As most of you know, Songkran just passed.  Here I am this year doling out some Songkran spirit.   Part of my time is spent perched up near my office and dousing the unsuspecting passer by.    A friend caught me in the act this year. I participate every year.   I move around and walk among the people.  I get plenty wet and I spread around the laughter.   I have a good time with it.  If you can't get into the spirit of the celebration, you're getting old and cranky. You can not forget how it feels to be young and you must challenge yourself on a regular basis to keep your mind and body fresh.   Anyone who can't relate to these concepts has one foot in the grave, and you'll excuse me if I'm not ready to step in that direction yet.

The End of NotStickmanBangkok...

I started this site last year knowing that at some point, I would wind it down and take my exit - or certainly an absence.   Blogging is not my main source of income nor do I try to make it my main source of income.

I started this sight very specifically to cause some waves to the Great Stickman and smack him around a little for taking liberties in the reporting of news.  He was over-stepping his bounds and mixing facts with fiction in an attempt to increase the sales of products and services at his site.  He was ripping his follow farangs off and that type of action (to borrow an expression from my grandmother) "Just burns my ass".

This was just about the equivalent of NBC making a TV news report about a possible contamination problem at a Coke factory, and then turning around 5 minutes later and running a commercial for Pepsi, except Stick did all this on a much smaller scale.

Catz / Club Boesche

Stickman tried to get a finger hold on moving the customers from one successful go-go to another right next door to another.   He was taking contest prize money (and perhaps hard cash?) from Catz a go go and calling them their favorite bar, and at the same time, he was publishing negative accounts of Club Boesche right next door.  Club Boesche is a top performer and has been from the beginning, where Catz has always struggled from their beginning.    Both are run by good people.  Both clubs seem to be on the up-and-up when it comes to running a decent business.   Both clubs are nice inside (although Boesche is showing some signs of wear and tear).  Club Boesche just has always done better.   Some guys really like Catz.  Catz is a bit small for my tastes, but I like several clubs in that area and to be fair there is no substantial reason that either club should be more highly valued over the other, really. (I don't want to spin a false and unfair story about either of these clubs).

I have a very close and trusted friend near the Club Boesche team, so I have some insider insight as to what happens in and around the area of Pattaya and I knew that some of of the information being reported on Club Boesche by Stickman just didn't add up.   When I emailed Stickman about this, he was a bit of smart ass about it, and through his responses to me, I concluded that he was repeating information from other people down in Pattaya (The Stickman Bangkok Team?) and it was very likely that Stickman just didn't care about the quality of that information.   (lack of scrutiny here in Thailand is the root cause for a world of shit and trouble).    So, Stickman in my mind was guilty of not any checking of his facts (not even trying to check his facts) and not having a genuine desire to publish accurate accounts and I'll guess this was doubly true in this case because it benefited one of his sponsors at the StickmanBangkok site.

There were 2 or 3 other glaring topics that clearly were manipulated for profit last year (2006).  These included comments about HIV and bar girl issues where he was focusing those comments to bolster his "bar girl private investigation business" and sales of the Stickman advertised HIV test kit business.   The whole thing was getting out of hand.  It really was, and I had not "stepped up" to call attention to all these goofy things, someone else certainly would have had at some point in time.

I had help from his readership - you know.  I didn't know who Stickman was at the time even through I had exchanged email with him for a number of years.   And even through I had spoken with him on the telephone a few years ago.

Here is sample email of the type that I received around October of last year encouraging me to move forward and publish Stickman's true identity.  Eventually this was done, and you can see the Stickman outing on this page that was published in November.

Getting back to the point...What is going to happen?

It's time for me to severely reduce the work on this site to levels that will permit me to focus on my core business.

As most of you know, I run a business here in Thailand.   We manufacture products (mostly for export).  Last year was my most successful ever.   I'm close to leaping forward with my new product line of LED lighting and electronics.   This is my time to really launch my career into what should be a very successful stage, and with that thought in mind, I must make the conscience decision to back away from the on-line crusade against deception and farang bad-citizenship to a supporting role.

Here is my plan:

First, my site will not be taken down.  Never.  It will continue to run and serve as a source of direction for those researching Thailand and its culture.

Secondly, I will begin to recommend other sites who wish to promote the uncovering of false information on the web OR sites that make honest efforts to steer clear of unsavory business practices while providing valuable information for foreigners who are coming to Thailand.   I will promote these sites as recommended reading from the front page of my site. 

I may still occasionally publish articles when a very important topic arises and provided that I have time, but on a whole, I will not be blogging each week.

When is this going to Happen?

I'm planning to phase down my publishing over the next 6 months.  I may skip weeks where I will not publish.  I may be making changes to my front page.   I will also begin to consolidate my weekly articles into permanent reference pieces of specific topics.

And during this time, I will encourage and invite other bloggers to the Internet who love Thailand and respect themselves enough to give on-line readership the benefit of their honest opinions.   I'm looking for business minded and retired people alike who will make sincere efforts to avoid conflicts of interest in terms of money, while providing valuable information to the on-line farang community.  I don't expect these other web sites to be all not-for-profit; I'm looking for honest souls whose publishing has little conflict with their sources of income.   I'm looking for people who like doing the right things to others and sincerely have an interest in building positive energy for Thailand as well.

Is there a real estate company out there willing to come clean and really detail the pit-falls of farang real estate ownership?    Are there retires out there who find it interesting to critique go-go bars without selling advertising in to the bar businesses?

Are there any other "John Galts" who have the balls and experience in Thailand to peal away the Buffalo Shit of a farang/Thai events or news article to get down to the real "meat" of the situation?

If so, I'll sponsor and recommend your site to carry on the Galt tradition of keeping honesty and integrity as the cornerstone of your message.

I fully believe and intend to prove with over-whelming success in my own business, that straight dealings is the best way to handle your affairs. 

And furthermore, you'll never win a friendship that is stronger than when you do so with the intent of doing the right things by your follow farang.

I am under no illusion.   Shady practices are here to stay especially on the Internet.   Someone somewhere will continue to try to rip people off.  And let's face it, there are hundreds if not thousands of farang targets who travel here every year.  So, this type of work is never ending, but collectively, we can take a pretty big bite out of that problem.   I believe it's a an effort worth contributing towards.   It may not seem like much, but just the smallest efforts by various people can make a very big difference.

I'm tired of hearing how farangs are screwing around in Thailand and giving the farang community a bad name.  I don't accept the "Live and Let Live" philosophy when it pertains to allowing people to screw others and become a danger and a disgrace to the local community.  I respect people's right to live a private life -- I really do.  I respect people wanting to do their own thing.   But, I don't respect people tying to take advantage of others who are less informed.   That is just shameful and we as a group we should call attention to it.

Here is an interesting real world example -- should we just "live and let live"?

What would a "Galt" type do in a case like this?  (cartoon pulled from the Internet without permission)

The Stickman Review / "Dorothy from Kansas"

This week at StickmanBangkok was have an opening topic called "Thailand Farangland Same Same".   And people, I have to say that I feel like apologizing.  I'm ashamed.   On behalf of farangs in Thailand everywhere, I am befuddled.

When you fine people open your web browsers to Thailand on-line publishing, you're looking for guidance.  You're looking for leadership and advice.  You're looking for excellence, experience, and confidence.  You're looking for tips and tricks on how to make the most of your holiday and maximize the value of your retirement (or extended stay) here in Thailand.   Some of you are trying to relocate here, and you want to dream a little bit about how it would be to live here, etc.....

This Stickman (or Stickman Like) weekly publication may very well be the item that is "Same Same" as in weeks past.

This 1,479 word opening piece, reads like the article should be titled "I'm not happy, but Thailand is equally unhappy as anyplace else in the world".

People, where the hell is Stickman?    This article reads between the lines like this guy took a trip to England instead of New Zealand (where the real Stickman, Paul Owen is from).

How can a reader wade through this article of doubt and indecision and come out with any tools for better, more successful living?

What is the author's call to action?  Just put up with unhappy living in Thailand?

I mean, for the love of Pete, when is this "Stick Mark" pseudo-Stickman going to grow a spine and lay down some really astute observations and then proudly profess a position that he is happy with?  Where is the Stickman who is living in victory?

This Stickman is weak, feeble, unhappy, indecisive, and short sighted.  If he can't get his own shit together, what the hell is he doing preaching a sermon every week on "how it is to live in Thailand"?

Sorry, but this guy reads like a train wreck.   The guy reads like he is fixing to pull out his ruby red slippers and click his heals together three times and say "There's no place like home".  He is sounding like a Dorothy calling out to "Aunty Em" (head shake).

I may have to write an article on how Thailand wears people down and use him as an example, because this Stickman sounds defeated.

Now wait a minute, The Stickman Team does have a few brighter moments, they occasionally laugh at people.  Way to go on this hot observation:

So Stickman is watching people pick their face.  Wow, Ok.

Is Stickman going to show us the toenail shot next week?   Or can I subscribe to his newsletter to get full set of toenail, ear cleaning, and nose picking pictures all at once?

Man, I'm feeling better already.   Looking down at these Thai kids sure does make be feel better as a farang.  Damn, Stickman.  You're the man!  (to you newer Stickman readers, I'm being sarcastic here, because looking down at people should not be the way to feel better about yourself here in Thailand)

OH, and thank you for the 15 minute rule.  That really helped me save some time this week, NOT  (I give people only about 10 minutes) --- Oh, and by the way, its extremely common for people not to show up for a meeting.  It's so common that it's ignored.

Ask Miss Udon

Part of my take on the StickmanBangkok weekly column this week is a massive correction to question #2.  Here is a recap:

Ok, people.  Listen up.  The Great Galt (man of successful living in Issan) is going to nail this for you.  Pay close attention.....

First, 4,000 a week is a mighty big pay check for someone who does nothing for it.   Most bottom end average wages here are 4,000 a month.   I have one girl in my employ who earns a straight 8,000 a month.   And when I asked her if she would like to make 10k, she was delighted with joy (and she works for it).   By my calculations, you're paying your honey about 17,600 a month.   That is about the equivalent to a (college graduate) school teacher with 17 years experience.   Not many make that kind of money up-country.  Not many.  The true problem is that you're destroying her by giving her free money that she doesn't have to work for.

I'm sorry, but it's true.   Free money is one of the great destructive forces in Issan.   It teaches and reinforces all the wrong things to the whole family.  It gives the family freedom to be lazy.   Laziness brings boredom; boredom can sometimes bring alcohol, gambling, and drugs.  Boredom also brings the inability to happy with the money that they are given.   Money becomes like a drug habit.   17,600 per month is pretty damn exciting for a 4 or 6 months, then magically, somehow it just isn't enough.   Then you have to ask for more, but Issan girls can't honestly justify it -- so they have to begin lying for it.

Oh, that's right.  Those lies are justified for the "good of the family".   It's gets so confusing to the girl that after time, she really doesn't what the "honest path" is anymore.   The mother pushes her, the father pushes her.  When the brother hits her up for cigarettes, she'll respond by handing him money.   She feels guilty for doing so well, so she doles out the cash left and right.  Friends will also ask her to buy the whiskey for weekly trips to the disco.   Soon, those trips become twice a week.   You can believe me, I have seen this first hand.  I SEE this first hand.  First hand.

It's very honorable for you to want to help these people.  I want to help them too.  They are lovely in spirit.  There is not a finer group on the earth.   They freely give of themselves to no end.   They are compassionate.   They are civic minded.   They love their families and they are very open to extending their families to include you (mostly for the right reasons).  But, you can't help these people very well with just handing out money.  You have to put constraints on the income.  You need to ask them to perform for it.   You must seek out some accountability, or you are just destroying them with it.   It' a sad thing to see happen.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself for a moment.  For years I was inclined to feel disappointed with my own father because even though he has some affluence, my father never really gave me anything.  I personally have had to struggle and fight my way out of poverty and educate myself (my father did help me out in a few smaller jams by loaning me money that was repaid).  And today, after having fought through 25 years and suffering loss and enjoying success on my own terms, I have finally gained enough strength and achieve supreme confidence in knowing that I can overcome any challenges that are required of me to succeed.   This was a very long time in the making and it was painful.   I was required to discover all of this on my own and making a lot of mistakes and taking wrong turns along the way.  So, for the long haul, you might say my father did me a favor.   I may have not always liked it and there were certainly times that I didn't like it, but it served me.

And so what I'm saying to you is that these people need to build themselves up on their own merits.   In a lot of cases, that looks like an impossible task out here.  If you give these people fish every month, you feed them for just a month.  If you push them into learning how to fish -- well, you know what results will follow .....

I know you mean well for this girl and her family, but it's just that the problem is bigger than you and it's bigger then me and it's bigger than just the money.

OK, let me get to the main point here.

It's very likely that she lied about the car.  She has been bragging to her neighbors and friends about her superior farang "fan" and caretaker.   They, have in turn challenged her to the idea "Why don't you drive a car?"   What you may not know is that people in Issan believe in their hearts that if you have a farang in the family, that all farangs should be dolling out cash in quantities large enough to buy a car.   IF you don't have a car, then the neighbors bad-mouth your farang as being Kee Nok (Bird Shit) or just "not taking care of you".  

I, the Galt have been asked many times "why I don't have a car?"  (I think they do put me down for it).   They don't understand it.   The local rich folks understand pretty well, but the poor can't understand it.   I simply tell them that cars are a bad investment that don't make money (for me anyhow).  For the poor, cars are a status symbol that any "decent" farang must have.  

NOW, guess what?   I would lay heavy odds that your girl bought the car herself by saving 10k each month and amassed a down payment of about 50k and probably purchased a used vehicle for about 250k.

BUT THERE IS MORE, the poor are extremely irresponsible about borrowing money and making payments monthly. These month payments are called "Pon" (means in Thai "not the whole value")  They enter into loans that are horrific and absolutely and worst in the world.   And in this case, it's particularly possible because, its not her money that she is spending.   She is spending your money.  She doesn't "feel the pain" in getting a bad deal on the loan because she is spending your money.   To her, all this money if free and she treats it accordingly.

So, what I'm saying here is that she is probably making payments on that car now.    And her asking for "insurance" money is likely to end up being car payment money.

Also, you have to understand.   Getting a car repossessed in this country mean nothing.   She can go through repossession over and over again, and it means nothing.   She is enjoying herself with a car, blowing through your hard earned cash.   And if you by chance, cut her off, the car is returned to the seller and she loses everything and goes back to square one looking to hook up with another farang whose money she can again irresponsibly spend.

Ready to make the discovery?   I'll tell you how.   Insurance is not very expensive.   I pay about $6 per year on my motorcycle.  I have the basic liability coverage as required by law. 

All you have to do is ask how much for insurance and ask to see the bill on it.   It is a very simple receipt and typically you pay once a year for this.

The common figure that Thais give me is that basic liability coverage on a car or light truck is about 4 to 5 thousand baht a year.   So if she hits you up with something outside this figure, look out - it's buffalo shit.

The way you talk about the escalating costs of her support, I'll bet you that you make no attempt to verify the payments and where those moneys are going.  Did you ask to see the college payment receipts for the brother?

I have one more warning for you.   There is also a possibility that she is getting tired of you.  When this happens, sometimes girls can lose their fear of asking for money from you and then they hit you up for increasing amounts just to see what they can get away with - knowing that if they lose you - it's no big deal because the relationship was getting stale anyhow.  You might consider she has a new lover.  On the other hand, If she was very polite and sheepish in asking for the increase in support, then perhaps she doesn't have another lover.

Sending money to your honey in Issan and keeping it a responsible effort is really difficult.  You need to make them work for it.  You need to make them justify it, because when you allow them to relax on the accounting, you are calling upon their subconscious to start taking advantage of you.   This is a perfectly normal reaction that just happens.  It happens everywhere, not just in relationships.  It happens in the work place, it happens when you make purchases of goods from the local stores, it occurs when you hire someone to work on your house.

This culture is set up to suggest that if you are stupid enough to be over-trusting to the point where someone can take advantage of you, then it's their duty to do so and find a plausible reason to take that advantage of you (and teach you a lesson).

All of this may sound negative.  I do understand this, but these people are in kind of a bad place when it comes to how this part of the culture works.   I love the people.  They are some of the best people of the world in heart, but you need to also understand their position.

In recent years (20 to 30 years), a great deal of their normal work of living has evaporated.  The don't weave silk anymore.  They don't make their bowl and cups out of wood anymore.   Weaving with bamboo has become a lost art.  Even much of the work that is required for rice farming has been replaced by machinery.   They buy everything they need for cheap.  It's plastic this and plastic that.  They have cell telephones, and cheap shoes and ready made clothes, and motorcycles.  They don't make anything anymore.  They clean house and wash clothes.   That is about it.  Most of the previous work that gave them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction has evaporated.

Many of them don't have good jobs.   They don't have the correct schooling to match the changes in the economy.  They have very little honest opportunity to enjoy solid accomplishment.  They suffer from feeling like they don't know what to do.   It's a terrible dilemma to not know what to do.  Not  to trust the school system.  Not to have money to go to college.  How do these people have chance to succeed with they don't even trust the school system?

You may be thinking.... wow, these relationships do not seem very trustworthy.   Hey, people, you are catching on.

Wives are sometimes very terrible about taking control of their husband's (family's) money.   I had a situation in the office where one of my top guys (who I pay very well), was saying that between their baby's needs and the fact his wife is giving away money to her family (here mother/father), he couldn't make his ends meet.   The entire family was pressuring him to go out of the country to take a construction job in a foreign country.  I told him - to hell with that idea.  I said, "Do you want to leave and not see your child grow up only to come back and have no viable experience to take your career forward"?   I was forced to pay him extra and do it on the side so his wife didn't know directly about the money.   Me, I would have had the balls to put my foot down and get a grip on her.  And of course, I'm hoping that someday this is what he'll do.

OH, by the way, I occasionally have girls in town sweeten up to me because they think that because I'm a farang, I'm an easy target.  They think I'm irresponsible with money and would just be a "trusting" partner doling out cash as they required.    When these girls discover the I'm a firm poochi coon Thai (a Thai man), and that I'm going to require justification and verification of moneys spent, a fair number of them drop the pursuit or certainly lose some excitement for the relationship rather quickly.   I do buy some things for girls, but let me tell you, the last time (and the first time) that I bought gold for a girl that I liked, she instantly quit her job and dropped out of sight for about 3 months because I gave her the opportunity to be irresponsible.  How do you like that?  She promised me right up front that she would make time for me and continue on with her life just as before.... but as it turned out, she only made time for herself and just hung out at her house because she sold that gold (about 10k baht) and she didn't have to endure a job that she was bored of.  She turned that money over to Mom (much of it) and she was free to just go off with her friends and hang out and be lazy.

My perception is that Thai girls prey upon your willingness to trust without question.  They may be very decent about it at first but ultimately, when the pressure of the community and their own greed takes hold, they take advantage of you mainly because they have no training for honesty.  Honesty and integrity are spoken in name only and in reality this not how the basis of the culture works.

NOW, why doesn't Stickman keep you abreast of all this?   It's not that he doesn't know it.  The most likely reason is that his wife would put a boot up his ass for talking tuff.   I'm will to bet that she wears the pants in his family because Stickman strikes me like a wimpy push-over type.   He does like to get mean and nasty in secret though when he has anonymity on the Internet (this is probably a back lash from his subservient life at home).

And then, there are you guys out there who want to hire a private investigator to see if your bar girlfriend is cheating on you.  Are you starting to see the absolute foolishness of that endeavor?    I would almost be a crook taking your money if I suggested that you pay me to have your girlfriends checked out.  I would be just about one step up from a thief because I know what the outcome is going to be 99% of the time.

If you are not here to personally put your girl under some regiment of control, then you are only asking for trouble.  Don't expect too much success if you are not with her in person.   Not all girls will stray to the same extent, but I can almost assure you that they will stray to some degree in some way.   With extended periods of time, they will stray further and further until they destroy the relationship.  This is absolutely normal and should be expected so you can prevent it.

Scam Warning

When you make runs in the naught night life neighborhood, you have to think carefully about reducing your risks.   One such risk is pick pocketing and minor theft of your personal belongings.  Here is a report that came in last year.   I held publishing this until now.

I can't verify the claim of the guy who emailed me, but we if assume that this story true, there are a couple of things you can do to help protect yourself.  One, don't take valuables with you.  Don't even bring them to Thailand if you can help it.  Don't risk a bad position by feeling like you should wear your real Rolex watch.  

However, if you are really old or over weight or otherwise feel that you need something extra and help increase your "face value" then you may really want to wear some gold of something else of apparent value.  If you do wear nice things, I'm going to strongly recommend that you don't get drunk.  I know the club owners are not happy that I'm recommending this, but I think this is an important issue.   When you are drunk, everyone around you both bad and good, feel a "pull" against them to teach you a lesson.  The prevailing underlying philosophy in Thailand (perhaps in most of Asia) is if you're a fool enough to not take care of yourself, then you deserve to be taught a lesson.  Besides, you're a rich farang and you won't miss those valuables for long.

Personally I am never drunk in public.  I make it a point to stay very aware of my surroundings.  I think that I have better success with the girls for it.

Upon returning back to your hotel for a little fun and games, check your most valuable belongings into security at your hotel.   I know that seems like a bit of a hassle, but if you don't make the effort, you'll look lax, and the girl may feel the temptation to take something from you.

Never trust a girl - any girl.   Even take what few valuables you have in the room, into the bathroom with you when you shower. 

Give your girl every indication that you are very serious about keeping control of your valuables.  I guarantee you they are serious about keeping control of theirs.

Bar fine girls from places you know and trust.   Take girls from places where management is strong and active in wanting to know if you had any problems with the girls.

Don't be afraid to go to the tourist police if you really need to.   I personally have never used their services.  But, on some occasions they can be very helpful.  However, if you are drunk, don't expect them to be of too much help to you in recovering lost valuables.   Even if they believe you, the will have little power to represent you on your behalf to any other party.

All of this is common sense right?   Asia is place to be on your guard.  If you look a push-over you'll get push over alright.  Look like a Tiger.  Walk like a Tiger.   Tigers rarely get messed with.    If you look like a "push-over you'll attract girls who are looking for push-overs.  That may be inviting trouble on it's own so keep this in mind.

MangoSquashing....

Same o'l garbage at MangoSquash this week (MangoSauce.com).   David again re-hashes other peoples' stories and tries to put Thailand controversial twist on it.

Want to have some fun over over there?   Here is how -- just go over and make a real post with some thought and inside your posting write, "I am Keith Summers" or write "I am NOT Keith Summers".   (by the way this is my name, The Great Galt is just a normal guy whose name is Keith Summers).    Claiming your Keith Summers in disguise over there drives his readership nuts.   David may censor you on this, but you should give it a try just watch how the Galt bashers come out of the wood-work and panic.   It's funny as hell.

Call me Kee Neeiow (Cheap Ass SOB)

Girls in Thailand are pushy at time when it comes to money or buying things, etc.  They sometimes try to push you around by calling you "Kee Neeiow".  I proudly accept that title (even though they make it out to be cut down).  I turn that around and make it my opportunity to boast about my extreme talent at being a Cheap Ass SOB.

I frequently use this tactics at the bars and night clubs.  If a girl who gets a little pushy and wants a drink, I may put her in line first and have a little confrontation with some mutual bantering about me being Kee Neeiow, and them a short time later, at a time of my choosing, I'll may buy her that drink - and then she is in the right mind frame for thankfulness with the understanding that I may respond, but at the time that I choose to respond.  I think this sets the stage for a better environment of mutual respect and exchange (and you can read into this as you wish).

Another Example:

You're going to think this is funny.   I like water.  I always have.   I wanted to put a small pool of some type up on my roof top.  I had several purposes in mind.   Here is my first level solution:

This is a 1,600 liter tank.   It's about 5 feet 6 inches tall a little over 2 meters wide at the top.    I bought this tank about a year ago for 10k baht.   They even hauled it to the roof for that price.  This year I set this up to enjoy a little quiet time at night when I'm relaxing.   I'm even going to invite up some female company. 

I had one girl look at it about a weeks ago, and she freaked out because the water would have been over her head and she had never learned to swim before.  So, I didn't have company for water festivities on that evening (we watched a movie instead) -- but certainly at some point, I'm going to enjoy some mixed company here.

Not only do I enjoy relaxing and feeling like I'm in a swimming pool, but I'm also getting some health benefits at the same time.

One of the issues that we have here in Thailand is that the local water treatment facility doesn't put very many chemicals in the water.   The local community would probably freak out and lynch them claiming they are putting the children in danger with chemicals in the water....  (just a guess because people are afraid of what they don't understand).    Anyhow, the problem is, that the water that runs over your body during a shower isn't full of chemicals and if you are here long enough showering, you MAY notice an increased opportunity for you skin and nails (especially your toe nails) for picking up ailments.  In my case, my tail nails (in particular the big toes) are more prone to minor fungus.  And of course I jump on this and apply an anti-fungus cream and get is taking care of, but I apply chemicals to my little pool here and I'm also feeling confident that I'm going to gain some health benefits by soaking my body in water with some of these chemicals (as there are a number of things that can begin to take hold in your skin).   You just don't notice what the water does for you in the west, until those chemicals are removed.  So, I am getting several benefits with my water tank and this is just a simple idea that was very cheap.  (I'm Kee Neeiow).

I'll probably expand on this concept in the future and add plumbing and a pump and water jets -- and enclose the tank in a wooden frame and add a deck.  And I can do all this myself.  (again, because I'm Kee Neeiow -- has a great ring to you don't you think?).

If I have any wild parties up here I'll try to share a couple of pictures with you.   Isn't this a fabulous view?    I rent the largest section of this building.   45 feet wide, 47 feet deep, 5 floors (including the rooftop patio) for less than a one bedroom apartment would cost practically anywhere in US.   It's very simple living with all cement floors, wall, and ceilings, but I like it just fine and the girls aren't put off by it so why spend any more than is required?   Right?  Because, -- embrace this concept with me people, -- "I'm Kee Neeiow". 

Pattaya Addicts / The Galt is Banned This Time

I reported to you a suspicious banning last week at Pattaya Addicts because one of their members talked favorably about me on a posting that involved DaveTheRaveBangkok.  I questioned their reasons for banning this member.

This week, I am banned from www.PattayaAddicts.com.  No big loss.

People who are afraid and avoid open non-confrontational discussion are typically hiding something.  If they don't have the balls to keep their site open to several viewpoints, they they probably are not a quality web site anyhow.

Don't take my word for it.  You can check them out for yourself.  I just will not be posting there.

I am still welcome at these sites and I occasionally post at:  www.PattayaSecrets.com, www.TeakDoor.com.  I hold the JohnGalt username and anything on those sites with my user name should be authentic John Galt commentary.

Then, I go over to DaveTheRaveBangkok on Wednesday this week and and low and behold, there is the propaganda right in front of my eyes:

Here is the conflict of interest.  Dave sponsors a "sub forum" a la, Quid Pro Quo.

So, the Pattaya Addict people are obligated to clamp down on unwanted bad mouthing on DaveTheRaveBangkok and his good friend StickmanBangkok.

Just how many pies do these guys have the commercial fingers into?

Funny things about bragging when it comes to membership ---  The Pattaya Addicts banned member who just come back with new alias names and start all over again.  So I would imagine that it wouldn't be too hard to drum up a figure of 4,000 new members.  I guess this boasting of membership is just more example of buffalo shit we must wade through on the Thailand Internet. 

Numbers for the week

We are seeing a shift in demographics.   My overall numbers are the similar to those in weeks past, but now, Thailand readership is diminishing.  I suspect that some of the Thai readers are back to following the Stickman weekly as there are lists of events in the weekly and those are more valuable to the locals.

I have always wanted more readers from outside the kingdom.  So, the shift in readership is in line with what I have been working towards as my message tends to be for the Thailand new comer.  But, I believe there is an effect seen from the Stickman Weekly being back on line.

The Wrap Up...

Here is the original honest "not for profit Stickman" who is watching out for his readership and not looking to pick pocket unsuspecting readership of money.  Here is the original Stickman's Guide to Naught Night Life in Bangkok.  This was written back in the time when Stickman was looking out for your best interests.  This was back in the time when he made better recommendations about your bar-girlfriend.  And what were those recommendations?  

Read them again for the first time --->

(Click on the image for the guide)

Did you see all his recommendations in there about the bar girls?  Did you see it written in Red?   So what has changed in the past couple of years?   Has the bar girls changed?  Are they any different now?   No.   Have the farangs changed?  I don't think so.   Has the culture changed in some way to not warrant the same recommendation?  I doubt it.  So, then we are left with the conclusion that Stickman (Paul Owen) changed.   And why did he change?   Why is it that he not longer warns off having a bar girl relationship and warns against sending them money?

Last year, Stickman was making a different recommendation.  Last year he was saying:  "If you're going to be dumb shit and give your money away, then send it to me so I can check out your bar girlfriend" (I took the liberty here to make up a quote that summarized his activity - he never really said these words).     He may have still been doing you a partial favor, but in this case he was sticking his hand in your pocket, waving it around and giving you a little excitement about catching your bar girlfriend cheating, then when his hand came out of that pocket, he had your cash.  And then, guess what..... you were off to find another bar girls friend, and Stickman was getting is hands ready to put them back in your pockets again.   Isn't that just a bit despicable?   Stickman.... the Great Stickman, the highly respected Stickman,  your trusted "Bangkok Commentator Stickman", looking to F you over and perhaps over again.  And who knows how many of your girlfriends he took all the way back to the hotel with him, just to "extra" through in determining if they were still going with farangs.

(Let me clear about something for clarification.  Stickman already doing bar girls investigations even when he was dispensing sounder wisdom about bar girls.   Along the way, he dropped that wisdom from his site and he actually because to use scare tactics to enhance the investigation business.  Remember the HIV readers submission article that included an ad for investigation at the top?)

People, I have to tell you, that I have a bit of fun with Stick bashing.   And it seems lately, he make this so very easy to do.  The guy went commercial, and I'm sorry but when you go commercial in the "information business" in most cases, you have to take advantage of your readership to maximize profits.  There is just no way around it.  And let's face it, Thailand is rife with opportunity with ways in screwing people over.   And how many times do people get put in jail for this action?  Almost never!   This is a very big problem in the Thailand business landscape and it keeps them down as an economic power.   And sadly, it invites even those who we think are friends to take advantage of us.   Thailand is unfortunately a place where you can not let your guard down.   Never.  If you make scrutiny your natural inclination then you'll do just fine here.

So back to the original topic.   I'm going to have to curtail my work here at this site to a great degree.  I will encourage others to step forward and open sites of their own and host Thailand topics.  I will recommend sites that I feel are "preaching the good word" on how to avoid the fundamental pit-falls of Thailand.  And brother, believe me, this is a never ending job.   It's a valuable piece of work.  Every foreigner who comes here needs to have a firm grasp on how the true culture works and be ready to boldly take control of their affairs here.    It won't come to you automatically without tripping you up a few times, and even the experts continue to get tripped up occasionally.   Me included.    There is no way to be 100% protected because there is just so much of it going around in disguise.  You're doubly at risk because you weren't born into the Asian culture and you may not have the correct natural instincts to "sniff it out" on a daily basis.  Even the great Stickman gets hoodwinked now and then (here is a read that will make you laugh).

So, you should be reading about these types of topics on a regular basis to keep your mind focused on the right things so you'll not be taken for a ride (short rides are ok with the right partner though).

I still have about 8 to 10 really good topics that I want to cover and publish before I take my leave (my leave of the weekly activity).  I'm hoping after that point, I'll make a transition to a storehouse of articles and I'll leave the weekly chores of "crime  and culture busting" to others who have more time to devote to it.   I will still be in the wings and watching and perhaps recommending topics to the those who share the "John Galt Spirit".  I may even come out of the background to release an article on occasion.   I wont' let Stickman think he and his "team" can come back and setup the investigation services (or other shady practices) again without thinking twice about a firestorm of controversy. 

If you feel you have some interest in being associated with "The Galt" in taking a righteous and bold stand for good Thailand Internet citizenship and want to publish (or already do publish on the Thailand Internet) then I request that you contact me.

Thanks for stopping by,

John Galt