Bob

I guess I misread that, GB. And, for the record, I'm not trying to pick on lvdkeyes as he seems to be a reasonable guy. Still, though, a fair suggestion for those who question the pricing of the dinners.

I've attended a few PGF events when, in the past, I was in the Pattaya area but, frankly, I'm rarely near the place as I hang out in other parts of Thailand when I'm in country. And I'm on record for praising a lot of the work that the PGF (and the Heartt program) has done. But I must admit that my hackles stand up when I hear posters expressly or impliedly bitching on a public board about which charity is being benefitted, that the dinners cost too much, or whatever. It seems to me (just my opinion and it's worth what you're paying for it) that, if you're supporting the concept of the PGF and you don't like something they're doing (which charity they benefit, how they set up the dinners, cost, or whatever), then go to one of the PGF meetings and express your opinion. If, however, you really have no involvement in the PGF, then I'm not sure you really have any right to question anything they do. Maybe I'm off base but I've always thought that purpose of the PGF in these various events is twofold: to provide some good charitable works and to benefit the gay venues participating. Presuming that's the case, I do hope that the gay venues make a profit or at least break even on these various events so the charitable work will continue. At the end of the day, all that counts to me is that the charities are benefitted. Presuming I was involved in the PGF meetings and decisions (and I'm not), then I'd hope there would be a spirited debate as to how best to raise the funds for charity. And, if I thought we'd raise more money by letting the gay venues make a handsome profit, I'd vote for that; however, if it appeared that you could raise just as much money or more by hard bargaining with the gay venues as to what they could make, then I'd vote for that. However they've decided to do it - and it's natural, I suppose, that the gay venues that make up the leadership of PGF have a separate motive to make some money in these hard times - the whole program certainly has worked a lot of good over the years. I thought GB's suggestion to lvdkeyes, given he had a question as to why Amor was charging so much, that he go talk to Richard at Amor was eminently fair - and probably a little more courteous to Richard than simply saying on this forum that what he is doing is overpriced. Saying that talking to the owners will get you nowhere is just a bit of negative guesswork when you haven't made the easy effort to simply talk to Richard or any of the owners involved.

My guess he'd want to go shopping! hehe

I'd wonder if you'd explain the mortgage foreclosure process in Thailand. Most countries have a process that takes from several months to over a year for a bank to end up with ownership after a default but I have no clue how Thai law works (or doesn't work). You seem to somehow be aware that the process is just automatic so I'd appreciate hearing how you know it works that way.

Just a couple of suggestions: (1) Opinions are fine; however, suggesting the entire world is waiting with bated breath for the super reporter to give us the real truth just might be a bit of wishful thinking. If you're not LMTU, you're a clone. (2) A little editing and use of recognizable English characters might help. Sorry for the interruption, carry on.

I do the same type of recycling but not enough. It's admirable that individuals do their part but, frankly, the problem won't be solved or significantly lessened until the government steps in and bans the use of non-biodegradable bags and packaging. Unfortunately, plastic bags are strewn all over Thailand.

As I noted several times in the past, GB's furnishing of a ton of information was one of the reasons I enjoyed his prior website. A huge array of helpful articles, etc. No big deal but the number 9 is actually pronounced "gao" (pronouncing the "g" similar to the English word "get") with a falling tone. "Kao" with a falling tone is the Thai word for rice. I've really only begun (minimally) to learn the tones this year and, as GB notes, 95% of the time the Thais will understand you from the context even if you get the tone wrong. Trying to learn the tones will drive many of us nuts as our ears aren't tuned to that. English-speaking people do use tones occasionally but we don't mentally think about it as tones. For example, if somebody said something to you about a "chair" and you didn't hear them right and then asked "chair?", notice that you're using a rising tone with that word. Those little nuances end up meaning different things in Thai. For example: kao - with a falling tone means "rice" kao - with a low tone means "knee" kao - with a high tone means "he" or "she" kao - with a rising tone means the color "white" (although you often add the modifier "see kao") But....and this ought to make you think of English....Thai also has words that are pronounced the same that mean different things (in English, think of the words two, to, too). Kao with a falling tone also means "to enter". I tried to study the tones before but never picked up on them. I tried to simply remember that "kao" with a falling tone meant rice but that method of learning never worked for me. Now, I pay attention when learning a word as to how it sounds...and "kao" with a falling tone really does sound different than "kao" with a rising tone.

I thought the point was rather obvious (I have no tattoos nor will I ever have one).

If there is such a thing as an invisible and painless tatoo, then I might be a candidate; otherwise, not!

Think you answered your own question. Presuming he's younger than 30, he likely won't give a hoot about something safe (an investment or the like) and probably won't like it if he can't do with it what he wants. Sorry, nature of the beast.

As I noted before, 1-2-Call (or however you spell that) offers packages of time good for a year. I know, I bought 1200 minutes in February and still have about 800 minutes left. Doing it this way eliminates the expiration period for most and the need to top off all the time (whether to extend minutes or otherwise).

Hedda, like others, simply champion free speech - and that's their right to do so. But even totally free speech comes with a cost. Moderation or lack of moderation leads to certain results. In reality, it colors and defines a board. This board and Ting Tong are moderated to some degree - and you can go there and make your own assessment of the value of the board, the type of posters who seem to post there, and the entertainment/information value. You can also do the same with the other boards that live/die by the "free speech" model. Even limited and reasonable moderation doesn't eliminate all disputes or disagreements - and that's fine; however, thankfully, it does in fact (my opinion) reduce the presence of trolls and total morons.

If (as the other poster said), Skype is .021 US cents per minute, you're math is a bit interesting...hehe. If the receiver of your call is on the internet and has MSN (now called Windows Live Messenger), Yahoo messenger (or whatever that's called), or Google Talk (which has remarkable voice clarity), the price is even better: it's free (well, not counting your normal isp charge).

The frustrating part is that it's always just a few jerks that spoil a board (when/if the moderators allow it - whether in the so-called name of "free speech" or not); unfortunately, because decent posters get weary of sparring with idiots, sometimes you end up with the idiots making a fairly high percentage of the posts. Moderation, at least in my view, makes a board more pleasant and palatable. This board and Ting Tong are the only two examples of reasonably moderated gay boards that I can think of at the moment.

I too use 1-2 Call while in Thailand. Seems relatively easy and inexpensive - especially the few calls I made back to the states. I can understand the repeated hassle of topping off all the time....so I bought 1200 minutes that were good for a year (don't remember the price but I think it was either 1100 or 1200 baht).

If/when I get the urge to exercise, I always go sit down until the urge passes.

Again, there's not enough bandwidth here (nor do I have the time) to lay out my thoughts in any coherent detail. But, in brief (and only covering a couple of points): (1) 63.21709%? Hopefully that's tongue in cheek. If so, funny; if not, you're one strange dude... (2) Had you stuck to biological facts (the notion that we humans do certain things that other animals do not), I wouldn't have been shocked as I was with your comments. You're now whitewashing your comments a bit to suggest that you weren't advocating anything. For example only, you rather clearly stated that assistance (to the handicapped, the economically deprived, and terminally ill) is not justified. Or, rather than paraphrase you, I'll quote you exactly: "The rationale behind this is the hope that, with sufficient time and support, one may overcome his weaknesses and stride productively among the strong. And on some rare occasions those practices work. But never with the regularity that would justify them." That sir, is not a statement of biological fact but purports to be a statement of your opinion. (3) While I don't agree with your assessment in the first place that only humans extend protections to the weakest members of society (there are myriad examples of mammals protecting the injured and weakest - sometimes youngest - of their troupes), it would seem to me that the difference we "homo sapiens" have with other life forms is the heightened ability to think and, simply, to be the "sapiens" (rational and wise) we name ourselves. I don't feel the need to justify (economically or otherwise) special protections and benefits we provide for the weakest among us as I believe it's a moral (or, perhaps better put, an ethical) imperative. It's what we do and, by and large, it's what sets us apart from lower animal forms. We safeguard kids because they don't have the capacity (physically or emotionally) to safeguard themselves, we provide for handicapped parking, we provide special education for the mentally challenged, etc. As I noted, I was so shocked by what you appeared to be saying that I went back and re-read it several times to make sure I didn't misread it (or failed to pick up some sarcasm or humor). I don't think I did.

Ok, I have no clue. Worked on it for 10 minutes and figured out the possible ( combinations that add up to 15. But don't have time to place those in the proper order....so enlighten me!

Absolutely amazing. Tdperhs, there is absolutely no way anybody can respond to the personal philosophy you lay out above without expending a lot of band width and engendering a lot of hostile thought. After re-reading your words three times, what crept into my mind repeatedly was the thinking emanating from the power levels of Germany of the 1930's. Rather than respond - it'll only create an unpleasant discussion - I simply want to say that I absolutely reject and disagree with many of your notions.

Absolutely right. The courts in my area that have set up the special drug courts have worked wonders - cleaned up a ton of lives and saved the taxpayers a wad of money by using incarceration a hell of a lot less. However, I've never seen any evidence that there is anyone compassionate or intelligent enough in the Thai system to even give it a try there.

You actually weigh all the stuff going in your suitcase?

Ah, come on, don't hold back, tell us how your really feel. As Bill Clinton used to say, I can feel your pain....hehe. I spent a day and a half in Sao Paulo Hospital (Hua Hin) earlier this year in a fairly decent private room....had 5 IV drips of various stuff, doctor visits, etc., and the entire bill when I left (which included several drug prescriptions they gave me from the hospital pharmacy when I left) was 12,888 baht (or about $379.00 US). Pretty damn cheap and the service was just fine. I've seen Chiangmai Ram in Chiangmai before in action (for friends) and that place too is quite acceptable (and relatively cheap).

I saw another post on another board this morning that said Patong Beach Bungalows was operating earlier this year; if so, maybe it's still open. Was a great location (right on the beach - and the gay section, minimal though it was, was right in front of it - and a reasonable walk to the gay venues) and had a pretty nice swimming pool too.

Sorry, Hedda, but that's make no sense at all to me. Who better to warn them than somebody who's been there and done that? They know the horrors all too well and often are much better positioned by their own history to spot the problem, be aware of the signs and pitfalls of relapse, and to provide advice that may be palatable (basically having a better idea of knowing what works and doesn't work). Some of our best anti-drug counselors in my area (the ones the local courts use) are former drug abusers. And everyone of the alcohol counselors that I know in our area are AA members themselves. If you're talking about hypocrisy (i.e., somebody currently using illegal drugs and trying to tell youngsters not to - especially if the kids are aware of the adviser's personal use), then I can understand your comment; otherwise, not.

When you refer to BUPA, I presume you're talking about BUPA Thailand. I reviewed their coverage and, part of that, I looked at their reimbursement form available on their website. Presuming your friend had in-hospital care/surgery, it looks to me that he only has to file one reimbursement form (there's a multiple line section for multiple bills) and an attending physician document (a separate form) as well as copies of the itemized bills. It didn't appear to me that he has to have separate reimbursement forms for each bill. I'd note that the international blue cross reimbursement form also has a section for multiple bills/providers so it looks like only one reimbursement form is needed. You can see the form on their international website.