Bob

And none was intended.

I understand your dilemma, Fountainhill, and my guess is you'll be quite alert to any opening that develops to resolve your concerns. My guess (only a guess) is that if none of the other boys (who work there) that you know well don't say something or indicate they're aware of a problem, then it's likely not a problem in reality or at least one you can deal with. As for Khun Payless: I'm doubtful that Fountainhill took offense at my comments or he would likely have said something to that effect (I've not seen where either he or I have been shy about saying something before) but, then again, he can speak for himself.

Hmmmm....I'd guess you were thinking more about the "cute young sailors" that Fountainhill mentioned....haha But for the control the military has here, one would hope that saner minds would have prevailed (although I don't want to blame all stupid purchases on the military). Even if you can argue the Thais need a submarine presence in the gulf (I simply don't believe that at all), why would you spend a ton of money to buy outdated submarines that have a 10-year shelf life? Heck, my new refrigerator better last longer than that! I can see it now.....only a few of the submarines will work and that number will go down as they swap parts to keep some running. Incredible waste of money in my view. And, of course, there's the dirigible that the Thais bought for surveillance use in the south but can't keep flying due to a myriad of problems (one problem - which, of course, nobody thought of - is that it's a rather obvious and easy target). A couple of months ago, the government said they were going to sue the seller (some European company) as the dirigible failed to perform as promised and I'd guess that the selling company will defend on the basis that the buyer was too dumb to purchase. Perhaps the military could have saved a little money by simply duct-taping one of those 7/11 cheapo cameras to the bottom of the fusilage of a one of their "modern" warplanes....

I'm a bit puzzled by the post and/or maybe didn't quite understand some part of it. Before continuing, let me say that I view your concern as reflecting a good character on your part. Okay, with that out of the way (it's difficult to criticize somebody with good intentions), I really don't see where it's any of your business - unless you know the boy well enough to talk to him about his personal condition or unless somebody you know/trust has asked you to intervene. Just being overly skinny without more doesn't tell you a whole lot as it could be a variety of things (including the kid just liking being "skin and bones" much like many models these days). So my view is you're jumping to conclusions and I'd hope you'd first ask somebody in the bar you know well before doing anything else. I've know a couple of bar boys (as friends, not "offs") who are overly skinny but they've been that way for 6-10 years). I've even mildly joked with them about it a time or two but neither they nor their friends expressed any concerns and I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask anything further. In general, though, it's been my experience that bar boys, like many of their fellow countrymen, have "chunked up" a bit over the last 10+ years thanks, probably, to the western foods (donuts, fried chicken, chocolate, etc.) creeping into the southeast asian diets. It was rare that I saw a fat Thai kid a decade ago but they (the "little buddhas") are all over the place now. Sorta sad to me as a lot of those 10 year-old-behemouths are going to have health and social issues later because of their weight problems.

Fountainhill uses Suvarnabhumi more than I do (I only go through there twice a year) so he probably has a more complete perspective of the issues there than I do; however, given my limited experience, I've really never had a problem there that I'd blame on the airport itself. The long walks are there, for sure (from the fourth floor to the gates to Chiangmai, it seems like a journey in itself sometimes) but it's easy for me to find and the motorized walkways (when working) do help. The long walks are probably unavoidable in any airport of this size but sometimes I wonder if a designed-in people mover would have been wise. The one item I still appreciate the most - compared to Don Muang - is the relative ease of going from domestic to international and vice-versa.

While I haven't used any other name either, I do believe that most who have changed their name have done it to escape their prior posting history - or at least an attempt to do that. Psychologically, it's somewhat like moving to a different place expecting all your troubles will be left behind (but, lo and behold, the troubles seem to follow for some unexplained reason - actually, it's because they had many of their troubles because of how they interacted with people and new names don't often disguise their style and/or cantankerous moods for too long). There's at least one poster here who clearly posted under a different name on another board as the style and history are simply too similar to be different people (and I can understand the name change as I wouldn't want to be associated with the prior posting history either!). While I almost never do that either (for me, it's just too boring to do it twice), I think there are some who do it innocently - either out of a true sense of service (e.g., getting some news out of a place or event) or because they think that each board has posters who never check out the other gay boards. And, yes, I'm sure that some do it because of mental reasons best left to a psychiatrist's couch. A third area that I've found interesting or puzzling is the motivation for posting some information - and I'm referring to posts that give out quite a few personal details (the type of information I reserve for close friends) and/or which go into some explicit detail involving sexual behavior with their boyfriends (du jour and/or long-term) or whatever. I asked one generally-liked poster why he does it and he explained that he's always done that (kept diaries and written stories of his experiences) since he was in junior high. It's not that big a deal to me - everybody's free to post what they want - but I do occasionally wonder what psychological need is being fulfilled by the posting of some of the personal information. Maybe they're at times just seeking approval and I can see where that could even be healthy at times (somewhat like the notion of bouncing ideas off of friends). And, yea, other times it just seems strange and is probably fulfilling some psychological need that, again, maybe I don't want to know about.

I probably didn't buy the first one until I was at least 30 and tossed them all out before I was 50 (got to the point where I wasn't watching any of them anyway and I suppose I either wanted the space for other use or didn't want somebody stumbling onto them). I had maybe 15-20 of them at most. And haven't bought another one (and, come to think of it, don't remember when I even last saw a location or store that was selling any of them....although I'm guessing people buy such stuff on the internet these days?). And, yea, I'd skip ahead to the "good parts" when I did watch them. But I think part of that is something genetic about a male with a remote control in his hands....

Keeping things civil and calm, perhaps you could tell us why you think that a US citizen having to report such investments (and income therefrom) to the IRS or Treasury makes the investment any less or more attractive? I'm honestly trying to figure out why you don't like it that we US people have to report these kinds of things. All financial results (employment income, bank interest, brokerage account activity, and even non-taxable events such as IRA account activity) for US citizens are annually reported by the outfits (employers, banks, investment firms, etc.) and that's been the case for decades. I don't see that as a bad thing and I also don't see it as a bad thing that US citizens must annually report potential sources of income that aren't normally reportable (at least directly by the institutions involved). Do you think that I ought to be able to maintain a bank account or brokerage account in Switzerland and/or Thailand and not have to report that activity or income?

Your "fuck off" comment in another thread and your lame attempt to put down this bar (which I've never been in) and/or this charitable event reflect a lovely attitude for your young life on this board. And perhaps you could tell us what original and exciting theme(s) you chose for the charitable event(s) you've run in the recent past?

Hmmm.....I used to eat a lot of Graham crackers as a snack around the time I hit puberty and my theory is that eating them makes you want to masturbate. At least that's my story (and I'm sticking to it...).

That one's a bit spooky.

I stay here 8 months out of the year but even when I'm gone I regularly follow the online versions of the Bangkok Post, the Nation, and the Chiangmai Mail. Plus I regularly check out the CNN website and the asia news portions of that as well as occaionally look at the various message boards (but, admittedly, I'm not interested in 95% of what's usually bandied about on some message baords with respect to the local gay gossip as most of it involves Pattaya and some of it is just simply boring).

You're not an American so I don't understand why you should care one little bit what my government allegedly does to me (it doesn't affect you and, in a sense, it's none of your business). The the droning repetitiveness of calling everybody in Washington DC and/or in the current administration a socialist or a marxist is also getting just a bit boring. By the way, just where are you from? And your repetitive "sky-is-falling" routine about how we Americans can't do this or can't do that is simple fantasy in my opinion. Has even one American poster here been restricted to any significant degree whatsoever? I can only answer that for myself (a resounding "no") and I'll be surprised if any other American poster will indicate anything different from that.

I was laying on the couch here in Chiangmai when all of a sudden everything started shaking and moving a little. The mild shaking lasted about 10 seconds and wasn't bad enough to convince my lazy ass to run outside. According to the news (CNN and the Nation), the epicenter was about 200 kilometers north of Chiangrai....so I'm wondering if there might be some actual damage around the Maesai area. Guess we'll hear about that on tomorrow's news.

Presuming I have your question right, I'd answer "in this economic environment, yes!" Presuming you regularly watch the investment, you retain the power to pull the investment if you see the adverse currency swing you mention. For a 6-month time period, US banks are giving much less than 1% interest (that's calculated on an annual basis!) so I wouldn't consider more than doubling what I can get from a US bank chicken feed. For the non-investment monies (monies that you won't need for at least a few years), this sounds like a reasonbly prudent way to handle your short-term funds. [because I elect to do the 800k bank amount deal here in Thailand to maintain my renewable one-year visa, I'm essentially earning slightly over 2.5% interest on that account set up on a 2-year basis (the funds are always available to me but I'd take a big interest hit if I grab the funds early) and I'm satisfied with that. I would note that I do this method for other reasons too.....I don't like paying the embassy $60.00 a year to essentially notarize something for me and, most importantly, I want the security of knowing I have those funds immediately available to me if I happen to want or need them. And, while the risk works both ways, I possibly might be really happy with this method if, as you suggested in a post above, the US dollar falls to the Thai baht in the future.]

I have no problem at all with the notion of anybody discussing investment options and strategies. And some of what might be discussed here and elsewhere may very well be helpful to somebody. The key is whether the reader actually knows enough to be able to sort out what's accurate, wise, or practical. Most of us, I'd guess, are 50 to 70 years old and, if such a person hasn't already gotten to that age by doing something fairly intelligent about planning for his financial future, there's probably not too much hope (let alone time) left to do so. But I suppose anything follows the maxim of "better late than never." Frankly, I'm a firm believer in the old adage that one should never put at risk (meaning to "invest" or "gamble with") any money that you'll need within the next few years. And I also tend to believe that how conservative you should be in investing other funds is directly proportional to your age (i.e., not much sense in a retired guy in his 60's who's assets and sources of income are adequate for present and future needs to risk very much in changing that equation). That "vast majority" of Americans you refer to that are moving their assets offshore consitute in reality an extremely small proportion of the population. Most Americans(90%?) don't have assets they can move elsewhere and my guess is that the vast majority of people who are actually doing the "offshore movement" are rather wealthy in the first place. More power to them but they don't garner any concern or sympathy by me (except to the small degree that they might cause me to pay some more taxes because some might be evading their obligations).

GB was correct that I missed the age part.....so forget about the so-called retirement visa. Steve, it sounds to me like you're rather realistic about the financial needs (you're listing expenses that are typical anywhere you're staying) and you can figure that part out on your own. As to the legality (visa) part of it, it seems GB has hit the nail on the head. Just accept that you can only legitmately get 6 months. The only alternative that I know of is the educational visa. I know some so-called students who have that visa and rarely if ever show up for the language classes (i.e., they were just buying the right to legally stay here). Up to you.

Well, the board is named "Gay Thailand" which might account for the average person here being more interested in a massage than a given investment. Most of us here are old enough to have investment experience and I am quite satisfied with what I'm doing and not looking for any new advice. I've run into enough financial people to not trust what most of them say in any event. For those who aren't US citizens, I don't understand why you care about what we do or don't have to report. I'm a US citizen and I have no problem in reporting to the US my overseas accounts or what I own here as I don't dodge taxes in any manner (and the laws generally were made for those who are wealthy and have failed to report income on foreign investments) (although there also are other reasons for the reporting laws - including trying to catch money launderers, drug dealers, and those financing certain terrorist organizations). I'd also note that I don't have any problem in handling from Thailand a couple of brokerage accounts I have back in the US. I realize some are saying that things are getting more difficult and the sky is falling - but it isn't for me at all. In fact, it's as easy as a few computer clicks away to pay my bills through my US bank account, buy or sell stocks, etc.

If you elect to get the retirement visa (which you can do at home before you ever get here), I'd like to note: (1) The cost is 1,900 baht per year for the one-year visa without any re-entry permits. (2) If you want to leave the country during the year, you need to have a re-entry permit before you leave or your one-year visa is gone (vanished). As Fountainhill notes, you can buy a multiple entry one-year visa and the cost of that, I think, is an extra 3,000 baht (or a total of 4,900 baht for the one year visa with multiple entry). I might have that total cost wrong (if so, somebody will quickly correct me, I'm sure). (3) If you don't plan on leaving Thailand more than once or twice a year, another option is just to get the one-year visa and then go get an re-entry permit each time you want to leave. The cost of that is 1,000 baht. Given I only leave Thailand once a year, this is how I do it and it saves a few baht. I'd also note a couple of other things: (1) You can get the one-year visa here in Thailand. The cost is the same but you don't need either the medical checkup or the police background check if you get it here in Thailand. (2) But....important....you can't get a one-year visa if you come into the country with just the tourist visa (although I did that and what the guy did was cancel the tourist visa and have me buy a non-immigrant "O" visa). So, if you intend to apply for the one-year visa when you get here, get the non-immigrant "O" visa at home. (3) Many people call this one-year visa a "retirement" visa. But you don't have to be retired to get it. You just need to be 50 years of age and either have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account or do the proof-of-income deal through your embassy letter. Like somebody else said, there's a ton of information about Thai visas and such at ThaiVisa.com.

I actually had to google that name, not having a clue who he/she/it was. No wonder, I was a few months shy of being 3 years old when his television show was on the old black-and-white tube. GB, you're showing your age. And, as to your choice of nude photos.......Khun kuan ja bpai ha maw dtaa reo reo!

I'm a bit puzzled by all the premature wringing of hands about every possible issue involving Japan's nuclear plants, whether radiation will find its way to Nakorn Nowhere, etc. Like all major historical events, a little time and gathering of facts will allow Japan and others a better understanding of what happened here, what not to do in the future, the ability to address any possible wrong-doing, etc. I don't have a clue as to whether what happened here was simply beyond reasonable planning and engineering (a reasonably unexpected act of god), whether it was due to corruption or "coziness" between regulators and the industry, or whatever. Nor, at the moment, does it appear than anybody else knows any of that yet. It would seem to me that, pending some disinterested findings here, that every government with a nuclear plant ought to immediately review whatever is needed to be able to safely shut down a nuclear plant struck by a bomb, tsunami, or whatever.....and perhaps have ready off-site whatever emergency equipment that could be moved to a stricken plant within hours to provide full power and facilities to cool down the cores or fuel rods.

Another cold, rainy, and blustery day in Chiangmai. Presently (18.20) it is 17C with a low of 15C tonight. But supposed to be partly cloudy tomorrow with a high of 24C (and up to 35C by Monday). Strange, strange, weather.

Here in Chiangmai, it rained all day and I'd guess that it was the coldest day of this entire winter. Somewhat windy most of the day with some fairly strong gusts this evening. Overall, a great winter here (definitely cooler than last year) although it's rained perhaps a dozen times since November (last year, I think there was one very brief sprinkle between November and April).

Thanks, Michael, for the information. Things have changed a bit. About 10 years ago, I lost a US passport and the new one was available at the Bkk embassy in 24 hours (which makes me think they issued the new passport themselves back then). The new US passport fee is $100.00 (that's what I was charged in 2008 for renewing my about-to-expire passport then, having missed the old fee rate of $60.00 by a single day). [Lord Voldemort: Do you really have to insert your "Marxist" anti-American comments in this thread? And suggesting that a limitation of three extra passport pages somehow translates into the US government restricting citizen travel (as you say "as in the former USSR") is a fairly good example of bias breeding ignorance.]