Gaybutton

The one I'm waiting for is when Yellowstone blows its top. If that happens, we've all had it.

I don't know how many people would have sufficient money in the bank, yet have an income of only 30,000 baht or so. Probably not very many. In any case, to legally obtain their visa, they have to prove it. The USA embassy takes your word for it and issues the proof-of-income statement based solely on your word, with no kind of proof or documentation of any kind to back up what you say. I have no idea what other embassies require. But what happens to these people if real proof is ever required and they don't have 800,000 baht in the bank? If that ever happens, now they have a slight problem.

Don't be so quick to thank me or throw out your aspirins. Maybe I wrote it, but I never said I meant it . . .

"How does one edit previous posts?" One doesn't. The board software sets a time limit for editing posts. If you have not edited your post within that time period, then the edit icon will no longer appear for you. There are three solutions: 1. Proofread carefully before hitting the POST button. 2. Ask GT to change the time limit. A substantial bribe might get him to do it. 3. Send a PM to me telling me what you want changed in which post. A substantial bribe might get me to do it. One thing to take into consideration. I don't think GT would mind me correcting spelling and grammar mistakes for you, but he would object strongly if I change what you said. So, since he's the boss, I won't change what you said. If that is what you want changed and find the edit button gone before you can make the change, then you will have to write a new, corrected version of your post or ask GT to make the change. I won't go against GT's wishes whether I agree with him or not.

Would you mind clarifying what you said here? I can't make sense out of it.

Many of you know Mr. Kenyon and many of you have probably received his help and advice over the years. He is a familiar figure and can almost always be found helping people at the Pattaya Immigration Office. The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: _____ The British honorary consul in Pattaya has announced that he will stand down in June 2010 when his current contract expires. The British embassy in Bangkok is expected to advertise the vacancy via its website and in local media over the next few weeks. Barry Kenyon, who is 68, has been attached to the British embassy since 1997, and became the resort

Just in case you want the answer as to whether donations were returned, you might want to have a look at the following thread on the Gay Ting & Tong board: http://www.gaytingtong.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=6597

Most who live here and are having troubles because of the exchange rate manage to find ways to cut back. It means some can't go out to the bars as often, or drink as much, or take boys off as often. It is easy to cut back on food prices by eating at less expensive restaurants or cooking at home. People find ways to cope. Walking more often instead of taxis. Using a fan more than air conditioning. Moving to a less expensive place. Taking in a roommate. Some people started out with a rock bottom income in the first place. Now, if they've used up all the ways they can cut back and have no other alternatives left, then I suppose they can take lessons from the boys who manage to live on incomes of 3000 or 4000 baht a month. However, if someone really is trying to live here on that kind of a budget, then they're living here illegally if they're lying about their income when they get their visa. Even if they're living here at the minimum legal income, that still enough to live decently. They may not be able to lead a life of wealth and splendor, but they can live an acceptable lifestyle. I know farang who are living here on incomes less than 35,000 baht per month and yet they manage to survive. I wouldn't want to have to live here on an income that low, but people do what they have to do. Of course, obviously they're lying about their monthly income. If the embassies and/or Immigration ever starts requiring more proof, that's when they can really start laughing . . .

I believe in them too. I've seen three of them, all in one night. It was Christmas Eve. They tried their damndest to convince me to stop being so cheap. It didn't work . . . One young Thai gentleman who dropped by was convinced my house was haunted, well partially. He wouldn't use my bathroom. He was convinced ghosts were in there. He was serious. The rest of the house was ok. Just the bathroom had ghosts. He ended up taking a whiz on a tree outside. That, at least, was safe. I never did get an explanation as to why he thought I had a haunted toilet, but that's what he believed. The Ghost of Christmas Turd I guess. . .

Wine Dinner at Restaurant Poseidon hosted by Kim Schnyder Friday, March 12, 2010 White Asparagus with Smoked Salmon with home-made Hollandaise Sauce ***** Chilled Avocado Cream Soup ***** Trout au Blue With boiled Potatoes or Roasted Pork Medaillon with Apple Calvados Sauce served with Potato Gratin ***** Sweet Dream-light Mascarpone Cream enhanced with mixed Berries Apperitif Prosecco Cuvee Rose, Follador IGT, Italy White Wine La Carraia Chardonnay, Italy Red Wine La Carraia Sangiovese, Italy The price for this dinner is 1,500 baht net/person For further details and bookings, call Kim 081-983-4182 or 038-303-300

It seems right on topic to me. I'd be interested in the same information.

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: for photos see: http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/14799/we-witness-an-exorcism-of-a-16-year-old-girl-in-bang-saray _____ We Witness an Exorcism of a 16 Year Old Girl in Bang Saray 1st March 2010 A chilling story now from Bang Saray, located on the outskirts of Pattaya where reports spread throughout a small village of a young girl whose body had been taken over by ghosts. The problem began when the girl aged 16, visited a local haunted house with friends. When she returned home she had changed. She stopped eating and was speaking as if she was a man. Her father, Khun Bia aged 52, assumed she had become possessed by an evil spirit and called in the services of a man known as “Edward” who claimed he would be able to rid her body of the evil spirits. He arrived at the house and chanted over her possessed body and at the end of exorcism the girl appeared to be back to normal. We were invited to watch Edward at work but cannot verify the story at this time. However if you are a believer in ghosts and know somebody who may be possessed we can put you in contact with “Edward” who can help.

Why all the speculation? Isn't anyone just going to go over there and ask?

I stopped in at Mr. Moo today and bought some streaky bacon, 255gm for 67 baht. They don't carry smoked bacon, so I'll give it a try next time I stop at AKA. Mr. Moo has a web site at: Welcome to Mr Moo Co. Ltd.

That photo, Astrrro, is the area I'm referring to and that photo shows the entirety of the Red-Shirt activity I've encountered in Pattaya. I've been saying all along that I expect nothing to happen. One thing strikes me as odd, though. We haven't heard a thing from the Yellow-Shirts. What happened to them? In any case, I said at the outset that there will be little or no serious response to the Thaksin verdict. So far that has been the case despite the media managing to convince people that there will be a response on a scale tantamount to a revolution. All hype and bullshit. A major Red-Shirt rally is scheduled for Sunday, March 14. Just how major it will turn out to be remains to be seen. The main reason I still expect no major serious reactions is because I believe the Thai people are the same as everyone else. People might say, "Isn't that terrible?" and then pretty much forget it. People have their own lives and their own problems. I never did believe all that many people were going to get themselves all upset because of Thaksin's money. You're talking about people who are lucky to scrape together lunch money. Somehow I doubt they have all that much sympathy for a man who still has billions. With all the arguments about how wonderful Thaksin is for the country or what a nightmare he is for the country, life still goes on. People are fickle and quickly move onto the next item of interest and stop thinking very much about the last item of interest - yesterday's news. You want me to prove it? Ok, ask yourself how long it's been since you paid much attention to or discussed what's going on in Haiti . . .

I believe you're right. That's the only place I know of that fits the description.

Can you give us a hint? Their Internet edition for Feb 16-28 is not yet online.

Whatever was going on on Soi Khao Tolo, apparently it's over. This evening I drove down Soi Khao Tolo to Sukhumvit. There was nothing. That large area where the Red-Shirts usually rally was completely empty and deserted. There was no sign of any recent activity. Today in Pattaya everything appeared perfectly normal. If there was any trouble anywhere, other than heavy weekend and holiday traffic, I saw no sign of it.

Maybe there was, but it wasn't enough. The Bangkok location was more or less a hole-in-the-wall, with only a few tables. The Pattaya location is at least three times the size of the Bangkok location and has more tables. Either way, I'm sorry both locations didn't remain open, but I'm glad the new location is near enough to me that now I can go any time I want . . . and that's going to be often. This is one restaurant I really like.

That's too bad. I was hoping for a Schrafft's . . .

That is sad news indeed, at least for me. That was my favorite place to eat in Bangkok and so convenient to the Malaysia and Pinnacle hotels. Maybe they closed in order to open in Pattaya. Of course, the fact the restaurant is now in Pattaya is very good news and I hope they succeed here, but it's a loss for Bangkok.

I suggest clicking the following: Gay India and Indian Gay and Lesbian Resources by Utopia Asia

Composer Jerome Kern was once asked to describe Irving Berlin's place in American music. His response was, "Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American music." I think Thaksin sees himself in a similar manner. He would love it if people say he has no place in Thailand. He is Thailand. I think the verdict has slapped his face and kicked his butt. I think a person like him isn't going to give up without a fight and he likely sees this as losing a battle, but not the war. I think he is prepared to fight and is capable of anything to regain his power in Thailand. If he comes up with some new tactic it will be very interesting to see just how far the Red-Shirts will go along for the ride.

You know what I'd love to see? Emails from Thaksin (or some con artist pretending to be Thaksin) similar to the ones I get every so often . . . Dr. Mweleke Mwenene from Ghana, or somewhere, who wants to put untold millions into my bank account to help him get his money out of the country. Do you get those? I check my junk mail folder once a week and there are usually one or two of them in there. Oh well, whether you are a supporter, an opposer, or a 'who cares' with regard to Thaksin, I doubt the man is ever going to have to worry about where his next meal is coming from. I also don't think the Red-Shirts are going to fade out of the picture just yet, but I do think there will be far fewer of them actively participating in protests and demonstrations as time goes on. If I were to bet on it, I wouldn't bet on them prevailing in the end. I think an awful lot of wind has just been knocked out of their sails and I don't think they're going to recover with the power and influence they held before the verdict came in. Time will tell, but that's the way I think it's going to go. I could be dead wrong, of course. I've been looking all over the place, but I just can't find my crystal ball (and don't tell me to look for it under my leg . . . I already did. As always, nothing was there. Story of my life.).