HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Cash will soon be worthless trash

Cat re-homing

Dreaming of a city park

On climate change

Multiple personalities?

Latter day Rambos

Saving a life

Cash will soon be worthless trash

Editor:
I would like to address this letter to Graham Macdonald.
Dear Graham Macdonald: I’ve been reading your predictions of global meltdown for the last 3 weeks with sadistic glee; what’s puzzling me as a layman is that money’s only value is as legal tender, apart from that it’s only worth the paper it’s printed on and the coinage’s value as base metal. So how come we’re not seeing bankers wheeling shiploads of cash around in search of a loaf of bread in this worst recession in the history of recessions?
Much more to the point is the fact that we’re outstripping the planet’s capacity to replace what we’re plundering from faster than at any other period in history. Soon there will be nothing left to plunder, then where will the global economy be? Up poo creek without a paddle hopefully, and it will serve us absolutely right.
Philip Fletcher-Stokes
Graham Macdonald responds:
Dear Mr. Fletcher,
Many thanks for your email. It is good to know that I have at least one reader! In answer to your question, I wrote an article for the Pattaya Mail which was published in August 2009:
Part 1: http://www.pattayamail.com/836/columns.shtml#hd1
Part 2: http://www.pattayamail.com/837/columns.shtml#hd1
In it I compare the Weimar Republic of Germany in the 1920s and the USA today. I hope this will answer your question. If it does not then please do not hesitate to let me know and I will try and answer it in another way.
As for our international resources, “poo creek” is about right. Please also see a more recent article on Water as just one example.
http://www.pattayamail.com/840/columns.shtml#hd1
In the meantime, here is to a Merry Xmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year.
Kind regards,
Graham

Cat re-homing

Editor;
My wife and I have lived in Pattaya for just over 3 years. We have been helping sick and abandoned cats for most of this time. We visit an animal shelter every 4 days to feed and administer basic medical care to over 30 cats and kittens. If there any that need more serious treatment we take them to an animal hospital here in Pattaya.
Some of them we bring to our home to recover from their various illnesses. We have 20 cats and kittens at our home at the present and until recently we used to return them to the shelter when they were well enough.
However, during the last few months we have been trying to re-home some of them. We put up posters in shops and vet surgeries and have used your free classified column to advertise, this has resulted in us re-homing over 20 cats and kittens in the last 6 months.
Thank you for helping us with your free ads and please keep up your good work with your newspaper.
Yours sincerely,
Paul and Sandra

Dreaming of a city park

Editor;
I am an American expat living in Pattaya for 7 years. I enjoy living near the ocean as the occasional breeze can relieve the sometimes oppressive heat and humidity. I think many people that come to a beach resort look forward to the same.
I have wondered for a long time why there are no parks within the main city of Pattaya, between the beach and Sukhumvit Road, and between North Pattaya Road and South Pattaya Road. There is a lovely park up the hill, next to the Tourist Police Station and Tourist Authority of Thailand offices.
I really think a park in the center of our city would be nice and could include a football field (pitch), volleyball court, a children’s play area, running path, and some rudimentary exercise equipment (for pull ups, etc.). There is such a location still open and perhaps the city might consider acquiring it for this purpose before that becomes developed. It is located on the west side of Third Road, north of Pattaya Klang about 200 meters. It is sometimes used for Isaan style concerts, so perhaps the city may already own it. The cost of development should be relatively low if it’s already owned by the city. It would be a lovely place for relaxation and a respite from the hustle and bustle of Pattaya. Is anyone in favor of this idea? Is there a way to encourage city officials to consider this?
Sign me,
A Dreamer

On climate change

Dear Editor,
The climate system is a very complex mechanism of nature having the following components: atmosphere (air), cryosphere (ice), biosphere (living things), geosphere (land), and hydrosphere (water). Solar radiation, deviations in the earth’s orbit, mountains and oceans, and greenhouse gas emissions all play important roles in the shaping of climate of the earth.
The motion of tectonic plates reconfigures land and ocean areas over a period of time that may spread millions of years, affecting both global and local patterns of climate and atmosphere-ocean circulation.
Both long and short-term variations in solar intensity affect global climate.
The orbital variations of the earth may lead to changes in the seasonal distribution of sunlight across the globe.
Volcanic eruptions and other volcanic processes release gases and particulates into the atmosphere. Large eruptions blocking transmission of solar radiation occur several times every century.
Alterations to ocean processes such as Thermohaline circulation redistributes heat by carrying out a very slow and extremely deep movement of water.
Anthropogenic factors (human activities) affecting the climate include increase in CO2 levels due to emissions from the use of fossil fuel, aerosols and industrial pollutants, animal farming and deforestation. If there are more gases in the atmosphere, more of the sun’s energy is trapped on earth giving rise to a warmer climate, popularly known as greenhouse gas effect.
But we need to remember that greenhouse gas effect is a natural warming system that keeps the earth habitable.
Nuruddin Azam
Australia

Multiple personalities?

Editor:
In the December 25 issue of the Pattaya Mail there were three (3) letters posted from “Pattaya Patty”, “Tony Crossley”, and “Jack Tighe”. In the Dec 4 issue of the Pattaya Mail, there were two letters posted, one signed “Pattaya Patty” and another signed “TC”. Then in the Nov 20 issue was another letter signed “TC”, and on Nov 13 one signed “J. Tighe”. These letters are usually long and tedious to read. One of the writers uses the name “Pattaya Patty”, who is a cartoon sex object used in some sex related paperbacks sold in Pattaya. There have been letters in the past by other people who have said that “TC”, “Pattaya Patty”, Tony Crossley, J.Tighe and Rory from England, are all the same person and writing letters using different names. Come on who ever you really are, use one name for your letters, not a bunch of different pen names. Use one pen name to make comments directed at numerous people or pushing your same old rash of bull. But, come to think of it, we should all be glad that we no longer have to read the letters pushing free advertising for books written under one of the names in their letters to the editor.
Bob,
Pattaya

Latter day Rambos

Dear Editor;
I’m at a big disadvantage when it comes to macho posturing because I can’t see well enough to ride round on one of these all powerful, all annoying motorbikes that are predominant in this part of the world. It seems that the bigger and louder your rental machine, the more macho status you acquire, like a latter day Rambo.
But I think it’s just too darned hot for all this macho nonsense. And every time that one of these cretins has nearly deafened me and sent my nervous debility off the scale, I content myself by hoping that all that heat around the perpetrators seat may bring on piles, not to mention the damage they’re causing their own nervous systems.
As for motor bike riders using the pedestrian path on Beach Road in Pattaya, surely this is a job for the tourist police to sort out, there’s nothing worse for pedestrians than having their very limited space violated by anything on two wheels or more.
Phil Fletcher

Saving a life

Dear Ed and readers,
My usual contact with P.M. is ‘hopefully’ humorous but occasionally, Pattaya presents its ‘darker’ side. About four years ago, at about 9 p.m. one evening amidst the bedlam of Soi 2 2nd Rd, I came across the prostate form of a young Thai man, almost empty whisky bottle alongside him on the pavement. Not in possession of a mobile, I pleaded with bar girls and passers by to dial an appropriate number but to no avail. “He mow,” was the constant reply. “He will be okay.”
Seemingly a run of the mill occurrence, I walked on but my conscience (I’ve never been a real ‘do gooder’) caused me to return in about fifteen minutes time just as he was being put into an ambulance. “He dead,” replied the bar girl to my concerned question. “What you want drink?”
‘A minor disagreement at home,’ I believe your newspaper reported to be the reason for him numbing every organ in his young body to the point of no revival (Dr Iain would word it better). Why write about it now? I hear the question. Because only four nights ago at about the same time of evening, also in 2nd Rd I came across a young lady in the same unconscious state with no obvious pulse. “She mow,” was the Thai man’s response as he tried to take my mind off the matter by selling me pornographic literature while the girl would revive of her own accord?
Shopkeepers also refuse to dial that all important number to a mobile less farang (in my panic it did not occur to me to hand over the baht), so dashed to where I ought to find a policeman. The one I found did begrudgingly make a call after giving him directions.
Much advice will be directed to me as to how I responded and much will be logical. I suspect more important, I can only hope that out of my panic, a life this time was saved because apathy can sometimes have dire consequences as I previously learned.
Yours Faithfully,
Dorian Farmer

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also published here.