55Jay

Trump sold out to religious extremists for votes, so there is some common ground.

We used to say "on" when living on Guam and Crete.  When you left, common to say I'll be "off" island. 

I don't know why but "in" Bahrain, this didn't seem to apply.  Maybe it was because of the causeway to Saudi.  Weird, eh?

The village/town I lived in the first 4 years up here near Korat, has 2 large reservoirs and a couple smaller ones - all empty before the last dry season began.  The newest big one was dug 3 years ago but it's remained a rough cut hole in the ground, no pump houses/facilities, etc.  I was wondering what the heck they had in mind, nothing seemed to be happening.

Tessaban did A LOT of work all the sudden leading up to last rain season.  They cut a klong along the road from the new rough cut reservoir over to the big, primary reservoir.  After rain season got going, I rode over on the motorbike and was gobsmacked to see the new rough cut reservoir was totally full, and an impressive volume of water was flowing into the klong over to the primary reservoir, which filled up to the top in about 3 to 4 days.  Incredible.  Many, including me, sat there on our motorbikes at water's edge, watching and listening to the glorious, reassuring sound of water crashing into the lake.  Tipped my hat to the local government boys, they done good.

2 hours ago, Parvis said:

I am an old man (76) - an old fool as SOME may point out. I have considered "not helping" - but - would that make me happier?  Absolutely not - I can make a difference for the children - with money, inspiration, positive guidance - they have yet undeveloped future potential. The boy will be with me shortly - in Bangkok - during his 'end of term' vacation. To see him develop into a responsible young man - will give me satisfaction.

 

I appreciate all the feed back - my objective was to understand better and provide reasonably.

 

Nice post, fills in the blanks and gives us a measure of who you are.  Not an old fool at all.

I understand the feelings one can have seeing a Thai kid who seems/.is smart and full of potential, but maybe held back by their "situation".  Helping others to help themselves can be a very rewarding endeavor, in particular if you've never had kids yourself, getting older, etc., it's natural.  Not handouts, but smoothing the path in front of them to ensure they can reach the point where choices and opportunities are presented. 

My wife's nephew, a tall, skinny drink of water, is so bright, well behaved and mature, not some motorbike idiot out at all hours drinking and smoking.  He's also very proficient with written and spoken Japanese, which I think is awesome, and demonstrates his capability and resolve.  Last time they were up from BKK for a visit (it had been nearly 2 years), he was finishing up school and planning for Uni, somehow, someway.  I wasn't going to go down "that" road but he told me he was interested in becoming a pilot.  I asked if he'd even flown or ridden in a plane.  No.   So I'm booking him an quick internal flight so he can feel what it's like.  Maybe he'll shit his pants and drop the idea.  Maybe it will cause him to pursue it.  I don't know.  But I feel good giving him a life experience that may help him craft a life course but if not, broadens his horizons a bit.   They are a typical, working class Thai family.  He would never throw a few thousand baht at a pointless plane ride to Khon Kean and back, that's stupid.   A few thousand baht to me is nothing and I look forward to hearing him recount his first flight.

 Thailand is 1 dry season away from major drought again.  Scraped through the last one by the skin of their teeth, and you know it's bad when the untouchables in the magic kingdom of BKK, were told to conserve water.   Meanwhile, in the rest of Thailand.....

10 minutes ago, bkkcanuck8 said:

I think the only conning the friend is doing is with the press and the police.  I do not hand my passport to anyone except authorized immigration officials.  I can see no valid reason why any "friend" would ask me for my passport -- and I am going to be extremely suspicious of any friend asking for it.... even more so someone just charged with a serious crime.   The friend was more than likely complicit with his friends evasion from justice.

From the OP:

"He entered Thailand on a passport in the name of a friend after conniving with that person and their relatives to escape justice in the US. "

Wow, 120k/mo in Issan is a lot.

When you say Up Country/Issan, many might picture a house in a rice field.  You certainly can have a high burn rate if you live in/near the city area with "diversions" to spend money on, and of course wife orf GF's family members on the payroll, and extended family below them on the Trickle Down Distribution System.   Everything costs 1,000 Baht, even a pack of chewing gum, and you never get back any change......   LOL.  It's all good though, and relative to your financial status.  When I was working, 120k was like 120 Baht.  Now?  Sheeet, that's 2 months of normal living expenditures for me and the Mrs, and life is still good. 

On 3/11/2017 at 9:38 PM, Bredbury Blue said:

 

Paying taxes here (like Thais) which non-work permit people don't do!

Those on extended stays based on a Non-Immigrant Visa, ought to be considered administratively vetted and less of a "threat", so to speak.   Immigration has all my and my wife's sensitive personal data, a map to my house, photos of my bedroom, which banks I use and how much I have and/or my monthly income amount.  I report to them every year, every 90 days and twice if I exit/return to the country.  I'd say we are pretty well inspected and monitored already so right, come on then, give us our own lane so we don't have to queue up behind a gaggle of lost souls searching for a pen, and the name/address of their hotel in Patio Beach. 

4 hours ago, dazzz said:

this much else to say just have a look at this

 

That went well.

I think Tucker Carlson, who I personally don't care for most of the time, suggested a very important idea that this issue has progressed to this stage by riding the momentum of the gay marriage movement.  But without sufficient extrapolation and due diligence.  The premise is stipulated, and we get right to debate about downstream issues.  Hold on, let's back up and discuss the premise. 

The typical response to a serious challenge to the premise seems to be severe anger and personal insults.  The guest could barely restrain him/herself from unleashing a full blown tirade.

Given what you've been providing, I go along with the other guy ^ and say 20k/mo seems like a nice round number.  And more importantly, in my opinion, a good number to STOP and HOLD at.  Clearly the trending increase and continued peppering for more has gotten your attention.

Indeed, you don't want to fall into the Farang Sucker zone.

Has she told you it takes X amount, or suggested a figure and you're trying to verify?

Or are you providing money already and being told more is needed (and want to verify).

I'm not be cheeky, this is a very common situation.  If any of the above is the case, would you mind revealing how much?   I live right up where you are referring to, although Korat is a big place.

Believe this is the source poll from PRRI.  >PRII Poll Link<

There are other interesting graphics at the top of the source link page as well.

Why are racial insults being used here?  Is that ok now?

3 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

useless without a name on the card, well mine is anyways.

Good point.  I need to get an ID card identifying me as Mr. Be1st Valued Member, just in case a switched on cashier wants to check.  

Just now, Don Mega said:

Thats why I dont use a sharpie and write my pin number on the card.

How about the CVV number on the back?

Glad you got your card back and avoided the cancel/get a new one, drill. 

Thinking about it though, I would rather the card be retained vs. it wandering around unaccounted for. 

August is in the wet season.  This site gives you a general idea for different areas.

https://www.travelfish.org/weather/thailand

https://www.tmd.go.th/en/seasonal_forecast.php

16 minutes ago, neeray said:

 

It is a well known, annual problem, not just in CM.  It is exacerbated by the regional neighbors who burn as well.

1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

Sorry, but you are mixing nationalism with racism. In this particular case, the Burmese are offended by their neighbors the Thais.

They exhibit blatant racism towards non-Asian foreigners, double charging and immigration rules etc.,  and adopt a superiority complex when dealing with their Asian neighbors, particularly Lao, Khmer and Burmese..

Anyone reading the English translation can see just how nationalistic and by extension, xenophobic, the Thais really are.

This anthem says it all.

Thai National Anthem (translated to English).

Thailand embraces in its bosom all people of Thai blood.
Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais.
It has long maintained its sovereignty,
Because the Thais have always been united.
The Thai people are peace-loving,
But they are no cowards at war.
They shall allow no one to rob them of their independence,
Nor shall they suffer tyranny.
All Thais are ready to give up every drop of blood
For the nation’s safety, freedom and progress.

Woosh, that's a heavy dose of propaganda in the anthem.

I agree in general about Patts.  I certainly could live there and thought I would at first, but now, meh, no thanks.  Good for a few days/week away, then happy to leave it. 

I've used Panda since roughly 2004 when my Norton was attacked and locked up.  Used a Panda CD from a friend, got my computer running again.  In the contravening years, tried others, including free Avira and recently Kaspersky 30 day trial, but always find my way back to Panda.

About 25 USD for the basic Anti-Virus Pro suite, 1 year,  3 licenses, includes a firewall and Light App for the Android tablets and phones.   On my Windows desktop and laptop, also use free Malwarebytes and Firefox Extensions called Blu-Hell Firewall and QuickJava. 

Trump doesn't seem to know or react to much, unless it's on Fox or Twitter. 

Remember that expensive Korat wood house dismantled last year in a wind/rain storm? 

Guam decided to try steel ( I think they were tubes/hollow) transmission lines vs. timber.  They sure did look strong, but they weren't set deep enough or were just bolted to a concrete foundation. Bent right over during the first typhoon.   Contractor bugged out off island real quick.  Guam and Thailand have a lot in common.

Facebook. Jar Heads.  Nuff said.