submaniac

Just throwing something out for a "grand scheme of things perspective"....while falling asleep during child rape trial is bad, there was another Orange County USA judge, Ronald Kline, who was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography on his computer...both at his home AND IN HIS JUDICIAL CHAMBERS.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2007/024.html

In the USA, I had a judge who had a habit of telling attorneys before him to take their hands out of their pocket because it was direspectful to the Court. Another judge said it was disrespectful to have your tie crooked.

Moral of the story, there are people who are drunk with power who are judicial officers in many jurisdictions of the world.

I had a passport issued from Thailand which was expired. I obtained a replacement from Thai consulate in Los Angeles, however the problem was that it was never stamped with an exit from Thailand. When I arrived at swampy I tried to enter on Thai passport. Immigration said no because there was not a departure from Thailand. The immigration supervisor then came over and asked if I also had a us passport, which I said that I did. The immigration supervisor then said I had to surrender the Thai passport because you can't have dual citizenship. I refuses to surrender a passport and they refused to allow me to enter on the Thai passport.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

If he entered on a U.S. passport, then the rules pertaining to U.S. nationals entering the kingdom would apply, which would mean he is subject to the same requirements on extension. I have two passports, U.S. and Thai, and the Thai customs would not let me enter on the Thai passport. I overstayed. Showed Thai passport when I left swampy. They didn't fine me for leaving.

If he is here to buy property, he would need to have his national Thai ID card for property purchase. That is proof of Thai nationality, which would probably get him out of paying any overstee.

I would suspect that he faces more problems from France, since I'm sure France requires payment of some type of tax when selling property within its borders.

OK in Bangkok they pull people over at random to check for drugs in the urine.

So in the South why don't they pull people over and check for separatists with guns?!? I think Jihadi separatists shooting monks, women, and children is more of a problem than yaba or marijuana.

USCIS (United States Customs and Imigration Service, formerly known as INS, is a completely different government branch bureau than U.S. Social Security Admin. I don't think it is possible for USCIS to do anything in regards to social security...I would contact social security or potentially the U.S. embassy (maybe)...USCIS handles immigration to and deportation from the U.S.

RIP. Grew up watching Rockford files reruns.

California should adopt old school Thai execution style. Tying up hands with an orchid in a wai position...and then shooting.

Stripped of title of "2nd Runner Up"...you mean second place among losers? And apparently she didn't even earn that coming in 3rd place before a girl above her kicked out. I didn't know 2nd runner up constituted a "title" such that you could lose it.

And anyways Vanessa Williams it wasn't just nude penthouse pictures...they were also homoerotic with another girl. And yes, they were awesome!

With the big bikes they were either legally imported as a complete bike where taxes were paid as a complete bike. The other way they were brought in was it used to be that you could import the parts, pay tax and duty on the bike parts, and assemble it from parts. You would have to pay about 36k baht for emissions test...but they don't let you do that anymore.

The reason I am mentioning this is that the only way I can think of getting it legalized is if you find another bike with a green book, and do some cutting and welding with VINS or do new VIN stampings. Yes, Thais know how to do that.

If you have no book and legal registration, you are safer in small villages. Bangkok you'd probably get caught. If caught with bike it would be seized and sold at auction with proceeds of sale going to customs. Your other option would be to buy bike back at auction, and then it would come with book....

That is a pity. The dragstar (known as v-star in USA) is a very nice bike. I had a 650 version. They really do get the vintage look correct with their air cooled engine. And that one was probably imported without papers.

1. The best actor in the role of James Bond who is not Sean Connery (because everybody would say Sean Connery if given the chance) is:

Honorable mention:

Daniel Craig, really really good in the role. The last one was the highest grossing of all the Bond films, so must be doing something right. Quantum of Solace I will overlook how bad it was because of how good Skyfall was.

Sir Roger Moore. Ian Flemming's original choice over Connery for the role. What can be said? Had that '70's charm.

Winner: George Lazenby. Yeah that's right. He got alot of crap because he followed Connery and was Australian. However, rewatching On Her Majesty's Secret Service, realized he really was good in the role.

2. The worst actor in the role of James Bond:

honorable mention:

Pierce Brosnan. Maybe not his fault. The writing and the premises of his JB movies were just bad. If he had come along at a different time, it would have probably been better.

Winner: Timothy Dalton. Not a redeeming thing in any one of his lousy JB films. Made a good Rassilon in Doctor Who, but that's his only saving grace.

3. The best Bond girl:

honorable mention:

Ursula Andress/Honey Ryder: her scene coming out of the ocean is unforgettable. Truly iconic.

Honor Blackman/Pussy Galore: any Bond girl named Honey Ryder is automatically cool.

Winner: Dame DIana Rigg/Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo. Won by extra bonus points for playing Emma Peel in the Avengers. Plus she's on Game of Thrones. Sorry to say, no longer hot.

4. The best James Bond Villain

Honorable mention: Richard Kiel/"Jaws". Fairly beloved character. And he actually sat down at the table next to me in a restaurant in Fresno, CA. He was having lunch with his son. It's weird to be eating lunch and Jaws sits next to you.True story.

Telly Savalas/Ernst Stavro Bloefeld, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Yeah, I really liked OHMSS. An underestimated Bond film. And Telly Savalas was good in it. Bonus points because he was Kojack.

Winner: Donald Pleasance/Ernst Stavro Bloefeld, You Only Live Twice: what is there to say? Quintessential James Bond villain.

5. Best James Bond Gadget:

Honorable mention:Rolex Submariner watch with rotating bezel that cut the ropes when Roger Moore and Jane Seymour tied up over pit of piranhas/alligators/sharks or something (I forgot what it was), but always wanted the watch after that.

Winner: Lotus Esprit that turned into submarine, from the Spy Who Loved Me. Just awesome.

6. Best James Bond Film of All time:

Honorable mention: On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Yeah, I liked the film alot. And it has Diana Rigg.

Winner: From Russia With Love. Probably Sean Connery's best JB film.

7. Worst James Bond Film of all time:

Honorable mention: Die Another Day. A waste of Halle Berry, dragged Pierce Brosnan down. Stupid, stupid plot. North Korean Guy who gets genetically altered. Another North Korean guy with diamonds in face (like he couldn't just get that removed?) Invisible car (worst gadget ever because it's just plain stupid) . Seriously, <deleted> was that?

Winner: License To Kill (AKA License to Suck!). Typical '80's film where James Bond is fighting drug king pins????? Did not like fact Felix Leiter had legs eaten by sharks. Timothy Dalton, just really bad. Temperamental uncharismatic James Bond.

There you go. Discuss.

RIP to a legend. 70 years old and on a tour...that's the way he deserved to go out.

Saturation point...is definitely beginning to be reached. Even 10 years ago property was relatively dirt cheap. I don't know everyone's position obviously, but someone coming on board now or in the future may have a tougher going than those who came years before.

And you're stuck using a company like DHL because the governmental post offices have regulations on transportation of liquids and batteries. I order ecigarette batteries and juice and this is how I know it's problematic to ship stuff like that. Just placed an order today and it will be 30 days to ship because there's a battery inside. The other choice is to ship DHL or similar but $$$.

What Thai brand is so special that it can't be purchased in Europe? Just curious. And I think you will have a hard time sending liquid by mail on a plane these days. Slow boat is the only way I can think of.

Well diverting for weather is what CNN has been reporting as the cause for the deviated flight path.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/07/17/wolf-malaysia-airlines-mh17-flight-path-myers.cnn.html

20 seconds...is too long. I'm trying to imagine what it would be like on that plane and counting out 20 seconds and it isn't good.

I think with the rapid depressurization at 33,000 feet (which birds don't fly to)...

The only consolation is that hopefully those poor souls immediately lost consciousness and didn't suffer too much.

If you can get a gig in the home country and get assigned to Thailand, that would be the best possible scenario. However, getting harder and harer to do. Most places are just hiring locals because (1) it's cheaper (2) lot of locals well qualified (educated in West)

Trying to earn money while living in Thailand...that's hard part. I think most are retired, have funds from the West. Then you have the other expats who work in boiler rooms, "investment schemes", and other dubious stuff...

OK, so that's what you meant.

I would wear flip flops when walking in rain. You're eventually going to hit puddle or something that will ruin shoes. Jacket? I wouldn't. The thing I like about rain in Thailand is it is cools you down. Any jacket would probably make you sweat. Umbrella is your best bet.

P.S. still avoid walking under balconies and yellow rain.

If I recall correctly Platinum didn't have alot of "good customer reviews" in Thailand. Didn't know they were still around.