in the sky

I have been asked to market an item for a non-Christian NGO. First thing that needs doing is a radical label design change. Computer graphics would be most convenient for the organization. I pretty much know what I want it to look like, but don't have the computer graphic skills.Anyone willing/able to help me out?

I am looking for a source for high quality white matt board. The kind used for matting and mounting pictures. It needs to be pure white and acid free. I would think a high quality framing store would be able to get it. The stuff at Central's art supply is crap. I'd appreciate your suggestions.

About a year ago, when I needed a picture reframed I went looking for a place that used acid free matt board. No body seemed to know what I was talking about, so I finally went to the CMU Faulty of Art, and even the director had no knowledge of such a thing. I gave up and used what was available. My watercolor has not turned yellow yet. Unfortunately, it seems that they use some kind of wood product on the back - The acid is a natural substance in wood that is washed away producing "acid free" paper products. I now have a very heavy watercolor, but what the heck, the walls are made of concrete and can hold it!

Anyone up for simple thai conversation coffee break get togethers?

I speak basic Thaiglish..and although i can say some key things I cannot hold a sensible conversation (and my nerves/embarrassment get the better of me if i try). I wonder if there are others in the same boat who like the idea of maybe meeting up for an hour over coffee once or twice a week with a specific themed conversation in mind and practicing? Being patient with one another and helping each other fill in the gaps via either knowledge or looking up thai dictionary or language book.

I was thinking along the lines of basic introductions.. and on later times discussing things like what you ate last night etc. Although of course it may be hard because of tones but i am not suggesting this in place of proper study/lessons. I was thinking more for a group for people who are either studying beginners thai, or have some basic knowlege and wish to be able to try out conversations amongst others who are in similar situation. The aim being to try have more fluid conversation and building confidence.

Initially, if anyone is interested, (and esp if its more than one person) i propose we have a set time period to talk about ourselves (or pre-planned topic) uninterrupted, without the use of text. So pre-study would be required. The rest of us would listen and try to understand, write down key words, things we did not understand, and formulate questions to ask later. After each of us have had our time to talk, we compare notes and understanding (or lack of), find out what we missed and write that down for further study later. Then using the questions formulated during our listening time we can pair up and try to discuss further/ask questions. If there is key words we do not know, we can look them up..or write down for asking our thai teachers/friends/partners later.

If preferred we can even stick to the same topic every time..trying to perfect it, adding in more words, building from it. The result hopefully being that repetition helps the words stick in our minds and helps any stilted conversation to become more natural. I believe in the concept that less is more and prefer to keep things simple building slowly from it...so this may be the best approach for us.

Oh also im a lazy so and so.. so would be great to meet up near Huay Kaew Road ..maybe Starbucks outside Central. But if there is a more convienent location for us all..ill get my ass...bum there.

Also..although a casual concept...i wish to stress that this get together does have an aim so please only decide to come if you really wish to practice thai and not get side-tracked talking English. Of course..after the hour is up..thats different..but respect that this will be a thai practice gathering and not just a social gathering.

Well..ill leave that concept with you and if interested we can arrange a suitable time.

One person is all i need really..but any amount is most welcome.

Im sure as long as we respect each others talk time and stick to an organised plan we should hopefully have a useful and enjoyable hour

There are at least a couple of groups in existence: We have a Thai teacher to correct us and we just sit around and try to talk and the teacher corrects us, answers question (in Eng) and asks us questions in Thai. We have several levels and I find I get more out of it if there are about 4 people. At this time we meet at my home (I never miss a meeting) near Wat U Mong on Mon and Wed at 5:30PM The teacher needs at least 200 B per hour, but if there are more than 3 of us then it is only 50 B. It is at my home becasue I have space, it is close to the teacher's home and it is quiet. Let me know if you would like to join us.

Hi Cocho

I regularly go to Chiang Mai Expats Club meetings. I have met a lot of women there, including a few your age and have some good friends. Give it a try. 2nd and 4th Sat every month at Chiang Mai Orchid Hotel next to Central. 10:30 AM, but come earlier top chat and get a seat. If you feel neglected, approach a Board member (white polos) and you are bound to get an introduction. They have a few good speakers, too.

What is the best/least expensive pool on the west side of Chiang Mai?

i am using a statalite TV also , sometime is just the motor set of the dish running out of oil , and is unable to adjust to the correct point , what you can do is manual adjust it , i am not sure about your system , but should be able to some manual adjust , using the control unit,

or , you can let it do a auto scan .. i don't think is the haze , even during thunder storm i had enjoy movies and news without fail ..

my biggest problem is there is a large tree blocking my disc , i and consider cutting the tree down but then again . i can do without it for the tree is keeping my house cooling ,

when you get 300 over channel , you can do without 100 ,

plus i only random around 20 channel

i use central statlite service ,

make a LEFT turn when you see MIKE BURGER near thapae - and keep your view on the RIGHT

you should see a shop that deal with statalite about 300-500 down that road .

I had a bad experience with these guys, and vowed never to return. The manager was a prize pr*ck about which package we should buy, and rubbished the competition, so we bought elsewhere.

I use this "service" also and agree with your evaluation of the manager. Where did you go for better service. I haven't had anythng except "update key" for about a month and the manager keeps teeling me to wait until next week. Help!!Tnx

I ask, who are "these" Christians. You do not know me or the original poster! How can you know what we believe or stand for?

Don't worry I detest you all equally Anglicans, Catholics, Morons you name them I hate them especially the woman missionary I had the misfortune to meet who works with the Karen people and has difficulty finding her arse with both hands and a map.

This individual lives (in some style by the way) in Chiang Mai and flies to Huay Hin on a regular basis, ready? to play golf if you don't mind.

I bet her "support group" in the UK would be thrilled to bits if they knew the money they donate after drinking tea with the vicar is used for this purpose, but hey, she is a Christian so its OK then.

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Maerim - every time there is a messsage from you it reeks with anger or hate. Are you aware of that? Your take on Christianity could use a little love in it.

I suspect that all you will be able to find in Thailand will be the more conservative Christian churches. Those are the ones that are most dedicated to evangelism. Sorry. Unitarians would sure be a breath of fresh Christian air in Thailand. You could always try the Catholic church. They are EVERYWHERE, it seems. They tend to emphasize social work, like running schools and hospitals, which are available to people of any religious orientation. Much more Christian. While the most publicized positions of the Catholic church are quite conservative, at least they aren't spending all their time trying to convert people.

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Cathyy, Thank you for yur positive feedback

i was under the impression that all religions (except judaism) operate on the carrot and the stick principle.

tow the line during life and you will be rewarded upon death , stray from the path and you will be punished after death.

(heaven and ###### , 72 virgins , re incarnation as a king or a cockroach)

(judaism has no such points system , you choose judaism because of the philosophy alone and not the expectation of reward or punishment )

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Try buddhism - you make your own heaven or ######, it's called karma.

I'm afraid this forum is possibly the wrong place to ask for Christian related advice, however I will make some enquiries and try to get some help for you.

Many of us here, especially in the North of Thailand have been witness to the severe damage that is constantly being caused by these evangelical missionaries. Many communities have had their hearts ripped out and the most severe sociological trauma is left behind when the missionaries pass through. Much of Chiang Mai's street life; homelessness, drug addiction, prostitution, AIDS Etc. can be laid squarely at the door of those who carve "Soul Notches" on their headboards. People are brainwashed: "Christ will provide", "Christ died to save you" Etc. and old, traditional beliefs, superstitions and prohibitions are scrubbed out of them as "Evil", to be replaced with a void. Christ patently does not provide a harvest, roof, clothing, watershed etc. etc. etc. All of which can be lost if the evangelical teachings are taken literally.

I apologise for my fellow contributors to Thai Visa, but you need to understand where we come from here.

As I wrote above, I will try to help, but I can make no promises. I fear you may be out of luck. However, posting here might enable you to find a group of like minded people to start your own group. (As long as you can acept the inevitable flames.

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Thanks P1P. I don't mind the flames -(that's where the right wing think I belong, anyway!) Any help would be appreciated. ]

I am looking for a liberal "church" that is not right wing, conservative Christian.  If there are any Unitarians around, I'd sure like to join or organize a gathering.

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Maerim, thank you for your suggestion, but presently that option is not vialbe for me. I don't want to open up any hate crap here, I'm just investigating, OK? Nither Jesus nor Buddha would feel that hate is the right way to go. Please take that on board.

I am looking for a liberal "church" that is not right wing, conservative Christian.  If there are any Unitarians around, I'd sure like to join or organize a gathering.

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I am looking for a liberal "church" that is not right wing, conservative Christian. If there are any Unitarians around, I'd sure like to join or organize a gathering.

I'm new here in CM. Where can one get the latest and best movies, not necessarily American? Thanks for help.