Rasseru

'Now, one might wonder, how can I use a first person personal pronoun referring to myself and, yet, insult the person to whom I am talking? This is simply one of the strange differences between English and Thai. You can use an insulting first person pronoun, but the insult it to the person to whom you are speaking. There is nothing like this in English.'

Simply fascinating, Ticketmaster, and I am so glad you explained it. English, of course, offers about as limited a choice as possible in the area of personal pronouns, for all persons. I have been struck by this in comparison with Japanese, my other language besides English. Japanese has what seems at times like an endless number of personal pronouns. And, as apparently in Thai, one must be careful about using only proper ones, in relation to the situation and the people to whom one is speaking. As you describe here, the use of some first person pronouns -- and second person ones too, naturally -- can in some cases be quite insulting.

Not funny at all. Fail

Has the OP ever been remotely funny before ?

Occasionally he is, but more often, as here, he is closely, one might go so far as to say intimately, funny.

Thanks for your thoughts on the subject, Mapguy. I'm still puzzled, frankly, but I imagine I'll get used to it.

p.s. what is this b.s. about April Fool's stunts having to be performed before noon ? That's certainly not traditional where I was bored.

Indeed. Note that the BBC spaghetti harvest documentary I posted above was broadcast in the evening. I can only suppose that the gentleman who made the morning only comment hales from a land with traditions that differ from those of the native English-speaking world.

http://www.wikihow.com/Celebrate-April-Fool's-Day

Ah! Presented with such a perfect opportunity to use a somewhat young person expression, how can I refuse: That's so helpful . . . Not!

p.s. what is this b.s. about April Fool's stunts having to be performed before noon ? That's certainly not traditional where I was bored.

Indeed. Note that the BBC spaghetti harvest documentary I posted above was broadcast in the evening. I can only suppose that the gentleman who made the morning only comment hales from a land with traditions that differ from those of the native English-speaking world.

Still my all-time fave . . .

Oh my God! Surely you jest?

What I offered, chiang mai, was in the nature not of an answer, but of a question. And one that has not, as best I can tell, been answered.

'Not to throw a spanner into the conversation, but the 3M filtrate filters do not filter out PM<2.5, the really nasty stuff that is 40 - 60% of the PM<10 density.'

Not to try to extract your spanner, Mapguy, but I am surprised by this. I am not suggesting I think you are wrong, but I am quite surprised. Why? Because the simple 3M 8210 N95 particulate respirators that I use are said by 3M to filter out roughly 95% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. And I understand that that 0.3 is in the same measurement scale as the 2.5 in 'PM<2.5'. If all that is right -- and perhaps it is not and you will explain why -- I wonder why 3M would not be able to make filtrate filters for air conditioners that are just as effective.

Also, I don't use an air conditioner, but I have two Swiss-made machines (for which their manufacturer IQAir uses the fancy term 'air cleaning systems') that use air filters and whose technical specifications say that they are approximately 99.97% effective for particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size. If IQAir can do it there, again I wonder why 3M cannot do it with filters for air conditioners.

There is a shop on the ground floor of Panthip Plaza that carries some excellent motorcycle helmets and other gear. If they do not have a particular size of helmet in stock, they can get it in a matter of days. At least some of the gear is more expensive than what the OP is looking for, but I think they also carry less expensive gear too.

. . . . . I was told some five or six years ago now that if amounts earned outside of Thailand are brought into Thailand during the same year that they are earned, they will be subject to Thai income tax.

That is a curious bit of tax law. Have you heard of anybody who has had to pay Thai income taxes for bringing in current year income?

No, but it is not the kind of subject I touch on with friends. Also, what people are legally required to do and what they do can be different, and unless a law is actively enforced and violators of it caught, there will be no stories told about them. I would speculate too that many foreigners, at least, are ignorant of this legal requirement (if indeed it is one) and do not comply with it for that reason. I have arranged my affairs so that the issue is of no matter to me, and so have not needed to research the issue. It remains for me only something I was once told, albeit by someone who at the time, as I now recall, seemed to be someone who knew of what he spoke.

An exclusion is available for a limited amount of income earned offshore, but even if it is available with respect to the full amount of one's offshore income, with the result that no U.S. federal income tax is payable on it, one is still required to file a tax return and report it.

". . . and that includes Social Security Benefits and retirement annuities (pensions) of US citizens. But no Thai income taxes due on these foreign-earned sources of income, of course! "

Mekong Bob:

Are you sure? I have been told by some solid sources that in some conditions foreign-earned income is taxable under the Thai Tax code.

I was told some five or six years ago now that if amounts earned outside of Thailand are brought into Thailand during the same year that they are earned, they will be subject to Thai income tax.

Out of curiosity: if you live here, why are you still paying taxes for a place 10,000 miles away?

Because U.S. tax law requires all U.S. citizens (and a few others) to do so, wherever else in the world they live and for however long and wherever it is that they earn (or otherwise derive) their income.

For example, I have earned income and interest income being made in the US and as such US taxes are required to be paid. Only income made off shore can you use the exclusion option.

An exclusion is available for a limited amount of income earned offshore, but even if it is available with respect to the full amount of one's offshore income, with the result that no U.S. federal income tax is payable on it, one is still required to file a tax return and report it.

. . . or guys thinking that just because you give them a smile its a green light for being pestered . . .

Wait . . . what ?!!

Out of curiosity: if you live here, why are you still paying taxes for a place 10,000 miles away?

Because U.S. tax law requires all U.S. citizens (and a few others) to do so, wherever else in the world they live and for however long and wherever it is that they earn (or otherwise derive) their income.

Yes I know about both. Thank you.

I've still to make my move upon retirement to Chiang mai. Why you ask? Cost. Weather. Infrastructure. Medical facilities, Expat community.

Still all positives for me so far. All of course subject to change. Hasn't gotten too expensive to knock me out of the move yet. YET.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

There will be no expats of your nationalities or from any other countries in Chiang Mai willing to welcome you into the fold. Most are elderly, grumpy, inhospitable and wouldn`t give you the time of day.

And, if you enjoy isolation, remoteness, have a good set of lungs to tackle breathing through all the smog and pollution, don`t mind the limited night life and lack of social entertainments, excepting that being served at Immigration is now a battle and a lottery, and can handle the slow Internet, than Chiang Mai is for you.

I think jackr post #25 was referring to you.

Are you under suicide watch?

Might be an idea for some one living under such horrible conditions.

OP ignore him as you can see he has problems.

Chiang Mai is a wonderful place to live. It might not be for you but it can not be all things for all people. It is not like there was no other choices in Thailand. This one suits many of us and as you can see obviously some have nothing good to say about it yet they stay here.

We have a psychiatric hospital here.

Some people need it and don't realize it.

<yawns>

'My question is, “what ONE thing above all others drew you to Chiang Mai?” This could be a one-liner, or it might be an anecdote, but let’s keep it light-hearted and positive, eh?'

My health. I came to Chiangmai for the waters.

Mostly Buddhist, great mountain roads for motorcycling and near Japan.

Issan is nearer!

As the crow flies, slightly, yes, but not, I think, as the plane flies.

Mostly Buddhist, great mountain roads for motorcycling and near Japan.

Yes, across from PTT station. We had lunch there today. Here is a pic of one of the burritos.

Mexican Grill, can you please give an idiots guide instructions as to its location.

Many thanks...

I can. Driving west on Suthep Road, turn left on Canal Road. Do a u-turn at the first place you can, which will be just past a PTT petrol station. Mexican Grill will be on your left a couple of hundred metres after you have made the u-turn.

With the air as bad as it is these days, when out of doors or in an environment where the air is otherwise not filtered, I try as much as possible to wear a disposable 3M mask for particulates, the 8210 N95 model, which is advertised as being capable of filtering out particles down to .3 microns in size.

It has been interesting for me to discover in the last couple of days that as little as three or four hours of use can blacken the mask noticeably, illustrating graphically how foul the air is, and providing yet another incentive to wear one.

I am surprised no one has mentioned Mexican Grill.

Have never been. An oversight that I will remedy promptly.

Oversight now has been remedied. Very nice, but location cuts against it for me personally. If it were convenient for me, I'd go fairly regularly.

I am surprised no one has mentioned Mexican Grill.

Have never been. An oversight that I will remedy promptly.

and no one mentions El Toro on that infamous street.

I like her stuff fine.

I don't know it but plan now to give it a try. Tripadvisor has four reviews over two years, three 'excellents' and one 'terrible'.