Wino

But they have a right to suggest to the flock that abortion is bad.

The Catholic Church sure preaches that abortion is bad. I don't think it is good but should be up to the individual. Abortion as a means of birth control or gender selection is not wise in my book.

I just had bi-ko this morning. It's a local Philippine version of the sticky rice and mango - however, we use unrefined brown sugar to sweeten. No mangoes though. Just the sticky rice and sugar. Yummy!

Bi-ko does sound yummy. I will try it the next time I visit your wonderful country, but why no mangoes? They don't grow in the Philippines or are they just not a popular food item?

There are beautiful women in most countries...America, Russia, Ukraine, etc....but the attitudes are so much different than Thai girls. Making a Thai girl happy is alot less complicated I've found than other girls. Give them some food and let them play games at the mall, then they are ecstatic.

I agree with you totally, Jimmy. Is it just Thai girls that have this attitude or is it an Asian thing? Maybe it is a Buddhist thing?

Oxygen thief is harsh in my book. It takes all kinds to make up this wonderful world of ours.

Just looked at a place today, the Green Roof Inn on Soi Kopai which was 4,600 per month including wifi. Electric and water extra.

What was it like? Something you could live in?

Laser surgery on my eyes to get rid of my glasses would be my choice.

Eye surgery is a popular choice but one that not all people with glasses may benefit. I have a friend that had the surgery and it cleared up his nearsightedness but he still needs glasses for reading. I would be terrified to have my eyeballs reshaped. One slip of the laser and you are in the dark.

I wonder if the General's and society in general welcomes these people back into the population or if they are looked down upon and stigmatized for trying to leave the country?

45K Baht is cheap living, for sure. I can't believe anyone could live on 30K.

30,000 baht a month is possible, but not much of a life for a Westerner. A Thai could live high on the hog for that.

Admittedly, it is not a choice I would like to have to make, but it is still a choice.

This is a complex issue and in my opinion, is more than a simple choice.

I am not a big fan of abortion but believe if a woman has no qualms about it, she should have reproductive rights without interference from the state. China has been a society that favors male offspring. According to this article, India also prefers the son preference. " In most countries, there are about 105 female births for every 100 males. In India there are fewer than 93 women for every 100 men."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20091014/cm_csm/ywheelerweb

I wonder what ever became of my permanent record.

Didn't you have that expunged years ago?

Do you think he will tell?

I may be mistaken, but I don't think Bob is the type to "kiss and tell."

People don't want to rent cause they fear being scammed.

If they have insurance against any damage, then they will feel better about renting a jetski and having to pay the alleged damage.

You would know that better than I. he he he

Sorry, This little monkey is not getting any nookie on the side. Perhaps, cousin Bob is?

They need to be charge with manslaughter or reckless homicide, at the very least.

I agree that manslaughter would be appropriate, but not murder. There was no intent to murder, although they should have realized that drugs and alcohol could be deadly.

Why do you like your Sony Vaio?

and every other night of the week the BIB looks the other way.

Maybe the mayor told the cops to raid, maybe the state police raided the place, maybe a "tea payment" was missed, who knows? This is Thailand!

I like to hear the both points of view. That is why I sometimes listen to O'Rielly. Patong has a point in that Obama has had, in general, very good press. If Fox can focus on the issues, then I think that is fine. Mudslinging and name calling is something else all together.

And the tainted milk scandal, but I guess they didn't export any of the milk?

No it's more like do you want to work as a waitress and earn less or work in a bar and earn more. No gun to the head, just capitalism.

I understand what you are saying and in the West, there seems to be more of a choice and opportunities. In Thailand, it seems to me not as many choices are available. There are so many young people from Isaan in the bar scene that have a choice but really not much of a choice. These impressionable youngsters are lured into this trade without really knowing the full ramifications of their choice. I think it may be the "Pretty Woman" syndrome where they see easy money and think they will land a millionaire.

I sometimes here college graduates say that their expensive education was a waste of time and money because a common laborer makes more than a college graduate. That probably isn't true although plumber's seem to make a lot of money. Here is an interesting article.

"Blue-collar jobs are typically classified as involving manual labor and compensation by an hourly wage. Some fields that fall into this category include construction, manufacturing, maintenance and mining."

The Top 10 List

1. Elevator Installer and Repairer

Average salary: $87,518

Average hourly wage: $42.08

Average work week: 40 hours

2. Electrical and Electronics Repairer -- Powerhouse, Substation and Relay

Average salary: $68,084

Average hourly wage: $32.75

Average work week: 40 hours

3. Power Plant Operator, Distributor and Dispatcher

Average salary: $65,846

Average hourly wage: $31.50

Average work week: 40 hours

4. Gas Plant Operator

Average salary: $63,872

Average hourly wage: $30.71

Average work week: 40 hours

5. Locomotive Engineer

Average salary: $63,125

Average hourly wage: $28.27

Average work week: 42.5 hours

6. Electrical Power Line Installer and Repairer

Average salary: $60,354

Average hourly wage: $29.02

Average work week: 40 hours

7. Structural Iron and Steel Worker

Average salary: $59,224

Average hourly wage: $28.55

Average work week: 39.9 hours

8. Construction and Building Inspector

Average salary: $59,144

Average hourly wage: $28.31

Average work week: 40.2 hours

9. Ship and Boat Captain and Operator

Average salary: $57,910

Average hourly wage: $24.86

Average work week: 51.8 hours

10. Radio and Telecommunications Equipment Installer

Average salary: $57,149

Average hourly wage: $27.48

Average work week: 39.9 hours

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107958/highest-paying-blue-collar-jobs?mod=career-salary_negotiation

The insurance sounds like a good idea. I hope it solves the problem.

Not sure but I bet the manager was arrested because "on this occasion they were found to be open after their permitted licensed opening hours."

And that will "go on your permanent record".

My "scarlet letter" for life. You better watch out for me because I am a "bad apple."

That is the first I have heard of the problem. What a mess! The importing companies will be sued but will just go bankrupt and re-organize under a different name. The people are left holding the bag. I am surprised that a couple coats of paint aren't enough to stop the problem with the drywall. I am not an expert, but you would think there would be a fix?