PeaceBlondie

Families with a net worth over US$5,000,000

I take it when you say "split unit" you mean the blower is mounted on the wall inside the room, and the compressor sits separately out on the balcony or exterior wall. As opposed to what Texans called 'a window unit' that is a combined unit that sets on the window ledge inside the sash.

Split units have that fat wrapping of tubes that goes along the wall. My roommate says if you put the tubing through the wall and are just renting, the landlord/owner would have to approve the installation. But that almost goes without saying.

I'm thinking of putting air-con in my spare bedroom/study which is 6m x 3m, standard height. No direct exposure to outside, other condo units above and below. It would be better to put the compressor on the north balcony that's covered, rather than the south balcony that's unshaded. Would four additional meters of tubing to get to the other balcony decrease the efficiency? I think that overall, the shaded north balcony would more than offset the extra lengths of tubing. Also, I don't want a second compressor outside my own bedroom.

I suspect January is a good month to purchase a unit and get it installed, before the hot season gets here. Are there any other factors to consider?

Maybe I don't get out on the town enough - maybe I'm too busy teaching school, sitting home at the computer keyboard, etc. Maybe I should run around all the expat bars in Chiang Mai talking to all these losers. Where do you meet these guys - gogo bars? Do you post an ad on the internet, "All expat whingers please report to....?"

Oh, you can sometimes find these folks in the teachers' lounge, too.

I know one reason they don't go home - they'd freeze their nuts off walking to the pub back home to borrow two quid off of Cedric and Trevor.

Is that announcement by CAT supposed to be in the English language? Is it supposed to be intelligible? Is this CAT's idea of communication? Okay, so I teach English, but if there's one thing Thai teachers drill into their advanced students (such as students who go on to write PR releases for newspapers) it's proper tenses. I get tense just trying to understand that monstrosity of an announcement!

And look at the TONE of the sentences - giving the attitude that "we're the government, and we're the only real phone company in Thailand and if you don't like it you can dictaphone ----

You mention your "serious approach to educating children." Maybe you want to try another country or solar system. I quickly learned that it was an insult in Thailand to be told, "You're too serious."

These experienced Thai teachers and administrators long ago realized that the rich Thais would never spend enough money on public education to get class sizes down (or build enough new buildings). So they adapt by being less serious. Ten minutes late for class? Mai bpen rai. Class cancelled without notice? Mai bpen rai. Somcharat's beating up on Pasanol? Just break them up, my pen wry. The loud speakers aren't worth a plug nickel and your voice doesn't carry over the din? My pen writes.

Remember, when it's all said and done at the end of the day, you won't have set the world on fire or taught very much. Tarapornaporn isn't going to go home to Maa and say, "Ajarn Farang taught us how to pronounce 'gerund' today and conjugate the past participle."

But today I got a beautiful Christmas present from the shyest boy in Thailand.

What's funny about the diet cola is that I've been drinking that stuff almost nonstop since at least 1984, probably 1964, and it hasn't hurt me one bit. None of the symptoms mentioned (well, that's a ridiculously long list).

Anybody care to start making the list of what happens if you drink that much beer, wine, whiskey, rum, vomit, gasoline, poo, or piss?

Let's see, that would be less than two years ago. I regret paying 3,300 grand total for each night at the Tawanda Ramada when I could have found 1,900 at China Princess the first night instead of the 4th night. I regret trying to swim in dirty nasty Pattaya (both times). I don't regret buying those two t-shirts on the street in Pattaya, though ("No War" and "I'm not Gay But my Boyfriend Is").

If I'd made too many mistakes, I might not have decided to come here and stay indefinitely. Oh, yeah, I do regret almost killing myself on the way down Doi Inthanon on a rented Honda...the park rangers were very helpful.

Pepsi Max or Diet Coke, up to ten cans a day.

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Too much is not good for you mate.

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I suppose so - 50 or 60 a day wouldn't be good for you.

What shall I substitute - ten beers a day?

I grew up around Chicago, and always hated cold weather. San Antonio was a good escape, but southernmost Mexico was better. Chiang Mai is cold in the morning on a bike going 129 kph, but it beats riding on ice.

Pepsi Max or Diet Coke, up to ten cans a day.

Do you mean 1-2-Call? That's what I use, but international voice calls are 40 baht per minute. Would int'l text calls be 40 baht each? Internet cafes or other places that off telephone booth service would be cheaper for that, wouldn't they?

Last Saturday, the officer on the Thai side going out had a whole boxful of US$5 bills he was selling for 250 baht. My theory is that the US Treasury may be forbidding Americans to buy things in Myanmar, thus there's a real shortage of hard currency in the Rangoon junta. I figure they're taking $5 now instead of 250 baht.

Part of the price of any widely traded commodity, including foreign currencies, is simple supply and demand at the retail and wholesale level. I don't understand all of this by any means (the experts aren't telling their secrets). If the dealers themselves are short on a given paper, they'll pay more for it (and pass that price on to the buyers).

Then there's the big factor of speculators, like some of the folks commenting on this thread.

There are several other factors, and it's surprising how somebody with a master's in economics may say, "Oh, I didn't study that at university."

I suspect the reasoning is not to snub Thailand, but to get more greenback US dollars into the hands of the junta in Rangoon. Has the US treasury practically forbid American imports into Myanmar?

Actually, I was at Tachilek on Saturday, and the Thai immigration booth was making a profit. They sold me a US$5 bill for 250 baht. Do I recall correctly that was the old price, 250 baht each, to pay in Myanmar? If so, we border crossers pay the same old price. If so, it's the generals in Rangoon who are losing 20% on the fx.

He had a whole box of $5 bills. Seemed happy.

My first several nights in Thailand were at Tawana Ramada, and in addition to charging VAT plus service charge, their additional charge for a 'guest' made the total well over 3,000 baht/night. We got better accomodations at China Princess for 2,000, no surcharge for guests (but the service providers who come to the hotel have you meet them at the front door).

I doubt they'd charge extra in CMai, but you never know. I can't imagine they would, either. Even a downtown Holiday Inn in Shanghai, China didn't object, or charge extra. When I was night manager at a Holiday Inn, we didn't object.

If you didn't want such luxury, any of the places listed on dreadedned.com would not charge extra for guests, but you need something more upscale.

Way to go Peaceblondie.  In what country was this Assistant Principal carrying on?

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Texas. I gave this great speech to the Board of Education, and afterwards the main principal came up and said he didn't believe in corporal punishment himself (personally and professionally), but he allowed his vice-principals to do it, until they get caught on vice charges.

Regarding that printed statement that the USA SSA provides to its working citizens. It's prospective until you turn 62. Unless you specify otherwise, the SSA calculates the amounts at age 62 and later on the assumption you'll continue working at your present income until age 62. As soon as you talk about retiring many years before age 62, the calculation isn't worth the paper it was printed on. There are online calculators at www.ssa.org that let you do your own calculation on the basis of not working anymore, but they're not official.

brian, it sounds pretty speculative: the start up business, the California real estate market, etc. I agree that staying home a few more years makes more sense. I stayed until I was 56.

My apologies if we're getting off topic.

Agreeing with all the other responders here, I think it's highly illegal and obviously most irregular. Red flags popping up everywhere.

I have had a non-immigrant B (two, in total) for 1.7 years, and I have to leave the country every 90 days. Then I reenter, negating any need to 'report'. If I ever get a work permit, I think the 90 day leaving and reentering will be waived, but then I'll have to report my current address every 90 days.

You appear to be misinformed and confused. Why don't you search this website and thaivisa.com?

in asian culture teacher have the right to spnak bad student on their bottom, or on the hand

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My Thai stepson brought a letter home for me to sign, permitting the teachers to administer corporal punishment, and they do.

A bit later he came home and took off 4 pairs of shorts and 3 pairs of underpants.....

The teacher had given warning of the punishment. The whole class got a few strokes of the cane, boys and girls.

My son went well prepared.

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You signed the letter? I sure as h3ll wouldn't give anyone permission to abuse my child, no matter what the cirmcustances are.

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Me, neither. My twins got caught doing something naughty at middle school, and the assistant principal (who for many years had been raping young teenagers, on school premises) got out the paddle to hit my daughters. They said, "You can't do that because it's against our Daddy's religion." He phoned me at work and I said, "Yes, sir, you are absolutely forbidden to strike my children for any reason. What are the alternatives?" He said, "3 days suspension." I said, "Fine." One month later they caught him on the rape charges (fortunately, he wasn't raping my girls, and he wasn't beating them, either).

I've got a speech prepared for Thai educational administrators, similar to the one I gave to the left-wing Venezuelan rich folks: "When your ruling class decides to pay enough taxes to educate every peasant adequately, free of charge, with mandatory attendance to age 16 with class sizes under 25, for a century, your great-grandchildren might inherit a country worth ruling. Until then, your families will rule over a peasantry that isn't capable of driving you to the opera."

Sorry to have missed your smilie. Here's one back at ya' - oh heck, they're free, take several:

I'll never go into business, because I'm too lazy to figure out all the 'what if?' questions.  How much does advertising cost, and what's the most effective medium?  Which govt. officials need to be bribed?  Is there a local mafia?  What about amphur, provincial, national regulatory agencies?  Where can I get reliable help that actually comes to work on time (more or less) and doesn't steal (very much)?  How many people will come to my store?  How do I know this?  Who told me, and why would they know?  What do I know about this business?  What insurance coverage do I need?  Who's a good lawyer, a good insurance agent, the right supplier?  Where should I locate?  How much is rent?  Who are the customers in that neighborhood?  What do I never know if I don't speak the local language?  Just because she's my girlfriend, what does she know about this business?  How much do supplies cost?  When are peak times?  What do customers really want?  Who is my competition?  etc. etc.

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I hate to quote the old cliche, but here goes, 'Those who can't, teach, and those who teach, can't.' Or something like that

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mbkdudu, if you hate it, you could find a better cliche, or not say that one. What's your point? Those who can't open beauty salons, shouldn't. Those who are good at teaching, can and should and I do. What are you good for, at, or with?

I'll never go into business, because I'm too lazy to figure out all the 'what if?' questions. How much does advertising cost, and what's the most effective medium? Which govt. officials need to be bribed? Is there a local mafia? What about amphur, provincial, national regulatory agencies? Where can I get reliable help that actually comes to work on time (more or less) and doesn't steal (very much)? How many people will come to my store? How do I know this? Who told me, and why would they know? What do I know about this business? What insurance coverage do I need? Who's a good lawyer, a good insurance agent, the right supplier? Where should I locate? How much is rent? Who are the customers in that neighborhood? What do I never know if I don't speak the local language? Just because she's my girlfriend, what does she know about this business? How much do supplies cost? When are peak times? What do customers really want? Who is my competition? etc. etc.

No, real estate will not always be solid. Condos in Texas went to half their value in a year or two, and didn't recover within ten years. Many of us lost our life's savings, or however much of it was in real estate. Right now in various regions of the USA, there are incredible numbers of overvalued homes.

Gold? In the short term, purely speculative.

The reason I say that (and dutch seems to be thinking along the same lines) is that I used to move the kids from pillar to post. The oldest two cried their hearts out the last time I moved them, and they haven't moved 10 miles since then (1982). So, for my twin girls whom I raised myself, I waited until they were 17.9 years old and independent. Then I left the country by myself.