use credit cards, bank ATM card. Always call your bank in advance to let them know travel dates and countries.. otherwise they are almost certain to block the card when they see something come through. Be judicious in choice of ATM's (lighting, check for 'skimmers', etc.).

You'll also see a fair number of trucks with Rambo mudflaps; they believe this will ward off the police.

Back to the topic of superstitions: My ex balked at visiting Mt. Hood and playing in the snow. She was convinced that any Thai lady who had her head exposed to the cold would die (if done at the particular time of the month.) We went anyway and I got the silent treatment for a couple of days. By contrast my current fiancee immediately got into a joyous snowball fight with some nearby snowboarders. (First time seeing snow!) ;-)

Confucius

Francis Bacon (17th Century, not the current artist)

Napoleon

Bill Clinton

I have many, here are the faves or most-often used. All are free although I find the small fee for cross-platform LastPass to be invaluable. And I upgraded Prey to accommodate more devices.

Snapseed

Google Earth

Google Sky

Magisto

Orienteer

Bubble

Metal Sniffer

LastPass

Prey

Astro File Manager

Currents

Backgammon

I also use Google Drive and Google Now

Tuborg - Beer Goggles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DCJTblV9nQ

Wow. Thank you.

Won't play.. video marked 'private'. ???

Yes, ban the slightly sexy TV shows and chatrooms and kareoke and fun stuff. Why should kids today have all these fun happy things in their lives, when back in my day we had to shovel coal in blizzards and stare at a dark wall all night after work. You can translate all of these kinds of articles simply ;

"I wish we had all this cool stuff when I was a kid. I wish I was young again! I'm so old and achey! Ban all this fun youth stuff!"

You must have had a easy time of childhood. I had to walk 5 miles to school and 5 miles back every day Uphill both ways.

The kids of today should leave all that stuff for we of the older generation who no longer have the physical abilities to enjoy the great out doors or interaction with friends. Now when we interact with each other it is about are various illnesses and operations.

It was an old Jimmy Steward movie It's a wonderful life where the ever so true lines of youth is wasted on the young ones was uttered.

Hills? You had hills? We DREAMED of having hills! We had to live on an infinitely flat plane with no gradients of any kind. And we had to sweep the whole entire thing too.

Sweep? You had a broom? Luxury! We had to pick up all the lint on our plane with our fingers.. every night before we were given our gruel.

Back to the topic, I do wonder if the real threat is exposure to the outside world of knowledge and opinion.

"Ka" is nice, but I can think of a few other expressions that are much more motivating.

Another option I've just used is http://www.shopandshipus.com/ on recommendation from some Thai friends. (Although I used it to send quite a bit of household goods by boat) I'll let you know if things don't arrive safely.

Mormons keep stopping me in the street and JW's knock on my front door every Saturday. Now I'm also to be subjected to pretty girls saying 'sawasdee kha, that's Thai you know?' whilst gently placing orchids in my hand at the shopping centre?

Hmmm. please don't throw me into the briar patch. (off to the mall)

For what it is worth, I've had things disappear via Thai Post. (even registered with tracking numbers.. the package simply disappears.) Struggling to find a solution to a similar problem myself. I'm shipping household goods and my ocean freight forwarder only goes to Bangkok, then uses Thai Post for onward transit. And I'm not finding a suitable trucking company to get things to Udon Thani. Best of luck.. just don't rely on Thai Post.

Well, I need to recant. We just received a package that was sent as expedited, with tracking number, back in April. Had regarded it lost/stolen, reported to USPS (they referred to Thai Post), reported to Thai Post. and now it has arrived, 2 months later. Certainly slower than the 1-2 weeks promised, but intact nevertheless and apparently w/o any sign of tampering. Faith restored. :-)