jazzbo

No, that was Teddy Roosevelt (not FDR) ... but Truman also said : "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."

Not so good for the US codgers here in Thailand but from the same The Washington Post article as above:

A weak dollar isn’t necessarily a bad thing, (former IMF Chief Economist and Harvard Economics Professor) Rogoff said — it can make the United States more competitive, bolster exports and help domestic companies that are vying against imported goods here in the United States.

Patent on brand-name 'Plavix' (Clopidogrel bisulfate) expires in November 2011 and there are plenty of generics in the waiting if not already available in Thailand.

... as attributed to former US President Harry S. Truman:

“It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.”

Along with my family and some well-to-do friends I covered the stipend costs for a student who is blind after he won full academic merit scholarship for an advanced degree at a graduate research institute in Bangkok.

I don't expect anything in return at least not until he becomes an MP or Bangkok Governor which -- considering what he has accomplished to date and that he already represents the Thai Government at International diplomatic functions -- is not so far fetched.

The Zamboni machine was invented in 1949 -- prior to that although a tedious job the ice was re-surfaced manually. Given the amount of anticipated usage for your ice rink in the village and the fact that even a used Zamboni will cost more than the ice rink costs you have listed combined, you could train a couple of the villagers to do the job as in pre-1949 mode.

This is what I am telling my children that people use this word because they are ignorant and do not understand and are sometimes not happy people... You are also teaching your children that when you have a problem, blame someone else.

12:30 PM in BC and this is all you have to do? ... must be bored out of your wits.

I have no real problem tolerating the Thais ... as for the 'farang' contingent, no problem, I just avoid them ...

This is a great thread....... Yes -- and all the nice do-gooders get a gold star next to their name on the bulletin board.

I once met a Norwegian in the hospital waiting room who is a volunteer on the local Tourist Police -- I asked of him what did he do as there are not many tourists up this way... he said almost all of his work is related to settling domestic disturbances amongst married Scandinavians and their Thai spouses.

Kaopectate is for diarrhea ... but on doctor's orders i should minimally dwell in maudlin sentimentality so I guess I'll take a rest from here.

You certainly are a swell bunch of fellows if you do say so yourselves ... kinda like the ' Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley':

"I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

courtesy George & Ira Geshwin and DuBose Hayward

It Ain't Necessarily So [Porgy and Bess] 1935

Methus'lah lived nine hundred years

Methus'lah lived nine hundred years

But who calls dat livin' when no gal'll give in

To no man what's nine hundred years

Such a load of treacle today ... time for the Pepto-Bismol.

From post #10: I know EXACTLY what Jurgen is talking about. I do it all the time and expect nothing in return.

From the screenplay of Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief .. Jewel thief John Robie -Cary Grant / Francie's Mother(Francie - Grace Kelly)

Mom - Would you mind if I had you investigated?

JR -- Not at all. With what object?

Mom - If I were Francie's age, you'd sound too good to be true.

JR -- Thank you

Belated reply to Post # 80 5) Which look do you see on their face? I'm genuinely curious... The look is the simple Why-do-all-those-people-stare-at-me?' look.

Courtesy of Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders:

Got something. I'm winking at you,

Gonna make you, make you notice.

Cause I'm going make you see-- there's nobody else here

No one like me.

I'm special, so special.

I got to have some of your attention, give it to me!

... or I'll sick my CongressPerson on you!

About the only interesting piece of information you have not provided here is the whereabouts of your Mother -- in the USA or back in Thailand?

from OP #1: As of right now I only plan on staying about 6 months tops unless I find that the lifestyle is for me.

There is really no way to get a work permit unless you are employed by a Thai registered company -- your company in the USA does not figure into the equation...

One avenue I sometimes suggest is that during your stay of 6 months or more you make sufficient trips outside of Thailand such that -- in the unlikely event that there was ever any official query -- you can reasonably claim that ALL your actual work is being done ex-Thailand and that you are here in the Kingdom strictly as an aficionado of Thai culture, etc.

I was just reporting my first-hand experiences during my renewal last year and my conversation today... They most certainly emphasized both occurrences that I did not have the option to choose which currency conversion rate I preferred to use and that they would be using what is the least favorable.

Gee ... being a Brit must be wonderful ... On Bangkok Bank and elsewhere I believe the US is the only currency in Thailand with different rates based upon denomination as per Bangkok Bank website:

USD1-2

USD5-20

USD50-100

GBP

EUR

You cad ... even though you most likely let her know that it won''t ever be a permanent relationship, you're not really going to try and steal HIS girl-friend?

I was in my friendly local IMM office today and after finishing my in-person 90-day report I queried of the IMM Officer:

When it comes time next for me to do Extension of stay based upon retirement, will you compute the BAHT income based upon my affirmation of $US income letter from the US Embassy using the 'best' rate (Bangkok Bank $100 note rate) or the 'worst' rate (Bangkok Bank $1 note rate)?

His answer was that based upon directives from the Dept. Of Immigration HQ at CW they are to use the 'worst' rate ... or a difference (today) of about $60 extra income required per month.

There are lots of different types of relationships in this world, and whether they are "right" or "wrong" really depends on the people involved, not for strangers on an internet forum.

Sure -- but what else is there to do on lonely nights in the wilds of Canada?