Rolling Stone

"The father of a British teenager arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle 3,400 ecstasy tablets into Thailand"

That sounds more like it, I was wondering why he would have been smuggling ecstasy out of Thailand. I know I remember reading that the stuff was very expensive here and when I lived in England it was often quoted in the paper that the pills were rather cheap 2-3 pounds.

I doubt this kid will make it through the first year in Bang. The lights go out in a cell with 30 other guys gonna be train going on there no doubt. IMHO he will try and take his own life if not AIDs will have him before the eight year.

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I think there is no use Pepper, I guess the two of us are just so stupid that we are obviously missing something that is in front of our faces. And G is either having a good laugh at our expense or feels he is above answering such mundane questions.

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Definitely ok in the US. Proof of address required in most states is usally only a postmarked envelope from a bill or bank statement with your name and address on it. I used the bank statement this last trip as my mother had moved and I got a new license from the state she now resides in.

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Every time I get any change in Thailand I put the notes in my pocket and hand the coins to the mrs. She keeps all the change and when she takes her bi-monthly trip home to see the folks she brings it home with her to the family. She says its become quite the social event as all her mothers friends and the ladies living close love to come by and count it with her.

They even gamble on it, can you believe that? About 5 of them get in a circle and dump the coins on the floor in a pile and immediately start placing bets. There will be about 10 ladies standing about and each of the ladies there will put 10 baht in a kiddy and tells the one keeping track of the guesses how much they think it is. When all the guesses are in they spread it out and the five in the circle start counting. The mrs says its quite an event for them and after the count they talk over sum tham and noodles talking about the whole thing.

Mama takes out the satangs to use when paying the elctric bill, then portions out papas allotment and yai's and the rest goes in an old safe I bought for her in Mae Sot. She says she is gonna save it for her and papas funerals so they can go out in style.

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"One mistake. You are wrong here. People do not say anything for you guys or your Country."

Wrong. Take some time and review previous posts from the past few months. I have.

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Why don't you have a US license? Just because you are not a resident does not mean you cannot get a license. Don't you have any relatives that will alow you to use their address to get your license? I haven't been a resident in 20 years but have never been without a US license.

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His career is over.

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Thai nationals are treated the same when it comes to large amounts of dope. The story about the old guy said it all "he sold his last 2 pills" two is far fewer than 3400. Thais actually get the death penalty (not all) and actually have the sentence carried out where as I do not believe a foreigner has executed for drugs at least a western foreigner not sure on Asian foreigners.

You guys are right this kids life is done. He will have to do 8 years here then do a big stretch in Britain. I think Britain is one of the only western countries that actually sticks to the Thai courts rulings and makes their nationals actually serve the sentence upon return.

Bummer but like many said he knew the risks. I just cannot imagine why people @#$%^&*() with drugs in SE Asia. I have been a regular smoker of hemp since I was 16 but have never and will never partake in SE Asia its simply not worth it. It sucks not being able to but it would suck even worse to have to spend 1 day in a SE Asian cell.

No doubt the guy must be amazingly stupid to try and take drugs out of the kingdom after successfully getting them in. What in the world was he thinking. I remember reading an article last year in the post where they said an ecstasy pill in the kingdom was like 400-500 baht. I am not up on the drug prices of the world but I don't believe in the west or Austrailia the price could be that high.

Luckily the kid is young and strong just hope he can keep himself from becoming a junkie in the Hilton.

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Why not just buy your onward ticket from Thailand to Austrailia in India? I am sure a travel agent can sell you a ticket on the airline of your choice for your flight from Thailand to Austrailia.

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pnustedt thanks for the reply. I guess you are right if you are mutual fund investor. I agree on an overall basis those markets have outperformed, but buying for gains and shorting in the US markets has been extremely good too in the last year. Have to spend the time reading charts and watching for the momo's trying to ride them up then short them down but I get a kick out of it. Good luck to you.

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Hi George,

Sorry I was speaking of the "personal photo" that it says you can add to your profile. I saw the avatar post and deleted all my previous avatars and the stripper pic as you asked.

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George I tried to update my profile to add a picture of myself and it said I have not been allowed to by the administrator. What do you have to do to be allowed to post one?

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Read the "new" visa rules post it should help.

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Do that many westerners invest in the Thai SET market? I always thought of it as the same as the OTCBB in the US IMHO. The floats are astounding.

With so many safer investments out there why invest in small SE Asian markets? It just seems like a very risky environment, I have no faith in the banking system here let alone the market.

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TizMe,

Sorry if I my reply was a bit strong worded. I made the post at Inchon airport and did not have time to read and edit. I understand how you feel and what you are saying, I just have had my fill of the anti-smoking lobby in the US.

I am all for having no smoking inside buildings, restaurants etc but the anti-smoking lobby takes it just to far and IMHO it is why many get so offended hearing non-smokers and their line.

A couple examples,

They first outlawed smoking inside restaurants and bars in California, so some bar and restaurant owners wanted to open "smoking only" establishments but the anti-smoking lobby along with ACLU took them to court saying public place can't do it.

The they thought ok, we will make private bars and supper clubs, again ACLU went after them for having a place where non-smokers were not allowed to go saying it was unfair??????????????

Same thing now in New York, but New York just took it a step further saying no smoking in business vehicles. So now every guy that uses his vehicle for work cannot smoke a cigarette in his own vehicle ALONE with no passengers. State Police are pulling over long haul truck drivers and giving them tickets for big $$$.

Who are they hurting? Its their right to smoke in their own vehicle when they are not subjecting anyone else to the smoke, yes?

These are just 2 examples, but you can see where I am coming from I hope. The anti-smokers seem to be wanting to stop all smoking because they don't like it. Its none of their business right? A big fight is coming in the US where many states and municipalities are looking into stopping people from being able to smoke inside their home if the windows are open or its a rental property whats that all about?

Again sorry to take out my frustration with the smartass post I first made.

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So does breathing in the filthy air of every major city in the world TizMe. Smoking may contribute to cancer in SOME people but not all. Fact remains it CAN cause cancer not WILL cause cancer, it all has to do with your genes and immune system. Everyone in my family smoked including my grandparents and all 4 of them are still kicking and living rather active lives at 80+. Had 2 great-aunts and 1 great-uncle live to 90+ one aunt smoking 3 packs of camels a day. Nobody, absolutely nobody in my family has died in the last 3 generations from so-called smoking related illnesses. Why is that? If your meant to die early because of bad genes you will IMHO, if not from smoking then from something else.

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My favorite is not listed

Worst thing about living in SE Asia is not being able enjoy my scooby snacks.

I wish Amsterdam was only a 2 hour flight away I would vacation there every weekend

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Sorry but he made his bed now he can lie in it. Everyone makes wrong choices in life its true, but anyone that contributes to the distribution of that poison deserves nothing but a cell.

Just another POS looking for the easy way in life and willing to contribute to the destruction of others lives to attain it. No sympathy here, sorry. Wanna sell some weed more power to you but heroin? I don't think so.

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You are not making any sense. You support a "laissez faire" approach with a conservative fiscal policy

(that was Clinton) and still you think the current economy is on the right track ? I am the one asking

you if you are joking, right ?"

No I am a serious as can be and I totally understand what I am saying. I like all politicians that are like Clinton that see a good thing and figure why _uck it up. But I also agree with politicians like Bush that see a problem and use the right policy to have the most rapid and successful effect. I am totally unpolitical in my thoughts on the matter as long as what is in place at the time is the right decision. Economic policy has to change and as long as it gets whatever it needs, or is left alone when it is right to do so, I am in.

I totally disagree with your thoughts on the US dollar and the reasons you state that the "world" is changing to Euros. First and foremost you know why Iraq only sold the oil to the UN in Euros? Because the bank where the UN oil for food money was and "still" is kept is in France. And people switching over to the Euro I agree had some to do with many people feeling just like you, but don't forget the 1000's like me that sold the dollar and bought Euros for a year and a half was because of totally financial reasons. It was just the way to go at the time but was not a forever thought or feeling that the Euro was the future its all about the $$$ for me.

You can have 2 sets of economists or 4 for that matter and all will believe something different as the best route forward and which is the most disastrous. 2 things to think about with the Euro, first those eastern block countries coming in for multiple reasons (corruption, flawed banking systems, weak corporate market), second the economies of France and Germany and their own unemployment (near double US rate) and deficit spending. And thats just the tip of the iceberg.

And I along with so many (including Europeans) feel the EU is ultimately going to fail. I think this for historical and economic reasons which is my opinion and only that. I am patiently awaiting all the fighting that is going to go on and how long it will take for the whole thing to blow up. I do think that if the EU slowed down a bit (drastically) with their growth strategy it may have a better chance. They are trying to get everyone together to quickly especially the East. block countries. My opinion is that the same problems that hit Germany after they absorbed east Germany only on a grander scale.

The current policy of cutting taxes in the US is the right policy as history has proven many times. Kennedy and Reagan both showed that when you cut taxes for those that produce the wealth taxes collected by the IRS actually increased and are again. I point to the lowered number by the CBO for projected deficit this year and in my opinion it will fall lower. But thats just my opinion.

9 months or less will be the time to buy a ticket on the Euro southward train and I am gonna ride it all the way to $1.05. Looking for it to drop to $1.12 now but may not get that extra .02 but we chall see.

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"Another 4 years of disastrous economic policies, time to buy more Euros"

You have to be kidding? First the economic policy was the right route and is in any situation similar to what the US faced starting in 2000. Buying euros was a good idea 2 years ago but now its a dangerous move.

The dollar is being held where it is by the fed for good reason but that alone has little to do with the Euro's future. The Euro is facing far many more problems as is the EU in the coming year that have nothing to do with the US or the dollar. Don't want to buy dollars don't, but to say buy Euros is not to smart but if you or anyone else feels the need buy and help make me money this year. I short the Euro anytime it touches 1.18 and rebuy on any signs of sustained strength. In 9 months I plan on shorting and going along on the ride to $1.05. Its overhyped and blown far out of proportion with its actual value considering the huge hurdles its facing this coming year.

Its a foregone conclusion for to many reasons to list here. The US economy was rocked by an overblown and over hyped market plain and simple not politics and anyone who believes different is living in a fantasy world or understand very little about economics.

I love ideologues in the financial arena they make me $$$ whether conservative or liberal they invest with their heart and not their brains and I along with thousands of other investors try and take advantage of it. If people could get their heart and politics out of the market they can make money but most unfortunately/fortunately cannot. Everyone who had a clue made far more in the fall than in the rise of the US stock market. IMHO politics should not be forgotten when investing but a tremendous amount of weight should not be put in it either. I voted for Clinton the second time and for Gore and my reasoning was they left the economy alone and let it go. Bush winning actually cost me money as I made the wrong choices when it looked as though Gore would win. That was Clinton's greatest achievement in my opinion, he understood that he knew jack about economics and left it alone to those who knew best. But he did let it run wild for far to long and the corporate scandals prove as much. before you say it I could care less about thoughts in political terms only financial.

I am an investor and understand how to read the paper and read financial statements I don't need some political hack on TV to tell me what happened. And thinking as an investor understand that although everyone got busted in 2000 and 2001 the dirty deeds started far before in the 90's. Everyone with a clue saw the writing on the wall thats the way it is and always will be, crazy markets will produce the greatest opportunities but will also create the greatest scams.

The Jimmy carter types are those to look out for as they know almost zero about economics but are the ones that want to play with economic policy to fill some political agenda.

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Dark skinned Thai women along with Burmese and Cambodian women are my pick. As a group they have absolutely the finest asses god ever created. Issan and Cambodian ladies win the boob contest :-) my favorite! Yes definitely the best asses, I used to think black women followed buy South American women had that market cornered, but then I came to SE Asia.

I love the fact that Thai men think lighter skin girls are sexier leaves more for everyone else. IMHO the lighter the skin on Asian women the less sexy they are. They have no asses as a collective group with their figures missing 80% of the curves god meant them to have. And Korean and Japanese women got screwed because they were given no asses except for a VERY select few.

The mrs and I see alot of Thai stars when we go shopping and she always says "theres a Thai start isn't she sexy?" 9 times out of 10 I say NO. First thing I ask the mrs is where is her ass? And why is she so damm skinny? Cover her head with a bag and she would look like a teenage boy suffering through puberty. I then turn and point out an easy 10-15 fine asses in a 50 foot radius starting with hers and say theres sexy! She slaps my back says "BAH!" and we go on about our shopping.

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He only asked to have a drink and meet a few people. Damm and you guys take a magical mystery tour through the +'s and -"s of being a drunk and a girl chaser.

I don't drink either but I like to get out of the aprtment from time to time without the mrs and laugh a bit. And checking out the tail in a gogo bar is not really a crime worth all that blah blah.

This is not meant to be rude or hurtful but just an obvious judgement on my part. I don't think the majority of guys onhere got the extra $$ to go out to Nana etc, and the others are probably like 90% of the other expats I have met around the world, unsociable.

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I am in Ozzie. I return this weekend from the US and would be definitely interested. Need to know the day a few days before it happens because I have to schedule a trip to India that week.

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Forget the worry about her being Thai and it making her more devious etc. Look at your relationship rationally and if you think its for all the right reasons then go with it.

But IMHO always protect yourself financially in any mariage where you are the one with all the $$$. Hard to do here with the laws stacked against you from the start. IMHO be careful in Thailand with any serious investments (house, land) until your a few years into the marriage.

Keep it real!