AsianAtHeart

Ahem. Perhaps so...but he's unlikely to have a work permit, and selling is a job a Thai could do, so he couldn't get the job anyhow.

I buy the 100-baht glasses at a place like Lotus. They're probably just plastic, not glass, and I clean them by fogging them with my exhaled breath and then wiping them with my cotton T-shirt. Had them for about a year and not a scratch yet. I only need them for reading/using my computer--but I'm doing that virtually all the time! My thought is that it's best to give the eyes some exercise and change their focal length from time to time by looking at things at various distances. It may be harder to read things up close, but it's good to try once in awhile just to keep the eyes more flexible. I think I would be able to handle the problem almost completely via the exercise method, and eliminate the need of glasses, if it were not for having had a bad keratitis that affected one eye. Now I have one eye that can read without glasses, and one that must have glasses--and the weaker eye wins, or else everything is blurry. In any case, I can see just fine with the cheap glasses--and can't bring myself to spend hundreds for something "quality" when the cheap ones work well. If I happen to sit or step on a pair, it's not such a big loss.

Not being a doctor, I will make no recommendations regarding those drugs. But you should know that blood pressure can be affected by a number of things beyond them. 1) Lead. Lead is a toxin that tends to increase blood pressure. If you have high levels of lead in your system, you may also have mental affects from it--and you should seek help from a certified toxicologist. 2) Salt. Salt is known to influence blood pressure. Most people think of it as a negative, i.e. too much salt means high blood pressure. But salt is important for good blood and good production of stomach acid. We need a certain amount of it. Those who get too low in sodium will have a condition called hyponatremia. Click this link to start learning about it. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711 One thing to be aware of: one should never make sudden changes to dietary salt intake without a doctor's advice, because the body adjusts to the amount of salt that it typically receives. Make your adjustment gradually, spread over several weeks, if you believe salt is your answer. 3) B-vitamins. Certain B-vitamins have a direct impact on blood pressure, including niacin and B12. 4) Alcohol. Just don't drink any; there's no safe level of this toxin. 5) Stress. Exercise is the best way to counter high levels of stress. 6) Water. Along with point #2, water must be consumed in adequate quantities to prevent the blood pressure from dropping too low. Many people who have dizzy spells would be helped simply by drinking more water (and perhaps a little more salt intake would increase their thirst so that it would be easier to remember to drink water). There are more, but this will give you some ideas to start with--hope this helps.

"Let it snow rain, let it rain, let it rain!" Looking on the bright side of the dark clouds in the forecast, at least some of the accumulated filth may get washed out to sea, leaving behind a cleaner environment. And it's always nice to have fresher air to breathe.

The problem with getting directions in Thailand has little to do with language and very much to do with culture. A Thai would lose face to give a negative response, seen as unhelpful, to a respected foreigner. Loss of face is generally avoided at all costs within Thai society. So, instead of saying to the questioner "I'm sorry, I don't know," the questioner is much more likely to hear something like "Go down this street to the second light, turn left, and you should see it on your right as you go down that street." In this way, the respondent has preserved face, neither admitting ignorance nor having been "unhelpful," and you leave thanking him or her, both of you with smiles. Quite frankly, you will probably never meet again anyway--and the directions given will see you at quite a distance by the time you discover you've been sent on a wild goose chase. It is a very rare Thai who seems capable of admitting that he or she does not know--please ask someone else. The best policy is to ask at least three different people--not within earshot of each other, of course--and see if at least two of them agree. Unless you have some consensus, you're likely destined for the goose chase.

Firefox, Waterfox, and Seamonkey have all been favorites of mine. I like using more than one so that I can have different operations going on at the same time in different browsers.

Due to their rarity, most Thais would be completely ignorant of how best to avoid a bear attack upon encountering one. For those who might be in this situation, it is important to know a few facts. 1) You cannot outrun the bear; you cannot outclimb the bear. If you happen to be smaller, and find a very small crack in some rocks that you can fit through, that might be your only way to "get away" from the bear. Apart from this, don't even try to escape. (And, if the bear were to guard the entrance to your secluded "cave," you may be caught there for awhile.) 2) Never show fear to a wild animal. Running shows fear. Animals seem to understand that it is the guilty party who runs--and they may give chase. 3) The bear finds humans to be a threat. A mother bear, especially, will instinctively desire to remove the threat. Any aggression shown the bear will likely backfire. Unless you have the means to back up your bluff, do not attempt to intimidate the bear. 4) Some people have survived by playing dead. A dead person is not a threat. The bear is unlikely to kill a human out of hunger--the bear just wants to eliminate the threat. If the threat is gone, the bear is satisfied. However, playing dead is a risk. A bear may test to see if you are really dead. Can you endure the pain while maintaining your act? Personally, I would recommend staying quiet, and as motionless as possible--at least until the bear has had opportunity to decide you are not a threat. Then slowly withdraw. I once stared a surprised black bear in the face for nearly a minute, with neither of us moving, before he turned tail and ran--UP the mountain faster than you would believe. Perhaps I was fortunate that it was not a grizzly; grizzlies are known for being ill-tempered and dangerous.

You're right, I did choose to take those classes. However, perhaps I should also say that I worked while in school as well, on jobs to which I was assigned, including grounds, building maintenance, agricultural, janitorial, cafeteria, and other forms of labor. These duties provided me with opportunities to use power tools, farm equipment (including driving the tractor), learn horticulture and arboriculture, learn how to do painting, plumbing, and more. Sometimes we shoveled snow from sidewalks or did other "grunt work." But these were necessary duties--someone needed to do them to keep operations running smoothly and in order. Having had these responsibilities myself, I am far less tempted to look down on others who might do these duties for me now while I focus on other things for which my education has prepared me. And I can always step in to assist with these "menial" tasks whenever necessary. Please understand, though, that I'm not trying to excuse what happened in this story. It does appear, from what we have been told, that the school's director had things other than the students' education in mind in giving them their assignments. However, I believe that the students who are/were willing to learn, and who did not choose to take umbrage with the tasks given them, could have benefited by their extracurricular activities. It's partly a matter of perspective. In any case, learning to work, even under trying circumstances, is the lesser evil when compared against being pampered and never asked to lift a finger to assist in the more practical duties of life.

I will politely beg to differ. I sure wish I had learned how to do concrete work. I could really use such a skill here in Thailand. Especially I wish I knew how to do masonry. When I was in high school, not "a trade school," but a standard high school, I took classes in automechanics, small-engine repair, oxyacetylene welding/brazing and arc welding, home economics (sewing/cooking/etc.), and more, along with the standard courses in mathematics, history, social studies, biology, chemistry, physical education, etc. And I have put those skills to good use. If the Thai students only knew how to do concrete work properly, they might know how to prevent their walls and floors from cracking due to poor construction practices. They might know how to hold their builders accountable for the quality of the concrete delivered to their home construction projects and for its proper reinforcement, underlayment, vibration and troweling. Seeing as concrete is such an ubiquitous product in this country, it would be a valuable skill to know how to work with it--even if you end up later hiring someone else to do the job.

Cause of the fire? Condition of the teen? Any other occupants or neighbors affected? Final damages--only that sofa? Many questions remain after reading this.

You may contact Kurusapa at this phone number: Call Center โทร. 02-3049899 During business hours, of course. They have a computerized call reception service that will put you in the queue to speak to a real person. I think you will press "9" for English service--though they will happily use Thai with you if you speak to them in Thai. And their website is: http://site.ksp.or.th/home.php?site=englishsite The list other contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, on their contacts page: http://site.ksp.or.th/contact-us.php?site=englishsite&SiteMenuID=17

And nothing to do with the prime minister.

One thing to be aware of: If your son's computer is connected to a different port on the router than your computer connects to, it is possible that, due to router setup, the ports can have different speeds. One port may have a more complex, or bandwidth-limiting setup, especially if the router has layer 3 functions. In this case, testing via your son's cable, and he via yours, may show a difference. But if the problem is because your connections are corroding, or because your computer's network backplane is underbuilt, it may be the computer itself which limits things.

If you haven't worked in Thailand before, it is not possible, as a foreigner, to get the Kurusapa license or registration before having worked as a teacher in a Thai school for one year--at least, that is what I was informed today when I called Kurusapa at their "Call Center โทร. 02-3049899." Thais can register with Kurusapa via their National ID number, but foreigners, even if they have their Thai 13-digit ID number, are in a separate category--so I was told. If, therefore, one is to work legally on a work permit, it must be possible to work without the Kurusapa license. It is the school, once you are already working there, that will apply and process your Kurusapa application. If you can read Thai, you may get more info at Kurusapa's website: http://site.ksp.or.th/

The lady could well have been forced to swerve to the side of the road by a passing and/or lane-changing vehicle which, whether the driver had been aware of the accident or not, did not stop to take responsibility. The CCTV, if there was any, may not have shown anything identifiable, as cameras don't work well in darkness, and most CCTV cameras have resolution too poor to read a license plate, especially at a distance.

The same principle of speeding the flow of the water to hasten its transit to the ocean and reduce the water level would apply to increasing (rather than decreasing) the speed limits on high-traffic highways. The quicker movement occurs from point A to point B, the sooner the congestion is cleared.

And how, exactly, would that hold up to the scrutiny it's given at the immigrations' checkpoint? Wouldn't they see it for what it is? I just don't get it. Surely their computer system would tell all. Reminds me of when there were flights to Thailand a couple years ago from certain other countries, but even a travel agent could not book a seat on one because they weren't selling any seats--the entire flight was just a "standby" in case the government actually allowed it.

In this particular case, you may be at least partially right. I would still contend that the students getting some exercise would be a benefit to their health--most sit around on their phones these days if they have leisure time. I know of a school, however, that was brought to court in the United States a few years ago, prosecuted by federal attorneys over complaints about the child labor laws--and the school won! They had students, former students, parents, and community members all testifying on the school's side. Students said having the work experience really helped them get jobs after graduation. The judge, who dismissed the case with prejudice (meaning it was not allowed to be retried/appealed), remarked that he wished every school would teach students the value of practical work. The teachers in this American school, however, were participatory to the work program, and worked with the students, mentoring them in the process. That was not likely the case at this school in Thailand.

So, what would happen if someone actually tried to FLY on that "valid ticket" which is "verified"? If it's actually "valid," wouldn't they have to honor it? Sounds like a dirt cheap ticket to me.

Nothing "damning" about teaching children the value of manual labor. The "damning" part of education in general, worldwide, is the focus on books over physical work. Students get taught that work is demeaning. A teacher I know who had just completed her education was hired due to her English superiority. When asked to help clean her classroom, she refused, saying that's what janitors were hired for. The school director who teaches the children to do practical work should be praised.

If people only knew the truth about the harmful effects of most of those drugs, they wouldn't want to take them even if they were prescribed by a Ph.D. and given them for free. And if they only knew that simple changes in their lifestyle and their diet, combined with natural remedies which are very inexpensive and which promote health, could eliminate their need of seeking government medical care, they would be far better off. But they do not know. But, as a doctor in my family used to say: "They don't know they don't know."

For some of us who are not British and do not know, it is very helpful to see information like what you are labeling as inappropriate. Please spare a thought for those of us who are not up to speed on everything and for whom these details are much appreciated. I note also that the news is already talking about converting the British currency to feature the new king. The worrying part is that they say the current currency with the Queen will still be usable "for now." This leaves questions as to what is happening, and what sort of economic impact it might have on many. The queen certainly deserved the well-earned appreciation and love of many, as she was always so courteous and cheerful. May others learn from her example.

Perhaps his shoes had gripped the roofing just fine before the rain started and caught him off-guard. Rain on a roof like that makes for a slip-n-slide, and there's not much to attach to or grab on a roof like that. He should have tethered to a sturdy bolt driven into the ridge.

Ha, ha! Thailand officials require more paperwork from those in leadership, too! Boy do I know something about being asked to bring more documents!

Well, why didn't you say so? If you are within 300 feet of the water (and if not you could just do this in steps, by marking points along the way and doing simple math to compute the accumulated drop), you could buy 100 meters of transparent water hose/tubing (might cost around $40? -- I don't remember), and carefully fill it with water whilst elevating both ends such that the water does not escape. Try not to allow air bubbles in the hose (this is tricky). The water in the hose can act as a level. It should be the exact same height at each end, once the hose is stabilized so that wave motions have petered out. With the water level matching your front doorstep, take a tape measure to the other end of the hose and measure down from the height of the water in the hose to the height of the sea surface. That's how many feet of elevation you would have. Now your chief difficulty will be in determining the tide elevation at time of measurement. There are tide tables online that should help with this.