Gaybutton

Apparently there are still some message board program glitches that need to be fixed, especially on the moderator side. For example, I see that the " Thinking outside the box" thread is locked. I didn't lock it. I don't think any of the other moderators locked it. I don't see anything in any of the posts that should have caused any of us to lock it. Usually, when one of us locks a thread we explain why or at least explain why to the other moderators. If nothing else, we normally at least post that we have locked the thread. None of those happened this time. I have no idea how it became locked. Even with my moderator status I can't get into it to unlock it. I tried, but no 'unlock' choice appears on the moderator options list. There are a few other glitches in place as well. If you encounter any problems, please let us know.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Police plan response for UDD petition handover Writer: AEKARACH SATTABURUTH Published: 15/08/2009 Police are ready to secure the capital when Thaksin Shinawatra supporters file a petition for his pardon at the Royal Household Bureau and opponents gather at the nearby Supreme Court on Monday. Acting national police chief Wichien Pojphosri yesterday said he had discussed a security plan with the Bangkok police, the 1st Army, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Royal Household Bureau. He said an official of the Royal Household Bureau will wait at the Wiset Chaisri gate of the Grand Palace, the location of the bureau, and red shirt demonstrators will not be allowed through the gate to reach the bureau. Pol Gen Wichien asked demonstrators to maintain order and warned them not to approach the Grand Palace in huge numbers. Police will not block red shirt demonstrators from approaching the Grand Palace but will form a line to separate them from blue shirt protesters who are likely to show up at the adjacent Supreme Court. They will turn up to back veteran politician Newin Chidchob. A court verdict is due on the same day in the rubber sapling graft case in which he is implicated. Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha has asked the armed forces to have soldiers on standby in case Bangkok police seek their assistance on Monday. Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) said the Royal Household Bureau contacted his group to coordinate the submission of the petition and this contact proved people had the right to petition for a royal pardon for Thaksin. He said the bureau has allowed the UDD to increase the number of its representatives who will submit the petition, from eight to 15. Monks will be among those filing the petition. The document will be submitted at 1pm on Monday. Then the representatives will join over 100,000 red shirt demonstrators at Sanam Luang. There, Thaksin will phone in to thank the rally-goers for supporting the petition. The gathering is due to disperse by 3pm. The UDD had invited former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and some privy councillors and expected their response soon, he said. Afterwards, the UDD would turn to movements to oust the Abhisit Vejjajiva government, Mr Jatuporn said. Thaksin fled a two-year jail sentence last year handed down by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for abusing his authority to help his wife Khunying Potjaman buy a state-owned land plot near Ratchadaphisek Road in 2003. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ ROYAL PARDON FOR THAKSIN Civil Service, Chula Oppose Petition By The Nation Published on August 15, 2009 Twenty-nine seniormost civil servants yesterday issued a statement opposing a Royal pardon for ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and calling on the government to prevent a petition by the red shirts for such a pardon reaching the King. The statement said the petition was designed to involve the monarchy in the political struggle and that regardless of the Royal discretion to accept or reject the petition, doubts would remain about the impartiality of the monarchy because the idea of such a pardon had been turned into a political agenda. It is the duty of every citizen and of the civil service to keep the monarchy above politics, it said. The 29 cosigners, all at permanent-secretary level, pledged not to allow such a politically motivated petition to tarnish the integrity of the monarchy, as it would, they said, if it was allowed to be presented. The 5000-strong academic community of Chulalongkorn University yesterday circulated an open letter on much the same lines. It reminded Thaksin to abide by his oath of allegiance to the King and call off the petition before it was too late. "The petition for a Royal pardon is clearly being manipulated for political gain contrary to relevant law and established court precedent and is thus tantamount to politicising the monarchy," the statement said. If a Royal pardon is truly the objective, then Thaksin is well aware of his rights and the prescribed procedures for him to petition personally for clemency, it said. It went on to make the following points: * Instead of abiding by precedent on the issue, organisers of the petition have intentionally tried to have their own way. * Thaksin, mindful of his oath, should intervene and stop his followers breaking with tradition regarding the monarchy. * If organisers go ahead and file the petition, the government ought to make a decisive move to rectify the situation by rejecting the petition on grounds of illegality and inappropriateness before it reaches His Majesty. Acting police chief General Wichien Potposri chaired a high-level meeting to beef up security around the Royal Palace in light of the red-shirt rally to file the petition. Wichien said about 450 police would be deployed on Monday to keep the peace at the Sanam Luang rally site, the Royal Palace and the Supreme Court, where a graft verdict is scheduled in the rubber-sapling case. Most of the red shirts are expected to remain in Sanam Luang while some of their leaders march to the palace, where about 15 of them, including Veera Musigapong, will submit the petition. They will present the petition at the Viset Chaisri Gate, where officials of the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary will acknowledge its receipt. Thaksin is expected to make a phone-in on Monday to the red-shirt rally, organisers said yesterday. "Thaksin wants to thank his supporters," Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan, one of the organisers, said. The red shirts will turn out in full force for the peaceful rally, Jatuporn said, adding that they would stay away from the blue shirts scheduled to rally at the nearby Supreme Court. He said the red shirts would not become involved in the handing down of the verdict on the rubber-sapling case, even though it involved their faction leader Newin Chidchob. Organisers have promised to disperse the crowds once the petition has been presented. Jatuporn said, however, that although the red shirts would out of respect for the King drop the issue of a Royal pardon after petitioning him, they planned to continue rallying against the government.

More Redd Foxx:

I know how they do it. I've seen them do it. They push their "equipment" down and back as far as they can before putting on their briefs. I don't know how on earth they can be comfortable that way, but that's what they do.

"People say I'm gross, blue, and a dirty old man. I'm here to tell you that's a lot of shit! I say shit and I say fuck only for one reason . . . people do. If you ain't never fucked, shiiiit. And if you ain't never shit, fuck!" - Redd Foxx

And miss the best part?

No lumpfish caviar? I don't know how I'll manage to survive . . .

"I tell you, with my doctor, I don't get no respect. I told him, 'I swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills!' He told me to have a few drinks and get some rest." - Rodney Dangerfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FPv2toi5og

I think in some respects many people have, to varying degrees, more than one person inside. Lady-boys are obviously much more inclined to physically express it. But I don't see any reason to refer to a lady-boy in the plural. Also, I know many lady-boys who are tops. "I feel so sorry for bisexuals. What a terrible curse that must be. What a way to have to live your life. Can you imagine wanting to fuck everyone you meet?" - George Carlin

That's a very good question. Most likely I would try to avoid the pronoun at all. I would probably try to say, "This is 'Alice', my old friend." However, under circumstances like that, knowing that the lady-boy would most likely wish to be referred to in the feminine, if I couldn't come up with a different way to say it, out of courtesy I think I would disregard my own discomfort and use the feminine.

I agree, and I would do so when addressing someone directly, out of courtesy. It is a different matter when simply referring to someone. I know most people feel differently from the way I feel about it, but no matter how someone is dressed or has redone his body, if he was born male, to me it's "he" and "him". I'm simply not comfortable referring to someone I know is biologically male as "she". Most of the time when I'm speaking directly to someone, it's "you". I can't think of many instances when it would be anything else. Even in Thai, there isn't much gender associated with it when speaking directly to someone. Even the formal "khun" is a word used for both males and females.

This evening a group of friends went to Ole. The Wednesday night buffet is essentially the same. As a matter of fact they have a few new offerings, but nearly all of it is the same as it has always been, including that fantastic ham that so many say is the best in town. The price is also the same, 240 baht. I met the new owner, a very personable Swiss gentleman named Ozzie. He said he is quite pleased to keep the buffet going. He had included several new additions to his regular menu as well and intends to add more as time goes on. This low season is about the lowest I've ever witnessed in Pattaya, but the Wednesday night buffet at Ole always draws a crowd. There were plenty of customers this evening. By the way, in honor of Her Majesty, the Queen's birthday, a national holiday in Thailand, the banks and most of the bars were closed this evening. Regarding the bars, it is my understanding they were not under orders to close. They were closed voluntarily.

Interesting you would come up with that kind of comment considering you're participating in this thread too. I never refer to the lady-boys as "she." I've never been comfortable with that. I always refer to people by the gender they were at birth, although I've never figured out how I would refer to a hermaphrodite.

And I'm sure no difficulty in finding those who would volunteer to be scoutmasters . . .

My first thought is "huh"? I'm not following your logic. I don't understand what you mean. For example, if a lady-boy has been taking hormones, or whatever it is they do for breast enlargement, or has had breast implant surgery, what's the plural part? If you are correct, what would the word be? "Look, there goes a lady-boys." "Look, there goes a ladies-boy." "Look, there goes a ladies-boys."

That's quite an enigmtic enema . . .

My line is bigger . . .

As badly as we all feel, it is even more sad for many of us. Allen was to have been released from the hospital, move into a new condo in Jomtien Complex, and there was even to be a party for him and his friends this Friday afternoon. Those of us who were told about the party received the news about it only this morning. Based on getting that kind of news I thought he was improving. Now to hear that Allen died only a few hours later is coming as a very sad shock. Allen did so much for the gay community. His passing is a terrible loss. I suppose the usual cliché is the one about being glad his suffering is over. But that doesn't help very much. Goodbye Allen. I and many others are going to miss you more than can be said. You will not be forgotten and your legacy continues via the Weekly Reports. I also think both Travelerjim and PattayaMale deserve great recognition for having constantly been there for Allen over these last terrible weeks. I'm sure they're feeling a great personal loss. I spoke briefly with Ken, Allen's Thai boyfriend and owner of the Little Mango restaurant just outside of Sunee Plaza. Ken is holding up as well as can be expected. He said, "Half my heart hurt so much, but half my heart happy Allen not have to have pain more." Allen had been released from the hospital and was very happy and excited about his new surroundings at Jomtien Complex. It was exactly where he wanted to be and he was truly pleased right up until his final moments. Early this afternoon he took a turn for the worse and was taken by ambulance back to the hospital. He passed away in ICU. Allen's family and the USA Embassy have been informed. At this point nobody can be certain of the funeral arrangements, but from what I understand he will be cremated at Wat Chai. Once arrangements are known we will, of course, post them here.

Fountainhall's versions may be the accurate ones, but I sure like lvdkeyes' versions much better. Something I've always wondered about is "enema." I don't wonder about the word. I wonder about how it came to be. Somebody had to think of that. And then, somebody had to be the first person to voluntarily allow a lot of water to be squirted up his ass. I don't know how that came about, but some interesting pictures certainly come to mind . . .

I think so. That's what I do. That filter on the ADSL line allows you to use the telephone line normally while also using the Internet. I pay TOT a flat rate of 139.10 baht per month. I don't even have a telephone attached to my land line anymore. It attaches directly to my computer. Of course, the charge increases if I use that line to send out faxes. That's the only thing, other than the Internet, that I even use the land line for, and that's only once or twice a year at the most. For me, what needs to be faxed can also be sent by Email attachment, so it's quite rare for me to need to send faxes at all.

Consider it added. And another item for the list is the airport buses. Considering the number of international flights that arrive and depart in the middle of the night, why do the buses stop running in the early evening? Are they afraid to come out to play in the dark or something? I don't get that one either. Maybe certain members of the local constabulary ought to start running a bus service. That way more potential shoplifting scam victims can be brought in. They could call it the "Extortion Express." As for the effectiveness of this crackdown, why does the phrase, "Yeah, right!" come to mind?

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Taxi Cheats, Fake Tour Guides Targeted Writer: AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK Published: 10/08/2009 Unregistered tour guides and taxis are facing fines of 2,000 baht and/or a year in jail as part of Suvarnabhumi airport's new get tough policy. The taxi cheats and illegal tour guides followed when Bangkok International Airport moved from Don Mueang to Suvarnabhumi three years ago. There have been attempts to flush them out but they just keep coming back. Airports of Thailand Plc chairman Piyaphan Champasut said yesterday a subcommittee on transport control at the airport had been set up in May to enforce suppression measures on illegal tour guides and taxis. The subcommittee is chaired by Land Transport Department director-general Chairat Sanugansue. A special operation unit will work on the ground to ensure the crackdown is effective. It will also enforce measures such as zoning and parking time limits. Mr Piyaphan yesterday met the Tourist Police Bureau and the Department of Land Transport to discuss the problems at the airport. The airport was declared a controlled area for tour guides and taxis in 2006. Mr Piyaphan said scores of illegal tour guides and taxi drivers were arrested and fined, but they simply came back. The airport will now strengthen the measures. Unregistered tour guides and taxis could be fined 2,000 baht and face up to a year in prison. The punishment would be heavier if they adopt an aggressive sales pitch or engage in physical abuse, and if they operate at night. They can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to 10,000 baht. Mr Piyaphan was confident the stricter measures would start to show results in the next two months. Assessments would be made every 15 days to see if they were working.

I'm fascinated by those. I never knew any of them. I love this kind of stuff.

Unfortunately, that kind of story is not uncommon. I realize that when you're in Thailand on a holiday you really don't have time to get to know someone before taking him on trips, taking him off for days at a time, etc. It's a risk and everyone has to decide whether to take the risk. Sometimes it's fantastic and sometimes it's a disaster. If I found myself in your situation, I probably would have given him bus fare back to Pattaya and would have told him to go stay with his family until he wants to go back. I definitely would have gotten out of that situation somehow. You certainly didn't come to Thailand to end up spending a lot of time and money on a drunk and having him ruin your holiday for you. Your story is actually quite mild compared to many I've heard over the years. But many people who find themselves in a similar situation and are new to Thailand just don't know how to handle that kind of situation and don't really know what to do. I think your story probably will help out a lot of "newbies."

On this one I got 877 download, 238 upload On this one I got 876 download, 359 upload 2:05pm, Thailand time As for MaxNet's service, it's somewhere between fair and good, in my opinion. I don't have too many problems, but when I do usually a phone call to them takes care of it. There may have to be a few calls back and forth, but they do call back and try to get problems taken care of quickly. There have been times, however, when I had to make a few trips to their office on the second floor of Carrefour. Despite assurances that the problem has been taken care of, sometimes it does require two or three visits before the problem really is resolved.