reader

Look at any cable news or newspaper website and you find all of them battling to phrase headlines to get readers to click on it. That, however, is nothing new and goes back a century or more in print media history where the headline and first paragraph determine if the article will get read to its conclusion. Headline writing is an art: give the reader just enough information to whet his appetite but don't try to tell the whole story. What we didn't like instead of what we did. Amen to that.

I usually try to omit those and now I know why.

As for the OP, Tiger Woods is a golfing legend. That his mother is Thai certainly gives the article local flavor. And to see his son display some of the same talent registers across the golfing community. As to where my interests lay I earlier addressed them in this thread: I view the board as a canvas. I look for articles that may be of particular general interest beyond the always popular news about venues and changes in the local scene. Other topics that I know affect all members (i.e., airlines, current events in ASEAN area, tourism, accommodations) get preference. If you look at my posts across all the subforums you find that my interests cover a lot of ground, none more so than the massage business in Bangkok. When I'm in town, I try to keep the board informed about venues I've visited. Regardless of what I post, I'm aware that some fall into the information only category. For example, if I post about bars being closed for a Buddhist holiday I don't expect it ill generate much discussion but is nevertheless useful to members in bkk at the moment. But if I post about a new bar, I anticipate it will ignite some lively conversation over an extended period. Both posts are informative but as always been the case in this forum, trip and venue reports generate the widest interest. We have to look no further than recent trip reports by Jason, Min and Vinapu. They are the classic meat and potatoes of Gay Thailand.

This topic has garnered 54 replies. Not bad for a story about hole-in-one.

If we use that logic then topics in Politics Forum (that produce prodigious replies) would be most popular on the board.

I was counting views but I'm still flattered.

Actually, airport alcohol policy got most of my three posts you mentioned (38). 😊 But flattered that you're keeping score.

Oh, I understand. You levitated across Pacific to scene of incident in Pattaya. Time to return and report back now to Capt. Kirk.

Reporter and photographer were on the scene. Your were not, and that is not in dispute.

I choose guy on far right. He reminds me of my favorite Patpong bartender.

The reporter was on the scene and you were on the opposite side of the Pacific. I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt. 😄

I've gone back and reviewed the video three times. It's not possible to determine if the victim declined assistance from those on motorbike who stopped and spoke with him after the attack. Anyone with experience in emergency medicine would be aware that bleeding can become worse as time passes. You can see photos in the original article of two first responders treating his head injuries. In the black and white video taken from a distance during darkness, you cannot determine the extent of his injuries. The only thing I can agree with is that he did not crawl home, although he did stagger and briefly crawl as he struggled to get off the ground. It's also noteworthy that the reporter did not have access to the video when the initial article was published. Based on these findings. I do no believe that there is cause to label the Pattaya News an untrustworthy source.

KK Massage is offering a promotion of one-hour session for 150 baht good on Dec. 28 and 29.

"You can do business and get rich." Isn't this what Trump told investors in The Trump Shuttle and Trump University? But he's now settled on a new, sure fire scheme to redeem his reputation. You can now smell like The Donald.

From Khaosod English In a disturbing incident that occurred just minutes into Christmas Day, CCTV footage has revealed how an 80-year-old Belgian tourist was violently attacked and robbed near his residence in Pattaya. The incident took place shortly after midnight, ironically following a police ceremony deploying officers for holiday security. According to surveillance footage reviewed by investigators, at 00:28 a.m., four teenagers on two motorcycles were seen entering The Village Pattaya housing complex. The group strategically positioned themselves to intercept Mr. Richard, a former electrician, who was returning home from Christmas celebrations at local entertainment venues. Continues with video and photos https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/12/25/cctv-reveals-details-of-christmas-attack-on-belgian-man-in-pattaya/

From The Nation Pornphrom Vikitsreth, adviser to the Bangkok governor and chief sustainability officer of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on December 18 witnessed the testing of a new garbage collection boat at Prem Prachakon Canal in Chatuchak district. Precious Shipping Pcl started working on upgrading the boat’s performance since November 19 to further reduce human labour as well as add the oxygenation function while the boat is in operation. The Phithak Thara (protect the water) is 5.65 metres long, 3.5 metres wide and can operate at least 80 centimetres deep. It is made from high-density polyethylene that is durable against sunlight, water leakage, and damage from impact, barnacle and lichens. With a single conveyor belt, the boat can carry a maximum of 300 kilograms of garbage per trip, while most of its parts are recyclable. Pornphrom said the city is planning to deploy the boat to clear garbage in all canals in the metropolitan areas, including the Prem Prachakon, Lat Phrao, Saen Saeb, Phadung Krung Kasem, Ong Ang, Bang Lamphu, Khu Mueang Doem, and Prawet Buri Rom canals.

From Pattaya Mail EDITORIAL For many expats – and retirees in particular – the festivities this year are marred by ongoing concerns about personal income tax arising from cash transfers to Thailand. The notion that the Thai Revenue Department intends to hand down the stone tablets, Moses style, to deal with thousands of individual queries is naïve to say the least. TRD has published the policy and it’s up to you to interpret it in the light of your own finances – provided you clock up in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year. It is irrelevant how many times, if any, you entered the country during the 12 months. Some things are clear. There has not been a change in the law, but rather a reinterpretation of past TRD practice which was to tax some income (known as assessable) from overseas only if it was transferred in the same year it was earned. Now such income starting January 2024 is taxable whether sent in the same year or a later one. This applies to Thais or foreigners. Moreover, any savings you had in an overseas bank account up to December 31 2023 is not a taxable asset and you can transfer those monies anytime in the future without a problem. There are some other categories of non-assessable income in Thailand such as some (but not all) gifts. A common misunderstanding is that Thai income tax on overseas cash transfers is somehow linked to your visa. It matters not one jot whether you are here on successive exempt-visa entries, or one year extensions based on marriage or family, or Elite or Long Term Residence or Destination Thailand Visa. The only question of significance is the whether you have resided here in the kingdom for half the year or more (in a calendar year) with or without extensions or reentry permits. If so, the best advice is to keep all your financial records such as bank statements or first-country Revenue correspondence in a safe place. There is no doubt that some “news” sources have exaggerated the consequences either to create mischief or to persuade expats to enrol with some potentially-expensive “experts” who wrongly claim this is a new “law” designed to make your life miserable in Thailand unless, of course, you sign up here and now. Some pessimists suggest that backsliders will be instantly prosecuted, even deported, or that they will need to prove they have submitted a tax return to TRD in order to qualify for their next visa or extension. This is fantasy island. On the other hand, foreigners cannot ignore the TRD. If you have earned income within Thailand, say from employment or rentals, those are certainly taxable even if you are in the country for fewer than 180 days. As regards tax residents transferring overseas cash, there may be a double taxation treaty to consult (never an easy read) as well as the system of Thai tax allowances and exemptions which reduce any potential liability on assessable income. If you are concerned, by all means consult a Thai professional lawyer or accountant, preferably without committing yourself to a long-term contract. The reality in this subject is that one size does not fit all. All our finances are unique to the individual.

I have taken massage guys I've known from their shops to my room by paying off fee (typically 500) or on their off hours. Some shops offer to arrange off-site massage but at elevated prices. Those that offer it may include details on website. If you're concerned with being seen entering shop in Silom or other tourist areas, I'd consider the shops in Sahan Kwai area. Good luck and welcome to Bangkok.

Astute observation and coincides with what I've observed elsewhere.

From Bangkok Post The Prime Minister's Office has announced a new regulation allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages every day at major international airports. The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on Christmas Day and took effect on Thursday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2928001/airports-ease-booze-rules

What @Riobard is suggesting is that members post overwhelming, inane messages in hopes of crashing the site and causing moderator to remove Beer Bar from forum. The above is a example of his method.

From Bangkok Post A young Thai social media influencer has died soon after being hired for 30,000 baht to guzzle a 350ml bottle of whisky. Thanakarn Kanthee, aka “Bank Leicester”, 21, was pronounced dead at a hospital at 3.40am on Thursday. A garland seller who performed improvised rap songs to attract buyers, he had been seen in several videos accepting paid challenges to drink alcohol rapidly in exchange for money. A video showing Thanakarn drinking quickly and straight from a small whisky bottle amid a cheering crowd at a party has been widely circulated on the internet. Some partygoers were seen filming him on mobile phones. After completing the paid challenge, Thanakarn looked sick and reportedly vomited before he was taken to hospital where he died later. One Facebook page showed some partygoers laughing as rescuers rushed Thanakarn to an ambulance on a stretcher. Commenters slammed them for their lack of sympathy. The influencer had been raised by his grandmother in a Bangkok slum after his parents separated when he was two months old. At the age of seven, he started selling garlands at the Liab Duan flea market on Ram Intra road to provide for himself and his grandmother. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2927615/young-thai-influencer-dies-after-alcohol-drinking-challenge

From Pattaya News Teenagers, Most Only 15, Arrested At 11:06 PM on December 25th, Pattaya police arrested four Thai teenagers who were suspected of brutally attacking a retired Belgian electrician, Mr. Richard, in Pattaya after an overnight manhunt. The group consisted of three 15-year-olds and one 18-year-old. Police recovered a 22-inch knife and two motorcycles that the suspects used in the incident. The suspects, identified by police under pseudonyms Arm, Krape, New (all 15), and Ton (18), confessed to the crime. They admitted to attacking Mr. Richard to steal his money, claiming they planned to use it to settle a car accident debt for their friend. Spotting the victim walking alone in a quiet alley, the teenagers surrounded Mr. Richard with their motorbikes and demanded his money. When he refused, one suspect attacked Mr. Richard by hitting his head with a knife, causing severe injuries. The suspects claimed they did not mean to strike the victim with the blade, but the knife’s sheath accidentally came off, causing the blade to hit the victim’s head. The suspects did not know the victim and claimed he was selected only because he looked like an easy target. After the assault, the suspects fled to Pattaya Beach, where they were later arrested. The suspects are now in custody and are facing legal proceedings. Pattaya Police have stated arresting the suspects was a top priority because safety of foreigners and tourists is a major issue and any assaults or harm to tourists can damage the safe image of the city for visitors. Continues with video https://thepattayanews.com/2024/12/26/teenagers-most-only-15-arrested-for-brutally-attacking-80-year-old-belgian-man-in-pattaya/

Certainly join you in wanting to see more new members. I believe the best way to accomplish that is to give them a variety of topics and allow them to choose what appeals to them. And once they do make an initial post, encourage them. No member I'm aware of goes more out of his way to welcome newbies than Vinapu. He never fails to reply to their queries. I view the board as a canvas. I look for articles that may be of particular general interest beyond the always popular news about venues and changes in the local scene. Other topics that I know affect all members (i.e., airlines, current events in ASEAN area, tourism, accommodations) get preference. However, the board faces one strong headwind that makes it difficult to attract younger members: their affinity to using social media like FB, Instragram, TikTok. That's where their friend gather and they are most comfortable in that environment. Forums have a different architecture that older guys are more comfortable with. We have managed to gain some talented younger folks but their numbers remain relatively small. I think the best way to reach out to them is be welcoming and recognize that we all have a collective responsibility to participate. We all share the same goal and hopefully our discussions will succeed in expanding membership.

From Bloomberg News Airline rewards programs were once fairly straightforward. Carriers doled out perks like lounge access, cabin upgrades and even free flights to tighten bonds with customers who collected points from their journeys. Frequent flyers enjoyed the elevated status that came with sticking to one airline, while savvy users could scour awards charts to find deals that made bucket-list trips to Europe or Hawaii more affordable. These days, it’s not so simple. Programs designed to encourage loyalty have gradually morphed into complex financial ecosystems – especially in the US, where airlines collect billions of dollars in revenue per year from them. Major carriers like Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines now control what amounts to their own virtual currencies, selling points to credit-card issuers at lucrative built-in margins. Some loyalty programs are even worth more than the market value of the airlines themselves. Two big changes to frequent flyer programs of the past have underpinned this transformation. First, airlines overhauled how points are awarded. Customers today earn rewards based on dollars spent rather than how far they fly. Some three-quarters of airline points issued by major US carriers now come from credit-card spending, meaning that every swipe at the grocery store can theoretically get you closer to a free trip. At the same time, actually getting on a plane often earns less than before. While the change has widened the consumer base, it’s frustrated many people who remember the old system. Next, airlines altered how points are redeemed. One by one, major carriers abandoned the awards charts that had helped loyalty members know how many points they needed to put that dream vacation within reach. Instead, airlines moved to a “dynamic” pricing model that varies the value of points flight-to-flight and even day-to-day, based on real-time demand and availability. Such changes have raised alarm bells among lawmakers and regulators. “More and more, the complexity and even instability of the program is something that’s disadvantaging the passenger,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview with Bloomberg News. In September, his agency launched a probe into the rewards programs of the four largest US air carriers — Delta, American, United and Southwest Airlines — seeking to find out more about how earned points may have been devalued over time and how dynamic pricing can make it harder for customers to predict how far their points will go. Continues at https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-airline-miles-points/