rethaired

i know i will get alot of negativive replies from this post but i have lived in chiang mai now for 9 years,I have to mention the alarming amount of idiots with uneducated ticks they call wives or girlfriends,living here.I live in Hangdong and it seems to be the epicenter of it. Everyday there are more

I think lot of men in CM come from the Western world populated with a lot of gold-digging (self-declared, obvious, or not) women who are pumped up (literally or not) by hyper-feminists who have been hard-done by (consciously or not) some hot, dark and handsome player. I wish I could describe these women differently, but that has been my finding. There are decent women everywhere of course. But, few match the stereotypical women found in movies, songs, and ads. In general, men have been sold something that does not likely exist. Maybe women too! If I were a hot guy, I might have different finding! Sue my parents! I think these men are looking for sex (and what is wrong with that), but it is a bit safer to have a GF and financially a little better (if you play it right). Of course, compare to playing with the women in the western world, women in LOS are a bargain, again if you can play things right. To be perfectly honest, I think very few women believe in love as much as they believe in ATMs. Of course, the uglier the better the women usually, but not always. I prefer the medium rare type who are not so bitter because they were rejected by numerous men and who do not think that they are super model material, with all the things that encompasses that designation (medical or not)! Of course, Thai women might not know or be interested in Hamlet, but then they are not interested in feminism or soap opera movies either. Beside, that is why I have male (and some very selective female) friends. There are fine women out there. You can test how genuine they are by telling them that feminism in the Western world is a bit too much and then you will see if they will be smart-, open-minded women who can admit that some women (just like some men) do take advantage of situations. It is kind of sad that men have to travel 12, 000 KM from their abode to find women they feel they can kind of get a relationship that is not totally based on greed and exploitation (that's women exploiting men, btw). I have given up on normal, decent relationships a long time ago. It would help if women who are decent women would be advertising themselves a bit more BTW other than putting tons of lipstick on. In a dream of mind I have a perfectly liberated and genuine woman actually looking at my personality and brain as opposed to what I have in my wallet or how "good" my genes are (tall, dark, and handsome are usually the criteria). Hey! Women who look for these guys get what they are looking for: usually players. And guys who chooses the hot woman in LOS might get the same. I guess it is buyer beware a lot of the time! I wish things were different or I had different experiences! Don't sue me, sue them! There are always two sides to every story! Hopefully this comment provided a more balanced view of why things happen the way they do.

Funny how input on the environment is generally treated with distain. The simple fact is that Bangkok has no regard whatsoever for this topic. Generally, any human beings' first priority is meeting the bottom line..... i.e. roof over the head nad food in the belly. When you see some of the poor sods crammed 20 per vehicle, in the back of a pick-up at rush hour in bkk, I doubt that their first priority is the emmissions of the vehicle they are travelling in. What are the authorities going to do about that........ what can they do about that...... S.F.A. I'm afraid.

To that end, what can be done? As with anything, it is the smallest changes that can have the biggest impact. I am a firm believer that if anyone (or tyhe vast majority) is given the opertunity to do the "right" thing, at no cost to themselves, then they will........ but when you expec people to take a hit, personally, they will resist it - no matter how small that hit may be. Case in point - in the west most shopping malls have two types of bin....... recycling and waste; but most people cannot be arsed to move their hand 50cm to the left or right and drop their rubbish in the "correct" bin....... you see that would involve some one having to think about what they are doing. So, simply put, a bit of clever legistlation is what is needed. For example, here in Ireland, the gouvenment recently implemented a "carbon emmissions" based car tax scheme: not just for road tax, but for import duty on the car........ where previously a 3.20 deisel BMW would have cost 10k more than the petrol equivalent, it is now more or less on par....... the result - everyone is buying the cleaner more effecient deisel........

The trick to tackling climate change is "baby steps"......... you can't legistlate agianst the poor who can barely makes end meet....... so the rich have to leed by exmaple...... and the only thing that motivates the rich is the bottom line....... So, until there are sweeping changes in the political landscape in Bkk, I doubt anything will be done about the matter of polution, because we all know that the gouvernemnt are the puppets of the bkk elite.......

Could not agree with you more on this!

Now, if only that diesel BMW could come down in price another 10k more (if you are poor) and now the poor could start afford it too! I know that would be unfair, but I have been told by many that life is unfair when I must pay more, work more to make as much as a CEO say, or work with more stress or risk! Time for the wealthy who were born with a silver spoon you know where to suck it up a little!

Of course, driving the next electric car (not hybrid) might be better, especially with all that extra hydroelectric energy that Thais are bound to have at their disposition!

(eventually we all need something to put our garbage in, don't we? - and if we don't want to buy plastic garbage bags, these will do the job!)

[...]

Lots of great ideas in your post!

As you stated, we need to use something to put our garbage in. If one buys some garbage bag, then we are back to square one, I think.

So, I think one has to be critical and choose the best way to solve this issue.

I think there are ... oh ... 2.5 ways to solve this problem (considering that we need to use something to transport our trash somehow), from what I am reading:

1) We can degrade normal plastic bags.

2) Use bio-degradable bags, but ... there are issues!

2.5) Use a backpack to transport goods to reduce the use of plastic bags.

Any other thoughts or ideas.

Not xenophobic in my experience. But, looking around, one can see how the appearance, language, tone, and clothes of a lot of individual farang can be really off-putting. Add to that the tendency of many farang to go into " pub and club cantonment" mode and not really try to integrate themselves into Thai society and you certainly unimpress some people.

Appearance, language, tone, clothes of farangs? What do you mean? Do all Thai people dress, speak, and present themselves in a "proper" way all the time? Some tourists might not be aware of some rules BTW and farangs because they have hair on their body might not be able to endure pants and coats at midday in the sun. I have had a few experiences in many countries, incl. Thailand, where I felt I was targeted because I was not Thai, but then I also experienced gestures of kindness by many Thais too. At the end of the day, I think xenophobia is about a lack of education (awareness) and usually also about a low level of intelligence.

If this was for the purpose stated, great! But, it is making me think twice about being out in the sticks and/or buying a house (*). It was stated by the police officer that Burmese have moved into the region. I am assuming that this remark was meant to mean that Burmese people are dangerous and could be breaking in houses,... I am surprised to hear that just Burmese people break in and murder people in Thailand! I remember reading on TV that not just Burmese do this. However, we know that Burmese people are not usually wealthy (except the ones living in the new capital) and would be more likely to be desperate! I found it interesting that that crime and drugs seemed to go hand in hand. Perhaps legalization and regulation of drugs would remove these dangers.

* Yet another argument for not buying a house!

Sorry to hear about your bad experience!

We all would like to think about these magical experience that we often read, hear, or see in those famous books, songs, or movies, respectively! Unfortunately, the myth leaves on! More women that we would like to think are interested about "security" (a fancy and politically word that means "money")! If I were taller, more handsome, nicer, and my parents were doctors, they might be interested in more than that, mind you! I guess, in general, men love looks and women love security! This seems to be universal, especially if the women are poor (and if I was, that might be crucial too!)

Personally, it took me 3 trips over a 3 year period (each of 4 to 6 months span) to get a Thai GF. I never believed that I could be unsolicited here and handsome five meters away! It took me 3 weeks of hard-work (dates) to get a kiss from a Thai lady I have been seeing on-and-off for the last 2 years! I remember reading somewhere that the real Thai girls are not interested in one's money (the the degree that these women were anyway )and are --in fact-- much more conservative (more than in the West, apparently) than the tourist pamphlets give the impression!

Like a few others have stated, I believe that this is a convenient strategy to fill the front pages of newspapers with pictures of soldiers fighting, displacing pictures of Thai citizens losing their jobs.

This thread has been very useful in providing the average expats with information on the topic.

I thank all who took the time to inform me (and others).

However, in view of past years peaks and yearly re-occurrences as well as minimal coverage from the Thai-speaking media and the lack of response from the authorities (as indicated in past posts), I think some sort of action to alert and/or mobilize the population should occur. Of course, most of us are not citizens of Thailand and it could be a mistake to meddle into their affairs (note that I feel that expats should have the right to lobby governments as I am allowed to live here and I do pay taxes). What can we do as expats other than complaining and writing about this issue without jeopardizing our situation? Is the Chiang Mai Thai elite not concerned about this? Is it a clear lack of political will from politicians at the regional or national levels? Who could be targeted in the population to provoke change? I feel we should focus now that we have very useful data on change.

* I apologize if this has been talked about in the past, but I simply don't have the time at this moment to research if this took place. In any case, another kick at the can might be useful!

The immigration officer should be fired>?????????

<deleted>?

You think you have the right to swear at an immigration official? Do me a favour and try it in your own home country internet warrior. Please report back.

Hey! Watch your language or I send you to jail!

The immigration officer should be fired>?????????

<deleted>?

You think you have the right to swear at an immigration official? Do me a favour and try it in your own home country internet warrior. Please report back.

Do they have the right to be rude? That is sooooo unprofessional, ergo ... fired because one is not conducting oneself as a professional, since you are not behaving as a professional! Case closed!

* BTW, I did not indicate that they should go to jail. I was being nice!

* BTW, true story! A person asks a custom officers to use words like "please" and "thank you" and the officer mazes him! This was a US custom officer, BTW! The case is going to court!

(Some of these custom officers/police officers are sooooo dysfunctional! Have you heard of the 4 Canadian police officers using the taser on one Polish tourist? taser and taser2

1. I don't believe the shirtless allegation.
   
2. The officers should have been more mindful of the flight issue.
   
3. Did the officers use words like "Please" and Thank you", because if they did not, they were rude?
   
4. He swore! So what, if they acted rudely FIRST! The officers --if this is the case-- should be fired!
   
5. I would have started to record the whole interaction, which would have given me more leverage!
   
6. Why are Thai people (and many people) so "upset" when someone criticizes their country? It is not their country! Do they own the whole country! It is not anybody's country! Jeesh! No country is perfect! Are all people in a country perfect? I guess that's what happened when you are forced to watch propaganda-like movies while watching films, singing 2 times a day, and not able to travel (for some) abroad to compare and contrast countries, people, cultures,...!
   
7. What would Budha say?
   

AHAHA! VERY FUNNY!

Speaking of sh*t and p*ssy (how scatological can one be?), thinking back at the economics courses I took in university (first and 2 year), these "commodities/services" were never mentioned as being part of the economy! Maybe this is reserved for higher level courses? (In other words, more BS and A hole over there! ), but I digress! I think these "goods/services" should be factored in! Ok! OK! The latter more than the former, but you get the drift, if you want that drift, of course !

if you have something to add to the discussed facts than do it. mentioning the economic courses you attended and their lack of information concerning real life does not add to the discussion.

Jeesh! A little bit of levity has not hurt anyone, has it?

I feel you have a bit of a ... short-temper! That's on-topic! Satisfied!

BTW, I was asking a peripheral question! I await the answer!

Stocks of gold companies and/or physical gold?

if you expect a real breakdown than physical gold is the answer to your question. that is of course assuming you have the possibility of storing it safely and still have access any time.

If one expects a real breakdown. Who knows? This IS the one million dollar question (preferably in bullion), isn't it?

A good optioon though might be having a house sitting on a little farm with some veggies and chickens*, a windmill, and a computer is a good option too! As Candide would say with some reluctance and dejection: "Yes! We must take care of our garden!"

* Or a few geese laying golden eggs!

if you expect a real breakdown than physical gold is the answer to your question. that is of course assuming you have the possibility of storing it safely and still have access any time.

Not assuming a mad max but............Gold is not hard to store/hide

$100K is only just over 6 pounds or 2.8KG

I highly recommend thinking outside the box when it comes to storage.

A big shiny safe is not the answer. IMHO

I know my GF could use a 3 kg gold necklace! Seriously, I never thought of it that way (not having that amount of money as spare change), but you are right, it would not be difficult to hide somewhere safe! If anyone has seen the excellent movie, "the Lives of Others", they were able to hide a typewriter which, if found, would surely meant death, which beats the idea of finding a deserted island, I suppose! BTW, where would you store it? And, where do you live?

lana thanks for the link, this all, is freakin insane.

QUOTE: Therefore the best outcome at this point from the credit crisis would be for a period of stagflation i.e. low economic growth with high inflation and interest rates. The high inflation will be a necessary evil so as to devalue the value of the record amounts of debt.

We are doomed: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090316/scheer

Buy Gold.....

Stocks of gold companies and/or physical gold?

Not saying that short positions wouldn't pay off handsomely from these levels, but you'd need bigger cajones than I posess to be doing it.

i'm with you LRB and would rather dare to take a flight to Macau, wait for the third of three Elliott waves to hit the lower resistance of a Bollinger Band when it aligns with the seventh Fibonacci house and then carefully decide whether to place my bet on red or perhaps black label.

p.s. now i'm heading for full cover as i expect you to use live ammunition

Well you know Herr Doktor, all that stuff works really well (especially Fibonacci Numbers),.............. until it stops working. That's when you reach a little bit deeper into the bag for you Gann Square of Nine Chart, your Monte Carlo projections, and finally your rosary beads.

i am well aware that it works LRB. the simple reason is that people believe in it and act accordingly... till they stop believing in it. people also believe that gold, diamonds, fiat money, works of art and you name it have certain values. these values do indeed exist as long as a certain environment prevails. if the environment changes those values can change to zero or turn into a liability within the blink of an eye. as simple as that.

there are a few things though which possess intrinsic value, e.g food, shelter, clothing and (up to a certain extent) pussy. seen from certain perspectives even shit has a tremendous intrinsic value because billions of flies since millions of years can't be wrong, can they?

AHAHA! VERY FUNNY!

Speaking of sh*t and p*ssy (how scatological can one be?), thinking back at the economics courses I took in university (first and 2 year), these "commodities/services" were never mentioned as being part of the economy! Maybe this is reserved for higher level courses? (In other words, more BS and A hole over there! ), but I digress! I think these "goods/services" should be factored in! Ok! OK! The latter more than the former, but you get the drift, if you want that drift, of course !

An economic recovery is not in sight as far as the US and Europe are concerned. Possibly in China, yes but one should remember that the Chinese love gold almost as much as the Indians. Oh . . . and they overtook South Africa as the largest producer of "the stuff" in 2008.

But, Barrick Gold, a Canadian company, is the biggest gold company in the world (http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200512/23/eng20051223_230215.html), in 2005, that is! Not sure what is its status today!

Sad story all around, for the victim and the would-be aggressor, although one cannot judge anything before things are investigated fully.

I wonder why this story surfaces the way it does at a time of an economic downturn? I think there is a connection or at the very least an opportunity for a certain elite or for a certain primal response to lousy days ahead.

I think Burmese have been used by the political and economic elite (of China, India, and Thailand) now for many centuries, the hate and stereotype are being inculcated in history courses to Thais to allow hate, stereotypes, and abuse to continue and benefit many. This story reinforces the hate and the stereotype. Capitalism and manipulation at its best!

If only more people thought like you!

BTW, don't they need to prove that you are actually speeding (ie: picture and speed)? Or can they make that up too?

BTW, you might be interested in this (even though the whole idea of your strategy is to make them think that you have data that show them that you were not speeding):

Sagem Orga has developed an A-GPS SIM based on technology from BlueSky Positioning. The A-GPS SIM is the world's first Assisted GPS SIM card. Together with a GSM or 3G phone, it forms a complete networkassisted

GPS receiver capable of locating the handset quickly and accurately.

The product is a standard plug-in size SIM card, incorporating a SIM chip and an A-GPS subsystem consisting of an Assisted GPS receiver, a GPS antenna and a specific STK application residing in the SIM memory. It forms a complete Assisted GPS receiver together with a standard SIM toolkit-compatible GSM phone. As a result, the A-GPS subsystem appears to the phone like a SIM/USIM toolkit application. The A-GPS SIM exploits a major technology breakthrough made by BlueSky Positioning, including a proprietary In-SIM antenna (patents pending). To make localization even more accurate and user friendly, this technology is using Assisted GPS data servers.

The A-GPS SIM card complies with GSM and 3G standards and thus works with legacy GSM and 3G handsets without the need for modifications or additional software.

No software or hardware changes are needed for

legacy handsets. The product will support JSR177 and JSR 179 to enable applications running on the phone to access the GPS on the SIM card. It's faster, it's targeted, and it costs the operator a small fraction of the cost of a new handset.

The primary purpose of AGPS-SIM is to provide accurate positioning information for the phone to let mobile operators provide emergency call services and to rapidly and economically meet EU and US legislation regarding E112 and E911.

In addition to this, it can support generic location-based services such as navigation, 'find a place or person' services and location-aware games.

By default the A-GPS SIM supports E-112 and E-911

Emergency Call Positioning and enables SIM, mobile and network-based LBS applications.

Sagem Orga's A-GPS SIM enables operators to introducenew value-added services for the mass market based on A-GPS without waiting for mass market deployment of A-GPS handsets. At the same time operators can build critical mass for LBS applications, create services to differentiate

and deliver new services and create revenue streams.

Since when is it government business to be concerned with ... hum ... procreation? What is next? Talking at a party! But, of course, sex IS ... well ... you know ... so. so ... dirty! Fed up with the puritans dictating and imposing their views!

I told Angelina sweetie baby not to bring the ... other boyfriend with her! Anyway, I do not think my condo apartment could fit everyone who would like to see her ... and me!

BTW, good on AJ to put this story back in the news! Doubt that the despots of Myanmar will bat an eye though! And, Thailand/China/India, which greatly benefits from the situation!

And, in another brilliant move by the police, they locked (as it usually done) all the "participants" in jail! ONE jail, that is!

I recommend using faster bowsers like Chrome and Mozilla. IE has proven to be so slow and unable to load pages at times, unless you reload 2 or 3 times.

Good-looking man, but is he good? Good-looking does not mean good.

For all those who are quick to criticize Thaksin, it remains that he did support the poor. He put the North of Thailand on the map of tourists and helped that the citizen of that city. Was it to get cotes? Sure, but he did it! Was it malicious? Not totally. Anyway, it seems that this guy belongs to the elite (education abroad and all) and as such will likely help out his peers. If not, they will force him somehow. Very primal all of this. Are humans great creatures? Anyway, will he also pocket a few extra Bahts like it seems Thaksin did? Will he support all the people of Thailand and maybe the poorest more? Time will tell.

All in all, I am not sure the average poor Thai will be out of HIS or HER woods though. But, then, I would be happy if this guy can prove me wrong.

As long as Thailand has great food, cheap hotels, cheap booze, cheap "companions" and huge amounts of sunshine there will be tourists to enjoy them... Its the law of supply and demand.

Not if those foreigners are unemployed!

Not if their retirement nest-egg has been obliterated!

Not if their currency as depreciated by 10 to 20%!

Not if their job might be on the line!

Travelling or travelling to LOS --in that case-- is no longer cheap or wise!