Gaybutton

Well, catawampuscat, I think that answers your question . . . .

None at all. I thought people traveling and not seeing the news might be interested. Sue me.

Woman in JFK Limo During Shootings Dies By KELLEY SHANNON, Associated Press Writer Nellie Connally, the last remaining survivor who was riding in President Kennedy's limousine when he was assassinated, has died, a family friend said Saturday. She was 87. Connally, the widow of former Gov. John Connally, died in her sleep late Friday at Westminster Manor in Austin, said Julian Read, who served as the governor's press secretary in the 1960s. "Total surprise," he said. "She has been extremely active and vital the past few days and weeks. ... It's a shock to all of us." Connally had said the most enduring image she had of the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination in Dallas was of a mixture of blood and roses. "It's the image of yellow roses and red roses and blood all over the car ... all over us," she said in a 2003 interview with The Associated Press. "I'll never forget it. ... It was so quick and so short, so potent." As the limousine carrying the Connallys and the Kennedys wound its way through the friendly crowd in downtown Dallas, Nellie Connally turned to President Kennedy, who was in a seat behind her, and said, "Mr. President, you can't say Dallas doesn't love you." Almost immediately, she heard the first of what she later concluded were three gunshots in quick succession. Connally slumped after the second shot, and, "I never looked back again. I was just trying to take care of him," she said. Anniversaries and inevitable media interviews followed the Connallys for decades to come. She was also an active fundraiser for many charities. In 1989, Richard Nixon, Barbara Walters and Donald Trump turned out for a gala to honor her and raise money for diabetes research. "I've never known a woman with Nellie's courage, compassion and character," Walters said. "For all her ups and downs, I've never heard a self-pitying word from her." The "downs" that Walters spoke of were financial difficulties. Private business ventures after 1980 were less successful than John Connally's career as a politician and dealmaking Houston lawyer. An oil company in which he invested got into trouble, and $200 million worth of real estate projects went sour. He filed for reorganization of his personal finances under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code and for liquidation, under Chapter 7, of the Barnes/Connally Partnership, the Austin-based real estate venture that he founded with former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes. The auction paid only a fraction of the $93 million in debts Connally listed with the bankruptcy court in Austin. Nellie Connally celebrated her 80th birthday with fellow breast cancer survivors at a ceremony in the Nellie B. Connally Breast Center at Anderson hospital in Houston. It had been 10 years since overcoming breast cancer. She served on the M.D. Anderson Board of Visitors since 1984, and a fund in her name raised millions for research and patient programs. Survivors include her daughter, Sharon Connally Ammann, and two sons, John B. Connally III and Mark Connally. Funeral services are pending.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'm wondering where customs officials get the right to ask detailed questions about sexual activity during your travels. I realize that the primary function of customs inspection is to prevent illegal or smuggled materials from entering the country and to collect taxes on dutiable goods, and I realize they have the right to inspect anything you are carrying, but since when has it become a function of customs to decide whether you are homosexual and were engaged in sexual activities? When they ask, "Why do you go to Thailand so often?" what would happen if your answer was, "I go because I enjoy the cheap, easy sex."? Have you broken any laws? Do they have the right to publicly or even privately embarrass you about it? Do you have any recourse if they do humiliate you in front of others? As I said, I'm not a lawyer, but I am not posting this in jest. I'd really like to know whether customs truly has the authority to pry into your sexual activities abroad. If they have "probable cause" to suspect that you were engaged in sexual activity with minors, that's one thing. But if not, then do they really have the right to put people through the third degree about their sexual activities? If they do, the next question is why? What purpose is being served? I don't get it.

I'd love to, TeePee, but I don't have an access level that makes it possible. Perhaps Stef or Gaythailand can do it.

First, I am often referred to as GB. GP is Gaypattayan, from Pattayagay.com. I sincerely appreciate your complimentary post, but I have no idea where your idea that Hedda and I have had some sort of falling out is coming from. Hedda and I have never had any kind of quarrel or falling out at all. We have the same friendly, mutually respectful relationship now as we did before. Hedda does post on this board. There are many posts here from Hedda. Hedda clearly explains, on his blog, why he is moving to Baht Stop. His decision to do that was because he was invited to do so and he wishes to have greater control and options than the blog software can offer. I am not the owner of this web site or message board. The owner here is Gaythailand. I am merely a moderator and I also post what I can contribute. I am not a factor at all in Hedda's decision. Hedda is just as free to post here as anyone else. I took my web site offline the same day it was blocked by Thai authorities. I have no interest in circumventing Thai authorities whether I agree with their blocking or not. It is my own decision not to reinstate the web site. I could reinstate my web site in ten minutes, if I so choose, but that is not my desire at present. I am happy right here. It has nothing whatever to do with Hedda. I post now on this board and Hedda posts here too, when he wishes to. I am also at liberty to post on Baht Stop, just like anyone else. Hedda and I never really 'worked together' in that sense. I merely provided him web space to post what he wanted to post as an addition to my message board. Hedda did not consult me as to what he wanted to post and I had no wish for him to do so. In effect, it was two sets of independent posting on the same message board. I don't see what difference it makes. You can read my posts on this message board. You can read Hedda's posts on Baht Stop. Nothing essential has changed at all.

We're getting conflicting stories about the taxis. In the article I posted in a thread below, also from the BANGKOK POST, it said: _____ "Duangjai Kitisin, a state enterprise employee, said the airport was a cause of national pride although the shuttle service was still a problem. Passengers had to take shuttle buses from the arrival hall to a separate terminal to catch a bus and taxi." _____ Let's hope the article you found is the one with the correct information. It certainly makes much more sense. It would seem that a brand new airport that would force incoming passengers to have to take shuttle buses to get a taxi would be beyond ridiculous. I've never been to an airport in my life at which it is necessary to take a shuttle bus to catch a taxi. Another thing I noticed in te article you posted that I think is worth pointing out is: _____ "Private car drivers can pick up passengers at level two, but they will not be able to park at kerbside." _____ That makes sense too. The one thing I have not yet seen is how private limo service will work. I'm talking about when arrangements have been made to have someone waiting for you upon arrival, holding a sign with your name on it. I haven't seen anything that addresses how they will get you from the point at which you are met to the limo. I suppose they will simply have you wait while the driver gets the limo and comes back to pick you up. Well, we'll all know the answers soon enough. The official final airport closing time at Don Muang will be 1:00 AM on September 28. The only glitch I can see is if an airline is still using Don Muang as its arrival airport that day and the flight is delayed beyond the closing time. I don't know if the flight will be diverted to Suvarnabhumi in that circumstance, but my guess is that it will. It wouldn't be a problem to have a delayed flight arrive at Don Muang, but it would present problems when that same plane now has to go from Don Munag to Suvarnabhumi to pick up outbound passengers. If you happen to be arriving that night on a flight that may be delayed that length of time, then if you have someone meeting you at the airport it would be a good idea to have the person contact the airline to find out if your flight is going to arrive on time or make arrangements other than having someone meet you. If that problem occurs, it will be only that one night since Don Muang will close to all commercial flights after that. Well, we've all seen delay after delay getting Suvanrabhumi open, but this time it looks like it will finally happen.

My pleasure and I'm sure "billyhouston's" too. To my mind the most important thing a message board can do is provide information when people need it. Please feel free to ask any time questions pop up. If we can help, we are happy to do so.

I have never been asked why I go to Thailand so often, but my answer would be something like, I enjoy Thailand. I have friends there. It's an affordable holiday. I own a home there. Tourism. I'm planning to retire there. Were you there on business? If I was, then the answer would be yes. If I was not, then the answer would be no. How long did you stay? The entry and departure stamps are right there in one's passport, so the answer is obvious.

To me, one glitch is the transiteration of the name of the airport itself. The name of the airport is spelled Suvarnabhumi, and yet it is pronounced "soo-wanna-poom." I wonder who came up with English version of the spelling . . . According to the following article, you do indeed have to take a shuttle bus from the arrival hall to another location to get a bus or a taxi. I have a feeling there will be enough passenger complaints so that sooner or later changes will be made, but for now that's what to expect. I don't get it. The designers of a brand new airport configured things so that after long-haul international flights people end up having to take a shuttle bus? What a ridiculous idea. I have one question for those who came up with that idea and those who accepted that idea. WHY? The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Few Glitches as Flights Land, Take Off from New Airport AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK Many passengers taking international flights into Suvarnabhumi airport for the first time yesterday were satisfied with the service despite spotting certain glitches. Thai Airways International (THAI) deployed its 389-seater Boeing 747 to operate a return flight to Hong Kong and a 247-seater Airbus 300-600 to serve a return flight to Singapore yesterday. The flights departed almost simultaneously at 9.10am. They took off using the western and eastern runways, proving Suvarnabhumi's ability to handle activity on both runways at the same time. The flight to Hong Kong carried 361 passengers and 240 pieces of luggage while the Singapore flight had 206 passengers and 165 bags. Most passengers were Transport Ministry staff and their relatives on a THAI-arranged package tour. The return flights from Hong Kong and Singapore also landed at Suvarnabhumi around the same time, at 3.55pm. Caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said the airport systems worked smoothly. Departing passengers took 20 minutes each to get through passport checks while it took only four minutes for each arriving passenger to pass immigration. Commenting on service in the passenger terminal, THAI president Apinan Sumanaseni said indoor signs were not clear enough. They could delay flights when Suvarnabhumi opens to full commercial service on Sept 28. People may not be able to find their way around. Unyalak Jintanavisit, a passenger on one flight, said the terminal would need more signs as many passengers were confused about directions. Duangjai Kitisin, a state enterprise employee, said the airport was a cause of national pride although the shuttle service was still a problem. Passengers had to take shuttle buses from the arrival hall to a separate terminal to catch a bus and taxi. Paramee Muangcharoen, who piloted the Singapore flight, said Suvarnabhumi was better than Singapore's Changi airport. The runways were smoother and longer. Ahead of its full-scale opening on Sept 28, Suvarnabhumi will undergo the first full-scale test of its conveyor belt system on Sept 7. All 460 check-in counters will be tested with 10,000 pieces of luggage being put through check-in. Piti Ramasoot, THAI director for service delivery, said the bags of departing passengers were handled smoothly yesterday.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____________ Smokers to Face Tougher Restrictions and Fines Published on September 2, 2006 Finding a place to light up a cigarette is going to become much more difficult when the Public Health Ministry's tougher anti-smoking regulations take effect in November. The regulations are going to turn most public areas into no-smoking zones, while attractive descriptions such as "Mild" and "Light" will be removed from cigarette packets and the harmful and carcinogenic components of smoke will be displayed. The regulations will also introduce more pictorial warnings about smoking on the packets. The ban on smoking in most public areas will become effective in November, while other regulations will come into force next February. Caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said he had signed for the amendment to regulations on August 24. However, the regulations will have to be announced in the Royal Gazette for a certain period of time before they can come into force. "If you defy the smoking ban, you face a fine," Pinij added. An offence by a smoker will be punishable by a fine of up to Bt2,000, while the offending property owner will face a fine of up to Bt20,000. Pinij said the regulations were aimed to protect Thais from smoking dangers. According to him, six Thais die of smoking-related diseases every hour, which equates to about 52,000 deaths a year. Smoking-related diseases - heart diseases, lung cancer and bronchitis - cost the country more than Bt50 billion in healthcare services. After the new regulations take effect, most public places will become no-smoking zones. This includes stadiums, bus stops, buses, children's playgrounds, public parks, sport facilities and public telephone booths. Currently, no-smoking areas are mostly restricted to air-conditioned zones. Pinij yesterday said the words "Mild" and "Light" would be removed from cigarette packets because they could mislead buyers into believing that the danger of smoking was not serious. This regulation looks set to seriously affect one cigarette brand, "Mild Seven Light". In 2004, the Council of State said this was a trade name and should be allowed to remain. But the latest move by the Public Health Ministry may remove the immunity. Pinij did not mention the trade name yesterday. However, he added that cigarette packets would be required to display the harmful and carcinogenic cigarette-smoke components such as tar, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. He said pictorial warnings on packets would also have more designs. All warnings will feature the adverse effects of smoking. Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul The Nation

Even with these sorts of goings on I still feel much safer here than I ever did in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area. Of course, with more and more crime reports, especially violent crime, that feeling is slowly, but surely, being whittled away. I remember feeling perfectly safe literally anywhere in Pattaya at any time of day or night. Now I'm not so sure anymore. Don't forget, to the average Thai mind "farang" equates with large amounts of money. That makes you a potential target for criminals, especially if you are the type who flashes large amounts of cash or wears expensive gold chains. Snatching gold chains and making a quick getaway has become a very common crime in Pattaya now. I'm reading more and more reports about "farang" who are caught committing felonious crimes in Thailand. I don't get it. The consequences are bad enough in one's home country, but ending up in a Thai prison is not a risk I'd want to take. I suppose greed is one factor. Stupidity is another one. It's hard for me to imagine someone crazy enough to go to a foreign country and start committing crimes, but I see reports about just that more and more often.

If I understand your post correctly, then the phone number itself is remaining active, but the prepaid card eventually expires. Is that correct? That's a very good idea, buying the top-up card in advance, but waiting until you arrive to actually use it. What are the approximate time intervals between your trips? That will help people know how long the phone number itself lasts. Are you using One-Two-Call, DTAC, or something else? Also, don't forget that the battery charger is meant for 220 volts. If you live in a 120 volt country, such as the USA, then if the charger is not a dual system charger you will need a converter in order to recharge the battery if you intend to use the phone in your home country or if you wish to charge up the battery to have the phone functional upon arrival in Thailand. Checking to see if the battery charger is a dual system charger might be a useful consideration when selecting the mobile phone you wish to buy. Of course, if you have a long enough layover at intermediate airport stops on the way to Thailand, you can at least partially recharge the battery if the stop is in a 220 volt country and you can also even find an electric outlet. At some airports it's hard to find an outlet, but if you can an hour is usually long enough to at least have enough battery charge to make a few calls upon arrival in Thailand.

Mobile phones can be had, brand new, for as little as 2000 to 3000 baht. There won't be any bells and whistles. It will be a basic mobile phone. All of the mobile phones in Thailand are SIM card phones. The two most popular pre-paid SIM cards are One-Two-Call and DTAC. I recommend One-Two-Call over DTAC. With either of them, the standard rate is 3 baht per minute. You do not have to pay for incoming calls. The initial cost of a SIM card is about 300 baht. You can buy prepaid time virtually everywhere. Every convenience store sells them as well as every phone shop. And if it's two things Thailand has plenty of, it's convenience stores and phone shops. I guarantee that one problem you won't have is finding a phone shop. They are literally everywhere. It's hard to go one block without seeing at least one phone shop. Second hand phones are available, but I don't recommend them. Few phone shops will guarantee them. The only problem is that if the telephone number you buy is not used for a period of time (I'm not sure how long that is. Maybe someone else can answer that) then the phone number expires, which means in your case you will probably have to buy a new SIM card and telephone number every time you come to Thailand. Obviously 300 baht won't break your bank account, but anyone who has your phone number will need to be informed of whatever your new number is. The same holds true for the prepaid time card. If you haven't used up the time within a certain period, it also expires. If I remember correctly, I think you have about a month to use up the time. You can buy pre-paid time cards for as little as 50 baht. You can buy as much time as you want.

I just loved this one. Here it is, as it appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: ________________ American and Three Water Police Arrested on a Variety of Charges On Tuesday evening the 29th of August police from Banglamung station arrested three Pattaya-based Water Policemen who will more than likely be charged with the attempted bribery and extortion of a 52-year-old American national named Billy Whittaker. Three days earlier, Mr Whittaker had been arrested by the Water Police in front of the VC Hotel in south Pattaya after they discovered him in possession of 100 ecstasy tablets as well as a loaded pistol, a sub-machine pistol, six loaded magazines, spare bullets and 600,000 baht in cash. According to Mr Whittaker the Water Police took him back to their base where he claimed they offered to let him go if he would pay them a lump sum of 2 million baht. The American told them he didn

Here's something that comes a no major surprise to me. While most numbers I've dialed are working with the 08 number now, I have called a few people and sometimes I'm getting a recording that says the number I have dialed does not exist. When I redial without the 08, I get right through. Oh well . . . .

Perhaps so. I rarely go to Sunee Plaza in the first place, but when I do go I no longer see boys 12-17 years old employed by bars I've entered. If you say I'm wrong about that then I'll take your word for it, but that's not my point. The point I am trying to make is just because someone goes to Sunee Plaza on a regular basis, that doesn't necessarily mean he is a pedophile. As you said, there are plenty of boys available who are age 18 and over. What about the people seeking them out? I do not dispute that pedophiles go to Sunee Plaza, but I definitely dispute the idea that frequenting Sunee Plaza automatically makes someone a pedophile. By that logic, the very people who claim to know so much about Sunee Plaza that they feel they can say such a thing must be pedophiles. Does that seem as absurd to you as it does to me? If people want to believe that just because someone goes to Sunee Plaza, then that someone must be a pedophile, that's up to them. To me, that's the same as customs officials making the assumption that just because a single man frequently travels to Thailand, then he probably is a pedophile. Plenty of people go to Sunee Plaza who are not pedophiles at all and wouldn't dream of taking a boy "off" without first checking his ID to make sure he is at least 18 years old. I will concede, however, that if a pedophile sex tourist is looking for someone under age, then Sunee Plaza is where he is likely to go first to try.

Actually, it is already in effect and working. You can still dial numbers without the 8 and it is my understanding that there will be a grace perod before the 8 is manditory. I don't know how long the grace period will last before you will be unable to dial numbers without the 8, but the 8 is already working. I tried it with several numbers. I also just spent the last hour and a half editing all my stored mobile phone numbers! Whew! All you have to do is place an 8 between the current first and second digits and it will work just fine. It's kind of a pain to edit all those numbers, assuming you have a lot of stored numbers, but once it's done, it's done.

These are my favorite places (not necessarily in this order): 1. Hot Stone Grill - for the American Ribeye 2. Mignon - for fillet 3. Bruno's 4. Luxor - if you go with a second person, try the chateaubriand 5. Symphony Brasserie 6. Mata Hari 7. Casa Pascal 8. Amor 9. Cherry - I haven't tried any of their steaks yet, but if their steaks are as good as everything else, then I'll include it on my list. 10. El Toro Steakhouse - Their steaks will be an "either-or." Some people tell me they are not impressed, but I like their steaks. Try it and judge for yourself. I've heard the Royal Cliff is excellent, but I have not tried it. Also, Manhattan's Steak House is due to open soon. Supposedly that will be one of the finest around. In my opinion, all of these have very good steaks at reasonable prices, but I have yet to find my idea of a great steak in Thailand. I'd like to find a great prime rib in Thailand. Haven't found one yet. I'm hoping Manhattan's will solve that problem.

One of the best web sites around for great gay Thailand photos is the Boxer Travels web site. Among all of his other excellent photos, he has also put together a series of photos that will give you an very good idea of what the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be like. Have a look: http://www.boxertravels.com

Now I understand. If a person regularly goes to Sunee Plaza and/or has anything positive to say about the neighborhood, then he is a pedophile. I didn't know that until now. Thank you for making it clear.

Don't worry about it, Bob. If the guy wants to make a fool of himself that badly, let him.

If you had written that a year ago I might agree with your comments about the ages of boys working in some of the Sunee Plaza bars. Today bars providing boys "12 till 17" is no longer the case. However, to say, "The only tourist who visit this area are eldery gay farangs who likes them young," is a statement of your opinion, but is definitely not fact. That is simply not true. I would agree that those who "like them young" are probably going to try Sunee Plaza before anywhere else, but they're hardly the only ones who frequent Sunee Plaza. Plenty of Sunee Plaza bars feature boys only 18 years old and up. In Top Man or Crazy Dragon, for example, both of which are Sunee Plaza bars, show me even one boy working there between the ages of "12 till 17." There are also many outdoor beer bars at Sunee Plaza. The boys working in them are all 18 and up. If there is any question about a boy's age, all anyone needs to do is look at his ID card.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ SUVARNABHUMI All Airlines Prepared for the Big Move Published on August 31, 2006 Some Budget Carriers May Switch Early All local and international airlines have announced they are ready to relocate to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport on the official opening date of September 28, while three budget carriers - keen to avoid road congestion caused by the transfer of equipment - have opted to move their fleets up to three days ahead of schedule. In a meeting held by airline operators yesterday to discuss their readiness to make the move, Air France said it would be ready to divert its aircraft to Suvarnabhumi on September 28. Contrary to a recent report, no airline has to date said it plans to shift flights to other countries in the region. All major airlines, including Thai Airways International (THAI), Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and other international carriers, told the panel they had no problem with the opening date of the new airport. The government has said all flights must move to the new airport on September 28, when the existing Don Muang Airport will close to commercial traffic. In a bid to woo airlines to Suvarnabhumi, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) has postponed its plan to increase service fees by six months until April 2007. The fees includes a landing and parking fee and passenger airport tax. Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive of Thai AirAsia, said all its flights would move to the new airport on September 25, three days ahead of the official opening. The final 10 flights, both domestic and international, on September 24 will also fly to the new airport. "Even though our facilities there, including the office at the new airport, are not complete we are confident everything will be ready in time," Tassapon said. "The early move is an attempt to avoid traffic congestion at the new airport the night before the opening date," he said. The airline has already informed passengers about the move. Ticket prices will not be increased, as the costs are the same now that the airport authorities have agreed to delay the landing-fee hike. Thai AirAsia, a joint venture between Shin Corp and Malaysia's AirAsia, said its 70 daily flights would shift from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi on September 25. One Two Go, the low-cost unit of Orient Thai, said it would transfer all its flights to the new airport on September 26, two days before the opening date. One of the company's officers said the firm was keen to have a two-day head start to learn more about the airport. Nok Air, another budget carrier and THAI's sister airline, confirmed it would transfer all its flights to Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 27, one day ahead of the official opening. THAI's own local flights will be using the new airport from September 15, as required by the government. Jetstar Asia will be the first foreign airline to use Suvarnabhumi Airport, flying from Singapore three times a day - also from September 15. The new airport, which can serve up to 45 million passengers per year, will relieve congestion at the overstretched Don Muang, which is currently handling about two million passengers above its capacity. The government hopes Suvarnabhumi will help Thailand compete against rival airports in Malaysia and Singapore to become the region's most important aviation hub. Suchat Sritama The Nation _______________________ And This: Thai AirAsia to Move to New Bangkok Airport on Sept 25 Budget carrier Thai AirAsia said Wednesday all of its flights will move to Bangkok's new international airport on September 25, three days ahead of the airport's official opening. Thai AirAsia, a joint venture between Thai telecom giant Shin Corp and Malaysia's AirAsia, said its 70 daily flights will shift from the existing Don Muang airport to the new airport on September 25. The last 10 flights, both domestic and international, on September 24 will also fly to the new airport, the airline said. "Even though our facilities there, including the office at the new airport, is not yet complete, we are confident that everything will be ready in time," airline chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld told AFP. "The early move is trying to avoid traffic congestion at the new airport the night before the opening date." The government has said all flights must move to the new airport on September 28, when the existing Don Muang will close to commercial traffic. "The airline has already informed passengers about the move. Ticket prices would not be raised because our cost are the same after the airport authorities agreed to delay the increase in landing fee at the new airport," Tassapon said. In a bid to woo airlines to the new airport, aviation authorities agreed to suspend the planned fee hike for six months to April 2007.

Wonder all you want. I don't think my post even mentioned go-go bars. Anybody who has read my posts for any length of time knows my stance on pedophilia. In any case, if your question is actually serious, then the answer is no. Ok, I answered your question. You didn't answer mine. I'll repeat my question: Are you actually trying to say the mere presence of someone in Sunee Plaza makes him a pedophile?