noise

I ran across this on Yahoo News in Dear Margo column and extracted it verbatim. Do gmail users notice this?

A Yahoo! News vice-president answered [a] question ..... "User privacy is of the utmost importance in everything we do at Yahoo! You'll find it spelled out in our TOS and Privacy Policy that Yahoo! will not monitor or edit the contents of a user's private communications. All the relevant details can be found at http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/utos-173.html. (To translate from geek-speak to English, TOS means terms of service.) We don't read people's e-mail and we don't target ads based on their contents -- unlike, say, gmail -- where no human reads the e-mail, but their algorithms do. This is the reason you can write a friend about poor Aunt Hilda in Halifax being depressed, and then get an ad for mental health services in Nova Scotia."

All those with an interest in photography, be it film or digital are warmly invited. We meet every fortnight, on Wednesdays, at 7.00 PM in Tuskers Bar.

For more information, please PM me.

I expect my new camera by the end of this month and would love to join you. But I have to ask why is the meeting at Tuskers Bar and at night? I know it is a very popular bar, but I come from Mae Jo and Tuskers has no parking on site or near by. After a year of hearing about all the activity there I went by to see where it is located. I came in the back way from Taepae Road, which was fun by itself. And then, as I was giving up on finding a parking spot, felt lucky to find a spot inside the moat as someone was pulling out. I don't particularly relish thinking I would have to go at least 1/2 hour early just to find parking.

I have two of the wireless setups, one for ubc, one for satelite tv. Have had them for about 4 years with no problems.. My cost was 1500 baht. Great devices

Ajarn,

What are yours called and where are a couple of places at which I could buy one?

While installing the dish and connecting the decoder in my neighbors house, the technician saw that the whole house is wired and all rooms are interconnected. He then suggested what he called in Thai a "AV link" (a phonetic pronounciation) which he described as a wireless link to the receiver/decoder with a remote that would allow the viewer to turn on the receiver/decoder in the living room and then view and control the channels from the upstairs bedroom. It does not change the service to which one is subscribed (i.e., it is not an illegal decoder, you do not get platinum channels on a gold service program), it is just a re-routing of the signal from one TV to another. The one time price quoted was 1800 baht. Does anyone have any experience with it?

I am looking for a 2m x 1.6m carpet / rug for a living room. the kind of carpet i have in mnd is an Indian or chinese carpet - not madly expensive - needs to be attractive and functional. BUT I have absolutely no idea about carpets (I don't know if they are made in Thailand or if the ones here are imported).

Can anyone help - where to buy in CM without being ripped off.

Advice gratefully received

B

stay away from home pro. going past airport plaza towards hang dong, there is a shop selling carpets somewhere there across Tesco Lotus. Muslim people in a proper shop. not the ones that they hang on the side of the street. Might be before Tesco's coming from town. ON the other side of the road. ie going back towards Airport Plaza and after Jet's Petrol station.

they seem reasonable and carry some good stuff.

THanks for the advice - will will go there tomorrow

You might also try Carpets International on the 1st ring road and east of the intersection with the Hang Dong hwy. They have a selection of ready made wool and synthetics, including some area ones that were cheap enough to cut up to fit a bathroom floor. I also bought a roll of rubber matting to put under area rugs I alread had. And they designed a wool dining room rug for us (to be made locally). I don't have the address or phone number handy, but you can contact sales person Tasujai Jakkree by email: ([email protected]).

The Main Branch is on Chang Klan Road near the Sri Don Chai intersection across from Georgios Italian. They serve the dinners there fresh or deliver to their other branches near Thapae Gate and on Nimanheiman Road.

I posted this because the taste is MUCH better than the roasts at the other restaurants mentioned here - In My Humble Opinon - or anywhere else in CM that I have tried and they don't give me anything free other than some excellent pumpkin pie to go along with dinner.

And if you wish to cook your own turkey, where is the best place to buy a good (non-freezer burned) turkey for the least amount, Makro?

I saw that Sunbelt Chiang Mai were selling a lawn care company that did what you are looking for.

It was advertised by them in the Chiang Mai Mail this week.

Sunbelt.... that is a financial company and they were/are touting some lawn care company's stock?

I couldn't find any ads in the on-line version of Chiang Mai Mail. Did you see it in the paper edition?

Does anyone know of a person/landscape company that does lawn aerations? I have the typical yard where the grass sod was laid on top of, at best, 1 inch of top soil spread on top of rice paddy mud. The grass risomes can barely spread out and, in some place, seem to be retreating. A good coring/plugging/aeration would do wonders for it.

I know there's been talk of some areas being slightly better than others, but what's good today may not be tomorrow - the only guaranteed way to get the best possible service is to get yourself onto a premium plan with a lower share ratio.

Check out the "medium business" plans here for some ideas: http://www.ji-net.com/home/

Does a premium plan give any noticeable improvement in service? Is there any place I can go for information in English? I could figure out price from the website, but have no idea where to go if I want to set up a plan or simply get more information.

I went to the web site and found, in the upper right hand corner, small English and Thai flags. Clicking on the English flag brought up all the info in English. I skimmed through the info and went to promotions where it seems JI-net is offering 1024 MB/512 MB for 690 baht/month via TOT. TOT currently has that for 500 baht/month direct, not via some interface to a 3rd party. I have been using TOT ADSL with my own modem (bought at Pantip Plaza), and I opted for the higher rate program of 1.5 MB at 700 baht/month. Only had a few minor outages over the last year; some minor degradation when students home from school and usage is up.

So, based on a one time skimming of the info, I think I would recommend TOT ADSL over JI-net.

I think I have kept myself clear and clean with California but who knows what they might try to do as I left some mail footprints in transiting the state. So may I ask that ,if you solve your problem and can see where some of us might benefit from your experience, you post some advice? You can never know too much about handling taxes.

I am having trouble finding a cleaning lady.

So far 3 different ladies have quoted me 500 baht for 3 hours cleaning. One of them told me she already has a job paying 750 baht per 3 hrs. This seems a little expensive to me.

If someone could suggest a fair hourly rate id be really grateful. A previous poster mentioned THB 70 per hour is this about right? Also if you know anyone looking for a job i am in the Sansai area and looking for someone around 3 days per week. Must be able to speak basic English and be good with animals.

Thank you.

A woman friend of ours that works hotels full time (therefore fully experienced) cleans the house across the street for us here in L&H Sansai (we are the caretakers for the absentee owners) on her day off for 400 baht for the entire day.

The owners are showing up at the end of this month and will be getting full time help so she will become available 1 Oct. The 400 baht/day is high if you multiplied it out for 6 days a week monthly rate, but for one day????? I guess it is what the market will bear (but 500 for 3 hours, phew).

I have no idea if she speaks English at all as we only speak Thai together, never tried her English. If you are interested let me know and I will ask her if she speaks any English and might be interested.

If she doesn't speak English and you only want part time, one day a week or so, I can ask her and the other ladies to check with each other for someone who does speak English. I want to say there are lots of people available at 400/day.

.....searching for family in Thialand. ..... I am from Canada ..... The only information I have is the last name, birthdate, place of birth.

I interpret your words to mean you are still in Canada and need remote help. If that is not true, you are in Thailand, then the previous advice is good.

If you are in Canada, then my suggestions may be of some value. Now I am also assuming you are searching for a family in the Chiangmai area since you contacted the Chiangmai forum. If not my suggestions still apply but tailored; go up to the Thaivisa home and search for a forum in/near the location you are interested in and start there.

For Chiangmai area, I would suggest contacting the Chiangmai Expats' Club at their forum and asking for help:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?...pats%2Fmessages

You can go to CEC web site http://www.chiangmaiexpatsclub.com/index.asp and then to the Newsletter. You might consider placing an ad in the newletter (not sure how you would do it from Canada, but there will be a link to contact the newletter; I am sure you can find the details).

With the amount of foreigners over here now and the number of marriages, you very likely can find someone who can help you. And with the amount of time many people have been here, they have contacts all over (e.g., a relative in college may have friends from the town in which you are interested). You will just have to persevere and maybe ask for help by personal email (i.e., ask people to contact you off the forums).

Went to Giorgio restaurant in the city yesterday and was charged a 10% "service charge" When asking what it was for there was no reason but since about a month already in place and "because everybody is doing is" Used to eat for about 700 to 800 baht for two, now the bill was 1,118 baht for the same deal. Wonder if this is the new norm in Chiang Mai and is something because they can get away with? After all, why not as they're full every night. In hotels yes, but in restaurants? Anybody has had any experiences like this?

I have not experienced a restaurant starting all of a sudden starting to charge a service charge, but I first experienced service charges over here when I first came over in Jan 66. Nothing new, just more wide spread now.

I use diluted Haiter bleach in a spray bottle. Can be found in all stores.

I, too, use diluted Haiter bleach for cleaning and bugs, specially in the kitchen where I do not want to use "DDT" all the time (or any time). It work well, for me, with the ubiquitous ants, until the next food spill. I use it frequently on the garbage bin, and it kills the ants there and keeps the rest away for a couple of days.

I do not know how it compares in strength to U.S. Clorox, but I use it successfully in the laundry, also. I use it so much (spray bottles in the kitchens, bathrooms, laundry room....) the maid even made a comment to my wife, "He really like Haiter, doesn't he?"

pontious,

I am not lopburi3, who is the Thai immigration savant. However, I have read and follow his postings, am current on recent changes, and most importantly, did an extension from a non-imm O visa to a 1 year retirement visa, here in Chiang Mai. Just got my first full 1 yr extension (for reasons of retirement) last week. This was in addition to a 9 month extension I got last year on my 90 day single entry non-imm Cat O that I had last year. So I've done this 2 X, now.

First off, when does your current visa (issued in the UK, I assume) expire? If it's still good for a year, I can't see any benefit of converting to retirement, except for the provision to not have to leave every 90 days...

OK, as for the forms. Throw away what you brought. Go down to CM Imm, and ask for the forms they use here for a retirement extension. What you were given may be the same, but why take a chance (filling out the wrong form)?

Go to your consulate, get the letter that states your monthly income.

With your 1 yr non-imm O, if you don't already have a Thai bank account, now is a good time to open one. Why? Even though I know people who are on the 65K retirement plan, who use ATM cards, and who still get away with it, they are the "old crowd" They're "grandfathered", so to speak. For new applicants for retirement extensions, Thai Imm definitely likes to see a Thai Bank account in your name. And they want to see a history on that bank account, line item by line item.

No medical exam requirement; was deleted last Oct 2006. One of the few positives.

No police background check. This is something Thai embassies and consulates overseas ask for. In country, never requested.

In your case, for a 65K retirement plan extension, you need:

1) Your valid passport, not due to expire for at least a year

2) your filled out application

3) the UK consulate letter (monthly income notorised statement)

4) any and all pension/income statements from your home country

5) all home country bank statements, showing monies coming in from said pension/investments

6) your Thai bank account passbook (note my comments above), and a letter from you Thai bank stating your current deposit balance.

7) (2) 1.5" X 2" photos

8) 1900 baht fee for retirement extension

Bring all the originals, and I recommend 2 copies of each. For the application they only want 1 copy, but keep a separate file for yourself. Copy your passport face page, and the page that shows the most recent entry to Thiland, with the Departure card (TM7) as well.

As a side note, I personally went the 800K route- a lot simpler, and a lot less paperwork.

Hope this helps.

McG

I did my first retirement visa at the beginning of the year and it was slightly different.

1. I came in on a 30 day tourist visa and wanted to extend for 90 days to then process the retirement visa. For the 90 days extension I originally submitted a bank book with 10 years of history behind it, but it was rejected because my wife's name was on it also. I opened my own account, threw lots of money into it, and used that. No history behind it; it was accepted with no comment for the extension. By the way, a letter from the bank stating the amount showing as current balance in the book is accurate as of that date is also required .
   
2. When I processed my retirement application 60 days later, I did have the notarized letter from the consulate stating I claimed some much retirement income/month. I did not include any U.S. bank statements to show how it was distributed. None were asked for.
   
3. I submitted the bank book again and a new, current letter; I did not ask and it was not volunteered whether or not it was needed with my above the minimum required pension income.
   
4. Because I had a police check from the U.S., I included it and it was taken. This, of course, does not mean it was required then or now. Just that I had it, I used it.
   

Hope this adds information that might be useful. I don't think it contradicts anything else, just reflects the peculiarties of my specific situation back in February.

I want to buy land too. Can share more about it with me?

I have 2.5+ rai about 8 km west of Sanpatong that I will sell. About 7 Teak trees along the frontage road and a bunch of bearing lumyai trees. City water and electricity available. Can take interested person to visit any day of the week.