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spectrum

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Posts posted by spectrum

  1. Perhaps the monks have been reading up on the subject.

    "Silver rules the road. According to the DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report, an annual compilation of data on vehicle color trends, silver retains its top spot as the most popular car color. Year after year, car buyers show their love of silver. But now there might be another reason, aside from esthetics, for choosing silver as the color for your next car. A team of New Zealand epidemiologists has recently published a two-year study of crash data compiled in their homeland, and the results say occupants of silver cars are less likely to be involved in injury accidents than those riding in cars of another color. And while they seem steadfast that the results of the study are accurate, the most vexing thing is they can't figure out why.

    ...

    If silver is safest, what are the least safe? Dark earth tones. Brown vehicles were 110 percent more likely to be involved in an injury accident than white cars, when the adjustment factors were taken into account. Black was almost equally bad at 100 percent more likely and green cars were 80 percent more likely.

    So if dark colors are unsafe, you might figure that bright colors like yellow and red would be safer because they are more likely to be seen. Well, yes and no. On unadjusted bases, both red and yellow vehicles were viewed as much more likely to be involved in injury accidents, but when adjusted for all the other variables, they actually registered as being safer than the control color of white."

    http://www.drivers.com/article/707/

  2. I think the "daughter" factor is important.

    If you'd feel uncomfortable seeing your daughter with a certain man, would the reverse not apply to you ?

    Also, would you not prefer your daughter was educated and self-sufficient enough not to need to live with / marry / rely on a man - or woman - of any age, ever ?

    Wouldn't the desirable situation be that she could do so because she chose to, knowing she had other options, and knowing she could take care of herself if the relationship did not work out ?

    The same would apply to a son, of course. Would you like to see your son living with a man for purely financial reasons and knowing he lacked the education and self-sufficiency to take care of himself ?

  3. My last msg. was truncated.

    She may, as some imply, be falling back on wordly skills ... not prostitution but the wiles of the uneduated Thai in a farang world.

    Help her learn some skills so she does not need to rely on anyone else (Sacrelidge ! I know...)

    Before that, she needs to reconstitute herself, though.

    Good that you're helping and telling this story.

    Best wishes to "A". Legal help was volunteered early in the thread; hope other practical help follows.

    ...the bright side (one of many) of the internet.

    P.S. Thoughtful and clear-minded post from GuestHouse, as seems usual :o .

  4. I agree with the OP's sentiment, but I think this lady just had very bad luck as I think UK social services are usually pretty good in catching people before they fall through the net, unfortunately her let down was her lack of ability in speaking English,

    If true, the area may be the key. In a major city, some form of interpreter service would be available (?).

    No telephone interpreter service in the UK ? (widely used in Oz.)

    It seems the woman in question does not wish to return to Thailand because her son has adjusted to life in the UK. There are probably many other reasons, including major loss of face.

    She's confused, abused and totally out of her element. She may, as some imply, be falling back on wordly skills

  5. To the OP : you might like to look at the thread at

    http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=95244

    for some good info on Vientiane.

    To knowledgeable posters : you might also be kind enough to see if you can anwer my question there, about getting the visa for Laos.

    An aside : Be careful to check if the date on the tourist visa (sticker), which gets stamped "USED" on entry to Thailand is the same as the date on the other stamp given at the same time. The other stamp may give less time, and this is the one that matters.

  6. Edit to add : I read on another website that you can get a visa on arrival at Wattay (Vientiane) International Airport.

    Can anyone confirm this from recent personal experience ?

    Further to that, I read the following on the Laos Embassy, BKK, site :

    "there are now 13 International Immigration Check Points in Laos, where Lao citizens, immigrants and Foreign nationals with their own Passports and an appropriate visa issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an Embassy or a Consulate General of the Lao PDR overseas are permitted to enter into and exit from Laos or to obtain a visa on their arrival as follows:

    1. Wattay International Airport ( In Vientiane Capital )

    I guess this will be the easiest way as I will fly in.

  7. I understand you can get a visa for Laos from travel agencies.

    Would anyone be able to recommend one in Chiang Mai (centrally located) ?

    How long does it take to get the visa ?

    Do you just take your passport (and money) ? Photo or anything else needed ?

    Can anyone recommend a hotel in Vientiane - 4 or perhaps 5 star, preferably not the high-rise type, reasonably close to Thai Embassy ?

    Edit to add : I read on another website that you can get a visa on arrival at Wattay (Vientiane) International Airport.

    Can anyone confirm this from recent personal experience ?

  8. Can anyone recommend a good neurologist ?

    I need someone I can communicate with in English (not necessarily fluently, but adequately), and someone who is prepared to explain and discuss symptoms, treatments and diagnosis of a possibly serious condition with me.

    I am based in Chiang Mai (and posted this on the CM forum, too). If anyone knows of a neurologist in CM who fits my needs, that would be great, but I am quite willing to travel if needed.Would it be better to go to Bangkok ? If so, can anyone recommend a particular doctor or hospital there ?

    Thanks

  9. Can anyone recommend a good neurologist in Chiang Mai ?

    I need someone I can communicate with in English (not necessarily fluently, but adequately), and someone who is prepared to explain and discuss symptoms, treatments and diagnosis of a possibly serious condition with me.

    Would it be better to go to Bangkok ? If so, can anyone recommend a particular doctor or hospital there ?

    (Moderators - I am going to post this is the Health forum, too. Hope that is OK).

  10. niteowl :

    I understand what you're saying, but I don't quite agree. From what I've read, Karr was arrested for five counts of possession of child pornography (all misdemeanors, legally, the same level of offense as overtime parking.) He was able to post a bond, pending his hearing, and was told to avoid places where children congregate (such as beaches, parks, schools, etc.) He violated the terms of his bond, and subsequently fled the state before his court hearing.

    I think the nature of his offense, and his actions after his arrest, should have warranted revoking his passport. After all, we're not talking about overtime parking - we're talking about a person who fantasizes (at least!) about abusing children. Probably, he chose teaching as a profession, precisely because it would put him in touch with prospective victims. He certainly didn't seem to have any abilities as a teacher, nor did he have the proper qualifications.

    I think it's ironic that the USA berates her neighbor, Canada, over being "too lax" about who they let into their country (since, once in Canada, they would have easy access to the USA), while at the same time, the USA is lax about who they let out of the country.

    Indeed.

    There were huge red flags and alarm bells there. I think the USA's responsibility is at least as great as, if not greater than, that of Thailand and other countries where Mr K lived and worked.

    One has to wonder where his income was coming from all this time, too.

    Why was he not being watched more carefully ?

    One gets the distinct impression that the USA did not care once he was off their turf.

  11. Thanks all, for more great recommendations.

    I printed the article and it looks very interesting.

    I googled "Mai Pen Rai Means never mind" and the author is Carol Hollinger.

    More details from Amazon.com :

    Paperback

    Publisher: Asia Books (1995)

    ISBN: 9748303039

  12. And don't forget the centipedes. I found a big one (maybe 10 inches long, don't know about the girth) in my bathroom one morning. Not sure how it got there, but I'm glad I didn't stumble in there in the dark...

    Eek ! Can these hurt you or just give you the major creeps ?

  13. Thanks for your comments, dukkha.

    Thaiboxer, I take your point and tend to agree. However such books are a useful starting point. There are certain aspects of culture you might not even be aware of unless someone brings them to your attention. Once you know the culture better you can form your own perspective on their significance or otherwise. The more perspectives the better !

  14. Did he not run out on charges of possession of child pornography ? You can run out on charges of such a serious nature but hang on to your passport ? Strange world.

    Was his teaching licence in the USA (or a state of the USA) not revoked ?

    I would think these two things might well be worth a mention on an international database.

    He also, apparently, later had some kind of website which purported to offer some sort of child-friendly service but revealed his paedophiliac intentions. Nobody watching him from his home country at all ? Seems not, until now.

  15. What about the responsibility of the passport-holder's home country in issuing alerts and setting up websites where such information can be located quickly and easily ?

    Seems to me Mr Karr's movements could have been curtailed several years ago if there had been more action from the home country.

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