billmichael

Is it perhaps they were recently married to a local...???

On 7/27/2020 at 12:30 AM, CMNightRider said:

Simple conservative math explains a young earth.

 

Let us start in the beginning with one male and one female. Now let us assume that they marry and have children and that their children marry and have children and so on. And let us assume that the population doubles every 150 years. Therefore, after 150 years there will be four people, after another 150 years there will be eight people, after another 150 years there will be sixteen people, and so on. It should be noted that this growth rate is actually very conservative. In reality, even with disease, famines, and natural disasters, the world population currently doubles every 40 years or so. After 32 doublings, which is only 4,800 years, the world population would have reached almost 8.6 billion. That’s 2 billion more than the current population of 6.5 billion people, which was recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau on March 1, 2006. 

 

This simple calculation shows that starting with Adam and Eve and assuming the conservative growth rate previously mentioned, the current population can be reached well within 6,000 years.

 

We know from the Bible, however, that around 2500 BC (4,500 years ago) the worldwide Flood reduced the world population to eight people. But if we assume that the population doubles every 150 years, we see, again, that starting with only Noah and his family in 2500 BC, 4,500 years is more than enough time for the present population to reach 6.5 billion.

 

By using simple math one can see man did not walk on the earth billions or even millions of years ago.

There was a discovery recently about fossilized animal footprints which were determined to be more than 300 MILLION years old.  https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/hiking/2020/08/23/oldest-grand-canyon-fossils/3404527001/  Note the same science that developed the CAT scan machine is the science used to determine the age of these fossilized foot prints, and the distance to the sun and the stars.  The Earth IS VERY OLD.  Far older than a once tiny religion that began in a tiny country before it spread to the rest of the world.  Religion came about to answer questions which at the time, were unanswerable.  Instead of looking for fairy tales we should maybe revisit the questions we asked so long ago and this time around, answer them truthfully.  

No, I do not.  The "Holy Bible" is a compilation of texts from many sources from many time periods with the somewhat obvious taint of mankind's handiwork all over it.  It is written from the perspective of men about men and by and for men.  The "book" ( the Old Testament ) is about the Jewish people and nothing intended against Jews or Judaism at all, period.  But it is their book, about them, and grants them permission to have dominance over everything as "God's People".  Also, if God were the Creator then God would have "known" certain things.  For example, mental illness is caused by chemical imbalance or mis-wiring or damage to the brain, not by demons and spirits.  The belief in God and the book that was "inspired" by Him answers many questions mankind needed to ask but had no answers for.  Everything I said could be wrong and I could be totally mistaken but it is what I sincerely and truthfully believe.  I have made my peace with this way of thinking and though I am not happy about it I believe what I believe is right.  The torch of Life was passed to me through my mother and father and it then passes on to my children and when my time is done my body dies and returns to the Earth.  I will be no more, ever again, having spent my time as best as I knew how and as honestly as I understood my place in the place of things.  I find I cannot live a lie for others just because they want me to and it makes them feel better.  I know in my heart we all share the same fate.  

10 hours ago, petermik said:

Simply untrue....T.A.T figures confirm tourism is on the increase with big spending Indians arriving in their droves   

I have heard that Indians are ALWAYS on the lookout for a "bargain" and that Chinese are stubborn to give a bargain.  

19 hours ago, madmen said:

Forget it.
Deported for being rude!!


Borrowed from another poster




 

New Philippines Immigration Reform Act filed. If the recent price increases, violence escalation, infrastructure or lack thereof, and general lack of fair and due process doesn't convince you to go elsewhere, the new Philippines Immigration Reform Act will. It gives wide and vague latitude for Immigration and Police to basically do whatever they feel like with you. Here are a few new highlights:

● Exit Clearance will now be required after 60 days - [MTV] Essentially if you stay in country for > 60 days you need Tax Clearance before you can leave, even if leaving for a holiday - IIRC this is currently 6 Months
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will be cancelled on divorce, relationship abandonment, or failure to provide support for Filipino spouse and family(does not disclose as what extent of her existing family). - [MTV] Scary 
● Foreigners Permanent Residency will cancelled if outside the Philippines more than 1 year.
● Foreigners will no longer be allowed to establish any type of business under a visitor visa.- [MTV] One of the major selling points of PI over TH
● New visa applicants will be required to have a physical and mental evaluation prior to getting an immigrant visa. - [MTV] Speechless
● Entry into the Philippines will be denied for those believed to arriving for the purpose of getting prostitutes or showing "disrespect" to any government official or employee. - [MTV] Some may guffaw at this but anybody who's visited the Philippines for the past 10+ years can tell you about clampdowns in Manila & (especially) Cebu 
● Deportable offenses: engaging in prostitution,  being deemed a public charge, being deemed undesirable, and being "rude" .- [MTV] Speechless
● Foreigners must register within 60 days of arrival and update any changes in said registration within 7 days. - [MTV] TM30/TM28 anybody?
● Also states that the immigration agency can start requiring cash bonds on demand to ensure immigration adherence. Provision perhaps for longer stays?- [MTV] at the moment the only cash requirement outside of visa expenses is if you go for an SRRV Visa, this sounds more like they're going to want to see Funds in the Bank for people who are staying longer on any kind of basis
● Imprisonment offences of not less than 5 years: falsely claiming to be a Filipino citizen, pretending to be someone else or using false documents, making a false statement in any immigration matter,   
 

And I imagine you certainly do NOT want to spend five (5) years in a Filipino prison.

And imagine you certainly do NOT want to spend five (5) years in a Filipino prison.

Even in America if you live in the city and walk your dog you are expected to clean up after your pet.  No one wants to step in dog poo while out enjoying the weather.  You do not need to have a "talk" with the old Thai guy because I think the answer to your question is obvious.  If you Do speak to this old man show some respect as he was in Thailand before you.

13 minutes ago, jerry921 said:

Why not do both? You can hit the cheap end on the envelope at 500 Baht and find a gift that costs 500 baht less than you might otherwise give at home and come out the same.

I think your suggestion is excellent.  BTW, are you the one and only Jerry Hopkins the legendary writer and journalist...???  If you are, I LOVE your books about Thailand and if I could I would shake hands and take you out to dinner.

2 hours ago, dotpoom said:

And what about the Clinics....just look inside when passing ....packed to the rafters, with enough shoes outside to open 20 shops.

  PS....Back home (Western Europe) there is about a 4 or 5 year waiting list to get a bed in a hospital to have a procedure done?

.

In the USA, patients who clamor for "ObamaCare" would wet their pants if they knew how "socialized medicine" worked in real life.  The combination of available (for a price) insurance and greed keep the cost of care at nosebleed levels.  There is simply nothing to keep the price down, no competition, no regular market forces, nothing.

On 11/16/2017 at 12:27 AM, mfd101 said:

Well, you've obviously got your own example there, to start with.

 

We assume that people will behave as they do (or, I suspect, used to) in The West: recruited, trained, performing, promoted, performing, rewarded etc. And no doubt there are some like that here but I suspect they are hard to find. My observation is of young people with no such interest & certainly no loyalty to the organisation that recruits them & trains them.

 

One young female acquaintance in BKK several years ago (early 30s) changed jobs as often as she changed her mobile number ("for good luck") - about once every 2 months. And I have other similar examples. In my own family a BIL with a steady job as manager of a garage has just (literally) walked away from it to return to the farm/village with his wife & kids & (now) no visible means of support - didn't even say farewell & thanks to his rich boss who has looked after him for many years & to whom he owes (as to many others) some considerable funds ... Building a large Western-style house in the provinces over the last 18 months was an education (for me): Little pride in their work, 40% OK is OK, constant demands for more money to do the job, just disappear when the going gets tough - and that wasn't just the workers, that was the bosses.

 

As my partner says: "Thai people want to be rich but they don't want to work for it."

 

My examples are anecdotal but there would be many 'Western' businessmen with similar experiences: Never pay your staff in advance because they just disappear - always keep the wages in arrears; different concepts of 'service'  & of time. And on & on.

Thank you so much for your answer and insight.  It explains a great deal.  I could not live like that.  I myself have always been terrified of not having a roof over my head.

16 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Any number of possibilities but it's not hard to think of a few: Too hard to get started (corruption). Too hard to get staff (education & attitude). Too hard to train staff (education & attitude). Too hard to import trained staff & management (government & attitude). Poor infrastructure (transport, digital ...).

 

But come back in 20 years & they (or their successors) will be here.

Please tell me more about this.  I work for a company with a global presence and I have a Thailand pen-pal who I know well enough now that I thought he would be a good fit at my company's Bangkok headquarters.  Despite encouraging him to apply, this man only wants to operate his business as a street vendor selling Japanese crepes.  It boggles my mind because my company could offer a lot in terms of decent wages and benefits plus a "real future".  Is this the "education and attitude" issue you speak of...???  I really want to know so please advise and Thank You So Much for your thoughts.

On 5/10/2017 at 4:00 AM, toenail said:

Sad the so called missionary's photo was not posted.  Makes me upset to think this man is getting funding from some churches back in the USA and sending back false information to make his supporters believe he is "spreading the word".

On 7/21/2017 at 11:34 PM, billmichael said:

I have sent numerous small parcels to verified addresses in Thailand from the USA and none of them made it except for one which I sent via USPS Registered Mail meaning it had to be signed for every step of the way.  No one but a ring of thieves appear to be working in the Thai postal system.  I suspect if a package arrives with English writing from a far away country it is automatically diverted to where it can be pawed through and pilfered if it is of any value.  Signed, one very disgusted postal customer from the USA.

About the comment I made earlier on 7/21 regarding "lost mail".  Today, I have been told by the recipient, one more piece of the small parcels I sent to Thailand is finally in the recipient's hands.  It took well over a month for the piece I sent from the USA using their "International Letter Service (with Tracking) " to actually reach its destination there in Bangkok.  I thought for certain it had been pilfered but lo and behold, it was not and was only tied up in "Customs" where they examined the contents, re-taped it and then sent it on.  I owe the Thai Post an apology for suspecting them of thievery however there are still another small parcel and two pieces of regular mail that have never arrived as intended.  The USPS reports that the small parcel I sent in February of 2560 is still "In Transit to the Destination".  Ha...!!!  Oh, well, I must educate myself on what works and what doesn't in the event I one day send something really important.

On ‎7‎/‎21‎/‎2017 at 8:20 PM, lopburi3 said:

Not sure what above has to do with OP - but I would suggest looking at USA before Thailand - they have a great ability to send items to the wrong country.  Have never had anything go missing except from USA in my 50 years of experience here and frequently order mail order items (avoiding those from USA when possible).  

Well, then, I am open to anything.  What about this.  The address where I sent my missing packages is near Bangkok but has a number 24130 at the end of the address specification.  It just so happens that 24130 is also the USPS ZipCode of a small town in Virginia in the USA.  Are you then suggesting that my packages (four in all) wound up in Virginia USA even though the packages were all marked for delivery to an address in Thailand.  Have you seen his happen...???  I have tried to write and or call the USPS but much to my dismay all of the customer service is "automated" with telephone menus that can keep you trapped for hours at a time.  I have submitted complaints with USPS Tracking Numbers which were acknowledged as having been received but then after months no response at all from the USPS.  If you have time to indulge me, please, if you will, how does Thailand Customs treat a package?  DO they notify the recipient that a package with money due is waiting at their office?  Thank you for your consideration.  It is and has been very frustrating.

I have sent numerous small parcels to verified addresses in Thailand from the USA and none of them made it except for one which I sent via USPS Registered Mail meaning it had to be signed for every step of the way.  No one but a ring of thieves appear to be working in the Thai postal system.  I suspect if a package arrives with English writing from a far away country it is automatically diverted to where it can be pawed through and pilfered if it is of any value.  Signed, one very disgusted postal customer from the USA.

Over the centuries I think Thais have learned their skills at barter from the very best and that would be "us".

On 5/30/2017 at 8:04 PM, ubonjoe said:

A legal marriage would be recognized under international treaties Thailand has signed. 

But since your boyfriend is Thai they would apply Thai law for most things. They would not allow him to register his foreign marriage at an Amphoe. Immigration, embassies and consulates would not accept it for visa and extension purposes.

Dear ubonjoe,

     Thank you so much for your kind and courteous answer.

Best always,

Bill Michael

I just have a very quick question if someone can give a very quick answer, off hand.  

I am a gay male, if I marry a Thai boyfriend in the United States or in Taiwan, will it be recognized in Thailand?