nkped

But before the herd stampedes, check http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Report-of-Foreign-Bank-and-Financial-Accounts-(FBAR) for some actual information including: Who Must File an FBAR United States persons are required to file an FBAR if: The United States person had a financial interest in or signature authority over at least one financial account located outside of the United States; and The aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year to be reported.

Okay, care to say which hotels that would be. BTW, I have timed an amble from RG to FLB at less than 15 minutes.

Undoubtedly apocryphal but still good story that the leaders of a European dictatorship meet with the leadership of the Catholic church to tell the bishops that the state with destroy the church. One of the bishops responds that the state would not succeed. After all, the church hierarchy had been trying to destroy the church for 2,000 years and had yet to do so.

I have friends who would tell you with a completely straight face, "An armed society is a polite society."

Hardly the first off-duty police officer to do something idiotic under the influence. It does appear his colleagues handled it well.

Err, because "someone" wanted to eat there. Times and places other than LOS, I have listened to conversations suggesting there is halal, which has rather stringent requirements, and "Well, there was no pork."

What's the most people you have seen riding on the back step of a baht bus? I know I have seen six. Anyone seen more than that?

I haven't eaten in McDonald's in years, same with Burger King. Don't consider either to be affirmatively nasty in the sense of that KFC smell. Have found myself in the Carl's Junior in Central Festival a couple of times so I'm not claiming to be a food nazi snob.

Just had the misfortune of getting on the elevator with the KFC delivery guy. No objection to a man doing his job, but I was glad when he got off. I don't have any principled objection to greasy fried chicken, but not when it smells/tastes like that. Of all the things we had to export to Thailand. Any other nominations?

76's point about the case law can't be overemphasized, but just to set it forth, here is the text of 18 USC 2423 §2423. Transportation of minors (a) Transportation With Intent To Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.—A person who knowingly transports an individual who has not attained the age of 18 years in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any commonwealth, territory or possession of the United States, with intent that the individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life. (b)Travel With Intent To Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct.—A person who travels in interstate commerce or travels into the United States, or a United States citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels in foreign commerce, for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. © Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign Places.—Any United States citizen or alien admitted for permanent residence who travels in foreign commerce, and engages in any illicit sexual conduct with another person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. (d) Ancillary Offenses.—Whoever, for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, arranges, induces, procures, or facilitates the travel of a person knowing that such a person is traveling in interstate commerce or foreign commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both. (e) Attempt and Conspiracy.—Whoever attempts or conspires to violate subsection (a), ( , ©, or (d) shall be punishable in the same manner as a completed violation of that subsection. (f) Definition.—As used in this section, the term “illicit sexual conduct” means (1) a sexual act (as defined in section 2246) with a person under 18 years of age that would be in violation of chapter 109A if the sexual act occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; or (2) any commercial sex act (as defined in section 1591) with a person under 18 years of age. (g) Defense.—In a prosecution under this section based on illicit sexual conduct as defined in subsection (f)(2), it is a defense, which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant reasonably believed that the person with whom the defendant engaged in the commercial sex act had attained the age of 18 years. For the obsessive/compulsive, the link is http://www.gpo.gov/f...117-sec2423.htm. No smilies on the government site.

Saw a guy on a mobility scooter on Beach Road last night which had a platform (with its own wheels--I think) attached to the back for a passenger to stand on. There was a Thai girl on it. She seemed comfortable with that method of locomotion so I suspect she had been on it before. Never give up.

It's actually across the street from the dive center. Haven't stayed there so can't offer much. Have heard guys kind of in my demographic (at least a few years older--not kids or backpackers) who live in Bangkok and stay there over weekends when they are diving comment that they stayed there without rolling their eyes or complaining. I'm here for 3 months and know I need a little more in the way of amenities to keep my sanity, but that is just a matter of where I am in life.

I can now answer my own question. It is still open. It's within very easy walking distance of View Talay 2. Beyond that: 1. Yes, it has four floors, but they are small floors; 2. I got a 3 month membership, which will serve my purposes for some weird amount like 3,790 baht--not cheap; 3. It's air conditioned--kind-of--but they sell bottled water; 4. They have toilets and showers but I would not plan on changing there unless I had to--I don't have to; 5. Most of the tread-mills have displays in mph and the dumb bells are marked in pounds. Great for me. The one treadmill with a display in kph [Ed. Err, more likely I botched the conversion]; 6. Very few free weights if that is a concern; 7. The road immediately in front is paved. It suits my purposes and the location is right. Won't make any claims beyond that.

Actually, the border search authority goes back a long way, as customs used to be the primary source of government income. Historically, if you were crossing the border, the search was reasonable. The authority is more constrained now than it was in the past.

As it was at least 3 or 4 years ago that I last flew with Eva, I checked what they would be flying on their SEA-TPE route in October (just for bites and grins). Right now, it is scheduled for a 747-400

It's been 3 or 4 years since I flew with Eva, but OP generally reflects my experience. At that time food was more blah than awful. Unfortunately, that seems to be the case with Korean Air now as well. If you are ever booked on an Eva 747-400 where the seat selection system lets you select a seat on the upper deck, do it. More leg room and a greater chance you will have an empty seat next to you.

My thought was that they were looking for drugs. Knock-offs could be seized but there would be paperwork required.

RG posts long-term rates--http://www.theresidencesuites.com/trg_room_booking.php.

Not seeing too many corn fields in rural Thailand, the beef cattle almost certainly have a different diet. Closely related, but I also suspect the beef is leaner, i.e., has a lower fat content, which affects flavor. The food nazis will tell you lean meat is much better for you, but if I'm eating a hamburger, it's not because I am looking for health food.

Occasionally send a FedEx envelope to northeastern part of Nakhon Ratchasima province and it gets there very quickly after it arrives in Thailand. Speculation on my part, but would think that up there working for FedEx is a really good job and that the employees are locals. In Chon Buri, perhaps not so much.

Okay, Al Murray is about what I anticipated. Had to check the Urban Dictionary for "twee" but having done so, I'm having real trouble unpacking the rest of that sentence. I'll be looking forward to checking out Private Dancer in a couple of weeks.

And people talk about Americans quoting prices in USD. For those who have advanced past the 18th century: 1 stone=6.35029 kg 1 stone=14 lbs

I have been the Miami more than once. You couldn't pay me enough to live there. Maui, on the other hand, if I could afford it

The ex once said, with real horror, "Lao eat dog, Thai no eat dog."