Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY MAY 25 - MAY 31, 2018 (Vol. XXVI No. 21) by Pattaya Mail Media Group

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVI No. 21

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY MAY 25 - MAY 31, 2018

25th Year

30 BAHT

Britain’s Prince Harry (left) and Meghan Markle ride in a carriage after their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, near London, Saturday, May 19. The much anticipated royal wedding extravaganza drew tens of thousands to the pretty English town of Windsor and was watched by a global audience of millions. Full story on pages 18 & 19. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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Blown pump fuse blamed for sewage spill Jetsada Homklin A blown fuse is being blamed for a pump failure that caused sewage to spill into Pattaya Bay near Walking Street last month. Pattaya spokesman Pinit Maneerat said May 14 that the April 27 spill came after a high-voltage fuse in the South Pattaya pumping station burned out. As a result, sewage mixed with storm runoff to dump smelly, black wastewater into the sea and on to the sand near the opening of the nightlife strip. Photos of the mess on social media embarrassed the city. He said the Sanitation and

Sanitary engineers coordinated with the Provincial Electricity Authority to fix and change the high voltage fuse at PS7 in front of Walking Street. Now, it’s working as normal. Engineering departments rewire the circuitry to prevent worked to fix the pump and another overload.

Wire fire unplugs East Pattaya Jetsada Homklin A battery of utility companies mobilized to repair cables near Sukhumvit Soi 87 after the wires caught fire. The Provincial Electricity Authority was first on the scene after firefighters extinguished the May 12 blaze, which plunged the neighborhood into darkness. The PEA got the lights back on around 10 p.m. and cable-television, internet and telephone companies came out the next day to fix their respective spaghetti jumbles. It took an entire day to clean up the large collection of wires. The messy jumble of old and new lines was the reason for the fire, Fire rages on one of the electric poles which occurs in other areas on a regular on Soi 87, risking a dangerous basis as utilities continue to string new lines situation for the neighbourhood. without removing old ones.

Chonburi governor surveys city pillar tree

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Tourism execs warned of human traffickers Warapun Jaikusol The Ministry of Tourism and Sports warned about how human trafficking flourishes in popular tourist destinations at a seminar in Pattaya. Kankura Haisakanen, a ministry policy analyst, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Sakorn Thongmunee, commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, were the lead speakers at the May 17 meeting at the Sunshine Garden Hotel The forum attended by 100

tourism-industry executives and officials was one of four organized in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, and Phuket to explain how and why human traffickers are drawn to tourist spots and exploit their victims by forcing them into prostitution, begging and other sectors. The seminar stressed collaboration with welfare organizations and governmental agencies to curb sex trafficking in particular and improve Thailand’s world standing in battling human traffickers.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Sakorn Thongmunee warned that human trafficking was flourishing in tourists areas.

Rare dolphin sighting off Jomtien Boonlua Chatree A rare dolphin sighting sparked excitement among a boat crew off Jomtien Beach. A Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation volunteer posted online a video of the Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins. The aquatic mammals were spotted about 100 meters off the Jomtien coast May 11. The volunteer, Surapong Boonmachai, said he spotted the dolphins while on a mission to recover a corpse from the water near Koh Phai. Two large Suasa chinensises (Chinese white) dolphins swam near the boat. Each was pinkish in color and appeared to be happily frolicking in the water. As they got closer to the coast he was scared they might be lost and run themselves aground. The volunteers tried to drive the pair back out to sea, but the dolphins – which live in coastal waters shallower than 20 meters – were having no part of it. Surapong finally did what many only dream of and jumped in the water to swim with the

Surapong dives into the water to not only swim with the dolphins but also to drive them back out to open sea. dolphins. He said they didn’t appear frightened. Finally he got back on board to deliver the body to shore and dispatched another team to monitor the dolphins. Dolphins close to Pattaya are a rare sight after decades of overfishing by Thai boats. However, the pink dolphins are seen occasionally, but usually between Pattaya’s near and far islands.

Welfare, food top Pattaya public’s quality of life concerns

Chonburi’s governor surveyed the “golden rain” tree to be used as a city pillar. Pakarathorn Thienchai and his team on May 15 checked out the cassia fistula destined to be replanted at the Rice See Center in Phanat Nikhom District. Chonburi built the 200-million-baht City Pillar Shine for prosperity and to be a spiritual anchor for provincial residents’ love and unity. The shine is named “God of the Eastern Seaboard Kingdom” and sits on the grounds of the Chonburi Women’s Prison. Chonburi Governor and his team inspected the golden rain tree to be used as new city pillar of Chonburi.

Naris Niramaiwong (Inset), Banglamung District Chief Officer, chaired a meeting to improve the quality of life for Pattaya-area residents.

Jetsada Homklin Food hygiene and proper care of the elderly and disabled remain issues detracting

from the quality of life for Pattaya-area residents, according to a Banglamung District survey. District Chief Naris Niramaiwong chaired a May 15 effort on the Interior Ministry’s directive to improve the quality of life for Thais ahead of expected elections next year. The order, published earlier this year, called for local governments to launch more outreach services, which Banglamung has already done, running health fairs and meeting with citizens to hear complaints. Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda spoke to Naris and other district and sub-district chiefs via video conference the following day to lay the groundwork for the

fourth mobile-government outreach, which took place May 16. The next phase is to collate all the public feedback into a development plan to improve overall quality of life. Anupong said the ministry already has collected 720,000 comments from across the country. Naris at the May 15 meeting heard reports on what measures have been completed in the Pattaya area and which remain problems. Food quality, care for senior citizens and the poor, alien labor, garbage and road accidents top the list of items needing attention. Banglamung stands to gain up to 200,000 baht in government funding if its plan can win support from Bangkok.

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Tuesday, May 29 is Visakha Bucha Day Banks and government offices closed

Royal Thai Navy observes Abhakara Day

Capt. Wasan Sathornkit, deputy commander of Air and Coastal Defense Command, presided over the ceremonies to honor and venerate Adm. Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon.

Tuesday, May 29, is one of the most venerated holidays on the Buddhist calendar: Visakha Bucha Day. Tuesday, May 29, is one of the most venerated holidays on the Buddhist calendar: Visakha Bucha Day. This Buddhist Holy Day marks the beginning of the Buddhist Era 2,557 years ago, and celebrates the miracle of the Buddha being born, reaching enlightenment, passing away, and achieving final release from the circle of rebirth, all on the same date. Devout Buddhists participate in ceremonies at nearby temples, making merit in the morning by bringing alms to monks and listening to

sermons. In the evening devotees will continue assembling at temples to conduct the “Wien Thien” ceremony, walking around sacred temple grounds three times holding candles, joss sticks and flowers honoring the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings) and the Sangha (the Buddhist Monastic Order). For this holiday, killing any kind of animal and drinking alcohol or intoxicating substances is forbidden for 3 days. Wats are to be adorned with lanterns, flowers and joss sticks as symbols of

worship, and fireworks will be lit for three days to celebrate. Banks and government offices are closed for this holiday. However, some bank branches in shopping malls may be open to cater to foreign exchange, and most exchange booths throughout the city will be open. The law prohibits the sale of alcohol on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asalaha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent holidays; therefore all bars and entertainment venues close from midnight May 28 until midnight May 29.

Nongprue ready for rainy season Jetsada Homklin N o n g p r u e ’s D i s a s t e r Prevention and Mitigation Department told sub-district residents it is ready for the rainy season. Department chief Banjong Kumbongkha said his unit is prepared to assist in the event of the inevitable flooding that inundates East Pattaya each rainy season. Heavy duty mobile pumps have been installed and ready for use.

Banjong Kumbongkha, says his department is on standby 24/7 to assist people in all emergency situations. He said the department has dredged a canal on Khao Noi Soi 4 and installed a new pump on Soi Siam Country Club. Banjong said a new automatic pump will kick in when storm runoff flows into Sukeim Village and nearby developments,

A file photo of the type of calamity that can befall anyone during a rainstorm. alleviating the need to dispatch portable pumps. He said the hope is this

year that floods will drain more quickly and cause less damage than previous years.

Government and Royal Thai Navy officials marked the 95th anniversary of the death of “father of the Thai navy” in Sattahip. Air and Coastal Defense Command deputy commander Capt. Wasan Sathornkit presided over a May 19 garland presentation and a ceremony to honor and venerate Adm. Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, in front of the marines’ headquarters. An honor guard of nine fired 19 shots to honor the spirit of the prince, who died

May 19, 1923 at age 42. The prince studied naval warfare in England and returned to Siam in the age of King Rama V to serve in the Royal Siamese Navy and contribute significantly to the advancement and modernization of the service. In addition to his career in the navy, the prince studied medicine and was particularly interested in the use of herbal medicine in treating his patients. As “Doctor Phon,” he provided medical treatment to people of all classes and races.

The Royal Thai Fleet traces its roots to 1923 when a unit specializing in warships was founded under the name Royal Thai Navy, reporting directly to the Ministry of Naval Officers, with three warships fleets consisting of gun and torpedo squadrons and warships. It wasn’t until 1933 when the name Royal Thai Navy was changed to Royal Thai Warship, reporting directly to the Ministry of Naval Officers, until 1951, when the name was again changed to Royal Thai Fleet.

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Motorbike taxi driver fined 500 baht for kicking German

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New top traffic cop aims to tackle Pattaya congestion

Boonlue Chatree A Pattaya motorbike taxi driver was fined 500 baht for kicking a troublemaking German tourist in the face. Suntorn Saenkham, 48, turned himself in May 16 and apologized to the public and victim Andreas Bruer for the assault. However, he noted, what actually transpired in the incident, part of which was captured on video and uploaded to the internet, was not as it seemed. The viral video caught only the last part of the confrontation, with Bruer getting kicked in the face. But what happened before – which also was filmed and uploaded separately – gave the incident

Suntorn expressed his remorse for his violent act and promised never to do it again. context, although not justifiHe began shouting and cation for the cabbie’s actions. cursing at police and dePattaya traffic police pulled manding his bike be unover Bruer and asked to see locked. Suntorn took it upon his license, which he couldn’t himself to aid the police and provide. So officers locked the attacked the foreign man. bike and took his keys, which Suntorn apologized and set off the German. promised never to do it again.

Gardening accident inflicts serious hand injury Boonlua Chatree A Khao Maikaew man suffered a serious hand injury after getting it caught in a grass-grinding machine. Paramedics were called to the Soi Jaow Poh Shrine home of Veera Marim, 55, in Phusrai May 16 where they found the victim with his fingers caught in the machine. Rescuers used steel-cutting tools to sever the blades, but the hand was mangled. Veera said he grinds grass for his cows every day, but he slipped this time and got his hand caught in the machine.

Boonlua Chatree Pattaya’s new traffic police commander plans to deploy more officers to school zones in a bid to reduce congestion on city streets. Pol. Maj. Arut Supanon said in a May 19 interview he plans to have traffic cops start working 30 minutes earlier – at 6:30 a.m. – so they are on the job around schools when the morning rush hits. Pattaya’s many schools are a major chokepoint for morning and afternoon traffic and,

with more opening soon, more needs to be done to control the flow of cars and motorbikes around them, Arut said. “Pattaya’s current problems all come down to drivers who don’t obey the rules,” Arut said. “In addition to Thai residents, many foreign visitors and expats who are not familiar with Thailand’s traffic laws often hold up others.” He plans to redeploy officers to the most congested areas, meet with school management to enlist their help in controlling traffic, create specific drop-off/ pickup zones at schools, and

ensure his officers are strictly enforcing all the rules. “Locals are often seen driving on the wrong side of the road, going through red lights and more,” Arut lamented. “But due to the amount of motorbikes and ca r s , t r a f f i c p o l i c e a r e challenged to enforce the law on a daily basis.” Beach Road also will get more attention under Arut’s new strategy, with traffic cops cracking down on illegal parking and opening service centers to assist tourist. Officers also will receive more training in CPR, first aid and accident response, he said.

Ex-Rayong cop busted for drug dealing Teerarak Suthathiwong

Paramedics give emergency treatment to Veera as he is comforted by his loved one.

Illegal Huay Yai casino raided Boonlua Chatree Banglamung authorities arrested 30 people in a raid of an underground casino in Huay Yai. District Chief Naris Niramaiwong led a squad of police and soldiers in the operation against the Sia Noy Tunglalan gambling den hidden in a wooded area of Tunglalan May 18. Officers snuck up on the site and watched gamblers come and go from the casino, which was located on an island in a lake. Realizing the challenge of the “moat”, authorities decided to completely surround

Pol. Maj. Arut Supanon inspects conditions around the schools, promising to alleviate traffic congestion in Pattaya.

A disgraced Rayong police officer and his alleged Bangkok accomplice were arrested for dealing drugs in Pattaya. Vichai Kradkrayang, 24, was nabbed at the Chomdaow Resort in Nongprue with 390 methamphetamine tablets and four grams of crystal meth. Under interrogation, he gave up partner Sutisak Trakarnchan, 24, who was apprehended in Bangkok with 90 grams of ya ice. Pattaya police said at a May 18 news conference that Vichai was a police officer in Rayong, but was tossed off the force after

Ex-cop Vichai Kradkrayang and his accomplices sit at a news conference under the watchful eyes of Pol. Maj. Gen. Nantachart Supamongkol and Pol. Col. Appichai Kroppech. being charged with bribery. as a big player in that province, He then went into the drug slinging speed there and in business full-time and emerged Pattaya, police alleged.

Police seize 50,400 ya ba tablets No escape for these gamblers as law enforcers surround the woods. the site before moving in. The 30 suspects were taken in and officers seized cash, gambling equipment

and betting records. Alleged casino boss Chai Suetrong, 50, was caught with 8,020 baht and dice.

Teerarak Suthathiwong Two alleged out-of-area drug dealers have been arrested for peddling methamphetamines in Pattaya. Wiwat Buapa, 30 of Loei, and Tithi Yoosomboon, 31 of Bangkok, were brought to a May 13 police news conference along with 50,400 ya ba tablets police seized from them. Pattaya police chief Pol. Col. Apichai Kroppech said the arrest followed earlier apprehension of a drug user who ratted out his alleged suppliers. Officers then had the informant set up a fake drug deal in Bangkok. Wiwat showed up with 5,000 speed pills and was

The alleged drug dealers with the illegal substances are displayed at a news conference. arrested immediately. He later was taken back to his house, where police found an additional 40,400 tablets. After interrogating Wiwat, he spilled the beans and had his friend Tithi arrested as well, where police found

another 5,000 pills. Police said the two suspects claimed they got the drugs from an elderly drug lord in the capital, but didn’t know his name. They travel from Bangkok to Pattaya regular to sell to youths here.

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Authorities seek whale shark filmed as it was being captured Authorities have continued a search for a whale shark filmed on May 18 as being caught and then released by a fishing boat off the coast of Phuket but have yet to be able to confirm whether it is dead or alive. Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Jatuporn Buruspat is leading agents from the Marine and Coastal Management Office 9 and Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute (MCRDI) along with other relevant authorities on the search for a whale shark that was seen caught in the trawling net of Saeng Samut 3. The boat was filmed with the whale shark amongst its catch between Koh Raja and

The whale shark is shown hoisted in the trawling net of the Saeng Samut 3 fishing boat. Authorities are searching the area to determine whether the illfated shark is dead or alive. Koh Hay of Phuket province. Authorities are searching a 24 square kilometer area that extends to Koh Lohn and

Koh Bon using boats as well as telescopes, drones and radar. The search is to continue another 3-4 days.

Thai Buffalo Conservation Day marked nationwide Provinces across Thailand have held activities to mark Thai Buffalo Conservation Day, which seeks to encourage farmers to return to using buffaloes. In Uthai Thani province, the Dong Kwang Buffalo Conservation Farmers’ Group organized a blessing ceremony for their buffaloes. The ceremony is a traditional practice based on the belief that farmers should express appreciation towards their beasts of burden. This year the event was organized to reverse the downturn in the use of buffaloes. May 14 was mandated by the Cabinet as a Thai Buffalo Conservation Day in remembrance of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s establishment of the Cow and Buffalo Bank project.

Countrywide blessing ceremonies are organised to show reverence to the beasts of burden on Thai Buffalo Conservation Day. In Nakhon Ratchasima, two buffaloes were ‘wed’ as part of the day’s celebrations. The province also organized a traditional buffalo tilling demonstration, a buffalo insemination demonstration and a buffet for buffaloes. The activities were in the hope of reminding the Thai public of the nation’s long

standing dependence on the buffalo. The Livestock Department chose to highlight Nakhon Ratchasima’s Jorakehin community, where 274 farms have owned and used over 700 buffaloes for 16 years now. It hopes to promote better breeding practices to increase the buffalo population. (NNT)

Authorities to push elephants back into forest in Buriram Authorities of Dong Yai Forest Wildlife Sanctuary in Buriram province are preparing to push elephants back into the forest after filming over 60 descending on fields around the Khao Kapod Rangers Unit. The elephants were filmed during a patrol by Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary authorities. They were seen near the Khao Krapod Rangers Unit on the west side of Baan Kok Petch in Nang Rong sub-district of Non Din Daeng district in Buriram province. The filming coincides with a series of photos shot by locals of elephants eating their tapioca plants as well as signs that they trampled a chicken coop. One video clip shot by locals has audio of residents trying to chase away the animals despite the danger.

Wild elephants which have become a menace to villagers are to be driven back into the forest in Buriram With the sightings taking place outside of the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary zone, more patrols have been organized with the intent of driving the elephants back into the forest. Residents have been urged to alert

authorities if they see any of the animals, and have been barred from entering the forest area at this time as a safety precaution. The matter has been reported to the district and provincial offices as well. (NNT)

Jatuporn affirmed that if the shark is found injured it will be given care and released back into the ocean but if found dead its corpse will be retrieved for an autopsy as part of the case against the boat. MCRDI Director Kongkiat Wattanawong pointed out that capturing a whale shark in the manner seen in the video clip, if only for 10 minutes, can cause severe harm due to the animal’s large size and structure. He explained that internal injuries could mean that the shark, despite being released back into the water, would not survive. A survey in 2017 found 308 whale shark sightings with an estimated 95 of the animals divided between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Phuket fisheries authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have been called to action against all involved in the capture of the whale shark, who are accused of violation of Article 66 of the Fisheries Act. They face a fine of between 300,000 and 3 million baht or five times the value of the animal. The Saeng Samut 3 will have its license revoked and all involved will b e b a r r e d from fishing before facing criminal repercussions. (NNT)

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Fruit season means more garbage for Pattaya Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya’s overflowing garbage cans have a sicklysweet aroma these days as remains of the bumper-crop fruit season fill up bins. Fruit peels, seeds and leftovers are being blamed for a 50 ton increase in the region’s rubbish levels, already bursting the seams of Pattaya’s dumpsites. The Sanitation Department has upped its pickups to as many as four times a day around markets but is still asking vendors to take extra

care to dispose of their waste properly. Cleanliness and sewage chief Sanya Tubtimsri said May 15 that peak season for durian and rambutan always sees garbage levels increase. Thus a private contractor was hired to pick up rubbish from markets and nearby neighborhoods. The increase in pickups has corresponded with a decrease in complaints. However, illegal dumping continues, which is punishable by fines of 2,000 baht if violators are caught.

Sanya Tubtimsri says that a private contractor was hired to pick up rubbish because the peak fruit season sees garbage levels increase.

Flood-hit Nong Plalai families get relief Jetsada Homklin Pattaya-area authorities and local relief agencies distributed aid to 37 Nong Plalai and Huay Yai families hit hard by flooding. Banglamung Deputy District Chief Chartchai Sriphoon was joined at Kedthippattana Village in Nong Plalai May 13 by representatives from local government and the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation Pattaya and Banglamung Red Cross to hand out bags of dried food, rice and basic necessities. A total of 87 bags were g i v e n t o 1 2 f a milies in

Banglamung Senior Deputy District Chief, Acting Maj. Lt. Chartchai Sriphoon, together with representatives from many organizations, distributed relief supplies to flood victims. Kedthip Village, 25 at Charknok Community in Huay Yai. The aid became necessary

after heavy rain May 15 caused severe flooding in Moo 6, 7 and 13 villages in Nong Plalai.

Nong Plalai inmates get vocational training Jetsada Homklin Nongprue provided vocational training for inmates of Pattaya Remand Prison to prepare them for life after incarceration. Sub-district clerk Teerawit Thongnok opened the May 16 workshop at the Nong Plalai prison with legal advisor Natcha Khaokrajang, owner of Natcha Spa and Beauty. Instructors guided inmates in lessons on how to use herbs and plants to make products they could sell for income after their release. Natcha showed how to make balm, liquid Borneol, creams, lotions, shampoo, soap and shower foam. All raw materials were local herbs which are easily found. The goal of the training was to proNatcha Khaokrajang demonstrates to the vide the convicts options on how to inmates the art of making creams and earn an honest living and not return to a life of crime. lotions using herbs and plants.

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Swimmers warned off Bang Saray Beach Patcharapol Panrak Bang Saray authorities told swimmers and fishermen to stay away from the beach following a mysterious sewage spill that blackened the sea for four days. Authorities posted signs May 13 warning people to stay out of the water and advised fishermen to sail elsewhere until the putrid, black waters cleared. Neighbor Prasitchai Permtermsap, 42, said the water has been smelly and murky since a series of rainstorms

apparently caused sewage pipes to overflow. Neither residents nor public

officials have been able to pinpoint where the sewage was emanating from.

Pattaya patches railway road Jetsada Homklin Repairs of the railway-parallel road behind the Pattaya Floating Market are scheduled for completion in August. Duangdee Phumchuang, construction inspector with Thaiwiwat Engineering TW Co., led the work crew that used heavy machinery to begin digging up the road May 18. He said the thoroughfare was damaged by repeated flooding and standing water that can’t drain following storms due to the railway road’s lack of sewers. There are no plans to install such sewers or properly rebuild the road with concrete, however, as doing so would cost

Motorists must bear with the potholes and dust for another 3 months before the railway road is put together again. five times more than just patching the asphalt. The current job – sure to

be repeated in the future due to perennial flooding – is set for completion in August.

Nong Plalai residents can see clearly now Warapun Jaikusol Deputy Mayor Lae Boonsingh welcomed members from the First Sight Foundation and Fountain Foundation who provided free spectacles May 16 following eye examinations earlier this year. Fountain Foundation representatives said the glasses were provided through the First Sight Foundation of the U.S. and its Thailand branch. Both organizations have been going around to visit local communities for the past 7 years, measuring eye sights and supporting local residents in need. In 2017,

People are happy to receive their eye glasses from the benevolent organizations. during their previous visit to Nong Plalai they found that more than 200 residents were in need of glasses.

The demand was so great, the opticians ran short of materials and had to come back again.

Takhiantia checks on residents for TB

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Takhiantia Health Promotion Hospital provides free checkups to sub-district residents. The doctors on wheels pulled into Wenuwanaram Temple May 18 offering lung x-rays, blood pressure checks, diabetes and tuberculosis tests and medical advice. Tuberculosis has been making a comeback, causing concern among hospitals and clinics, especially in densely populated neighborhoods. According to a recent survey, there were more than

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Residents point to the murky waters that mysteriously appeared on Bang Saray beach.

Residents of Takhiantia await their turn to get a free medical checkup. 110,000 residents diagnosed with tuberculosis in the past year. The nurses and doctors in local hospitals opted

to ensure that local residents, especially the elderly, get checkups either in the hospital or via a mobile clinic.

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Pacific Partnership 2018 Kicks-Off in Thailand for First Time Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Fulton Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific Pattaya, Thailand (NNS) – Pacific Partnership 2018, the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission, kicked off aboard the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF-6) in Pattaya, May 20. This was the first time Thailand hosted Pacific Partnership since the exercise series’ first iteration in 2006. Over 130 military personnel from the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia conducted medical, dental and veterinary subject matter expert exchanges at the Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital while working side-by-side with local professionals and non-governmental organizations on HA/DR readiness. The medical team shared knowledge and experiences on topics ranging from obstetric trauma emergencies,

Royal Thai Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Suthon Muanpithak, Directorate of Joint Operations, delivers remarks during the opening ceremony of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18) Thailand aboard Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6). rheumatology and pediatric trauma to nursing care and veterinary education. The civil affairs team from the U.S. Army 83rd Civil Affairs Battalion conducted a joint symposium and tabletop exercise with Royal Thai Armed Forces counterparts to practice disaster response and preparedness. “We are here because, like our U.S. colleagues, we are

Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) arrives in Thailand as a part of Pacific Partnership 2018.

committed to increasing multilateral cooperation and partnership across the region,” said Royal Navy Capt. Peter Olive, Deputy Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2018. “Working together with you, our gracious hosts, we therefore hope to build mutual understanding of how better to respond to natural disasters in the future.” Thailand is considered the USA’s oldest regional ally as both U.S. and Royal Thai Armed Forces continue to conduct increasingly sophisticated annual engagements including the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise which began in 1995, Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) involving more than a dozen nations and Cobra Gold, AsiaPacific’s largest multinational exercise. “I would like to thank the U.S. Government, Pacific

Obituary

William “Bill” A. Book July 10, 1942 - May 7, 2018 William “Bill” Book, son of Antoinette and Francis Book of Pittsfield, passed peacefully in his home on May 7, 2018 surrounded by family. Bill was born July 10, 1942 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Bill enlisted in the Navy in January, 1961. After becoming demolition certified and parachute qualified, he entered BUDS training to become a UDT- SEAL member in April, 1963. He completed his training in August of 1963 and graduated in Class 30. He served in Vietnam as a DM3 in SEAL Team 1. After leaving the military, he continued his career as a deep-sea diver working oil rigs in Singapore, as well as owning a popular bar in Thailand, where he met a number of celebrities such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Clint Eastwood. Mike Johnston, a very close friend during Bill’s many years of residency in Pattaya, remembers Bill as one who always gave a lending a hand to those in need. “Bill was a very charitable man. He involved himself in many of Father

Brennan’s sponsored activities. He was one of Father Brennan’s helpers that dug the original post holes for the fence that surrounds the orphanage compound. “While walking with his golfing friends, I handed a 3 iron to swing while watching the rest of us make fools of ourselves. He would never let us live down our ‘treachery’. Eventually he became an avid golfer. Bill was a fun and happy man with a heart of gold. Bill was a founding member of the Pattaya Sports Club.” When he returned to the US in 1991, he moved to

Vermont, where he became a Corrections Officer for St. Albans, Vermont. He met the love of his life there, Alma “Ellie” B. Cook. Soon after Ellie’s retirement in 1996, they relocated to Ely, Nevada, where he worked at Ely State Prison Facility. He became a certified Firearms Instructor for the State of Nevada Department of Prisons in September, 1997. He was also a certified instructor for Non-Lethal Weapons, and attended FBI training in Interview and Interrogation. Upon Bill’s retirement, they moved to Las Vegas to enjoy the warmer climate and be more accessible to family. Bill is survived by his sister, Beverly Mahoney; his daughter, Amanda Book; his stepsons, Michael Cook, Timothy Cook, Thomas Cook, and Andrew Cook; and his stepdaughter, Patricia Cook. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Navy SEAL Foundation 1619 D Street Virginia Beach, VA 23459 www.navysealfoundation.org

Capt. Peter Olive, Deputy Mission Commander of Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), receives a traditional Thai welcome upon his arrival to Thailand, May 19. Command and other allies that have made this project happen,” said Royal Thai Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Suthon Muanpithak, Directorate of Joint Operations. Pacific Partnership, in its 13th iteration, began as a humanitarian response to the 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia. By building on the region’s shared goal to strengthen national capacities and preparedness for disaster response, 22 partner nations around the globe in 18 host nations in the region have participated since 2006. Brunswick has visited Yap, Palau, Malaysia and Singapore as part of the Pacific Partnership 2018 mission to develop sustainable projects on a range of topics that enable critical infrastructure development across the region. So far, the

crew have conducted over 100 medical engagements and subject matter expert exchanges, and nearly 20 engineering projects and 100 community relations and band performances.

“Pacific Partnership 2018 will enhance interoperability for quick response of unexpected disasters,” said Suthon. “This exercise will be long lasting in our memories.” Brunswick is one of three expeditionary fast transport ships in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to continue its mission of providing rapid intra-theater transport of troops and military equipment. Specially configured for humanitarian and disaster relief operations, Brunswick is currently capable of accommodating a robust multi-specialized team of medical, engineering and civic assistance personnel to support the Pacific Partnership mission. (U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Fulton and Specialist 1st Class Byron C. Linder/Released)

The U.S. Pacific Fleet Deep Six Brass Band performs at the Royal Garden Mall in Pattaya as a part of Pacific Partnership 2018 Thailand.

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VOL. XXVI No. 21

Andy!

Was Andy Warhol a tormented soul? I believe so. Photography is a preferred medium for tortured souls which does not require the artist to cut off his ear as per Van Gogh. Let us look this week at an artist/photographer who is remembered for his ability to record the human psyche in all its shallowness (and complexity). This is Andy Warhol (1928-1987), a complex character himself, and probably even more complex than Van Gogh. Warhol was born in Pittsburgh USA, the son of Czechoslovakian immigrants. He studied pictorial design and art history, sociology and psychology, and worked initially as a commercial artist for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar

and the I. Miller shoe company, where he was paid per shoe he drew. Andy did not mind this method of payment, as he was able to quickly work out how much he was owed! In 1962 he produced his silkscreen prints on canvas of dollar notes, Campbell’s Soup tins, and Marilyn Monroe (copies of which can be still seen in any copy artist’s studio in Thailand). The 32 soup cans were a deliberate attempt by Warhol to produce ‘legitimate’ art from the mundane, trying to show that the human mind was attracted by the ‘sameness’, and it was the continuous exposure to those kind of images that produced a sense of security in the viewer. It was the conundrum of producing ‘art’ from something that was almost the antithesis of art. From commercial art, he branched out into photography as well, but rather than take carefully arranged photographs, Andy Warhol went the other way, using a

Dear Hillary, I am thinking about making the relationship with my GF more permanent. She has been hinting for a few weeks now. We’ve been together for almost four months and seem to get along OK. She used to come with me to the pub, but she would get bored as she doesn’t drink and then would make noises like “Let’s go.” Other than that it’s been good. My mates reckon she is too bossy, but I can handle it. What do you think, Hillary? David Dear David, Stand back from the situation, my Petal. She is pushing you into this permanent relationship and you are on the back foot, making excuses like “Other than that it’s been good.” If you were certain, you wouldn’t be writing to me, would you? Give it another eight months and see if she is still there. My guess is that she will “Let’s go” and look for someone else. Dear Hillary, Have you noticed that Thai women look much younger than they really are. I have been caught out a few times with women that I thought were in their 20’s to find they have 20-year-old children. What is the secret, Hillary? Is this something they get shown at school or what? Gregg Dear Gregg, It is not taught at school, it just comes naturally. 40’s? I wish I looked just 40, but even though I’ve been around the block a couple of times, I do get mistaken for somebody who is 50. Goodness me, Petal, I’ve got grandchildren and varicose veins. The only thing we get taught at school is how to hold your hands together for formal photos.

Andy Warhol in 1976. (AP Photo) Polaroid camera to record ‘instant’ photographs, again in the anti-art genre. There are no well-lit, carefully posed, complementary background photographs from his Polaroid era. Many were filled with clutter. And Andy Warhol could not have cared less. In fact, as he then began to move in the Hi-So circles, Warhol would go out every night and capture the people on film. “You want to go out every night because you’re

afraid if you stay home you might miss something,” wrote Warhol many years ago. In many ways a similarity appears between Warhol and Weegee, the photojournalist. Neither wanted to miss what the night might bring. Warhol had discovered that the life in America was like his Campbell’s Soup tins. Everyone wanted to be exposed to the public, the more times the better. The more recognizable, the more ‘famous’ you had become, and

Dear Hillary, How important is the age difference between a Thai woman and a European man? I’m not talking about 10-20 years year difference but 40-50 years. She is in her 20’s and he is in his 60’s. Can this really work. One Thai woman I asked said it is good because the man will die early and she gets to spend all the money. She also said that if they have a disagreement he will have a heart attack and she doesn’t have to put up with him anymore. Alfred Dear Alfred, Do I get this right? You are actually thinking about setting up house with a 20 year old? Festina lente (hasten slowly) as these can be troubled waters. Yes, I do know of couples with that age difference who are very happy, and I also know of couples with that age difference whose relationship has ended up in disaster. Petal, there are many things to be considered. She will want kids, while you had done all that 20 years ago and don’t want or need toddlers round the house. She will want to get some education and not be a housewife, while you did all that stuff years ago. And what about the physical side of the relationship? What you used to do all night now takes you all night to do. Correct? Without being specific, you will have to be very lucky to find a young woman willing to be your carer for the next 20 years. Very lucky. In fact, extremely lucky. Dear Hillary, I never thought of myself as a prude, but what do you think of the way these girls dress round here. Or maybe I should have said “undress” round here. Every day I see girls with dresses so short it barely covers their panties and when they go up escalators, nothing is left to the imagina-

Warhol was the man who would be there. The ‘ultimate’ street photographer. Just as Weegee photographed the ordinary people in trouble, Andy Warhol photographed the out of the ordinary people. His relentless shots taken in Studio 54, the ‘in place’ disco are albums of freaks, hangerson, minor celebrities, aging movie stars, starlets eager for any publicity, drunks, transvestites, designers, people with designs on being designers, the whole superfluous and superficial crowd. And Andy got them all, and in some ways recorded an era for posterity. (Reads just like Walking Street!) I think that from originally being a voyeur, Warhol eventually began to believe his own press and his florid behavior became even more outlandish. He made movies of incredible length – Sleep, a six hour epic and Empire even two hours longer. But of course the world was ready for someone like this. The post war liberalization was breeding people who

would symbolize the extremes that the new freedoms had brought. Warhol continued with his entourage around him who I believe were needed to keep his empire going, as Warhol himself was too distracted to be able to keep track of what was happening. He was having showings and exhibitions all over the world, and was treating them all and the viewers with artistic contempt, his way of shielding himself from the world or revealing his true introspective nature. As the world moved into the 80’s, America changed, and the attitudes changed with it. There were fewer places for people like Andy Warhol to feel secure in. Reality was returning after the excesses of the 60’s and 70’s, and the Warhol star was on the wane. One can only wonder what Andy would have done with FaceBook! Warhol died from a postoperative complication in 1987.

tion. While they dress like that, they are asking to be molested. The boy is the one who gets in trouble, but it is these girls who taunt the boys with the sexy dresses that cause the trouble. I reckon Weinstein was just being the everyday male blessed with a freely given opportunity. I mean, would you go up to see some man in a hotel room? And then crack on surprised when the man makes an advance? Do you agree with me Hillary? Harves Dear Harves, I’m sorry, but while I agree some girls here dress in a very sexually alluring manner, but it is the girl who gets pregnant and is also in trouble. If the society accepts the dress code which worries you, it means the girls’ parents have given their agreement. I believe it is back to sex education for the boys and the girls. I might also suggest you stop being an ‘up-skirt voyeur’. You are not a prude – you are a Dirty Old Man, as well as a Male Chauvinist Pig. Dear Hillary, One of the girls at work has told me that she wants to be a “pretty”, one of these girls in strange outfits that are seen at shows round the place. She has to pay 20,000 baht to this go-between to get the job. This sounds like a con to me. What do you think? Charlie Dear Charlie, You are asking the wrong person, Petal. I didn’t even get second prize in the beauty contest, they wouldn’t even let me enter. Finder’s fees are just another type of ‘tea money’. Of course they can only work for about five years if they are lucky. Not my cup of tea (money)!

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PATTAYA MAIL

The waiting list Long before personal computers, smart-phones and other digital devices were given to us, there was the Dictaphone. This was really just a fancy name for a tape recorder, but its purpose in Medicine was to expedite the letters to the GP’s who had sent in patients to the hospital. The hospital authorities realized that to leave the Junior House Officers (of which I was one), who were already overworked, to type their own letters would produce another ‘choke point’. The advent of the Dictaphone would speed up the whole process and everyone would be happy. Well, that was the objective. The reality was, as is often the case, not as smooth as imagined by the authorities. The first problem was that there were nowhere near enough Dictaphones. The second was that there were nowhere near enough secretaries, so the hospital was still receiving calls from angry GP’s who were seeing patients in their rooms they had sent to the hospital, who had been admitted, treated, discharged and the GP had not been informed of the diagnosis, treatment given, and when follow up was to take place. As you can imagine, continuity of care is important.

The following is a true record of a Dictaphone medical report. The Doctor was a Colin Wilmshurst and the GP I have called Dr. Brown and the patient I have called Mr. Smith. I was in the next cubicle which allowed me to eavesdrop. The next important item is ‘bunions’. These are bony outgrowths on the inner side of the joint for the big toe. They can grow quite large and are unsightly and make it very difficult to wear shoes. In fact, many people with bunions will cut their shoe over the bunion so that they can actually wear the shoe. But back to my story, which by the way is totally true. It was 1967 and Colin began with the usual address, “Dear Dr, Brown, Thank you for sending in your patient Mr. Smith, and I agree totally with your diagnosis. He has indeed bilateral bunions (bunions on both feet.) This being the case, it will be necessary to admit him for an operation by one of the orthopedic surgeons. Unfortunately there is quite a waiting list for non-urgent procedures, but I confidently expect we will admit him for

surgery in the early 1970’s. In the meantime I have advised him to wear thick socks!” That was the situation with waiting lists in those days, and although things in the UK are not quite as bad these days, there are still long waiting lists for non-urgent cases. A couple of years back, when my dear old Mum was still alive, she was admitted with an irregular pulse to a hospital in Scotland. She ended up being there for three weeks, not that she needed all that time in hospital, most of the time was waiting for the doctor, waiting for the EKG machine to be free, waiting for the specialist, waiting for the report to be signed by the consultant, waiting for the social worker to look at Mum’s house. I can honestly say if Mum had been here in my hospital in Pattaya, she would have been examined, a diagnosis made and treatment instituted within two days. Yes, I realize we have a private hospital here and Mum was in an NHS hospital in the UK, but if the UK could use the same model as ourselves, there wouldn’t be so many waiting for a vacant hospital bed.

US seeking 1 million for massive study of DNA, health habits Lauran Neergaard Washington (AP) —The U.S. government has opened a nationwide enrollment for an ambitious experiment: If they can build a large enough database comparing the genetics, lifestyles and environments of people from all walks of life, researchers hope to learn why some escape illness and others don’t, and better customize ways to prevent and treat disease. “A national adventure that is going to transform medical care,” is how Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health,

In this Aug. 7, 2017, file photo, Stephanie Richurk, a nurse at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, sorts blood samples collected from participants in the “All of Us” research program in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Dake Kang)

describes his agency’s All of Us Research Program. Congress has authorized $1.45 billion over 10 years for the project. It all hinges on whether enough people around the country will sign up, either online or through participating health centers. There’s already interest: More than 25,000 people got early entry to the project over the past year through an invitation-only pilot test run by participating universities and health providers. The project involves “precision medicine,” using traits that make us unique to forecast and treat disease.

Cancer docs feel unprepared, but recommend marijuana anyway Carla K. Johnson Seattle (AP) — Nearly half of U.S. cancer doctors who responded to a survey say they’ve recently recommended medical marijuana to patients, although most say they don’t know enough about medicinal use. The results reflect how marijuana policy in some states has outpaced research, the study authors said. All 29 states with medical marijuana programs allow doctors to recommend it to cancer patients. But no rigorous studies in cancer patients exist. That leaves doctors to make assumptions from other research on similar prescription drugs, or in other types of patients. “The big takeaway is we need more research, plain and simple,” said Dr. Ilana Braun of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, who led the study published this month in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Patients want to know what their doctors think about using marijuana. In the new study, cancer doctors said their conversations about marijuana were almost always started by patients and their

This Sept. 15, 2015 file photo shows marijuana plants in a medical marijuana cultivation center in Albion, Illinois. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) families, not by the doctors themselves. Overall, nearly eight in 10 cancer doctors reported having discussed marijuana with patients or their families, with 46 percent recommending it for pain and other cancer-related problems to at least one patient in the past year. Among those who said they recommended marijuana, 56 percent said they did not have sufficient knowledge to do so. “They’re not as closeminded as you might think, and they also feel they have a lot to learn,” Braun said. The survey was conducted in a random sample of cancer doctors; researchers got

completed surveys from 237 doctors, or 63 percent. Marijuana is considered an illegal drug by U.S. federal officials and federal restrictions have limited research. Last year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded the lack of scientific information about marijuana poses a risk to public health. There’s evidence marijuana can treat chronic pain in adults and medications similar to marijuana can ease nausea from chemotherapy. In the study, 67 percent of cancer doctors said they view marijuana as a useful addition to standard pain

therapies, with 75 percent saying it posed less risk of overdose than opioids. About half view marijuana as equal to, or more effective than, standard treatments for cancer-related nausea. Marijuana isn’t harmless. The National Academies report said pot smoking may be linked to higher chances of traffic accidents, chronic bronchitis from long-term use and schizophrenia and other causes of psychosis, especially in the most frequent users. Dr. Steven Pergam of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance answers questions about marijuana’s safety from his colleagues at the treatment center. His responses depend on the patient. A dying patient with cancer that’s spread? “Whatever they want to do to make themselves comfortable,” said Pergam, who wasn’t involved in the new research. A patient with leukemia, however, should be warned of a theoretical possibility of a fungal infection tied to cannabis use. “If we’re not comfortable having these discussions, patients will get information from other sources, and it’s not going to be as reliable,” he said.

Learning enough to individualize care requires studying a massive number of participants: The healthy and not-so-healthy, young and old, rural and urban, blue-collar and white-collar — and people of all races and ethnicities. For now, participants must be at least 18. Next year, the study will open to children, too. The first volunteers will share electronic health records and blood samples, and answer periodic questionnaires about their diet, sleep, environmental exposures and other lifestyle factors. They might wear fitness trackers and other sensors. And later this year they’ll start undergoing genetic testing, initially to look for so-called “variants” in DNA that affect disease risk, similar to what some private companies now sell, Collins said. Fully mapping the genetic

code is too pricey now for a million people, but that more comprehensive approach eventually will be used with some participants, too. Among the first lessons Collins hopes to learn is about resilience: Why do some people stay healthy despite smoking or pollution or poor nutrition? “We have no idea how those people escape those odds,” he said. Unlike with most medical studies, participants can choose to see their own test results and share them with their physician long before the study reaches any bigpicture conclusions. One result that might bring a quick benefit: Genetic variants can signal who is prone to side effects from more than 100 drugs, information that could be used to prescribe a safer drug if only their doctors knew, Collins added.

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Massic Travel

Across 1 Masticate (4) 3 Flag (8) 9 Examine (7) 10 Restrict (5) 11 Dig (5) 12 Needing food (6) 14 Make possible (6) 16 Vehicle for travelling over snow (6) 19 Also (2,4) 21 Kingdom (5) 24 Exchange (5) 25 Ten-sided figure (7) 26 Troubadour (8) 27 Advantage (4)

Down 1 Infants (8) 2 Painting stand (5) 4 Easily irritated or annoyed (6) 5 Synthetic fabric (5) 6 Highly regarded (7) 7 Palm fruit (4) 8 Divulge (6) 13 End of line (8) 15 Take no part (7) 17 Words of a song (6) 18 Promise (6) 20 Put up (5) 22 Supernatural being (5) 23 Stalk (4)

Answer to 1294 Across: 1 Bivouac, 5 Poets, 8 Cacti, 9 Sardine, 10 Harpoon, 11 Shoes, 12 String, 14 Upkeep, 18 Topic, 20 Entwine, 22 Ordeals, 23 Leave, 24 Goyim, 25 Siamese. Down: 1 Bacchus, 2 Vicar, 3 Unicorn, 4 Casino, 5 Purrs, 6 Episode, 7 Seems, 13 Rapidly, 15 Patella, 16 Precede, 17 Beasts, 18 Thong, 19 Charm, 21 Inane.

Ten-Minute Sudoku An easy Sudoku puzzle that should not take long to complete. The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Each row must contain one of each digit. So must each column and each 3x3 box. Answer next week.

Last week’s answers:

Cumberland, Wis. (AP) — Police had praise for students who created an illusion for a senior class prank that appeared to show a car crashed into the principal’s office. Students at Cumberland High School in Wisconsin used a junk car, some bricks, some tape and a black tarp to make it look like the car had crashed into their school. Police arrived on the scene only to realize it wasn’t really a wreck. The Cumberland Police Department wrote on Facebook that it was “one of the best senior pranks.” The school district also congratulated the students for their ingenuity.

No. 198

‘Joggling’ record: Man sets mark for running while juggling Boston (AP) — It won’t land him a spot in the Olympics, but a Massachusetts college student has run one of the fastest miles while juggling — an endeavor called “joggling.” Zach Prescott ran a 4 minute, 43.2 second-mile while juggling three lacrosse balls. The junior business student who is on Boston University’s track and cross country squads told The Boston Globe it’s all about focus and rhythm. Once he gets used to the speed when he’s running, “you’re pretty much just juggling in place.” If verified, his time would beat the previous world record by 0.6 seconds. A Guinness World Records spokeswoman says the organization is aware of Prescott’s feat and working to determine whether he beat the current record, set in 1986, a process than can take several months.

VOL. XXVI No. 21

Answers next week.

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Facebook: We’re better at policing nudity than hate speech Michael Liedtke San Francisco (AP) — Getting rid of racist, sexist and other hateful remarks on Facebook is more challenging than weeding out other types of unacceptable posts because computer programs still stumble over the nuances of human language, the company revealed this month. Facebook also released statistics that quantified how pervasive fake accounts have become on its influential service, despite a long-standing policy requiring people to set up accounts under their real-life identities. From October to December alone, Facebook disabled nearly 1.3 billion accounts — and that doesn’t even count all the times the company blocked bogus profiles before they could be set up. Had the company not shut down all those fake accounts, its audience of monthly users would have swelled beyond its current 2.2 billion and probably created more potentially offensive material for Facebook to weed out. Facebook’s self-assessment showed its screening system is far better at scrubbing graphic violence, gratuitous nudity and terrorist propaganda. Automated tools detected 86 percent to 99.5 percent of the violations Facebook identified in those categories.

For hate speech, Facebook’s human reviewers and computer algorithms identified just 38 percent of the violations. The rest came after Facebook users flagged the offending content for review. All told, Facebook took action on nearly 1.6 billion pieces of content during the six months ending in March, a tiny fraction of all the activity on its social network, according to the company. The report marked Facebook’s first breakdown on how much material it removes for violating its policies. It didn’t disclose how long it takes Facebook to remove material violating its standards. The report also doesn’t cover how much inappropriate content Facebook missed. “Even if they remove 100 million posts that are offensive, there will be one or two that have some really bad stuff and those will be the ones everyone winds up talking about on the cable-TV news,” said Timothy Carone, who teaches about technology at the University of Notre Dame. Instead of trying to determine how much offending material it didn’t catch, Facebook provided an estimate on how frequently it believes users saw posts that violated its standards, including content that its screening system didn’t detect. For instance, the company estimated that

Facebook took down 3.4 million pieces of graphic violence during the first three months of this year, nearly triple the 1.2 million during the previous three months. In this case, better detection was only part of the reason. Facebook said users were more aggressively posting images of violence in places like war-torn Syria. The increased transparency comes as the Menlo Park, for every 10,000 times that people looked at content on its social network, 22 to 27 of the views may have included posts that included impermissible graphic violence. The report also doesn’t address how Facebook is tacking another vexing issue — the proliferation of fake news stories planted by fabricators trying to sway elections and public opinion. Fake accounts on Facebook have been drawing more attention because Russian agents allegedly used them to buy ads to try to influence the 2016 election in the U.S. Even though it has been focusing on shutting down bogus accounts, Facebook has said that 3 to 4 percent of its active monthly users are fake. That means as many as 88 million fake Facebook accounts were still slipping through the cracks in the company’s policing

system through March. It’s not surprising that F a c e b o o k ’s a u t o m a t e d programs have the greatest difficulty trying to figure out differences between permissible opinions and despicable language that crosses the line, Carone said. “It’s like trying to figure out the equivalent between screaming ‘Fire!’ in a crowded theater when there is none and the equivalent of saying something that is uncomfortable but qualifies as free speech,” he said. Facebook said it removed 2.5 million pieces of content deemed unacceptable hate speech during the first three months of this year, up from 1.6 million during the previous quarter. The company credited better detection, even as it said computer programs have trouble understanding context and tone of language.

Emissions of banned ozone-eating chemical somehow on the rise Seth Borenstein Washington (AP) — Something strange is happening with a nowbanned chemical that eats away at Earth’s protective ozone layer: Scientists say there’s more of it — not less — going into the atmosphere and they don’t know where it is coming from. When a hole in the ozone formed over Antarctica, countries around the world in 1987 agreed to phase out several types of ozone-depleting chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Production was banned, emissions fell and the hole slowly shrank. But starting in 2013, emissions of the second most common kind started rising, according to a study in this month’s journal Nature. The chemical, called CFC11, was used for making foam, degreasing stains and for refrigeration. “It’s the most surprising and unexpected observation I’ve made in my 27 years” of measurements, said study lead author Stephen Montzka, a research chemist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Emissions today are about the same as they were nearly 20 years ago,” he said. Countries have reported close to zero production of the chemical since 2006 but the study found about 14,300 tons (13,000 metric tons) a year has been released since 2013. Some seeps out of foam and buildings and machines, but scientists say what they’re seeing is much more than that. Measurements from a dozen monitors around the world suggest the

Mauna Loa Observatory scientist Aidan Colton fills flasks and maintains instruments at the MLO in Hawaii. A study released this month suggests that emissions of a banned chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) are coming from somewhere around China, Mongolia and the Koreas. (James Elkins/NOAA via AP) emissions are coming from somewhere around China, Mongolia and the Koreas, according to the study. The chemical can be a byproduct in other chemical manufacturing, but it is supposed to be captured and recycled. Either someone’s making the banned compound or it’s sloppy byproducts that haven’t been reported as required, Montzka said. An outside expert, Ross Salawitch, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland, is less diplomatic. He calls it “rogue production,”

adding that if it continues “the recovery of the ozone layer would be threatened.” High in the atmosphere, ozone shields Earth from ultraviolet rays that cause skin cancer, crop damage and other problems. Nature removes 2 percent of the CFC11 out of the air each year, so concentrations of the chemical in the atmosphere are still falling, but at a slower rate because of the new emissions, Montzka said. The chemical stays in the air for about 50 years.

California, company tries to make amends for a privacy scandal triggered by loose policies that allowed a data-mining company to harvest personal information on as many as 87 million users. The content screening has nothing to do with privacy protection, though, and is aimed at maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere for users and advertisers.

Over 10,000 endangered tortoises are rescued in Madagascar

In this photo taken Tuesday, April, 24, a critically endangered radiated tortoise feeds at a wildlife facility run by international conservationists in Madagascar. (Susie Bartlett/The Wildlife Conservation Society via AP)

Christopher Torchia Johannesburg (AP) — International conservationists in Madagascar have been treating more than 10,000 critically endangered radiated tortoises that were seized from traffickers who crammed the creatures into a home with no access to food or water. The Turtle Survival Alliance and other groups are caring for the tortoises at a wildlife facility in the Ifaty region of the Indian Ocean nation, although hundreds have died from illness and dehydration. The alliance says police found the radiated tortoises at a home in Toliara on April 10. The group said the amphibians, which are native to southern Madagascar, likely had been collected for the illegal pet trade, with Asia possibly the intended market. Radiated tortoises are coveted for the star pattern on their shells. Most of the surviving tortoises appear “fairly healthy,” said Susie Bartlett, a veterinarian with the Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo. In an email, Bartlett described the challenges of working with the huge number of tortoises. Each morning, “ill tortoises that are under veterinary care are collected from their enclosures and brought to the clinic in large tubs and

pans,” Bartlett wrote. “Sick animals are given subcutaneous fluids to rehydrate them and antibiotics if needed, along with vitamin supplementation. This is easily done with the sick tortoises that do not have much strength to retract their heads and legs.” However, as tortoises get stronger it gets more difficult to extend a leg out of a shell to find a fold of skin for an injection, according to Bartlett. Some of the rescued animals have eye and mouth infections and are given pain medicine. Conservationists from zoos in the United States — the Bronx Zoo, Zoo Knoxville in Tennessee, Hogle Zoo in Utah, Dallas Zoo and Oklahoma City Zoo — are participating in the rescue. About 1,500 radiated tortoises deemed to be healthy have been moved to other facilities in Madagascar. Radiated tortoises used to be found along roadways in the dry, spiny forests of south and southwest Madagascar. Poaching and habitat loss have taken a heavy toll, according to a “red list” of threatened species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The list says Asian smugglers are known to collect the tortoises and that tortoise meat is popular among some people in Madagascar.

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BHP and RTN teach kids water-rescue skills Jetsada Homklin

The iRESCUE Project of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya taught basic safety and water-rescue skills to the children.

About 65 area children learned basic swimming and water-rescue skills at a daylong class organized by Bangkok Hospital Pattaya at the Redemptorist Vocational School’s swimming pool The kids, ages 8-15, got both classroom and water training May 8 from Navy swim instructor Lt. Sawek Pungbanlung of Abhakorn Kiatiwong Royal Thai Navy Hospital in Sattahip. Swimming lessons and emergency-response skills are critical to youths during

the hot season, when many kids drown across the country. After spending the morning in the classroom learning proper techniques and first-aid skills, the youths hit the water and learned basic strokes, how to float and conserve energy and other dangers posed by being around the water. The kids also got firstresponse training for when someone falls in the water, including rescues and first aid. Poisonous marine life was covered as well as survival skills.

The children learned survival techniques using every available object including plastic bottles to keep them afloat.

How to stay afloat.

Uniform sales slow before school begins

Using a piece of wood, rope or a pole to pull a drowning person to shore.

Both the volunteer trainers and the children enjoyed themselves immensely.

Pattaya United players teach football in Nong Plalai

Warapun Jaikusol School-uniform retailers have reported sales drops of up to 20 percent. Taveechai, the biggest uniform dealer in the Pattaya area, was well stocked with both clothing and staff May 14, but found crowds smaller than last year. Clerks said sales were down 10-20 percent due to parents cutting back and buying only one or two sets of new clothes. In past years parents would buy up to five new sets. The sales decline comes despite steady prices, as both clothes and shoes are controlled by the Commerce Ministry. A mother suits her son up with a brand Retailers hoped the final days before school started would see an uptick. new school uniform.

Mercy Center gives 64,500 baht in scholarships Jetsada Homklin Mercy Center Pattaya donated a total 64,500 baht in scholarships to needy Nongprue students. Sub-district deputy clerk Thanet Phuyim and the Mercy Center’s Liz Sheperd and Lhen Lhen handed out the 18 stipends on May 14. Nine students received 3,000 baht for kindergarten and primary school while six got 4,000 baht each for secondary school and six received 4,500 baht for higher education. The Mercy Center had contacted Nongprue to see

Liz Sheperd, Lhen Lhen together with Helle Rantsen and representatives of Mercy Center Pattaya’s executive board pose with the happy children after the scholarships presentations. what it could do to help students with good grades but

lacking funds to continue their educations.

A Pattaya United trainer teaches the kids the basics of football.

Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya United football players gave youths tips to improve their game at Nong Plalai’s annual football clinic. The sub-district hosts a ball camp each year for kids interested in improving their skills, as well as to promote sports for health benefits and keep youths away from drugs. The Dolphins players taught the basics of football, how to keep possession of the ball, play offense and excel in defense. They also urged the kids to spend their spare time

playing sports instead of video games. Nong Plalai officials stressed that good sportsmanship is

important and that neither winning nor losing was the ultimate goal, but instead it is how they played the game.

A future soccer star goes through her paces.

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Humorous sign attracts noodle fans

Waterspouts dance off Koh Larn

Deputy PM Prawit tours Bali Hai pier

Kon Sihong points to the humorous sign in front of his ‘Chicken & Gourd Phit(sanu)lok Noodles’ shop.

Patcharapol Panrak Knowing many people consider one noodle shop to be as good as the thousands of others, a Sattahip restaurateur has figured the best way to people’s stomachs is through their funny bone. An eye-catching sign erected on Sukhumvit Road directs diners to the ‘Gai Mara Pitlok Noodles’ restaurant two kilometers up the street with a slogan many Thais found humorous. The sign carries the logos of television channels 3, 7 and 9, MCOT, Workpoint

among others, and, below them, says “so many channels, but none of them have been here. But we guarantee that the noodles are to die for”. Clearly, the humor got lost in translation. Nonetheless, the noodle shop owned by Phitsanuloknative Kon Sihong, 52, is busy every day. Kon, who moved from the central province to live with relatives serving in the navy, said that with so many places cooking up noodles, he needed something to set his place apart and have people try his Phitsanulok-style dishes.

Destination LONDON

Waterspouts put on a spectacular show off Koh Larn Island. Koh Larn business owner Boonlua Chatree Kreignkrai Suriwong posted Mother nature put on a a video of one of the spouts spectacular show with a pair online. He said there actuof waterspouts whipping up ally were two, just two minutes apart. the sea off Koh Larn. No one was injured. The tornado, which never Kreignkrai said these were reached land, looked to some Thais like an elephant trunk the first waterborne tornaand hung around long enough dos he’d seen in Pattaya, between the near and far islands but they are not uncommon, for people to capture pictures with at least one incident reported every rainy season. and videos of it May 21.

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as deputy prime minister, to the South Pattaya jetty May 19. Prawit quizzed local officials on safety and security, as well as operational problems and obstacles that can be addressed in future policy and budget initiatives. He then moved to the Naval Radio Station atop Pratamnak Hill to pay respects to the statue o f P r i n c e of Chumphon Abhakara Kiartivongse for Apakorn Day.

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VOL. XXVI No. 21

Time on your hands Near the beginning of almost every piece of printed music there are two numbers, one above the other, like a fraction. It’s called a time signature, but despite its name it tells you very little about time. Instead, it merely indicates how the composer or arranger has grouped the beats in each measure, supposedly to make the music easier to read and understand. Time is fundamental to music, which makes it different to many other of the arts. You can look at a painting for as little or as long as you want, you can skip through a book or a poem and get the gist of it. But if a symphony lasts forty minutes you’ll need

Chopin in 1849. (Photo/ Louis-Auguste Bisson) forty minutes to hear it. However, for much of those forty minutes you’ll be listening to silence, even though

it might come in bursts of seconds and milliseconds. Music contains lots of tiny moments of silence. Composers often use longer period of silence for dramatic effect. In the first movement of his suite The Planets, composer Gustav Holst creates a terrifying effect by suddenly halting the heaving, thunderous music and leaving the audience in stunned silence for several seconds. There are dozens of other musical examples of using silence for different dramatic purposes. Haydn’s string quartet nicknamed The Joke creates humour by placing silences in unexpected places. In the esoteric music of Anton Webern, there is often more silence than sound. Actors often talk about timing, a concept which is closely related to music. It’s about the speed of delivery and the skill of using pauses for dramatic effect. It’s being aware of the space between the words. The French composer Claude Debussy once said that “music is the space between the notes” which probably sounds a bit enigmatic but Debussy was known for making enigmatic statements. Any experienced musician can tell you about the importance of “placing” notes appropriately in relation to each other. Timing, you could say. For many years, composers

had no way to indicate the exact speed or tempo of a piece. They could give only a rough indication using words. It wasn’t until 1814 that a “musical chronometer” was invented by Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel of Amsterdam. His idea was borrowed - or possibly stolen - by the German inventor and showman Johann Maelzel who started making metronomes under his own name two years later. From then on, composers had the means of indicating the precise tempo of their music, though at first some didn’t bother. The metronome was – and still is - calibrated in beats per minute, a measurement familiar to DJs of our own time. Few composers have written works inspired by the concept of time, although the French composer Olivier Messiaen wrote Quartet for the End of Time and the British composer Michael Tippett wrote an oratorio called The Mask of Time. John Cage is perhaps best known for his composition entitled 42333 in which nothing much happens. In contrast, he also wrote a piece for organ called As Slow as Possible which runs for 640 years. It doesn’t get

played very often.

Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886): La Gioconda (Dance of the Hours). Cairo Symphony Orchestra-Nayer Nagui (Duration: 10:37; Video 480p) Ponchielli (pohn-kee-AYlee) was an Italian opera composer who after a rather shaky start to his career eventually became well known, though only one of his operas La Gioconda is performed today. The Dance of the Hours was actually a ballet within the opera, first performed in 1876. You’ll probably recognise the main tune when it finally gets started at 02:25 because it was used in the Disney cartoon Fantasia. But just listen for the silences and the way that the woodwind soloists “time” the notes. If you listen carefully, you might notice that there are more spaces between the notes than there are notes. The ballet incidentally, represents the hours of the day and night, and it’s intended

to symbolize the eternal conflict between the forces of light and darkness.

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1. Lang Lang (pno) (Duration: 02:14; Video: 720p HD) The title might sound unfamiliar but this is the famous Minute Waltz. Contrary to popular belief, the first word is not pronounced “MINNIT”. It should be pronounced “MY-NEWT” meaning “small”, which of course gives the piece a rather different meaning. Chopin never intended the piece to be played in one minute, though that hasn’t stopped people from trying. Chopin wrote it in 1847 and evidently got the idea after watching his dog chasing its tail in the garden. In this rehearsal video, just notice how Lang Lang uses instinctive timing to carefully “place” the notes in the slower middle section to give a sense of grace and movement. Oh yes, Chopin’s dog was named Marquis, since you asked.

To watch these YouTube videos, either use your Smartphone to read the QR codes or go to this article online, click on the “live” links and go direct to the videos. If you have a laptop, sound quality can be improved significantly by using headphones or external speakers.

Jane Hawk continues quest in ‘The Crooked Staircase’ Jeff Ayers Jane Hawk continues her quest to bring down a vast conspiracy in “The Crooked Staircase” by Dean Koontz, a follow-up to “The Silent Corner” and “The Whispering Room.” Hawk is the most wanted woman in America and being on the run makes it hard to rest or trust anyone. She can’t see her son, and the only people she can truly rely on are keeping him hidden and safe. When her husband committed suicide, she knew it was murder. Her investigation put a target on her back, and now she goes after the corrupt organization Arcadia, a giant octopus of a group that she pursues arm by arm until she brings the entire thing crashing down. But every move she makes is met with a counter move by her enemies who have the resources and determination to eliminate her once and for all. While she methodically goes after the next name on the list hoping it will lead to someone higher up in the group, the novel also focuses on a brother and sister who are young writers.

The material the writers have created potentially poses a threat to Arcadia and its ultimate goals. This brings urgency to the story, showing that it is more than a personal vendetta for Hawk at this point. Hawk is the one person who understands what Arcadia wants to accomplish, and the group wants to take her out while she wants to destroy the organization. Koontz has written another stellar tale with Hawk. She’s easy to root for, and “The Crooked Staircase” is a gripping read for almost 500 pages, though in retrospect, not much really happens to propel the story too far forward. With at least two more novels coming with Hawk, hopefully Koontz will give this saga closure soon while pursuing other potential opportunities for her to shine under different circumstances. The story line does veer a bit into the torture realm this time around, bringing up some disturbing images to go with her crusade. Even with all of this in mind, “The Crooked Staircase” is a page-turner to dive into this summer. (AP)

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A scoundrel is born in Star Wars spinoff ‘Solo’ Lindsey Bahr Los Angeles (AP) - If there’s one takeaway from “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” it’s that our favorite scoundrel had been through a lot before he ever met up with Luke, Obi-Wan and Leia. Sure, he’d talked up his Kessel Run time and outmaneuvering Imperial ships, but this film contains at least three epic set-pieces, involving a job atop a high-speed train careening around a snowy mountain, a fiery space showdown with a squid-like super monster and an explosion-filled shootout, that are so spectacular that they have the effect of making what Han ends up going through in “Episode IV” and beyond seem suspiciously tame by comparison. Bigger, louder, and more, more, more seem to be the guiding principles of the film and while on their own they might make a pleasurable

romp, it’s dubious as to whether or not these preSkywalker adventures have really added anything of value to the character. There’s an argument to be made that it might even undermine his hero’s arc in the first film. It’s the overriding issue with “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” which had baggage from the get-go. Unlike a character from a book or a play, Han Solo didn’t exist outside of Harrison Ford, and the two are now linked by over 40 years of goodwill and nostalgia. Although no character is so precious that they can’t break from the actor who made them memorable — even Indiana Jones had two younger versions of himself — it’s still not an enviable position to be in. You’re at a disadvantage before you start. The man who took the job, Alden Ehrenreich, does not look or sound like Ford, and it’s difficult to adjust at the beginning. You can’t help but scrutinize every gesture, every smirk, every aside as you try to get used to him. Eventually you do, and the talented Ehrenreich wins

This image released by Lucasfilm shows Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suotamo in a scene from “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” (Jonathan Olley/ Lucasfilm via AP) you over with his execution, capturing Han’s spirit, his sarcasm, egotism and charm with apparent ease. Co-written by Star Wars royalty Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan Kasdan, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” introduces Han on his home planet of Corellia, where he serves under a local mob boss and dreams of fleeing, becoming a pilot and owning a ship. The early scenes are incredibly dark, literally. Shot by cinematographer Bradford Young, it’s an interesting

aesthetic choice, likely meant to lend a vintage vibe, but also distracting as though you’re watching a worn VHS copy of “Episode IV,” where faces are only clear in extreme close-up and even then it’s still through a thick layer of fog and gauze (it clears up eventually). Young Han is scrappy and overconfident and makes things up as he goes along, unafraid to lie or trust his gut. It’s how he ends up not only getting out, but escaping military service and hooking

up with a band of outlaws led by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), who functions as mentor and possible cautionary tale for the impressionable Han. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to live with a price on your head?” Beckett asks. It’s one of the many unsubtle references to things to come, and a fallback refrain in “Solo” where some of the most memorable and pleasing moments are winking references to future memorable lines. They’ll soon meet up with the man Beckett is working for, Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany), and encounter Han’s old friend from Corellia, Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) before taking off on a dangerous smuggling mission. There’s a lot for fans to digest as the film speeds through a check-list of Han’s origin components, like how he meets Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) and how he comes across the Millennium Falcon. There are other key elements that probably are best left to the experience. And that experience, in director Ron Howard’s very

capable hands, is a largely enjoyable one. You can’t help but wonder what the end result would have been if Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who were fired deep into production, had gotten to see their project through to the end, or what it would have been like had Howard been involved since the beginning, but there are no obvious cracks or seams. “Solo” is a straightforward piece of pulpy entertainment with some very agreeable performances from Ehrenreich and Glover, who seems to be having the most fun of all the actors in playing up Lando’s suave demeanor, and fun classic Western flourishes, despite the excessively big action sequences. The best moments in “Solo” are the simpler ones: The romance, the friendships, the clashing egos. Perhaps a lesson for the inevitable sequel. “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” A Walt Disney Studios release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “sequences of sci-fi action/violence.” Running time: 135 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

‘Shoplifters’ wins Palme d’Or, grand prize to Spike Lee BYLINE: Jake Coyle and Thomas Adamson Cannes, France (AP) - A tumultuous Cannes Film Festival concluded last weekend with the Palme d’Or awarded to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” a tender portrait of a poor, impoverished family. At the closing ceremony for the 71st edition of the French Riviera extravaganza, the Cate Blanchett-led jury selected one of the festival’s most acclaimed entries, one hailed as a modest masterpiece from a veteran filmmaker renowned for his delicate touch. “Shoplifters” is about

a small-time thief who takes a young girl home to his family; after seeing scars from abuse, they decide to keep her and raise her as their own. While many speculated that the Cate Blanchett-led jury might award only the second Palme d’Or to a film directed by a woman, the most likely contender — Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” — was instead given Cannes’ jury prize. The film drew a rousing standing ovation at its premiere but less enthusiastic critic reviews for its tale of a 12-year-old boy living in poverty who sues his parents for bringing him into such a cruel world.

Director Hirokazu Koreeda holds the Palme d’Or for the film ‘Shoplifters’ following the awards ceremony at the 71st international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 19. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” the highest profile American film in competition at Cannes, was awarded the grand prize. The film ignited the festival with its true tale of a black police detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. Lee connected the film to modern day with real footage from last year’s violent white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia. “I take this on the behalf of the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, New York,” said Lee, accepting his award. Best actress went to Samal Yeslyamova for Kazakh writerdirector Sergey Dvortsevoy’s “Ayka.” Taking best actor

Cultural Music Festival’s all-star line-up readies to rock Pattaya

(From left) Actor Louis Scott, TAT representative Sujitra Jongchansitto, Pattaya City Deputy Mayor Pol. Maj. Gen. Bandit Khunchak and singer Nattapon Siangsukon pose during a press conference to announce the 2018 Thailand Cultural Music Festival.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organising the Thailand Cultural Music Festival from 25 to 26 May at Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier. The festival’s line-up includes local folk music performances, contemporary musical acts and a live stage with music by popular bands and singers, with action taking place across four stages over two days. Artists headlining the main stage include: Rasamee Isan Soul, an Isan group blending local music with jazz, rock, and soul; Paradise Bangkok International Band, a hybridised roots band that mixes traditional Thai melodies with blues and

folk rock; Mocca Garden, a modern Reggae-ska band with pop, funk, rock and Thai country musical influences; Thai rappers, UrboyTJ and Day from mega-group Thaitanium, and legendary Thai jazz maestros Infinity. There will also be folk music performances on the three smaller stages showcasing up-and-coming local bands and singers. Thai gastronomy will be on display at a food fair featuring culinary delights from each of Thailand’s four main regions. Other activities include booths for face painting and tattoo stickers. (Source: TAT)

was Marcello Fonte for Matteo Garrone’s “Dogman,” an award presented by fellow Italian actor Roberto Benigni. The prize for best screenplay was split between Italian writer-director Alice Rohrwacher’s time-warped fable about a poor farm boy in rural Italy “Happy as

Lazzaro” and Nader Saeivar and Jafar Panahi’s script for “Three Faces.” A “Palme d’Or Speciale,” a special first-time award, was given to 87-year-old French filmmaking legend Jean-Luc Godard for “continually striving to define and refine what cinema can be,” said Blanchett.

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Chicago: ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ mott@pattayamail.com Chicago (they were only called ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ for this, their debut album, before dropping the Transit Authority bit) are probably the only band in history to start out with a classic ground-breaking debut double-album. In the mid-seventies Chicago were one of the most successful bands in the world. To date, they have sold over 120,000,000 albums worldwide with nineteen gold albums, thirteen of which went platinum in America alone. “Chicago 5” was top of the Billboard Charts for nine weeks (they never bothered with titles for their albums, just numbered them and we are now up to Chicago XXXVI.) The band had some twenty top ten singles and five number

ones and today they are still going strong with four of the original seven; Robert Lamm, Walter Parazaider, Lee Loughane and James Pankow remaining in the ranks. (That number could have been five, but stunning guitarist Terry Kath was tragically killed in a shooting accident in 1978.)

When this album came out in 1969 the band had a conventional four piece line-up with bass, drums, keyboards and lead guitar; the vocals being shared between the three that weren’t drumming. However, they also had three other full time members playing a combination of trombone, trumpet, and

Photos of Kurt Cobain’s death scene will not be made public Seattle (AP) — The Washington State Court of Appeals has ruled that photographs from the scene of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death will not be released publicly. The court ruled that the photographs are exempt from Washington State’s Public Records Act and releasing the photos would “violate the Cobain family’s due process rights under the 14th Amendment.” Cobain’s widow, Courtney Love, and his daughter who was a toddler at the time of his death, Frances Bean Cobain, filed testimonies to keep the photos from being made public. The ruling comes after Seattle journalist Richard Lee

Kurt Cobain in 1993. (AP Photo/Robert Sorbo) appealed the case’s dismissal. Lee has pursued the release of 55 photos in an attempt to prove Cobain did not die from suicide in 1994, but rather was killed.

woodwind instruments. That gave them a unique sound combining jazz, pop, rock, funk and soul. Before they had even signed a recording contract they had been invited out on the road with both Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the latter famously being quoted as saying that Terry Kath was the best guitarist in the world. One listen to this album and you have to admit that Jimi might not have been wrong. The music kicks off with the aptly titled “Introduction” and in the space of its six and a half minutes each section of the band gets space to stretch their musical abilities. This is quickly followed by the first single from the album, “Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?” with its simple piano refrain and driving brass backing. “Beginnings” is easily good enough to have been the opener while “Questions 67 and 68” is the second single taken from the album with soaring vocals.

The band Chicago are shown in this undated photo. There are three workouts belonging primarily to the guitar playing skills of Terry Kath. “Poem 58” slowly grinds its way up to a shattering climax that leaves you wanting more, so Kath delivers. “Free Form Guitar” features no electronic gimmicks or effects in the recording, the intent being to capture as faithfully as possible Kath’s solo spot from their live show, while “South California Purples” starts off with a classic rock guitar riff allowing all the band members

to come in on its back before breaking into snatches of Beatles lyrics and chords. Then we get “I’m a Man”, a cover of the Spencer Davis classic which Chicago turn into their own. The last song, “Liberation”, is the crowning jewel in Chicago’s locker. A fast paced dance track that is driven along by pounding bass and drums with all the soloists given space during its fourteen and a half minute stretch. If Chicago’ never sounded so good again over the next

thirty-three years it’s no wonder, this album was simply impossible to follow (massive slushy hit singles aside). A solid 5 stars. Musicians: Robert Lamm - keyboards and vocals Terry Kath - guitar and vocals Peter Cetera - bass and vocals Daniel Seraphine – drums Walter Parazaider - woodwind instruments Lee Loughane – trumpet James Pankow - trombone Track List: Introduction Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Beginnings Questions 67 and 68 Listen Poem 58 Free Form Guitar South California Purples I’m A Man Prologue Someday Liberation Note: Written by Mott The Dog and Hells Bells, who can be found jamming down in Jameson’s The Irish Pub, Soi AR, North Pattaya.

Singing the blues: Study of pop music finds rise in sadness Mark Kennedy New York (AP) — A study of hundreds of thousands of popular songs over the past three decades has found a downward sonic trend in happiness and an increase in sadness, as the chirpy band Wham! gave way to the moody Sam Smith. For the report in the journal Royal Society Open Science, researchers at the University of California at Irvine looked at 500,000 songs released in the UK between 1985 and 2015, and categorized them according to their mood. “‘Happiness’ is going down, ‘brightness’ is going down, ‘sadness’ is going up, and at the same time, the songs are becoming more ‘danceable’ and more ‘party-like,’” co-author Natalia L. Komarova told The Associated Press. Of course, the researchers emphasize that a gradual decrease in the average “happiness” index does not mean that all successful songs in 1985 were happy and all successful songs in 2015 were sad. They were looking for average trends in the acoustic properties of the music and the moods describing the sounds. Some songs with a low happiness index in 2014 include “Stay With Me”

Musician Sam Smith poses for a portrait in New York in this Nov. 2, 2017 file photo. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP) by Sam Smith, “Whispers” by Passenger and “Unmissable” by Gorgon City. Some from 1985 with a high happiness index include “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen, “Would I Lie to You?” by the Eurythmics, and “Freedom” by Wham! “The public seems to prefer happier songs, even though more and more unhappy songs are being released each year,” the researchers wrote.

They also found the most successful genres of music were dance and pop, as well as a “clear downward trend” in the success of rock, starting in the early 2000s. The overall mood shifts in the songs’ musical features mirror other studies that have examined lyric changes over the years. They have found the use of positive emotions has declined and indicators of loneliness and social isolation have increased. “So it looks like, while the overall mood is becoming less happy, people seem to want to forget it all and dance,” emailed Komarova, who wrote the report with Myra Interiano, Kamyar Kazemi, LijiaWang, Jienian Yang and Zhaoxia Yu. The researchers also found that the “maleness” of songs — the frequency of male singers in popular music — has decreased over the last 30 years. “Successful songs are characterized by a larger percentage of female artists compared to all songs,” they write. That finding comes at a time when the music industry is wrestling with the issue of gender inequality, and men overwhelmingly dominate the ranks of artists and songwriters.

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PCEC members learn how to save each other’s lives Do you know how to save the life of someone you love? When the pressure is on? When every second counts? Or would you only be able to stand there frozen? Hoping that someone else will do something? On 7th May, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital ran a free Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation course for members of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC). This is part of its outreach community program and its close friendship with the PCEC. Participants were taught Basic Life Support and its elements, how to provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation by following its three main components: Compressions Airway Breathing (CAB). One of the key learnings was how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). These are increasingly being positioned in airports and other public places throughout the world. Indeed, increasingly, drones will be delivering these to wherever needed. They enable non-professionals to attempt to revive people who have undergone a cardiac arrest. They consist

Ren Lexander, who books speakers for the PCEC, gives the kiss of life to a dummy. of two pads which, properly positioned, can deliver an electric shock. The device also instructs people on the scene on how to use them. But, meanwhile… before the AED arrives, the resuscitation process has to start. You don’t die because your heart stops. You die because oxygen stops getting to your cells – in particular, your brain cells. And this is where CPR can keep your cells alive until your heart can (hopefully) be restarted – perhaps by an AED. Participants were able to

practice with AEDs and practice chest compressions with purpose-built dummies which register whether you are giving compressions properly. Also, in attendance, at the invitation of the PCEC, were Judy Harland and Gayle Searle, two volunteers from the Hand to Hand Foundation Pattaya which, among other things, runs a pre-school for children from the slums around Pattaya. From their attendance, the suggestion was raised that Bangkok Pattaya Hospital might run

Enthusiastic students record exactly Two PCEC members learn how to use how to administer CPR. an AED device on the practice dummy.

A PCEC member and his partner practice life saving skills.

Volunteers from Hand to Hand Foundation are shown how to position a head before giving mouth to mouth resuscitation. free CPR classes for volunteer organizations, especially those which work with children with an emphasis on first aid and resuscitation of children. This suggestion was warmly embraced by the staff of BPH. Expect to hear more about this great initiative in the future. The training covered: · Taking control of the situation. · Phoning for help · What numbers to phone (In Thailand the emergency number is 1669) · Verify scene safety · Checking whether the person is responsive · Checking for pulse · How to provide chest compressions · How long to give chest compressions until you give two breaths · How to operate an AED · How to work solo or as a team

The sort of concentration on an instructor that could end up saving a life.

Instructors and students give a thumbs-up to the potentially life-saving training.

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VOL. XXVI No. 21

The power of love - Prince Harry ma

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stand, prior to the start of their wedding ceremony, at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, Saturday, May 19. (Dominic Lipinski/pool photo via AP)

Gregory Katz, Danica Kirka and Jill Lawless Windsor, England (AP) — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gazed into each other’s eyes and pledged their lifelong love last weekend as they married in front of hundreds of royals, celebrities and friends at St. George’s Chapel and millions of TV viewers around the world. The pretty English town of Windsor sparkled on a warm spring Saturday as tens of thousands of people jammed its quaint roads and parks to capture their own part of the spectacular yet elegant royal wedding extravaganza. To kick off the festivities, Queen Elizabeth II honored her red-headed, 33-year-old grandson with a new title: the Duke of Sussex, making Markle the Duchess of Sussex. The wedding was a global event, thanks to Harry’s status as a senior British royal and Markle’s celebrity after starring on the U.S. television series “Suits” for

all 53 countries in the Commonwealth, the group of countries that roughly corresponds to the former British Empire and is headed by Markle’s new grandmother-in-law, the queen. The palace said, in addition to the Commonwealth flowers, Markle also selected two other plants on the veil: Wintersweet and, in a nod to the bride’s birthplace, the California poppy. Harry and best man Prince William wore white gloves and the frock coat uniforms of the Blues and Royals military regiment. Harry kept his full red beard intact — a style decision that had sparked British bets before the wedding. Markle walked down the aisle alone at first, then was accompanied by Prince Charles and 10 young page boys and bridesmaids. As his father and his bride drew close to the altar, Harry said: “Thank you, Pa.” To Markle, Harry said: “You look amazing.” Markle seemed poised and confident as she delivered her vows without so much as a quiver in her voice. She smiled broadly as the Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Rev Bishop Michael Curry, primate of the Episcopal Church, speaks during the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Owen Humphreys/pool photo via AP) Justin Welby declared them husband and wife. Harry seemed a bit nervous — but happy. The sermon offered a particularly rousing U.S. touch, with the leader of the Episcopal Church quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on the “redemptive power of love.” The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry delivered the sermon with heartfelt emotion. The musical selections also included versions of Ben. E. King’s

Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kiss after leaving their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. (Andrew Matthews/pool photo via AP) seven years. Its pomp and ceremony embraced the couple’s trans-Atlantic union, mixing Anglican prayers and tradition, classical music and a gospel choir with a stately horse-drawn carriage ride through Windsor in a spectacle beamed live to tens of millions.

The American actress embraced her new British role in a sleek white silk boatnecked dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller. Her sheer veil — down to her waist in front and billowing for what seemed like miles behind her — carried floral references to

Britain’s Prince Harry places the ring on Meghan Markle during their wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel. (Jonathan Brady/pool photo via AP)

Meghan Markle walks down the aisle at the beginning of the wedding ceremony. (Danny Lawson/pool photo via AP)

“Stand By Me” and Etta James’ “Amen/This Little Light of Mine.” A host of celebrities and athletes — including Oprah Winfrey, Idris Elba, Elton John, George and Amal Clooney, Serena Williams, James Corden and David and Victoria Beckham — watched from the seats in the Gothic masterpiece at Windsor Castle. As the newest royal couple emerged from the chapel, they kissed. The crowd roared — and just kept cheering —as Harry helped his wife fold her 5 meter long train into the Ascot Landau carriage as they began their procession through the streets of Windsor. Police said more than 100,000 people lined the route. The open-topped carriage was pulled by four Windsor Grey horses and past crowds waving flags and holding cellphones aloft. The newlyweds smiled and practiced what royals must be very good at: waving to the crowds. Relatives in the ceremony included 4-year-old Prince

Britain’s Prince Harry pulls back the veil of Meghan Markle watched by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. (Owen Humphreys/pool photo via AP)

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marries Meghan in fairy-tale wedding

Britain’s Prince Harry, left, and Meghan Markle wave from a carriage after their wedding ceremony, Saturday, May 19. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, pool) George and 3-year-old Princess Charlotte, children of William and the Duchess of Cambridge. Other relatives at the church included Charles Spencer, the brother of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, and Harry’s cousins Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Irene Bowdry, a lawyer from California, was among those who jammed the early train to Windsor. She booked her trip to England as soon as the wedding date was announced. “An American in the royal family, isn’t that so exciting?” she said. The weather was balmy and clear, bathing the ancient stones of Windsor Castle in

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip leave after the wedding ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Gareth Fuller/pool photo via AP)

a beautiful spring light. “Windsor is absolutely bursting with excitement,” said royal historian Hugo Vickers. “There are cardboard cutouts of Meghan and Harry in every shop window.” It is a time of transition for the British monarchy, one that seems filled with hope as William and Harry — the two sons of Charles and the late Princess Diana — step ever more confidently into the limelight. And it seems to be a time of joy for 92-year-old queen and her 96-year-old husThe newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex band, Prince Philip, who was leave Windsor Castle in a convertible car after their well enough to attend. The wedding, Saturday, May 19. (Steve Parsons/pool queen was able to see her photo via AP) grandson marry a woman

who clearly has brought him the happiness he’s often said was missing from his life after his mother’s premature death. The family tableau played out on the broadest possible stage. Dozens of broadcasters set up on the castle grounds for a visual feast. The chapel itself is a masterpiece of the late Gothic style, and Windsor Castle has been home to British sovereigns for nearly 1,000 years. In the afternoon at the castle, the queen was hosting the first of two receptions, one with finger foods, wine and champagne. Saturday night, a second, smaller reception for 200 people was

being thrown by Charles. In honor of Harry’s mother Diana, her older sister Jane Fellowes gave a reading during the wedding service. But it was the crowds in Windsor that seemed to capture the joy of the moment. Many had camped or arrived at dawn for a good spot. They cheered and screamed as the newlyweds passed by. Arlene Prinsloo had flown from South Africa — just to be in Windsor. “I went to William and Kate’s wedding, but this is a completely different vibe,” she said. “It’s much more relaxed, and I think that reflects who Harry is.”

Spectators pose for a photo prior to the wedding A dog wears a Union flag collar in Windsor ahead of ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Colourful fans gather on the Long Walk ahead of the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Windsor Castle, Saturday, May 19. (AP Photo/Kirsty the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP) Wigglesworth) (Peter Summers/PA via AP)

Royal fans cheer ahead of the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan A military brass band plays outside the castle prior to the wedding ceremony. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Markle in Windsor, Saturday, May 19. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

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VOL. XXVI No. 21

E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

Centara Grand Mirage staff donate blood to Red Cross

As part of the their CSR activities Jari Nielsen (4th left), Resident Manager of the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya along with his management team donated blood to the Thai Red Cross Society recently.

Cape & Kantary Hotels donates funds to SOS Children’s Villages Cape & Kantary Hotels Executive Director Tirapongse Pangsrivongse (left), and Project Development Manager Tirawan Pangsrivongse (2nd left) donated 300,000 Baht to SOS Children’s Villages Thailand to support the organisation’s day to day operations at Intercontinental Hotel, Bangkok recently. SOS Children’s Villages Thailand’s President of the Board of Directors Pol. Maj. Gen. Norawat Charoen-Rajapark (2nd right) graciously received the donation with Consulting Chairman and Former President Khunying Rose Boribalburibhand (right) witnessing the handover.

AMCHAM’s night on Broadway raises 1.6m baht for scholarships

Dusit Thani Pattaya commemorates Prince Abhakara Day

Neoh Kean Boon, GM of Dusit Thani Pattaya, led staff and management in marking ‘Prince Abhakara Day’, known in Thai as ‘Wan Arpakorn’ which falls on 19 May of each year. The day marks the anniversary of the passing of H.R.H. Admiral Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak also known as Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse or Prince of Chumphon, the Father of Royal Thai Navy. A ceremony was held at the spirit house in the hotel compound and laying wreaths at his statue. Prince Arpakorn is highly regarded as the hotel’s patron protector and guardian.

Centara Maris & RTN encourage subordinates to donate blood

Natcha Phanrupthao (2nd left) Operations Support Manager of the Centara Maris Resort Jomtien and Captain Panuphun Rakkeo, Commanding Officer H.T.M.S.Saiburi led their respective staff and fellow soldiers to donate blood to the Thai Red Cross Society recently.

Singing comedians to headline August war vets fundraiser

Col. Sornthep Homsettee chaired a news conference at the 21st Infantry Queen’s Guard headquarters in Chonburi recently to announce that the popular singing comedian ‘Cham Uad Naa-maan’ trio will headline an Aug. 4 fundraiser for the Chonburi War Veterans Association. The show will raise funds for vets who have fallen ill or been disabled, provide money for families of veterans and finance scholarships and food staples. Tickets are 100 baht each for association members, family members and current and former military personnel. Tickets for the general public are 2,000 baht per couple. For more information, call 080-936-4065. AMCHAM 2018 Board of Governors (l-r) Board advisor David Lyman, Tilleke & Gibbins; Yukontorn Wisadkosin, Ford ASEAN; James Amatavivadhana, Minor International; Ian Nicholls, General Motors; Dale Lee, CoffeeWorks; Vira-Anong Chiranakhorn Phutrakul, Citibank; Herman Ehrlich, Conrad Bangkok; AMCHAM Board President Jeffrey Nygaard, Seagate; U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies; Brad Middleton, Chevron; Jeremy R. Osterstock, Esso; Parnsiree Amatayakul, IBM; Gregory Bastien, American Axle & Manufacturing; George Hartel, NaRaYa; Board advisor Harold Vickery, Jr., Prem Tinsulanonda International School; and Judy Benn, AMCHAM Executive Director. On May 5 at the Shangri-La Hotel, AMCHAM Thailand brought the bright lights of New York’s theater district to Bangkok for the Governors Ball, the Chamber’s annual gala, where AMCHAM’s Honorary Chairman of the Board, U.S. Ambassador Glyn T. Davies, welcomed the new AMCHAM 2018

Board of Governors. Over 400 members donned costumes and black tie for the theme ‘A Night on Broadway’, raising 1.6 million Baht for the AMCHAM Thailand Foundation’s scholarship program, which last year sponsored 174 Thai university students from underprivileged backgrounds.AMCHAM

Thailand is the leading international business association in Thailand, with more than 2,000 members representing over 650 American, Thai, and other international companies. Member companies have invested over U.S. $50 billion in Thailand and provide more than 200,000 local jobs.

THAI holds Revival of Thai Traditional Culture event Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited jointly organized the Revival of Thai Traditional Culture event to celebrate Royal Orchid Plus’ 25th Anniversary. Royal Orchid Plus members redeemed 2,500 miles for a photo shoot in Thai traditional attire with Chayanitikorn Photo Studio at THAI’s head office recently. THAI VIPs present for the photo shoot included Priyasiri Juathes (4th left), VP , Product and Guest Experience, Krittaphon Chantalitanon (left), VP Alliances and Commercial Strategy, Jittima Udayachalerm (7th left), Director, Royal Orchid Plus, Business Unit and Thai actor and Pakorn Chatborirak (3rd left).

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Articles For Sale/Rent

Articles/Services Wanted

As/17-21/ Water leak portable detection kit (Model pqwt - CL200). Imported from China to trace an underground leak at my home and now surplus to requirements. New but for sale at a discounted price. Call 081 762 4676 for details. As611/01-52/ Pattaya Mail Cartoonist Michael Baird (M.J.B.) has 3 brand new cartoon E-Books out. These and his other 10 cartoon EBooks can be bought from www.amazon.co.uk or www.booksmango.com. You will now be able to see all of Mike’s cartoons in FULL COLOUR. His 3 new Kindle E-Books are “Pattaya Cartoon Memories”, “Ladyboy Book 3” and “Pattaya Unforgettable Memories”. These cartoons are for grown-ups and would be unique gifts. You never know - You might see yourself in them!

Aw01/01-52/ Missionary in Rayong sponsoring Little Duck Nursery needs help. Please - Any unwanted items you have would be appreciated. (Eng) Rev Stephen 086 600 5682, (Thai) 0875 381 586

Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop10/01-52/ House in Pratumnak, corner Soi 4, with 5 floors; 320sqm, 9 rooms, 8 bathrooms, entrance room, completely restored 2016, garage; 7,500,000 THB; (Ref. 259) WWW.GO PROPERTY THAILAND.COM,093-1615995. Bop04/01-52/ Exclusive Sale! Hotel Resort in Koh Samui with 71 rooms; 10,700sqm of land, perfect investment; one of the best hotels with the most beautiful beach on the island; rare opportunity; Price extremely reduced,

owner wants to retire; details: GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995 Bop03/01-52/ “Paradise for sale” on famous Phuket beach; breathtaking, beautiful resort on 1000-wah (4,000sqm) of land with 7 Thai- teak traditional style houses located directly on the beach; each house is a unique artwork with antique furniture & art; must see; only one of his kind in Thailand; very rare opportunity; details: GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995 Bop01/01-52/ Hotel with “Hotel license” located 50m from Jomtien Beach, 45 guest rooms, lobby, bar, massage room, maiden rooms; one of the best locations on Jomtien Beach: 75,000,000 THB. Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@ gopropertythailand.com

Notices No01/21-25/ Looking for a game of snooker with a retired ex-professional UK snooker player? Tel. Mike on 089 152 3202

Pets Pets03/01-52/ Homeless puppies available for adoption to warm and caring homes! All puppies are healthy, vaccinated and acclimated to people. If you are looking for a friend for life, just call 088 402 6772 or e-mail to karin@carefordogs.org. Pets02/01-52/ **Free Cats and Kittens** We are still trying to find loving homes for over 40 cats and kittens. Please check the pictures on our website or ring Sandra. Call 085 287 5004 http:/ cats4youinpattaya.webs.com

Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb170/21-25/ Beautiful House for Rent: 3 bed, 3 baths, fully furnished, private Pool. Near Jomtien beach. Start from 30,000 baht/month. Phone: 081-782-0206, 084362-5920, www.rimtalay.com

Prb169/17-21/ TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedroom, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNUSHED, Guarded Subdivision, Communal Pool, One Year Lease, Bt.9,500. Monthly, Bt.19,000 Security Deposit. English, 087-805-5276 Prb167/14-39/ HOUSES FOR RENT –Rattana Village and Udomsuk Village: 72120m2, up to 7,000 Baht. Mr. Udom 082 2091452, Mr. Wirat 089 9354369

Condos, Apartments Prc207/19-38/ Royal Park Luxury Service Apartments and penthouse suite, Jomtien: starting at 15,000 baht/month. 56-70sqm, one bedroom, large living area with balcony and European kitchen, Free internet. Enjoy our rooftop swimming pool. Short walk to the beach. Monthly and daily rentals, Contact 086 111 7414 or check on our website www. royalparkjomtien.com to see why we are number 1 in Jomtien

22 FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018

Pattaya Emergency Numbers Pattaya Call Center ................................ 1337 Police Station .......................................... 191 - Pattaya ................................................... 038 424 186 - Banglamung ......................................... 038 221 800-1 Highway Police ....................................... 038 392 001 Fire Brigade ............................................. 199 Pat. Int. Hopsital ..................................... 038 428 374-5 Bkk-Pat Hospital ..................................... 038 259 911 TAT Central Office: Region 3 Pattaya . 038 428 750 Tourist Police ......................................... 038 429 371, 1155 . .................................................................. 038 410 044 (FAX)

PATTAYA MAIL

Prc207/21/ Condo -waterfront; Park Beach, Soi 16 Wong-Amat. High floor, super views of Sanctuary of Truth to Pattaya Beach, Furnished, 30-meters to beach, Free gym, play room, Wifi, squash, steam room, large pool almost on the beach. Condo 172sqm, 3-2 with each room with sea-view & large balcony. Long term lease at only 48,000 THB/month. Tel. Ed 081 150 8503 (English), Song 092 383 6362 (Thai) Prc206/19-23/ Markland Studio 48sqm, beach front balcony, refurbished, furnished, pool, fitness, minimum 12 months @ 15,000B/month by owner ian.thailand@hotmail.com, 087 137 1529 Prc205/19-23/ Prestigious Sky Beach Condo, very nice - must see - High floor – 54sqm - directly at Wongamat Beach/Naklua with wonderful sea views. Rent negotiable - please contact e-mail: marty111@outlook.de Prc202/14-52/ Seaview Studio, View Talay 1A, high floor, Pattaya side, Living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, Flat TV, ceiling fan, clean & nice furnished, air-condition, security door, parking, big pool, located on “10 Baht Taxi route: 9,500 THB/monthly. Tel. 092- 753 9309 (available from 1 May 2018)

Prc201/14-39/ Apartments for rent: 46m2, air-con, hot water, kitchen, in Nongprue area- 4,500 Baht. Tel. Mr. Udom 082 2091452, Mr. Heinz 089 989 0567 Prc199/14-52/ Seaview Studio, Jomtien Beach Road, between Soi 15 – 16: 43sqm, high floor, living-bedroom, kitchen, bath, terrace, office table, clean & nice furnished, air-condition, fitness gym, garage, 25m pool, direct on “10 Baht Taxi route”: 9,800 THB/ monthly. Tel. 092- 753 9309 Prc191/01-52/ Pratumnak Seaview Studio with private access to the beach; Ref: 2016- 139; located directly on the beach, 3rd floor, no public streets, no buses, no traffic; totally peaceful, sea views from the terrace; living space 51sqm; fully furnished; direct access to the beach; 1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, full kitchen; WiFi; security 7/24h; community pool on beachfront; restaurant on pool side, supermarket, laundry; For Rent

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at 13,500 THB/month; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Property for Sale Houses, Villas Psb30/21-25/ Fully-furnished two-bedroom townhouse, quiet village of Siam Country Club Road: 475,000 THB. Contact (Thai) 085 641 560, (English) 093 785 2252 Psb29/13-52/ Semi-detached house in Central Park 2 (Sukkhumvit behind McDonald’s), 2 beds, 2 baths, office, living room, nicely furnished, terrace and “sala” (pergola) in the garden, end of cul-de-sac, nice little garden, quiet and and central location, reduced from 4.9 M Baht to only 3.5 M Baht. Heiner 081 861 19 07

Condos, Apartments Psc81/20-24/ Beachfront Condo at Bangsaray Condominium: 150sqm. 2-bedrooms,

2-bathrooms, 300m from beach, only 137units in 20 rai of green landscaped surroundings in an exclusive residence. Excellent decoration, fully furnished, TVLCD 50". Hot Sale: 8.9 million THB (59,000 baht/sqm). 081-3358102 (owner), for photos: pitipity@hotmail. com, Line: piti.t Psc81/19-23/ Markland Studios, Pattaya Beach Road, finance available: 48sqm, beachfront balcony, furnished, refurbished, pool, fitness, foreign ownership, by owner, 3 MIO baht, 20% deposit + 120 months @ 25000. Other bespoke available. ian.thailand@hotmail .com, 0871371529 Psc80/17-21/ New Price reduction for my condo in Jomtien Porchland 2: 38m2, 1 bedroom, 8th floor, Foreign name, fully furnished, swimming pool, gym, cable TV, internet, 4 Years old, nice view: 1.39 MLN BHT. Rent 8,500 baht/month. Tel: 087138-3523 Psc74/03-52/ Sea-View Condo Tropicana Pratumnak, modern 2 bedroom apartment, 81sqm, Pattaya City South, beautiful sea and island views; 1 living room with dining area, 1 bedroom, 1 office room, 1 bathroom, 1 shower room, fully equipped European kitchen, fully f urnished, high Speed WLAN/WiFi connection, Safe Box, air-con, ceiling

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fans, 2 swimming pools (roof and ground floor), Fitness Gym, Garage; medical Clinic; ZEN Beauty Clinic; located at the “10 Baht-Taxi route; For Sale at THB 4,500,000. Call 092- 753 9309 Psc59/01-52/ In the heart of Jomtien, 2 bedroom condo, (Ref: 2016- 259) 90sqm, 4th floor, big living room, 2 bathrooms, European kitchen, completely reformed, new furniture, 2 balconies, 3 aircons, 2 pools, garage, private access to Jomtien Beach; 3,950,000 THB; WWW.GO PROPERTYTHAILAND. COM, 093- 161 5995. Psc24/01-52/ Studio in Pattaya City; Ref: 2016- 136; located close to BIG C EXTRA, Pattaya Central Road; living space 28sqm; fully furnished;1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchenette; WiFi; 2 community pools; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 699.000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc20/01-52/ Beachfront Jomtien, Pattaya; Ref: 2016106; located at Jomtien Beach Road with stunning sea views, 26thfloor; living space 45sqm; direct access to the beach; fully furnished;1 living/bedroom; 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; big community pool; garage; supermarket, laundry; 1,850,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc18/01-52/ Apartment Thappraya Road, Pattaya; Ref: 2016- 213; located on Thappraya Road with very nice sea and city views, 14th floor; living space 64sqm; 400m to the beach; fully furnished; living room with dining area, 1 bedroom/s, 1 bathroom/s, kitchen; terrace;

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internal blinds; 2 air-cons; ceiling fans; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; 10 Baht Taxi Route into City, free parking; restaurants, bars, 24hrs supermarket, laundry; 2,750,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc17/01-52/ Studio directly on the beach from Ban Amphur; Ref: 2016-181; new Studio on the 6th floor with stunning sea views; living space 35sqm; 1bathroom; air-condition; infinity pool on roof top; very nice beach location with many small restaurants, windsurfing shops and much more; garage; security 7/24h; to Pattaya City 20 min; 2,998,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc16/01-52/ Luxury Apartments in Pattaya City; Ref: 2016- 187; 1 or 2 bedrooms in a high rise condominium with 29 floors; living space 2679sqm; community pools; fitness gym; massage, laundry, children playground; parking; cafe; restaurant; security 7/ 24h; construction end approx. 4/2018; prices are starting with 3.168,989 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@ gopropertythailand.com Psc15/01-52/ MARKLAND Studio, Pattaya Beach; Ref: 2016- 199; located on Pattaya Beach Road with very nice sea views, living space 45sqm;

fully furnished; direct access to the beach; 1 living/bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchenette; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 3,495,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc14/01-52/ City Apartment, Central Road close BIG C EXTRA; Ref: 2016172; 2nd floor, living space 92,5sqm; fully furnished; city location; 1 living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms ensuite, 1 kitchen; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; 3,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc13/01-52/ Condo in Naklua; Ref: 2016- 224; new condo with 2 bedrooms, 3rdfloor; living space 54sqm; fully furnished; living room with dining area, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; community pool; garage; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket “BIG C Extra”, laundry, 10 bath taxi route; 3,890,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc12/01-52/ Luxury Apartments in Pattaya Pratamnak; Ref: 2016- 188; 1 bedroom in a condominium with 5 floors; living space 3377sqm; pool with jacuzzi; fitness gym; sauna, kids playground; parking; security 7/ 24h; prices are starting with 4,296,530 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc10/01-52/ Beachfront Apartment Pattaya Beachroad; Ref: 2016- 193; 2 studios converted into a one bedroom apartment ; redivision anytime possible (2 titles /chanots); it is located directly on Pattaya Beach Road in the heart of Pattaya Beach; living space 90sqm; 1 living room, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, open kitchen; totally refurbished; community pool; fitness gym; garage; security 7/24h; access to the beach; restaurants; coffee shops; 7,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Psc7/01-52/ High floor condo at Jomtien Beach; Ref: 2016223; Sea view apartment with 3 bedrooms, located at Jomtien Beach Road with attached guest studio; breathtaking sea views, 22nd floor; living space 190sqm; short walking to the beach; fully furnished; 2 living rooms with dining areas, 3 bedroom/s, 3 bathrooms, 1 European kitchen; 1 kitchenette; terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; spa; community pool; storage room; garage; parking; restaurants, bars, supermarket, laundry; located in the “Heart of Jomtien”; 9,950,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc6/01-52/ High floor beachfront Apartment in Naklua; Ref: 2016-192; Sea view apartment in a high rise condominium with 25 floors with direct access to the beach; living space 180sqm; fully furnished; community pool; fitness gym; sauna; laundry; garage; security 7/ 24h; 13,500,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc5/01-52/ BANGKOK Luxury high floor apartment; Ref: 2016- 201; Apartment in Bangkok; own mooring for speed boat; SKY TRAIN in front of the condo; breathtaking City views overlooking the royal Grand Palace; living space 350sqm; fully furnished with antique, Asian and European furniture; living room with dining area; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, jacuzzi; 1 European kitchen; laundry; huge terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; sauna; spa; 3 garage parking; 40,860,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com Psc4/01-52/ Beachfront location, one of the very best luxury apartments in Pattaya in one of the best locations in Pattaya; Ref: 2016- 5995; breathtaking island and ocean views; living space 245sqm; fully furnished; living room with dining area; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, guest toilet; full European kitchen; laundry; huge terrace; WiFi; security 7/24h; fitness gym; 2 garage parking; private access to the beach; 49,000,000 THB; Go Property Thailand; 093- 161 5995; jo@gopropertythailand.com

Land for Sale P22/14-52/ Bang Saray, close to GERMAN AUTO BMW, 10 Rai (1 Rai 2.8 mio): www. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND .com; Tel. 093-161 5995

P21/07-52/ Land on public, cozy beach, Pratumnak, with 850 Talang Wah (3,400sqm) at the bottom of Pratumnak Soi 5. The land is owned free and clear by a Thai company. Perfect for an exclusive residential development, serviced apartment or hotel project in the neighborhood of 5-star Centara Grand Pratumnak Hotel: 245,000,000 THB; GO PROPERTY THAILAND; call Khun Jo: 093- 161 5995 P18/01-52/ 6,700sqm Land on Pratumnak Road, Soi 1, in front of UNIX Condominium; can be divided in 3 units; unit A: 815 T-wah 146,700,000 THB; unit B: 860 T-wah 155,010,000 THB; unit C (total): 1,675 T-wah 301,710,000 THB; WWW. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND .COM; please call Jo: 093161 5995 P16/01-52/ Jomtien Beach, 50 Rai at “km 1”: www. GOPROPERTYTHAILAND .com; Tel. 093-161 5995

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24 FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 21

Tinkler on top at Pattavia PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys Monday, May 14, Pattavia – Stableford 1st Stuart Tinkler (16) 44pts 2nd Les Hall (24) 37pts 3rd Jimy Carr (17) 35pts Another day when the weather gods smiled on the Bunker Boys, well most of them anyway. Our last group suffered the consequences of slow play by being rained upon on the eighteenth tee all the way to the green; everybody else from our group was already inside enjoying a cold beer. The Pattavia course was in excellent condition, however, the heat was oppressive, the humidity stifling, and the fruit flies irritating in the extreme. It was impossible to settle over a shot without tiny black flies all over your face and hands. It seems last week’s extraordinary results were not a flash in the pan as today’s results show. In a brilliant

display of controlled golf, Stuart Tinkler took the honors today with a magnificent forty-four points (twentytwo on each nine), which included three birdies. He also had two further birdie attempts lip out, so it was no surprise that he felt the cut of the handicapper’s scalpel back at the Bunker. Second place went to Les Hall with a very respectable thirty-seven. Les had his card marked by Trevor and was virtually indecipherable so a little censure was in order for both. Third place was filled by Jimmy Carr on thirty-five points. Near pins went to Les Cobban, Neil Carter, Trevor Priestly, and Michael Brett.

Wednesday, May 16. Pattana C.C. – Stableford 1st Neil Carter (13) 33pts 2nd Jimmy Carr (17) 31pts 3rd Geoff Parker (14) 30pts

Stuart Tinkler.

Michael Brett.

It seems all good things come to an end and so it was today for the Bunker Boys. First, the weather which had been very kind to us in recent weeks took revenge in spades. On the twelfth fairway the rain, which had been threatening for a while, hit suddenly and with very scary lightning it forced ev-

erybody to abandon play and run for cover. After about forty minutes play resumed under “pick, clean, and place” rules. The brilliant scores of recent weeks seemed a distant memory as scoring was

Pratt shines at Eastern Star PSC Golf from Siam Country Resort Pattaya

Alex Everden, Jonathan Pratt, Stan Rees, Neil Harvey and Dave Smith.

Tuesday, May 15, Greenwood Stableford On Tuesday we went to Greenwood on a very hot day, but we enjoyed the game. It is always good to see a well maintained course but despite the good conditions we didn’t have good results. The winner was Neil Harvey with 32 stableford points, one ahead of Jonathan Pratt in second who beat Stan Rees on the count-back. We had problems to find the way to the par 3’s and only one near pin was claimed, that going to Neil Harvey.

Thursday, May 17, Eastern Star - Stableford Eastern Star was our venue on Thursday and while we left Siam Resort in sunshine, the sky became black when we arrived at the course and all too soon the rain was pouring down. After waiting 20 minutes the sky cleared up and we had a nice day on a perfect course. Jonathan Pratt showed his good form of the last weeks and won with 39 points. Dave Smith followed with a good 37 for second place and Alex Everden took third with 32, beating Neil Harvey on the count-back. The near pins went to Paddy Devereux and Dave Smith.

mediocre at best. Neil Carter took first place with thirtythree points, second went to Jimmy Carr on thirty-one points, and Geoff Parker rounded out the scoring in third place on thirty. Near pins went to Mark Stanley, Les Cobban, and two to Neil Carter. Today marked the welcome return of Tony Robbins to the golf course after a lengthy lay-off after shoulder surgery, he played remarkably well after such a long time out of the game.

Friday, May 18, Crystal Bay – Medal 1st Michael Brett (16) net 69 2nd Mike Lloyd (19) net 69 3rd Neil Carter (13) net 72 The second medal round of the month was played at the

Crystal Bay course under grey skies with rain once again interrupting play but only for a short time with a passing shower. Once again we were lucky as the weather seemed much worse no too far away with thunder and lightning just over the mountains. Today saw a welcome return to better scoring after Wednesday’s debacle. Both Michael Brett and Mike Lloyd returned net scores of sixty-nine only separated by count-back. Neil Carter took third place with a net seventy-two. Takeshi Hakozaki was cruising to victory but collapsed on the final hole with a nine to fall out of contention. Near pins went to Takeshi Hakozaki, a small consolation, Neil Carter, Mike Lloyd and Michael Brett.

Wright stuff at the Valley The Tara Court Golf Society pipped Bernie Stafford (18-20) and Tony Dire (27) (23-15). The ‘2’s were shared between Craig Hitchens & Daryl Burkett.

Sunday, May 13, Green Valley - Medal 1st Kevyn Wright (15) net 67 2nd Stuart Brown (8) net 71 3rd Mikael Andersson (13) net 72 4th Peter Henshaw (26) net 73 5th Ian Corica (28) net 73 Another very hot and humid day here for what was our fifth monthly medal this year here at Green Valley. Despite having to stop for thirty minutes for some heavy rain we still got round in under four hours. We had one very good score today as Kevyn Wright won his first medal with us with an excellent net sixtyseven, which was four shots ahead of Stuart Brown in second. Mikael Andersson played to his handicap to come third while Peter Henshaw came fourth with a net seventy-three, beating Ian Corica on count-back. For the past three weeks we had no ‘2’s and today there was a large pot to be shared out. Three people managed to share it, the happy recipients being Craig Hitchens, Kevyn Wright and Ash Sood.

Tuesday, May 15, Pleasant Valley – Stableford We had 16 players today for trip to Pleasant Valley and as the course was damp

Thursday, May 17, Burapha - Stableford

Kevyn Wright. it was ‘lift clean & place’ in effect. The course played well but with little or no run on the fairways and chip & run shot near the green were hard to judge. The sky threatened to open up on the back nine but all got to the clubhouse dry except the last group who caught the start of the rain while putting on the 18th green. The scoring was very good today and even playing better than your handicap did not mean getting a place. Top spot was decided on a C/B with Craig Hitchens (14) 42 points (19-23) beating Donal McGuigan (19) on the same score (20-22). Third went to Pat Carty (21) with 41 points while fourth and fifth went to a 3-way C/B were Russell Gilroy (17) 38 points (15-23)

By the time we arrived here at Burapha the skies had opened and it was looking very bad for golf. When we went to check-in they told us we would have to wait at least an hour for the flooding to clear after it stopped, however we got off after a wait of about forty minutes to play on a very wet course. We played the A and B nines off the white tees as with the course being so wet it was going to be playing long with absolutely no run on the ball. As we had only a three-ball in front of us we got round very quickly with our first four-ball going round in less than an three and a half hours. Both Pat Carty and Kevin Blake were burning it up on the front nine, with Pat having twenty one points and Kevin nineteen. Both of them let it slip a bit on the back nine and they both finished with thirty five, with Kevin having the better back nine to edge Pat into second. Stuart Brown got the third and last place with thirty two and we had no ‘2’s today.

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FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018 25

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Warberg goes home with the treasure PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group Derek Brook

Tuesday, May 15, Sunrise Lagoon – Stableford Sunrise where? It’s what I was asking too when Dick suggested a trip there. It just so happened that one of our group had taken a trip there to have a look around and the reply was positive, so we thought we would give it a go. So where is it? Well you go to Bangpakong Riverside and keep going for half an hour or so and there it is. The entrance is different, reminds me of many of the courses in Pattaya many

Dick Warberg. years ago as they had been laid out but were trying to mature and find their feet. The booking in was also different, you paid, got a score card and were told to

change, go outside and sort of get on with it. Outside was a lady who asked what you had paid and then either put you in a buggy or had a caddy and a trolley. Never seen it before. Suspect they had no receipts for the players but it was different and sort of worked. It was apparent not many groups had visited. The course was very wet but the buggies went everywhere. The layout itself was very flat and an easy walk, but it has much promise as practically every hole has water on it. The place is built around rivers and ponds and playing over water or indeed alongside it is a constant in this round. The greens were slow and most were flat with little deviation, just enough to miss the hole. But the wet grass and the longish grass on the fairway made the course seem very long. All in all this was a really enjoyable day out and I suspect we will return one day. After all, at 900 baht for green fee and caddy fee, and allowed to share a cart you cannot go wrong. The winner on the day was Nigel Perry with 39 points, with John Davies second on

Nigel Perry (centre) with John Davis (left) and Bob Britton. 38. In third was Bob Britton with 36 points on count-back over Roger Rees in fourth. Front-nine winner was Andre Van Dyk with 18 points and Darren Evans won the back-nine with 21.

Friday, May 18, Treasure Hill – Stableford 1st Dick Warberg (22) 36pts 2nd Brian Gabe (18) 35pts

3 rd Graham Buckingham (23) 34pts 4th Mashi Kaneta (16) 33pts Best 9’s: Andre Van Dyk and Barry Elphick We missed an outing to Treasure Hill in April due to the reduced number of golf days so it was nice to see this tough but usually wellpresented course back in the rotation. The only apprehension in the minds of most

centered on whether the rainy season thundershowers that seem to plague this particular area would give us a break this day. Fueled up with BJ’s breakfast and cups of caffeine, off we headed under fairly clear skies with only a hint in the forecast for showers. The drive up is now fairly easy and we were greeted at the course by essentially an empty parking lot. With a quick check-in, all opting for the fine 1250 baht “All-In” deal, we were soon off the 1st, playing the yellow tees. No “lift, clean & place” today as carts were allowed on fairways and there was no evidence of recent rains having drenched the course. This proved to be an acceptable decision and other than a light on and off shower over the last couple of holes the weather had little influence and the course was in great condition. With all four groups finished in 4 hours, all were on the road back to Pattaya and an earlier than usual snack and presentation.

Rudy rules the roost

Marshall master-class at Greenwood

PSC Golf from The Growling Swan

PSC Golf Pattaya Links Society

Monday, May 14, Pleasant Valley – Stableford Only 9 golfers decided to take on Pleasant Valley but by all reports the course was in great nick with no sign of the water that had made life uneasy in Pattaya (random flooding). We did play lift, clean & place but an hour into the game and you would not have been aware that rain had been about. Only the one placing today and that went to Colin Stielow, who is having what one could say is a good run at present. Colin Stielow won with 35 points off his 26 handicap. Near pins went to Gordon Clegg, Alex Field and Mashi Kaneta while the long putt awards were claimed by Rudy Regenass and Denis Steele.

Thursday, May 17, Burapha – Stableford 1st Rudy Regenass (19) 39pts 2nd Mashi Kaneta (14) 36pts 3rd Shane Young (26) 34pts 4th Gordon Clegg (24) 34pts Near Pins: Steve Younger (2), Rudy Regenass, Ray Cody. Long Putts: Keith Buchanan, Glenn Martin. With a 10.00 am tee time scheduled, we headed out to Burapha Golf Club with 15 eager golfers, a far cry from Monday’s crowd.

Monday, May 14, Burapha - Stableford

Rudy Regenass with one of his many fans. Certainly now people are starting to take notice in regards to “high & low seasons”, golf has become a level playing field and the courses that are making the money are the ones that are pro-active and responding to the number of golfers that are available. Some courses are doing this while others are just going along as they did 10 years ago and put prices up to cater for the influx of tourists, whether they are there or not. Today we were to play one flight with 4 places along with 4 near pins and 2 long putts. We played from the white tees and invoked “lift, clean and place” as carts were not allowed on the course. This writer believes that if a course is to not allow carts on course, golf societies

should be notified so the players that have trouble walking can make the decision to play or not play. Out of the blocks were two golfers, Rudy and Jockey, who at the half way mark had both scored 18 points. As they were in the same 4-ball all looked set for a good old fashion shoot-out! Alas the petrol tank of one golfer went into the red earlier than expected while the other soldiered on and went on to win the day. Rudy Regenass returned to the scales with a fine score of 39 points, hard to beat on that course in those conditions. Second past the post was Evergreen Mashi, with the Jock, Shane Young, holding out Gordon Clegg from third via our count-back system!

1st Takeshi Hakozaki (14) 36pts 2nd Mike Firkin (23) 34pts 3rd Pete Seil (7) 34pts The Pattaya Links Golf Society visited Bangpra on Monday to play a stableford competition off the white tees on an overcast day which remained dry for the most part. The course has been out of condition for a long while but at last there are signs that the greens may be getting back to their fine condition. Currently they are recovering from maintenance and the signs are very good. Only three groups played today on an almost empty course and scores were close. Four golfers all posted 34 points for the second best return of the day with Mike Firkin edging out Pete Seil on countback for second place. The two other unlucky golfers were Dave Stockman and Alan Walker. The winner was Japanese golfer Takeshi Hakozaki who received the Green Jacket with a broad smile after his level par 36 point score was announced. Consolation awards went to Alan Walker for his best front nine of 22 points and Colin Service for his best back nine of 17 points.

Tommy Marshall (left) with Len Jones. The dreaded “wig” went to Derek Phillips after a round he would sooner forget.

Wednesday, May 16, Greenwood Stableford 1st Tommy Marshall (9) 43pts 2nd Paul Smith (3) 37pts 3rd Derek Phillips (22) 34pts 4th Petr Petursen (6) 33pts Greenwood on Wednesday and the society turned five groups out on the A and C nines to play a stableford competition. The course was in fine condition in view of the recent daily storms and fairways were no more than soft but the greens were very good. Conditions were very uncomfortable with a 2-club/ three shirt humidity with the much anticipated storm duly arriving with a few holes to go.

Scores generally reflected the difficulty of the conditions, with one outstanding exception. Fourth place saw Icelandic golfer Petur Petursen securely in place with 33 points, one behind a resurgent Derek Phillips on 34. Second place was occupied by Paul Smith’s 37 points and he shared the best gross figures of 74 with the day’s winner Tommy Marshall, victor with 43 astounding points, helped by a trio of good “up-and-downs” and a couple of long putts. Near pin winners were Tommy Marshall (A5), Derek Phillips (C6) - almost an ace, Paul Smith and Barry Wellings. Consolation awards went to Len Jones for the best front nine (17 points) and Maurice Roberts for his best back nine of 17 points also.

26 FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 21

Aaron Wise gets 1st PGA tour win, shatters Nelson scoring record Schuyler Dixon Dallas (AP) — Aaron Wise had to kick his mom out of his hotel room because she was too chatty during a four-hour rain delay before his best shot at a first PGA Tour victory. The 21-year-old rookie’s caddie had to snap him back into the moment when Wise worried if he would get to finish the AT&T Byron Nelson as daylight faded with a comfortable lead over the final holes. Wise didn’t have to wait an extra 12 hours to celebrate, and mom got a twilight hug after a tap-in and another wave to the thinned-out crowd on the 18th green at the new Trinity Forest course. Pulling away at the turn after the long delay to start the final round last Sunday, Wise shattered the tournament record at 23 under with a closing 6-under 65 to beat Marc Leishman by three strokes as both became the first to finish the Nelson at 20 under or better.

“I did a great job of staying focused on the present today,” said Wise, who won once each on the Web.com and Canadian tours. “That was a big key for me winning. My mom, my girlfriend, my girlfriend’s family, a bunch of my other family was there. “Mainly my mom and girlfriend were the two I wanted to hug and appreciate that time with.” Leishman, who shared the third-round lead with Wise after leading the first two days, shot 68. The treeless links-style par-71 layout, a few miles south of downtown Dallas, was defenseless with softer fairways and greens and little wind once the morning storms passed. The Nelson celebrated its 50th anniversary with a return to Dallas after 35 years at the TPC Four Seasons in suburban Irving. Rory Sabbatini set the previous record on that par-70 layout at 19-under 261 in 2009. “I felt like when it rained

Aaron Wise acknowledges applause from the gallery after sinking a putt for birdie on the fifth green during the final round of the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tournament in Dallas, Sunday, May 20. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) today I was really going to tear the course up just because it allowed me to hit driver, which is my strength,” said Wise said, who was born in South Africa but raised in the U.S. “I got a lot of short irons in my hand and was able to make a lot birdies.” Branden Grace holed a blind bunker shot for birdie

on the par-5 first and matched his career-best 62 from last year’s British Open — which was the lowest round ever in a major. He finished at 19 under with J.J. Spaun and Keith Mitchell, who had matching 63s. Hometown star Jordan Spieth again couldn’t improve on his best Nelson finish from

his first start as a 16-yearold amateur in 2010. The three-time major winner, and highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3, shot 67 to finish at 11 under. Spieth tied for 21st and doesn’t have a top 10 finish in eight Nelson appearances, the most of any tournament for him. “Felt like I played better than I scored,” Spieth said. “Typically when you say that, it just means putts didn’t go in.” Mitchell, also a rookie seeking his first win, and Ryan Blaum had matching 30s on the front nine, with both playing the last six holes on that side in 5 under. But Wise had five birdies over those six holes, and added one on the 10th while Leishman bogeyed. His lead suddenly at four shots, Wise cruised from there with all pars — and that was plenty in his second bogey-free round of the week. Blaum’s run of five straight birdies ended with a bogey at 10, one of three on the

back nine for him. He shot 66 and finished at 16 under with Kevin Na (68) and Jimmy Walker (67). Leishman set a 36-hole Nelson record that was previously shared by Tiger Woods because of calm wind the first two rounds. A blustery Saturday brought scores up, but Trinity Forest was even more benign for the final round than it was the first two without its firm fairways and greens. “It would have been windy I probably would have preferred that, firm and windy, taken a few of the guys behind a little more out of it,” Leishman said. “You get what you’re given. You can’t choose your conditions. I played pretty good. He played better.” Adam Scott shot 65 to tie for ninth at 15 under but was projected to be just outside the top 60 in the world rankings, which he needed to avoid sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. The 2013 Masters champion hasn’t missed a major since 2001.

Tordeur terrific with a 42 PSC Golf from The Golf Club Steve Ellison

Monday, May 14, Green Valley (white tees) – Stableford 1st Frank Tordeur 42pts 2nd Zed Beloglavec 37pts T3rd Peter LeNoury 36pts T3rd Dave Ferris 36pts Still a decent turnout for low season as we filled the vans with 5 groups of golfers and headed to Green Valley. The greens here are still ragged but usable and as the old saying goes, it’s the same condition for everybody. Still, it would be nice if the golf courses gave us some sort of discount or freebie whilst this is going on. Lightning but no rain were the conditions of the day as some very good scores were recorded on this venture.

Peter LeNoury, in his last game for this trip, tied with stalwart Dave Ferris at 36 for third. Zed was right there once again with a steady 37. Today was a sweet one for Frank Tordeur as the Belgian carded a massive 42 for a great win. Frank has been a solid scorer on this trip and this day he took the bulk of the handsome man vouchers home. Nat Meesuk won the Caddy Smile near pin.

Wednesday, May 16, Burapha A & B (white tees) – Stableford 1st Frank Tordeur 36pts 2nd Lothar Egger 34pts 3rd Thierry Danzas 32pts A European podium was the feature of today’s results as a 1-2-3 went to Belgium, Austria and France

Thierry Danzas cooked up a 32-point round and winner Frank also claimed the near pin. Paul Kidder thought he had it but although his was closer it was also just off the green.

Friday, May 18, Mt. Shadow (blue tees) – Stableford

(From left) Peter LeNoury with Frank Tordeur and Zed Beloglavec. respectively. Is this a possible Ryder Cup indicator? We shall see! Burapha was in beautiful shape today and the A & B tracks kept the boys in check as only one shot to their handicap.

Frank Tordeur was at the top again for his second win this week. Waltzing into second place from Vienna, it was “Curly” with a solid 34 for Lothar who has swapped the beaches for the bunkers. Chef

Thatchers Cider Monday Pool League Results & Standings May 21 (week 19) Team P W D L +/- Pts. Thirsty Beaver 19 16 0 3 71 48 Moonies Kitchen 19 14 0 5 57 42 Khao Noi Sports 19 13 0 6 37 39 Diva Sports Bar 18 12 0 6 52 36 Honeypot 18 12 0 6 19 36 Black Moonies 19 11 0 8 45 33 Diva Devils 19 11 0 8 25 33 Pride 19 8 0 11 -21 24 Full Moon 19 6 0 13 -33 18 Leks Bar 19 5 0 14 -19 15 Honeybees 19 5 0 14 -62 15 GB Bar/Bye 19 0 0 19 -171 0 Results: Black Moonies 9 - 6 Pride, Full Moon 8 - 7 Leks Bar, GB Bar/bye 3 - 12 Thirsty Beaver, Honeybees 4 - 11 Diva Devils, Khao Noi Sports 9 - 6 Moonies Kitchen

1st Zed Beloglavec 32pts 2nd Mark Wood 31pts 3rd Lothar Egger 30pts Still a great golf course, we often overlook the virtues of Mountain Shadow

to our detriment. The layout is excellent but maintenance can be inconsistent. Today it was in pretty good shape but the greens were as hard as a tabletop. We played off the blues as they measured under 6,300 yards and the drives were rolling pretty well. We found Lothar still stalking for a win on the leader board with regular Mark Wood right there as well. Zed got the better of them both so at just 32 points, we had our winner.

Thursday Pool League Results & Standings May 17 (week 16) Team P W D L F A +/- Pts Honeypot 25 24 0 1 276 99 177 48 Moonies Kitchen 25 20 0 5 253 122 131 40 Black Moonies 25 20 0 5 237 138 99 40 Diva Sport 25 18 0 7 229 146 83 36 GB Bar 25 17 0 8 217 158 59 34 Maya Bar 25 16 0 9 209 166 43 32 Blue Moose 25 15 0 10 217 158 59 30 Mary Lou’s 25 14 0 11 188 187 1 28 Blue Moonies 25 13 0 12 209 166 43 26 Pride 25 13 0 12 196 179 17 26 Mucky Duck 25 12 0 13 200 175 25 24 Old Bill CID 25 12 0 13 196 179 17 24 Diva Angels 25 12 0 13 189 186 3 24 Moonies Magnet 25 10 0 15 175 200 -25 20 Niftys/bye 25 5 0 20 120 255 -135 10 Ponderosa 25 2 0 23 99 276 -177 4 Roseand Crown 25 2 0 23 90 285 -195 4 Loft Resort 25 0 0 25 75 300 -225 0 Results: Black Moonies 9 - 6 Pride, Diva Angels 12 – 3 Niftys, GB Bar 12 - 3 Rose and Crown/ Bye, Honeypot 12 - 3 Diva Sport, Loft Resort(bye) 3 - 12 Moonies Magnet, Mary Lou’s 9 - 6 Blue Moonies, Maya Bar 9 - 6 Blue Moose, Moonies Kitchen 12 - 3 Ponderosa/Bye, Mucky Duck 7 - 8 Old Bill CID

VOL. XXVI No. 21

FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018 27

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Shuttleworth returns in hot form PSC Golf from The Billabong Bar Only two ‘2’s today and they came from the ladies, Miss Am and Miss Jam. One amusing event took place on the 18th when one of our number, but mentioning no names (Barry), tried to extricate himself from the bunker but he hit the lip and the ball disappeared. Realization only dawned on him when the ball hit him on the head.

Monday, May 14, Phoenix Gold Stableford Phoenix on a day of threatening storms, with thunder in the back ground and rumblings everywhere, but it didn’t eventuate apart from being very hot. We played the Mountain and Ocean and the Mountain side is almost impossible if you miss the fairways, playing from the rough if you find the ball is a feat in itself. The scribe had 2 points after 7 holes which is a sad indictment on his capabilities as a golfer. The other golfers fared somewhat better but not by much. The course was in superb condition with greens that were holding but a little slow to putt on. George Barrie was beaten into third place on a count-back by Thiery Petrement, both on 32 points, and there was a surprised look on Paul Greenaway’s face when he was called as the winner with 33 points. There were two ‘2’s, coming from Paul Greenaway and Rob Kershaw with Rob’s two getting him 5 points.

Wednesday, May 16, Green Valley – Stableford It is not unusual during, the

DATE:

vouchers and them being won by Gerard Lambert on A3, Rick Culley took A6, Lloyd Shuttleworth took B3 and Miss Poopay took B8. There were five ‘2’s, going to Gerard Lambert, Peter Seil, Miss Sasicha and Lloyd Shuttleworth with a pair.

Third place went to Peter Seil with a fine 37 points, second to Thiery Petrement with 38 and the top spot went to Lloyd Shuttleworth, playing off a 4-handicap, who shot 70 off the stick for 42 points, not bad seeing he hadn’t seen a club in 7 weeks.

Friday, May 18, Burapha - Stableford Poopy, Lloyd Shuttleworth and Sasicha. last month or so, to have heavy, black clouds to obscure the sun and your round to be accompanied by thunder, lightning and heavy rain – in reality it is almost the norm at the moment. But we were lucky today for we could see the disruption in the distance and there it remained. No one in front or behind us today so a completely clear round with no delays. With three blobbed holes on the way home and 16 points, Miss Eng claimed 3rd place with 38 points, two behind the joint leaders Miss Porn and Miss Sa. Miss Porn

FRI 25

Apple’s Irish

Mt. Shadow

Bunker Boys

Eastern Star

SAT 26

had 2 double bogies and 1 blob on the last nine holes for 17 points but, with 22 points on the back nine, Miss Sa occupied 1st place with 40 points. Jerry Sweetman had a great outward trip with 23 points but he could not maintain this momentum, perhaps it was the humidity, finishing 3rd with 38 points. Michael Anderson, despite 2 birdies on the back nine could only muster 18 points for a 40 point total, 2 behind the winner, Stephen Hoge, who accumulated 42 points helped by 11 pars on his round.

SUN 27

Burapha on a very warm day with promising rain all around us, I don’t think we would have got the round in even if we started earlier than the 9.15 tee time, and did it rain. We had to shelter for about 20 minutes then proceed for two more holes then down it came again but as most of us were drowned by then most played on while some teams gave up and took to the showers. There were no carts on the grass so winter rules applied. The course was in great condition even after all the rain; the greens were soft and very receptive. We celebrated Bob Lindborg’s birthday today, with Bob sponsoring 4 near pin

MON 28

TUE 29

WED 30

THU 31

FRI 1

Treasure Hill Treasure Hill

Pleasant Valley

Khao Kheow

Burapha

Cafe Kronborg Colin’s Golf

Crystal Bay

Green Valley

Growling Swan Billabong Golf

Silky Oak Burapha

Phoenix

Pleasant Valley

Khao Kheow

The Links

Green Valley

Royal Lakeside

Outback Golf Bar

Green Valley

Retox Game On

Mt. Shadow

Le Katai

Mt. Shadow Green Valley Mt. Shadow

Bangpra

Burapha Plutaluang

Lewiinski’s

Bangpakong

Siam Country Sugar Shack

Phoenix

Burapha

Khao Kheow

Pattana

Pattaya C.C.

Pleasant Valley Pattavia

Greenwood

Green Valley

Laem Chabang

Pattavia Treasure Hill

Soi Diana Sports The Golf Club The Players Lounge Tropical Golf Valley View Hackers

Green Valley Pattana

Bangpra

Green Valley

The Bunker Boys meet at the M-Club off Pattaya 3rd Road for golf outings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (www.bunkersociety.com). Transportation leaves from Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, (contact Bjarne, tel. 038 423203, 038 423809). Colin’s Bar plays golf Sun/Mon/Wed & Fri (www.colinsbar.com). The Growling Swan plays golf on Monday & Thursday (www.thegrowlingswan.com). Lewiinski’s departs from Soi Pattayaland One (Soi Pattaya 13/3) at 9:00 a.m. on its scheduled days. of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday. The Pattaya Links Hotel Golf Society departs from Soi Buakhao on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call Phil on 0625 933 380 or visit www.thelinkshotelpattaya.com. The Outback Golf Bar is situated 6km from Sukhumvit Rd. along Siam Country Club Road. Telephone Andre on 092-617-4951 or visit www.outbackgolfbar.asia. The Golf Club is located on Soi LK Metro. Call Phil on 090 769 3778. Tropical Golf meets at BJ’s Holiday Lodge at 8am on Tuesday’ & Friday. Call Derek on 089 034 0629

28 FRIDAY MAY 25, 2018

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVI No. 21

Marquez wins French MotoGP to extend world championship lead Le Mans, France (AP) — Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez won a crash-marred French MotoGP last Sunday, extending his overall lead in the championship as he chases a fifth world title. The dominant Spanish rider powered his Honda to victory for only the second time on the Le Mans circuit where he retired last year and finished a lowly 13th in 2016. He raised his front

wheel in a “wheelie” celebration and banged his fist on his chest after crossing the line. The 25-year-old Marquez then jumped off his bike and ran over to celebrate with fans. His other win here was in 2014. “The grip of the track was a little bit less than yesterday,” Marquez said. “I’m happy, because this victory is important on this track.” Danilo Petrucci took second place on his Ducati ahead of

Sweden beat Switzerland to retain world ice hockey title

Sweden’s Mikael Backlund (bottom) tries to score past Switzerland goalie Leonardo Genoni during the Ice Hockey World Championships final in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, May 20. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Karel Janicek Copenhagen, Denmark (AP) — Sweden capped a victorious run through the ice hockey world championship by edging Switzerland 3-2 last Sunday in the final after a penalty shootout to successfully defend their title. Forward Filip Forsberg scored the decisive goal in the shootout to give Sweden a third world title in six years, and 11th overall. Sweden won all 10 matches at the tournament. “We wanted to win the gold medal, and here we are,” Sweden forward Viktor Arvidsson said. “It’s unbelievable, especially for Filip (Forsberg). He’s a great player, one of our top players. It’s unbelievable to win with my teammates.” Arvidsson, together with Nashville Predators teammates Forsberg and defenseman Mattias Ekholm, joined the Swedish team during the tournament after the Predators were eliminated from the NHL playoffs. “We had the puck a lot,” Arvidsson said. “They did a great job defending.” Sweden outshot Switzerland 38-27 but could not get the puck past goaltender Leonardo Genoni. Switzerland finished runners-up for the third time after 2013 and 1935. They have never won. “We battled hard ... all the tournament long,” Switzerland

defenseman Mirco Muller said. “Once you look at the bigger picture, it’s huge for Swiss hockey. But right now, there’s a disappointment. We definitely had our chances.” Switzerland stunned Canada 3-2 in the semifinals after a 3-2 upset against Finland in the quarterfinals. “They were close to winning the whole championship. So, credit to them,” Sweden forward Magnus Paajarvi said. Gustav Nyquist wristed a shot from the slot high into the net for Sweden to answer the Swiss opening goal by Nino Niederreiter. Timo Meier scored a second period power play goal to restore the one-goal advantage for Switzerland in the second. Mika Zibanejad equalized on a power play from the point, forcing overtime. Also on Sunday, the United States topped Canada 4-1 to claim the bronze medal. Chris Kreider led the U.S. with two goals. Forward Nick Bonino scored the winner on a rebound during a power play in the final period. Anders Lee and Kreider added empty-net insurance goals to give the U.S. their third bronze in six years. “It’s important for the team but it’s also important for USA Hockey,” U.S. captain Patrick Kane said. “Now, we can build up off this level and try to keep being better and better.”

Moto GP rider Marc Marquez of Spain takes a curve during the French Motorcycle Grand Prix race in Le Mans, France, Sunday, May 20. (AP Photo/David Vincent) Italian countryman Valentino Rossi, the seven-time world champion. “I knew the race would be very, very difficult. We struggled a lot with the front tire,” Petrucci said. “But I managed the rear very well. Then I just followed Marc.” The 39-year-old Rossi profited from the spills to climb up from ninth on the

starting grid. “I had a good rhythm all the race,” Rossi said after his second podium of the season. Home favorite Johann Zarco and Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso were among several riders to come off their bikes in the first four laps. Zarco had taken the fourth pole position of his career on

Saturday — the first Frenchman on pole at Le Mans since Christian Sarron in 1988. Marquez started from second, but both made poor starts and Jorge Lorenzo took the race lead as he chased a sixth career win at Le Mans. Dovizioso moved into second spot, while Zarco fought back to third with Marquez fourth.

But Dovizioso suddenly crashed on the fourth lap, taking his Ducati too wide on entry into turn 8 and sliding off the track. He was unharmed and wrung his hands in frustration. Minutes later, Zarco made a similar braking error and flew off his Yamaha. Lorenzo almost crashed too, when Marquez made a stunning but borderline dangerous move on his inside to lead with 18 laps to go. Petrucci overtook Lorenzo soon after to move up to third, while Rossi moved ahead of Lorenzo into third with 14 laps to go. The Yamaha rider then set a lap record and had Marquez, his bitter rival, in his sights. Last month, Rossi called Marquez a “dirty” rider at the Argentina GP in their latest bust-up. But with 10 laps left, the 25yearold Marquez set a lap record of his own and was untroubled thereafter. He is well clear in the standings, with 95 points. Spanish rider Maverick Vinales is next with 59, one ahead of Zarco and three clear of Rossi.

With Rome title, Nadal back on track entering French Open Andrew Dampf Rome (AP) — Rafael Nadal is right back where he wants to be heading into the French Open. Alex Zverev is in a good place entering Roland Garros, too. Nadal came out on top in a matchup of this year’s top two clay-court players last Sunday, beating defending champion Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 to win a recordextending eighth Italian Open title. Coming a week after a loss in the Madrid Open quarterfinals to Dominic Thiem, Nadal has his confidence back entering the year’s second Grand Slam in Paris, which starts this coming weekend. “It’s been an amazing week,” Nadal said. “It was tough losing in Madrid so to come back and win the trophy here is great.” Nadal recovered from an early break in the third set after a 50-minute rain delay, winning four straight games to close it out once the players returned to the court. “He came out way faster and played much more aggressive than I did,” Zverev said. “It just changed momentum ... If you don’t have the momentum on your side, you’re not going to beat Rafa.” Still, Zverev was pleased that he dominated Nadal in the second set and was up a break in the third before the rain came. “I was not far away from beating Rafa on a clay court in a Masters final, so I guess I can take that to Paris,” Zverev said. Nadal, who improved to 5-0 in his career against Zverev, has won a record 10 French Opens. “Of course Rafa will be the favorite there,” said Zverev, who has never been past the fourth round in a major. “I’ll be in the other half of the draw and that’s a good thing.” Nadal reclaimed the No. 1 ranking on Monday from Roger Federer, who is sitting out the clay season to prepare for Wimbledon.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Germany’s Alexander Zverev during their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Sunday, May 20. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) “My first victory here in 2005 is one of my greatest memories,” Nadal said during the trophy presentation. “To have this cup with me so many years later is really specialissimo.” Nadal and Zverev had each won two titles on clay this season entering the final, with Nadal lifting trophies in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and Zverev taking Munich and Madrid. Midway through the final set, Nadal showed off his shot-making skills with an over-the-shoulder put away with

his back to the net, earning long applause from the crowd. Nadal, who hadn’t won the Italian Open since 2013, picked up a winner’s check of 935,000 euros (nearly $1 million). “Congratulations Rafa,” Zverev said. “You’re the greatest clay-court player of all time.” Earlier, Elina Svitolina defended the women’s title, facing little resistance from top-ranked Simona Halep in a 6-0, 6-4 win. “I dominated all the match,” Svitolina said. Just like in last year’s final, Halep appeared bothered by an injury. Halep called a trainer onto the court for an apparent back problem while trailing 2-3 in the second set then exited the court for treatment. “I was a little bit too stiff with my body and I couldn’t stay in the rallies,” Halep said. Last year, Halep rolled her ankle in the final and lost a set lead to Svitolina. This time, Svitolina didn’t face a single break point in a match that lasted just 67 minutes. Halep said her physical problems were the result of a long three-set win over Maria Sharapova in the semifinals a day earlier. Halep had already secured the No. 1 ranking for another week by reaching the semifinals. Svitolina, who has never made it beyond the quarterfinals at a major, was hesitant to predict anything for Paris. “In a Grand Slam it’s very tricky,” she said. “But I’m definitely going to Roland Garros on a high note.”

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Carpenter takes top starting spot at Indy 500 for 3rd time Michael Marot Indianapolis (AP) — Ed Carpenter and Danica Patrick got exactly what they needed in qualifying last Sunday. Now comes the hard part: Finding a way to victory lane this coming weekend. After crashing Roger Penske’s front-row party by claiming his third Indianapolis 500 pole-winning run and watching his teammate, Patrick, qualify seventh for the final start of her career, Carpenter quickly turned his attention to hosting a bigger family celebration at the track his stepfather’s family owns. “We’ve been in this position before and ran a good race. I thought we had a chance to win (when we won our) first pole, we didn’t really have the right game plan,” Carpenter said. “I feel like we’ve learned a lot. I feel like I’ve gotten better since 2014.

We’ve got a great package with Chevrolet and ECR and hopefully we’ll be able to be in the mix (next) Sunday.” Helio Castroneves had the fastest car in qualifying Saturday and looked like he might break a tie for second by claiming his fifth career Indy pole. Instead, he’ll chase a record-tying fourth 500 win from the No. 8 starting spot. The return of Bump Day left two drivers, James Hinchcliffe and Pippa Mann, searching for ways to get back into the field. There was no immediate indication if either had a pathway back though one door closed when IndyCar president of competition and operations Jay Frye told The Associated Press the traditional 33-car field would not be expanded. But Carpenter’s surprisingly quick four-lap qualifying run was all the rage Sunday.

Ed Carpenter (foreground) celebrates after winning the pole for the IndyCar Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 20. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) He was the only driver to top 230 mph, the only one to

Uncertainty shrouds Chelsea despite FA Cup win over United Rob Harris London (AP) — Chelsea’s players saved their season but maybe not their manager. Collecting the FA Cup, after beating Manchester United 1-0 last Saturday, is looking like Antonio Conte’s final act with Chelsea. “After two years, the club knows me very well,” Conte said. “And if they continue to want to work with me they know I can’t change. My way is always the same.” Having won three Serie A titles at Juventus before capturing the English Premier League trophy for Chelsea, Conte reminded the Chelsea hierarchy: “I’m a serial winner.” It was a bullish sign-off to a lackluster season that saw the Italian’s relationship with Chelsea’s leadership become increasingly strained as the team went from champions to fifth in the Premier League. “Our job is not simple,” Conte said. “I understand that the club can make a decision.” Wembley match-winner Eden Hazard also has a decision to make: Whether to pursue a transfer. After raising doubts about his Chelsea future ahead of the final — demanding “good players” are signed in the offseason — Hazard produced the only goal from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute. On the pitch, amid the celebrations, Hazard said nothing to demonstrate his commitment to the club. “I’m just happy,” Hazard said. “You see the fans celebrating with the trophy. We didn’t play a great season but at least we finished well.”

Manchester United’s Phil Jones, on the ground, fouls Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in the box to give away a penalty during the English FA Cup final at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, May 19. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland) Although not in the style craved by Hazard. “If we want to win a lot of games we have to play better,” Hazard said, “because today we played defensively.” Such was the focus on the gloomy Premier League campaign and looming offseason of uncertainty in the postmatch interviews, it was easy to forget Chelsea had just picked up a trophy. “This was to save our season,” Chelsea captain Gary Cahill said. “I’m not saying we’ve had a magnificent season by any stretch. But we are used to winning, not in an arrogant way, but we have to try to win things.” Conte’s first cup final victory in coaching meant former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho finished his second season at United empty-handed, paying the price for an insipid first-half display and coming to life only after the break. United took until the 56th minute to register a shot on