Ajarn

U.S. flat pin, with some 2-prong round pins, sometimes on small electrical appliances and computer stuff. Round-pin Adapters readily available locally at 12 baht each.

The ones I've seen sent to me are from unaccredited universities, if they admit that and you buy the degree knowing that it is not in my opinion a fake degree.

The only ones I've received via email have been from 'soundalike' fake universities, one of which I used as reference... Still, I don't believe there is any legit university doing a three-week (or anything close) bachelors degree, and certainly not for a few hundred bucks... More like a couple of thousand, at least.

I know people that have applied for jobs with them mate, quite a few actually

Yeah, me, too! Even hired one guy, partly because he was upfront, but mostly becuse he taught a trial class, and was excellent...

After his contract with me, he got hired at Harrows.

Umm.. simple question, perhaps. How much does it cost per kilogram for a package going airmail to the States (we're talking under 10kg, here).

Also, I've heard that one MUST use the packaging at the post office- so is there any need for ME to box things up carefully? (it's books).

Thanks!

"Steven"

Depends on where (west coast, East coast)...Sorry, but I can't remember the per-kilo prices. I just pay the amount they tell me...I have seen the chart many years ago, and I remember that Vancouver was half the cost of San Fran...Later, it was evened out, but I can't remember the numbers now.

I've packed my own stuff, in my own boxes, plenty of times, and always used the 'wrapping service' at my P.O. Just habit, so I'm not sure what requirements are in this area. For smaller boxes, the P.O. has some quite sturdy ones...

Perhaps the word everyone can agree on is "worthless."  And I don't think anyone's arguing here that one should seek a job based on those kind of quals!  Aren't we getting a little off-topic?  Perhaps this "looniversities" could be discussed in another thread?

"Steven"

Certainly, 'worthless' would not fit, because it does have value to some in getting a job, no matter how tenuous it might turn out to be...But, I get your point, and completely agree on that

Your mention of a thread on looniversities might not bad bad idea, either. In doing just a few minutes of research, it was obvious that this is a HUGE scam, and many many people in high places have used such fake degrees to get hired...

Substandard, useless, worthless, scams, bogus, phony, etc. etc. etc. I'll agree on. But not fakes per se. Fake money is money copied from an original and used to pass of as original Dollars, these are not! Same as fake watches etc.

Yes, I think they're rubbish, but they're not the fake degrees that are so popular in Thailand (or so I've heard;) )

Ken, I think you're just playing semantics games now.

Fake university= fake degree

Not a fake copy of something legit, but a pure fake. Period

fake

Function: noun

Synonyms: actor, bastard, bluffer, bum, bunk, bunko, charlatan, cheat, counterfeit, deception, deke, fabrication, faker, flimflam, forgery, four-flusher, fraud, gold brick, gyp, hoax, imitation, imposition, imposture, junque, make-believe, mountebank, phony, plant, pretender, pretense, pseudo, put on, reproduction, scam, sell, sham, sleight, spoof, swindle, trick

fake

Function: adjective

Synonyms: affected, artificial, assumed, bogus, concocted, counterfeit, fabricated, false, fictitious, forged, fraudulent, invented, make-believe, mock, phony, pretended, pseudo, reproduction, sham, simulated, spurious

I don't drink and party like many here, and the few restrictions don't affect me, except in the positive, mostly from less noise late at night from the roadside bars in my area. The noise really carries...

I'm sure to get flamed for saying this, but I'm happy to see some attempts to help Thai society in any way. I think they're on the right track with placing some reasonable controls on 'places of nighttime entertainment'...

Given that, I feel that the government needs to provide better support for education and training for other professions, like the 'legit' spa business, which has been growing by leaps and bounds the last couple of years...

Thanks for the feedback kenkannif.

As far as qualifications, aside from having a college degree and being a native English speaker, I have none. My plan is to obtain a TEFL certificate, and then find a teaching position teaching one or two days a week. As my experience grows and I become more knowledgeable and confident in my ability to teach English, I would increase the number of days spent in the classroom.

In years past, I've hired a number of teachers to work for one school term..About 5 months, depending on the school... I feel confident that you shouldn't have too much of a problem, but the trick is finding a willing school in your area, and one that isn't accepting you because they're a crappy school and desperate because other teachers don't want to work there. After a year or so, you will certainly have more options, in my experience

If you do the research, look closely and realize that just because they have a name like 'blank university' doesn't mean they're a real university...Look at accreditation, too.

One example...The top of the page on google 'university degrees'..

"Easy American Degrees

www.belforduniversity.org Earn Accredited & Verifiable Degree from home. No study, no exams."

Fully accredited by the International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities (IAAOU) & Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA).

All fake places made to look legit. Look at their websites yourself. Only one other 'school' is accredited by them, and on their list of 'schools awaiting approval', every link to every school listed is dead...

From http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-13201.html

Excerpt from a recent newspaper article regarding Rochville University:

Mike Mather Investigates

Diploma Mills - Degrees Without Taking Classes

Email to a Friend  Printer Friendly Version    

Your NewsChannel 3's Mike Mather

(Norfolk, VA, February 17th, 2004, 7:54 p.m.) Riley Golski is learning to count change, tell time and make compound words. By all measures, he’s one of the brightest students at Norfolk’s Taylor Elementary. So bright is Riley that his grasp of recreational sports recently earned him a college degree.

He'll be the first to tell you he isn't qualified. “I don't know lots of stuff, yet,” he said, barely glancing up from the day’s coloring project. Riley’s degree came from a “diploma mill,” one of hundreds of Internet-based businesses that promise university credentials and transcripts for as little as a few hundred dollars. Investigators say it is a $200-million-a-year industry that often dispenses undergraduate and advanced degrees in exchange for little or no academic work.

To see how much – or how little – one of these businesses would scrutinize the life and educational experience of an applicant, NewsChannel 3 applied to Rochville University using Riley’s unembellished accomplishments. Because of Riley’s athletic background, we asked for a degree in “exercise science” from a list of dozens. We paid $75 extra to have the transcripts reflect a 3.5 grade-point average. We were also given to option of “back dating” the degree to the date of our choice.

Rochville granted the degree for about $300, no questions asked. The university also provided car decals and a verification service that potential employers would contact if they were unsure of the degree. “Usually the employer is interested in verification of the documents only, for which Rochville University provides an excellent verification system, where complete authentication of the degrees and certificates is provided,” the university wrote to us while we were still pretending to be Riley. “This service verifies that the degrees obtained are authentic and meet certain eligibility criteria.” Rochville University’s professional web presence didn't surprise Dr. Anne Savage. “It is very easy to set up a fake diploma mill, a fake school, on the Internet,” said Savage, who heads the distance learning department of Old Dominion University. That department allows students to attend or view classes without ever being at the university.

Savage says she doesn't have much sympathy for degree-seekers who knowingly cut corners in the pursuit of phony credentials, but she also worries some questionable universities may be misleading well-intentioned applicants by overselling the clout of their degrees. In those cases, she says an applicant’s money would be better spent on an accredited school. “The fact that someone takes advantage of them breaks my heart,” she said. “It’s not right. It angers me.” A federal investigation is underway to see how many of the nation’s top government and Pentagon employees gained jobs or promotions by using credentials from either diploma mills, or other types of correspondence schools that are not accredited.

“No contender for a job — whether it's in the private sector or federal government — should lose out to a candidate because that candidate holds a bogus degree,” Virginia congressional representative Tom Davis told the Associated Press last month. Davis, a Republican, is one of two legislators who've asked the Government Accounting Office to examine the resumes of top government and Pentagon leaders. The investigation was sparked when a Washington-based industry newspaper revealed a top government officer held degrees that didn't require academic work. An investigation by Government Computer News showed that Laura Callahan, the former deputy chief information officer of the Homeland Security Department, “bought” three degrees from Wyoming-based Hamilton University. According to the trade publication, Hamilton awards degrees based on life experience and not coursework.

Callahan is on leave during the investigation. Davis has asked for a more broad investigation. The questioned education falls into two general categories. First, there are the diploma mills that award degrees based on an applicant’s “life experience” rather than on traditional academics. For a fee of a fee hundred to a few thousand dollars, an applicant can gain degrees the university promises to vouch for if ever questioned by an employer. The second type are schools that may offer degrees for a combination of academic work and life experience, even though their institutions are not recognized by traditional accreditation agencies. In some states, like Oregon, using a bogus degree to get a job or promotion can be a crime. That’s one reason the Oregon Department of Education keeps the largest known government listing of diploma mills and questionable universities.

A NewsChannel 3 search of online resumes also found dozens of people in Virginia and North Carolina claiming education or degrees from both diploma mills and the unaccredited institutions listed by Oregon. We found teachers, clergy, authors, lecturers, military personnel, a high-ranking emergency medical director, and even a state delegate claiming degrees or education from questionable sources. The state delegate, Lionell Spruill Sr., lists “Pacific Western University” on his state resume. After a 1997 lawsuit, that Hawaii-based university now carries disclaimers on its web site that the academic curriculum is not accredited by any agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. Oregon lists Pacific Western University on its roster of “substandard” institutions. Spruill represents parts of Chesapeake and Suffolk.

Despite what his resume listed last month, Spruill told NewsChannel 3 that he did not hold a degree from Pacific Western. “I took some correspondence courses” through the school, he said. “I did not get a degree.” When told his official House of Delegates biography listed him as holding a bachelors degree, he said, “that’s wrong.” He promised to fix the overstatement. Spruill’s current biography lists education at Pacific Western, but does not include a degree. The “Doctorate of Laws” Spruill lists on his resume is an honorary degree. As for Rochville University, it was easier to gain the degree for a first-grader than it has been to locate the school. None of the university’s numerous Internet pages lists an address. The fax number goes to Imlay, Nev. The school’s domain name lists an apartment building in Malden, Mass., as its address. The web site is routed through a server in St. Louis. When, still posing as Riley Golski, we asked Rochville administrators where the campus was, this was the reply: “Rochville University is an online Accredited University, operating from USA . All transactions and verifications are done electronically and all communication takes place via Internet, e-mail or fax.”

When we contacted the school again, but this time as NewsChannel 3, no one ever wrote us back. But they did email us as Riley, offering a masters degree for $269.

Here’s the information we supplied to Rochville University, on Riley’s behalf, in our application for a degree.: “During the past six years, I have studied numerous forms and disciplines of sports and recreation, to include the participation in a tennis academy at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.; extensive aquatics instruction at Mallory Country Club also in Norfolk; the study of soccer tactics and skill-building at various locations in Virginia; and graduation from a rock-climbing course in Virginia Beach, Va. I ask that you consider my years of study and participation in the fields of athletics, exercise, recreation and nutrition as meeting the requirements for a degree in Exercise Science.”

Web links:

State of Oregon’s list of diploma mills, unaccredited colleges and “substandard” institutions:

www.osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.html

Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) searchable database of accreditation status:

www.chea.org/institutions

If you have questions about this story, feel free to email Mike Mather at [email protected]

Fakes, frauds, scams. No adresses, no schools, no teachers. And illegal to use in some States. I personally know of three people using their 'degrees' from Pacific Western University who were later fired from their jobs.

Let's not suggest that these are anything more than fake, fraudulent, and a scam. And someone who does such a thing...Liars, cheats, thieves, frauds...

Yes, there are legit online degree programs from legit universities, Bellflower university being one of the who is legit and even registered in Thailand. But you don't get a degree in 3 weeks, and you actually have to test, too.

If in doubt, here is a searchable database of legit schools in the U.S.

http://www.chea.org/institutions/search.cfm

No, the ones he mentioned from the internet are UNACCREDITED degrees 

That is just your assumption, isn't it?

"Send us $300 and your resume, and we'll give you a degree"

...and try to get one that will be useful (English Literature etc ).

Come on Ken, you're just pissing in the wind trying to legitamize such internet scams

Yes, I understand what fake means.

But the degrees from the internet are not fake they are just unaccredited is all. There's a difference as my previous post covers. A lot of them are based on other qualifications and life experience and some are indeed valid and probably would help you to obtain a teachers licence. So it would indeed be a genuine unaccredited degree, rather than a KSR knocked up fake degree!

The one I've referred to, and quoted from, is clearly NOT something that fits what you are talking about..

It IS a fake as described, and fraudulent to use here to get your job/visa, in my view.

That was my only point. I'm not disagreeing that anything else is possible, even schools and teacher who are completely legal.

Ajarn,

If it's a degree from an unaccredited University it's not fake is it? As it's not being passed of for anything other than what it is. Unlike a fake Mancherster Uni degree which would be a copy of a 'proper' or original degree. Like if you made money from the Kingdom of Narnia it wouldn't be fake per se, although (and this might apply to a degree as well, saying that though does the MoE specify it has to come from an accredited Uni?) if you tried to pass it off as real money (like a chap did in Pattaya recently) you could then probably be done for fraud! Although I'm not a lawyer or anything so I may well be completely wrong (so don't call me if you're nicked/deported!).

Ajarn I kind of agree with you, but there's what should happen and what does happen unfortunately!

Very important - Order a university degree over the internet - it takes about 3 weeks and try to get one that will be useful (English Literature etc ).

Fake, fraudulent, degree.

fake1

· adj. not genuine.

· n. a person or thing that is not genuine.

· v. forge or counterfeit. Ø pretend to feel or suffer from (an emotion or illness).

– DERIVATIVES faker n. fakery n.

– ORIGIN C18 (orig. sl.): origin uncertain; perh. ult. rel. to Ger. fegen ‘sweep, thrash’.

fraud /frO;d/

· n.

1 wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

2 a person or thing intended to deceive.

– DERIVATIVES fraudster n.

– ORIGIN ME: from OFr. fraude, from L. fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury’.

As for shaky, all diesel engines are shaky

Mine isn't.

If your's is shaky, that is not normal. Diesel engines are not designed that way, and if it was true, the engine wouldn't last long... Just look at any bus engine or other vehicle using a diesel- none of them shake. But of your engine is on rubber supports, there is going to be some slight movement with any engine, not just a diesel. And if those mounts are worn or whatever, your engine will shake more...

As you suggested, if your rubber engine mounts are worn, get them replaced.

Yes, it should be acknowledged that it's a catch-22 for most schools, for a whole variety of reasons that get re- and re-hashed.  To be honest, Ajarn, it's really not feasible for most workers at most schools to be entirely legal from day 1, even at the "top schools" (though I recommend it where it is possible!!!).

"Steven"

Everyone should hear all sides, even the sides they don't want to hear. Like I implied, our choices should be informed choices, maybe especially here. The potential consequences of our actions here should always be a part of our decision-making process, I believe.

There surely is a law regarding getting a visa extension based on fraud, for example...

My advice is, play the game by the rules. Deviate from that, and you're giving all your power to any Thai official to ###### with you.

Well he didn't really mention using the 'fake' (and even then I suppose it depends how you class a fake degree, as online ones are kind of legit, but saying that the MoE quite often sends a list of legit, but not really legit online degrees to a lot of the schools here) degree to obtain an extension per se. You probably wouldn't even need one to find work here to be honest.

Ajarn while I agree with what you're saying, the play by the rules bit as discussed before would mean 90+% of teachers here wouldn't be here (for various reasons: Teaching at a different location to that specified on their WP, teaching subjects, or doing work that's not specified on their WP, working before they have their WP, etc. etc.) to actually end up with the paperwork, WP etc. needed!

I like to play the 'devil's advocate' sometimes, too

I can't imagine how a fake degree can be 'legit', though.

Good advice is still good and valid even if the majority don't follow it themselves. It shouldn't give one cause or excuse to ignore it, in my opinion.

It's also good advice to not drive drunk. I'm glad the majority follows that advice, even though many others don't

Here is what my overstay stamp looked like. Granted, it was a few years ago, so the format may have changed, but I never had any problems getting a new visa. But, at that time, another guy traveling in the same van, was later refused a visa in Penang because he was 11 days over....

Now, if that '1 day' that they wrote in my stamp had read '1,095 days' of overstay, I'd say it would not be surprising if he has a problem getting another visa, or even be added to a png list even if it's not stamped in his passport at that time.

Sorry to say, but somnamnaa.

The overstay stamp is still much the same Ajarn. One can't rule anything in or out, but I haven't heard of a PNG order being made post the payment of the overstay fine. But T i T

Good point, maybe, about the 'already paid' angle...

But, frankly, if I was the immigration officer handling this guy trying to get into my country, or a consulate official looking at his visa application and passport, I would never give him another stamp.

It's not like he lived on some remote island, or was hospitalized...He was in Bangkok.

But, like you said, TiT...One never really KNOWS what will happen here

^^There *is* too much of that going on, mattnich- but the only alternative is to "clean up" the whole system.  Wouldn't mind it myself- but would you (and all your friends) pass muster?

"Steven"

My point would be that mattnich's advice is BAD. Dangerous, too. Violations of ANY laws here can carry a fine AND JAIL. Even though the odds are seemingly remote, this clueless newbie is too clueless to likely recognize the effect his choices might have on him here. There surely is a law regarding getting a visa extension based on fraud, for example...

My advice is, play the game by the rules. Deviate from that, and you're giving all your power to any Thai official to ###### with you.

Here is what my overstay stamp looked like. Granted, it was a few years ago, so the format may have changed, but I never had any problems getting a new visa. But, at that time, another guy traveling in the same van, was later refused a visa in Penang because he was 11 days over....

Now, if that '1 day' that they wrote in my stamp had read '1,095 days' of overstay, I'd say it would not be surprising if he has a problem getting another visa, or even be added to a png list even if it's not stamped in his passport at that time.

Sorry to say, but somnamnaa.

Customer Relations Center coordinated with Technician and was infomred that this matter might be occurred. Because battery is already release the electron although the car was not started

A classic, RDN

In and around Amphur Phen the rockets are 3 talang met. + (just in case you don’t know a TALANG MET. is a Thai meter)

Just in case you don't know, a talang met is a square meter

NOT according to the Thai villagers in my village.

I am told that Tlang is the word for anything to do with measurement.

TALANG FEET – TALANG MET etc.

‘’I not no wot sqer met is’’ was the answer that I received.

They also have GALLONS

SMALL GALLONS --- pint quart, cup full, etc.

BIG GALLONS ----- 5 gallons, 10 gallons, 500 liter water tank, etc.

SOON------------------any time in the next 2 hours.

NOT TOO SOON------any time in the next 2 weeks, know idea when, if ever.

Pinch yourself and you might awaken from your dream world

Oh, and did I mention that the Isuzu leaves the Toyota in its dust?

RDN, how old was your battery?

A couple of months ago, I had my battery go dead after sitting for 6 days. Wouldn't take a charge, either. Kaput. No alarm on, no drain at all. Okay, the clock was running....

2 weeks after the 12 month warranty expired

Thai battery, of course .

But Isuzu was at my door less than an hour after I called to pick up my truck, take it back to the shop to test the battery and to test the truck, too, for any signs of problems that might have caused the battery to drain...n the end, the battery was dead, everything else looked okay- and they swapped in a new battery for no charge, In fact, no charge for anything. Of course, I did give a nice tip to the guys who picked up and delivered my truck.

Like I said, I highly recommend Isuzu. 100% right by me every time, so far.... TiT, na'?

Being based in Liverpool, the old subject of Thaksin buying Liverpool was discussed in the papers. What I was interested in, was did Thaksin lose any face in Thailand over the fiasco that was meant to be him buying 30% of Liverpool Football Club. I mean he bragged to the Worlds media that he was buying it, then pulled out! Surely he must have lost face, or was it all hushed up out in LOS???

It's the game of politics, smoke and mirrors, Thai style, and it was quite effective during a time when Thaksin wanted to shift attention away from his involvement in the South, the missing lawyer case, and a few other home-grown headaches for the PM...Only lasted a couple of weeks before naturally unravelling, in line with orders from the PM to back off, no doubt

As for his face, who cares? Nothing changes, no matter whether he loses face (in whose opinion?) or not...

In and around Amphur Phen the rockets are 3 talang met. + (just in case you don’t know a TALANG MET. is a Thai meter)

Just in case you don't know, a talang met is a square meter

I didn't buy a Nissan because their cookies suck

I love my 4-door 3.0 Turbo Isuzu D-Max. I'd highly recommend them to anyone.