Bob

I'm not at all for circumcision (it seems in this day and age there's no need for it at all); however, in my view, no government ought to ban it either (part of government's obligation to protect freedom of religion and choice is to stay the hell out of banning something unless there is clear or significant personal or societal harm). I think the German court is out of bounds on this ruling.

I won't even ask what that means.... Towel (ผ้าเช็ดตัว) is pronounced paa (falling tone) - chet (low tone) - dtua (flat or mid tone). You confused me because the pronunciation "pra" (in English) normally means a buddhist monk or buddha image in Thai. But, then again, if you're naked, maybe you call it your little buddha?

Teach me some! What the heck's a "pratchatua?"

TW, I can only make out a little of what he and the alleged "Thai Siri" are saying but I got the drift it was simply a gag (although the title at the end reads "Siri's Thai is awesome!") At one point, he's asking the "Thai Siri" if she's beautiful but I can't make out what she answers.

Somewhat a non-sequitur. I'm guessing now that you're using "style" to mean both writing ability and content. I can separate the writing style from the content and attitude expressed and that's why I asked the question. For example, William F. Buckley wrote very well but I rarely agreed with the attitudes and content (often right-wing Republicanism) he often expressed in spite of the "50-cent words" he used to dress up rather plebian concepts. In any event, almost all of this particular blogger's content is well written in my view (as you say, he's very good at turning a phrase and use of the language) and I at times have enjoyed the insights and attitudes he's expressed on some topics; however, he's a master of sarcasm and, in my view, full of himself at times. It seems that he spends a great deal of time honing his words and, while I fully understand his right to say anything he wants, I at times get the drift he gets orgasmic delight in attempting to cleverly put somebody else down. I've never liked the concept of internet anonymity which provides license for some people to say things they wouldn't have the guts to say to another person's face.

I'm not sure I should vote as I'm really not sure what question you are posing. If you're truly only asking about writing style in the literal sense - whether the guy writes well - the answer from me would be a resounding "yes" from me (at least most of the time); however, if you're asking about the guy's content and attitude, I personally I find his smart-ass and allegedly superior attitude to be a bit off-putting at times. Clarify your question and I'll vote.

Okay, sorry, guess that's what it's called. I flew a few times in a friend's plane and he let me fly on occasion. I remember that he spent a little time carping at me to keep the plane flying level at the same altitude so the altimiter and artificial horizon were the instruments that allowed me to do that (besides just looking out the window and having a sense of what I thought was "level"). I remain dumbfounded how those pilots didn't know about their extreme nose-up attitude. As I mentioned before, the take-off ascent is usually at a 14-17 percent incline and you sure can feel that in a plane. One would think that common sense (hearing the engines operating which means you've got some power) and feeling the extreme nose-up angle of 35+ degrees (over double the incline of a take-off ascent!) would have clued in even an inexperienced pilot that a stall was happening (and, again, one must remember that an audible "stall" warning was screaming in the cockpit at the time!). Your last comment about fighter pilots is interesting. Perhaps you're attempting to say that flight experience in planes without all the fancy knobs and computers actually counts for something and with that I agree wholeheartedly.

I can't see it happening although Ting Tong and this board seem to have somewhat compatible moderators and moderation styles and I suppose a merger is possible there provided the owners would have the desire. All of the other boards seem to be a bit different. BS, of course, is simply out of the question in my view given the proclivity of it's lockstep political views (and general anti-Israel rantings) and, additionally, its allowance of 3-4 morons to romp in the halls. GB's board is rather Pattaya-centric and both that issue and Mr. Iron Fist's style would likely present some hesitations for some people. The Sawatdee Board seems to be escaping it's 2-3 year decline caused by the likes of Beachlover and his band of smart-asses (who helped BL fuck up that board but now disingenuously assert they never liked him or particpated in his games). The changes in Sawatdee in recent months have been dramatic and long overdue in my view and I'm really hopeful that the changes are long-term as Sawatdee truly has some top-notch posters who've been around for a very long time; heck, maybe I'll even end my own self-imposed posting absence there someday. In any event, can't really see any reasonable possibilities of mergers of boards and I guess I'm not even sure about the need. I've thought for whatever reason that the interest of people in the message boards has waned over the last decade and I actually don't see that trend reversing. Doesn't seem to be any new blood and too many of us are getting a bit long in the tooth (although, if we last as long as Geezer, I suppose many of us will still be around for another decade or two...haha).

Watched a news program yesterday and read a couple of online articles about this accident and the report the French just issued. Overall, it seemed to me that the French report was much too kind on the crew of this airplane and the airplane itself. I have no expertise at all in this and, with that understanding, I am still going to make a few comments. (1) The Captain wasn't in the cockpit when the incident began to happen (he was on his routine break) and the remaining crew more than once (given they couldn't figure out what was happening) commented more than once "where the hell is the captain" or words to that effect. Once the Captain showed up, it didn't seem to me that he took control of the situation (or had any better clue himself as to what was happening). (2) In a 777 or any other modern aircraft, one of the main ways you point the nose of an airplane up or down is by pushing in or pulling back the yoke. This Airbus plane (all Airbus planes?) didn't have that feature but instead has a small lever to the side of the seats. Apparently, in this incident, the co-pilot had pulled his lever back and anybody in the pilot's seat would not have been able to physically see that. Other pilots have made the following comments: ( a ) Based on the cockpit conversations, there was some confusion as to if or who was pointing the nose of the aircraft up. It's possible that had the Captain (once he got back from break) had been aware that the co-pilot had pulled his lever back that the Captain might have told him to alter that move. ( b ) Multiple pilots made the comment that an experienced pilot in most airplanes would have known a stall was going on just by the feel from his hands on the yoke (which will shake or shudder when a stall is happening). That feature/ability wasn't on this Airbus plane (either because the "little lever" referred to above doesn't transmit those shudders and/or because the pilot's and co-pilot's hands are gripping the wheel). In this particular accident, it might seem that the "old" system might have been better. (3) I'm a bit clueless as to how this crew couldn't realize they had the nose pointed so far up as to stall. The report indicates that we're talking about at least a 35 degree pitch (up) throughout the entire descent and that's friggin' huge (a typical take-off ascent is at a 14-17 degree angle). Aren't there instruments on board that tell you that (besides the audible warning going off that you're stalling the friggin' airplane)? Isn't there a horizon line meter(I realize I'm using the wrong terms here) right in front of both pilots? Wouldn't they have least felt the incline? Heck, a glass of water sitting there would have physically shown a 35 degree pitch big time! Puzzling, at least to me.

The only group that possibly could seize power in the country is the army. Whether the yellow shirts can egg them on again (repeating what happened in 2006), I'm not sure. But I can't see any civil war. Thais in general are simply too politically docile. After the coup occurred in 2006, I asked a couple of Thai friends in Chiangmai what they thought about the army seizing power and the answer I got from both was "not my business." I was dumbfounded by the answer (in the US, an attempted coup would be met within hours by 30-40 million armed civilians on the streets) and wondered who's business it was if not theirs! Michael, when you say the "yellow shirts", who do you mean? The PAD wackos? For god's and sanity's sake, I hope your acqaintenances have no connection at all with one of the PAD leaders, ol' wacky Sondhi Limongkul! He's quite the piece of work.

Bangkok Bank, years ago, refused internet access to me without a work permit so I simply moved over to SCB where I've had internet access for 8-9 years. Got it while I was on holiday in Thailand on the 30-day exemption deal (didn't get my retirement visa until 3 years ago). SCB does not charge me an annual fee for my ATM/debit card (and, yes, I've checked my monthly statements online for years). The only fee I pay to SCB for having or using the ATM/debit card is when I rarely use it outside of Chiangmai province and, if my memory is correct, it's 50 baht to do that. Agree with GB about the wire fees. My US bank charges me $45.00 for a transfer and, given I only do it once a year, it's an insignificant expense. A simple and safe way to transfer funds to my Thai accounts.

Why the heck not? I rather am enjoying the one I have...especially the 5% interest SCB is paying for this 6-month time period (last 6-month period of a two-year cd).

Apparently the big deal here is that banks no longer (after August 21) are allowed to open a bank account based on a photocopy of identification cards. That provision really won't affect us falang as I believe banks have always required us to produce an original passport to open an account. But, years ago, there were occasional comments by banks that we falang couldn't have an account unless we had a work permit and/or some banks (Bangkok Bank in my case) refused to allow internet access for the bank account unless you had a work permit. The last sentence in the article you cite reads: "However, since last month, the SCB has requested foreign nationals seeking to open accounts with the bank to produce additional identification documents such as a work permit." While this statement doesn't directly say that SCB and other Thai banks won't allow falang without a work permit to open an account, it smells close to some of the requirements some banks asserted 5 to 10 years ago. The article doesn't say anything about changing existing accounts that falang or others already have. That's good but, of course, that's no guarantee that things won't be changing there too (as we know, it's a bit difficult to know if the newspaper article is very thorough or accurate). If we're lucky, this new regulation won't mean a thing (or, if it does, it will quickly lapse into disuse like many other Thai "laws").

I have yet to find any tech product that's cheaper in Thailand than in the US. Most (cameras, smart cards, etc.) cost 20-40% more in Thailand. I'm not sure about mobile phones but am wondering if you checked the US price online.

The story stems from a meeting by the Governor of the Province who discussed the issue of complaints of locals about noise, drugs, and after-hours clubs. There's an article about it in the current online issue of Chiangmai Mail. I'm not sure how much authority the Governor has within the confines of the City of Chiangmai but I'm doubtful that any of the gay venues are targeted. So, I wouldn't worry about it for now.

Do you know if there will be any remaining flights by any airlines between Suvarnabhumi and Chiangmai? Last time they moved some of the domestic flights to Don Muang, there still were plenty of flights from CNX to Suvarnabhumi and vice versa. If not.....ugh.....looks like I have to gaze at Don Muang again.

I'm almost never around Pattaya but I do recall my last two visits seeing a whole lot of arabs just north of the Sunee Plaza area. Didn't bother me but I do recall feeling a bit uncomfortable a few times when a groups of arab men sitting outside a store or building would really stare you down in an unfriendly manner when you walked by. I don't think it was either my imagination or personal prejudices (although I must say a lot of them looked like Yassir Arafat.....).

Well, other than sinking into the swamp and likely built wrong, not a thing!

Showing my age, perhaps, but I figured the title about "Lonesome George" was about George Goebels! A week or two ago, there was a story about two tortoises in an Austrian zoon named Bibi and Poldi who are 116 years old, who've been a couple for 115 of those years, but they're now separating because the female is getting testy (she bit him and took a chunk out of his shell recently). Supposedly - according to the US comedians - the male tortoise was screwing around (he had a tryst with a 110-year-old hottie) and the female was just getting even.

While they may have no choice for a while, it intuitively seems to me to be too expensive and too inconvenient to have two airports. But, for a whole lot of reasons, I don't expect any long-term intelligent solution to just about anything in Thailand. I'll fly whatever flight goes from Chiangmai to Suvarnabhumi as the only reason I ever go down to Bangkok is to get on an international flight; however, I now have a new option - Chiangmai direct to Seoul via Korean Air and that may end up as my new route out of the country (at least to and from the states). As an added bonus, I can go through immigration in Chiangmai (that's fairly easy and fast).

Of course, quite titillating.

Rather than selling the table, perhaps it would be advisable for Mr. Reflection to exchange the table for some time with a personal fitness trainer!?!

Shouldn't be any problems doing that. Some hotels (justifiably in my view) don't like it when somebody books a single and then have people over every night (or multiple times). I can't imagine, however, you'll have any issue at Mercure. There are untold numbers of restaurants here in Chiangmai and I'd guess that I haven't even tried 5% or 10% of them. When you're anyplace for a substantial period of time, I think you tend to gravitate back to those places you know and where you liked the food or service. One of my favorite Thai dishes is the simple "kao man gai" (rice with boiled chicken pieces on top and it's always served with a bowl of chicken soup/broth and a garnish of cucumbers slices) and I know 3 places I eat that all the time (4-5 times per week, almost always for my first meal of the day). Two great places for that on Sirimangkalajarn and even the Topp's cafeteria at Kad Suan Kaew has some great kao man gai ...and I'm forgetting about another good place near Tanin market too! Oftentimes, for Thai food, the clearly best places to go are Thai restaurants - and often stalls on a street or little "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants here and there. There's a superb "jok" (rice congee or porridge) restuarant on the north side of the moat (maybe a couple of hundred yards west of the Chang Phuak gate) but you'll often find yourself waiting for a seat early in the morning or about lunchtime. For Thai food, just go to where the Thais go....and, if you go in a place an almost nobody is there or only falang are there, it's usually a good idea to go elsewhere! The Thais don't suffer bad food at all and it's amazing how one can find good Thai food by simply walking around and stopping wherever a lot a Thais are eating. The Jok restaurant noted above is an example of that. I understand what you said about the one bar - I too have found myself turning around to see who the heck was there (and it wasn't too easy to see faces or numbers in that particular case). And, no, they usually won't put on a show just for one or two people so occasionally it's hit and miss. Try New My Way or Adam's Apple and my guess is you won't be disappointed. In any event, have fun whatever you end up doing. P.S. Chez Marco serves an extremely delicious steak entree (my guess is it's Australian beef) for, if my memory is correct, 495 baht. It's really good.

Your post about the bars - limited contact, a walk-through one time, unreadable numbers - hasn't been my experience at all. It almost sounds like you were not there during one of the shows and/or perhaps arrived after a show was over. I admittedly don't go to the showbars more than a few times a year and, given I'm hitched (hog-tied?), I don't go looking to off anybody; however, that's never prevented me from easily zeroing in on who I would off if the inclination were to hit me. Would be happy to recommend some restaurants but would ask that you please give us an idea of what type of food and/or ambience you're looking for. For falang food, I personally don't think there's any better place than Chez Marco on Loy Kroh. The House on Moon Muang is also a favorite of mine and it serves a mixture of falang and Thai food (and, while Chez Marco might have a slight edge on quality for falang food, The House has very good Thai food and the ambience is much better and quieter there in my opinion). Also, the newer place "The Market" (or perhaps the name is "River Market") on the river (on Charoen Bpratet about 200 feet south of the old iron bridge) is a very exceptional place with great falang food, very good Thai food, and a rather fancy sushi bar. If you happen to have a particular type of food you like or you favor a particular Thai dish, mention that and one or two of us likely can recommend a place or two for that.

He didn't voluntarily stop posting here, he was tossed into the cyberspace bin. He also was tossed into the same bin at Gaybutton's site. I actually don't even want to talk about the creep as he gets off on impersonating someone who he's not and commenting on topics he has no clue about. He's pretty much exposed himself as a fraud over the last 2-3 years on multiple boards (people eventually figured it out) but, as you noted, I'm also fairly sure he's hanging around in other guises (but , if we're lucky, not here). His last main posting bastion was at Sawatdee but then he disappeared (at least for a while) after just about everybody there called him out as a fraud. Like Arnold, I'm sure he'll be back as sickos like that live for the attention even if it's mainly negative. The BL character claimed to be at first a 24-year old Asian living in Australia yet it was remarkable that his language and syntax (other than a "mate" or "crikey" tossed in on rare occasion) sounded like that of an American at least to me. And he then eventually made some really stupid factual mistakes, the funniest one of which was his claim that he saw a fairly scary movie in 1979 (which was somewhat problematic given, according to his story, he was born in 1985). I think that most people on the message boards are who they say they are and generally behave in the same way they would in front of other people; unfortunately, however, the internet does happen to foster and facilitate what I call internet cowards (those who use the anonymity of the internet to say things they wouldn't have the balls to say to somebody's face) and also provides a platform for people playing strange mind games and roles. In real life, our behavior is forever being moderated by the reactions of others to what we say and do; unfortunately, the closeted wackos (those that have minimal social contact or other significant personality issues - the same ones who have been slapped down so many times in real life when they played games or uttered nonsense in person) keep on ticking as a typed "you're nuts" or "fuck off" doesn't seem to have much effect on them.