quadricorrelator

Why didn't the landlord want the year's rent in the first place? Why does he claim that he is concerned about a long term contract now, but not before?

Given the information I have, I would not pay a year's rent even with a contract. I just don't trust the landlord until I understand why he changed his mind, and believed him.

If the landlord is untrustworthy, then I wonder how much good the contract would do. What are you going to do if he breaks the contract and won't give the money back? Are you really going to try to sue the landlord?

Is he making the same request of other tenants too? How long has he been in business? What are the other tenants doing?

I think that you can surround yourself with people who have similar values in most countries.

If status is important to you, then you can find people who like to show off status symbols.

If a simpler life is more important than you can find people who enjoy the simple things.

I don't believe that an entire country limits the kind of people you have to be with. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I think you have a chance to make the kind of life you want. At least it is worth trying. What else are you going to do?

Some countries or locations may not be the best places to look for some things. I admit that. For example, I used to live in Silicon Valley. That is a bad place to find a mate (if you are male) because of the severe gender ratio imbalance.

-q

I have just arrived in the U.S. after nine months in Thailand. I don't have any particulary intense emotions.

I noticed the following differences:

1. The air is cleaner in the U.S.

2. Streets and traffic are more organized.

3. Farangs in Thailand seem to brag more. They seem to want to tell me all of their accomplishments immediately. I think that I hear more heroic claims per capita among Farangs in Thailand than in the U.S.

4. People seem less friendly in the U.S., but more sincere.

5. A casual interaction with a cashier in Thailand is generally much more pleasant than a casual interaction with a cashier in the U.S.

6. I have a lower level of anxiety in the U.S. because I feel I understand my rights. I feel I belong here. I don't have to worry about carrying a passport, etc.

7. Things are more expensive in the U.S. It is difficult to avoid spending quickly.

8. When I buy something in the U.S., I have a greater chance of getting what I want, but it is more expensive. In Thailand, it is cheaper, but I might have to buy the same thing three times before I get what I want.

I will enjoy my time here. But, I will look forward to coming back to Thailand next month.

-q

I like it here. Life is easier for me here in many ways.

My main concern is that I find it difficult to find romance here. I might have a better chance of finding a wife or girlfriend back in the U.S. than here.

On the surface, I find Thai females to be very attractive and open to romance. But, I have not had good luck in forming a deeper connection with Thai females.

As I get older, it will get more difficult. I am worried that I will squander my best chance for finding a wife or girlfriend by staying here.

My very superficial contact with Thai females has been enough to sustain me. But, at the same time it destroys the motivation and discipline needed to make a serious effort to find someone.

A second concern is that I am having difficulty finding a way to feel like I am making a contribution. As a result, I have a sense of meaninglessness.

-q

Grand President on Soi 11 is 27K for a studio and 2640 baht for internet.

President Solitaire on Soi 11 has free internet but it is more expensive. I think a studio is 50K.

"A girl is not a slut if she can remember the names of all the guys she slept with (but not necessarily the order)."

That is the definition according to some girls from college. Girls with better memories can sleep with more guys before achieving slut classification.

Kitty.

I mean the the dog's name should be "Kitty"

Choice of names for dogs:

1. Fubini

2. Frobenius

3. Yitmar Boobitsky

The change in regulations is causing uncertainty about whether or not I will be able to stay in Thailand. I don't know how the new laws will affect me, and how future laws may affect me if there are more changes.

This may affect my decision about what kind of apartment rental agreement I will make. Making month by month arrangements instead of one year agreements limits the available apartments and probably increases the price.

If I attempt to impose my spiritual beliefs on someone else, then I must think I know the correct spiritual answer. But, many people have different beliefs, so how can I be sure I am right? Wouldn't it be a great coincidence if my beliefs happened to be the truth?

At most, one religion can be contain the truth (it is also possible that they are all wrong). But, even the biggest religion consitutes less than half the world population. Therefore, a person selected at random has less than a fifty percent chance of knowing the truth (given that even one religion is correct). So, my chances of picking a correct belief system are less than 50%.

-q

Ultimately, you probably have to find your own way to do this. Someone else's methods might not be comfortable for your personality. That is, you couldn't sustain another persons methods because it wouldn't fit your personality. So we can only offer ideas and suggestions for doing this.

Secondly, I think it depends on the situation. I use different methods with different people.

For example, if I am dealing with a falang, and I suspect that he needs money, then I will act pre-emptively. I might tell a story about how a friend recently asked to borrow some money and I said no because I never ever lend money to anyone. This should reduce the chance they will ask for money, and it avoids a confrontation. It has the unfortunate side-effect of making me look cheap and miserly.

If I am dealing with a beggar or someone like that, then I usually try to avoid eye contact and just keep going.

I have had bad luck when I did give small amounts of money to beggars or people in need. I found that they came back later and asked for more. If I did not give them more money, then they became unpleasant. I even got punched one time. At this time, I am very mean about not giving out money to beggars.

My dentist here in Thailand bought some toothpaste from Amway (I saw the Amway saleslady sell it to him as I was waiting). Then he tried to sell it to me. I noticed the date on the package was past the expiration date too.

After that, I didn't want to use that dentist anymore.

Hi Paul,

I hope we get more responses.

Incidentally, I am a retired electrical engineer myself. I designed analog microchips.

The mathematics I learned in engineering (at MIT) was probably never anything developed past 1850. I guess that is what you mean by classical (Calculus, Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, Stochastic Processes, Complex Variables, Fourier Analysis, and Differential Equations accounted for most of our required math in EE).

As an analog designer, I regularly used almost all of the math I learned in school, so it is not so interesting to me.

Instead, I am more interested in the kinds of things that are less practical and more abstract. Right now I am studying Spivak's "Calculus on Manifold's", Bishop and Goldberg's "Tensor Analysis on Manifolds" and Schutz's "Geometrical Methods of Mathematical Physics" as my main books.

It is difficult to good math books here in Thailand. I have brought about 200 math books from back home. I have also downloaded over 1000 books and lecture notes on math and physics. It takes up over 3.5 Gbytes on a DVD. I can burn a copy for you if you like. It is organized in a math/physics library. It is an ongoing project to find material on the internet. A great source of free math books is:

http://www.geocities.com/alex_stef/mylist.html

and

http://www.geocities.com/alex_stef/links.html

Incidentally, I used to enjoy tennis quite a bit too. I don't even know where you would find a court around here.

-q

I am interested in forming a discussion group in mathematics. I am studying Differential Geometry and Differential Topology on my own right now. But, I would like to form a discussion group in this area. I think it would make it more fun and more productive.

Anyone interested?

-q

I think that prostitution has some good and some bad consequences. I think it is very difficult to know the net effect on society relative to a society without some level of prostitution. In fact, I think it is difficult to measure or even define whether one society is better off than another. To do so requires a value system that we all agree on. But, that is likely impossible. Therefore I think it is very difficult to make a moral judgement about prostitution.

So, instead of trying to answer that impossible question, I will point out some effects that I think prostitution has on society:

1. Prostitution may increase the spread of disease.

2. Prositution may distribute money from rich to poor in Thailand.

3. Prostitution may give some happiness to men who could not find it otherwise.

4. Prostitution may give some wealth to women who could not find it otherwise.

5. Prostitution may destroy some mens' bank accounts and hearts.

6. Prostitution may make future "normal" relationships impossible for both men and women who participate in it.

7. Prostitution may wind up hurting those who are married to participants whether or not they are found out.

8. Prostitution may wind up helping those who are married to participants in prostitution by meeting needs which can't be met in the marriage.

-q

I make 7 baht/minute calls to the U.S. by dialing 009 before the U.S. phone number on my mobile.

If you don't have a mobile, then why don't you borrow one and pay back the person who lets you use their phone.

As autonomous_unit pointed out, the answer for California appears to be given on the California DMV website.

1. You can use a Thai driver's license in California

2. You can not use an International driver's license.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#international

It says:

"The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver license. California does recognize a valid driver license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident.

The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California. Citations issued to a person in California who has an IDP, but does not have a California driver license will be placed on the Department of Motor Vehicle database."

I don't think that just having a mailing address in California will make me eligible for a driver's license if I am not a resident.

I want to give up my residence in California because I don't want to pay California taxes. That is the reason I want to see if I can use my Thai driver's license.

If I continue to renew my California license, then I am worried California will want me to pay state taxes.

I understand that I can get an official Thai translation for 50 baht at the same place I got the license.

Jeff1,

Do you think I can renew my license even though I live in Thailand? Is that what you are saying?

-q

1. The lady at the U.S. embassy who answered the phone said that the Thai driver's licence probably is not valid in the U.S., but she said she didn't really know the answer. She said I should get an international licence.

2. I called a police department back where I used to live. They said that I could still use my old licence if it is still valid. But, then she said she wasn't sure either.

She advise me to call the DMV. That is hopeless because you can't contact them by phone.

I was amazed by her answer. It seems to indicate that the police officers themselves don't know the law. They don't know what is and isn't legal.

3. The place in Thailand where I got the Thai licence claimed that it would be valid in the U.S.

I found one source which says it IS legal to use a foreign driver's licence to drive in the U.S. Here is part of the quote:

"Therefore, New York, and all other U.S. States, are required to honor licenses from signatory nations for one year from the date the driver enters the U.S. (provided the home license is, and remains, valid)."

http://www.frogsonline.com/america/-usa/usa-driving.shtml

This website calls itself FrogsOnLine.com

“The website for travellers and expats”

I don't know how accurate they are. I will continue to try to find other sources as well as call the U.S. embassy here in Thailand.

Can I use my Thai driver's licence to get an international driver's licence in the U.S.?

There must be some provision for ex-pats who want to drive in the U.S. If I understand correctly, there are 4 million U.S. ex-pats around the world. It would make business travel prohibitive without some reasonable provision for temporary legal driving in the U.S. There has got to be some better way than having someone drive me around.

I am an ex-pat residing in Thailand. I will go back to the U.S. for a visit and I wish to drive. Can I use my Thai driver's licence for this? I can not get an international driver's licence in Thailand yet.

How can an ex-pat without a U.S. driver's licence drive legally in the U.S.?

thanks,

-q

I certainly do not want things to be made more difficult for people like me who make the effort to obey the law.

But, do you agree with posters who feel that, those who make things that much harder by violating the overstay law, deserve so much intense hateful emotion?

I am not questioning the law. I believe it is best to follow the law. It gives the highest chance of avoiding problems, and it takes almost no effort to obey the law.

I am questioning the desire of some posters that horrible punishment be inflicted on overstayers. Why such hate, contempt, and intense desire for punishment?