Wino

I am surprised people are not up in arms about these property forfeitures. How can an ordinary citizen, even if you are in the right, afford the legal proceedings to re-acquire your own property? Some city governments have also joined in on the act where they can confiscate your rental property if it is deemed a “nuisance property.†Nuisance property can be anything from a tenant selling dope from your property or too many calls to the police department from the property. And they call this the “land of the free?â€

The only time I take offense at the farang word is when a Thai that has been introduced to me (knows my name or should know it) continues to use farang instead of my name.

I have been to Japan and I was not allowed into certain places because I am white and I was told that point blank.

What an awful feeling to be rejected because of the color of your skin. You can empathize with the black man in the Deep South during the civil rights struggle.

My guess is going to be accidental drowning, or that the drowning was secondary to some other incident, like a heart attack.

Looks like you are right according to this article by Brian Skoloff. "An autopsy conducted Monday found he suffered a heart attack and drowned, said Dr. Michael Bell, chief medical examiner for Palm Beach County. The death has been ruled accidental, and the heart attack was brought on by heart disease. Toxicology tests are pending." http://www.comcast.net/articles/finance/20091025/US.Madoff.Associate.Death/print/

Time will tell if he was a crook or a victim. Looks like the Madoff victims will be going after his estate.

I know that in the UK the honorary consulate charges a 'service' fee as they cannot survive on the free issue of visas. I've heard reports on the same in the US & other countries.

Makes sense that the honorary consulates charge a service fee during this period. Usually there is no service fee, but I can understand why they have to charge something. It takes time and effort to provide these services.

I do not blame the government officials in trying to clean up Pattaya and Pattaya’s reputation. Pattaya has a lot going for it. Being close to Bangkok, the location is good. The infrastructure is good with easy and quick access to Bangkok and the airport. World class shopping, restaurants, hotels, golf and festivals are another selling point. I do see families when I am out and about and so not all are put off by the “red light†reputation. Many back home might see it as a Sodom and Gomorrah and many more might see it as a lovely resort by the sea.

Although no relation to Paris Hilton, I think Perez Hilton is pretty much of a low life. I have no idea why he likes to "out" those who he claims are closeted gay celebrities. What an idiot.

What a value system! The thought of bestiality is rather gross. There are so many strange people out there. During a summer break in college, I worked as a construction laborer. I remember a black guy who grew up picking cotton in Mississippi and he was very comical. He was a happy go lucky sort of guy but could really stir up his co-worker when he started talking about his favorite mule. I don’t think the guy was developmentally challenged but he had no education and could not read and write. There are all kinds of people in this world and I don't think one continent is any better or worst than the other.

The interesting thing is "farang" is also the Thai word for guava.

Why is that interesting? I have read that the fruit was brought to Thailand by Portuguese traders, therefore the people called the fruit farang. Do you think that is a positive, negative or neutral?

I'll have some hope if and only when she's released from the current charges and is allowed to run in next year's elections. Without that, the ASEAN group might as well be smokin' yaba.

According to the rules the junta has drawn up for the upcoming elections, Suu Kyi can not run because she was married to a foreigner. I doubt the generals will change that rule. They know Suu Kyi would win the election again.

Madoff’s longtime friend and associate found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool. Do you think this was suicide or did a disgruntled investor have his way with Jeffry Picower? The following article said that Picower made $7 billion dollars over the years with Madoff. Here is the article.

October 25, 2009

Jeffry Picower, a philanthropist accused of profiting more than $7 billion from the investment schemes of his longtime friend Bernard Madoff, was found at the bottom of the pool at his oceanside mansion and died Sunday, police said. He was 67.

Picower's wife discovered his body and pulled him from the water with help from a housekeeper, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Medical Center at about 1:30 p.m.

Palm Beach police are investigating the death, as is standard for any drowning, the department said in a statement. Detectives were still at the home more than five hours after the 911 call.

Picower's body showed no visible injuries, said Joseph Sekula, spokesman for the Palm Beach Fire Department

"There wasn't anything noted as far as trauma or anything to the body," he said.

Picower had been accused by jilted investors of being the biggest beneficiary of Madoff's schemes.

In a lawsuit to recover Madoff's assets, trustee Irving Picard demanded Picower return more than $7 billion in bogus profits.

Picower and his wife started the Picower Foundation in 1989, which has given millions to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Human Rights First and the New York Public Library. It also funded diabetes research at Harvard Medical School.

The foundation, whose assets were managed by Madoff, said in its 2007 tax return that its investment portfolio was valued at nearly $1 billion.

After the Madoff scandal broke in December, the Picower Foundation said it would have to cease grant-making and would be forced to close.

But the trustee's lawyer said Picower's claims that he was a victim "ring hollow" because he withdrew more of other investors' money than anyone else during three decades of investing with Madoff and should have noticed signs of fraud.

According to the lawyers, Picower's accounts were "riddled with blatant and obvious fraud," and he should have recognized that because he was a sophisticated investor.

Picower had asked that the lawsuit be dismissed, saying it was unsupported by the facts. Messages left for Picower's lawyer, William Zabel, and his wife's attorney, Marcy Harris, weren't immediately returned Sunday.

Madoff is serving a 150-year prison sentence after he admitted losing billions of dollars for thousands of clients over a half-century career that saw him rise to be a Nasdaq chairman.

http://www.npr.org/t...166&ft=1&f=1003

And what about the story of the flooding that occurred at his new Texas presidential library where both books were destroyed! And GW was really pissed as he hadn't finished coloring one of them.

I am not sure if George was talking about that other book that was destroyed in the flood, but I love this quote of his, "'One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.'

Did I not read somewhere that there was a family history of this?

You are right if the information in the following article is correct. Here is part of it.

Stephen Gately's family are "shocked and surprised" by the wild speculation surrounding the cause of his death.

His family have moved to quash the rumours and innuendo, saying: "It's awful, the allegations from suicide, drugs, alcohol poisoning to murder and eight-hour drinking binges."

A post mortem carried out by Spanish authorities confirmed that the Boyzone star died from natural causes, but today there have been unsupported claims that cannabis may have been a factor.

"The post mortem results confirmed it, and it was clear from the start, that Stephen died from natural causes.

"His death was not caused by drink, it was not caused by drugs. They didn't contribute to Stephen's death."

The family hope that by outlining their position in such strong terms that speculation will stop.

An autopsy revealed that Stephen died as a result of a congenial heart defect that is hereditary on his father's side of the family.

http://www.belfastte...s-14533947.html

If I was being accused of coercing sex out of vulnerable young boys, I don't know that I would want a Catholic archbishop testifying on my behalf.

I think they were young men instead of young boys. I am not sure of the age, but would think it would be a juvenile court instead of curciut court, if they were young boys. When you are in the situation that Judge Herman Thomas is in, you try and find allies wherever you are able.

I don't think they lash you 1000 times on one time. Some men get several lashes every Friday for other cases. I think this goes until you finish the required lashings. So 50 lashings per Friday would mean twenty Fridays! Haha. Or that's what I was told.

I do not think a man could survive 1,000 lashings at one time. Even 50 lashings every Friday would be difficult. The wounds from the previous lashing would start to heal and then you would be due for another 50. What hell that would be and just because you bragged about your sex life! The guy was stupid, but this is too much and in my opinion insane.

I feel farang is more of a neutral word to describe a white-skinned foreigner. I would think, in some situations, it could be seen as a put-down. I do not speak more than a few words of Thai and so I am no expert.

hi all i have just joined i hav been thinking for a long time that i would like to have a wife from thailand so i would like to live and work there for 6 months or so...but i dont know where to start in relation to visas etc any advice...P.

Living in Thailand for six months and finding a Thai wife would be a relatively easy thing to do. Now finding a job and working legally is a whole different issue.

And here's the real kicker: Asset forfeiture is a civil process, separate from the criminal proceedings, and does not require a finding of guilt. You can win your criminal case, but still lose your property through forfeiture.

That almost gives the cops and law enforcement agencies a "license to steal." Of course, the cops wouldn't do that. Hahaha.

That pitch is just weird.

That pitch is weird and I was surprised to see that article on the internet. I have no idea if the claims are true but is sure sounds convincing.

Hello Wino, This will be also applyable to the Tourist Visa (60 days) which issued by the Thai Embassy and Thai Consulate. The government of Thailand has agreed to exempt the fee for tourist visa applications, effective 25 June 2009 to March 2010.

Thanks Sangchai. There are a few small honorary Thai consulates scattered throughout the US and elsewhere. I was not sure if the fee waiver applied to them, as well. The honorary Thai consulate, that I usually use, runs the operation out of her home. She provides quick, easy service but I am worried that she is not being compensated for her work in this "exempt fee" period. I guess she will manage somehow.

You can come straight back into Thailand and get 30 days (by air) or 15 days (by land). Been some confusion about many times you can do that, rules keep on changing and you would need to check the latest rule nearer your time of arrival. Best of luck."

There is some confusion about how many times you are able to obtain a visa on arrival. As it stands today, could a US citizen fly in and out of Thailand for six consecutive months and obtain a 30 day visa each time? At one time, you could only have three arrival visas in a set period of time. It is hard to find out the facts.

Here is an article by Phatarawadee Phataranawik about Pattaya. I have heard this many times, but Pattaya is still trying to get away from its red-light reputation and become a typical beach destination. The media and government officials are trying hard to overcome the Pattaya sleaze factor.

New developments await as the beach town aspires to cast off its red-light reputation and welcome families and upscale couples.

Pattaya has long been known for its notorious side - the town is afflicted by chock-a-block red-light spots, drug abuse and crime. Yet in recent years, luxury condos, five-star boutique hotels and resorts, golf courses, chic shopping malls, cool clubs, gourmet restaurants and modern art galleries have been reshaping the beach town, which is just an hour and a half hour drive from the capital.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/02/22/entertainment/entertainment_30066154.php

First off, cheapest certainly doesn't mean best but the least expensive beer bars in Pattaya tend to be in New Plaza which is behind a big coffee shop on 2nd Road opposite Soi 8.

These bars tend to have 35 baht Beer Changs.

Of these bars the most popular seems to Mickey's for some of the following reasons:

1) They have 35 baht Tiger as well as 35 baht Beer Chang

2) Pool table is free

3) They have a restroom accross the little soi. At some of the other bars in this complex you have to use the 5 baht public bog.

4) Four TVs so you can see a variety of sports.

Of course there are cheaper places for a beer such as sidewalk stores with a couple tables out front but 35 baht/beer is the cheapest I've seen for a proper beer bar.

At those prices, I am not sure how they pay the rent/help and make any money.

Come to think of it, you know how you keep a turkey in suspense?

I will tell you next week.

Here is an example of some of the nuts in North America. I wonder what the world thinks about all these crazy people? I bet that nurse aide turned Ugandan King says to himself, "now those wacky Americans need to get their act together."

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — A man who authorities say previously was involved with bestiality pornography has been charged with animal cruelty.

Sheriff's investigators said Tuesday that 58-year-old James Michael Tait was having sex with horses on a Maury (MUHR'-ee) County farm. The farm owner, 44-year-old Kenny Thomason, also was charged with animal cruelty.

Investigators said they seized photos in the case.

Tait and Thomason are in jail. Court officials said they had no record of attorneys for the men.

King County, Wash., authorities say Tait in 2005 videotaped another man, Kenneth Pinyan, having sex with a horse. Pinyan later died of internal injuries from the incident.

The Washington investigators said they found about 100 pornographic bestiality videos of Tait and others. Tait got a suspended sentence on a trespassing conviction, and Washington later outlawed bestiality.

http://www.gastongaz...dd-accused.html