Bob

Yep, could kick myself for not knowing a couple of those. I think I have a brain strain.

I don't know how it works either but, when I'm in a bar (not often), I leave a tip for the bar with the folder and, if I'm tipping a particular kid, I give it directly to him (and make it clear that it's his tip).

This are getting harder!

Could be a lot of answers to this one. Besides GB's answer, they're all English words, all are six letters, and, if you place the first letter at the end and spell it backwards, it's the same word. Hopefully we're not missing a more obvious answer.

I actually knew them. Have used the first two in trivia games with others for 30-40 years. Was aware of the King's favorite dog's name from seeing the book and reading an article in the Chiangmai Mail (I think) about it.

Yup. If I would have remember Meadows, I probably would have guessed old "Alice's" name. Pow, right to the moon! Answers to the three I posed: 1. Alexander the Great's horse - Bucephulus (thought one of you would have got that one). 2. Hannibal's elephant was named Sura (learned that in junior high and it stumps everybody). 3. Rama IX's favorite dog was Tongdaeng (which means "copper" in English). A few years back, he published a book about the dog and the book set some publishing records in Thailand. By the way, I'm guessing that "Tong" must mean "metal" as I know that "daeng" means "red" (well, actually "see deang").

I can actually picture her - with her big mouth and tons of makeup - but can't figure the name. Jayne something? Don't have a clue about the sister.

I would have answered "Show of Shows" too....so am wondering what the right answer is there. As to the ones unaswered: 1. Damn. There was Lieutenant Trager but I think he was the lead cop. Then there was Paul Drake, Perry's investigator. Oh! Paul Hamilton. (geez, the brain does eventually recall some things). No, not sure of the first name there. Something Hamilton? Oh....Hamilton Burger? 4. Hell, I would have said Jack Paar too. So I guess I don't know that one. 5. Hawaii Five O. 9. Milton Berle (and I really never liked him). (and maybe that's why I still don't like ladyboy shows...haha) (I wouldn't have known #6)

God you guys must be ancient (i.e., I don't have a clue about Ecomcon and I didn't know any of the regulars on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade - although I sorta remember that name). Ok, given your birthdates are likely only slightly after the beginning of AD (anno domini), try these two (which I usually can stump people with): 1. What was the name of Alexender the Great's horse? 2. What was the name of Hannibal's elephant? And, closer to home, what is the name of the King of Thailand's favorite dog?

Sounds like "voodoo"* to me..... *I believe the word voodoo would fit in this list....

I disagree. The actual correct pronunciation of "falang/farang" is with both an "l" and an "r" sound (actually it's half way between). I've never heard anybody (other than foreigners) pronounce it as fah-rang. I don't think it's any coincidence that the various language books alternate the spelling between falang and farang - it's just because they pick the spelling that sounds more like what they heard (and it's difficult to distinguish). I also disagree with the concept of "bad Thai." "Krap" may be good Bangkokian Thai but it's not how it's pronounced in the north or northeast. It's not the north's problem that the flatlanders don't know how to pronounce it correctly.

Cigarettes, of course (I smoked Carlton until earlier this friggin' year....haven't been able to find them since). Those cigarettes of the 50's and 60's were some pretty nasty smokes (not that the newer ones are all that healthy, of course). Anybody who smoked Camels or Lucky Strikes without filters had hair in places that other people didn't even have the places....

Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any solution for Thailand. It's just too damn endemic to the whole system. I've read a few histories of Thailand and many have referred to the patronage system started by the first kings as how official and endemic corruption got it's start. The king had no money to pay somebody to govern an outlying territory so he sent surrogates to rule those areas and to collect taxes for him - with the deal being that the collector got to keep a percentage of the take. And they've been taking their "percentage" ever since then. For the cops, the only way to start to try to improve that situation is to pay them a decent salary. But they don't and the cops, to live, really have no choice but to supplement their official salaries with tea money. I'd bet quite a lot that the vast majority of cops make a hell of lot more from unofficial sources than from their government-paid salaries.

Ice = meth = crank = crystal = yaabaa. Thai yaabaa (which litterally means crazy medicine)is just another name for the methampetamine called speed or any of the names listed above. Use of yaabaa in Thailand is rampant. College kids in Chiangmai and Khon Kaen have told me it's fairly widely used even at the universities and bar kids have told me it's in wide use by a lot of the bar boys. And, while I can't remember what I was told about the cost, it really wasn't very expensive. How to tell if somebody is using it? I doubt if you can unless you see them take it. The only classic sign I'm aware of is if you know somebody that goes through long periods (sometimes multiple days) without any sleep. Or, if their pupils are wide enough to drive a bus through, that's a fairly sure sign their high on something.

Okay, owe ya 2 baht. But did you look that up? I knew the name but would have spelled it differently. Ok, another 2 baht question. Remember the television show "Sky King?" What was the name of his daughter on the show? And what was the name of his airplane?

They're probably screwed no matter what they choose to do. They could send a letter to the cops and tell them not to extort money from people arrested at their shops (yea, that'll work - not!) or they could simply choose never to prosecute shoplifting by foreigners. Actually, the second option is probably the cheapest option for them as they'll probably lose a lot more money because of reduced sales caused by the publicity implying that the shops are in on the extortion scam*. *Which, of course, is possible but there doesn't seem to be an evidence of that yet.

Nah, I'm a clown....but you're right, the first Clarabelle was the Captain. Okay....what was the name of Pat Brady's jeep in the Roy Roger's television show? Two baht for this answer.

Back to Geezer's original post, I don't believe there is any problem with the airport shops (at least none that I'm aware of). The problem occurs after the person is caught shoplifting and the alleged extortion is occuring afterwards by the cops who arrest the person. Kingpower is so pissed off that its reputation is being smeared that it posted explanatory letters - and the actual videos of the shopliftings - on its website. As it notes, they can't be responsible for what happens after a shoplifter is arrested. An article in the Bangkok post seems to say the same thing - the problem is with the crooked cops extorting a payoff after the person is arrested.

Okay, I have a trivia question for you old geezers (and don't be looking it up). Speaking of Howdy Doody, who was the first person to play Clarabelle the Clown? Hint: his first name was Bob.

Z909's "assumption" is the general rule. While there are always exceptions to probably any rule, let's face it: young people by and large have no desire to hook up with much older people. But,of course, money does make it happen more often than it would occur naturally.

Hey, I resent that! (resenting, of course, that I would remember anything and conceding the old fart part....). I simply guessed on #6,#12, and #19, and wasn't sure of those answers. #10 probably doesn't have only one answer (so I just "eenie, minie, moed" that one). I am currently only "hoksip" so I actually may be much younger than you two older farts!

The way I heard it is you kept pouring your drinks over your hand....so as to get your date drunk...

Okay, I'll try:

I was going to suggest that given that a lot of the bars insist that they wear briefs. By "normal guy", I'm presuming that you meant "non-bar" guy. While the bar boys may not be in the normal or usual profession, many of them surely don't seem abnormal to me.

My Chiangmai bf wears both - boxers with briefs (usually small ones) underneath. And I'd have to guess that more than half of the other guys I've seen in the last ten years also have worn boxers with briefs or boxers alone (although I will have to admit that my extra-curricular experiences in the last 10 years have involved less than 10 guys).