Bob

Haven't had any issues using 1-2-call up here in the boonies (Chiangmai) but I never use it to call outside of Thailand. I use the same phone (unlocked Galaxy III which I bought in the states) here with the AIS sim card and back in the states with an AT&T sim card. I have no clue what would happen if I tried to use the AIS sim card in the states or vice versa as I've never done that.

Hmmm.....never met a Canadian yet who didn't know what swampers were (boots for hunting or traversing swamps).

I suppose you wear your swampers when you're out doing that, eh? I'm waiting for the Canuck from Hua Hin to weigh in on this thread. Don't worry, he won't bite......and he's only a cocksucker in a literal sense....

That a signal for a Boy George song? (comma comma comma chameleon.....)

Mr. Genius! Thanks. As you can see, it solved my problem. I'd note that when you click on the "gear" thingie and the compatibility settings (which you can also get to through the Tools tab), it already shows "gaythailand.com" in the upper box. Just hit the "Add" button next to that box and then close the window. Works right away (solves both the use of the quote function and the inability-to-paste-text problem).

Not that it matters but IE 11 (and/or Windows 7/8) also won't let one paste text into a reply. Oh well, I'll survive.

The governmental and huge employer plans must be allowed to be different. For the rest of us slobs, we can't purchase a Medicare Advantage plan without ponying up for Part B of Medicare.

Removed? Heck no, it's not my business or inclination to suggest that. But I remain fairly convinced that falang shouldn't even attempt this type of language and the vast majority are going to get it wrong or cause the Thai listener to respond with one of those "Huh?" looks. But, as applies to almost everything here in the Land of Smiles, up to you.

In my view, you should only even attempt using this language with Thais you know well....don't try it otherwise or you're going to come off as crude or belligerent. And tones do matter. Several of your phrases end with the question word "mai" and it only makes it a question if you say that word with a rising tone. If you say it with a low tone, it means "new", if you say it with a high tone it means "wood", etc. So, if you use a low tone, your one phrase (for example only) about whether the person would like to do it in the swimming pool would be not a question but a statement that "you/I (unclear) want to do (something) in the new pool." And, of course, the background context matters. The word "tam" means to do or to make (or variations thereof). If you are already talking about having sex, then the listener will probably understand that what you're talking about doing is sex; otherwise, not likely.

Read the article, Rich. While the author seems rather level-headed, I actually didn't see any specific reform that he was recommending (nor have I seen any specific reform stated by either the government or the protestors). Everybody is screaming about the need for reform but nobody seems to want to say first what it is specifically that they want reformed. What'd be funny is if they set up the reform body that the author suggests and, at the first meeting, nobody suggests anything! Everybody would likely agree on a stiff law prohibiting vote buying but I doubt if that'd solve or change anything. Other than that, I don't think the government and the protestors would agree that the sun rises in the east on some/most/all mornings.

"A crisis without a solution." On that, Rich, we fully agree. I see no good way out of this mess either as I think all the things that need to happen would take a decade or two. As I've mentioned before, I asked a few close Thai friends after the 2006 coup what they thought about it (I was real neutral asking the question so I wouldn't spark a reaction). The answer I got (exactly in two of the cases) was: "It's not my business." That answer totally shocked me and I didn't follow up asking more questions (although, in my mind, I wanted to say: "Well, if it's not your business, who the hell's business is it!?!") as I didn't believe it was my business to get involved or to show my western contempt of the general apathy. As to your question as to what would happen if another 2006 coup happens? Sadly, probably nothing. The military would set up one of their stooges as the leader again, they may or may not draft up another meaningless constitution, and elections would follow in a year or two. And foreign governments would rail against the coup mildly and really not alter any of their relationships with Thailand. But..... maybe we're not asking the right question and I'd think that might be: "What does a coup solve over the long term? In my view, it solves nothing - the corruption continues on all sides, the rich get richer and the poor poorer, the education system remains a stagnant mess, and Thailand continues heading down the path towards becoming a banana republic. Peua Thai (or some new-named party favored by the non-elite) will win the election, and we're right back to where we started. It's my view that different and more dramatic effects will happen after certain events involving the monarchy occur but we can't talk about that here.

Rich, thanks for responding. I don't agree with much of what you say and/or find it rather confusing or puzzling. And it seems you really don't have much of a handle on the background here. Regardless, what election reforms are either you or they talking about? So far, I have no idea what reforms they are suggesting (other than they don't want Isaan farmers to have the same level of voting rights that they have). Some have mentioned the "buying of votes" problem but all the political parties have done that and I personally believe Peua Thai would win any election even if no "vote-buying" took place.

Some rather startling comments/terms there, Rich. Before asking a couple of questions, I'd guess you'd agree that a military coup is an action by the armed forces of a country to overthrow and replace its government? The questions: (1) Do you think the voters or the military ought to decide who the leaders of a country should be? (2) If some of the voters don't like the political party that's running the government (a political party which was elected by more than half of the voters), do you think it's appropriate to attempt to force a coup by trying to close down the government?

Good discussion. Up2u, you've got the best medical plan I've ever heard about other than, of course, those with VA or other governmental packages. Now, of course, the job of all of us is to avoid spending any of the government's/insurer's money...hehe. Given this whole post really doesn't have anything to do with Gay Thailand and is likely boring to death all non-US posters, perhaps the Moderator ought to move the whole thread to the beer bar.

Up2u, sounds like you have a good deal.....and, given you've clarified that Medicare reimburses your plan provider for part of the stateside medical expenses, it's pretty clear to me that you have what we'd call a Medicare advantage plan (a plan where a private insurer provides the Medicare Parts A and B plus additional benefits and the government reimburses them for the A & B coverage). But you must have a very special advantage plan as none of the ones I've ever read about in the states ever provide any payment (direct or indirect) for medical expenses outside the US except for emergency stuff (somewhat strictly defined) during the first 60 days of a trip outside the US. My guess is your employer latched onto a very good health care insurance provider, made its own deal with them, and you're enjoying the benefits. Wish I had something like that as I can't buy it anywhere. [Edit: You mentioned your provider - Anthem - which provides BC/BS coverage in some states (unfortunately, not my home state of Michigan). BC/BS was one of the two providers that offered a Medicare Advantage plan in my area of Michigan but, unfortunately, they wouldn't cover me because of the 6-month residency requirement (and they'd only provide the 60-day emergency coverage noted above anyway)].

Anonone, while in that video he's not exactly "Dancing With The Stars" material, he'd get my vote anyway for his smile and looks alone!

Good job, koko (or should I say "go (flat tone) - go (falling tone)"?). One thing I've noticed from some language classes, dictionaries, and hearing Thais talk is that adopted foreign words said in Thai normally end with a high tone. Listen to them, for example, say pizza, Australia, computer, etc., and it seems that the last syllable is almost always accented with a high tone. Sounds pretty funny once you get used to it. I can write my name in Thai (it's บ๊อบ) but it doesn't do me much good as Thais pronounce a "b" sound at the end of a syllable as a "p." So I'm "Bop" to most of them.

I'd note that I inquired about obtaining both of the medicare advantage plans offered in my area (there were only two plans by two different carriers available there) and both of them told me that I didn't qualify for either for the reason that, although I have a home and address in the US, I'm not there at least 6 months out of the year. My experience verifies what Jim notes above about the residency requirements.

Geez, Up2u, you might want to verify that you have the coverage you think you have. I think that a "medicare plus plan" is otherwise called a "medicare advantage" plan. I carefully researched a few of those last year and all of them excluded medical care outside the United States with the one exception that they'd cover emergency stuff (somewhat strictly defined) during the first 60 days only of your trip outside the US. A "medicare advantage plan" (a plan under Part C of Medicare) is a private plan with a private insurer (the insurer takes care of all your Medicare parts A and B and the federal government pays them for doing so). Now, it is possible that you have a very unique plan with a large employer that provides what you indicated. I doubt it but I hope so. And I'm really puzzled by your statement "not 80% like Medicare." Medicare doesn't cover squat outside the US except in very limited circumstances.

Literally, "falang kee nok" means "birdshit foreigner" and I've always understood the "key nok" part of it to simply reference a general negative (similar English adjectives might be "dumbass", "shithead", "dickhead", etc.). I've never heard it used in reference to the notion of someone being miserly or, simply, being a "cheap charlie." When conveying that notion, they actually often use the English ("cheap charlie!") or reference the falang as "kee niaw" (which literally means "prone to be sticky" and references that the person's money sticks to his hands as he isn't prone to give it up very often). That's the same word in "kao niaw" or sticky rice. Those two phrases contain the word "kee" (falling tone and spelled in Thai ขี้) and that word has two general meanings: (1) Generally - shit/shitty. The same word is a noun (shit, crap) and a verb (to shit) and I've even heard it used as an adjective.....which I guess is pretty much how we use it in English. (2) Or it means "to be prone to be something" and usually conjures up something negative. "Kee giat" means lazy and "kee glua" means fearful, timorous, or even shy. Speaking of "kees", most of you have heard the phrase "prik kee noo" which is what they call the little Thai chili peppers. Literally, it means "rat shit peppers" (because, I guess, they look something similar to rat shit).

Would note that I disagree with some of the interpretations of meanings at the nawcaw link Koko provides. For example only, he lists "falang/farang baa" as "stupid foreigner." That phrase means "crazy foreigner" whereas "falang ngo" means "stupid foreigner." By the way, one can also say "falang ting tong" but that means sort of a playful/funny crazy or silly foreigner. I have no clue at all what his "tob bet" (female masturbation) represents in Thai words - it makes no sense to me. I've always understood from Thai friends that the slang for female masturbation is "dtok blaa" which literally means to "catch fish." Regardless of all that, I really see no point in learning any of these phrases as you shouldn't use them (in the wrong company, you'll get your ass kicked bigtime) and I'm doubtful that you could pronounce any of them correctly and/or with the correct tones.

Can agree with some of your thoughts, Trailrider, but I do think a little bias is showing up with respect to your comments about Yingluck. I realize you believe she's just a puppet and never had an original thought herself but I'm doubtful that's exactly the case. As to your comment about the Thai people being "very split", I agree if what you're saying that the level of polarization is much like that which presently exists in the US; however, if by "very split" you mean that the divisions are somewhat "evenly split", I don't agree at all. Peua Thai/Thaksin are supported by the majority of Thais at the ballot box and that isn't likely to change. I see Suthep and his backers as simply pushing for a military coup as they see no other option (they can't win a national election - not too dissimilar to the Republicans' plight in the US). I also don't agree that the military is especially pissed at Shinawatra or that they need any anti-Shinawatra feelings to prompt a coup; after all, they've done it 17 times or so since 1932 and the Shinawatras have only been in politics for about 10-11 of those years. Come to think of it, given there has been a military coup here on average once every 5 years (actually less than that) since 1932, one might argue that having only one of them in the last 13 years is tremendous progress! hehe

If you're trying to buy the premium coverage, you're going to pay through the nose; but, guess you already know that, Michael. I've opted to go with some minimal (high-deductible) insurance for my 9-month sojourns here in Chiangmai and I simply figure that I'll head back to the states if/when I get something that requires expensive or specialized treatment. I've simply been lucky so far to not have any medical expense, prescriptions, etc. Michael, given you're younger than me and (based on what I've read over the years) well able to self-insure, why not simply go for a cheaper policy with a high deductible? If, for example, you're out of the states for 9 months a year, paying $1,000 a month costs you $9,000 a year (plus, yes, whatever your US coverage is ripping you off for...); instead, get a $5,000.00 deductible policy that might cost you $1,000 in total for that 9-month time period. I do recognize that some of the decision is based on present and pre-existing conditions so you do need to take those issues into account. You're big pain-in-the-ass is the fact that the US policies of all stripes apparently don't cover (although often reimbursement rather than direct pay) for the same medical expenses incurred outside the US as they used to cover. I probably had a very similar BC/BS policy as you had that did just that and, while not cheap, I didn't have the need for any other coverage while I spent many months outside the US. But, alas, apparently that type of coverage is no longer available and now you face the problem of double-covering yourself for the same time periods with somewhat lousy coverage outside the US. On the bright side, we could both be hit by busses today and no longer have to worry about it....

It's my view that your calling the Thai people "not smart" or "stupid" only reflects your ignorance of the Thai education system, how people are raised here from birth, their cultural history, and the fact that rather important information (which a westerner, who's taught to question things for himself, would find very interesting) is not taught and in many cases prohibited from being disseminated. Can't blame the individual Thais - who likely have IQ's similar to other populations - for that.

Going back to your question in this post, I think the answer is pretty simple: If you're under Medicare (65 or older) or you're physically outside the US for at least 330 days per year, you don't have to comply (have qualifying insurance) under the ACA. The question for you, then (given you're a puppy), is do you spend 35/36 or more days a year in the US? If so, I don't think you have a choice and must purchase a qualifying policy or face the financial penalties.