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My experience is precisely the opposite of yours. Chez Vickie is one of my favorite restaurants and the dishes I and my friends have tried have been outstanding. On the other hand, ever since the original owner of L'Olivier, Jackie, sold the restaurant, in my opinion it went downhill. I guess it's all a question of individual taste and whether you're lucky or unlucky the night you try. Obvious solution? Try these places and decide for yourself.

I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but I'm having great difficulty trying to figure out how pouring blood and deliberately causing traffic chaos is supposed to get more people sympathetic to the Red-Shirt cause. If the Bangkok Post is correct that 30,000 people are expected to participate, that is a significantly lower number of participants than in the recent rallies, none of which drew the numbers the Red-Shirt leaders, according to news articles, had hoped for in the first place. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out today. I'm glad I'm not in Bangkok today.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Abhisit Calls in Media to Slam Thaksin Published: 20/03/2010 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has gone on the offensive to counter ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's daily video-link where he encourages people to join the red shirt rallies. The premier yesterday gave an interview with three well-known international news agencies and two local television channels to explain the political situation in the country. Mr Abhisit was interviewed by reporters from Al Jazeera, the BBC and CNN as well as local TV channels 9 and 5 in the same session yesterday. In response to Thaksin's repeated messages that prai, or proletariat, are oppressed by the elite and that Thaksin wanted to fight for the proletariat, Mr Abhisit dismissed Thaksin's remark. Thaksin and UDD leaders have often referred to the red shirts as prai while dubbing wealthy bureaucrats as amataya, or the elite. "Pol Lt Col Thaksin used to be an extremely rich prime minister. Is he an elite or one of the proletariat? This morning I saw a photograph in Matichon newspaper picturing where demonstrators were lying down and another photograph of Pol Col Thaksin and his children overseas. Do these represent the elite and the proletariat?" Mr Abhisit said. He suggested Thaksin should not speak in a way that could create hatred between the rich and poor. Society would be fine as long as people could do their jobs lawfully and had opportunities and rules that everyone respected. Mr Abhisit warned that attempts to divide society and incite people to topple the system were dangerous. He explained that in Thailand there was no longer the proletariat and the elite. All Thai people are equal in terms of freedom but they are unequal in opportunities and his government is trying and doing more than other governments to solve this inequality. He said his government was doing what other governments dared not do. On March 30, the cabinet will consider changes to land and asset taxes. Meanwhile, Thaksin said to his supporters via video-link last night that he did not want to use the prai word for the red shirts' campaign anymore. "I would like to tell the red shirt leaders that Bangkok people don't like the word prai so we should change our word to rasadon temkan [wholly-righteous citizen]," he said. Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the news agencies had sought an interview with Mr Abhisit for several weeks and the prime minister gave it yesterday as it was a good time to communicate with other countries.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Reds Launch Mobile Rally Traffic chaos looming, 30,000 protesters likely Published: 20/03/2010 Authorities and city commuters are bracing themselves for possible traffic chaos as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship embarks on a 46km mobile rally through Bangkok today. Traffic police anticipate traffic snarls when a caravan of about 1,000 cars and motorcycles leaves Phan Fa Bridge, the red shirts' base, for other areas around Bangkok including Rama IV, Silom, Ramkhamhaeng and Yaowarat (for route details, see graphic). The government's peace-keeping command estimates up to 30,000 demonstrators will join the march, half of them from the provinces. The red shirts' march, which may be extended to the Thon Buri side of the city, is expected to take all day. The convoy is likely to leave Phan Fa Bridge at 10am and is expected to finish at 5pm. The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) will deploy at least 1,350 police to help direct traffic. MPB deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Phanu Kerdlarpphol, in charge of traffic, yesterday advised city commuters to avoid the march route. "We will talk to the UDD leaders and have them confirm the routes," he said. Pol Maj Gen Phanu said traffic police will staff intersections to direct traffic and ensure that other motorists can use the roads. He said security would also be stepped up to boost the safety of UDD demonstrators and the public in general. Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the peace-keeping command, asked the UDD not to occupy all traffic lanes, and to allow other commuters to use the roads too. He said security authorities are concerned about "organised" supporters along the routes, but noted that police are making security preparations. Today's march follows a blood protest early this week in which demonstrators shed 10cc of blood each and poured the blood at the gates of Government House to protest against the government's rejection of their demands. Today's march is aimed at drumming up support from city residents for the UDD's battle against the government and the elite. Puea Thai MPs have made a suggestion that the caravan should not carry on for too long, to avoid causing traffic congestion and upsetting commuters, as the UDD has decided to go for a prolonged protest. "[The UDD] needs the support of city residents if it is to prolong the rally. The march is also intended to show the UDD's stance and woo support," said a source in the Puea Thai party. The route does not cover Din Daeng and Nang Loeng communities, who confronted the red shirts when they protested there last April. Two residents of Nang Loeng community were killed and scores of people injured in the clash. Instead the march is set to pass Ramkhamhaeng area which is said to be a support base of its core leader Jatuporn Prompan. UDD leader Weng Tochirakarn yesterday denied the route of the march was designed to pass through Puea Thai's strongholds in the city. "It has nothing to do with the Puea Thai party because we also go through the Yaowarat [Chinatown] area," he said. Few parts of Chinatown are thought to support the UDD. He added the caravan will be decorated with flags bearing messages, "Red Shirts Love Bangkok", and "Bangkok Loves Red Shirts". People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Suriyasai Katasila criticised the red shirts' march, saying it was not a move to pressure the government, but the public in general. The UDD march was unlikely to win support from "the silent force" which was aware of the group's agenda and interests. "It is a parade day for the red shirts in the provinces and in Bangkok," he said. Meanwhile, police are investigating a Molotov cocktail attack at the 2nd Cavalry Division near army-run Channel 5 TV station in Sanam Pao. The attacker hurled a Molotov cocktail, which is made of kerosine, inside the division compound about 11pm. The attacker arrived in one of three taxis which sped away after the attack. It caused slight damage to a decommissioned tank parked outside the division. A taxi driver has been detained and questioned in connection with the attack. Meanwhile, police are also looking into two shootings in Soi Thong Lor on Thursday night to establish if they are related to the political situation. Gunmen sprayed bullets at houses which belong to local businessmen, Supoj Techawibul, 56, and his brother Surapong, 58. The brothers own a pulp-related business which has financial problems. In early February, gunmen fired shots at one house but no one was injured.

One of the things we expats learn to do is to stop comparing prices to the prices one would pay in our home countries. I suppose that's valid when one is in Thailand for short periods of time, but when you're here permanently the prices "back home" become irrelevant. Living in Thailand you start learning to compare prices not to "back home," but to other places in Thailand. While some still retain the notion that you get what you pay for, it doesn't always work that way, at least in Thailand. I would be willing to bet that the haircut you get in most of the 50 to 60 baht places is just as good as the 300 baht haircuts and if some of the barbers in the high-end places were replaced temporarily with the barbers in the "peon" places, you would never know the difference. By the way, how did Yassir Arafat always manage to have a 3-day beard stubble?

I would have thought that would be a pilgrimage to avoid. I didn't know you were a masochist. Now if my face ever appears inside a jar lid, that's when to make a pilgrimage. Pax vobiscum.

The following information was given to me today by someone in full position to know what is going on, but prefers to remain anonymous: _____ I have just heard from people that have been to see Kevin Quill in Klong Prem prison in Bangkok that he expects to be repatriated back to England on the 23rd of this month. He was granted repatriation under the prisoner exchange system that is in place between Thailand and the United Kingdom in mid December last year and has been waiting for a date to depart since then. What this means is that he will be deported to London and then taken to a local prison there for assessment. He has had cancer and has a speech box in his throat that may require some attention. They will also assess where and how he will spend the remaining time of the 6 year prison sentence given to him by the Thai judicial system. I believe that under the terms of the prisoner exchange program he and anyone that is released to their home country's prison system must serve the whole of the remaining sentence handed down by a Thai court in their home country after being sent back there. In Mr. Quill’s case he will still have three and a half years remaining of his 6 year sentence. It’s generally understood that he will be sent to an open prison for some time before being released wearing a radio collar for the remainder of his time.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ UDD Unveils Rally Route Published: 19/03/2010 The red-shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship will start moving out from Phan Fa bridge about 10am on Saturday in a convoy through the capital, a leader of the red-shirted guards said on Friday. Aree Krainara said UDD leaders would be at both the head and the tail of the convoy of vehicles. The campaign to encourage city people to join the rally would end at 6pm, he said. The convoy would move along Yommarat and Phetchaburi roads to the Asoke intersection and turn right to Ratchapisek road, he said. From the Fortune Town department store, the red-shirts would turn to the right and march along Lat Phrao road to Bang Kapi, Lam Sali intersection, Ramkhamhaeng road, Rama 9 road, Khlong Tan, Phra Khanong, Silom, Rama IV, Klongtoey, Odeon circle, Yommarat and back to Phan Fa bridge. Pol Lt Gen Santan Chayanont, chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau, said police will try to ensure the general public is not inconvenienced. Pol Maj Gen Piya Utayo, spokesman of Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the government's peacekeeping operation command had ordered police to step up security around the rally sites as it is concerned that a third party might try to instigate unrest. Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said the checkpoint at Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district will be expanded this weekend to accomodate the needs of supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) travelling to Bangkok to reinforce the diminishing number of protesters. "The checkpoint will be expanded to support protesters travelling to the capital," he said. Mr Panithan refused to estimate the number of red-shirts who may arrive to join the rally, but said the number of protesters tends to decrease the longer the rally continues. "Ask the protest leaders for a number," Mr Panithan said. Authorities are preparing safety measures and a traffic plan fopr this weekend, when protesters plan to move pickup trucks around the capital and drum up support for what they now describe as a "class war". Authorities were cooperating with protest leaders and asking them about the routes they plan to travel, he said.

I'm how the other half lives. I shave myself and I get my haircuts four doors down my street for 50 baht . . .

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Thaksin Rejects Peace Effort HRC Holds Talks with Warring Parties Published: 19/03/2010 Ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has thrown cold water on an attempt by the National Human Rights Commission to mediate a settlement between government and red shirts. Thaksin yesterday rejected the panel's legitimacy to act as a broker in the conflict. The commission, led by chairwoman Amara Pongsapich, has been trying to find a way out for both sides since the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rallies kicked off in Bangkok last Friday. Earlier this week, the panel held talks with UDD leading members, including Veera Musikhapong, Jaran Dita-apichai and Weng Tojirakarn. It met with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday at the 11th Infantry Regiment. Its role as mediator had raised hopes of possible negotiations taking place as both the government and the UDD had responded positively. The ultimate goal of the NHRC-brokered talks was to stop the red shirt protests in Bangkok, said Ms Amara. "As of now, they have promised to vacate some areas [they are occupying] for the Red Cross Fair," she said. "That's a positive step. We have to keep talking with the protest leaders to see on which points they can agree. We need to persist with the talks." The fair is due to be held from March 30 to April 7 on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue down to the Royal Plaza and Amphon Garden. Commissioner Nirand Phitakwatchara said people were pinning their hopes on the NHRC to negotiate an end to the political conflict. But he could not promise a quick end to the rally with conditions acceptable to both sides. "I cannot say the rally will end straight away. It will take some time," he said. Mr Jaran agreed with Mr Nirand's remarks, saying: "Our ultimate goal is that the government must dissolve parliament. But it will take several steps at the negotiating table before we reach that point." So far, the UDD's rally has been peaceful despite concerns about the possibility of violence from the government and army. Jatuporn Prompan, another UDD leader, said Mr Abhisit must accept the UDD's demand to dissolve the House of Representatives so there could be a new election. The People's Alliance for Democracy and UDD must also sign a pact promising they would accept the outcome of the next general election and recognise any political parties that emerge as winners and form a government, he said. The government has repeatedly made clear its position that it would not dissolve the House before it could be sure it could turn around the economy, speed up constitutional amendments and draw up electoral regulations that are acceptable to all parties. Mr Abhisit has insisted there must be a guarantee politicians can travel anywhere in the country to woo votes, even in their rivals' strongholds, before he agrees to dissolve the House. But he said all the UDD demands were negotiable as long as they involve "the interests of the general public", such as the dissolution of the House, and they have nothing to do with Thaksin's personal benefits. "If the demands are for the sake of a person's benefit, I don't think the government is in a position to talk because the government is duty-bound to act in the interests of the public," the prime minister said. One of the stumbling blocs to the NHRC's initiative, however, looks like it could be Thaksin himself. Last night, he rejected the role of the commission as he said it had not been proven it was an independent body. He accused the NHRC of serving the interests of the amataya bureaucratic elite. Mr Abhisit said he could tolerate abuse from some of the UDD leaders, but he found threats of violence and remarks inciting violence, though spoken politely, unacceptable. Mr Abhisit also said he was planning to file lawsuits against UDD leaders who used and distributed an audio clip in which he allegedly orders security forces to use violence to put down protesters during the Songkran riots in April last year. Mr Abhisit said the clip contained his voice but it was doctored. He said he might seek a court injunction banning the use and distribution of the clip. Mr Abhisit said he would also file defamation lawsuits against Thaksin and Mr Jatuporn. On Tuesday, Thaksin spoke during a video link address to the red shirts and said Mr Abhisit was "mentally disturbed". He also likened the prime minister to Adolf Hitler. Democrat Party for Bangkok MP Natthapol Theepsuwan, the party's director, said the party would take legal action against the protesters who smeared blood at the party's headquarters.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Where will Thaksin End Up - Literally? By Tulsathit Taptim The Nation Published on March 19, 2010 It is clear that this is not the upheaval that Thaksin Shinawatra was hoping for. But what he plans to do next is as foggy as the air in Chiang Mai at the moment. On Wednesday, in the face of setbacks, he was belligerent, asking the dwindling numbers of red shirts at the Phan Fah Bridge to hold on for just one more week, after which, he promised, they would be tasting a sweet victory. Reports indicated that fresh funds have been shipped in to bolster the sagging campaign. Though most of the protesters came to Bangkok with "pure hearts" - as the organisers have insisted - they still have to eat and support the ones they've left behind. A lot of the red shirts have deserted the rally, and considering the official breakaway of hardliners led by ex-communist Surachai Sae Dan and fugitive Jakrapob Penkair, as well as the backlash of the blood protest, the movement needs urgent and drastic re-engineering. Though how this will be done is an urgent question, an even more immediate issue has to do with Thaksin's whereabouts. Public and media curiosity aside, his political movement is badly distracted by questions about where he has been and the government's claims that he has been kicked out of the United Arab Emirates. During his phone-in on Wednesday night, Thaksin vowed to return to the UAE port city of Dubai very soon to prove that the Foreign Ministry was lying. He said he was in Montenegro for business, and photos circulated online yesterday did indeed show him and his children in that country. So, what has really happened? Without access to flight and immigration records, one can only speculate. SCENARIO ONE Here's Thaksin's side of the story: He innocently left Dubai for Montenegro to inspect a hotel renovation after deciding to plunge into property investment there. The trip unfortunately coincided with an earlier Thai government protest to the UAE Embassy that he was using Dubai as a political base to undermine the Bangkok administration. Loophole: Leaving Dubai for another staggering business investment at a time when his "slave" protesters were sleeping on the streets and shedding blood? SCENARIO TWO He has been staying in Cambodia to be in a better position to guide (or command, if you will) the red shirts. The Montenegro photos could be old ones. He wasn't expelled from the UAE and is about to return to rub it in the Foreign Ministry's face. Loophole: AFP reported Thaksin had been spotted in Montenegro just a few days ago, and later the Montenegrin police confirmed he was there. Nobody has seen him in Cambodia lately. SCENARIO THREE The same as Scenario Two, except he came to Cambodia after being booted out of Dubai. Loophole: He might pop up in Dubai today or tomorrow. SCENARIO FOUR A mix of Scenarios One and Two. He had come to Cambodia and, after learning that his location was being compromised (a lot of news reports were speculating that he was in Cambodia), he flew off to Montenegro and pretended to have been there all along. He wasn't expelled by the UAE and is poised to embarrass the Foreign Ministry in a day or two. Loophole: Nobody has really seen him in Cambodia lately. SCENARIO FIVE The same as Scenario Four except he has actually been ousted from Dubai. Loophole: Nobody has really seen him in Cambodia lately and he has been very defiant about returning to the UAE. SCENARIO SIX Doesn't have much to do with where he was, but whether he was really kicked out by the UAE. In this scenario, he was really asked to leave, which explains why he wasn't "quite there" for his followers at the beginning of their most crucial campaign to save him. But according to this scenario he will be able to return to Dubai after lobbying or negotiating with his long-time hosts. Loophole: Too much diplomatic flip-flopping for comfort.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Strong Baht is only for the Near Term: Porntiva By PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai said the baht would be stronger only for a short period following a flood of investment into the stock market. She maintains export value can still meet the 14-per-cent growth target previously forecast for this year. In the first quarter alone, exports look set to grow 20 per cent to US$40 billion (Bt1.29 trillion). However, she admitted export growth could slow in the second quarter if the baht remained too strong for long, because it would create problems for exporters trying to do business. Thai Rice Exporters Association president Chookiat Ophaswongse said Thai rice exporters faced greater difficulty competing with Vietnamese exports, due to the widening price gap between the two countries' rice. "Vietnamese rice is much cheaper than Thai rice, by $80 to $100 per tonne. Vietnam's dong is 8-per-cent weaker than the baht. Thailand will definitely lose export share in many countries that prefer cheaper rice," he said. Phongsak Assakul, vice chairman of both the Board of Trade and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern about the baht's appreciation possibly slowing export recovery in the second quarter. He called for the Bank of Thailand to control the baht, in order to ensure the Kingdom's competitiveness. The government may not have to announce a weaker unit, but it should ensure the baht is not too strong against other currencies, Phongsak said.

We also need to invite Job. Sometimes we need his patience.

'Daniel Boone' Star Fess Parker Dies By Alan Duke, CNN March 18, 2010 Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Fess Parker, best known for playing Daniel Boone in a 1960s television series, died Thursday at his home near Santa Barbara, California, his publicist said. He was 85. Parker followed his acting career with successful hotel and winery ventures around Santa Barbara. A statement issued by his family did not reveal the cause of death. Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella, their son and daughter, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild who "spent a great deal of time with Fess in his final months and weeks," the statement said. A native of Texas, Parker served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before graduating from the University of Texas-Austin in 1950. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s to pursue acting. Walt Disney cast Parker in the lead role of "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier," co-starring Buddy Ebsen. He followed that with several more Disney films, including "Davy Crockett and the River Boat Pirates," "The Great Locomotive Chase" and "Smoky." His TV career took off in 1964 with the title role in NBC's "Daniel Boone," which aired for for six seasons. When the series ended in 1970, Parker became a real estate developer in Santa Barbara. "After successfully opening three high-end mobile home parks, the 360-room Fess Parker Doubletree Resort opened in 1985," the family statement said. "It is one of the most successful hotels on the Santa Barbara waterfront." Parker and his family also opened Fess Parker Winery on the Foxen in Los Olivos, California.

You're going to be awfully busy. I hope you'll get a chance to come up for air once in a while . . .

Well, that's certainly a novel approach. The trouble is we didn't know the price until we received our bill and none of us had checked the price on the menu. It never occurred to us that this particular restaurant was going to charge two to four times the price that you find for the same water in any other restaurant in all of Pattaya. The criticism being heaped upon me at the moment includes people comparing the price we paid for water and food to prices one would pay in the USA and elsewhere. In case the critics hadn't noticed, we're not in the USA. Saying, "Prices in Thailand are much less than in the USA" is about as invalid a criticism as I've ever encountered. The issue isn't the actual price. The issue is this one restaurant charging much more for the water than any other restaurant my friends and I have ever been to in all of Thailand, and we've been to plenty, including the expensive gourmet restaurants. If most other restaurants were also charging 80 baht for a small bottle of water, then we wouldn't have anything to complain about, would we? That would be the expected price. It wasn't just the price of the water. What set me off about this was the attitude of the management coupled with the fact that we couldn't get our bill. There were only three other tables occupied at the time and there were two waiters. It took us ten minutes just to get a waiter to even glance in our direction, despite signaling and one of my friends calling out to him. Then it took nearly 30 minutes to get our bill. It would have taken even longer, but one of my friends finally got fed up and went over to the owner, who was paying no attention to anyone other than the small group at his own table, and asked him to get our bill for us. Then, when we saw the price of the water, the owner was standing right there at our table. I asked him if that is correct. He said yes. I then pointed out that this is far more expensive than anywhere else in Pattaya and I asked him to explain why he is charging that price. Instead of answering, he just said "sorry" and walked away. If the critics want to be treated like that, that's their business. While the critics are busy telling me how wrong we were, I'll remind them that in the entire history of my presence on the message boards, this is the first time anyone has ever seen a post from me lashing out at an individual restaurant. I think I'm perfectly justified. None of the critics were there with us, but they're sure quick to ridicule. Meanwhile, I don't doubt for an instant that most people would have reacted as we did if they endured the same experience. "Go on, tell me about it, Cole. Tell me about how if it was you, you'd have done it different." - Robert Mitchum to John Wayne, 'El Dorado'

Shhhhhh! Don't tell anybody. You might spoil my reputation . . .

Restaurant Pattaya Casa Pascal March 16~31 Gourmet Set Menu House Champagne *** Amuse Bouche *** White Wine Cackle Berry Chardonnay, Australia 2007 Beef Carpaccio with Truffles, Parmesan Cheese and Ruccola *** Tomato Essence with Shrimp Ravioli, Potato Dumpling and green Peas *** Salmon Mousse in a zesty Basil Sauce *** Sherbet of mixed Forest Berries *** Red Wine Cackle Berry, Shiraz, Australia, 2006 Rock Lobster Thermidor -or- Pork Filet Mignon in Bacon Wrap, glazed in red Wine with Bone Marrow & Mushrooms, served with Spaetzle *** Peach Pan Cake Suzette -or- Selection of premium international Cheese *** Coffee or Tea Calvados, Grappa, Remy Martin, Williams Food only 1,550 Baht (36.50 Є) Menu with Unlimited Beverages 3,350 Baht (78.90 Є) Restaurant Pattaya Casa Pascal

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ UDD rejects talks offer Published: 18/03/2010 at 04:53 PM The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Thursday rejected Prime Minister Abhsit Vejjajiva's repeated offer to enter into negotiations provided the red-shirt protest remains within the law . UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said there could be no talks as long as the government refuses to consider dissolving dissolve the House of Representatives and calling a general election. Mr Prompan said the UDD is ready for talks but the government must not set pre-conditions. Moreover, the UDD would talk only with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, not his representatives. "The talks must be be with Mr Abhisit only because Mr Korbsak would not be able to make any decisions and Mr Suthep tells lies on a daily basis," he said, referring to PM secretary-general Korbsak Sabhavasu and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Jatuporn said if the government wanted to talk it must listen to every matter. "The talks must be without pre-conditions because we are not Mr Abhisit's underlings. Forget about the talks, if a House dissolution is left out," he said. Mr Jatuporn said the UDD would not talk if the prime minister did not soften his uncompromising stance. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Abhisit said the government was open to talks provided that the UDD respects the law.

Since the rally seems to be subdued today, rather than call this Day 7, I'll stick to individual reports that may be of interest to you. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Case being prepared against reds Published: 18/03/2010 at 12:36 PM Police are preparing a case for legal action against the red-shirts who rallied in front of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's house in Sukhumvit Soi 31 on Wednesday. Pol Maj-Gen Anuchai Lekbamrung, the Metropolitan Police Division 5 commander, said during the rally the protesters poured blood, said to be drawn from the red shirts, on the ground in front of the gate of the prime minister's residence, splashed the blood on the fence and threw bags blood and other objects over the fence. Many of the bags landed on the house's roof. Police would examine recordings of closed-circuit television cameras installed around Mr Abhisit's houses and those of the neighbours to see who among the red shirts had broken the law. Those found to have committed legal offences would be summoned to acknowledge charges, Pol Maj-Gen Anuchai said. Pol Maj-Gen Anuchai said police and military personnel would continue to be on guard duty at the prime minister's house around the clock. Vehicles and people acting suspiciously would be checked while passing Sukhumvit Soi 31 and nearby sois. ____________________ PM to Sue Thaksin, Red Leaders Published: 18/03/2010 at 01:08 PM Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has instructed the Democrat Party's lawyers to gather evidence to take legal action against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leaders for making false accusations against him, Thepthai Senpong, the PM's personal spokesman, said on Thursday. Democrat Party's team of lawyers is led by Bandhit Siriphan. Mr Thepthai said that Thaksin, in a video link speech to his red-shirted supporters during a rally at Phan Fa bridge, accusing Mr Abhisit of being as dictatorial as Adolph Hitler, the World War II leader of Nazi Germany. UDD leaders Jatuporn Prompan, Suporn Atthawong and Arisman Pongruangrong had also again, during the rallies, replayed a maliciously edited recording of Mr Abhisit's speech before the Songkran riots last year. Each of these people may face at least one or two legal cases. Mr Jatuporn had already been prosecuted in three other cases, Mr Thepthai said. ______________________________ And these, from THE NATION: _____ Assassination Squads Hunting Abhisit: Report By THE NATION Published on March 18, 2010 Intelligence organs have warned of an assassination plot against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, which is why he had to take cover inside the 11th Infantry Regiment base, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said yesterday. Metropolitan Police spokesman Maj Gen Piya Uthayo also said police obtained a tip-off the premier and some other heavyweights were targets of death squads. City police had stepped up their already-strict security measures for the key figures, he said. Up to six groups known for violence and inciting chaos in the country are being monitored for possible attacks, he said. Abhisit dodged a question from reporters about the assassination plan, leaving in his armoured vehicle without responding. _____ Red Shirts Threaten to Hound PM Everywhere Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, Thursday vowed to lead protesters to hound Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva no matter where he goes. "Now, the red-shirt people are on alert. If there is a report that the prime minister attends the House meeting today, we will go there to besiege Parliament to submit our demand directly to him," Natthawut said. "We will do the same if the prime minister goes into the Government House but we will not break in. We will follow him no matter where he goes." _____ Red-Shirts Protesting at Thai Bourse About 40 red-shirt supporters protested outside the Thai Stocks Exchange on Thursday morning, demanding probe into whether the finance minister used tax revenue to buy shares recently.

Aging Issues can be Tougher on Gays (CNN) -- Last Christmas, Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Dennis Engelhard was putting flares near a minor accident on a snowy road in Eureka when he was hit by a car and killed. "I'd had a premonition about it," said Kelly Glossip, 43, Engelhard's domestic partner of 15 years. The openly gay couple had discussed what might happen if Engelhard were to die in Missouri, a state that does not recognize same-sex partnerships, he said. "He had faith in the system and told me not to worry about it," Glossip said from his home in suburban St. Louis. But now Glossip, who works only part time in a billing office because of back problems and who supports his 17-year-old son, is worried and angry. The state would have given a pension to the wife of any officer killed on the job but has no such provision for domestic partners, Glossip said. "I'm basically on my own," he said. Denny Meyer, 63, knows all about being on his own. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1968 to pay his country back for welcoming his parents, both Holocaust survivors, after World War II. He stayed 10 years and loved it but remained in the closet until after he was discharged. After a career in New York, where he was open about his sexuality, "I started to get old," he said. "I'm an old 63 because of bad luck with cancer and this and that." Living alone on a limited income, with no close relatives, he was accepted to live in a senior citizens' home in the borough of Queens but turned it down. "I'm used to being out, so the idea of going into senior housing in a straight environment is horrifying," he said. "I knew that I would have to go completely back in the closet." Though aging is tough for everyone, it tends to be tougher for people who are gay, according to a report presented Wednesday at the annual conference of the National Council on Aging and the American Society on Aging in Chicago, Illinois. According to the report, Improving the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Older Adults, issues that disproportionately affect LGBT older adults include stigma, isolation and unequal treatment. Together, they translate into their being poorer and sicker and having fewer opportunities for social and community engagement than do their heterosexual peers, according to the report. Many older LGBTs' financial woes can be traced to the fact that discrimination was legal during their working lives, which often meant thinner paychecks, limited access to health care, fewer chances to build pensions and smaller Social Security payments, the report said. For example, lesbian couples' Social Security benefits are typically 31.5 percent smaller and gay couples' benefits are 17.8 percent smaller than are those of heterosexual couples, the report said, citing a 2009 study. Family members provide about 80 percent of long-term care in the United States, but that's not the case with LGBT elders, since they are more likely to be single, childless and estranged from their biological families, said the report. Instead, many of them wind up relying on friends and the community, so-called families of choice, it said. And that's just the beginning, according to the report, which cited "official policies, laws and institutional regulations" that offer same-sex partners few of the resources afforded to spouses and biological family members. That's largely because those laws, programs and services either don't acknowledge or don't protect the partners of LGBTs or because they don't address the stigma and discrimination that result in worse treatment of LGBT elders, it said. The report cited a 2001 study by the U.S. Administration on Aging that found LGBT elderly are only a fifth as likely as heterosexuals to use such services as senior centers, housing assistance, meal programs, food stamps and other entitlements. "There's a whole labyrinth of challenges and pitfalls for same-sex couples and LGBTs in general," said Michael Adams, the executive director of Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders, who helped write the report. The report cited these other inequalities:

Physically unclean. Not believing in personal hygiene. Low class trash. No social skills. OMG! That means I'm Russian!!!!!!

In Bangkok it was called Vickie L'Amour. It is definitely the same owner.

If that is the case, I'd like a list of those restaurants. That way I'll know where not to go. If overpriced mediocre food, with too small portions and lousy, indifferent service is the trend, include me out . . .

Welcome once again to my "I Don't Get It" list. Over the past few months there have been news reports quite often about Russian couples having sex at night on the beach, without regard to Thai laws, customs, or even whether they are drawing a crowd. WHY? Something is wrong with their hotel rooms? Are they just clueless? Does this sort of thing go on as a matter of routine in Russia? If yes, where's the gay beaches . . . ? The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: for photos, see: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/03/17/russian-couple-caught-fornicating-on-a-pattaya-beach _____ Russian Couple Caught Fornicating On A Pattaya Beach Another case of a Russian couple caught fornicating on Jomtien Beach appeared on Wednesday morning. The pair were not arrested as they had fled the scene before police arrived. Various local residents and tourists witnessed the indecent acts. Pattaya, the 17th of March 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 6:30am on Thursday, reporters were informed of a Russian couple that had been caught fornicating on the Jomtien Beach at the Dongtan Curve near the local police station. Local reporters arrived at the scene, following an anonymous tipoff, photographing the couple in the midst of sexual intercourse. The pair seemed completely unaware or unashamed that an audience was gathering nearby, proceeding to finish their inappropriate antics and leaving the scene before police arrived to arrest them. Note (from editor): Insufficient or ineffective punishment for public indecency in Pattaya has significantly contributed to an increase in this type of act, notably from the Russian contingent visiting or living in the region. The attractive location and pleasant atmosphere created by the sunrise and morning peace along the beach, likely attracts Russian couples who otherwise do not get the opportunity to consider such acts in their home country.