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Washington (CNN) -- Alexander Haig, the former military officer, secretary of state and adviser to presidents, has died, a Johns Hopkins Medical Center spokesman said. Haig, 85, was admitted to the Baltimore, Maryland, hospital on January 28 and died at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, hospital spokesman Gary Stephenson said. Haig was a top official in the administrations of three presidents -- Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. As Reagan's secretary of state, Haig famously (and incorrectly) declared, "As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending the return of the vice president," he declared shortly after President Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981. Vice President George H.W. Bush was en route from Texas after the shooting in Washington. Haig served as Nixon's deputy assistant for national security affairs beginning in 1970, then in January 1973 became vice chief of staff of the Army. "His departure from the Nixon administration proved to be short lived," the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Web site says in a biographical note on Haig. "Four months later, on May 4, 1973, he returned to the White House as chief of staff at the request of the president to fill the vacuum created by H.R. Haldeman's resignation on April 30." Nixon's resignation came that August. Haig then became supreme allied commander over NATO forces in Europe until 1979. He left the military for the private sector, but returned to serve as Reagan's secretary of state in 1981. He resigned the following year. Haig ran an unsuccessful bid for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. Alexander Meigs Haig Jr. was born December 2, 1924, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. He attended the University of Notre Dame for two years before transferring to the U.S. Military Academy in 1944. After his graduation in 1947, he served in Japan. He later served on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's staff in Japan during the Korean War.

Here are a couple updates from the BANGKOK POST: _____ UDD Mass Rally Could Hit Tourism 20/02/2010 The planned mass anti-government demonstration late this month by the red-shirt people group could have negative impact on the tourism sector, Prakit Chin-amornpong, Chairman of Thai Hotels Association, said on Saturday. “Some countries, including England, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Australia and Japan had already advised their citizens to avoid traveling to rally sites for safety reason”, Mr. Prakit said. Foreign tourists, especially Chinese, might refrain from visiting Thailand as they fear the demonstration would turn to violence, he added. The chairman said the number of tourist visiting the country in January increased from the same month last year by 17.5 per cent to 1.5 million. This year would be a golden year of Thailand’s tourism sector, if there in no unrest, because the world’s economy recovering and more foreign arrivals are expected. UDD leader Jatuporn Pronphan announced on Friday that the mass rally will be held after Feb 26, the judgment day on Thaksin assets case. UDD leaders would meet to discuss exact date. ____________________ PAD Will Accept Court Ruling (** The PAD is the Yellow-Shirts - opposed to Thaksin) 20/02/2010 The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will accept court ruling and will not stage any rally even if the court rules not to seize assets of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his family, PAD core leader Phiphob Dhongchai insisted. “PAD will accept the court verdict and will not make any political move as it could be cited to incite violence”, Mr. Phiphob said on Saturday afternoon. He was confident that the government is capable of keeping the situation under control. However, he warned the government of the third party which wants to provoke unrest in the country. The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions will on Feb 26 give verdict on whether to confiscate 76.6 billion baht in assets of Thaksin and his family.

The odd thing is I read an article somewhere claiming that all of this has had no particular effect on tourist numbers. Of course you never know whether they're telling the truth, but judging from the numbers of people I see, they very well may be right. Traffic in Pattaya has been much heavier than usual lately. We'll have to see what kind of effect this will have on tourism. The tourist industry has already had enough problems. Meanwhile, there still has been no effect on the exchange rates. I think if the protests escalate into violence, that's when we may see some sort of collapse in Thailand. At least this time they've waited until the major part of high season is coming to an end. One thing is for sure, even though the protests in Bangkok usually take place in areas that have no particular effect on the gay areas, I'm certainly not going to Bangkok at least until whatever occurs blows over. That's not because I would be afraid to go to Bangkok. It's because I anticipate even worse traffic problems than usual and police checks on the road and within Bangkok every fourteen seconds. For the time being, I'm staying put. Throughout the coup and other protest demonstration brouhahas, in Pattaya you never would have known much of anything was going on. Even when the Red-Shirts disrupted that meeting in Pattaya, unless you were within that area and the surrounding vicinities, you still didn't encounter much of a problem. At least I never did. But if this nonsense escalates into violence, maybe this time it will be a different story. All any of us can do is sit back and watch the show. As selfish as this might be, if whatever happens causes the exchange rate to move in our favor, I would have no objection to that aspect of the situation.

As the day, February 26, that the Thai Supreme Court will render its decision as to whether ousted Prime Minister Thaksin gets to keep his money or whether Thailand confiscates it approaches, tensions are mounting. There are more and more doom-and-gloom predictions that major Red-Shirt protests and demonstrations are to be expected if the court rules against Thaksin and possibly Yellow-Shirt protests if the court rules in his favor. Apparently it is being taken for granted that the court will rule against Thaksin because the Red-Shirts (Thaksin supporters) are already out there causing problems. Yesterday, for example, a Red-Shirt demonstration forced the Bangkok Bank's main headquarters in Bangkok to close at about noon. (If you hold a Bangkok Bank account or plan to use a Bangkok Bank branch or ATM, no need to worry. All the branches, ATMs, and online banking remained open and operating normally.) Several countries are issuing travel warnings, including Australia, the USA, and the UK, advising foreigners to keep clear of any protests and saying the protests may turn violent. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Foreigners Told to Keep Clear Published: 20/02/2010 The United States, Britain and Australia have issued new travel advisories warning their citizens about the risk of civil unrest as the Feb 26 verdict in Thaksin's 76 billion baht assets case nears. The warnings issued yesterday followed a mass rally by the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship outside Bangkok Bank on Silom Road, which forced the country's largest commercial bank headquarters to close from midday. Political tensions are growing in the run-up to the so-called "judgement day" on Feb 26, when the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office will deliver its verdict on whether to seize ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra's 76 billion baht of frozen assets. Thaksin is accused of acquiring "unusual wealth" through the abuse of power when he was prime minister. It is likely that political demonstrations may take place leading up to, on, or after Feb 26, the US embassy said. "We wish to remind US citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence," it said. US citizens are urged to avoid demonstrations and to exercise caution within the vicinity of any demonstrations. The British embassy said the political situation in Thailand is tense and uncertain. British citizens should exercise great caution throughout Thailand and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings that might turn violent. "The court decision is a potential flashpoint. If, as quite possible, anti-government protests turn violent, British citizens should stay indoors and monitor the media," it said. The Australian embassy advised its citizens to exercise a "high degree" of caution because of the current political instability and expected demonstrations. "Follow any instructions issued by local authorities," the embassy said. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is regularly updating other countries about the local political and security situation. "I want every party to help the country move forward because several things have been on a positive trend, particularly the economy," said Mr Abhisit. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Protest Forces Bangkok Bank to Shut HQ By PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK THE NATION February 20, 2010 Violence was lurking just beneath the surface at yesterday's red-shirt rally by the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) in front of Bangkok Bank's headquarters on Silom Road. Shortly after 2pm, a group of 100 red shirts and security personnel ran towards the Silom-Narathiwat intersection, apparently chasing some people. Some onlookers said a yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) member attacked a red car and ran away. Another said a group of PAD supporters attacked a red-shirted man. But nobody, police included, seemed to know for certain. The anger and hatred for the PAD and the old elite was very visible. One man, wearing a red necktie abusively ranted against the yellow shirts and Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda, with words too rude to be published. By the same token, the PAD also cannot stand the red shirts. A columnist at ASTV-Manager Daily newspaper, under the pen-name "krong leb", wrote in yesterday's edition that people in the Silom area and elsewhere should chase away the red-shirt demonstrators with water. "May I advise [readers] to use peaceful methods. Those in high-rise buildings or on pedestrian bridges should simply splash water on those who are causing trouble to the nation without having to curse them." Water, by the way, is often used by Thais to splash against felines or canines caught in a vicious fight. Bangkok Bank was targeted by the protesters yesterday for its supposed link with Prem, against whom the red shirts have a major grouse. Prem is honorary chairman of the advisory board of this old and influential bank. Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn told the 2,000 or so red-shirt demonstrators in front of the bank yesterday afternoon that Prem, being the chief adviser of HM the King, should resign from all posts in various companies such as the bank and the CP group. He said these are profit-maximising corporations that looked after their own good and ran counter to the spirit of the privy council. "All they do is profit maximisation and how can you just sit there?" Weng told the crowd through the loudspeaker. Senior Bangkok Bank executives have also been accused of encroaching on forest-reserve land in Khao Soi Dao forest in Chanthaburi province that is now a golf course. Even magazines like Thailand Tatler flaunt the special relationship between Prem and the bank's owner. In its latest list of 500 famous hi-so people, Prem is listed as enjoying "the backing of his friends, including [bangkok Bank] banker Chatri Sophonpanich". The bank, along with at least three other banks in the Silom Road strip from Soi Convent to the Narathiwat-Silom intersection were shut along with other businesses. However, one Bangkok Bank staffer, by the name of Vorajit, did not appear disturbed by the rally. He stood in front of the main entrance to the bank, heavily guarded by police officers and security guards, to chat with his colleagues while observing the protest. "They don't really threaten us. They're just on stage," Vorajit said. "I'm not afraid. They're not really pressuring us. It's more like a show of force for them." With nearly 3,000 demonstrators gathering by late afternoon, the show of force was not that impressive, but the hatred and risk of violence is there, lurking just beneath the surface as the crowd and its leaders gear up towards Thaksin Shinawatra's judgement day next Friday. Meanwhile, Santi Vilassakdanont, president of the Federation of Thai Industries, said he did not expect the red shirts' rally outside the bank's head office to turn violent. He viewed peaceful street protests as an indicator of Thailand's democratic progress. Thira Abhaiwongse, vice president of Bangkok Bank, insisted that the bank's management had no connections with the Khao Soi Dao golf course in Chanthaburi as alleged by the red shirts.

Not at all. It's quite a distance away. There is no effect and you will not hear construction noise.

And I thank God for it . . .

I don't. My interpretation of what he is saying is that he believes the city powers-that-be have a "this town ain't big enough for the two of us" attitude when it comes to the sex industry and the family industry. I don't see a thing in Pattaya that indicates much of an effort to attract families. To my mind, attracting families means attracting families with children. There is close to nothing in Pattaya that appears to me to be specifically geared for children or at least has children in mind as well as adults. There is Pattaya Park, one or two miniature golf places, a go-kart track, and some game rooms in a few of the shopping malls. Outside of that, I know of nothing else. Maybe some of the most expensive hotels offer babysitting or other childcare services, but I have never seen any at most of the hotels. I haven't seen lifeguards at swimming pools or on the beaches, not even at Pattaya Park. I have seen only a very few restaurants offering children's menus. The bars all over town are for children? Maybe some are for adults who behave like children, but what are parents supposed to do with their children when they want to go out for nighttime entertainment? I see no playgrounds. I see no kind of organized games or facilities for children who come to Pattaya with their families. I see little or nothing geared for visiting teenage children. When I was a child, my parents would sometimes entertain the kids with games such as counting the birds we see on utility pole wires. In Pattaya they can play "Count the Prostitutes." If they're around Walking Street or Beach Road at night, the kids will certainly be able to improve their math skills. When I was a kid I would play "Spot the Spy" at airports. In Pattaya the kids can play "Spot the Pickpockets" on the baht buses. So, where does "family oriented" fit into any aspect of Pattaya? Bar crackdowns translates into the city trying to make Pattaya more attractive to families? I don't see it, myself.

How much you give to me . . . ? I'm flattered that you like it. Feel free to download it and use it for your avatar . . .

I'm with you. I can handle the pierced ears, but I can do without the rest of the piercings. "I had nothing better to do today, so I thought I'd go out and have somebody punch holes through my flesh." - George Carlin

That appears to be an excellent book, well worth reading. I'm going to read it. In my opinion, one of the first things people need to do is to learn to stop trying to compare Thailand with the way things work in their home countries. Trying to apply western ideas and values to the way things work in Thailand simply does not work. Sometimes I see people object when people write TIT, meaning This is Thailand. But TIT does have validity. When it comes to prostitution, many westerners see prostitution as something degrading and something to be looked down upon as immoral. I believe most Thais see it simply as a way of making good money, especially when it's either that or the rice farm.

So much has been going on lately. For whatever reasons, I have been excluded from being "in the loop." You know what? Good. I don't know what's been going on and have been told very little. I wish nobody told me anything at all. I have nothing to do with any of the goings-on and I don't want anything to do with it. If the Pattaya Passion board is gone, maybe that had something to do with all of the recent intrigue and maybe it didn't. Maybe there is a good reason why nothing was said and maybe there isn't. I don't know, I don't want to know, and I don't care about what happened to Pattaya Passion or any of the rest of the recent brouhaha. Enough already! Bottom line: I do not and never have and never will allow posts that harm specific businesses, especially without substantiation. I am not going to favor one business over another. I am not involved with all the intrigues and I don't want to be. I'm not going to try to find out anything more than I already know, which is virtually nothing, and that includes trying to find out what happened with Pattaya Passions. Leave me out of it, folks. I have a choice. I can be involved in all of the intrigues and gossip or I can live my life in peace. I'm going to live my life in peace. For those of you who just have got to know, go and find out for yourselves. Neither I nor this board is the vehicle for it. When I go to Sunee Plaza, I go to enjoy the bars and the boys. I'm not there to be involved in their business problems and mysteries. My feeling about the whole thing is it's none of my business and it's also none of anybody else's other than those directly involved. I'm a message board moderator, not a reporter. Once again, there is no reason for anyone to be afraid to go and have a wonderful time in Sunee Plaza. If there are goings on behind the scenes, let them settle their problems themselves. That's the way I feel about it, anyway.

Do I actually have to say, "You ain't in the west"? While it is obvious that the vast majority of people take boys off for sex, to me that's the very reason why, on a technical level, the bar is not a house of prostitution - because you're taking the boy off. To me, if it's a house of prostitution, that means the sex is taking place in the house, not elsewhere. So, on a strictly technical level, I would consider a bar to be a house of prostitution if there are short time rooms and they are used for sex. If not, then I would not consider it to be a house of prostitution. "You were both wrong! And you were both right." - Yul Brynner, 'Taras Bulba'

That is GT's decision to make, not mine. GT is where the buck stops on this board.

Well, you know me. It wouldn't be the first time . . .

Only the gossip queens.

I won't say I'm in the know. I will say I'm in the "what I've been told" by a few who are in the "they think they're in the know." Does that garble it enough for you? Gentlemen, please don't push it. I'm not about to reveal anything I've been told in confidence. If I did that I would be destroying my own credibility and trustworthiness. Besides, some of what I have been told is so ludicrous that I believe only small portions of it in the first place. Even if you're someone much closer to me than most, if you try to place me in the kind of position tantamount to "awww come on, you can tell me" I guarantee you I'm not going to like it. So, please don't put me in that kind of situation. Some of you may already have noticed that I'm ignoring Emails and PMs asking me to tell it "just to them." Save your typing. You know what I'm doing with those? Deleting them without a response. And, if you see me personally and take me aside to ask, you're quickly going to find yourself standing there alone. I don't think I'm stepping out of bounds by saying the most serious problems have now been amicably resolved. Again, there is no reason to avoid Sunee Plaza and if it wasn't for these posts you never would have known anything was ever out of the ordinary. I've already said that I think it was a mistake for anything to ever have been posted about any of this at all. None of it is any of our business, has nothing to do with us, and had no effect on your ability to safely enjoy Sunee Plaza. In other words, PattayaMale is right. It's just back fence gossip. Anything beyond that will have to come from those who asked for my discretion. I'm also not wasting my time by running around trying to find out anything more than I have already been told because: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - Clark Gable, 'Gone with the Wind'

That's what it will take. I have yet to find a web site that does an acceptable job of translating Thai to English. It's probably just as bad the other way around. I can usually at least get the gist of it, but this one is tough. I think he's trying to say he's the shy type, somewhat emotional, has a nice smile, doesn't speak much English, and wants people who meet him to enjoy his company. The words he uses to refer to himself are the feminine form of "I". That's the best I can do without printing it out and taking it to a Thai friend to get a good translation.

I'm going to try that. I hope it works.

Nicky's web site is also online: http://www.nickysgaypattaya.com

Whadya mean joking ?!?!?

But of course. They ought to go well with my red bikini, don't you think?

Well, yes . . . that's the idea.

Even more odd is the fact that I invited an explanation to be posted here, but so far there has been no response. I don't understand why that board would have been suddenly taken down without any kind of warning whatsoever. One of my friends, a member of that board, told me he had been on that board only a few hours before it suddenly disappeared. There was nothing posted about its imminent demise and he received no PM or Email announcing their departure. What we don't know is whether that board will reappear. Some say it might be down because the board wasn't paid. I could be wrong, but I don't think so. When other boards have gone down for that reason there has usually been some sort of grace period before the actual domain itself is put up for sale. It also stands to reason that if the board was about to go down because the owner couldn't afford to keep it going, an effort would have been made to solicit donations from the membership in order to save the board. From what I have been told, donations were solicited, but not for the express purpose of rescuing the board. In most cases, when this sort of thing happens, if the cause was neglecting to pay, then the payment is usually made and the board reappears by now. I would also have thought if the owners intend to bring the board back online, then they would have posted about it on the various gay Thailand boards. So far, not a word has been posted by the owners. I don't understand why the board owners would not have sent out some sort of explanation to the membership. I would have thought that as a matter of courtesy, those loyal to the board would at least have been told something. To my knowledge, nobody was told a thing. I think the board owners owe an explanation, if to no one else, at least to those who were members and supportive of the board, especially if any of the membership had made money contributions to the board. But no explanation at all? I don't understand that. It's now on my "I Don't Get It" list.

If your avatar pic is also really you, are you free for dinner Saturday night . . . ?

And credit goes to Gayaffairs for having posted this flier on the Ting & Tong board. I didn't know about this, so if you are interested, thank him, not me. http://www.gaytingtong.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6594