farangene

Some arsehol_e on a motorcycle tried to steal my wife's purse at Suk and Soi 28 about 8PM several years ago but she didn't give it up. The guy drove off empty-handed. Maybe there is a group that operates that area looking for potential muggees.

The arsehol_e cops at Thong lor station also didn't want to take a crime report because it "happens all the time and probably wont catch them". With attitudes like that, the crime rate will only go up.

Hope you reported it.

You will definitely need a fax. Businesses are always asking customers to fax them bank xfer receipts or receive airline reservations, etc.

Get a 4-1 printer (scanner, fax, etc) as prices are quite low when they are on sale (a lot less than 4000 baht). And they are always on sale at the computer stores.

Thank you all very much for the replies.

Promise you that this is my last question for the day. Are there any sites near the US Embassy that take/sell passport pictures? I know many stores near Ploenchit have been destroyed for a new condo bldg on the corner. Any other photo shops in the lower Sukhumvit area?

Thanks for the quick replies.

I am in Thailand and will see embassy tomorrow to renew p/p.

Any idea of length of time to get a US passport renewal processed (ie one week or three)

and

how long to xfer my retirement visa to the new passport?

I am a US citizen traveling to the US next month for a short stay.

When I return to BKK, my passport will be valid for only 5½ months. I have a retirement "visa" which also expires when my p/p expires in 5½ months.

• Will Immigration let me enter Thailand with less than 6 months validity on my passport?
• Will the airline (EVA) raise a fuss over the time left on my p/p?
• How many days to process a US passport renewal in BKK?
• How many days to transfer the retirement "visa" to my new passport?

Thank you.

I am told that one haiter is for white clothes and and the other for colored clothes and therefore less potent.

Hopefully, the appeal lawyers will show their client was re-selling the cds only as a reflective safety apparatus for bikes and motorcycles.

He was thus performing a public service to improve the safety of the roads and vehicles which has nothing to do with copyright infringement.

Think there was supposed to be a free trade agreement that would have drastically lowered the duty on Aust. wine earlier this year.

When it came close to the effective date, the Th politicos began discussing the adverse impact on the home liquor industry, that lower prices might encourage more irresponsible drinking and even encourage youngsters to drink wine. Haven't heard anything about it in recent weeks so suspect it might be in limbo until everyone forgets about it.

I have never known any teenagers who had much interest in wine after their first sip.

hmmmm first it was the coffee shop at paak soi burning down a year or so ago (and just reopened) and now the french restaurant at "toot soi" burning down, both due to gas cans exploding. is it a coincidence or a conspiracy?

Candoman89,

Humorous use of Thai lingo to describe the begining and end of the soi. Thanks for a morning laugh.

My dictionary shows definition of Masseur as a male who gives massages.

Masseuse is the female version.

Picture and ID seem to show a female

I thought that was pretty basic English and journalism and wonder if they don't edit articles in the paper.

I received the following today from an American friend who got it from the Moveon organization. I keep hear that increasing the upper limit on income subject to Soc Sec is a very likely move some time in the future as well as increasing the age for full Soc Sec benefits. Those alternatives are much more palatable politically than cutting the income pensioners are receiving or were promised.

Social Security is under attack and we need to fight back against the lies.

Have you heard that Social Security is going bankrupt? Driving up the deficit? In crisis?

Well none of that is true. These are all myths that opponents of Social Security have been spreading to scare people into accepting benefit cuts this fall. But the myths are taking hold—so we have to fight back with the facts.

So we've put together a list of the top five myths about Social Security, along with the real story. Can you check out the list and then share it with your friends, family, and coworkers?

Share the list by going to http://pol.moveon.org/ssmyths?id=22141-9280234-U.nwn5x&t=1 If you're on Facebook, share it by clicking here. If you're on Twitter, tweet it here.

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a 'T'). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.¹ After 2037, it'll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits—and again, that's without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers' retirement decades ago.² Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.³ What's more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly—since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.⁴ But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn't need to be fixed. But if we want to strengthen it, here's a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.⁵ Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.⁶ But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn't full of IOUs, it's full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.⁷ The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market—which would have been disastrous—but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It's not just wrong—it's impossible! By law, Social Security's funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay its own way. That means that Social Security can't add one penny to the deficit.⁸

Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts. Can you share this list now?

Finding lessons depends on where you live. ...... There was another thread on exactly the same subject and a few "experts" here told me that I didn't know anything. So, I'll not bother giving anyone any advice again.

Ian

Your advice sounded good to me. I am always looking for photo tips and every little bit helps.

Thanks.

Gene

Goshawk,

Thank you for the update. I looked at the Fuji website last week to try and determine when new models might come out. Didn't expect to see them so soon.

Some nice improved features in the newest model. I think I will wait for it's debut before I make my purchase.

Thanks again.

Thanks to all. I plan to buy the Fuji f70exr.

You might check at the restaurants in your areas and see what the chefs use to sharpen knives.

I was going by a local neighborhood restaurant (about 3* so not fancy) and saw a knife sharpener. He was on his bike with his strop and whetstone sharpening several knives which I assume belonged to the rest. chef.

First time I have seen one in Thailand in more than 5 years.

Isetan in Central World had a embroidery shop near their greeting card section on 3rd or 4th floor. I had some things done there a few years ago.

Haven't been there since the troubles in May so don't know if they are still there.

They would make any design you wanted, also had big books of suggested patches and also had some ready-made but not sure whether their selection included autos.

There was another embroidery shop in MBK bu they were a lot more expensive when I checked them.

Post #5 says one has to sign all passport page copies. I have mailed several times and never signed my p/p pages. This has always been accepted in Bangkok.

Is signing each page a new requirement or one more thing that is stated in the regulations and not enforced?

I'm thinking about buying a Fuji F70EXR (compact point and shoot) in the near future.

Any comments positive or negative about the camera?

Thanks.

I heard a rumor that Holland was thinking about declaring war on Spain.

Watch out for this Nigerian World Cup Scam

Nigeria was eliminated from the World Cup.

The Nigerian goalkeeper personally feels some responsibility for the team's showing and has offered to refund the expenses of any foreign fans who traveled to South Africa.

He said he just needs their bank details and pin numbers to complete the transaction.

Finally some class.

Accept that there were problems and learn from it for the future.

When I went to the new facilities about two months ago, the copy shop I used didn't have a clue what needed to be copied for Immigration.

I had to tell them to copy necessary pages that they didn't copy. Definitely not the same level of knowledge as Suan Plu.

Take LopBuri's advice above and flag the pages to assure they don't miss any for copying.

Thaksin got his doctorate and masters degree from the US without speaking English.

Vislube was recommended by a thai eye doctor.

It is made by a German company and available in many pharmacies in Bangkok, so perhaps also in CNX.