Gaybutton

In 'morning'? Is that anything like in 'mourning'? Do you think I'm mourning in the morning? Do you think I spent my morning mourning? I'm going to keep my thoughts private, for once. Enjoy that. It may be the only time it will ever happen . . .

6 boys and this was only your second day here. You don't waste time, do you? You're going to need a vacation from your vacation. That merits some sort of award. Well, all I've got to offer is two quotes instead of my usual one quote: "Live each day as if it's your last. Some day you're sure to be right." -Edward Woodward, 'Breaker Morant' "I'm in the mood for love Simply because I've got one . . ." - Don Ameche, 'Cocoon' No wonder you take the baht bus. You don't have time for a leisurely stroll. Do you realize how envious a lot of people reading this, who are stuck back home and can't be here, must be? I'll bet many would almost be willing to murder their mother if they could be doing what you're doing right now. And you're going to be here for how many more days?

Well, I've said it once and I'll say it again. I don't understand why those of you who are eligible don't simply open a Thai bank account and however you want to do it, a transfer while still in your home country, travel checks, cash, or whatever, just put the funds you'll need while in Thailand into that account and be done with it. Then you won't have any of these problems. Those of you who can, but don't, you're on my "I Don't Get It" list.

I'm disappointed that they don't have Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, or the PTL Club. Always my favorites! I remember when Mark Russell sang a song about good ol' Jim and Tammy Bakker on one of his comedy specials. Here it is, sung to the tune of "It's a Small Small World" Come with us, be born again In Jim and Tammy Land, amen! We pray to St. Mercedes Benz In Jim and Tammmmm-meeeeee Land Come to Jim and Tammy Bakker Land Where a hotel room costs a hundred grand So send your check to PTL And if you don't, then go to Hell In Jim and Tammmmm-meeeeee Land

I have a feeling they don't get it either. Consider it added.

I have UBC. They just did the same thing. I discovered it when I saw an Email notice on the television screen. It was written entirely in Thai, so I didn't know what the notice was all about until I discovered that the channel lineup had been changed. UBC actually changed their channel lineup right in the middle of programming. I was watching something on the History Channel and suddenly the screen went blank and a "searching for signal" notice came up. Then, a couple minutes later, the Email notice came up. When the "searching for signal" notice disappeared I decided to channel surf and look for something else to watch, when I spotted the same program I had been watching now continuing on a completely different channel.

As long as the show is profitable, they won't axe it, but Johnny Carson is an awfully difficult act to follow. He is one of those figures about whom it truly can be said "there will never be another one like him." Jay Leno is a funny, clever comedian, but he is no Johnny Carson. I admire him for even trying to follow Johnny Carson. The money just may have had something to do with his decision to try. I never liked David Letterman or Conan O'Brien. Johnny Carson was such an amazing, unique talent. None of the "would be" late night hosts can hold a candle to him. Trying to find another Johnny Carson is like trying to find another Jack Benny, Rodney Dangerfield, or George Carlin. It just isn't going to happen.

Although it was never authorized as an official account of her life by her relatives, probably the best film ever done about the entire story, ranging from prewar, to the discovery of their hiding place, to what took place during the arrest, to what happened to them afterward, and continuing to Anne Frank's death at the Belsen concentration camp, and on to Otto Frank's return to Amsterdam, was "Anne Frank: The Whole Story." It also includes an accurate account of what Miep Gies went through during the the time the family was hiding to what she went through after the hiding place was discovered. I think that film is far better than "The Diary of Anne Frank," which was more of a play than a truly realistic account of what actually happened. If the story interests you, "Anne Frank: The Whole Story" is a film definitely worth seeing if you can get it. Also, there are several documentaries and interviews with Miep Gies on YouTube.

I think you have saved many people from having to pay those outrageous ATM fees. Your method is certainly one of those "why didn't anyone think of this before?" ideas. Most likely if this can be done in one bank, then it probably can be done in all the banks. I hope, as more people try your method in various banks, they will post here and let us know which banks will and which banks won't.

I'm glad you're taking it this way. I hope you will continue to post your excellent reports about your adventures here in The Land of Smiles.

Many of you know Hugh Millar. Hugh first came to Pattaya for a holiday, met Jim Lumsden of The Ambiance, and never went home again. He became the day manager of The Ambiance and was there for many years. Then Hugh wanted to try branching out on his own. Hugh had experience with restaurant ownership back in Scotland, his home country. When the original Second Road location of the Mata Hari restaurant became available, Hugh took over the premises and opened the Symphony restaurant, after which he became involved with Pascal, of the Casa Pascal restaurant. Together they transformed the Poseidon restaurant, located in the Jomtien Complex, into the fine restaurant it is today. Now Hugh has taken the opportunity to become the new manager at Manhattans. Congratulations Hugh! The following appears in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: For photos see: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2010/01/12/new-manager-at-pattaya%E2%80%99s-manhattan-restaurant-2/ _____ New Manager At Pattaya

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: _____ Cowboy Music Carnival 2010 Announcement On Tuesday Afternoon at Pattaya City Hall, Khun Ronagit, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya led a preparation meeting to announce the Cowboy Music Carnival 2010 which is set to take place between 21st and 24th January at the Bali Hai Port located at the south-end of Pattaya Beach. The event is sponsored by the Singh Corporation and the Tourism Authority of Thailand and supported by Pattaya City Hall. The event is a must for all country music enthusiasts and many activities during the 4 day event will be taking place, including a Miss Cowgirl Contest for women aged between 16 and 26 and a cover dances contest for 12 to 22 year olds who will compete in teams of between 5 and 10 people. For more information on this fun event please call 085 832 0287 or the Pattaya City Call Center on 1337.

When I was about 16 years old I went shopping with my mother (by the way, today is her 87th birthday and she's in excellent health. Happy birthday, Mom) at a Woolworth's, which was the equivalent of a Walmart in its day. Among all the items she bought, she also bought a lipstick. About 10 minutes after we got home I heard her cursing. I asked what was wrong. "The lipstick is labeled wrong," she said. "It's the wrong color. The label says one thing, but you see? The color is wrong. I want to go back." Back we went. My mother showed the lipstick to the same cashier where she had paid. The cashier said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Just give it to me and go take another one." My mom rummaged through the lipsticks until she found what she wanted. She opened her purse, dropped in the lipstick, and closed the purse. When she looked up she saw an old lady giving her an icy stare. It was perfectly obvious the old lady thought my mother was shoplifting. My mother walked up to the old lady and said, "Shhhhhh. Doesn't everybody?" Then she turned and walked away as I cracked up watching the old lady's jaw drop.

Do you really care? If he wants to take a baht bus, let him. Maybe he has a sore leg. Maybe he's like me and just lazy. Maybe he's not as familiar with the area as others might be and didn't realize it's an easy walk. Maybe he just plain felt like it. I don't see why someone has to justify his reasons for taking a baht bus instead of walking, for crying out loud.

Very good report and I'm glad you had a nice time, even though your first experience was with a dud. Regarding the young street kids, believe me, unfortunately they're there. I'm surprised you didn't see any. But if you're going to spend time in the Sunee Plaza area, you will. That was good thinking on your part about Gay Romeo. That's one reason I keep recommending it. No buying the obligatory drinks. No off fees. The boy comes to you. And he turned out to be very good. Not bad at all for your first day.

Me too. Back in my university days I asked a store cashier if he had change for a twenty-dollar bill. He said sure and gave me a ten and two fives. I thanked him and left. Yes, I admit it was dishonest of me, but I was a lot younger then. He did just fine giving me change for the twenty. I had never given him anything. "I can't win for nuthin'! A waiter gave me the wrong check. It was for the guy at the next table. I looked over at him and said, 'Hey, buddy. I've got your check.' He said, 'Thanks.'" - Rodney Dangerfield

Scalia has always been my personal favorite. Remember when he actually came out and said that proof of innocence is not a valid reason to overturn a conviction and set a prisoner free? I almost had that dipped in bronze and framed. And these are the people who have the final say-so. Your tax dollar at work . . .

That is probably more sensible than the answer you would get.

Are you kidding? In the USA they probably don't even know what you're talking about. Most store clerks I encounter can't even make change correctly. There was actually a story, supposedly true, about a foiled attempted armed robbery at a fast food store, late at night where there was only one teenage boy working the cash register. The robber demanded the money from the cash register. The boy said he can't open the cash register unless the guy orders something. The guy said fine, gimme a hamburger. The boy then asked if he wants fries with that. Then the boy started asking if he wants the burger 'super sized.' Does he want small, medium, or large fries. What does he want to drink? Small, medium, or large? The robber gave up and left. You know what? I believe it! Regarding putting who benefits on the menus, would you really trust the place to live up to it?

You ask a legitimate question. But it definitely is not in fine print. It's in big bold letters. I often wonder how foreigners feel when they visit the USA. In most foreign countries, the price marked is exactly what you pay at the cash register. I don't think I've ever seen that at an American cash register. I wonder how many foreigners are unpleasantly surprised when they take an item marked $5 to a cash register in the USA only to hear the cashier say, "That'll be $6.50 please . . ."

I agree, but there is still the problem of the policy about refusing a visa to anyone suspected of having been involved with prostitution. They don't even need any evidence. All they have to do is just think the boy may have been a prostitute. A Thai boy applying for a visa to travel with someone twice or even three times his age, and beyond, is still facing a problem. I hope the gay marriage issue is favorably resolved. Then maybe they'll get over this crap about denying someone a visa because he may have been a prostitute. I'd be the first one to tell them that when I was their age, if someone had offered me money to have sex with him, I would have loved it! Sadly, nobody has ever offered me a damned thing to have sex with him. If it wasn't for the way things work in Thailand, the only sex dates I probably would ever get would still be dating my hands . . .

I think lvdkeyes and you have found the solution to the ATM problem for a lot of people. I'm almost afraid to ask this next one: If you can go into a bank branch and without being charged a fee do essentially the same thing you can do at an ATM, then why are fees charged for using an ATM, especially that much of a fee?

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true." - James Branch Cabell

All I was trying to do was point out that the service charge tips at Amor all really do go to the staff. I didn't mean to start a debate about the prices there or the manner by which they are displayed. He does clearly state, on each menu page, about the service charge and VAT. Amor is not the only restaurant to do things that way. Just like anywhere else, sometimes I eat there and sometimes I don't. If I want lamb shanks, I go to the Amor. I think he has the best in town. Great desserts too.

Even if you don't have to give your PIN, if your card is stolen wouldn't you immediately contact your issuing bank and report the theft? They'll instantly cancel the card. Even if the card is stolen, it is useless to the thief unless he knows your PIN number. If he has some way to get it, by the time he does you will already have canceled the card. Another tip is to ask the issuing bank, before your trip, if they have a number to call from a foreign country. Often they have a collect call number for people who are out of the country.