Billions

Fantastico!

Cracking stuff (again)!

Opera for me, free download and Mac compatible.

I had a couple of trips to LoS in the second half of 2019, so not missing it as badly as some seem to be. In fact, I've enjoyed the last few months of 'lockdown' in the UK, as it has allowed me time and opportunity to do so many projects on my main property here that would not otherwise have been prioritised. I'm not bothered about a 2020 visit and won't be hopping on a plane until there's a reliable treatment for C19 or better still a vaccine, and even when a vaccine arrives I'm not sure I want to be first in the queue to try it. I will return, but only when it's responsible to do so and statistically safe. I have a pile of THB sitting in a Thai bank account so the finance for future trips is already in place, I just need to get there and get my paws on it. Safety first, I'm not straining at the leash.

A strong deterrent would be a civil action for damages. Those involved would have to sell all current assets and maybe have future liabilities too.

Of course. Same as many other types of business in Funtown,where dirty money is washed and recycled.

Good one MGDN! I've been watching the hurricane on MSNBC and they have been overplaying the drama too,shouting their pieces to camera and standing in two inches of water but dressed in storm clothing. Must be in their contracts to used the phrase "hunkered down" in every third sentence.

Same in 1992 when I first dropped in. Back then though,local prices were exceptionally cheap so good value to be had everywhere. That's no longer the case.

I had some luggage go missing recently. The on-site officials wouldn't allow me do describe the colour as orange in the missing bag report (which was correct) so I had to declare that it was yellow..... Seems extraordinary that there are so few official colours allowed to describe missing bags! It was delivered to my house in the UK a week later,around midnight. No idea where it was for the missing days.

Is this the food court at basement level,or is there another one? I assume there is one on an upper level,hence the word 'loft'?

I'm still laughing.....a few hours after seeing the clip.....

An explanation of what you want to achieve would be useful! I might have a crack at it if it is interesting and not too intricate.

I thought I clicked a green "like" but instead hit the red button,so erasing the "like" and reducing the count to zero when it should be +2. Sorry A2!

That probably leaves one sign which is legal.....

Well,the authorities stopped the deckchair mafia taking over the beach entirely,finally stopped illegal construction at The waterfront,demolished a few hotels that had abused planning laws,cut out the smoking of shisha,cleared Walking Street of mobile vendors in the early hours,enforced scrutiny of documentation at hotels,stopped the widespread Soi 6 regulation avoidance,clamped down on the zero-dollar Chinese tour mafia,got the motocy guys to play ball,display fares and get licensed,stopped the littering and flyposting in telephone kiosks and on street furniture,clamped down on the Cambodian beggars,rounded up a few International villains,closed down loads of Thai pubs for drug infractions and underage patrons,kicked out the corrupt City Hall governance and replaced it wholesale,terrified go-go security into compliance instead of brutality,closed down previously invincible go-go bars for license irregularities,enforced opening hours,now regulating massage employees,hanging the Sword of Damocles over the seaside of Walking Street,stopped the open sale of many previously available pharmacutical products,looking into unlicensed hotels and guest houses,huge crackdown on drink driving abuse.....and probably plenty of other things that have been cracked down on. They are getting there,one step at a time...

I remember that too....a number of signs being either taken down or relocated at a higher level.....Angelwitch and Crazy House are two I recall being re-sited. I think this is more about planning permission...that some WS business owners have fixed their signage without any official approval or have violated the terms of the size and type and location of the sign allowed. As with other recent events,the powers are showing that WS go-go bar owners don't have free reign to do whatever they like without any consequences. Times are changing.

Just seen this in the Bangkok Post. The campaign to get more compliance to the law continues,one step at a time. The wild west behaviour is being cracked down upon.....maybe. Attaching a couple of screen shots because the BP has weird software at work which interferes with a normal copy'n'paste operation.

I passed by again today,and all the menu boards were upright and the lights were on....but not a customer to be seen! You are probably correct about the signwriter. Here is todays' board......

Walked past this afternoon.....place looked empty and almost abandoned as the chalkboard menu was flat on the floor.... Not going to get many customers that way. Duble offer,sasame tona...... Getting careless.....

No...September isn't half-term.....it's the first term when all schools,universities etc start the new academic year. Half term will be October-ish.

According to a post on PA,there was a news report on a Pattaya radio station to the effect that the Mayor is enforcing the terms of the licences,which are 5pm opening and 6pm alcohol service. Another post by a bar manager suggests it's a temporary situation,but that might be wishful thinking. The radio segment also mentioned that "no new go-go licences will be issued and those in designated family areas will not get them renewed next new-year".

Thanks all. Within minutes of topping-up my credit,I get this message : "Your internet limit has exceeded 5 baht already. Subscribe to non-stop internet package at max speed for 500mb at 19 baht/24 hours via.....(phone number) " Then later the same day this text arrives : "Your internet limit has exceeded 10 baht already. Enjoy free internet till midnight when reaching 49 baht or subscribe to the non-stop etc..." Then,this one : "Your internet has reached 49 baht. You can now enjoy unlimited internet until midnight with no additional charge". Every day the internet charges rack up for internet I'm not attempting to use. Might be the data plan that was foisted on me when I got my sims registered,or my phones secretly doing things without my knowledge or consent. Either way,its time for change. The old iPhone (from Feb 2008) will not allow mobile data/Safari to be switched off,I've tried. I'll bring newer phones next time,which allow for data to be disabled or restricted,and see if I can find a calls/text only plan,or a plan with small data charges that can are used if needed when switching data access back on. Will mean changing numbers,but c'est la vie. Failing that I might buy a very basic phone at Tuckom with no "smart" features and go that route. I think the old iPhone will continue to add the daily charges,so I'll stop using it. I've just seen the prices people are asking for these on eBay as mentioned above...really unbelievable! I also get a steady stream of unsolicited texts from commercial third parties offering unwanted services....is this normal for Thailand? They often arrive in the middle of the night too. Thanks everyone for helping!

I usually activate two ancient cellphones when I get to Thailand to receive and make local calls....one for adult interactions and the other for normal communications.The top-up credit I load always gets gobbled up by daily internet charges although I never use them for anything other than calls and texts! I think each devours 49 baht a day on internet activity....that eats into my credit all to quickly and isn't welcome. Is there a tariff that won't charge for the internet,even though both handsets are capable of internet activity? Do I have to buy a new sim package/tariff plan that excludes any data and re-register? On a month-long trip,I'm paying about 3000 baht for phantom internet usage that I don't want,need or use. Is there a tariff that is available only for calls/texting,without a internet data component and would this work on cellphones that are internet compliant by not trying to activate that aspect of them and only permit calls and texts? Or do I need a non-internet capable handset? One handset I use is an iPhone 2 from 2008...its not possible to disable Safari on it,I have tried. As I can't switch off Safari,will the phone keep draining my balance?? How am I being charged for internet usage when I'm not on the internet?? Is it apps running in the background? As the phones can access the internet, is there a way of stopping them doing so in so far as I only pay for calls used,not for bandwidth I neither want or utilise? Any help would be much appreciated!

....and had two teeth knocked out! The focus is on the airline but what about the lunatic in uniform who assaulted the passenger? He should be looking at a custodial outcome surely?

Don't be a cunt. He'll get what he deserves when the United legal team sign off his eight-figure settlement.