Bob

When I was very young, I believed (largely because I was told to believe). As a teenager, I expended way too much energy actively disbelieving. As an adult, I recognize that there are some things (like what caused the big bang, is there really a higgs boson, what's the relationship of anti-matter to gravity, etc.) which we can't yet explain; however, just because I can't understand it doesn't mean I'm required to call the unexplainable god.

Welcome aboard. Very clever and intelligent first post on the board. But, no, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus. What I remain hoping for is that anybody will attempt to explain just how anybody comes up with these "dick-length" statistics. I can understand somebody saying what they've experienced (the OP says he's apparently only seen small dicks in Thailand - which happens not be be my experience) but, when seeing some silly website offering proclamations of the average dick size of a country, don't you think you'd want to know just how they got their information? I presume these websites are talking about adult penises that are erect. Okay, then what? There are doctors, agencies, or individuals out there that are physically measuring those dicks and at taking at least a large enough sample to then be able to make a comment about the general population of that country? Yea, sure, we're back to Virginia and Santa Claus.

Whether it's Thor the thunder god, aliens and their visits/anal probes, or any number of myriad beliefs that humans conjure up, it's often the tactic of the true believers to ask you to prove a negative. It can't be done and, even if it could be done, the true believers wouldn't see the forest for the trees in any event.

Don't get me wrong, Michael, i don't see anything wrong at all about hopping down to Pattaya or elsewhere on occasion. Christian's reports, though, seem to be filled with his happenings in Pattaya (one sorta gets the impression that he's often down there trying to get laid) and I'm just wondering why he feels the need to go there to get that done. Plus, if expenses are a concern (with Christian, it seems to be a pathology at times!), wouldn't it be cheaper to stay mainly in the city where you live and work? I'm just curious as to his thinking.

Many of your stories remind me of the kid (Linus?) in the Peanuts cartoon that always had a cloud over his head. Things rarely went well for him either. I have one question, though. Since you live and work in Bangkok, why bother going to Pattaya so much?

The difference being, of course, that some expat Brits have pretty much deflowered the below-the-waist part!

Having been taught much the same as Michael, I somewhat wonder why and how people came up with that axiom. Worried about being haunted later? In reality, a decedent is neither "resting in peace" nor able to hear a damn thing. On the other hand, I'm sorta alive at times but often can't hear a damn thing either! Or, if I'm wrong, then there's little doubt that JB is frantically typing the big scoop on the message board in the sky regarding FH's and Michael's handbag-at-noon scuffle already!

No way have I forgotten. The investigation has taken forever although it was nice that the Air France pilot didn't flee the scene ala Thai style!

As for what's appropriate or classy (or less than classy), hell if I know. I've always thought we humans have horrible manners and abilities dealing with the issues of a final illness, death, and funerals. Pretty much nobody says the obvious or the truth and that's likely due to some sense of tact bequeathed from our mommas versus any actual intent to be untruthful. But I find the usual embellishment to be about as tactless as taking potshots at somebody who obviously has no ability to defend himself. However, based on my experience of attending way too many funerals since I was a child, I do wish to provide some advance notice. The next time somebody is observing a decedent and then blurts out "oh, doesn't he/she look good?", I shall blurt out: "Good!!!!! You gotta be kidding me, he/she is fucking dead!!!"

The plane appears to be moving so slowly forward/horizontally and appears to be in a major stall mode. As to what caused that, I don't think anybody can tell by this video.

I won't wait that long but probably wouldn't fly it for the rest of this year if I had the choice. But my attitude about that would be the same with any new plane by any manufacturer.

Not tugging your haggis in any manner. I've talked to several Brits up here in Chiangmai (haven't run into a Scot as of late) and they all seem quite sure that Britain would be economically better off without Scotland (they keep saying that more money per capita goes from the government to Scotland than the other way around); on the other hand, they all predict that the vote will not go for independence. I read a few articles (including the one you "urled") and I really can't figure it out (economically) one way or the other. Just seems a bit weird to a yank as myself as Great Britain (or the UK) without Scotland doesn't seem right (guess I've always considered the two entities one and the same). Plus maybe I'm unfairly coming from a point of view that our parts (the states) don't even have that option. Obviously up to the Scots but it will be interesting to those of us across the pond. P.S. Sixth richest country in the world?!? I only had a minor in math in college but, given several studies indicate that all of Great Britain is the 8th richest country in the world, how do you manage to go up a couple of notches with 32% (or thereabouts) of the land mass of the UK and less than 1/10th the population?!? That's gotta be a really good trick (Bernie Madoff work that out for you?....and, yes, some haggis tugging is merited here!)

Slightly off topic (okay, more than slightly off topic), I wonder about your opinion as to whether the Scots are going to commit economic suicide and vote for independence next year. If that actually occurs, I'd recommend you keep yuan, dollars, euros,gold, or anything but Scottish notes up your kilt, Scottie.

I was going to say condolences but, since I don't want to talk about other boards, probably shouldn't say anything; regardless, I wouldn't wish ownership of one of these message boards on anyone!

Sorry, mahjongguy, I probably can't figure out your tax status, savings, or whatever (and/or I'm too lazy to try). I'm retired, receive social security and other income from assets in the states, still have some significant deductions back in the states (property taxes for one), and I essentially pay zero income taxes to the federals or the State of Michigan (and that's with reporting the 30,000 - 50,000 baht interest earned over here annually). So, tax credit or not, I essentially pay nothing (at least directly to the feds or state for income taxes). So....and, again, it's not that big a deal but I can get back 6,200 baht withheld for 2012 alone and, given it costs only a little time and hassle to get it, I'll go for it. Even if I have to report that on my US tax return, it won't mean much at all for me (I'll essentially get a couple of hundred dollars I wasn't counting on and still pay little or no income taxes to the feds and state). I posted the information for those who might be in a similar situation (which, frankly, ought to be just about everyone who keeps 800k or more in a Thai account to maintain a retirement visa). Some are not aware of the fairly decent interest you can earn in a Thai bank. I set up a two-year deal (with SCB) back in 2010 that paid a higher interest rate every 6 months (the last 6 month time period paid interest at the rate of 5% per annum). That changed a bit this past October when I set it up again for another two years at a fixed rate of 3.75% per annum. Nothing too exciting but it isn't bad when compared to the horrible rates paid by US banks.

Although somewhat beyond the scope of the original post, nobody had to reclaim anything. But getting the withheld interest back is worth a hell of a lot more than what the foreign tax credit saved me.

Huh? Help me out as I'm confused. What falangs have a checking account here? I don't. I have two accounts - just a normal savings account which pays somewhat lousy interest (and which I dip into and out of regularly, either by use of the ATM debit card at a store, use of the ATM at an ATM machine, or by formal withdrawal in the bank itself) and another savings account which happens (because I chose that one versus a 7-month one) to be somewhat like a 2-year cd (but which I can pull out.....with loss of some interest....any time I want). As to reporting interest earned in a Thai bank on your US income tax return, yes, we're supposed to do that and I do. And, yes, we can obtain in most circumstances credit for foreign taxes paid. That's cool....but the point of the thread was to make sure those who earned significant interest over here knew that they likely could get back the interest percentage withheld by the thai bank/government. And, I suppose when I get the refund of the tax withheld, I may have to report that back on my US return for the tax year I received the refund (given I obtained the foreign tax credit paid in prior years).

This information only relates to those who have Thai bank accounts where the bank withholds taxes on interest payments (i.e., it likely applies to all that base their retirement visa on keeping 800k baht in a Thai bank). Anyway, I obviously noted that the the bank, when it pays interest, withholds 15% of the interest and sends that off to the lovely Thai government. I actually guessed that there probably was some way (hire an accountant or something) to get all or some of it back but didn't bother with it. Now I know how it works. Presuming you have no other Thai tax liabilities (meaning you don't have other income in Thailand), you can get a full refund of the 15% withheld. You need to apply at your local Thai tax/revenue office between January 1 and March 31 and you can (at least the first time you do it) claim a refund for the prior 3 years. I'm told you can actually apply for the refund at other times of the year but they charge you a fine or something for doing it outside the January through March time period. To do this, I'm told you probably need the help of a Thai friend to read and fill out the form (Hor 10) at the local revenue office as the form is only in Thai. You also need to have a letter from your bank stating how much interest was paid for the applicable year as well as how much was withheld for taxes. I just got the bank letters for 2011 and 2012 at my bank (SCB - and they immediately knew what I was looking for so it's obvious other people do this on occasion) and I'll get the 2013 letter at the end of the year so I can go file the refund forms in January of 2014. I'm also told that you need a copy of your passport photo page and current visa and you also need a copy of your bank passbook (i.e., don't toss out your old bankbooks if you're going to seek a refund for the prior 3 years!). I'll advise how the procedure goes when I physically apply for the refund this coming January. And I'd note that we're not talking huge numbers (although I do see those weasels do owe me for a little over 6,000 baht for 2012 alone - and that ought to pay for a few beers....). [source of my information was a falang friend who knew about the procedure and I verified his info by checking a few posts on Thai Visa].

Khortose has the Samsung Note and I have the Samsung Galaxy III and we both like them a lot. But you'll have to ask Khortose any "techie" questions as I use it almost exclusively as a phone (well, also use the maps function and a couple of other items). Has worked like a charm for me. I'd note the camera is very good too if there's enough light (and it does okay at night with its flash if your subject is within about 6 feet).

Was the donkey #7 at Heehaw Gogo bar? Nice ass!

Come on, there really are official outfits out there in all the countries listed that go around and measure enough adult penises in their country to be able to come up with a sample large enough to correlate to the entire population? Who does this measuring and where? Self-reported sampling? Flaccid or erect? (i.e., don't believe everything you read....)

Hmmmm......

Don't worry, it'd never stand up in court (and would definitely get dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence).

What do you mean, it's doing 10 times better than you're citing (it's 0.3% versus 0.03%)! We yanks have been proud of our economy for the last year or so but that's only because we're comparing how we are doing to how our friends on the continent are doing. Of course, we sorta ignore the Asian economic growth which makes ours look a tad bit anemic.

What's the matter, no telephoto lens?