tomahawk

Perhaps an American on forum can answer this question. If I marry woman in Thailand, would she be entitled to my social security benefits when I die? Thank you.

As I wrote before on forum I think best massage, either oil massage or Thai massage, is at Maripaun Salon and Thai Traditional Massage on Maejo Road. They have showers, air-con and 3 excellent masseuses. Price for oil massage is 250 baht per hour. It is on left side Maejo road heading from CM to Maejo. 6.5 km from Rimping market at meechok Plaza. Just go to second traffic light, make u-turn and come back towards Chiang Mai. Shop is betweenr Wawee Cofee and Wang Buathong muban. There are signs out front. It is best to make appointment. Phone number is 0852849118.

In US, I worked as counter-terrorism consultant and attended many meetings and seminars regarding possible terrorist threats. One of the most likely and also potentially most dangerous involving exploding chlorine gas tankers. As a result, announcemets were sent out by homeland security to anyone manufacturing, storing or transporting chlorine to secure their supply and create a constant and accurate inventory. Now it seems here that chlorine is unsecured and just floats away in the water. This is in an area with constant terrorist attacks. Hopefully publicizing this incident will prompt government to address this problem. Very scary, as are the future proposed nuclear electric plants.

Thank you very much zzdocxx. I plan to someday get this ablation if I have the money, which I do not right now and also no insurance. You explained it much better than eithr doctor here or in US. One thing doctor in US told me is that he thought Thailand doctor was too quick to recomment the ablation. The dr. here made it sound as simple as pulling ttoth out, but the doctor in US said as you did that is a bit more serious than this and their should be more tests first.

I hear Obama is spending Christmas with Thaksin and Harry Patterson.

I think the real issue here is that there is more interest in where President Obama is going than where the president of Russia goes. Whatever his name is. Cold War is over. get over it.

I know Russia and Harry Patterson. Both used to be wealthy communists. Now bankrupt capitalists.

Yes thank you PMNL that is what it is.

No I think they just lowered prices. When I used to go there the rates were posted and it was 50 bt for everyone.

The gym in mooban near rimping is called jia jia. It is 500 bt per month for gym and 500 bt per month for pool so if you want to use both is 1000 bt. It is 50 bt. per day and also pay separately for gym and pool. There are few farang there and I believe they prefer it that way. Other farang have told me same thing. I went there daily for 2 years when I lived in the area as it was closest gym to my house and was convenient. They have decent weight facilities, though it is meant for Thais. I could bench press their entire supply of weights at one time. Also they have little for aerobic training exscept some elliptical machines which are usually broken. Gym is closed mondays.

Thanks again. I will be sure to get some watermelon. I never knew it helps blood pressure but I love it so why not? I have been drinking chrysanthemum tea and cocoa a lot as these are good too, they say. I wish I could remember what doctor called condition zzdocxx but I cannot except it was some kind of ventricular tachycardia. I was playing badminton with lttle kid, not very strenuous game, and I actually felt my heart beating fast in my chest. otherwise I did not feel any symptoms such as short of breath, chest pains etc. Although I have had heart palpitations for years, this is first time it had ever been so fast.

Thank you ktamp and everyone. I will take advice and keep taking pills and also go back to heart doctor.

zzdocxx I forgot to answer other question but I did used to get dizzy when standing up fast but doctor cut down medication by 50 per cent and no longer have this problem. Only symptom maybe from pills now is sometimes very tired but I also do not get very much sleep so I do not know if this effect of pills or insomnia.

Thank you very much Sheryll and zzdocxx. To answer questions I have been to cardiologists and had numerous ekg tests which they say show I have some kind of tachycardia which I cannot pronounce but is some kind of electrical condition in ventricle. My heart rate before I started taking pills was often about 86-90 but on day I went to hospital was over 230 bpm. I do take my pulse rate for full minute as doctor said same thing about doing this. Reason doctor gave me beta blocker was he said it was to slow heart rate as well as for blood pressure. He said if I did not take beta blocker I should have ablation operation, but doctor in US said he would not advise I do this.

I will tell you my experience and perhaps it will help you and maybe not, but I hope so. About 20 years ago I was working in prison in US. My regular job was sergeant assigned to guarding prisoners in AIDS ward at hospital. However one night I was working at prison and became involved in major use of force with an inmate. During this altercation I was exposed to inmate's blood and got it in my eyes and mouth. I immediately poured bleach over my face and body which burned skin but of course did not pour it into eyes or mouth. Inmate had never been given HIV test but was known IV drug user.

As I was daily surrounded by patients with AIDS, I became obsessed with idea I was HIV positive. I would not go near my wife and children and was afraid to take test, but I did get tested and nurse who gave test said to me,

Are you an alcoholic?" I did not know how she knew that I had drinking problem, but it turns out she herself was recovering alcoholic. Fact was I had not had a adrink in 7 months until night of incident. That night I started drinking again and it got to point I would drink at work at hospital and almost all day long. Nurse said she was not worried about me having AIDS, but was worried I would drink myself to death.

I got tested and it was negative, and started attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Like you I had every symptom of AIDS and HIV and there turned out to be an explanation for all of them which was not AIDS.

If you have been tested and it is negative you are fine and stop worrying. However,YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE. If you do not, someday the thing which you feared will likely come true.

I have gotten very good advice here from Sheryl and others so I will try again. Three years ago I was in hospital here from high blood pressure and tachycardia (fast heart beat). Now I take 25 mg prenolol 2x a day and now my heartbeat is very slow, often 40 bpm. I have done 30-60 minutes aerobic exercise almost every day for last 3 years and lost 20 kgs. I also have not had alcohol in over 2 years and do not smoke.I am 57 years old. My 2 daughters are nurses and say my heart is too slow and I should cut down medication. My doctor here says heart rate no problem because I exercise a lot and these pills slow heart rate down and since I seem okay otherwise I should keep taking pills. My blood pressure is good sometimes and sometimes it is not. I have been to 2 doctors here and 3 back home and every one changes medication. If anyone has advice or experience I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

I believe Thailand really really does not want to have to choose side between US-China. Still I believe it will side with US. They would be crazy not to. In a real war China has no chance against US, but they know this and are not stupid so I think will not come to that. China has too many people and they are very unhappy with govt. if China does not change way it treats its own people they will ruin their chance to be a major power. I have friend who just came from China who says there are worker demonstrations everyday no one even hears about in west. To answer one guy who says no one cares about US, I yhink the truth is no one cares about Russia, especially since they lost cold war and their country fell apart.

The best massage I have gotten as I have posted before here is at Maripaun Traditional Massage on Maejo Road. This is totally legit as you say and I know from others the masseuse and owners refuse to do anything not legit or extra. The masseuses there are great and thanks to massage their I am free of pain despite 2 herniated disks. They give very deep and strong massage and will make as strong or light as you ask, but I prefer strong as this is what helps me most. Also the thai massage is only 120 baht per hour. The salon is on Mae Jo Road. Travelling from Rimping market at meechok Plaza, you drive towards Mae Jo and massage shop and beauty salon is 6.5 kms from Rimping. Turn right at second stoplight and come back towards Rimping. There is a Wawee Coffee right before shop, and there are signs out front as well as big sign on second floor of building, which is 3 story shophouse. Maripaun is last shop in row, right next to driveway from Wang Bua Thong muban.

I apologize for all the advertisement for salon but I do this as service. I was in very extreme pain at one time. I could not get in or out of car and walked with a stick. My wife had to help me put my shoes on. I went to doctors and had MRI and they suggest surgery. I was always active person and was a martial arts competitor and instructor and was told I could never engage in any sports again. I was given 3 types of medication which only made me tired. After trying different massage places I found this massage salon which has relieved my pain to the point where I can now do everything which I did before injury, so I give this information to others who may have similar suffering. I am sure there are many many fine massage places which could do same thing. I only mnetion this one because this is my experience and would be glad to hear from others who have been helped at various massage shops.

I recently travelled to Bangkok and went to two different massage shops for therapeutic massage but was disappointed even though one was quite expensive and highly rated. I was glad to get back to Chiang Mai and Maripaun salon and now I am pain free again. Incidentally for people who have been there in past it is now quite improved with new beds, air con and fan room. Fortunately they have same masseuses. I am surprised small shop like this has better massage than high priced Bangkok massage. However it is good to get a good deal once in a while.

I know the woman tourist police officer who tried to stop the jumper and she is very dedicated and professional. I believe she is one of the better officers, and did the best she could, but tourist police do not really receive much if any training in suicide prevention, dealing with mentally ill persons, etc. I worked 25 years as supervisor in law enforcement and did used to work as volunteer tourist police. Contrary to what you see written here, mostly from people who have no clue about volunteers or what they do, they were for the most part normal expats who wanted to spend a little time doing something helpful and interesting. There were some wannabe cops to be sure, but they were in the minority and really no one wanted to work with these types. The program still exists but there are far fewer members. I do not feel it is my place to divulge information about a Thai law enforcement organization, so I will just say I feel that there were resources available to the department via the volunteers which were either underutilized or not at all. I do not know if having a farang volunteer negotiate with this jumper would have made any difference. But what I am saying it could have been an option, and sadly it is not.

I do not agree. I think there were many rational postings of advice in this particular thread, unlike many others I see on forum. It is not an easy situation to be in. You wish to help the less fortunate but still not destroy your own life and family. Yes this friend has made mistakes and lived foolishly but this is the case with many many people I have come across in this country. I would also tell OP he has done enough for this guy and should cut loose from him. Like a drowning person who will pull down the one trying to save him. But is easy to give anonymous advice to people but even though it is the smart thing to do, it is not easy for most people to just tell someone get lost, you are on your own now and I will not help you. Perhaps this is what is called tough love.

I got rid of all my red and yellow shirts. Now I see black shirts are political also. I have many black shirts and I am not throwing them away. Both of these groups are whackos. More like gangs than political parties. I suppose it is too much trouble to register. Easier to buy a shirt.

Firstly nazis and khmer rouge did not start right off killing people. First there was a lot of talking and organizing and recruiting. Second I would not bother to wander around Chiang mai talking to redshirts and yellowshirts. This sounds like something a nut would do. I see the actions of both these groups which is enough to convince me I do not wish to hang out with either of them. Just the whole stupidity of the business with the shirts is enough to convince one not to bother with them. Only people I know dressing in colors are gang members, not political parties. Whoever is in charge will be the ones with the power and this they will use to their own advantage to enrich themselves at the expense of everyone else. Whether the people doing this are wearing yellow or red or green, who cares? In the end they are all the same. I believe redshirts will win in election, and a year after that the same people who are saying how wonderful they are now will be calling for their downfall.

I personally have no nickel in the outfit as far as reds and yellows are concerned. I cannot get too worked up about all this and think they are two gangs. However, I also have to agree redshirts here remind me of brownshirts in Germany. They are violent and there leaders sound like Hitler. I mistakenly ended up at one of their rallies in Phrae. Nazis had scapegoat, namely Jews, which they blamed all their problems on. The way these people looked at me made me wonder if I, meaning farang, is not their scapegoat. I think if reds get power many farang redshirt supporters will find the ones that they are in love with do not love them back. My wife is from Cambodia and many of her family killed by Khmer Rouge. She tells me she used to support them but now they scare her and remind her of KR, and not just because of the red clothes. Red shirts hate elites, and if you recall the whole Cambodia genoicide was aimed at eliminating all elites of cambodia.