Gaybutton

You can buy the car without the license, but you will need it in order to be insured. That's my understanding of it.

Uh-huh. Maybe you think I'm going to count it . . . . . . .

The following, including the photo, appears in the BANGKOK POST: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/8533...-creating-alarm _____ Counterfeit Banknotes Creating Alarm By: POST REPORTERS Published: 23/12/2008 at 12:00 AM The public can bring charges against shops that refuse to accept 1,000 baht banknotes for fear they might be counterfeit, police say. Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Nimmano said yesterday people who are issued counterfeit notes by ATMs can also file charges against banks with police. Banknote forgers would be liable to life imprisonment and people who knowingly pass fake notes face one to 15 years in jail, he said. The police chief spoke out after reports that many vendors were refusing to accept 1,000 baht banknotes from customers and that people were choosing to withdraw less than 1,000 baht from ATMs at each transaction, to avoid receiving 1,000 baht banknotes. Twatchai Yongkittikul, secretary-general of the Thai Bankers Association (TBA), said the public should not panic about fake notes. "There is no problem about receiving counterfeits from ATMs," he said. "All banks check banknotes before they put them in ATMs." He said even though the number of forgeries had increased, there were still relatively few in circulation. The TBA would monitor the situation and call a meeting with its members to develop a strategy if the problem became any worse, he said. Bangkok Bank, the country's largest bank, said it was training counter tellers to check banknotes carefully, especially 1,000 baht notes. The number of counterfeits increased significantly over the festive season. Giant retail stores report finding fake notes in many provinces. If there is doubt about a note's authenticity, clerks ask customers to pay with another note. Machines to check watermarks on notes have also been installed in toll booths. Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Preawpan Damapong has ordered police to track down the forgers and distributors. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, counterfeiters were arrested in two districts with phoney 500 and 1,000 baht notes. In Nan's Chiang Klang district, Nim Ganpai, 50, went to make a 4,500 baht deposit to pay her bank loan, only to be told one of the 1,000 notes was counterfeit. She said she received the note when she sold a cow two months ago. In Tak, 1,000 baht notes were not being accepted at the border market in Mae Sot district after counterfeits were found. The fake notes were so similar to real notes that some were said to have been deposited at banks. "I have changed my payment method and now use an ATM to transfer funds, or a cheque. It is so hard to check if the notes are real," said Tak chamber of commerce president Suchart Treeratwattana. In Nakhon Ratchasima, Namphon Songklang, 40, a butcher at Mae Kim Heng market in Muang district, said when customers pay in 1,000 baht notes, vendors get together to help inspect them. If the note is deemed to be fake, they detain the person and alert police. Some vendors had earlier phoney notes. In Trat, customs officers are watching for fakes, but because of staff constraints search people only if they look suspicious. People are allowed to take no more than 200,000 baht out of the country at a time.

I'm wondering what point you are trying to make. If you feel curious about the reasons why Googie's is closed or feel that it's anyone's business other than his own, rather than second guessing or trying to make him look foolish through innuendo, why don't you simply ask him? You can contact him via Email at: googies-pattaya@hotmail.com You can call him at: 085 227 0114 Let us know what he tells you after you make contact with him.

Of course he will. I'll be there . . . .

I only wish! But then I would have ended up with Geezer as my boyfriend . . . . . Was I ever that age? I thought you might enjoy my school photo below:

The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: _____ HALF A MILLION BAHT MISSING FROM DUTCH COUPLE‘S PATTAYA BANK ACCOUNT A Dutch couple living in Pattaya claims that over half a million baht is missing from their bank account at the Kasikorn Bank. At 10:00 am. on 21st December2008, after reporting the matter to Pattaya police investigator Pol. Lt. Col. Wanlop Kungtaratip, Mr. Frank Bouwmeester, [44] and Mrs. Johanna Doorn [66], a Dutch couple residing at 102 / 6, Moo 11, Nongprue, Banglamung, made a complaint to the media that 500,525 Baht had been removed from their bank account during the course of 2 days in July 2008. Mrs. Doorn , the owner of the Bank account, said she had been a customer of the South Pattaya branch of Kasikorn Bank for more than 8 years. She had an ATM Card for her convenience to withdraw cash up to a maximum of about 20,000 baht a day. On the 1st July this year, she had transferred 7000 baht to her son at Nongkai through the bank ATM service. On the 3rd July she tried to withdraw cash from the ATM but it was rejected with a "wrong pin code" message. At first she thought that the machine was faulty so she tried another, but received the same response. The couple then went to the Kasikorn Bank, South Pattaya branch, where their original account was issued. They told the story to the bank officer and also asked for a new card since the old one was 8 years old. While waiting for their new card, they asked for an updated statement from their bank book and were shocked to find out that over half a million baht was missing from their previous balance of 1.5 million baht. Transactions involving the missing funds were recorded during the 2nd and the 3rd of July 2008. The bank officer told them to stay calm and said that they would be informed once more details of the transactions had been found. On the 5th July, they checked their account again at an ATM and were shocked to find that a further 49,000 baht had been withdrawn while the ATM card was still in their possession and they were allowed to withdraw only 20,000 baht a day. They once again visited the bank, where the officer told them not to worry, and the money should be refunded to their account again on the following day, but this never happened. The couple decided to meet the bank manager of the South Pattaya branch, Mr. Waigoon Kriengsakpong, who, after listening to their complaints, found out that the money had been transferred via an ATM in Hatyai , Songklah to somebody's account in Surathani and Kalasin. The couple claimed that they did not have any Thai friends or relatives in Thailand. However, Mr. Waigoon promised to refer their case to the head office in Bangkok as soon as possible. Mrs. Doorn said that on the 18th December, the assistant director of customer service from the bank head office, Mr. Chaiyasit Jindacharin, had called them and informed that the bank could not replace the missing funds to their account. He also added that there was the possibility her husband may have given the ATM card to somebody to withdraw the money. She thought that this was a terrible excuse and that they should have checked the receiver's account. "I have retired and bought a 10 million baht house in Thailand and I've been a long time customer with the bank for more than 8 years. My husband is always with me and he has shown no signs of unfaithful behaviour. Now that we have a problem, instead of responding fast and seriously checking the system, they choose to transfer the fault to the customer. I don't understand why Thai banks have such a terrible system. I have reported this to the police and complained to the media to protect my own rights" she finally added.

Sounds great to me:

I have never flown on Air Asia, but I am inclined to believe that the troubles you experienced were more bad luck than anything else. Certainly flight delays are common on any airline. Sometimes it's the fault of the airline and sometimes it isn't. When flying on a discount carrier I don't expect everything to operate as smoothly as on major air carriers. My personal worst horror story happened this time of year, about 8 or 9 years ago by now. I was coming to Thailand on Northwest Airlines via Minneapolis and Tokyo. I was going to arrive on Christmas Eve. I had reservations at a nice hotel in Bangkok. My boyfriend was going to meet me at the airport. We looked forward to spending Christmas Day in Bangkok. When I arrived in Minneapolis everything seemed to be fine. The 747 was sitting there at the departure gate. About an hour before flight time the crew started showing up and boarding. I knew something was wrong when the crew members started coming off the plane and milling around the entrance door. Not very long after that an announcement was made that there will be a 45 minute delay. They said they had the wrong plane at the gate and they're bringing another one over from the hanger. My first reaction was 'yeah, right.' Wrong plane? You've got to be kidding. I figured this was probably airline bullshit in place of telling us this plane had a serious problem. At least they discovered the problem while the plane was on the ground. Minneapolis is a Northwest hub airport, so they did have other planes available. They brought over another 747, exactly the same model. The crew boarded and about 20 minutes later so did the passengers. After we had boarded and settled into our seats, then came an announcement that there's something wrong with this plane too! One of the lavatories sprung a leak and it needed to be fixed before the plane could depart. There would be a 20 minute delay. Nearly an hour later came the announcement that the repair is going to take longer than they thought and we should be ready to go in about 20 more minutes. Then came the next announcement. They don't know how long this will take. Meanwhile we were all stuck sitting there on the plane, already over 2 hours late and a flight of nearly 11 hours facing us. They would not let us off the plane. We sat there for a good 4 hours before the plane was finally ready to go. They pushed back the plane, cranked up the engines, and the captain announced that before takeoff he wants to have the plane de-iced. The plane taxied over to the de-icing area and the de-icing trucks hosed down the plane immediately. We still didn't go. We sat there for a full hour after the de-icing before the plane finally took off. There was never an announcement of any kind as to why there was another long delay like that. We were on that plane, after already being delayed by nearly an hour before even boarding, for 5 hours before even leaving the airport! By the time the plane arrived in Tokyo all the outbound flights were already long gone. They were going to have to put the entire planeload of ongoing passengers in a hotel overnight. I have to hand it to the Japanese. They had everything done very efficiently. When we got off the plane they had several booths set up, each with a sign on it for different destinations. About a dozen people lined up at the booth marked 'Bangkok.' They gave us boarding passes for the flight for the next day and a compensation booklet with meal vouchers, etc. Then we were all taken to a very good hotel. When we got there, the Japanese already had our names and rooms ready. We didn't even have to go through a check-in process. I said to one of the Japanese hotel staff members, "You people really know what you're doing. You have this down to an art form. This must happen often." The response was, "Happen every day! Every day! Some time two time every day! Always Northwest!" I believed him. I have yet to ever be on a Northwest flight that went smoothly. As I was headed toward my room I saw a sign on the restaurant door. "Gala Christmas Buffet." Well, I thought, at least I'll get a buffet out of it with all that fabulous Japanese food. One of the coupons in Northwest's compensation package was for a 3 minute call to anywhere in the world to let people know about the delay. I picked up the phone in the room. Dead as a doornail. After all I had already been through, I was in no mood for this. I took the phone down to the hotel front desk and told them it isn't working. The desk clerk actually said, "Why didn't you call us from your room? We would bring another phone." "How could I call from the room?" was my response. "The phone is dead!" Once they replaced the phone I was going to call my boyfriend to let him know. I dialed the access number on the voucher. Then I got a voice that said to enter the number I wish to dial. Then the voice asked for a PIN number. I kept that voucher booklet for nearly 2 years. If there was a PIN number anywhere, I never found it! I ended up paying for the call myself. Ok, now I could at least go and enjoy the Japanese buffet. I walked in and what was it? Turkey, ham, and everything Grandma might make. I didn't even bother to eat. I just gave up, returned to my room, and went to sleep. I finally arrived in Bangkok the next day around noon. My luggage arrived the next day! A few hours delay once in a while on Air Asia? Piece of cake!

I disagree with the point I think you're trying to make. I don't see any particular reason why those things even should be said. I believe most people would assume those things without a need to verbalize them. Apparently the man already had a speedy recovery since, according to a post above, he already has been seen in Sunee Plaza again. People, including me, want to know what happened and why it happened. So many of us go to Sunee Plaza that this story is of interest and, since the media has provided only minimal detail, speculation about what may have happened is perfectly normal and understandable.

When you get right down to it, is there really a soi around Sunee Plaza that isn't a Soi Ya Ba?

That sounds better every time I hear it . . . They could introduce happy hour prices, have contests or drawings for free offs or drinks, do what Monty did and have either free or discounted off fees after certain hours, and probably many different ideas. Simply lowering the music volume would get me to come in a lot more often. I'm sure there are plenty of things the bars can do to attract more customers rather than watch them walk right by.

From where to where?

I agree. Apparently Pascal understands exactly the same thing we've been talking about. If you want to attract customers during hard times, then offer incentives and reduced prices. Once word of these prices and the quality of the menu begins to circulate, reservations will likely be a must. If some of the bars would figure out the same thing, they wouldn't be in trouble.

Casa Pascal is now offering their "Fantastic Set Menu" at very reasonable prices. Click the link to view the menu:

Now, how could anyone possibly resist your ass? It must have taken all the will power the guy could muster.

Honest Gems really is honest too. They quite often contribute very valuable jewelery to PGF for use in the raffles during the PGF dinners.

I was not able to find out anything more. The people I asked either knew nothing more than what's in the media or they didn't even know this had happened (so they say). Although it could very well be, I doubt that this man was attacked, especially to the degree he was attacked, just for the fun of it. I believe there is more to the story. There is a more complete story, with photos, on the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS site. see: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000008071

I also find it difficult to believe. What are they going to do, put tens of thousands of protesters on trial and jail them all? Fine them all? How will they enforce collection of such fines? I think the Prime Minister is probably blowing smoke. If it wasn't for these protests and the PAD he wouldn't even be Prime Minister. He would still be someone most of the world never heard of. The way things seem to work in Thailand, I find it hard to believe he would turn on his supporters. The Red Shirts certainly don't support him. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turns out he discussed this with the PAD leaders before ever making his public statement. I have a feeling it's similar to inviting someone to a party only because you know he won't come. I think he's saying this to try to score points with the Red Shirts. Later, when nothing happens, he'll be able to say, "Oh well, at least I tried." Of course, now the Red Shirts are planning some protests of their own. They have already been warned by the military. I wonder what will happen if they try to start taking over buildings, airports, or whatever. As far as I'm concerned, as long as they don't take over Pattayaland or Sunee Plaza, let them do what they want . . .

That's true. I missed that point. Still, unless the media follows up we can only guess. I would like to know if this man somehow provoked the attack or if he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'd also like to know just where in Sunee Plaza the attack actually occurred. I expect to be in the Sunee Plaza area this evening. I'll see if I can find out anything more.

A charitable effort, sponsored by Oscar's bar, Boyz Boyz Boyz, Panorama Pub. and The Balcony Bangkok, is an annual affair known as the Teddybear Picnic. All stuffed toy donations will be sent to the following on December 22: Jing Jai Orphanage The Camillians - Rayong School for the Blind You can see the 'picnic' at Oscar's bar in Boyztown, Pattaya and if you have any stuffed animals to personally donate, it would be greatly appreciated. -photos by Nai

At 2:30am? I have a feeling it is going to turn out to be something that stemmed from either the farang cheating a boy or insulting the wrong person. Maybe the media will actually publish a follow-up for a change so that we'll know.

The following two stories appear in THE NATION: _____ PAD Protesters 'must face legal action' By WORANAREE KOSAJAN THE NATION Published on December 20, 2008 On his first day at Government House as prime minister yesterday, Abhisit Vejjajiva said the protesters who had besieged government offices and blockaded Bangkok's two commercial airports should be held legally accountable for their actions. "With every incident that has happened, we must uphold the rule of law," Abhisit told reporters at Government House. The People's Alliance for Democracy protesters included Democrat MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon, who is one of the PAD leaders. Abhisit said he had told Somkiat not to use his position as an MP to gain immunity. It has been almost four months since a prime minister - Samak Sundaravej - has been able to work at Government House. His successor Somchai Wongsawat was unable to do so at all, due to the PAD's occupation of the compound. In an attempt to oust the People Power Party-led government, the PAD occupied Government House for almost 100 days from late August. It only left the compound early this month. Yesterday was set as "Big Cleaning Day" for the seat of government. The PAD protesters also blockaded Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports for eight days last month, dispersing on December 3. The blockade of the airports is estimated to have caused huge financial damage to Airports of Thailand, airlines and other operators, besides leaving about 350,000 tourists stranded. ____________________ Red Shirts Plan Dec 28 Rally in Sanam Luang By THE NATION Published on December 20, 2008 First Army Commander Warns Participants Against Further Chaos A rally of pro-Thaksin red shirts has been planned for Sanam Luang on December 28, eve of the day the new government is scheduled to declare its policy statement before Parliament. Veera Musigapong, co-host of the "Truth Today" talk show and leader of the red shirts, said yesterday the Cabinet of Abhisit Vejjajiva had no legitimacy to run the country and that many of his likely Cabinet members were unacceptable. "We are calling for a large rally on December 28 at Sanam Luang. It's because we have no trust in this government from the beginning. We will call on this government to dissolve the House of Representatives as soon as it completes announcing its policy statement before Parliament," he said. Veera said it remained undecided whether the protesters would move on to Parliament, where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will read out his policy statement before the House. Also he said protest leaders had not yet decided whether to continue the rally for a long period. Veera said his group found that certain likely members of the new Cabinet were unacceptable. Democrat MP Kasit Piromya, tipped to become foreign minister, was involved with the People's Alliance for Democracy, which illegally occupied Government House for months before seizing Bangkok's two airports, he said. First Army commander Lt-General Kanit Sapithak, yesterday warned against "creating more confusion in the country", saying differences of views were common in a democracy but that they should not develop into chaos. "Our country has experienced confusion and much damage. Now our democracy is going ahead … In addition to making ourselves and our families happy, we must also make sure there is peace in the country," he said. Yesterday 300 red shirts laid siege to the Dusit police station to demand release of Chokchai Kamlue, arrested for damaging vehicles and injuring MPs on the day the House voted to select a new prime minister. The protesters also blocked a road near the police station with taxis. They accused police of unfair treatment for failing to get tough with the yellow-shirts, referring to followers of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy. Station superintendent Police Colonel Chakrapap Sukontharat told the crowd the man was in court detention at the time. The officer showed them a document to convince the protesters, who later dispersed. A group of 200 red shirts also gathered at the state-run NBT channel to demand why "Truth Today" had been replaced by other programmes for a few days. Suriyong Hunthasan, director of NBT, explained that although the "Truth Today" producers' contract had a month to go, station management saw a need to broadcast other programmes in the prime-time slot from time to time. In Chiang Mai, Kanyaphak Maneechak, a local leader of the red shirts, said that some 800 would today protest at the house of Chiang Mai MP Norapol Tantimontri, who recently voted to support Democrat leader Abhisit as new PM. Norapol said he had some business in Bangkok today but that his family would welcome the protesters with food and drink in his absence.

Where is Mike's?

Calif. AG Urges Court to Void Gay Marriage Ban SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The California attorney general has changed his position on the state's new same-sex marriage ban and is now urging the state Supreme Court to void Proposition 8. Jerry Brown filed a brief Friday saying the measure that amended the California Constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman is unconstitutional. He says it deprives gay couples of a fundamental right. After California voters passed Proposition 8 on Nov. 4, Brown said he would fight to uphold the initiative in his role as attorney general, even though he personally voted against it. He submitted his brief in one of the three legal challenges to Proposition 8 brought by same-sex marriage supporters. ____________________ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to nullify the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that outlawed gay unions. The Yes on 8 campaign filed a brief arguing that because the new law holds that only marriages between a man and a woman are recognized or valid in California, the state can no longer recognize the existing same-sex unions. The document reveals for the first time that opponents of same-sex marriage will fight in court to undo those unions that already exist. "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions," reads the brief co-written by Kenneth Starr, dean of Pepperdine University's law school and the former independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton. The campaign submitted the document in response to three lawsuits seeking to invalidate Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment adopted last month that overruled the court's decision in May that had legalized gay marriage in the nation's most populous state. Both Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose office is scheduled to submit its own brief to the court Friday, and gay rights groups maintain that the gay marriage ban may not be applied retroactively. The Supreme Court could hear arguments in the litigation as soon as March. The measure's backers announced Friday that Starr, a former federal judge and U.S. solicitor general, had signed on as their lead counsel and would argue the cases. Proposition 8's supporters assert that the Supreme Court lacks the authority or historical precedent to throw out the amendment. "For this court to rule otherwise would be to tear asunder a lavish body of jurisprudence," the court papers state. "That body of decisional law commands judges — as servants of the people — to bow to the will of those whom they serve — even if the substantive result of what people have wrought in constitution-amending is deemed unenlightened." The cases are Strauss v. Horton, S168047; City and County of San Francisco v. Horton, S168078; and Tyler v. State of California, S168066.