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During the past week Americans have had time to collect the news and information concerning the use of chemical weapons in Syria and Prez Obama's response in the making.

NBC News has a new scientific survey that asks specific questions about the naval use only of Tomahawk cruise missiles and whether Assad's use of chemical weapons against his population constitutes crossing a "red line."

Fifty percent of Americans agree with the specific course of punitive military action Prez Obama has presented and is pursuing against the Assad regime.

Fifty-eight percent agree that there needs to be a red line against the use of chemical weapons, and that a leader who crosses the red line should suffer military consequences by the United States. The 58% say Assad has In fact crossed the red line and deserves military punishment by the U.S. as Prez Obama is undertaking.

Now, more specifically, if U.S. military action in Syria were limited to air strikes using cruise missiles

launched from U.S. naval ships that were meant to destroy military units and infrastructure that have been

used to carry out chemical attacks would you support or oppose this U.S. military action in Syria?

Support ................................................................. 50

Oppose ................................................................. 44

Not sure .............................................................. 6

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

The use of chemical weapons by any country is a “red line,” that is an action that would require a significant

U.S. response, including the possibility of military action.

Agree .......................................................... 58

Disagree ..................................................... 35

Depends (VOL) ........................................ 3

Not sure .................................................... 4

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i//MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/13336_NBC_Syria_Poll.pdf

Did they bother to ask the same survey respondents if they actually knew where Syria was, and a few other pertinent questions regarding the country, its political situation and the history surrounding the current conflict?

Now that would have made for some interesting replies and I suggest may render the results of the poll as somewhat meaningless. Surely, isn't Syria somewhere near Australia, right next door to France?

KASITHBK is the code for all general transactions or remittances - that's the code you need for international money transfers.

Branches don't have separate codes - specialist divisions/departments/treasuries may have an additional 3 characters to differentiate them but they are for specialist type transactions.

I have diarrhea and stomach pain every now and then, i produce enuff methane for a power-plant that would cover all energy expenditure on this street, while even leave some for export

That's pretty much the standard practice isn't it? Solid bowel motions are a rare thing in Thailand - the rarest bowel complaint here is constipation.

It's all the fault of the foreigners - if the Italians hadn't invented the Ferrari this would not have happened!

While I don't necessarily agree with your assessment, it's an <deleted> humorous one.

Thailand's not a third world country.

These are third world countries, check it : http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world.htm

Pedantic - assume it's not 1st world and stick to the theme of the OP's question.

Mine lambasts Thailand and it's many foibles far more than I ever do. She knows it's not 1st world and on many occasion she is more annoyed than me about some of the <deleted> that happens and things she sees.

Murphy's Law clearly states the however much you set aside will not be enough. Put aside as much as you can and get medical and/or travel insurance if you are able. You don't state how old you are or your state of health, so difficult to advise in more detail.

More likely he was on his way to set up a fake checkpoint and earn his daily bread.

That would be unfair competition on the BIB

Nuh - his local BIB will probably be getting a commission from him. He was just unfortunate to be picked up by an opposition firm.

(Ok, OK.....a little bit tongue in cheek, but maybe not too far from the truth.)

There's a perception that two Thais speaking to each other using English are exhibiting a form of snobbery. It's somehow construed as being condescending to other Thais in their presence.

Some friends of my wife will only speak to my son in Thai. The expectation seems to be that if you're a Thai you should speak Thai with each other (especially when you're in Thailand).

So my guess is that this problem has nothing to do with you, but rather of feelings of guilt your daughter is feeling or being made to feel by those around her. Is she any better then the other people in the room can also speak English?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. Combination of fear of the Thai elders as well as them probably encouraging her not to speak English. The OP hasn't said how good his Thai is, but after 10 years he should be able to pick up if she is being coerced into only speaking Thai.

Mind you, hearing some Leuk Kreungs speaking English can grate. Heard a 12 or 13 year old talking to his Dad at Central Festival in the broadest Yorkshire accent I've ever heard, including the thee's and thou's. He must confuse the bejeesus out of his Thai English teacher.

In the photo...spot the criminal ?

Probably all of them.

I think that was the very point that Soutpeel was making.

I'm stunned. Asked the missus a few months ago about the number of weeks in a year (as a suggestion in another TV thread) and got the answer 48. I explained why it's 52 and she beat herself up for getting it wrong. She's no slug and has nearly completed her accounting degree as an adult student. She's OK with numbers and has occasionally spotted mistakes on a handwritten bill at restaurants etc., but I've never really probed her maths as such.

I just asked her the 2/5 question, she gives me a sideways look and says "point four, or maybe 40%". I asked her why and she shows me on a calculator. I asked her why again and she drags out her phone translator and gives me a lesson on numerators and denominators while she did the simple algebra on paper. I mean, I knew the answer but if I had to do the simple algebra I'd be struggling after all these years.

I double checked by asking her what's 9/4 and she said 2.25 straight off. I need a beer!!!

Fondest memory was the first time I rode a scooter in Thailand. Rush hour at the Pattaya 2nd Road and Tai intersection. In a pack of 50+ bikes when the lights turned green......and I thought I was going to miss circuit racing.

That first traffic light frenzy was as big a buzz as any flag drop in a superbike race, and continues to be so.

True enough remark, I remember my Swiss wife wandering around the city centre in Yorkshire ooking for 'Curry Sauce'. She battled on and eventually they said 'oh, you mean 'curry sauce!'. I understood ok..

I have this problem all the time in Thai. Asked the vendor (in Thai) at the golf course for 2 bottles of water and a bottle of orange juice. Ow nam pblaow soong kuart, laew gaw, nam som kuart nung kap.

I get the <deleted> look from him so I repeat it. Another <deleted> look. I ask him (in English) if he speaks English. He says yes.

I say "gimme a cupla tubes of h2O an' one o' them wee thingies of OJ". Confused look - I repeat the request - still confused. I ask him in English if he's a Thai person - yes he says.

I say "Ow nam pblaow soong kuart, laew gaw, nam som kuart nung kap."

Instant understanding. Go figure!

(apologies for the bad transliteration, so many versions in the books I have that I've invented my own shorthand)

You travel here once a year right? You're unclear what currency the offshore bank account is held in - I assume Thai baht? All sounds like too much trouble for your annual hols. And believe me, when banks move currencies, there is always a margin made, so I think your friend is probably exaggerating somewhat on the supposed benefits.

Your best bet is open a Thai bank account. Total cost say 500B for the ATM card and a 150 one off admin fee.

TT money to your Thai account at a time and exchange rate that is suitable to you - your domestic bank will have a charge of say $20. Or if you have online banking, you may have a lower fee.

Or, bring cash with you and deposit it to your Thai account.

There is no minimum amount you need to keep in your Thai account, so no need for dead money.

If you only use your bank's ATM's, zero cost. No annual account fees.

Your total annual cost for holidaying in Thailand (after you open your account) can be zero, or $20..........up to you.

The trick is to avoid eye contact with the BIB and cruise on past.

Dollars to donuts he's not going to jump in front of you or chase you, and unless his mia-noi gave him a really hard time the night before, he probably won't shoot you in the back either.

What is it with Thai handyman toolkits and the lack of tools. Most don’t even have an actual box, they just have them in their pocket.

The local moo baan handyman arrives today to remove an old and partially rotted pergola type structure from my backyard. He’s demolishing it piece by piece with a hammer, and it’s taking him forever and making a helluva mess. His toolkit is one hammer.

I wouldn’t start the job without a hammer, pinch bar, and a saw at the very least. He’s made sod all progress in 2 hours and I reckon I would have nearly finished it and been looking forward to my first beer by now.

Reminds me of the electrician that arrived with nothing but a screwdriver, and the handyman that had a hammer, a 100 year old monkey wrench, a hacksaw blade, and a screwdriver. That screwdriver saw service as a screwdriver, a pinch bar, a hammer, and a cold chisel when he replaced my water pump.

I know tools can be expensive, but even for 1,000 baht these guys could set themselves up with a few luxuries, such as a hacksaw handle or a decent adjustable spanner.

I've rented four houses in Jomtien. Always been lucky in that you call the number on the sign and the "owner" or sometimes the owner's friend will meet you there and show you around. Nosy neighbours have made themselves known to us as we inspect, or the local moo baan manager also arrives and checks us out.

It soon becomes fairly clear that all parties are aware of the validity of each other, so it gives a feeling of security.

I only offer 5,000 deposit when I sign the lease and only pay the bond and one months rent on the day I move in and have the keys. If they don't like it well there's only a few thousand other houses to rent within a 5klm radius.

We also had a similar leak in our Bangkok condo. We reported it to the juristic person. They then investigated it and arranged for it to be fixed. Took about 2 minutes of my time. And I didn't even have to asked what to do on thai visa.

I sometimes cringe at some of the question on here, and how many expats can't do the simplest of things. Why do they have to complicated everything?

Property developer or age of property is irrelevant. A water leak can happen in both new and old properties. That's life.

Glad I'm not the only one that cringes. Darwin's theory is obviously not 100% accurate.

I'm waiting for the "got a flat tyre, what do I do now" post.

Well that one's easy. You create a new topic on Thai Visa asking if Thai law allows you to get a discount from the place you bought the car, as it now has a flat tyre. No need to repair it, just make sure you get a discount. If not possible, then dump car and buy a new one. After all, why should you put up with a flat tyre. There are plenty of cars without flat tyres, so it's easier to get one of those.

You propose the hypothesis very well. Now I'm worried that a post such as the one you described actually exists......please don't tell me it was a cut and paste from an actual TV post!!