Gaybutton

The exchange rate is rapidly moving in favor of the US Dollar. Only this morning the opening rate was 34.01. Less than three hours later it is 34.15. While this motion continues, I will do what I was doing when the dollar was weakening. I'll post the daily opening and closing rates on this thread. As of 11:45 AM, Thursday, August 16, the exchange rate is as follows. This message will be edited after today's closing to also show the closing rate: US Dollar: 34.15 Euro: 45.625 British Pound: 67.58 Australian Dollar: 27.2375 Canadian Dollar: 31.3575 _____ Closing Rates: US Dollar: 34.27 Euro: 45.855 British Pound: 67.77 Australian Dollar: 27.385 Canadian Dollar: 31.54

For whatever reasons, the US dollar to baht exchange rate has been improving every day lately. I don't know why, but as long as this trend continues, I certainly won't argue about it. Here are the exchange rates as of 8:25 AM, Thursday, August 16: US Dollar: 34.01 Euro: 45.39 British Pound: 67.375 Australian Dollar: 27.615 Canadian Dollar: 31.2575

Let's not keep harping on this. Enough has already been said. This time I'm the one locking the thread.

This morning I went to the Pattaya Immigration office and asked. Naturally, nobody had any idea other than to tell me it is in the Chang Watthana area, not far from the Don Muang airport. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs web site ( http://www.mfa.go.th/web/1.php ) the address is: Ministry of Foreign Affairs 123 Chaengwatthana Road Laksi Telephone: 02-981-7171 See: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/143.php for a map. I have placed another map for you on this post, both in English and Thai. The green circle in the center of the map is the location. Hopefully that will all provide you with enough information to get there without too much trouble. I don't see any BTS or MRT stations in that area. Probably the best thing to do is call the number from a taxi and let them tell the taxi driver how to get there. I haven't tried the number, but I think it is a land line number, meaning that you shouldn't need to dial 082. Of course, if 02 doesn't work, then try it with the 8.

If you look at the pinned topic, you'll see how to get rid of the centering. That's the best we can do until the programmers fix the problem.

It's not so much of a joke. I consider that to be quite a compliment. I'm just as sorry for the boy, his family, and what you're going through as I can possibly be. This is not the time for people to be doing any flaming. As far as I'm concerned you should feel free to write all you want about this terrible incident on this board. Those who prefer to send E-mail to you for fear of being flamed if they post about it here have no need to worry. Rest assured, if anyone is so incredibly low as to try to flame you for it or flame anyone who desires to express his sympathies, then they'll quickly discover that I intend to live up to that compliment. pax vobiscum

You are probably correct. It turns out that the Ministry intends to charge 400 baht for the stamp.

I guess I better pin this topic for a while.

A tip-of-the-hat goes to Wowpow. He discovered the method and posted it on the Beer Bar forum. I think it should be posted here too, since this is the most widely read forum on this board. Here's how to set everything back to normal: 1. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page. 2. You'll see a box that says "IPB 2.2.0 Default," with a drop-down arrow next to it. 3. Click the drop-down arrow. 4. Select "Test Default" That restores everything to normal. Thank you, Wowpow.

A full, detailed story about this, with photos, is on the Pattaya Daily News web site at: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000003619

I too am deeply saddened to know something like this has happened. Nearly every day the news has stories about young people who die like this. Too often it is someone who probably never caused anyone else any harm in his life, and yet his life is suddenly cut short in such a needless, useless way. Despite our personal differences, EarWig, I am truly sorry. I'm glad to know that whoever did this has been caught, but I realize that doesn't help very much.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ French National Arrested by Immigration Police and Charged with Having Sex with Minors We now take you to the Immigration Office located in Soi 5 off Jomtien Beach Road where Police Major Tanapat from the Special Investigations Unit received instructions from Police Colonel Itipon, the Superintendent of Pattaya’s Immigration Office that a complaint had been received detailing allegations that a French Tourist was conducting sexual activities with minors. The suspect was known to be staying at the Rainbow House Apartments in Soi 17, South Pattaya. A team of Immigration Officers went to the location and to the room of the suspect, number 107. After some time, the door opened and Mr. Luc Bernard Michel Rousselle aged 57 from France looked fearful when he realized those knocking on his door were Immigration Officers. Inside the room was a 14 year old boy on his bed who was wearing no cloths. Mr. Rousselle and the boy were taken to the Immigration Office where the 14 year old confirmed that he had been taken back to the suspect’s room in exchange for 600 Baht in cash. The deal was struck when the pair met in Soi Sunee Plaza in South Pattaya. The suspect was later transferred to Pattaya Police Station where he is now facing charges of conducting sexual activities with minors in exchange for money.

For the past several days the exchange rate has been moving steadily in favor of the US dollar and the predictions I have been reading suggest that the trend will continue. As stated in a thread below, only a few weeks ago the baht nearly got into the 32s. Now it is close to getting back into the 34s. That is still a miserable exchange rate, but it's a whole lot better than if it got into the 32's. First, the latest exchange rates, followed by an article that explains what is going on. Closing rates for August 7: US Dollar: 33.73 Euro: 46.435 British Pound: 68.32 Australian Dollar: 28.775 Canadian Dollar: 31.8125 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Money From Sell-Off 'Still Here' Fears of a Cash Exodus After Bourse Tumbles Published on August 8, 2007 There are no signs of a capital outflow from Thailand, says a senior central-bank official. This is despite the current sell-off of Thai shares by foreign investors, which has reached a value of Bt18 billion. Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Nitaya Pibulratanagit rushed to soothe a jittery market yesterday by saying foreign money that had recently left the Thai stock market remained in Thailand. Rather than taking their money out of the country, foreign investors are exercising their choice to leave it in special non-resident accounts for stock trading. Nitaya said there was no need to seek a clearer picture. Her comments came amid rising fears that foreign investors would shift their money to other countries after the sharp tumble in the Thai stock market. Foreign investors who have so far this year snapped up Thai shares with a net position of Bt120 billion have turned to unload the stocks since late last month, sparked by growing anxiety over the impact of the US sub-prime home-loan crisis. The Thai stock market has lost about 8 per cent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index yesterday moved like a roller coaster. It started with a strong gain as investors tracked a sharp rise on Wall Street and in regional stock markets. However, the euphoria succumbed to profit-taking, with the local market closing 0.18 per cent lower at 814.4 points, off of an intra-day low of 805.9. Turnover was thin at Bt16.94 billion. Although the percentage fall in Thai shares was lower yesterday, foreign investors continued to dump them heavily for a net value of Bt2.61 billion. This indicates that the selling spree will continue. "If the US catches cold, so do we," said Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn. "However, the impact will be limited." He said the US deputy treasury secretary, whom he met at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's Finance Ministers' Meeting in Australia, told him the impact would not be severe. "Current measures to stem the baht's appreciation will be sufficient. The baht has started to weaken. Any new measures might create volatility for the baht," he said. The baht weakened yesterday to end at 33.88/33.90 to the US dollar after opening at 33.85/33.87. Wachovia Securities said in a note that fears of a credit crunch in the US were rising and credit spreads continuing to widen. "Mortgage lenders are reporting funding difficulties, and some hedge funds are receiving calls resulting in forced-selling as leverage is reduced. All of this is beginning to create illiquid market conditions, potentially jeopardizing stock-market exuberance. Fundamentally, however, we still think a credit crunch will be avoided, because non-financial corporate balance sheets remain strong, lowering the risk of default, while the outlook for economic growth is healthy," the company said. "Valuations are also becoming more attractive, although they tend to overshoot in panic situations, just as they do during periods of exuberance." However, Dow Jones Newswires reported that turmoil in the US home-mortgage market was starting to pinch even buyers of high-end homes with good credit records, in the latest sign of rising anxiety among lenders and investors. A jump in jumbo-mortgage rates for prime borrowers is the latest gust in a sub-prime storm that has sunk two hedge funds run by Bear Stearns Companies, knocked American Home and dozens of other lenders out of business, battered an already-weak housing market and fueled weeks of stock-market turmoil.

In the past few days the exchange rate has been steadily improving for the US dollar. Only about three weeks ago the exchange rate came close to getting into the 32s. The lowest I recall seeing the rate was 33.02 baht to the dollar. The exchange rate seems to be getting better. It's slow, but at least it has been steady over the past several days. The closing rates for August 6 were: US Dollar: 33.69 Euro: 46.48 British Pound: 68.715 Australian Dollar: 28.6325 Canadian Dollar: 31.725

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ How the people feel about the charter With fewer than two weeks to go before the referendum on the junta-sponsored draft charter, The Nation asked voters their thoughts. Published on August 6, 2007 lNutthawat Subsin, 26, Chiang Mai Are you seriously asking this question. Absolutely. I will endorse this draft because people's participation is more open. lSirikarn Pongsutham, 25, graduate student. (She will endorse the 2007 draft constitution even if it evolved from a coup.) I want a national election to end the chaos. After that I want to it to be revised again. lJiranan Hanthamrongwit, new-media journalist for prachatai.com. I will reject the draft charter because the Council for National Security, which is not elected, has their hands all over it. They appointed all 35 charter drafters. I also couldn't accept a partially appointed Senate that will have the power to remove members of Parliament elected by the people. lKarin Klinkajorn, urban-planning lecturer, King Mongkut Institute of Technology I'm going to vote against it because it's illegitimate. It's dictatorial to tear down the [1997] charter. And the junta appointed people to write the new charter by themselves, the Constitution Drafting Assembly. lSamak Saensam-arng, a Bangkok taxi driver of Surin It's not convenient for me to go back [home] to vote but I dislike coups because they're like someone with a gun robbing you. lKham Napa, Bangkok domestic worker of Nakhon Ratchasima I'm not going to cast a vote because I must earn money and have no time. I would have endorsed it, though, if I had the opportunity. I would do it because it will then become the people's charter and I want to be a part of that. lSakdina Chatrakul na Ayudhya, labour expert and activist I haven't decided whether to endorse it or reject it but it's pretty much meaningless to me. This draft charter is not good enough. I wish there was a third box on ballot paper for people who wish to vote against the process. Right now the referendum is becoming a political tool - to accept it is to accept the junta and to reject it is to support Thaksin Shinawatra. lPavadee Dhramanuwong, 29, officer(She will not make a decision until she has read the draft.) I've read two pages so I cannot make my decision right now. Sorry, I have a lot of things to do. Pravit Rojanaphruk, Pongphon Sarnsamak

I love the term "soft opening." A few people I know could give a whole new meaning to that . . . The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Bali Hai Plaza Soft Opening There is a new shopping center which is currently in the process of opening located in the grounds of the Bali Hai Port at the South End of Pattaya Beach. It is called the Bali Hai Plaza and features 4 floors of high quality shops including Clothes Shops and restaurants. The man behind the Plaza is a well known figure in the South Pattaya area, Khun Suntorn who is also the chairman of the Walking Street Committee. At this soft opening of the Plaza was Khun Niran, the Mayor of Pattaya along with the former Superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, Police Colonel Somnook along with a host of other local dignitaries. Not much is known about this new Plaza as yet, however it will surely become a popular shopping option for those that visit the Port and who reside in the South Pattaya area.

Sometimes there is a much simpler way to get to where you're trying to go. I don't know if this would have applied in your case, but in general if you have a mobile phone, a phone number for your destination, and there are taxis available, then all you need to do is call the number for your destination and have the venue give the address information to the taxi driver. Even if you don't have a mobile phone, if you're starting from your hotel, have the hotel call, get the directions, and have them either write out the information for a taxi driver or have someone accompany you to the taxi and explain where you're going.

Upon reading the full story and realizing that this man shoplifted the item, then tried to escape with it, and even denied any wrongdoing when he was caught, I think the consequences of his actions were quite reasonable. He was given the choice of paying ten times the price or ending up in a Thai court. If this had happened in the USA, it would have ended up costing him a hell of a lot more than the equivalent of 10,000 baht. He would have been arrested, would have had to post bail to get out of jail, would have had to appear in court, and would have ended up paying a fine and court costs. In this case he received a slap-on-the-wrist and was sent on his way. My opinion is, if anything he ought to be grateful that nothing more came of it. After all, he's the one who decided to try to steal the item. I believe, at least in this case, the punishment fit the crime.

Personally, I think you're being overly kind. The last time that particular person posted on this board was April 24. That was also a put-down post as is the majority of postings he writes here. More than three months later he shows up here again. And why? Just to try to put down someone else. I suppose that's the kind of thing that person thinks is a really good contribution. If an individual or gay business wishes to post announcements or advertisements on this board, we have absolutely no objection. As a matter of fact we encourage it, no matter how many other boards on which the same thing is posted. Not everyone reads all the gay Thailand boards and this person's crime was to make sure it was announced so that everyone had an opportunity to know about it. If that bothers some people or if some people don't like someone else's "annoying little site," that's just too bad. To me, that sort of post is the true annoyance.

That heavy police presence was during the aftermath of the coup. I have been in that area several times since then and not only were there plenty of boys, but I observed no police presence at all. However, because of the protests in Bangkok I have been reading news items that say there will be a very heavy police presence this holiday weekend. Whether that will include the Wat Pho - Saranrom Park area (only one block apart from each other) remains to be seen. In any case, my experience has been that there are plenty of boys available from that area. As a matter of fact, the only time I experienced "slim pickings" from that area was the one time I took a friend with me to show him what it's all about. Naturally, Murphy's Law prevailed and there were hardly any boys at all. But he did end up with one he liked and he later told me that boy gave him the best bj he's ever had in his life.

I notice that when many of you post a link, you are leaving out the http:// part. The link will not work without it. For example, in one post today someone posted the following link: www.twoguysguesthouse.com When you click on that, nothing will happen. However, if the same link is posted as follows, it will work when people click on it: http://www.twoguysguesthouse.com

Apparently there is also a bus graveyard right along one of the expressways too. I forget just where, but often when I am in Bangkok I can't help noticing those old buses just rusting away. Considering how often we see articles about thieves stealing manhole covers or wiring to sell the metal, I would think there could be something more that can be done with old buses rather then letting them sit there until future archaeologists have to figure out what they once were. Sometimes good things are done with abandoned buildings. In Pattaya, the soi that leads from Second Road, past the Star Boys bar, and then turns sharply right towards Soi Buakow sported a structure that sat there at the corner, abandoned for years. Not only was it an eyesore, but it was being used as a dump and apparently something akin to a crack house. About a year or so ago, someone bought it, cleaned it up, and completed the construction. Now it is a nice looking apartment building. I hope someone ends up doing the same with those abandoned structures in Bangkok. Either that, or tear them down.

The direct link to those photos is: http://www.topmanpattaya.com/21.html Also, whenever anyone wants to post a link, please include the http:// part. Without it, the link won't work when people click on it.

Coincidentally enough, I have the same problem and reported it today. It is some sort of programming problem and they're working on it.

Oh man! That one is as bad as most of mine! Well, I've heard another rumor, that in order to keep Thailand from being overly disappointed another even greater hero is coming in his place. I've posted his picture . . . And, here is some sage wisdom from him on the environment: "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." Now, don't you think listening to more of his remarks would be even more worthwhile than listening to the sainted Mr. Gore?