Carmine6

nikster, on 2011-02-04 09:55:55, said:

If you watched that video I posted, they did scratch the gorilla glass by using a box cutter.  Not huge scratches, but they're visible.  Also I've seen many people post on forums about their scratched gorilla glass from being in their pocket or other normal situations.  No one claims big scratches, but small ones you can see at an angle.  Corning itself calls gorilla glass "scratch-resistant" not scratch-proof.

On my screen, it's not just a regular plastic screen protector, it's one of those ones that's the same material used for invisible car paint shields.  They do not scratch easily.  In fact the way they go bad is the edges start peeling up and dirt gets under and they yellow, not that the material scratches.  Invisibleshield is one brand.  There are Youtube videos on them.  I use Bodyguardz since the material is a little clearer and they give you two full body protectors in a package for the same price.  Anyway, also in that Korean video they drop the phone from waist high and it was ok, but then again from head high at which point the screen cracks.  My worry was not that my screen would have scratched, but that the point pressure would have cracked the screen.  But with the protectors, front and back, there was a little cushioning.  They're kinda spongy.  If I press a metal pointy object into it, the impression will show, then slowly recover to where you can't see it anymore in about 10 seconds.

gregb, on 2011-02-01 08:57:03, said:

Just to check again, is there some reason you can't have the IRA trustee withhold some amount for taxes?  I believe if you are too young to take a normal withdrawal they are required to withhold 10% unless you instruct them not to in the request.  Except with a foreign address, I think they have to withhold some amount, could be 10%.  

But you can also specify an amount to withhold, which would solve many of your problems if you estimate enough.  Then you wouldn't need to get a large amount out of Thailand since much of your taxes would have already been paid.

Medical expenses are a way to claim exemption from the 10% penalty, but probably not in your situation.  You may want to check about that though.

tominbkk, on 2011-01-29 13:52:16, said:

My first impression is they were way too big.  But due to how thin they are, I hardly notice mine in my pocket.  Lots of times when I'm walking around the house, I'm not sure if I have it my pocket or not.  With my Blackberry before, it was smaller but thicker and it seemed like carrying around a rock.  It just was more noticeable.

lomatopo, on 2011-01-29 09:37:57, said:

I don't know if you've seen this test.  It's a Korean show and they do a bit more than just rub around with a knife.  I use a Bodyguardz full body protector including a screen protector.  The glass is really good, but with hard objects and enough pressure, you can get scratches.

I have a permanent impression in my screen protector that resulted from some tiny pointed object pressing against it when it was in my bag on the trip back from Thailand.  I have no idea what it would have done if it had been directly on the glass.

Skip to about 35 seconds in where the video starts.

When I've compared the rate for USD, at the airport is somewhere around 1% worse than for the same bank outside the airport.  Could be less than 1%, but I can't recall since it's been a few years since I've done that comparison.  No idea if that differential is consistent for other currencies.