Gaybutton

bump

I have not tried it. That's because every report I've heard about it, to put it as gently as possible, was less than positive.

I was doing some web surfing this morning and happened upon a web site I think many of you will find interesting. Check it out: http://www.thailandvideos.net

It's hard to say. If they consider the photos pornographic, then you could have a problem. If they think any of the photos are of anyone under-age, then you could have a problem. Even if the photos are acceptable to them, you could still wind up on some kind of a shit list or subjected to humiliating questioning. Maybe you ought to be one of the people who Email's the photos to himself and wipes them from the computer or just wipe them and forget about them.

Here is the text of the PATTAYA ONE story. See ReneThai's link above for photos. The article says two boys were arrested, but looking at the photos, it sure looks like more than just two boys to me. Anyway, here's the article: _____ Sunee Plaza Underage Bar Workers Detained Following Police Raid Soi Sunee Plaza in South Pattaya is an area notorious for underage male bar workers who will sell themselves to foreign patrons, many of which are fully aware that they are employing the services of minors. Police and District officials are constantly raiding bars in the area and on Friday Night a further raid took place. This time, Police Lieutenant Colonel Chockchai, the Deputy Chief of the Crimes against Child and Women Division based at Chonburi Police Headquarters conducted a raid of the Villa Rouge Bar. Two boys aged 14 and 15 were found to be working inside and they, along with the nominated manager for the night, Khun Samat aged 19 were taken to Pattaya Police Station. A full report of the incident will be sent to the Banglamung District Licensing Unit who may decide to impose a temporary or permanent closure order on the bar.

The problem is a few bars that flagrantly violate the laws and regulations. Some of these bars hire many under-age boys. Some have boys who they know are on drugs, likely buying and selling too. Some bars put on illegal sex shows. Fortunately it is only a very few bars that do this. You don't have a problem even if you are in one of these bars if a raid occurs. The police are not after you unless you're a pedophile. They're after the bars that continue to flout the law. If the bars won't put an end to it, these raids will continue to occur. But you do not have to worry about being arrested.

I don't understand why you told them that. Why didn't you just say you don't have those sorts of things with you? It would be the truth. Why volunteer anything else? It's one thing to be searched, but why do their job for them? The part I don't get is what these searches are supposed to reveal in the first place. I would think that anyone who is knowingly carrying illegal files in their computer, illegal photos, or whatever else, would simply Email those files to themselves or place them on some sort of a storage web site and retrieve them later upon entering the USA or any other country. That way, those kinds of files wouldn't even be on the computer at all. If they were really concerned that a thorough search could reveal files that were deleted, I would think after finding some way to get those files later, via an Email download or something, they would just buy a new hard drive and shit-can the old one before traveling.

Whenever I go to an ATM, I always make sure there are plenty of other people in close proximity. I don't know whether that is a deterrent of whether I have just been lucky, but so far I have never had anything happen to me. To my way of thinking, not that it can't happen, but the odds are far more in my favor that someone won't point a gun in my face when there are many other people right there than if there was nobody else there. I also try to avoid using an ATM at night. Still, with so many kids on these goddamned drugs, you never know how crazy they might be. I'd rather use a drive-up ATM, but so far in Thailand I've never seen any.

I was just informed that the police raided the Villa Rouge bar (formerly known as Kaos) last night. The bar had only recently reopened after being closed by the police during the last raid. I was not in Sunee last night, so I have no details yet. All I know, so far, is that a raid took place. I don't know if other bars were also raided and I don't know if Villa Rouge was shut down yet again. If anyone else has the details and can post them before I am able to get the details, please do.

I don't know if this helps anything, but those of you concerned about seating might want to have a look at the following web site: http://www.seatguru.com

As long as you're happy with it, that's fine. I see no reason why you should have to explain or justify yourself to anyone.

I can't help you in Bangkok, but if you come down to Pattaya I'll be glad to help you here, at least as far as showing you around and the gay scene. However, I may be much older, but I am definitely not the submissive man you want. You're on your own as far as that goes.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/42186.html _____ McClatchy Washington Bureau Posted on Wed, Jun. 25, 2008 U.S. Border Agents Copying Contents of Travelers' Laptops Federica Narancio | McClatchy Newspapers WASHINGTON — U.S. border agents are copying and seizing the contents of laptops, cell phones and digital cameras from U.S. and foreign travelers entering the United States, witnesses told a Senate subcommittee Wednesday. The extent of this practice is unknown despite requests to the Department of Homeland Security from the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution and several nonprofit agencies. The department also declined to send a representative to the hearing. Subcommittee Chairman Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said Homeland Security had told him that its "preferred" witness was unavailable Wednesday. Feingold added that he'd submitted written questions about the seizures of electronic data — and of some devices — to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff in April. To date, Feingold said, he's gotten no reply. Chertoff's department provided a written statement that said it wasn't its intention to infringe on Americans' privacy but to protect the country from terrorists and criminals, whose electronic devices can reveal incriminating materials. During border searches of laptops, according to the statement, the department's Customs and Border Protection officers have found "jihadist material, information about cyanide and nuclear material, video clips of improvised explosive devices being exploded, pictures of various high-level al Qaida officials and other material associated with people seeking to do harm to U.S. and its citizens." Jayson Ahern, the deputy commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, signed the statement. Some witnesses noted that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco had ruled in a recent child-pornography case that federal agents could seize a laptop computer at the border without reasonable suspicion that its owner was engaged in unlawful activities. However, several witnesses said that the ruling, by the most liberal of U.S. appeals courts, didn't end their concerns about Homeland Security's refusal to explain the standards for its searches, how it protects privacy, how the seized material is used and who can see or use it. Three nonprofits — the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Asian Law Caucus and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives — filed a Freedom of Information Act request last year seeking Homeland Security's answers to those questions. They've gotten none thus far. They and other groups consider seizures made without probable cause to be an invasion of privacy that leaves the door open to ethnic and racial profiling. Farhana Khera, the president of Muslim Advocates, a San Francisco nonprofit, said they'd received complaints from Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans. She said they also had been questioned about their political, religious and personal views. Retaining confidential computer files also worries business travelers and companies, said Susan Gurley, the executive director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, an international group based in Alexandria, Va.. Her organization surveyed its 2,500 members in February, Gurley said. Of 100 respondents, seven said border agents had seized their laptops or their files. Four out of five, she said, were unaware that border agents could seize their electronic data and devices. McClatchy Newspapers 2008

Wow, what a choice to have to make! As many of you know, one of my favorite restaurants is Cherry's. Recently, Cherry's moved to their new location around the corner from their previous location. We've tried it a few times already and it is just as marvelous as it was in their former location. Now, Khun Wi, the former manager of Cherry's has opened his own restaurant. Where? The former location of Cherry's on Third Road, across from the X-Zyte Disco. Geezer and I tried it last night and it was fabulous! The food is superb and the service is excellent. Khun Wi is a marvelous host and he makes sure you are well pleased. I spoke to Khun Wi and asked why he never said anything to us about opening his own restaurant. He said part of the agreement he had made with Cherry's was not to say anything about it until Cherry's completed their move and opened. He said it took him a week or so to be ready to open, and he did a soft opening. His kitchen staff is the old Cherry's staff. They stayed with Khun Wi rather than move to the new Cherry's location. The menu at Wi's Restaurant (that's the name of the restaurant) is virtually identical to the old Cherry's menu. That's good! I'm a firm believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and nothing about this restaurant or its menu needed fixing. The price for the nightly set menu has been raised by 70 baht to 495 baht, but it now includes a glass of your choice of a red or white wine. We tried the red wine and it was very good. When you read the flier, notice that Wi's Restaurant is offering a 10% discount until October 1. We received the discount last night. Meanwhile, just around the corner is Cherry's, also wonderful. It's going to be difficult to choose which restaurant to go to. We've pretty much decided that we'll probably alternate. Last night we at at Wi's Restaurant. Next time will be Cherry's. Then Wi's. Then Cherry's, and so on. What a choice! Two fabulous restaurants, both within about 150 feet of each other! The photos were taken at Cherry's, the new location. The flier is Wi's Restaurant.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Bangkok Airways to Launch Web Check-in Service By Jirapan Boonnoon The Nation Published on June 26, 2008 To improve the quality of services and ensure a smooth ride for passengers, Bangkok Airways will launch a Web-based check-in service in July. Bangkok Airways' Information System Department vice president Ping Na Thalang said the company will provide the service to passengers who do not have any check-in baggage. Such passengers will be able to get their boarding passes without having to go to the check-in counters at the airport. He said passengers can avail the services by logging on to http://www.bangkokairways.com. They can buy e-tickets, select seats and check-in to receive boarding passes over the Internet. The boarding passes can then be printed with the barcode. Passengers can check-in over the Web 48 hours before a flight's departure. The airline plans to launch the service for passengers traveling from Koh Samui airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport before expanding it to cover 23 more destinations. It also plans to provide services through smartphones in the future.

You might try asking people who actually live in Pattaya, rather than relying on the advice of those who don't live here and know only what they've heard. Yes, the dental clinic at Bangkok-Pattaya is excellent. No doubt about it. It is also much more expensive than going to a good local dental clinic. I am going to suggest the dental clinic I use. You know why? Because several of the dentists who practice there are the same dentists you'll find at Bangkok-Pattaya. That's right, the same ones. They have more than just the one practice. You can get their services at Bangkok-Pattaya or you can also get the same service from them at their local clinics for about half the price. I recommend the Modern Smile dental clinic. Their web site is http://www.modernsmiledental.com . I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. By the way, my father was a dentist, so I have a pretty good idea what to look for in a dental office. That's another reason why I recommend the Modern Smile clinic.

Then I suggest staying that way. An old Rodney Dangerfield joke was, "My wife and I were happy for 30 years. Then we met."

Just leave that part blank or put in the name and address of he hotel at which you will stay.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find all these piercings and tattoos very un-attractive? A small tattoo here and there and a pierced ear doesn't really bother me, but some of these boys have very large sets of tattoos and have everything that can be pierced, pierced. Pierced eyebrows, pierced noses, pierced tongues, pierced bellybuttons, pierced about halfway between the lower lip and chin. You name it, it's pierced. Do you find that attractive?

Absolutely right. So, readers, no need to let the article frighten you, but if I were you and I was even contemplating the possibility of retiring in Thailand or otherwise ever needing a Thai bank account here, then if you don't already have one I would make sure to open a Thai bank account during the next trip, before the regulations change to the point that it is extremely difficult to impossible.

THE NATION is running a series of articles about financial information for foreigners and expats. The first article in the series appeared today and subsequent articles will be published weekly. The first is about bank accounts for foreigners. Unless things have dramatically changed, I disagree with part of this first article. The article is making it seem as if foreigners who have no work permit or enter without at least a Type "O" visa won't be allowed to open a Thai bank account anywhere. As far as my experience tells me, that is simply not correct. I know of one friend who opened a bank account at Siam Commercial bank, without at Type "O" visa, as recently as just a few weeks ago. Also, it would make no sense, even by Thai standards, to create a Catch-22 situation for those who wish to apply for the retirement visa. You can't get the retirement visa without a Thai bank account. The article can be interpreted as saying you can't open a Thai bank account without a retirement visa. If you are worried about it, just remember that you can walk into one branch office for just about any Thai bank and be told one thing, and told something entirely different in another branch office for the same bank. I'll try to remember to put them on the board each week, but if you don't want to wait for me, here is the URL: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/06/26...ss_30076519.php _____ Bank Accounts for Foreigners Published on June 26, 2008 A look at the qualification criteria at various institutions and the documents you need Expatriates living and working in Thailand need to conduct financial transactions such as opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, money transfers, investment and insurance. But due to their foreign status there are some transactions they cannot undertake. The Nation has gathered information on what expatriates can and cannot do in terms of products offered by local financial institutions. Let's begin with a truly fundamental product - the bank account. Foreigners are classified into four groups: permanent residents in Thailand, foreigners with a work permit, foreigners with a long-stay visa (non-immigrant) such as international students, and foreigners with a tourist visa. The first group are foreigners who live in Thailand. They are supposed to show an alien certificate and copy of their house registration for identity verification. The second group needs to show a passport and a work permit. In general, Thai commercial banks require a work permit and a passport to open a savings account, current account and fixed-deposit account. For example, Siam Commercial Bank and Bank of Ayudhya require a minimum work-permit period of six months. Kasikornbank requires the same but if a foreigner has no work permit, they must show a document which confirms that their stay in Thailand is for at least three months. Foreigners with these required documents are qualified to open bank accounts and hold a debit or ATM card. However, there are still many foreigners who have no work permit, such as foreign students who hold a long-stay visa. Therefore, they need to hand in confirmation documents from their colleges. A foreigner with no work permit is supposed to supply any additional documents that a bank may require, before it decides whether to approve the application. Among the large banks, only Bangkok Bank allows foreigners with tourist visas to open a savings account and provides debit-card access at any ATM nationwide. However, applications from this category are considered on a case-by-case basis and tourists must stay at least 180 days in the Kingdom. Foreigners who enter Thailand via an on-arrival visa - valid for 30 days - will not be considered. A Bangkok Bank savings account requires a minimum initial deposit of Bt500, plus a Bt100 joining fee and Bt150-Bt200 annually for an ATM card. A current account, which allows customers to use cheques, requires a much higher minimum initial deposit of Bt10,000. However, very few retailers in Thailand accept cheques, except when there is an established relationship with the customer. Fixed-deposit accounts require a minimum initial deposit of Bt1,000-Bt2,000 and customers can choose from a range of periods, such as three months, six months or one year. Right now, Bangkok Bank is keen to expand its expatriate customer base. It is, therefore, inviting Immigration Bureau staff to train its employees on the basic rules on classifying foreigners into various visa and work-permit categories.

BUY 1, FLY 2" PROMOTION MARKS THAI AIRWAYS 48TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS The special offer which marks the company‘s 48th anniversary is valid between 25 June and 30 September 2008 with return tickets valid for 3 months from the date of the commencing journey. Thai Airways International has launched a "Buy 1, Fly 2" promotion. The special deal is available to Royal First and Royal Silk travelers and even includes full Royal Orchid Plus mileage accumulation on both tickets. Under the "Buy 1, Fly 2" promotion, passengers who buy one international ticket from Bangkok to all cities in Europe, Japan and Korea, Johannesburg, Auckland, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Taipei between 25 June and 30 September 2008, will receive a free second ticket for the same class of travel. As an added incentive, full Royal Orchid Plus mileage accumulation is accrued on both tickets in Royal First and Royal Silk Class travel through this special deal. Travelers must commence travel together, outbound from Bangkok on the same flight from 1 July to 30 September 2008. The return tickets are valid for 3 months from the date of commencing the journey. Travelers can however return separately and the journey must be completed by 31 December 2008.

Ok, Payless. I just received an Email from you and I was correct in my assumption about it being the user name Jens has on Gay Romeo. I did have a look, but I don't recognize him. I've never seen him before. Then, again, it's been a long time since I ate at the News Cafe.

Payless, I see you sent me a PM. I am guessing you are trying to tell me the user name for Jens on Gay Romeo. Haven't you seen the numerous posts I've written saying that I cannot access PMs? That's why I specifically asked that you contact me by Email. Again, my Email address is gaybutton@gmail.com Folks, for the umpteenth time, I CANNOT ACCESS PMs. Those of you who still insist on sending me a PM instead of an Email, I will not be able to read your PM. I've said this several times, but people keep sending me PMs anyway.

It certainly doesn't stop the pedophiles. I wish I had a dollar for every Email I've received over the years from people who came to Thailand a grand total of once, were overwhelmed by the gay bars, and without knowing or understanding anything at all about how things work here were all set to open a gay bar themselves. That's not rose colored glasses. That's more on the order of total dumbass, thinking they'll make a fortune and will also have their own personal harem. Obviously, the poor guy mentioned in the article was clueless and was convinced that smiles and promises of sincerity was all he needed. He risked everything he had on that basis, left himself with nothing and no means of retreat, and lost. I get inquiries all the time, ranging from how to open a business to how to get a visa for a boy to come to his home country to live with him. It's just incredible sometimes. Business is business here and it's just as ruthless as anywhere else. If someone can find a way to fuck you out of everything you have, rest assured that's exactly what will happen. One of the most common horror stories is when a farang falls in love with a Thai boy, fully trusts him, spends a fortune opening a business for him, puts everything in the boy's name, gives the boy total control, and then ends up heartbroken, broke, and bewildered when the boy dumps him and screws him out of everything. I've heard so many such stories, along with variations on the same theme, that I can't even remember them all. I won't say that it never works out well. Sometimes the boy is really sincere and he and the farang do successfully make a go of it, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Which do you think happens more often? Then there are the farang who let themselves get sucked into a relationship with a boy, and then end up posting messages complaining that now they find themselves supporting not only the boy, but the family too, and asking how can they get out of it. Thailand might be the Land of Smiles, but all too often those smiles are on the faces of con artists, liars, cheats, and completely unscrupulous people. If you don't know what you're getting into and don't have competent legal help and advice, then Thailand is the wrong place for you to be other than on a holiday or enjoying the retired life.