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Bookazine Book Review: Money
Number One
by Lang Reid
This slim volume is subtitled “The Single Man’s
Survival Guide to Pattaya”. Written by antipodean Neil Hutchison, this
paperback was published last year, and has rapidly become a best seller,
according to Bookazine’s management.
The dedication at the front of the book says it all,
“To the ladies of Pattaya. Without them, the place would still be a
quiet fishing village and I would be a sadder, but wealthier, man.”
The book begins with general advice on such diverse
topics as transport, safety, hotels, money, food, drugs, STD’s and AIDS
and medical facilities. The advice is salient and refers to every tourist
to Pattaya, not just the single men. Baht busses are covered, complete
with the complex fare structure, which really only means that you pay more
than the locals, come what may.
 From
there, Hutchison launches into a personal narrative describing the people,
the bars and the bar girls. It is detailed enough for the first-timers to
quickly understand the difference between short time bars and beer bars
and why the novitiate will never be able to win at Connect 4.
There is a very amusing section of Essential
Thai-English for Pattaya and throws much needed light on why all bar girls
greet newcomers with the same set phrases, “Hello sexy man”, “Sit
down please”, “Where you come from”, “Where you stay” and “Do
you have Thai lady.” The important rationale behind all these questions
being one to ascertain how much money you have, what exchange rate they
have to use to convert to Thai baht and whether they might have to share
the pickings of your wallet with someone else.
All the way through the book there are “tips” which
generally have come from the author’s personal experiences. Even in the
pool halls where Hutchison advises, “Some of the older tables would make
Neil Armstrong feel right at home.”
Undoubtedly the advice given throughout can be
solicited in any bar - but this book covers 90% of the “grey” areas.
The review copy was made available by Bookazine in the
Royal Garden Plaza, next to Black Canyon and Boots. RRP is 395 baht. It is
an amusing read with such aphorisms as “Pattaya is like Disneyland,
except the rides are better.” It follows on the tradition of another
Pattaya Guide that was done many years ago by Aussie Ken (these chaps from
Down Under certainly are assiduous in their study of Pattaya’s bar
scene). Whilst it is light-hearted in its approach, the underlying message
of “Caveat Emptor” comes through strongly. The voracious male is well
advised to remember Hutchison’s words, “The reality of Pattaya is that
here, men are no longer the predator, but the quarry, no longer the
hunter, but the hunted. This can be a daunting prospect.” In the bar
girl scene in which the book is set Hutchison has accurately hit the nail
on the head. I would recommend that the single male, with fire in his
heart and conflagration in his jocks should study the book before having
his first beer. He will save more than the price of the book.
Movie Review: Beautiful
Mind
By Poppy
There is really a strong story at the heart of this
film. It’s an incredible portrait of a brilliant man and his mental
illness and a very intense love story.
 Russell
Crowe’s performance could actually win him another Oscar, Jennifer
Connelly stole every scene she was in and what really helps this movie
stand out is the supporting cast. Adam Goldberg (very underrated) and Ed
Harris as Parcher also deserve recognition for their roles - also the
actor who plays John Nash’s college roommate, Charles; he’s brilliant.
Russell Crowe is John Nash, a typical absent minded,
aloof but highly intelligent and witty mathematician, surrounded by
equally talented but worldlier friends and foes. He lives in his own world
and his fascination is breaking codes and playing with numbers. He jots
down complex equations on walls, windowpanes and any other place you can
think of. In one of the scenes he’s shown trying to formulate the
pattern of a pigeon’s movement in the park! A bit ‘batty’ for sure.
It’s not until the second half you realize that this
film is not just about the life of a great mathematician; there’s
something more mysterious going on. You discover that John Nash is a
schizophrenic and the movie gets better and better from this point.
A tearjerker of a movie that is also intelligent and
challenging. Well worth viewing.
Directed by Ron Howard
Cast:
Russell Crowe ... John Nash, Ed Harris ... Parcher,
Jennifer Connelly ... Alicia Nash
Christopher Plummer ... Dr. Rosen, Paul Bettany ...
Charles, Adam Goldberg ... Sol, Josh Lucas ... Hansen, Vivien Cardone ...
Marcee, Anthony Rapp ... Bender, Jason Gray-Stanford ... Ainsley, Judd
Hirsch ... Helinger, Austin Pendleton ... Thomas King, Victor Steinbach
... Professor Horner, Tanya Clarke ... Becky
 Mott’s
CD review:
"YES" - The Yes Album
by Mott the Dog
**** 4 Star Rating
Unequivocally the defining progressive rock album of
1971, “The Yes Album” was the collected batch of music that brought
“YES” from promising up comers to international superstars. Most of
the songs here 30 years later are still the mainstay of their live show.
“YES” were one of the bands who helped create the
genre known as progressive rock, where more emphasis was put on the
musicianship and songwriting ability of the band members than whether they
could leap about in pretty clothes on Top of the Pops. “YES” and their
fans took themselves very seriously which had already led to dissention in
the ranks as original lead guitarist, Peter Banks, had been fired for the
horrendous sin of drinking alcohol and enjoying himself both on and off
the stage. This did, of course, not deter all future “YES” guitarists
to copy Bank’s style right up to the present day. Enjoying oneself was
also the reason for the loss of drummer Bill Bruford the following year.
 Despite
this rather sterile work method, it would take a braver scribe than I to
be anything other than full of praise for this great album. There is a
crucial blend of musical styles, superb musicianship, adventurous
songwriting, the desire to stretch their collective musical ability to the
outmost limits, and plenty of chances taken and no fear of diversity shown
by the first two tracks. “Yours Is No Disgrace”, a fully fledged rock
workout clocking in at nine minutes forty one seconds, with its extended
solos, soaring harmony vocals, and a storming infectious main riff stolen
from the “Bonanza” T.V. theme. This is immediately followed by “The
Clap”, a Steve Howe acoustic guitar workout recorded live that year at
the Lyceum London.
“YES” were everything a progressive rock band
should be. Soaring keyboards provided by the rock orientated Tony Kay
(this was his last album with the band as he was soon to be supplanted by
the ultimate progressive rock keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman. But then
again, that’s a whole other story). Steve Howe providing concise,
driving, intricate, and sometimes subtle guitar, a solid bottom end rhythm
section holding down all the songs. The majesty of “Pomp and
Circumstance” next to the interwoven delicacies of acoustic piano and
classical guitar. This album is an absolute must for those who like their
music refined but with plenty of strength down the backbone.
By the time the band reach the closing song
“Perpetual Change” the pedal has definitely been pushed to the metal
and the song is built up to a magnificent rampaging conclusion, the
perfect ending to a fine album. (Although Peter Banks probably surpassed
them with his own version of “Perpetual Change” which he released on
his own band Flash’s debut album changing the song title to “Dreams of
Heaven”.) Nevertheless, “The Yes Album” is a fine work. Later, with
umpteen lineup changes, only bass player Chris Squires has been with the
band permanently. “YES” were to release some appalling dross, but this
catches a fine band at their zenith.
Musicians
John Anderson - vocals, percussion
Chris Squire - bass guitar, vocals
Steve Howe - electric & acoustic guitars, vachalia, vocal
Tony Kaye - piano, organ, moog
Bill Bruford - drums, percussion
Track Listing
1. Yours Is No Disgrace
2. The Clap
3. Starship Trooper
4. I’ve Seen All Good People
5. A Venture
6. Perpetual Change
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