dean

What's next, legalized prostitution?

I've had skinny, long legged men spread their legs over into my "space." Not as often as obese people spilling into my "space," which hasn't happened that often. I'd be embarrassed if I had to ask a flight attendant for a seat belt extension.

I tend to push the envelope on baggage. I just flew Delta Dallas to Minneapolis to Narita to BKK. I weigh the check in bags before leaving for the airport and make sure that neither is over 23 kilos. The only airlines that have weighed my carry on are Asian airlines. If that is enforced, then I probably won't bring any more water pumps in carry on, like I did 4 years ago. When I board a flight, If there are people walking behind me, I always put the carry on on my aisle seat and move forward to allow the persons to pass me, then I put the carry on in the overhead bin. I've never felt the rush to deplane quickly but do try to get a seat as close to the exit row (that didn't work this trip). I rarely get to the baggage carousel with my bags waiting, so I don't see what the big deal is on trying to be the first people off of the plane (if it's that big a deal, fly business). What does piss me off, particularly on long haul, multi stop flights, is going through security multiple times and having my carry on checked multiple times. At BKK, Delta has you get to the airport and at the gate at least 90 minutes before take off, so after going through security, they also have you open your bag at the gate. Then, you go back through security at Narita and then again at my first stop in the U.S., Detroit. All the while, I never went outside of the "secure" zone. To get a very good rate on Delta, I had to fly round trip from Kansas City to Dallas on Southwest Airlines. That meant going from Dallas-Ft. worth International to Love Field, where Southwest is headquartered. At the end of my trip, after 36 hours of flying and being in airports, I had to check in for my Dallas to KC flight, at 4 AM (i slept at airport, so no big deal). I thought that check in would be quick, so I just took my two bags with me and left the carry on in a corner, always in my sight. When I finished, I got my bag and a Southwest agent read me the riot act about leaving a bag unattended (I am aware of the policy, as airports announce it every 5 minutes). Without going into detail, I told her that for a solo traveller, having to carry around 3 bags, was a "pain In the ass". I could have read her the riot act about taking 15 minutes to fully open for service after being told that they opened at 4AM. Fortunately, I remembered that sometimes Southwest arbitrarily denies boarding for the slightest indescresion, so I kept my mouth shout. Basically, with airlines I can go with the flow concerning baggage but security multiple times and always having to have luggage in hand, even on trips of 24-36 hours, is a major pain in the ass, at least for me.

The person that I bought the IPad from on EBay lives in Fresno, Ca. Should I contact Fresno police or my hometown police in KC? I would think that there is a better chance that the original owner is near Fresno (unless the EBay seller is a big time fence, as has stolen IPads shipped to him from around the country). I could be wrong but I don't think that solving Apple thievery is high on police matters and, if I turned in the IPad, it would sit for a long time before the police would get around to solving this case. I think that my best bet is to contact AppleCare and see if the IPad was ever reported stolen, or whether it is just lost. In either case, I'll try to pass on my name and phone number to Apple to forward to owner. If that doesn't work, I'll contact police with the ID and registration numbers. Unless I'm given 100% assurances that I will be re-imbursed for the $135 that I'm out to date, the IPad will remain in my possession. If I get EBay involved, I'll do that immediately after getting home. I believe that buyers have 90 days to file with EBay and I bought it the first week in April.

I'd be more than happy to return it, if Apple would relay to previous owner that I have their IPad. But, from what I understand, Apple won't do that. Apple certainly won't give me the name and address of previous owner. The problem with returning it to EBay seller is whether I would get paid back for installing new screen (and the purchase price in EBay.). From what I've read on the internet, it's very hard to give back IPads, unless Find My IPad was turned on and there is a note on the screen with a phone number. I'm open to suggestions on how to get this IPad back to its rightful owner.

I ended up bringing two IPads with me this time for repair; one that my 7 year old had dropped and cracked the screen. The other is an IPad 4 that I bought off of EBay. It had a shattered screen (which I had repaired at MBK the day I arrived) and it had been disabiled before I bought it (from someone trying too many wrong passwords). I was able to have someone remove the disabiled message but, it turns out that it has been locked by find my IPad (of course, the seller when I bought the IPad said the IPad had been disabiled but not locked). I'll be back in Bangkok for a full day this coming Tuesday. Is there any place there that can unlock it? If not, I'll take it back to the U.S. and contact the seller and probably get EBay involved.

I don't have any intention of renting to Thais. I doubt I'd they would be interested, as it's a teak house. I have two expensive teak carvings inside and would not appreciate seizing them torn up. I may have to put glass or plastic in front of them. It's not near Chiang Mai University but near Payap and somewhat near Maejo Universities. I think that you are right about the gardener. I can't imagine renters spending a day a week, working on the landscape. My house is going to have to find a niche market. It's not in town and it's teak. Anyone that rents will need a car. Rents here are pretty cheap. Ivebeen asking 20,000 and May have to reduce it to 15,000 baht or less. If I pay for a gardener, it comes to a point on how much risk do I want to take for little money. I'll see how the rental process goes and the type of renter before I commit. I don't plan on coming back permanently until the 7 year old graduates from High school in 11 years.

I've tried, half heatedly, to rent house out in Chiang Mai over the last 7 years. Now that I'm having to put a decent chunk of change into maintaining it (and with daughter starting College this fall), I'm serious about renting. I'm willing to offer two different rental prices; basic and a higher one that includes a gardener and internet/cable provided. Assuming that someone comes along and takes the basic rental, can I expect renter to take care of both the interior of house (at least pay for damage caused by renter) and the landscape, which is 1 rai (cutting grass and trimming trees and bushes). I believe that a 2 months deposit for damages is common, so would I use it to replace dead trees or hire a gardener when renter moves to to restore grounds? Am I unreasonable in applying western rental standards in Thailand?

She's right in the sense that, if elections were held today, Takky's party would win again. That certainly wouldn't serve to calm things down.

A popular television ad in the U.S. Is for a hamburger chain, Wendy's, in which the star, "Red," ia at a Wendy's with a hamburger or cup do chili in her hands. You never see her actually eat either because she is a vegan (also a natural blonde). After finding this out, It doesn't made me want to stop at Wendy's.

The last 4-6 weeks of Baht decline has made the $5,000-$6,000 that I plan on exchanging in 2 weeks at least worth 10% more. I'm hoping for 35 by May 22

Breaking news: Francisco Franco is still dead.

Ben E. King, singer for the Drifters and composer/singer of the song "Stand by me" has died at age 76.

I was born in Wichita and couldn't wait to get out of it when I was 18. Being the adventurous type, I travelled north on I-35 about 180 miles to Kansas City. The view that most Americans get of Kansas is at 10,000 feet up, going from coast to coast.

If you lived in Kansas, you wouldn't be asking that question. They own Koch Industries in Wichita, a very large, oil based business. If you are wondering what they have in store for the country, just look at Kansas. Kansas has always been a conservative, Republican State but, through the Koch's financial and political backing, they got Sam Brownback elected Governor and replaced moderate Republicans in the State House with ultra conservatives who have managed to cut taxes mainly to the wealthy and building a deficit of around 180 million a year. They are extremely right to life. Basically, Kansas has become like Texas but in some respects, more so. I can't wait to see who they anointed as the Republican candidate for President. Whoever it is will probably force me to vote for Hillary.

In two weeks, the U.K. Is going to have an election between two evenly divided parties, with the Scottish Seperatist Party possibly receiving the third most members in Parliment and a debate over whether the U.K. should remain part of the E.U. It seems to me to be a far more important election than the one last year for Scottish Independance. No British expats or residents have any opinions on the issues at stake or on a Conservative versus Labor government?

Paris Hilton's beloved chihuahua, Tinkerbell, died at age 14

Keep moving it up and I'll have a chance to attend (arriving May 20).

Didn't Churchill say Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others?

Just curious, what does it take to get a thai proper treatment for mental illnesses/problems? Do they have to have the insurance/money to pay for treatment? Would it be like in the U.S., where several mass killing have been done by persons that have been treated for mental illness and have quit taking their medication?

I don't own a gun but feel safer in Kansas, knowing that whoever points a gun at me has to at least consider the possibility that I am carrying a concealed weapon. I feel a lot safer walking around in the U.S. I don't travel in higher crime rate areas, particularly at night. I feel a lot less safe driving around, particularly at night, with the number of drunk drivers around. That would be my priority.

Which would I rather face? Someone waving a hand gun in Kansas (which allows carrying a gun with license) or a pack of Thais with no regard for life. Tough decision!

Brings new meaning to "happy ending."

No one could tell if the bulge in his pants was caused by the strippers or rigor mortis.

Radioman's replied to my comment about effort to assimilate into western society by a Thai woman. Strictly speaking, effort can only fall between 0 and 100%. You can go over 100% in comparing effort at different times (one put three times the effort in during March that one did in February) but you can't put more than 100% effort into anything. I took his comment stating 105% as 100% effort with positive attitude. If he meant something else, I'm sure he will correct me.