Rogie

Show me an olive bar, my face twists into a just such an awful grimace as Koko's red-eyed Olive hero or perhaps more likely anti-hero but actually I love olives, perhaps I too have too much time on my hands to be writing this rubbish. As for learning Thai being a time killer, that's surely so, especially for older folks, but for those who're retired, a better 'waste of time' than lazing all afternoon on Jomtien beach moaning how things ain't what they used to be . . .

That must have been a huge event for many of Thailand's soccer (football) mad supporters. I expect many fans travelled into Bkk from far-afield. Bit of a shame though when fans fall victim to fake tickets. Maybe that's why the 'chicane' - to check tickets at the turnstiles. The so-called beautiful game isn't always such a pretty sight, but good there was no crowd problems. You mentioned water, hopefully alcohol was not available on sale inside the ground. I say that because young Thai males do have a nasty habit of drinking too much and that just makes them belligerent and prone to getting into fights. The sports stadium looks pretty big to me. I can understand why they build these kinds of stadia, with a running track round the perimeter, but being old-fashioned I prefer the purpose-built football grounds with the seats much closer to the pitch. Of course in the good old days we used to watch from the 'stands', nowadays you don't have a choice, you have to watch sat down. Not quite the same! By the way, what was the score?

Sorry Michael, I wouldn't trust this urban dic! I saw that link when I did a search engine but dismissed it as a prank. I'm not disputing the existence of elastic (which must have been around quite a long time) just the use of erastic!

That's too kind to mention me Koko. I sent a PM to say there's no such word as Erastic. I didn't know you meant Eristic, I've never heard of that word before!

From time to time somebody posts about something on Travelzoo. I don't know if it's realistic to do something similar with Agoda. For example TripAdvisor email me at least once a week with offers. I haven't used Agoda for 2 or 3 years and don't get any e-mailshots from them. Whether they do that now with new customers I'm not sure, but if they do than maybe anyone getting regular e-mailshots could post any interesting offers. The way these things work they target your known interests, so if for example your interests are hotels in Bangkok the emphasis will be on that.

I agree PM is probably the best medium in which to voice concerns.

More reviews by GT members should be encouraged, especially in the less-visited places. For example Phuket has very few listings, and not a single bar is listed. Unfortunately Phuket does polarise opinion and many don't go there, but it would be helpful if those that do gave some feedback. Don't be too put off if you don't feel that confident writing a full-scale review . . . I could be wrong, but I would imagine the management here would be only too happy to use your comments and findings as a basis on which to compile one.

I was in a mid-priced hotel in Chanthaburi last year and on checking out I was somewhat taken aback to be informed I still owed them 10 baht. "10 baht, says I, how can I possibly owe you (implied: such a paltry sum), I haven't used the mini bar?". Ah, sir is perhaps forgetting the bottle of water (NB.one of the two 'free' ones) sir dropped on the floor in his room? "Yes, I recall that, and I was very grateful for room service who came and promptly dealt with it, so what's the problem?". The glass bottle sir, it smashed to pieces and replacement cost is 10 baht!! Exit me, having fished out the requisite 10 baht coin, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry . . .

note: my bold Sorry if I confused anyone. I wish I hadn't made it now! Maybe I should put myself in the shoes of the guy getting 18 baht change. What would I do? I certainly didn't mean to imply pocketing it was bad. To be honest if it was more or less self-service, I probably would grab the whole 18 baht! If it was waiter service and the coffee or whatever I ordered came to my table and the waiter smiled sweetly plus the ambience of the place pleased me, I'd certainly leave some change, either the whole whack or the 8 baht in small change. Vinapu has correctly read my mind. Either the owner is greedy or I am a victim of conspiracy theory mania.

I just took another quick look at the City Guides section and it seems pretty patchy. Nothing under Phuket except for the hotels section. Anyway my intention is not to carp about that, it's a difficult task to get everything listed and even more difficult to keep it up-to-date. I suggest when Scooby or someone else chooses a place in Bkk, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Phuket to review, it should be either passed as reliable and accurate by signed-up members of GT (no replies to the OP would therefore imply no-one had anything to add or question) in which case it is ceremoniously shunted over into the limelight of City Guides, or if it is deemed inaccurate or incomplete members can point this out so that the final version passes muster. I wouldn't personally be too bothered by a slight awkwardness in phraseology such as has been mentioned, but I do agree fatuous comments praising the establishment do not deserve to be included. The alternative for GT owner/admin is to simply bypass the Message Board 'vetting' and post directly onto City Guides. I for one would never know what goes on there as I never bother to read that part of the website (apart from just now, for research purposes). That may sound like I couldn't care less what goes into City Guides, but I hasten to add I wouldn't like to think of anyone consulting it and being let down by inaccuracies or unreliable information, so I would say it should be the best possible. The best possible under the constraints of time and allowing for the fact things change, often overnight. It's a thankless task if you ask me!

I have nowhere near the same ability to focus on fine details as Fountainhall, but there are few of his posts I don't enjoy reading, and a great many where I learn something new and interesting. Before anyone thinks I am a cheerleader for the FH Appreciation Society let me scotch that right now. I love many of Michael's posts too, and if I don't then I sometimes chime in, as for example the Dan Cathy thread in the Beer Bar. Scooby is doing just fine in general, but in truth, I generally don't bother reading any of the 'review' topics he posts. I made an exception on this one as as I have eaten at Eat Me and so was interested in what was written. Just about the first thing that came to mind was why wasn't there a link to the already referrred to excellent thread FH started which I well remembered (and it wasn't that long ago either)? But I have nothing against Scooby for doing that, there are plenty of other topics I give a miss to as well. It's the topic I go by, not the contributor. So this thread will go into the database for the City Guides. I am sure anyone stumbling across it unfamiliar with the message board will be somewhat bemused to read all the comments. So axe all the comments! I would suggest the listing on City Guides simply lists this venue, but edited slightly to include a link to the original Eat Me thread already referred to, plus edit the title to either Eat Me restaurant on Soi Convent (or Convent Road if you prefer), or as it isn't actually on Convent, how about Eat Me restaurant just off (or near) Convent Road.

We're not doing very well here, but we can exclude honey as a bribe! How about these? Eccles cakes are scrumptious!

I'll have to keep an eye on that next time I'm in Bangkok. If the bill comes to a genuine 95 baht all-in, the majority of customers will tender a 100 baht and probably leave the change. If the bill comes to 102 baht most customers will give a 100 + a 20, total 120 baht. Some customers may then leave the 18 baht change. Of course, some customers will pocket the 18 baht!

As per Bob's comment and mine in the Hua Hin thread, there appears to be a problem uploading a photo. I wonder if the previously reported problem with the 'delete photo' function has now been sorted out.

Me too, can't upload a photo. Just in case there's any difference, I tried uploading direct from my photo folder on my PC, rather than via a photo-hosting site. NB. Post added to comments and suggestions forum.

Ok, similar to another post on the main forum, I cheated just to grab your attention. Confession out of the way, apparently, although not in Pattaya, Phuket or Samui, there really is such a thing. Experts have warned Swedish men to keep their swimming trunks on if taking a dip in a sound off the country's southern coast, after a South American fish known for attacking testicles was discovered in the area. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/10234986/Swedish-men-told-to-beware-testicle-munching-fish.html

I remember the name of that film but I've never seen it. I'll look out for it. It has some excellent actors, eg. Edward G Robinson's last film. Rather like when Geo Orwell wrote 1984 (even though we are told it was originally planned to call it 1948), which in the late 40's must have seemed far far into the future, so must 2022 have seemed when Soylent Green was released in 1973. Now it's only 9 years away! The awful fact remains, however, that by 2022 it probably will be quite possible to manufacture 'manburgers'. "Richard Fleischer directed this nightmarish science fiction vision of an over-populated world, based on the novel by Harry Harrison. In 2022, New York City is a town bursting at the seams with a 40-million-plus population. Food is in short supply, and most of the population's food source comes from synthetics manufactured in local factories -- the dinner selections being a choice between Soylent Red, Soylent Yellow, or Soylent Green. When William Simonson (Joseph Cotten), an upper-echelon executive in the Soylent Company, is found murdered, police detective Thorn (Charlton Heston) is sent in to investigate the case. Helping him out researching the case is Thorn's old friend Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson, in his final film role). As they investigate the environs of a succession of mad-from-hunger New Yorkers and the luxuriously rich digs of the lucky few, Thorn uncovers the terrible truth about the real ingredients of Soylent Green. " http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/soylent_green/

The idea of a tweet seems perfectly harmless, in itself. A nice succint reply or comment on something - heaven knows there's enough hot air and verbosity clogging the airways and cyberspace - is fine, but when it's used as an excuse for a 'proper' and fully-considered reply that to me counts as a cop-out so I agree with you NIrish it's nowhere good enough. I suppose if someone does reply to your letter via Twitter then you'll probably feel a bit insulted so either 'give up' as a lost cause or as you say NIrish play along with his 'little game'. So far in this thread we have concentrated on 2014, but I am rapidly finding this tiresome; it seems there is no end in sight! After 2014 we have 2018 then four year's further down the line we reach the fiasco of 2022. For anyone not familiar with 2022 there is an excellent thread here in the Beer Bar. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/7012-soccers-governing-body-mired-in-corruption-allegations/?do=findComment&comment=50016 In the meantime, have a read of this . . . http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/fifa-may-suspend-anti-gay-laws-russia-qatar-during-world-cup140613

Do we know the contents of the tweet? Was it short and sweet or long-winded? As a fan of traditional means of communication I would say the correct, or at least preferred, thing to do is to reply in a similar way. So if someone sends you a letter, write back. Ditto phone calls, e-mail, text message etc. However,in the sphere of communications, as in many things, change happens, so the old order is stood on its head and becomes a recipe for confusion. If I am writing to my MP, whereas I used to post him a (word-processed) letter, now I send him an e-mail. However, thus far he has replied by letter. If he responded by some 'lower' form of communication I wouldn't take it too well. When all's said and done, surely the best thing is to steer well clear of this tweeting malarky. I assume you need some sort of account, so, if you don't have one then nobody can send you a tweet! (or maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, maybe tweets aren't personal? perhaps they are supposed to be seen and lapped up by anyone . . . like lots of stupid little sound-bites . . )

I signed one of Change.org's petitions a while ago. Now I am on their mailing list so get a new one in my inbox every so often. I don't know how they decide which ones to send me as I probably only get a fraction of those currently happening. I thought I would check and see how many petitions there have been. I don't know how many there are but I would be concerned that if anyone can launch a petition (which is the whole point anyway) the really good ones will be diluted by many less worthy ones. Be that as it may, here is one relevant to this thread. https://www.change.org/petitions/stand-against-russia-s-brutal-crackdown-on-gay-rights-urge-winter-olympics-2014-sponsors-to-condemn-anti-gay-laws The author asks whether athletes and spectators can feel safe? Feeling safe is not the same as actually being physically unsafe, but whatever the degree of unsafety anyone may experience it is clearly unacceptable. I agree with Fountainhall that in practice the Games will go ahead with Russia very eager to avoid any embarrassment being beamed into every Game-viewer's living room. I would expect however, the Russians will be embarrassed at some stage. Remember the black power salutes? Going off at a tangent, here is a report concerning an extremely nasty 'trend' in Russia: Russian Neo-Nazis Allegedly Torture Gay Teens In 'Anti-Pedophilia' Campaign That poor kid! http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2013/07/26/russian-neo-nazis-torture-gay-teens-anti-pedophilia-campaign

Opinion was split whether there should be a boycott of the 1936 Olympic Games. That's well before anyone reading this can remember. I don't know about Britain, but in America there was quite a fuss. “...Sport is prostituted when sport loses its independent and democratic character and becomes a political institution...Nazi Germany is endeavoring to use the Eleventh Olympiad to serve the necessities and interests of the Nazi Regime rather than the Olympic ideals.” —Committee on Fair Play in Sports, New York, November 15, 1935 http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/olympics/detail.php?content=boycott&lang=en As we all know many black athletes, the best-remembered one being Jesse Owens, rubbed Hitler's nose in it, making a mockery of his belief in Aryan superiority. http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/olympics/detail.php?content=aa_athletes Back to the present. Should the winter Olympics be boycotted? Fry is quite entitled to write to the PM. Anybody can. What will the athletes be thinking? Do they support a boycott or not? Rather than put Britain's PM in an invidious position, I would suggest the decision should rest with the athletes. If they favour a boycott by a democratic 'show of hands' then so be it.

Yes, it's possible. We only have the say-so of these bods that this thing is a beefburger taste-a-like. Who is to say . . . they may have slipped a bit of cat in there?

Yipee, he's your man!

The Dutchman referred to in the OP hit the headlines this week: First lab-grown hamburger gets full marks for 'mouth feel' A little pale, lacking in juiciness and seasoning, but close your eyes and the synthetic hamburger was 'definitely meat' http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/aug/05/world-first-synthetic-hamburger-mouth-feel

Memories are precious things, sometimes vivid, more often half-remembered, or occasionally brought back to life by a chance encounter, perhaps hearing an old song on the radio. Mick Brown, the veteran music journalist writes in the Telegraph bemoaning the axing of Russell Davies's BBC radio show. Brown goes on to say why he thinks the BBC are wrong to drop the show: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopmusic/10223409/Russell-Davies-on-Radio-2-Who-will-remember-Toots-Mondello-now.html