Anyse

This is so cute and so clean as well! I love it! That is my "pun"ishment: to love puns. Also, I am NOT blonde!

There is a great surgeon at International Hospital named Sanguan Kunaporn. He is board certified and has had many years of experience in this area, which is worth more than gold in the case of a surgery like this one. Check him out.

As an atheist, I think that this is rather funny!

You should ask him for a writing sample that he writes totally in your presence! Sometimes people get help from others and past writing will not necessarily show where he is in terms of his actual writing skills. You need to also work him on kernel sentences. I have students who can not figure out the subject and the verb of many sentences. Sentence combining, a la Strong and others, is also a powerful tool for creating better sentence sense through a process called "sentence combining." So, you also need to be sure if he needs help first at the sentence level and then move to the paragraph level. A daily journal is a must. Have him ask questions of you as well before you tell him anything so that you also get a sense of his real knowledge about what he is or is trying to do. You can learn a lot from some simple sophistry.

Good luck.

I am looking for what the real costs are for an iPhone in Thailand. Would it be cheaper to buy an iPhone in the US and then bring it to Thailand or just to purchase it there? What are the monthly fees. As I would want to use my iPhone as my only telephone, a limit of only so many minutes per day would be useless. Is there an unlimited talking time feature and what would that cost? I would also want unlimited texting as well. Any real advice and information on this would be worthwhile. I need personal experience there as I have seen some of the ads over there and they just confuse me.

Thank you very much.

I am so saddened that so little land can cause so much strife between these two countries. It is foolish at best and downright dangerous at its worst. When will they learn that the conditions set long ago leave this land as sort of neutral with free access to both Camodians as well as Thais. Being neutral, how do they handle those who come to this place to experience its beauty and wonderment? I want to go there to see it. I want to look over the hill into Cambodia. I want to walk up those many stone steps, in spite of my own disabilities, in order to take the path that many have taken for over 1600 years. Where is the perspective? Sad, sad, sad.

OK, can anyone enlighten me on a few things here. also, before the two things, this sounds horribly fishy to me. I am rather skeptical of this.

OK, here is my first question: Why to they want Thailand to pull out of the World Heritage Committee in protest over the determinging that the Preah Vihear Temple is a World Heritage site? What does the decision of the World Heritage Committee on Preah Vihear Temple have to do with anything political in Thailand? What is the real, deeper issue here? There are many places that are World Heritage Centers in Thailand and, as I saw the other day, a building in Phuket town is slated to be on the list for the WHC's consideration. What is the problem here? It makes no sense to me.

Next, I know that the border between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed almost forever! The major dispute is at the bridge in Northern Thailand and the land on the other side of that bridge. I know that there have been skirmishes there in the past and read of one last fall. Why do Yellow shirts want this to be such an issue such that, should they have it their way, would result in a conflict, possibly a military one, between Cambodia and Thailand? Why not just "let it be"? I know that this piece of land is very scant. What, in essence does the Memorandum of Understanding give up on the part of Thailand that has these people so upset? Would giving up this small piece of land really mean all that much or are they afraid that, should they release it, it will only encourage Cambodia to encroach further on Thai territory? To me, the MOU and the land dispute are intrinsically linked and I can only see this as ONE issue, not two.

I thank those who will help me to understand these issues as fully as possible.

I like to spend my time reading or studying. Maybe a nice reading group would be a good idea?

They are already going to pass a law wherein these young ladies will be permitted to remain in school. Why not put out a "Memorandum of Understanding" for all schools, telling them that they may no longer throw out these young ladies? It's so simple!

If the elephants are malnourished already then they should be taken back to their own habitat and left to eat up and get well. Why would the 'damned' temple be allowed to slaughter these animals? Makes no sense other than greed. Talk to the Abbott and make him responsible.

I'm not disagreeing with you about the killing of the elephants.

Your point is very well stated. I do not get to see much of this here. Good work. Now, what are they going to do about this? That is the point! I hope that this never happens again; however, I know that it will. This is just too, too sad to me. The elephant in Thai society,, on a spiritual level, is a part of the Buddha and, in effect, they are killing their own teacher when they do this. How could they? Yes, you can say greed. Yet, among monks, it would seem that a higher morality and social consciousness would be in vogue among them. Sad, sad, sad.

This is more than unconscionable! This is a tragedy. I read about the confiscation of these tusks the other day and there was no mention of where they came from and I thought that it would be poachers out to make a baht. However, it turns out to be a temple of monks out to make millions of baht, which they, in fact, did. This is simple greed. A 13 year-old elephant is rather young really. I am so saddened. Maybe they should take all of the abbots as well as the other monk's teeth, finger and toe nails and the small toes on each foot! That may be a more than suitable life-long punishment that they would remember every day and, as a result, they can reflect on it. Also, they should participate in talks about conserving elephants, not eating them! Yuck!

You are using an adjective to describe the organization. You should use a predicative noun such as "a farce" instead. Now, if you can find a noun that means "farce" that would do it. Just giving a suggestion as to the direction. Take care.

I agree that this could be idomatic and, immediately, I saw that it could possibly mean something as simple as "Persistence pays off." I really think that this is the gist. About the "fifth," well, could be that she wants a fifth of whiskey or perfume . . . being light here, of course.

I am reminded od the dictates made in the movie, "Bananas," by Woody Allen. The dictator orders as follows: "From now on all underwear will be worn on the outside of our clothes." Yes dictattes are more often silly than evil and, for the Chinese, this new one is futile! English businesses may have to move to Inda now! This is the greatest competition that China now has. Also, inflation in China is so great that many of the exomimic advances can be totally lost. So, China will have to learn on its own as it so insists!

I am a speaker of Russian as well as a student of Russian and a follower of the Russian press and government. When Abhisit said ""Thailand acted in accordance with the laws and international treaty obligations before making an executive decision for the extradition mindful of its national interest," he said it in the most diplomatic terms. However, Russia takes such things personally when those in power fail to come as earlier promised. This is a slight against Russia, diplomatically. Also, Thailand should consolidate the best possible relations with either Russia or China and, in my sense of the world, Russia is a better devil to deal with than is China. One can no longer say that Abhisit has all of this other stuff with which he must deal for such is alway the case with any PM. In absentia, he can tell another where to go with what. Simple as that. Unless, as happened to Gorbachev, he would be removed in a coup of some sort if he left Thailand for a few days! Hmmm . . . I wonder if Thaksin is reading this! LOL!

Hello, Woody! (I hope that this is correct)

I would like to know how one is charged for the use of the internet. Is it a flat monthly rate (or can one just pay a monthly rate as an alternative to other fee plans?). What are the other fee plans?

Thank you so very much as I need this information for a friend who will be living there in a couple of months.

Anyse

Wow! What an eye-opener! I did not realize that, when I was there in 2002, the Thai baht was around 45 to the dollar. I now can see why it would be hard on Thailand to gain more strength in the baht. This would mean that, today, were I to be in Thailand, everything would cost at least 33% more! Thar room that I rented in Patong for $20 per day would now cost me (if the rates weren't raised, which I am sure that they were) would cost close to $27 per night. Some of the meals with some local Thai friends I made there that were about $40 for 6 of us, would now cost about $54. This adds up, doesn't it. Of course, I am calculating with the baht at 30 to the dollar. This would definitely also play havoc on medical vacations as well - a big-ticket item. A breast implant (no I did not have one! LOL!) costing about $2,000 US (90,000 baht) back then would now cost $3400 today and, I know, as I saw the other day, that they are now in the $4-5,000 range and would actually cost $6800-8,500 today. I also looked at some of the room rates there and, of course, in luxury hotels, they charge all too often 2600 baht per night. At 30 baht to the dollar, this would be roughly 90 per night. At 45, it would have been roughly $58. When you add up a couple of weeks of this with everything that is done and/or purchased, it adds up to a nice chunk of change. I can see how some people may cancel their trips or purchases of Thai goods based on this rise in prices alone. However, for a person from a foreign country, working in Thailand at usual Thai rates, this could be a nice way to save a lot of money! So, as an example, this would be an upside for a teacher working and teaching English in Thailand. Gee, I never really thought about any of this until now! I was also in Europe in the summer of 1986 (when they had the "Who Shot JR" posters all over the place here in America as well as everywhere I went in Europe!) and the dollar was super strong (3.6 German Marks, 35 Belgian Francs, 42 French Francs , 2.9 Swiss Francs, I also want to put in the exchange for Dutch Guilders but can't rememer now, but it, too, was phenomenal! I won a lot of money on a slot machine in Amsterdam one night as well!). Now, I am quite sure that my trip would be very expensive today were I to do just as I did there in 1986. The trip was for 7 weeks and cost about $8,000. I am sure that, today, it would be a lot more as there is practically only the Euro to deal with now and no real fluctuations from country to country as there were in 1986. Darn! I want to go back! Could I ever afford it? I don't think so . . .

The US just put into effect the same thing September 8.

Who wants to visit the USA?

Ask the 38 million that immigrated to the USA in 2007.

http://en.wikipedia....e_United_States

Yes, most from Mexico thats why USA now has 2 languages nationwide.

I hate to pop your bubble, but there are over 50 languages in the US today (actually more, but did not want to go into obscure languages). We have materials printed in Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Hmong, Thai and many others as well as English, which is the majority language. One thing that most nations do not know is that the US does not have a national language that has been legislated. Language is handled here without any laws, rules or regulation. It has been this way since the beginning colonists came here from all over Europe. If I am correct, English is, by law, the official language of the Commonwealth, making the use of English mandatory. I can go to many places here in Sacramento and meet people who speak no English but can do rather well in their own language with their co-workers. I shop in a Thai grocery store here, run by Thais and they do not understand English at all!

We like things to be loose here in the US. Makes things a bit more interesting.

It's hilariously funny that so many people don't think he should get involved in the politics of another country. But hang on a minute. The USA, UK and many other countries are only too happy to stick their nose into the affairs of almost any country they disagree with. Not only that but they are happy to allow hundreds of thousands of civilians to be killed. But that's ok, it's only colleateral damage. There seem to be plenty of double standards here. I don't hear you all saying how wrong it is to be involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

I have to say that, as an American with a conscience, I certainly am against the gunboat, drone bombing, collateral damage as well as preemptive strikes against other nations by the US and any other nation as well! What Bush Jr. did was the work of an international criminal! Yes, it is against the Geneva Accord to commit a "first strike" against any other nation as it is a "crime against peace" and Bush Jr. ordered just that along with the use of made-up data and information presented to the UN by General Powell. I am ashamed of the actions of the US in the world. 1.3 million civilian deaths in Iraq by US and other forces in its support is inexcusable and can never be justified. We are seeing a repeat of this same type of slaughter in Afghanistan. Who knows what nation will be next! I have written to the president as well as genrals and congresspeople that they are "criminals" deserving of a trial before the World Court and should suffer the greatest punishment of all: execution. Yep, I have done this over the years. So, please, don't put ALL Americans in that basket of glee with the deaths of so many innocents. Were I in Thailand, I do not know if I would even want to say that I am an American. Also, the government of Australia has sent troops in support of the US (along with the UK, Spain, Italy and other nations) and its overall policies in the Middle East. I wish that they had not!

Well, according to http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2487 (see #11), he wouldn't be allowed back in anyway. He just loves being in the limelight I think.

Yes, according to item #11, both subsections 6 and 7 apply to his case and it seems that he can NEVER return to Thailand unless given a pardon and erasure of record. These items are as follows:

11. According to the Immigration Act of Thailand B.E. 2522 (1979), foreigners who fall into any of the following categories are prohibited to enter Thailand:

. . . . .

(6) Having been imprisoned by judgment of the Thai Court; or by lawful injunction or judgment of the Court of a foreign country, except for when the penalty is for a petty offence, or negligence, or is provided for as an exception by the Ministerial Regulations.

(7) Having behaviour which could cause possible danger to the public; or having the likelihood of being a nuisance or constituting any violence to the peace, safety and security of the public or to the security of the nation; or being under warrant of arrest by competent officials of foreign governments.

He was arrested and tried for what item 7 states and was also imprisoned, fulfilling the other rule for exclusion as he spent time in prison as well for his actions in item 7. Seems pretty clear cut to me.

Were I to live in Thailand, it is not my business to involve myself in the politics of my host nation. I am a guest and I would behave accordingly.

There are many thrillseekers who will climb up, or down, anything: buildings, mountains, arches, bridges and such. This happens rather often and, so as not to make some fancy assertion about escaping or trying to get away from something, I would presume that he was climbing down to exercise his skills (well, in this case, an obvious lack) in climbing the face of a tall building. He, more than likely, may have done this in the past. Too bad he did not make it.

Maybe he was actualy trying to escape the clutches of kingpower and police extortion and his attempt to escape went very wrong, hence the lack of details,

My sentiments exactly as I have read misspellings, improper word usage and run-on sentences. Doesn't anyone check their writing these days?

Most third graders any were are not reading and writing very well.

aparently some posters are not writing well either

I can certainly agree with you here. However, did you read the article on the literacy level of third graders also posted today?

http://www.thaivisa....rs-substandard/

This shows that this would be, indeed, a very long road . . .

The people of Thailand don't need "shopping power", they need a new culture that values individual thinking, new ideas, inventions and audacity.

Only to people possessing those properties has a transfer of wealth any lasting effect.

So, perhaps changing the mindset of the young generation, education etc. prior to redistributing wealth would do the trick ??

Just my five cents..

Whomever did the bombing is not really all that important! I know many would disagree with this assertion. However, it is more important to understand that this type of activity is atypical in Thailand as it is so in America, Britain or France. The bomber in Atlanta was an "independent." I have seen none here speculate on this option for the culprit! Yet, again, even this is not essential or important. When there are internal political/social/economic frustrations in any society, the tendency to go "underground" (whether as a terrorist group, an indivdual, or member(s) of some political/social/economic entity) is quite common. There were such groups/individuals a-plenty during the Viet Nam war in the US and, when any country has some issues, there is a tendency for this to happen. Of course, everyone wants to know what happened and who did it for their own sense of security overall. However, should this one remain an "unknown" in terms of who did this, it can cause far more havoc overall nationwide (look what happened in the US when the bombing in Atlanta occurred - and this was a "lone" person with a private complaint) and how it raised the fear level everywhere). I don't want to cause any discomfort here. Who did it is so tempting to judge so as to break any cognitive dissonance or discomfort or insecurity. Maybe, instead, one should just face the insecurity and wait until later to try to understand. It took a long time to ascertain who did the bombing in Atlanta and the speculation was worse for wear in the US than the truth. Maybe, this is what all should alctually settle for in the long run and what all should do in a more "Buddhist" sense of dealing with the complicated things of the world - wait for the truth and stop speculation. I am, as I often am, reminded of T. S. Eliot's lines in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock":

And indeed there will be time

For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,

Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;

There will be time, there will be time

To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;

There will be time to murder and create,

And time for all the works and days of hands

That lift and drop a question on your plate;

Time for you and time for me,

And time yet for a hundred indecisions,

And for a hundred visions and revisions,

Before the taking of a toast and tea.

This happened such a short time ago. Breathe. Relax. Slow down.

I so love Thailand and I am also saddened by this event as I am with any that may hurt Thailand's overall reputation. However, overall, I am also rather certain that Thailand wil continue to flourish and to grow as Thailand always has.

Anyse