Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019 (Vol. XXVII No. 26)

26th Year

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVII No. 26

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2019

30 BAHT

Wild Boars mark year since going missing in cave Rainy season flooding returns to Pattaya

Boonlua Chatree Rainy season has set in for the Pattaya area and the latest downpour brought the expected flooding.

The downpour last week

inundated all the usual places from north to south with water reaching as high as 70 centimeters.

Keep your wellies ready, there is sure to be more to come.

Members of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave pose for the media after a marathon and biking event to mark the one year anniversary in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, Sunday, June 23, 2019. When the 12 young boys and their soccer coach walked into a cave complex in northern Thailand a year ago Sunday, they didn’t know their lives were going to forever change. Rising floodwater quickly trapped the youngsters inside the Tham Luang cave complex, setting off a more than two-week ordeal that the world watched with rapt attention and that left the members of the Wild Boars soccer club with a survival tale that propelled them into celebrities. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (Full story and more photos on center pages.)

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

Samut Sakhon officials study Walking Street vendors Pattaya anti-drug program pushed back off pavement Vendors encroaching on public walkways on Walking Street had their signs taken down and the sidewalks reclaimed.

Deputy Mayor Pattana Boonsawad led a team out to the famous nightlife district to clear out the encroachers.

The entourage also inspected drainage pipes on Walking Street and Sukhumvit Road to assign workers to pump out the sewage to help prevent floods.

(PCPR)

Administrators from Samut Sakhon Province visited Pattaya to study the Soi Khopai Community’s award-winning anti-drug program.

Jetsada Homklin Administrators from Samut Sakhon Province visited Pattaya to study the Soi Khopai Community’s awardwinning anti-drug program.

Neighborhood President Wirat Joyjinda greeted the 50person delegation from the

province’s Community Development Office led by strategic planning chief Suwanna Rodmuang June 18.

Wirat talked to the group about the program founded under the Mother of the Land Fund that has neighbors take part in anti-drug patrols and rehabilitation of users.

It also encourages residents to find other ways to make money than by selling drugs, such as growing organic vegetables and making their own fabric softeners, soaps and handicrafts.

The program has won numerous awards and is copied by provinces across the country.

Vendors encroaching on public walkways on Walking Street had their signs taken down and the sidewalks reclaimed.

Upgrade of Rama IX Sailing Monument inches forward

PBTA gets update on illegal hotels

Pattaya took another baby step toward accomplishing its announced goal of upgrading the King Rama IX sailing monument on Beach Road.

Poramet Boonnumsirikit from Ramkhamhaeng University spoke on “Adjusting and Handling Changes in Growth of the Tourism Industry for 2020”.

Jetsada Homklin Pattaya business leaders got an update on the government effort to rein in illegal hotels and a lecture on adjusting to changes in the tourism industry.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh briefed the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association at its June 20 meeting at the Green Park Resort

on the crackdown on illegal hotels, saying there still are 2,000 accommodations providers operating in Pattaya without proper licenses.

The military had used its powers under the junta to push through new amendments to laws to bring the guesthouses and small hotels into compliance with the law, but much work remains

to be done, Ronakit said.

Afterward, Poramet Boonnumsirikit from Ramkhamhaeng University spoke on “Adjusting and Handling Changes in Growth of the Tourism Industry for 2020”.

His lecture stressed the need to emphasize environmental conservation and ensuring safety and supporting independent travelers.

Pattaya took another baby step toward accomplishing its announced goal of upgrading the King Rama IX sailing monument on Beach Road.

Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya chaired a June 20 meeting with city officials and representatives from the Royal Thai Navy, Yacht Racing

Association of Thailand and Marine Department.

He said the monument – erected to honor HM the late King Bhumibol’s winning voyage from Hua Hin in the 4th Southeast Asian Games – has deteriorated over time and is need of upgrade.

The meeting resolved to let

the Fine Arts Department come up with a new design.

The city announced in late March its intention to improving the landscaping around the monument, fence it off and make it more prominent, but had done nothing toward that goal in the past three months. (PCPR)

Nongprue diverts storm runoff away from Tropical Village Warapun Jaikusol Nongprue created a spillway to drain floodwaters from Tropical Village into sub-district drains.

Chief engineer Berkchai

Nilpanan said June 19 that the village always is flooded from water flowing down from Soi Mabyailia and Soi Pornprapanimit, even after just a short rainstorm.

So engineers created a new flood-drainage canal under the bridge running into village that will divert water

before it enters people’s homes. That water will drain into a new 1.5-meter-wide pipe installed at the end of the spillway that will take water to a nearby canal.

The subdistrict also has requested 9.4 million baht to install more large pipes in flood-prone areas.

Nongprue workers build a spillway to drain floodwaters from Tropical Village into sub-district drains.

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Pattaya village battles firm’s takeover of market zone Jetsada Homklin Residents of an East Pattaya village are calling on the National Housing Authority to evict a private business that took over a common area, preventing locals from using it as a market.

Ban Euarthorn Nernplabwan long has had a common area

that had served to house a market for locals to set up booths to sell locally made products. However, that area was lost after it was taken over by a private business operator who turned it into a storage area for its temple fair equipment.

Adding insult to injury, the business operator began

Residents of Ban Euarthorn Nernplabwan in East Pattaya are calling on the National Housing Authority to evict a private business that took over a common area, preventing locals from using it as a market.

Chaiyapornwithi Community sprayed for mosquitos Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya public-health workers sprayed pesticide and distributed abate and information on how to combat dengue fever-carrying mosquitos.

Disease Control Department chief Anya Jantarakard led the June 21 outreach in the Chaiyapornwithi Community.

Pattaya public-health workers sprayed pesticide and distributed abate and information on how to combat dengue fever-carrying mosquitos.

Village health volunteers placed abate in standing water sources and distributed pamphlets to residents to explain that mosquitos breed in dark, wet places and pools of water.

The visit was organized after several reported cases of dengue in the neighborhood.

charging residents 500 baht a day to use what’s left of the common area after the operator erected a large tent. In the tent are scaffolding, advertising signs, lights and other equipment

for hosting temple fairs.

Residents previously complained to the Chonburi Housing Authority, which ignored their appeals. So village leaders are taking their case to the National Housing Authority.

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MSDHS set to elaborate on house smoking ban law The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is set to start a campaign to raise awareness of the anti-domestic violence and domestic smoking ban law, effective from August.

The recently passed Family Development and Protection Promotion Act BE 2562 will be effective from 20th August this year. This new law is focused on the prevention of domestic violence, and personal rights protection, including the prevention of smoking by any family member in the house, that might contribute to violence.

The rationale behind the ban is to prevent smokers, who may be in a bad mood because of smoking restrictions, from resorting to physical, verbal, or mental aggression, and causing negative health effects from tobacco smoke among other family members. The ban sees tobacco as not the direct source of violence, but one of the stimuli.

There has, however, been no clear indication on the connection between smoking

Those who smoke at home and affect the health of others may be considered to have broken the law and face charges as perpetrators of domestic abuse.

and violence towards children.

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) will create a campaign to raise public awareness of this new law, which will only consider smoking at home illegal when tobacco smoke affects others and causes illnesses among family members.

Violators will then be required to enter a rehabilitation program to quit smoking. (NNT)

Arrested drug dealer urges police to send apologies to stiffed customers traffic stop outside the Ambassador City Hotel.

Once in cuffs, Chatpong appealed to his arresting officers to use his Line app on his smartphone to contact each of his customers and apologize to them for not being able to provide them drugs.

Police, happy to track down drug users, likely were happy to take the dealer up his offer.

Chatpong Kiewracha, arrested at a Sattahip police checkpoint, pleaded with officers to notify his customers and apologize about the deliveries he’ll be unable to make.

Patcharapol Panrak An alleged drug dealer arrested at a Sattahip police checkpoint pleaded with officers to notify his customers

and apologize about the deliveries he’ll be unable to make.

Chatpong Kiewracha, 34, was captured June 22 with 19.75 grams of crystal methamphetamine during at a

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Death toll from building collapse in Cambodia rises to 28 Sihanoukville, Cambodia (AP) — Rescuers on Tuesday were continuing to search the rubble of a building that collapsed while under construction in a Cambodia beach town, killing 28 workers as they slept in the unfinished condominium that was doubling as their housing.

The seven-story building collapsed early last Saturday on top of the dozens of construction workers who were sleeping on the second floor. The condominium was being built in the thriving seaside resort town of Sihanoukville, which has several such Chinesefunded projects.

The Chinese Embassy expressed its condolences and said it was mobilizing Chinese assistance for the rescue.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen visited the site late last Sunday. Pictures released by the provincial authorities showed him in front of the collapsed building talking to several government ministers involved in the rescue.

At least 26 workers were injured in the collapse. One of them, Nhor Chandeun, said he and his wife were sleeping when they heard a loud noise and felt the building

Rescuers try to remove the rubble at the site of a collapsed building in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Rescue workers were using saws to cut steel beams and excavators to move piles of rubble of the collapsed seven-story building. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

vibrate then begin falling down. They were trapped for 12 hours before rescuers found them.

The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training said 30 workers were at the site when the building collapsed, but Nhor Chandeun said there were about 55 to 60 people inside the building.

The Preah Sihanouk provincial court said Tuesday the construction owner had been charged with unintentional homicide and the three other Chinese were charged with conspiracy.

The four were put in pretrial

detention. The charges carry a penalty of up to three years in jail.

The Chinese Embassy “supports a thorough investigation of the accident and necessary measures by competent Cambodian authority in accordance with the law,” the embassy said in a statement.

It said the embassy was greatly saddened by the collapse and had reached out to Chinese enterprises in Cambodia to mobilize personnel as well as heavy equipment like excavators to clear the rubble.

China police raids rescue 1,100 trafficked women Dake Kang Beijing (AP) — Chinese police rescued 1,130 abducted foreign women in the second half of last year in coordinated operations with five Southeast Asian countries, the Ministry of Public Security has announced.

Police arrested 1,322 suspects, including 262 foreigners, for allegedly luring and kidnapping women after promising jobs or marriages, the ministry said, in what appears to be the largest such operation to date.

“In recent years, some lawless locals and foreigners have conspired to abduct women from neighboring countries and sell them as wives in China,” public security spokesman Guo Lin said at a news conference in Beijing. “It’s a serious violation of these women’s rights and interests.”

Demand for foreign brides in China has mounted in recent years. It’s fueled by Beijing’s one-child policy, which skewed China’s gender balance for decades before the government changed it three years ago. Many men in the Chinese countryside struggle to find wives, especially if they

lack a car, house, or wellpaying job.

Marriage agents that match couples are legal and accepted practice in China, and transnational marriages have become increasingly common. However, Chinese law bans marriage agencies from introducing foreign brides to deter trafficking.

Along China’s porous southeastern borders, smugglers lure women by pretending to be attractive men on social media and flirting with them, or by promising well-paid jobs in hotels or restaurants, as in one case The Associated Press reported last year. When they cross the border, smugglers often drug the women, take money, phones and identifying documents, and drive them farther into China.

Trafficked women end up isolated in rural villages, most unable to speak with anyone around them due to language barriers. Disoriented and cut off from family back home, they struggle to get help.

China signed a memorandum with Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand in 2004 to cooperate on antitrafficking efforts across

Southeast Asia. The recent crackdown from July to December of last year involved police from the six countries.

Most of the cases involved Vietnamese and Cambodian women.

The joint raids are an encouraging sign that trafficking is being taken more seriously, says Mimi Vu, director of advocacy at Pacific Links, a group that helps trafficked Vietnamese women.

“Cooperation is a lynchpin of the success of police raids,” Vu said. “It’s key... that the Chinese police weren’t going in blindly, they had information on the missing victims and where they could be found.”

China has established eight liaison offices that coordinate with police in neighboring Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos to combat trafficking and return abducted women to their home countries, according to Chen Shiqu, a deputy director at the Ministry of Public Security. Chen also said China has stepped up border patrols and inspections to catch smugglers.

Advocacy groups outside China say Chinese police are responsive to trafficking cases once they’re notified.

However, enforcement can be spotty, with reports of officers failing to take action because of language barriers or concern over getting buyers and agents into trouble.

Advocates say another challenge is Beijing’s harsh restrictions on independent activists and organizations, choking off a potential avenue of support for trafficked women. Unlike many other trafficking destinations, women in China have few options to get help other than the police, especially those who choose to stay in China because they gave birth to children there. Some women escape their captors through networks of underground activists who operate in secret to avoid notice from Chinese authorities.

Vu says broader changes are needed to stem trafficking, such as greater public awareness, more social services and openness to working with advocacy groups — both to provide more support for victims and to reduce demand for brides.

“Law enforcement plays a part in it, but it’s not just about finding victims,” Vu said. “If there was less demand, we wouldn’t have this trade.”

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HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn honors benevolent German couple Dr Otmar and Dr Margret Deter recognized for invaluable contributions to the Prostheses Foundation Early this year HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously granted an audience to members of the public to present them with recognitions for their benevolence and service to society.

Amongst the recipients of the honors were Dr Otmar Deter, Charter President of the Rotary E-Club Dolphin International Pattaya, and Dr Margret Deter, past president of the same club.

The benevolent couple were recognized and honored for their continuous and dedicated support of the Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H. the Princess Mother.

The Prostheses Foundation was founded on 17 August

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn bestows a plaque of honor to Dr Otmar Deter.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn bestows a plaque of honor to Dr Margret Deter.

1992 by H.R.H. Srinagarindra the Princess Mother who was concerned about the suffering of the amputees especially those who also

to provide various training programs regarding prostheses by methods and technologies invented by the Foundation.

suffer poverty, and those without access to prosthesis services from the government.

One of the main objectives of the Foundation is

In order to make this possible, the Foundation, with collaboration of local hospitals both domestically and abroad, provides training to

personnel, both able-bodied and amputees, hired by hospitals to be prosthetic technicians. The trained technicians will be able to produce good prostheses at their hospitals’ workshops, which will result in more sustainable and convenient services for those in need.

Dr Otmar and Dr Margret feel very strongly about helping the unfortunate people and have both pledged to continue with their support for the Prostheses Foundation’s education and production programs, through their Rotary club’s fund raising projects and by donating their own personal funds.

Family Rally winners announced

Pattaya Food & Beverage Club Vice President Somkiat Darunaithorn was awarded first place at the June 17 ceremony at Nakhon Nayok’s Phukhaongam Resort, followed by Pattaya Lohaphan, Nattanayuth Lee of Quality Meat Co., and the Nipon X4 Team.

Jetsada Homklin Pattaya Food & Beverage Club Vice President Somkiat Darunaithorn took the checkered flag as a parade of vehicles caravanned from Pattaya for the sixth Family Rally to benefit a Nakhon Nayok foundation for the blind.

The event began Sunday morning at the Diana Garden Resort, with cars leaving for

the Vocational Promotion and Development Center for the Blind.

Activities and games were organized along the way, such as games of luck and skill. Each vehicle lost points for failing at various challenges, with the team losing the least number of points winning the rally and various other prizes. All winners received trophies.

Somkiat was awarded first place at the June 17 ceremony at Nakhon Nayok’s Phukhaongam Resort, followed by Pattaya Lohaphan, Nattanayuth Lee of Quality Meat Co., and the Nipon X4 Team.

The booby prize went to Orathai Chaiyaplub of beverage maker Tipco who lost the most points. The Popular Choice award went to Pin Krasang.

Music club raises funds for wheelchairs

Everyone was dressed in a retro dance style, which added an extra spark to a Pattaya music club party to raise money for wheelchairs for seniors and bedridden patients.

Jetsada Homklin A Pattaya music club hosted a party to raise money for wheelchairs for seniors and bedridden patients.

Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit opened the June

21 Song Loves Merit Club fundraiser that also saw scholarships donated to poor students with good academic records.

The group sold tickets to the party for 300 baht and garlands for guests to give

to singers. Everyone was dressed in a retro dance style, which added an extra spark to the party.

All the proceeds will be used to buy wheelchairs for the elderly and bedridden patients.

(l-r) Dr. Margret Deter, Dr. Otmar Deter, Deputy Secretary General Dr. Piroon Kumoon, Club-President Maneeya Engelking, Rtn. Punnarat Pingyos and Rtn. Sorawee Taylor.

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

Promise of marijuana leads scientists on search for evidence Carla K. Johnson Seattle (AP) — Marijuana has been shown to help ease pain and a few other health problems, yet two-thirds of U.S. states have decided pot should be legal to treat many other conditions with little scientific backing.

At least 1.4 million Americans are using marijuana for their health, according to an Associated Press analysis of states that track medical marijuana patients.

The number of medical marijuana cardholders more than tripled in the last five years as more states jumped on the bandwagon. The analysis is based on data from 26 states and the District of Columbia. The total climbs to 2.6 million patients if California, Washington and Maine are included, the AP estimates.

States that expanded the use of medical pot for common ailments such as severe pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety saw a boost in enrollment, the AP found.

The U.S. government, meanwhile, both considers marijuana an illegal drug and a therapeutic herb worth more study.

A look at the health claims and research on medical marijuana:

The evidence Besides chronic pain, there’s strong evidence marijuana or its ingredients can ease nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy and help with symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Several European countries have approved Sativex, a mouth spray containing THC and CBD, for multiple sclerosis symptoms. Last

year, U.S. regulators approved Epidiolex, made from CBD, to treat two rare seizure disorders. THC causes marijuana’s mind-altering effect; CBD doesn’t get people high.

British drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals is seeking U.S. approval for Sativex.

Other companies are pursuing Food and Drug Administration backing for products based on marijuana ingredients.

Arizona-based Insys Therapeutics, which filed for bankruptcy protection Monday as it faced fallout over its marketing of an addictive opioid painkiller, is developing CBD drugs for two types of childhood epilepsy and a rare genetic disorder. Pennsylvania-based Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is working on a CBD skin patch for autism and fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition.

Prescription drugs already on the market use synthetic THC to treat weight loss, nausea and vomiting in patients with AIDS or cancer.

And researchers continue to study whether marijuana helps with PTSD, back pain and other problems.

Opioid alternative?

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New Mexico allow medical marijuana for opioid addiction despite little evidence it works.

But marijuana may be helpful in reducing use of opioid painkillers. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, better known for its research on herbs and yoga, has set aside $3 million for studies to determine which of marijuana’s 400-plus chemicals help with pain.

In this Friday, March 22, 2019 file photo, an employee at a medical marijuana dispensary in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., sorts buds into prescription bottles. At the end of 2018, about 1.4 million Americans are actively using marijuana to treat to treat anxiety, sleep apnea, cancer and other conditions, according to an Associated Press analysis of states that track medical marijuana patients. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

THC was excluded however.

Its mood-altering effects and potential for addiction and abuse make it less useful for pain, said Dr. David Shurtleff, the agency’s deputy director. And THC has been studied more than the lesserknown compounds.

Cure for cancer?

In one study, nine patients with an aggressive form of brain cancer had THC injected into their tumors; any effect on their survival was unclear. Another study found worrying evidence that marijuana might interfere with some cancer drugs, making them less effective.

Despite online claims, there’s only weak evidence that marijuana’s ingredients might one day be used to treat cancer. Most studies have been in animals or in the lab. Results have been mixed.

The U.S. government grows marijuana for research at a farm in Mississippi and generally bans grant-funded studies of real-world products.

Researching an outlaw medicine

But a mobile lab inside a white Dodge van allows University of Colorado Boulder researchers to study the potent strains of marijuana many patients consume without running afoul of the law.

Study participants use marijuana in their homes, coming to the van for blood draws and other tests before and after using, said Cinnamon Bidwell who has federal grants to study marijuana’s effects on lower back pain and anxiety.

With increased demand for research pot, the Drug Enforcement Administration created an application process for growers, but has not acted on more than two dozen applications.

Such challenges are common for scientists studying an outlaw medicine, said Dr. Igor Grant, who directs the oldest marijuana research center in the U.S. at the University of California, San Diego.

There, scientists are studying marijuana chemicals for children with autism and adults with a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable shaking. Established by state law in 2000, the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research once relied solely on California for funding. The center now has support from

private foundations, a sign of growing public acceptance of the research.

Tracking patients Minnesota medical marijuana patients must regularly fill out surveys about their symptoms and side effects. That allows researchers to study how people with cancer react to marijuana.

In one study, a third of cancer patients made only one purchase and didn’t come back during a four-month period. They may have died, or decided marijuana was too expensive or didn’t work. Of the rest, most reported improvements in vomiting, pain, disturbed sleep, anxiety and depression with few side effects.

Marijuana can ease many symptoms “all at one time,” but more study is needed, said study co-author Dr. Dylan Zylla of the health care system HealthPartners.

He has no financial ties to cannabis companies.

Zylla is studying whether cancer patients can decrease their prescription opioid use while using marijuana.

Marijuana “does seem to help patients,” he said, “but so much is unknown about the risks, side effects and drug interactions.”

Long-distance trip: NASA opening space station to visitors Jeremy Rehm New York (AP) — You’ve heard about the International Space Station for years. Want to visit?

NASA announced that the orbiting outpost is now open for business to private citizens, with the first visit expected to be as early as next year.

There is a catch, though: You’ll need to raise your own cash, and it won’t be cheap.

A round-trip ticket likely will cost an estimated $58 million. And accommodations will run about $35,000 per night, for trips of up to 30 days long, said NASA’s chief financial officer Jeff DeWit. “But it won’t come with any Hilton or Marriott points,” DeWit said during a news conference at Nasdaq in New York City.

Travelers don’t have to be U.S. citizens. People from other countries will also be eligible, as long as they fly on a U.S.-operated rocket.

Since the space shuttle program ended in 2011, NASA has flown astronauts to the space station aboard Russian rockets. The agency has contracted with

The International Space Station as seen from the Space Shuttle Discovery during separation. NASA announced Friday, June 7, 2019 that it will open the International Space Station to private astronauts, with the first visit as early as next year. The roundtrip ticket will cost an estimated $58 million. And accommodations aboard the orbiting outpost will run about $35,000 per night, for trips of up to 30 days long. (NASA via AP)

SpaceX and Boeing to fly future crewed missions to the space station. Private citizens would have to make travel arrangements with those private companies to reach orbit.

“If a private astronaut is on station, they will have to pay us while they’re there for the life support, the food, the water, things of that nature,” DeWit added.

Depending on the market, the agency will allow up to

two visitors per year, for now. And the private astronauts will have to meet the same medical standards, training and certification procedures as regular crew members.

The space station has welcomed tourists before by way of Russian rockets. In 2001, California businessman Dennis Tito became the first visitor by paying for a journey and several others have followed.

Friday’s announcement marks the first time NASA is allowing private astronauts on board. The space agency will not be selling directly to customers. Instead it will charge private companies that ferry passengers, which can pass on the costs to visitors, NASA spokeswoman Stephanie Schierholz said in an email.

The program is part of NASA’s efforts to open the station to private industries, which the agency hopes will inherit the orbiting platform someday.

Eventually, the space station will become too expensive for the government to maintain, said Bill Gerstenmaier, a NASA associate administrator. So the idea is to let the private sector start using the station now and perhaps eventually take it over, he said.

The NASA officials said some revenue from commercial activities will help the agency focus its resources on returning to the moon in 2024, a major goal of the Trump administration. The agency said this will also reduce the cost to U.S. taxpayers for this next lunar mission.

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Prostate Cancer again I make no excuses for running another article on Prostate cancer. Fifty percent of people in Thailand are male and 98 percent of them have a prostate which can turn nasty and bite them! (What happened to the 2 percent?

They’ve had their prostate removed already.)

A few weeks ago I touched on dietary and environmental issues related to prostate cancer, which may (repeat ‘may’) have some bearing on the outcome, after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

However, a friend found that he had an elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and the following examinations showed that the elevation was caused through cancer, not one of the other causes of PSA elevation. Yes, PSA is not a go/no go test. Elevation of PSA is a warning to go looking.

However, prostate cancer is common. The statistics show that by age 50, almost 50 percent of American men will have microscopic signs of prostate cancer. By age 75, almost 75 percent of men will have some cancerous changes in their prostate glands. Do the maths. By 100 we’ve all got it!

So does this mean that life really ends at around 76?

Fortunately no. Most of these cancers stay within the prostate, producing no signs or symptoms, or are so slowgrowing, that they never become a serious threat to health.

The good news is you die of something else before the prostate gets you! You die with it, rather than from it. That is an important fact to take in. This we call watchful waiting and serial PSA’s are the way to go, as well as getting friendly with our local urologist.

The real situation is that a much smaller number of men will actually be treated for prostate cancer. About 16 percent of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lives; 8 percent will develop significant symptoms; but only 3 percent will die of the disease. Put another much more positive way, 97 percent won’t die from their prostate cancer.

While some prostate cancers can be ‘aggressive’, breaking out from the prostate gland itself and attacking other tissues, including brain and bone, fortunately this is the minority scenario. The great majority of prostate cancers are slow growing, and it can be decades between the early diagnosis and the cancer growing large enough to produce symptoms. That’s the second important fact to take in.

So let’s look at diagnosis and get the “blood test” out of the way first. The blood test is called Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA for short (we medico’s love acronyms). Up till then we had another test called DRE (digital rectal examination), which, quite frankly, was not all that popular. As medical students, we were taught “If you don’t put your finger

in it, you’ll put your foot in it!” Despite this, ‘buyer resistance’ was high, so when news came through about a “blood test”, millions of men began rejoicing and the sale of rubber gloves plummeted. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, PSA is not a go/no-go test. A normal range test doesn’t guarantee you haven’t got it, and an elevated result doesn’t automatically mean that you are about to claim early on your life insurance (or your dependents, anyway).

However, there is good news. Serial PSA examinations can show the rate of cancer growth, and the rate of increase is more significant.

Like many other cancers, prostate cancer can only be fully diagnosed and ‘staged’ by biopsy. ‘Staging’ has four main grades. Stage I cannot be felt and is diagnosed through pathological testing. Stage II can be felt, but it is confined to the prostate. Stage III is coming out of the gland and Stage IV has grown into nearby tissues.

This is where you need to discuss your options with our doctors. If you are a young man with stage IV, then you have to make up your mind quickly. But if you are 75 with stage I or II, then you have more time, as you will most likely die of other causes before the prostate cancer gets you. For these people, “Watch and Wait” has much going for it, but you must be prepared to get to know your urologist, so pick a young one.

Medical pot laws no answer for US opioid deaths, study finds Carla K. Johnson A new study shoots down the notion that medical marijuana laws can prevent opioid overdose deaths, challenging a favorite talking point of legal pot advocates.

Researchers repeated an analysis that sparked excitement years ago. The previous work linked medical marijuana laws to slower than expected increases in state prescription opioid death rates from 1999 to 2010.

The original authors speculated patients might be substituting marijuana for painkillers, but they warned against drawing conclusions.

Still, states ravaged by painkiller overdose deaths began to rethink marijuana,

leading several to legalize pot for medical use.

When the new researchers included data through 2017, they found the reverse: States passing medical marijuana laws saw a 23% higher than expected rate of deaths involving prescription opioids.

Legalizing medical marijuana “is not going to be a solution to the opioid overdose crisis,” said Chelsea Shover of Stanford University School of Medicine. “It would be wonderful if that were true, but the evidence doesn’t suggest that it is.”

Shover and colleagues reported the findings Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It’s unlikely, they said, that medical marijuana laws

Head of cultivation at Loving Kindness Farms Jason Roberts checks one of his marijuana plants in a grow room wearing green lights not to wake them during their night cycle in Gardena, Calif. A new study shoots down the notion that medical marijuana laws can prevent opioid overdose deaths.

(AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

caused first one big effect and then the opposite. Any beneficial link was likely coincidental all along.

“We don’t think it’s reasonable to say it was saving lives before but it’s killing people now,” Shover said.

In the opioid crisis, dozens of forces are playing out across the nation in different ways. How widely available

is the overdose antidote naloxone? Who has insurance? How broadly does insurance cover addiction treatment?

What’s more, prescription pills once were involved in the largest share of overdose deaths, but that changed as heroin and then fentanyl surged. The studies on marijuana laws and opioid deaths

First batch of marijuana extract to be used for patients in research projects The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has confirmed that the first 2,500 bottles of medicalgrade marijuana extract which will be produced in July, will only be used on patients in research projects.

Target patients include those who suffer from nausea after receiving chemotherapy; children with epilepsy that is difficult to cure in child patients; any patients with epilepsy who have exhibited drug resis-

tance; patients with multiple sclerosis and muscle contractions, and patients with neuropathic pain who fail to respond to treatment by any other method.

In addition, an in-depth research study which requires laboratory, preclinical and clinical research for patients with diseases that cannabis extracts may be able to help control, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and anxiety disorders, will also be conducted.

Dr. Sophon Mekthon, Chairman of the GPO Committee.

Patients can apply to join these research projects at the Department of Medical Services (DMS), which will determine whether medical fees are applicable on an individual basis.

In early 2020, the GPO will begin planting and producing hemp extracts on a semi-industrial level. This will increase the production capacity by approximately eight times, rising to about 80,000 bottles per year and providing greater access for patients.

don’t account for that.

The new study undermines recent policy changes in some states. Last week, New Mexico joined New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in approving marijuana for patients with opioid addiction.

“I was told my paper helped change the law in New York.

I was appalled,” said Rosalie Liccardo Pacula of the Rand Drug Policy Research Center. She co-authored a 2018 study on marijuana laws and overdose deaths.

Experts agree evidence doesn’t support marijuana as a treatment for opioid addiction.

Drugs like buprenorphine, morphine and naltrexone should be used instead, Pacula said.

Authors of the original research welcomed the new analysis.

“We weren’t happy when a billboard went up saying marijuana laws reduce overdose deaths,” said Brendan Saloner of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “That was very hard for us to rein in.”

Marijuana has been shown to help ease chronic pain, and other studies have suggested medical marijuana laws may reduce opioid prescribing. So there’s still reason to believe that for some people, marijuana can substitute for opioids as a pain reliever.

As for addiction and the overdose crisis, “we should focus our research and policies on other questions that might make a difference,” Shover said.

8

FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

Odds and Ends The Associated Press

German police: “Guardian angel” pigeon protected speeder Berlin (AP) — Police in western Germany say divine intervention saved a speeding driver from getting a ticket, after a pigeon photobombed a traffic enforcement camera at just the right moment. Perhaps inspired by the week’s Ascension Day national Christian holiday, Viersen police said “the Holy Ghost must have had a plan” to help the driver. Just as the radar clocked the driver at 54 km/h (33.5 mph) in a 30km/h zone and the camera flashed, the pigeon flew in front of the car, obscuring the face of the driver with its spread wings and thereby concealing the necessary evidence of who was at the wheel. Police say “thanks to the feathered guardian angel,” the driver was spared a 105 euro ($117) fine but should take it as “a sign from above” to slow down.

(Kreispolizeibehoerde Viersen via AP)

Police: Mystery man pulling emergency brakes on subways New York (AP) — New York City police have been searching for a person who has been intentionally pulling the emergency brakes on subway cars for no legitimate purpose. Police have released images and video of a man they say rode on the outside of a car for several stops before entering the car and pulling its emergency brake and fleeing. It happened on a northbound 2 train at the 14th Street and Seventh avenue station during the evening rush hour. Police say there have been about 40 similar incidents. They began in February, continued in March and increased in frequency in April and May. Police believe the brake pulling prankster is using a key to gain access to an unoccupied motorman car, where he is able to engage the emergency brake.

Air Force: Obscene contrails above Phoenix unintentional Phoenix (AP) — U.S. Air Force officials say their pilots did not intentionally draw male anatomy with aircraft contrails in the skies above the Phoenix area. Photos taken of a series of sky ovals near Luke Air Force Base have circulated on social media and some say the shapes resemble male genitals. Base spokesperson Becky Heyse told the Arizona Republic that leadership of the 56th Fighter Wing has reviewed the photos and flight audio to determine the shapes were made unintentionally. The F-35 fighter jets were conducting standard training maneuvers Tuesday. Heyse says the contrails were made as the jets were about to engage in a simulated dogfight.

School closes after man enters overnight, takes clothes off

Crossword No 1352

Massic Travel

1 Rim (4) 3 London rail terminus (8) 9 European language (7) 10 Learner (5) 11 Fast (5) 12 Mend (6) 14 Inn (6) 16 Dealer (6) 19 Entertained (6) 21 Flower (5) 24 Porcelain (5) 25 Pasta dish (7) 26 Unnecessary (8) 27 Formerly (4)

Down 1 Leave the country (8) 2 Clutch (5) 4 Take no notice of (6) 5 Replenish (3,2) 6 Responded (7) 7 Proficient (4) 8 Impede (6) 13 First showing of a film (8) 15 Blood-sucker (7) 17 Strong and sturdy (6) 18 Grown-ups (6) 20 Little (5) 22 Keyboard instrument (5) 23 Scrutinise (4)

Last week’s Answer Across: 1. Pyramid, 5. Forms, 8. Stash, 9. Unusual, 10. Ethical, 11. Showy, 12. Strong, 14. Chased, 18. Tomes, 20.

Harmful, 22. Purloin, 23. Youth, 24. Dress, 25. Explain.

Down: 1. Possess, 2. Roach, 3. Mohican, 4. Double, 5. Flues, 6. Raucous, 7. Silly, 13. Remorse, 15. Hurry up, 16.

Dolphin, 17. Change, 18. Tepid, 19. Shops, 21. Fauna.

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:

No. 255

Berlin park’s drug dealer solution panned by authorities

(AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

sponsored by

Across

Scranton, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania elementary school closed for the day after educators realized that a man had entered the building overnight, got naked and spilled Murphy Oil Soap on the gym floor. Neil Armstrong Elementary School staff originally thought the spilled soap was a prank, but the principal reviewed security footage and saw that a man had been on the premises. Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano says that once inside the school, the man took off his clothes and walked through parts of the school.

School officials decided at about 7 a.m. to close the school for safety. Graziano says there were no signs of forced entry. More than 600 students are enrolled at the school.

Berlin (AP) — A creative attempt by a downtown Berlin park manager to keep drug dealers away from families and joggers has been met with an emphatic “nein” from German officials. Cengiz Demirci demarcated certain areas in the popular Goerlitzer Park with pink spray-painted lines for the dealers to stand behind, with the intention of keeping them away from playgrounds and a small farm for children, among other places. But federal drug czar Marlene Mortler slammed the idea Thursday as appearing to give dealers “license to trade.” And the capital’s top security official, Interior Minister Andreas Geisel, said Demirci’s idea would not be adopted by the city. He says: “Police are fighting drug trafficking, including in Goerlitzer Park.” Local media reported that drug dealers weren’t planning on standing behind the non-permanent lines anyway.

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Answers next week.

VOL. XXVII No. 26

FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

9

Photographic equipment made to measure!

Amateur photographers are always on the lookout for equipment they can use to get a better photo. In actual fact, most times they are wasting their money, and some photo equipment can be big money.

To assist all budding photographers, would you believe me when I say that you can get a very valuable piece of photographic equipment at the local Indian tailors? Probably not, but you really can buy something there which is of inestimable value for special effects in photography.

Indian tailors fit into low budget special effects photography, and when I say

“low budget”, that is exactly what I mean. In my personal library I have books that claim to do just that and then go on about the “low budget” equipment required – an enlarger, registration table with registration pins, copy stand, photo floods and studio strobes. Hardly what I would call low budget! However, it is possible to produce many special effects photos without having to purchase expensive equipment. The first item you need is a roll of black velvet.

Black velvet is one of the easiest ways to introduce some very different effects into your photographs. The secrets behind the use of this material include the facts that it is non-reflective, it does not affect exposure values when taking the shot and shadows do not register on it.

Because it does not affect the final image, this makes black velvet the ideal material to use as a background

Dear Hillary, You’ve probably heard this before, but I am just not sure of what way to jump. Getting hot and heavy with a Thai lady on this trip. She seems to be OK, but does drink a bit too much red vino for my liking. The problem is her circle of friends who all look a bit brainless to me, and all married to some poor saps overseas, and all living the high life on their monthly ‘salary’ which comes in from the husband. I am wondering what do you think I should do? Get in deeper or leave alone?

Max Dear Max, I am sure you have heard “Birds of a feather, flock together.” I think you should be looking very carefully at her friends. Should you get in deeper, Petal? I think dump ‘er, not deeper, is the advice you don’t want to hear. Sounds to me like she’s probably between men, or looking for another sucker so that she will get an easy salary like her close circle, who are not “brainless”. They are working the system very well, and that takes brains to manage to keep all the balls in the air at one time.

Dear Hillary, I work in the travel industry so in my job I have a lot of contact with Chinese business people. The latest group (they always travel in groups) was headed up by a woman, who made it obvious that she was interested in a little more than brochures. This was without common English, Thai or Mandarin languages. I’ve never been one to turn down something that was offered like this, but I think her husband was one of the group. So, should I give it a go as she told me she is coming back again next month, or toe the strictly business line? If you were in my shoes, Hillary, what would you do?

Bart

when you wish to combine images, or do other special effects using Photoshop or whatever is your favorite graphics package.

Here are just a few ideas you can do with black velvet. Simple double exposure in the camera becomes very easy with this material in the background. Set your camera in the double exposure mode (or if you have not got one, select “B” for time exposure). Position the subject

to one side of the picture and pop the flash to take the shot. Now reposition the subject on the other side of the picture and shoot again.

You will have two perfect shots on a perfectly black background. (For those using the “B” setting you have to have the room dark and the camera on a tripod.

Cover the lens between taking the shots to stop extraneous light coming into the camera too, but it is possible

Dear Bart, I like people who live dangerously, and you are a risk taker, Petal.

Haven’t you ever heard about the Triads? Or read about the lawyer who had a fling with a Chinese lady and ended up having to sit down to pee after a kind of extended Chinese circumcision? The Chinese are just as much into revenge as the western world. And what would I do? I would make sure I was out of town, the next time she comes into town. I can’t make it any plainer than that, Art. You are already sliding down the razorblade of life, and using your testicles for brakes.

Dear Hillary, How did us single farangs get along before you? Though I am told that you are older than Methuserla (not sure of the spelling, but you know who I mean). How do you keep up answers for the fellows who get themselves in trouble every week? I’ve no problems, a nice little fan who cuts my nails and never complains, but what about the rest of them?

Jim Dear Jim, Your concept was right, but your spelling a bit off. The gentleman you were referring to as being as old as Hillary, was Methuselah. That fine old gentleman lived to be 969 years old and died seven days before Noah’s great flood and was actually Noah’s grandfather. As you can see, he hopped off at the right time, as legend has it that he couldn’t swim.

There are no worries about floods this year as Mabprachan Lake has enough spare volume to direct the water towards the needy areas and keep the rest under control! (Ignoring the Beach Road floods every week.)

to get excellent double exposures in this way.)

Another use for black velvet is in making pictures of light trails. These can be very spectacular special effects pictures and are very easy to make. Stick the black velvet on the ceiling and suspend a torch from the center. With the camera facing upwards, twirl the torch and record its movement for ten seconds or so. You have just made a totally original image!

Photo montage is another simple effect you can produce, using the black velvet as the background. Here you let your creative self run riot. You can produce any picture you want, whether it be yourself standing on top of the Statue of Liberty or three elephants standing on a beach ball – you are in total control!

With this type of special effect you have to cut out the elements you want from other pictures, be they prints

or magazine photos or whatever. Cut carefully and then run a black felt-tip pen around the edges (See why? It will sit on black velvet!) and you are ready to combine all your subjects.

Put your composition (photo montage) together and positioning your camera above the montage, look carefully through the viewfinder. This is how the shot will look, remember (WYSIWYG). Reposition any items at this stage.

Next important item is to keep the camera back parallel with your background as this will keep all the elements in focus. Now shoot! Three exposures half a stop apart.

If you find the direct flash gives you a reflection problem, you can use household “floodlights”, one each side at 45 degrees to the surface. You will get a “warm” color cast, but since you are producing “surreal” photographs, it does not really matter. Have fun this weekend, after you’ve been to the tailors!

Now about all the local farangs that you are worried about – stop worrying, my Petal. Most fix their own problems, and it is only a few that have to call on my inestimable (big word for a Friday) advice.

I’m glad you are not having any problems with the toe cutter gang (get the movie Mad Max on DVD) and hope that life for you continues without complaints. Now, was that “single” farangs or “simple” farangs you were interested in?

Dear Hillary, Recently you sent some poor chap looking for another girlfriend just because she borrowed some money from him. He gave her the money and she’s been a bit slow returning it.

Have you asked if she had some difficult problems? No, you just sided with the fellow. Taking only one side in an argument is dangerous, Hillary. You should be more careful.

Sam Dear Sam, Are you trying to give me a warning, Sam? What do you want me to do with all the people needing my help? Say I’ll deal with the situation as soon as you get your girlfriend to contact me with her side of the story? Be real, Petal. This is a column for the love-lorn, not a marriage guidance clinic or the bank’s Non-Performing Loans department.

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PATTAYA MAIL

Lions donate wheelchairs to area hospitals

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Religious ceremonies held to consecrate Prince Abhakorn Kiattiwong amulets

Jetsada Homklin The Lions Club of Pratamnak-Pattaya donated six wheelchairs to Pattaya and Banglamung hospitals.

Club President Payao Mekkluan and former Chonburi MP Potjanart Kaewpaluk joined fellow Lions in presenting three wheelchairs worth 13,500 baht to Pattaya Hospital public-health chief Pornpana Chokthai June 20.

Another three wheelchairs then were presented at Banglamung Hospital to nurse Narumol Sunkuksawad, the head of the facility’s long-term care ward.

Payao said the club always is looking for opportunities to aid the sick and eldThe Lions Club of Pratamnak-Pattaya donated six wheelchairs to Pattaya and erly. Representatives from both hospitals thanked the Lions for their generosity.

Banglamung hospitals.

Pattaya residents donate used items to poor Jetsada Homklin Pattaya gave second-hand items donated by Soi Khopai Community residents to a charity benefitting the poor.

City hall officials delivered the clothing, blankets, pillows, mosquito nets, books, bags, appliances, electronics and construction materials to Pattaya School No. 2 June 21 where they were received by volunteers from the Suankaew Foundation.

The items were donated in Soi Khopai the day before in an event organized both as a merit-making activity to benefit the poor and reinforce the idea of recycling unwanted items to conserve the environment.

Vice Adm. Choomsak Nakwijit, commander of the Sattahip Naval Base, chaired the June 19 worship ceremony to pay respect to the spirit of former Prince and Admiral Jumbhorn Khet Udomsak, better known to the navy as Sadet Tia.

Patcharapol Panrak The navy is creating amulets and medals to sell to fund the renovation of a revered shrine dedicated to a former admiral.

Vice Adm. Choomsak Nakwijit, commander of the Sattahip Naval Base, chaired the June 19 worship ceremony to pay respect to the

spirit of former Prince and Admiral Jumbhorn Khet Udomsak, better known to the navy as Sadet Tia. The Dhewa Pisek ceremony blessing Sadet Tia amulets was held at the prince’s shrine at the base’s Phu Chao Pier.

On June 29, the base will welcome Sangkakitburapa, widelyknown as Luang Phu Bua Tamgo, from Sriburaparam

Temple who will lead the Buddha Pisek ceremony where participants individually recite incantations, write character symbols and auspicious mystic symbols on gold, silver, tin and copper sheets and cast them into souvenir medals.

The money raised through sale of amulets and medals will go to renovate the Sadet Tia shrine.

Pattaya residents urged to talk more to help cut spread of drugs City hall officials deliver second-hand items donated by Soi Khopai Community residents to a charity benefitting the poor.

Chicken-stealing lizard caught in Sattahip Patcharapol Panrak

After three of his fighting cocks went missing, a Sattahip farmer finally found the thief: A giant water monitor lizard.

After three of his fighting cocks went missing, a Sattahip farmer finally found the thief: A giant water monitor lizard.

Nai Ngamkaseam, 50, called authorities to his Soi Najomtien 9 where family members had the threemeter-long reptile tied up.

Nai said three of his prize birds worth more than 30,000 baht each had gone missing.

On June 15 he was inside and heard a noise in the henhouse.

He came out to see the hungry lizard trying to snare dinner.

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Jirawat Plukjai, president of the Chumsai Community, hosted a seminar for residents of the Chumsai, Khopai, Pattaya Tai and Pattana communities where police stressed the need for neighbors to talk and pass along information about drug use in their neighborhoods.

Jetsada Homklin Pattaya police stressed the need for neighbors to talk and pass along information about drug use in their neighborhoods.

Jirawat Plukjai, president of the Chumsai Community, hosted the June 20 seminar

for residents of the Chumsai, Khopai, Pattaya Tai and Pattana communities.

Officers from the Office of Narcotics Control Board and Narcotics Control Management Center lectured on the need for “community news” and information network to battle the spread of drugs.

Residents must also explain the dangers of drugs to youths and organize activities to give them alternative uses for their free time.

Finally, officers said, citizens should alert authorities immediately about drug problems at the 1366 hotline.

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Airbus is ready for pilotless jets - are you?

Angela Charlton Le Bourget, France (AP) — The chief salesman for Airbus says his company already has the technology to fly passenger planes without pilots at all — and is working on winning over regulators and travelers to the idea.

Christian Scherer also said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that Airbus hopes to be selling hybrid or electric passenger jets by around 2035.

While the company is still far from ready to churn out battery-operated jumbo jets, Scherer said Airbus already has “the technology for autonomous flying” and for planes flown by just one pilot.

“This is not a matter of technology — it’s a matter of interaction with the regulators, the perception

FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019 11

PATTAYA MAIL

Chief Commercial Officer of Airbus, Christian Scherer says his company already has the technology to fly passenger planes without pilots at all - and is working on winning over regulators and travelers to the idea.

(AP Photo/Michel Euler, file)

in the traveling public,” he told The Associated Press.

“When can we introduce it in large commercial aircraft?

That is a matter we are discussing with regulators and customers, but technologywise, we don’t see a hurdle.”

Several manufacturers are presenting unmanned aircraft at the Paris Air Show, primarily for military purposes — and some are also proposing pilotless “air taxis” of the future.

When it comes to autonomous passenger jets, safety is an obvious concern. It’s an issue that is on many minds after two deadly crashes of the Boeing 737 Max jet that have implicated problematic anti-stall software.

Scherer said the crashes “highlighted and underlined the need for absolute, uncompromising safety in this industry, whether from Airbus, Boeing or any other plane.”

While he said Airbus’ sales strategy hasn’t changed as a result of the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, “there is a capacity need that materialized as a result of this, and naturally you have airlines that are frustrated over capacity, that are looking for answers.”

Airbus announced several orders Monday as the air show kicked off, while Boeing had an anemic day as it works to win back trust from customers.

Scherer forecast continued growth in the aviation industry after several boom years, predicting the world will need at least 37,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years, especially in Asia — and that eventually the whole industry will stop creating emissions and “decarbonize.”

Summer solstice: 10,000 watch sunrise at Stonehenge

A reveler prays at sunrise as thousands gather at the ancient stone circle Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, near Salisbury, England, Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Stonehenge, England (AP) — Dancers, musicians and revelers watched the sun flicker over the horizon at Stonehenge on June 21, celebrating the summer solstice at the Neolithic stone circle.

The sun rose behind the Heel Stone, which traditionally marks the spot on the horizon for the sunrise, at 4:52 a.m. The rays streamed through the circle, marking

the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Wiltshire Police estimated that 10,000 people attended.

There were four arrests at Stonehenge and another at the nearby ancient monument in Avebury.

Stonehenge, a World Heritage site, is believed to be 4,500 years old. It is known for its alignment with the movements of the sun.

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

Two by Two

Serge Prokofiev in 1918.

A long time ago, when I was very young and the world seemed a different place, my parents used to occasionally give me a small chocolate mouse. It was intended as a special treat so it didn’t happen very often.

Each mouse had two pink eyes made of candy, a brown chocolate body and a long brown tail. The problem was that because I was a sensitive child I couldn’t easily bring myself to eat them, especially the heads. Fortunately,

in later life I overcame these childlike concerns and if anyone offers me a chocolate mouse these days, I can eat it without hesitation. Unfortunately, people rarely do.

So it was with some delight that wandering in the supermarket last week, I found a box not of chocolate mice, but of animal-shaped biscuits. They are called, appropriately Two by Two and come from Ashbourne, a small market town in England’s Derbyshire Dales.

You may recall the children’s song The Animals Came in Two by Two which is based on the melody of the other popular American folk song When Johnny Comes Marching Home. If you are feeling frivolous, you can even buy the biscuits packed in a colourful tin that looks like a minuscule ark. The biscuits are made in the shape of monkeys, lions, kangaroos and elephants. And of course they come in pairs. Some of the packs even have an animal nursery rhyme or fable printed on the side. It is reassuring to know that in our troubled world, you can still buy animal-shaped biscuits.

It just goes to show that things can’t be all that bad.

Many composers have written music about animals but I suppose the one by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns must be the most well-known. This curious yet

entertaining work is quite different in style from his huge output of symphonies, concertos, operas and chamber music.

Saint-Saëns (18351921, France): Carnival of the Animals. Danijel Gašparoviæ, Nikola Kos (pno), Komorni Ansambl Muzièke Akademije U Zagrebu (Duration: 27:12; Video: 720p HD) Following a less than triumphant concert tour of Germany in 1886, SaintSaëns meekly withdrew to a small Austrian village where as a form of light relief, he composed his The Carnival of the Animals. This is a work for small ensemble with fourteen short movements, each of which depicts an animal or a group of animals.

It must have given SaintSaëns a great deal of amusement composing the music and he admitted that he wrote the piece just for the fun of it. The second movement, Hens and Roosters is a parody on a piece by Rameau; and Pianists (who Saint-Saëns obviously considers as animals) are heard painfully lumbering up and down scales. In Tortoises,

the strings play an extremely slow and laboured version of the Can-can from Offenbach’s operetta Orpheus in the Underworld.

The thirteenth movement, The Swan is the famous cello solo known to generations of cello students. In this lively performance by talented young musicians from Zagreb I noticed that the musicians all seem to be playing from photocopies, so perhaps times are tough in Croatia. They probably don’t have animal biscuits either, let alone chocolate mice.

Serge Prokofiev (1891-1953, Russia): Peter and the Wolf.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra cond.

Bramwell Tovey (Duration: 29:30; Video: 1080p HD) This is one of Prokofiev’s best-known works, especially among school children. It was written in 1936 as a commission from the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow and Prokofiev managed to write both the words and music in just four days. You probably know the story. It concerns a bird, a duck, a cat, some hunters, a cantankerous and over-cautious grandfather and of course, Peter and the

dreaded wolf. It’s written for narrator and orchestra and each character is represented by different instruments.

There are countless recordings of the work, dating back to the 1940s. Many actors have recorded the work, including Peter Ustinov, Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame), Basil Rathbone, Sir Ralph Richardson, Boris Karloff, and Sean Connery to name but six. Even Dame Edna Everage has had a go at it.

Unusually, in this video, the conductor and the narrator are the same person.

Bramwell Tovey is a British composer and conductor who has been music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since September 2000. He does a pretty decent job as narrator and the musicians in the orchestra seem to enjoy themselves. It’s all good fun for children, even though one of orchestral players bears a slightly unsettling resemblance to the actor Anthony Hopkins, who played the role of the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.

After all that excitement with the wolf, I think I’ll go and make a cappuccino and have an animal biscuit. Yes, I admit that I succumbed to temptation and bought a pack.

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.

A detective pursues justice in ‘One Small Sacrifice’ Jeff Ayers Photojournalist Alex Traynor lost his friend Cori to suicide a year ago. Detective Sheryn Sterling tried very hard to prove that Traynor pushed Cori off a ledge rather than the case closing with her jumping off a roof. Even though he claims to have no memory of the events that resulted in Cori’s death, Sterling knows Traynor is guilty.

Traynor has moved on and is about to marry Emily, a doctor. When Emily disappears, Sterling investigates and discovers connections to Cori’s death. Now she’s certain Traynor is responsible, but can she prove it and put him away for good?

She starts to get different and varying

statements from witnesses. Traynor swears he’s innocent and wants Sterling to find his fiancee. Has she made a mistake in believing he was guilty or is he even more manipulative than she previously thought?

The story line veers between alternate points of view with Traynor and Sterling, and their perspectives on the same information provide different results. Writing the novel in this fashion amps up the suspense while also giving the narrative a complex and compelling flair. In addition, Davidson does an admirable job of making a complicated issue such as PTSD relatable.

With an unpredictable ending and evidence that this is the start of a series, definitely check out “One Small Sacrifice.” (AP)

VOL. XXVII No. 26

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PATTAYA MAIL

‘Men in Black’ returns, a little worse for wear

Jake Coyle Los Angles (AP) - Would any fictional gadget be more coveted by Hollywood executives than the memoryerasing “Men in Black” neuralyzer? Imagine the lucrative benefits of being able to, with a single flash, make moviegoers forget the film they just saw. Franchises would be endlessly renewable. IP could last forever.

Instead, we get film series perpetuated beyond their natural end with the hope that you remember them enough to get you in the door but not enough that you’re much bothered by regurgitated storylines. To be honest, I don’t recall much from the first three “Men in Black” films, all by Barry Sonnenfeld, except the original’s light wit, the fine chemistry between the leads, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and the likable premise that aliens walk among us.

The new “Men in Black: International” is the fourth film in the franchise and one of those reboot-sequel-spinoff hybrids. Exactly how it connects to the previous three movies is only so relevant, I suspect, in the hearts of its makers. It’s just another one.

This time, F. Gary Gray, coming off another never-ending franchise (“The Fate of the Furious”), takes over as director. Subbing for Smith and Jones are Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, who already tried out their rapport together in “Thor: Ragnarok.”

The movie is, unsurprisingly, a pale reflection of the first “Men in Black.” It’s bland and nearly neuralyzer-level forgettable. Its target market (international) is right there in the title.

But it has a few things going for it. In the 22 years since the original, the fate of the world has, at the multiplex, hung in the balance roughly a billion times. But I still prefer the “Men in Black” mode of impending Armageddon to the more self-serious superhero rescues. Here, it’s routine, happens all the time, nothing much to worry about. The end of the world is a breeze.

This image shows Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson in a scene from Columbia Pictures’ “Men in Black: International.” (Giles Keyte/Sony/ Columbia Pictures via AP)

And I also can’t get my ire up too much at a film that gives ample room for Thompson and Hemsworth to be what they are: top-notch movie stars. “Men in Black: International” doesn’t rekindle the original’s fun, but it makes for a minimally sufficient summer diversion since it at least uses its flood of special-effects not to drown out its leads but to elevate them.

Thompson plays Molly, a young paranoid who has been on the lookout for alien life forms since she was visited by a cuddly extraterrestrial

Agency recommends current 80K attendance cap at Burning Man Reno, Nevada. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is recommending attendance be capped at existing levels for the next 10 years at the annual Burning Man counter-culture festival in the desert 100 miles north of Reno.

Burning Man organizers had proposed raising the current 80,000 limit as high as 100,000 in coming years.

But the BLM said in releasing the final environmental impact statement that its preferred alternative for the proposed 10-year renewal of Burning Man’s special recreation permit would stick with the cap that’s been in place since 2017.

“The city of Reno, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Highway Patrol as well as the Bureau of Land Management could not support the event growing, particularly because there are other events going on during Labor Day,” BLM spokesman Rudy Evenson told the Reno Gazette.

The BLM said it would work with event organizers to address environmental and security concerns, but it’s not advocating at this time any of the changes proposed in the draft environmental impact statement, including a ban on dumpsters or new security barriers.

“The Man,” a stick figured symbol of the Burning Man art festival, is silhouetted against a morning sunrise in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. (AP Photo/Ron Lewis)

One third of BLM law enforcement officers nationwide are required to patrol the event at the current size, but one half would be required if it grew to 100,000.

Transportation agencies also want to find ways to alleviate the congestion on area roads before the BLM allows any growth of the event, Evenson said.

In an effort to make the event safer and more secure, the BLM plans to hire a private security firm to “screen” attendees for drugs and weapons prior to entering the event, according to the report. In public meetings, festival-goers called the suggested drug searches unconstitutional.

Burning Man representatives said in a statement they

intend to fully analyze the environmental impact statement.

“Our priority at the moment is the 2019 event, and we are deeply engaged in planning and production,” the organization said.

as a child and managed to elude the neuralyzer.

Through cunning and pluck, she tracks down a Men in Black headquarters and talks her way into a job after convincing Emma Thompson’s

Agent O, a holdover from 2012’s “MIB3.”

An eager new recruit, dubbed Agent M, Molly quickly partners with one of the agency’s top men, Agent H (Hemsworth), an arrogant but decorated agent whose swoon-worthiness extends to, it would seem, all the species of the universe. He’s the most trusted agent of the organization overseen by High T (Liam Neeson).

But the Men in Black have a mole, they soon learn, and a strange new shape-shifting foe presently in the form of Laurent and Larry Bourgeois. For anyone who’s seen Beyoncé’s “Homecoming,” the dancing identical twins are suitably out-ofthis-world. They are lethal emissaries for an intergalactic force known as the Hive,

even if the twins’ Queen B is sadly nowhere to be seen.

The action skips around between Paris and London and Marrakech, but the film gets a comic lift when Kumail Nanjiani enters as the voice of a strange little chess board creature named Pawny who pledges his devotion to Agent M. The plotting is clunky and haphazard. But when together, Thompson, Hemsworth and Nanjiani turn “Men In Black: International” into something funny and silly: a pleasant enough lark in formal wear.

“Men in Black: International,” a Sony Pictures release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material. Running time: 120 minutes. Two stars out of four.

New German exhibition explores Rembrandt’s career Dresden, Germany (AP) — Around 100 works spanning Rembrandt’s career are going on show in the German city of Dresden in an exhibition marking the 350th anniversary of the Dutch artist’s death.

The exhibition at the Kupferstich-Kabinett museum in Dresden opened to the public this month and runs through Sept. 15. As well as works by Rembrandt van Rijn himself, it features another 50 etchings and

drawings by contemporaries and later artists who were inspired by him.

The show, titled “Rembrandt’s Mark,” draws on the extensive Rembrandt collection of the Kupferstich-Kabinett along with loans from elsewhere.

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

Wild Boars mark year sin Pitcha Dangprasith

A runner takes a selfie with former soccer coach Ekkapol Chanthawong, right, who was rescued from a flooded cave. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Members of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave, pose for the media after a marathon and biking event in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, Thailand, Sunday, June 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Participants compete during a marathon and biking event in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Participants compete during a marathon and biking event in Mae Sai. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit)

British cave expert Vernon Unsworth participates in a marathon and biking event in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Around 4,000 took part in the event, organized by local authorities to raise funds to improve conditions at the now famous Tham Luang cave complex. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A T-shirt vendor waits for customers near the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Participants start during a marathon and biking event in Mae Sai. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit) The entrance to Tham Luang Nang Non cave in the Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. Some of the 12 young Thai soccer players and their coach have marked the anniversary of their ordeal that saw them trapped in a flooded cave for two weeks with a commemorative marathon in northern Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Mae Sai, Thailand (AP) — When the 12 young boys and their soccer coach walked into a cave complex in northern Thailand a year ago Sunday, they didn’t know their lives were going to forever change.

Rising floodwater quickly trapped the youngsters inside the Tham Luang cave complex, setting off a more than two-week ordeal that the world watched with rapt attention and that left the members of the Wild Boars soccer club with a survival tale that propelled them into celebrities.

Nine of the boys and their coach were on hand Sunday in the northern town of Mae Sai to mark the anniversary along with some 4,000 others by taking part in a marathon and bike event to raise money to improve conditions at the cave.

“I want to thank everybody who has put so much effort and sacrifices to save all of us,” said Ekapol Chantawong, the former coach of the Wild Boars who led the boys on the illfated visit to the cave.

Ekapol stood in front of a bronze statue of Lieutenant Commander Saman Gunan that has been erected to honor the former Thai navy SEAL who died while working on the search and rescue.

The boys spent nine nights lost in the cave, living on very little food and water, before they were found spotted deep in the twisting cave complex huddled on a patch of dirt above the rising water line. It was a moment captured on video and soon broadcast to the world.

It would be another eight days — until July 10 — before they were all safe.

Also on hand Sunday were a number of the local and foreign divers who took part in the search and rescue operation, which due to its danger and difficulty has been hailed by many as a miracle.

The operation required placing oxygen canisters along the path where the divers maneuvered dark, tight and twisting passageways filled with muddy waters and strong currents.

“Not many children could have survived the way they did, so we have to respect them for that,” said Vernon Unsworth, a British diver whose advice and experience played a key part in the search for the boys and their eventual rescue.

“What we should do right now is to just let them get

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FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019 15

nce going missing in cave on with their lives. Just let them grow up like normal kids,” he said.

A year later the boys are notably older and taller.

Wearing orange T-shirts from the event, they smiled and posed for photos.

They have grown familiar with the attention they receive, though are not altogether comfortable with it.

Abbot Prayutjetiyanukarn, a monk in the local neighborhood who interacts with the team every week, told The Associated Press that some of the boys are wary of the media and try to avoid the press whenever they can.

“But they are fine, both physically and spiritually,” he said. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Three of the players as well as Ekapol were stateless and were granted Thai citizenship last August.

The team traveled last year to Argentina and the U.S. The boys and their coach are represented by the 13 Tham Luang Co. Ltd., which Thailand’s government helped establish to manage business opportunities stemming from the ordeal. Netflix has acquired the rights to their story.

It wasn’t only the boys who were changed by the events of last summer. This town in mountainous Chiang Rai province near the border with Myanmar is now firmly on the tourist map, with curious travelers from all over the world flocking to see where the story of the Wild Boars unfolded.

The cave’s surrounding amenities, which just last year primarily featured dirt roads and thick mud, has seen significant renovations with facilities being built, roads paved and shops settling in.

Local souvenir shopkeepers said that the attention has improved their fortunes.

“Since the kids have been rescued, the economy around here keeps getting better,” said Lek Yodnum, a shop owner who sells T-shirts and memorabilia of the cave rescue.

“Before the kids became trapped, there wasn’t a single shop around here.

It was all just farm and field,” he said. “Now, Tham Luang has officially become the financial hub of Mae Sai district.”

The 12 boys and their coach were scheduled to attend a Buddhist meritmaking ceremony at Tham Luang on Monday.

Associated Press writer Kaweewit Kaewjinda in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Nattawut Takamrong, left, and Peerapat Sompiangjai, members of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave, volunteer at the Pratart Doiwao Temple in Mae Sai. Their rescue was hailed Abbot Prayutjetiyanukarn, of the Pratart Doiwao Temple talks to Peerapat Sompiangjai, as nothing short of a miracle. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) center, and Nattawut Takamrong, right, members of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave in Mae Sai. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Adul Sam-on, a member of the Wild Boars soccer team who were rescued from a flooded cave last year, prays during The Dharma Life Improvement Camp in Mae Sai. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Runners warn up before the start of a marathon and biking event to raise funds to improve conditions at the now famous Tham Luang cave complex. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit)

A tourist stands at the gate the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Mae Sai, northern Thailand. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit)

A boy watches a painting depicting the recuse mission to save 12 soccer boys and their coach near the Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This grab taken from video provided by the Thai Navy Seals shows the 12 boys and soccer coach inside the cave on Monday, July 2, 2018. They were found mostly in stable medical condition after being lost for 10 days. (Royal Thai Navy via AP) In this undated photo released by Royal Thai Navy on Saturday, July 7, 2018, Thai rescue teams arrange a water pumping system at the entrance to a flooded cave complex where 12 boys and their soccer coach were trapped since June 23, in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.

(Royal Thai Navy via AP)

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

PCEC learns how to avoid financial and insurance problems by planning effectively

Lee Stevens explains the importance for expats to plan ahead so that their finances are in order and they can pass on their accumulated assets.

The Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) received advice on how to avoid financial problems when you are an expat residing in Thailand from Lee Stevens at their Sunday, June 16, meeting.

Lee is with Business Class Asia’s Bangkok office. His topic ‘How to avoid insurance, taxation and financial problems in Thailand’ primarily focused on some of the financial complications that are often caused as we travel and settle in countries not our own; encouraging the audience to consider how best to control and safeguard their assets.

Lee has been in the financial industry for nearly 30 years, having worked in the United Kingdom for Midland Bank and then HSBC for ten years. In 2001, Lee moved to Hong Kong where he advised international expats, including senior lawyers, bankers and fund managers on how to best take advantage of the opportunities available to people working overseas; helping his clients with investing into stock markets and UK property, formulating their wills and putting trust structures

into place. Lee has been in Bangkok since the end of 2015. His expertise is in wills and trusts and how they help to avoid financial problems when living abroad.

He mentioned UK tax issues and stressed the importance of understanding the difference between being domiciled or resident in the country where you are located as there are important differences on how your estate will be treated for tax purposes. Especially when making moves to secure your assets, or your wishes for the future. To clarify this point, he noted that residency is where you live, whereas domicile is usually where you were born, but if you are from the UK, you can take steps to change your domicile to where you also reside, an important consideration if you want to avoid some inheritance tax issues.

He said it is fair to say most of the audience either live or work overseas long term.

Many may have travelled from one foreign country to another. In each they usually build assets, company benefits, pension schemes,

Lee’s basic advice is to make a list of all assets and create a will in each jurisdiction. One can then decide on all relevant points to be included in their will, such as appointing guardians for any minor children, deciding on funeral arrangements, organ donations and so on. This is vital he said if you wish your family and beneficiaries to have no delays in receiving their distribution of your assets; thereby easing financial burdens on remaining family or dependents.

In this slide, Lee Stevens showed information about Trusts and described the benefits of using them to shield ones assets from creditors and the tax man.

life cover and so on in addition to buying property, opening bank accounts or starting families. When they move on, they often build another new set of assets. Often these are - by definition - in more than one jurisdiction. This will complicate matters when an individual begins to organise his/her affairs. Especially important after the death of the individual, when it’s important to know your wishes are carried out and the taxman isn’t walking away with a big chunk of the inheritance you bequeath to family or others.

In the normal course of things, a grant of probate will need to be given by the court in each jurisdiction before assets are distributed.

This can take three to six months or longer. If there are separate wills, then each can be probated in the respective country simultaneously.

But, if there is only one will, then it will be a consecutive process for probate which will take much longer.

If no will exists, then intestacy rules apply and can often take years. There may also be death taxes to finalise, depending on the individual’s domicile and

After his presentation, Lee Stevens answered several questions from the audience about how to plan your estate for the most financial benefit to your heirs.

residency. Bearing in mind the taxman has the reputation for scooping up whatever they can, often by whatever means.

The simplest way through many of these complications and to give peace of mind, may be through setting up a Trust instrument. A Trust will can be funded with assets and provide a quicker source of money for dependents as it removes assets from the estate and can pay the proceeds outside of

probate. It also usually removes the funds from death duties and creditors, plus have income tax benefits if the beneficial owner draws an income. It can be held as a Discretionary Trust or a Pension Trust and explained the differences. The Pension Trust being the most often held and normally providing the most benefits.

Having a Trust is not the only way to safeguard things after your death but depending on your circumstances may be the best.

Lee then answered many questions from the audience. To view a video of Member Ren Lexander’s interview of Lee Stevens, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=32pr9oQkxUg. After the presentations, MC Roy Albiston updated everyone on upcoming events which was followed by the Open Forum where the audience can ask questions or make comments about expat living in Thailand especially Pattaya. For more information about the PCEC, visit their website at www.pcec.club.

MC Roy Albiston presents Lee Stevens with the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation for his interesting and informative talk about the need for estate planning by expats.

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5 AEC students win at Sudoku championship

Pattaya students show off academic achievements

Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya (center) opens the academic exhibition at Pattaya School No. 7.

Five migrant children under care of Pattaya’s ASEAN Education Center placed in the top five in the Sudoku competition at the Maxploys Central and Eastern Championships in Sriracha June 15.

Jetsada Homklin Five migrant children under care of Pattaya’s ASEAN Education Center placed in the top five in the Sudoku competition at the Maxploys Central and Eastern Championships in Sriracha June 15.

Jariya Ron won first place in the secondary-school level after winning second in the same competition last year.

Leeda Liem and Pew Nerb both were runners-up in the primaryschool level while “Sakorn” placed third and “Sonia” fourth.

Sudoku is a logic-based,

number-placement puzzle.

The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits in such a way that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 grids that make up the larger 9×9 grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. Each puzzle begins partially filled in.

Nearly 2,000 Pattaya youths competed in fine arts, sports and science as the city’s Education Department showcased the academic work of its students and teachers.

Deputy Mayor Banlue Kullavanijaya opened the June 17-21 academic exhibition at Pattaya School No. 7 for 2,048 students and teachers from Pattaya City and Banglamung schools.

Students performed musical and Nearly 2,000 Pattaya youths competed in fine dance performances, demonstrated arts, sports and science. sports prowess and showed up original inventions in the event aimed at bolstering the abilities of both students and teachers.

In addition to the 49 student competitions, teachers got an opportunity to network and learn from others. (PCPR) Students perform musical and dance performances.

7 ways to build your child’s vocabulary David Dickinson, Vanderbilt University If you want your child to have a rich and fulfilling life, one of the best things you can do is help build your child’s vocabulary. Research shows strong language ability is associated with a number of positive things, including happiness, friendships, connections with family, academic success and a satisfying career.

Building your child’s language ability is not something you should wait to do until they’re old enough to go to school. Vocabulary development is extremely rapid. Between birth and second grade, children, on average, learn about 5,200 root words.

The ability to quickly interpret words at 18 months can determine the size of a child’s vocabulary later in childhood.

By grades three and four, vocabulary also is closely related to children’s ability to understand what they read. This is partly because a child’s vocabulary is a strong indicator of a child’s knowledge of the world.

As one who researches the best ways to develop children’s literacy, here are seven things that I believe parents and educators can do to help build children’s language and vocabulary skills.

1. Talk about objects and events that interest the child Talk about something that has the child’s attention. A mother may notice her 8month-old baby staring at a large cat and say, “Oh look at the nice kitty. She has such pretty eyes and soft fur.” Such interactions may also occur when a child points to something and starts trying to talk about it, indicating excited interest.

These exchanges are prime opportunities for adults to name, describe and explain things. Occasions when parents and children talk about things they are both attending to are powerful instructional moments. Words are paired with objects, events and emotions. The importance of these exchanges is shown by the fact that the amount of pointing by children at 18 months is related to language development at 42 months.

2. Have many conversations with children The amount of language children hear during conversations with adults in the first 18 to 24 months of life matters. Language areas of the child’s brain are rapidly developing. The ability to translate sounds into meaningful words is rapidly improving. Linking sounds to meanings quickly enables one to continue to make sense from the words they are hearing. The speed with which children assign meaning to words is strongly related to the amount of language they have heard as part of adult-child conversations.

3. Engage in sustained interactions By the time children are 2, it is not only the quantity but also the quality of the conversations they hear that matters. At this point to really foster your child’s language growth, don’t be in a hurry – talk with your child about particular objects or events for a decent amount of time. It’s not necessarily a certain amount of time that matters. But there should be

at least eight to 10 back-andforth exchanges between the parent and the child.

When children are verbal, these back-and-forth exchanges that take place over many turns are especially valuable.

Indeed, preschool children who have longer-lasting conversations show faster brain development and more efficient processing of information than those who have fewer and shorter conversations.

4. Read and discuss books One of the most powerful of all shared activities is book reading. Books can be shared and enjoyed from the first year of life. They provide endless opportunities to name objects, animals and action. These experiences can be repeated over and over. The activity also gives parents a time to bond with their child while talking about favorite pictures, events and stories.

5. Use varied words while expanding world knowledge Children acquire knowledge rapidly as they learn

words that refer to more complex concepts. As time goes on, these words will be used during conversations about new ideas and experiences.

For example, during a trip to an aquarium a child might see fascinating creatures as their parent names the animal, talks about parts of its body – its fins and tail, for instance – and how it moves.

Or, during a trip to the grocery store, one can name objects, discuss their attributes, talk about where they come from and much more.

6. Talk about past events Through language we are able to travel through time to past and future events. As parents talk with children about experiences from the past, they tend to use novel words and children, in turn, are encouraged to use them.

For example, a parent may say, “Do you remember when we went to the aquarium? The child responds: "Yes, we saw that big big fish with wings.” To which the parent replies: “Yes that was an enormous

stingray.” Regular conversations about the past foster vocabulary learning.

7. Engage in pretend play Language enables children to construct and live in imaginary worlds. The talk that occurs as they enact their roles in these imaginary worlds leads them to expand their vocabulary.

For example, two children are playing with action figures that represent doctors.

One child holds a doctor figure and the other is playing with one that is lying on the ground. The doctor says, “Be quiet I need to use my stethoscope.” The “injured” figure says, “OK. Is that the thing you use to hear my heart?” Here we see one child informally teaching a sophisticated word. The second child is learning what a stethoscope is and, as they play, will gain some understanding of how it is used.

These evidence-based methods are just a few ways that parents can help build their children’s vocabulary and knowledge of the world.

Read more news at pattayamail.com

18 FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

VOL. XXVII No. 26

FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019 19

PATTAYA MAIL

Hannah Green wins KPMG Women’s PGA Championship Doug Ferguson Chaska, Minn. (AP) — Hannah Green never felt more nervous than standing over a 5-foot par putt last Sunday at Hazeltine National with a chance to win her first major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Neither did Karrie Webb, who won seven majors in her Hall of Fame career.

Webb watched from outside the ropes, her heart racing. It was 11 years ago in Minnesota that Webb started a scholarship program to bring young Australian amateurs to majors to spend a week with her and experience golf’s biggest events. Four years ago, Green was one of those scholarship winners.

And now she’s a major champion.

Green held her nerve to the end, hitting 8-iron to 15 feet for a pivotal birdie on the 16th hole, and getting upand-down from a bunker ono the 18th hole for an even-par 72 and a one-shot victory over defending champion Sung Hyun Park.

“I can’t believe I’m in this position right now,” said Green, a 22-year-old Australian in her second year on the LPGA Tour. “I’ve always wanted to win an event, and to win a major championship as my first is crazy.”

She became the first wireto-wire winner of this major since Yani Tseng in 2011, and even more amazing is who she held off to claim the silver trophy. She started the final round with a one-shot lead over Ariya Jutanugarn, the most powerful player on tour and a two-time major champion.

Jutanugarn didn’t make a birdie in her round of 77.

Then it was Park, another former No. 1 and two-time major winner, making an 18foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 68 that left Green no margin for error.

Watching it all unfold was Webb, as clutch as there was in her prime, the only woman to capture the “Super Slam” of five different LPGA majors. She stayed with Green in a house all week, along with the two most recent

Hannah Green, of Australia, holds the trophy after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament, Sunday, June 23, 2019, in Chaska, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)

scholarship winners — Becky Kay and Grace Kim — who were draped in Australian flags at Hazeltine.

“I feel like I won a golf tournament today I’m so excited for her,” Webb said. “You didn’t do it yourself, but you supported someone who realized that dream.”

Clarke posts best of the week The Jomtien Golf Society Monday, June 17, Bangpra - Stableford The best score of the day at Bangpra came from Frank Grainger who topped the podium with 33 points. Tim Hake came in second one point behind Frank and John Carlin finished third with 31.

Roger Awad and Tim Hake got near pin awards in division 1 and only John Carlin did likewise in division 2. There were no 2s today.

the signature hole at Hazeltine, followed by a par on the 17th.

Park wasn’t finished, however, and she hit her tee shot so hard on the 18th that it went through the corner of the rough into the fairway, setting up a tidy approach to the back pin position and one last birdie.

Green answered her final challenge with the bunker save, and the celebration was on with Webb and the two scholarship winners, Stacy Peters from Golf Australia and Jarryd Fenton, her boyfriend who plays on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“I always wanted to win in front of an Aussie crowd,” Green said. “That’s what it was like today. I’m over the moon.”

Korda (71) and Reid tied for third, while Lizette Salas (72) and Danielle Kang (70) were four shots behind. The surprise was Jutanugarn, who started the final round one shot behind on a course that measured nearly 6,800 yards, perfect for her power. She tied for 10th.

Green becomes the 10th player to win the last 10 majors on the LPGA Tour, a sign of growing parity. She also is the third winner in the last five LPGA majors who had never won on the LPGA Tour.

Harvey & Rees share the plaudits PSC Golf from Siam Country Resort Pattaya Tuesday, June 18, Pattana - Stableford

Wednesday, June 19, Burapha - Stableford We played the A and B nines off the white tees today and Douglas Clarke (with 22 points on the back nine) recorded the highest score to win division 2 with 40 points overall. John Doyle was second on 37 and Bill Kana came in third with 36. Bruce Gardner finished fourth after beating Ken Miller on an 18/17 back nine countback, both locked on 34 points after 18 holes.

An amazing four scores of 36 came in for division 1 players and a countback placed Paul Young is first place, Chris Slota second, John Carlin third and Roger Awad fourth.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Tim Hake, Chris Slots, Ian Speirs and Paul Young, and (Div 2) Alan Bissell and Bruce Gardner (x2).

Tim Hake and Chris Slota recorded the only 2s of the day.

They all charged the 18th green to celebrate with Green, spraying her with cans of beer in true Aussie fashion.

It’s become a tradition on the LPGA Tour for friends to spray winners with water bottles, and Webb would not allow that to happen.

“It was Budweiser,” she said.

Green, who won three times on the Symetra Tour in 2017 to earn an LPGA Tour card, became the first Australian to win an LPGA Tour major since Webb won her last one in 2006 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

“I’m speechless,” Green said as she fought to get the words out through such strong emotions. “I was really nervous playing the last five holes.”

She finished at 9-under 279 and won $577,500.

It was hard work, even though Green never surrendered the lead on a cloudy day at Hazeltine with some light drops of rain at the end.

Green rolled in a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-5 seventh for a three-shot lead.

With the group ahead still waiting to tee off, a 7-yearold girl handed her a blue sheet of paper. It was a poem she wrote to Green, along with the words, “You can win this.” Green, who had given Lily Kostner a golf ball at the ANA Inspiration this year, read the poem and hugged the girl, and then drilled another tee shot to birdie range.

The nerves didn’t really leave, especially after making three bogeys in a fourhole stretch that dropped her to 8 under, a four-shot lead suddenly down to one.

Nelly Korda was one behind until a soft bogey on the par-5 15th. Park birdied that hole to get to 7 under, and Green couldn’t afford any mistakes. It looked as if she had it wrapped up when she made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th,

Frank Grainger – winner at Bangpra.

division 2 with a 38 on his card. John Carlin was second on 34 points and Frank Kelly came in third with 33.

Les Smith topped division 1 with 33 points, Marty Rock was second on 31 and Paul Young took third place with 30.

Near pins were claimed by (Div 1) Les Smith Friday, June 21, (x2) and (Div 2) Bruce Gardner, Frank Kelly Eastern Star - Stableford and Tony Thorne.

There was only one score above 36 points There were no 2s in either division so a today and it came from Ron Lavett to win rollover to next week.

On Tuesday we went to Pattana and played the B & C course, which was in very good condition. We had nice weather and enjoyed our competition, but despite the conditions we had no top scores as this layout is long and not easy.

We had an exciting battle between Stan Rees and Neil Harvey who kept each other in balance, but Stan beat Neil with 35 stableford points on countback. In third was Jonathan Pratt with 31 points.

The near pins went to Stan Rees and John Feeney.

Thursday, June 20, Pattaya C.C. Stableford Pattaya Country Club On was the challenge on Thursday

Stan Rees, Neil Harvey & Dave Smith.

and the course was in good condition with some wet spots due to recent rain.

Once again we had again an exciting game between Neil Harvey, Stan Rees and

Dave Smith bit this time Neil edged Stan and Dave on the countback, all with 38 points.

The near pin awards were claimed by Dave Smith and John Feeney.

Read Pattaya Mail Online Updated Daily www.pattayamail.com | Facebook/pattayamail Email: ptymail@pattayamail.com

20 FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Sharp slays the field PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society On Friday the society visited Pattaya Country Club to play a stableford competition in two flights, cut at seventeen and under.

The second flight saw France’s Serge Straeten mark his return with a third place finish of 34 points, only one behind the consistent Irishman Donal McGuigan on 35. The flight winner was Tip Briney with

Monday, June 17, Khao Kheow A & C Stableford A Flight (0-16) 1st Richie McGhie (2) 38pts 2nd Selwyn Yates (12) 33pts 3rd Toby Glass (16) 31pts B Flight (17+) 1st Godfrey Atienza (23) 36pts 2nd Bill Stewart (17) 33pts 3rd Stu Brown (28) 32pts A hasty re-scheduling saw us heading for Khao Kheow to use our “rain check” vouchers before they expired.

When playing off a handicap of two you can’t afford many mistakes and Richie McGhie obviously had a very clean round to score 38 points, 72 gross, to win the “A” flight.

On a day where most struggled that is first class. It was a big gap to second placed Selwyn Yates scoring 33 points. He has been in good touch already on this trip. Toby Glass made 31 points to just edge into third spot.

“B” flight saw similar scoring with newcomer to Links, Godfrey Atienza, taking first place with 36 points ahead of Bill Stewart on 33. Stu Brown continued his recent good form to get third on a

Mark Sharp (centre) with Kevin McEntee (left) and Stu Brown.

countback with 32 points over Colm O’Donovan who, however, won the best front nine award.

Near pins went to Adam Barton, Bill Stewart, Nils-Peter Kristensen, Toby Glass

Wednesday, June 19, Bangpra - Stableford 1st Greg Perfrement (19) 40pts 2nd Maurice Roberts (12) 37pts 3rd GodfreyAtienza (23) 36pts 4th Mark Sharp (15) 36pts Greg Perfrement was just about perfect today, scoring an excellent 40 points on a course that requires plenty of thought and management.

With, eventually, twenty three starters, we played one

division with four places.

Maurice Roberts continued some good form to take second spot behind Greg by making 37 points. Then we needed a countback to split Godfrey Atienza with his second 36 points in two days, and Mark Sharp, on his return from a short work stint in the Middle East, also with 36 points, rounding out the podium.

Near pins went to James Hudson, Maurice Roberts, Adam Barton, Tom Herrington.

Friday, June 21, Pattaya C.C. Stableford A Flight (0-17) 1st Mark Sharp (15) 41pts 2nd Colm O’Donovan (17) 35pts 3rd Adam Barton (17) 34pts B Flight (18+) 1st Tip Briney (28) 38pts 2nd Donal McGuigan (19) 35pts 3rd Serge Straeten (24) 34pts

Seil puts on star performance The Tara Court Golf Society Sunday, June 16, Green Valley Stableford

Tuesday, June 18, Pleasant Valley Stableford

Our lowest handicapper came in with the best score today. Pete Seil (H/cap 5) had an excellent round of one over par gross to score forty points. Paul Pavloff (6) also had an excellent day and he came second on thirty nine points. We then had two players with thirty eight and here Kevyn Wright (10) won the countback to come third and Pat Culloty (21) lost it and had to settle for the fourth spot.

Playing to his handicap, Paul Butler (16) got the fifth and last place for today.

Shaun Merriman almost made the prizes with thirty five points but although he didn’t quite make it he had the consolation of having the only 2 of the day.

Great scoring again today with Joe McArdle (16) rising to the top with a fine 40 points. Jerry Sweetnam (8) came in seconds on 39 points while third and fourth places went to a countback right back to the 17th hole. Here, Kevyn Wright (10) edged Glenn Armistead (15) for the bronze position, both with 38 points overall.

We had four 2s today, Kevyn Wright with a special on the par-4,12th hole and normal 2s to Jerry Sweetnam, Phil Brown & Ted Morris.

Thursday, June 20, Burapha A & B Stableford The scoring today wasn’t quite up to the standard set

another very solid round of 38 points.

In the top flight, third place went to Adam Barton on countbackwith 34 points, one point adrift of runnerup Colm O’Donovan who was resurgent following the “wig” award last time out.

The flight winner was American Mark Sharp whose 41 points marked his best round with the group as he blunted

the opposition in an otherwise tight flight.

Near pins went to Petur Petursson, Bill Stewart, Kym Richardson and Derek Phillips.

Best nine consolation awards were claimed by Warren Gallop whose 21 points then saw him retire sick before starting the back nine, which was won by Kevin LaBar.

Sasicha shines at Green Valley PSC Golf from The Billabong Bar Monday, June 17, Treasure Hill Stableford Treasure Hill was in great shape and although we did get a light dusting of rain for the first couple of holes the rest of the round was just high cloud and sun. It was decided to play from the yellow tees, mainly due to the conditions being wet so no run at all.

We had one stand out player with 22 points on the front nine and 16 on the back to take the top prize. Thiery Temime was that fella with 38 points, then came the Aussie contingent with Cecil Burch taking second on 33 and Adam Farrell third on a countback over his good mate Steve Rawlings. There were no 2s recorded.

Wednesday, June 19, Green Valley/Laem Chabang - Stableford Wednesday was a mixed bag for the society, with 6 men and 10 ladies playing Green Valley, 3 men participating in the pro-am at Phoenix and 13 men enjoying a round at Laem Chabang.

At Green Valley it was a hot day but pleasant for golf with 2 men in the prizes. Jeff North

Sasicha and Porn.

took second with 37 points and Tony Oakes filled top spot with 38. In the ladies competition there was a fourway countback for the minor places, all on 35 points, with Miss Ta taking third and Miss Porn second. The round of the day belonged to the lovely Miss Sasicha with an outstanding score of 42 points.

There was only one 2, coming from Miss Lynn.

Over at Laem Chabang we started on the C loop and moved to B for the back nine.

Steve Rawlings took third place today with 33 points, Andrew Woodall was second on 34 and Mark Woodhouse cam in first with 35 points. It

can’t have been that easy out the as there were no 2s recorded.

Friday, June 21, Burapha - Stableford Burapha on the A and B loops for our 4 groups. The scoring was very good with only 3 out of 16 players not scoring in the 30 points range.

Arch Armstrong took the big prize with 37 points, Sandy Chapo was second on 36 and there was a countback between Miss May and Helmut Hebstreit, both on 35 points, with Miss May taking third and Helmut fourth.

There were two 2s, coming from Doug Campbell and Gary Ritchie.

Mashi leads the way PSC Golf from the Growling Swan Golf Society Pete Seil.

Monday, June 17, Bangpra - Stableford

over the past few weeks, with only Russell Gilroy (16) breaking his handicap and winning by two points with thirty-seven on his card. To make it even better day, Russell also recorded the only 2 out of the entire field.

Pete Seil (5) took second place with thirty-five points and we then had three players on thirty-four points where Joe McArdle (16) won the countback to take the third and last place on the podium and both Mark Armstrong and Kevyn Wright lost out.

Ten golfers came out to play ‘monkey course’ at Bangpra, which was in good shape although we decided to play ‘lift clean & place’ on the fairways as they were a little wet underfoot.

We went from the white tees, playing winner only with all novelties up for grabs, and first past the post was Mashi Kaneta with 33 points. Near pins went to Phil Moore and Keith Buchanan (x2) while the long first putt awards were both claimed by today’s star, Mashi Kaneta.

Mashi Kaneta and Keith Buchanan.

VOL. XXVII No. 26

FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019 21

PATTAYA MAIL

Miles better at Emerald PSC Golf from The Bunker Boys and plays the game one shot at a time, and rarely lets anything distract him from the task at hand. Once again Jimmy Carr continuing a good run of form took second place with thirtyseven points - when Jimmy strikes form he seems to hold it better than most and has now leapfrogged Sean into

Monday, June 17, The Emerald – Stableford 1st Roger Miles (5) 37pts 2nd Mike Lloyd (19) 36pts 3rd Sean Murphy (20) 35pts With the course virtually empty and nobody on the first tee, our four groups got away to an early start. Aussie visitor Roger Miles gave an exhibition of quality golf tee to green and took first place with thirty-seven, a fine score under the conditions off a low handicap. Mike Lloyd had a solid round of thirty-six to take second place while once again Sean Murphy showing great consistency was in the winner’s circle, taking third place with thirty-five points.

The usual suspects were in the frame for the near pins with one each to Jimmy Carr, Roger Miles, Dave Ashman, and Michael Brett.

The shot of the day went to Jimmy Carr on the par five eighteenth. In the address position to play his third to the green, Jimmy was advised to check his ball only to find it was indeed someone else’s ball. When he finally found the correct ball he proceeded to chip it straight into the hole

DATE:

PSC

Roger Miles.

for an eagle from about eighty yards out, “lucks a fortune”

Wednesday, June 19, Green Valley – Stableford 1st Jimmy Carr (17) 38pts 2nd Sean Murphy (20) 37pts 3rd Geoff Parker (16) 35pts Despite a few notable absentees we managed to assemble four groups today. In the first group, there was a ding dong battle between Stuart Brown and Les Cobban with words of encouragement regularly exchanged between them, with the expectation

FRI 28

SAT 29

Geoff Cox.

that one of them would take the days honors. As it turned out, Les shaded Stuart by one point with neither making it into the winner’s circle, Les being beaten by an improving Geoff Parker on countback to take third place. Second place once again went to Sean Murphy on thirty-seven points a miraculous recovery having only scored two points from the first four holes. Top position went to Jimmy Carr who looks back in form again after a short lull.

The near pin competition was hotly contested with

SUN 30

Pattana

Bunker Boys

Bangpakong

1st Geoff Cox (17) 39pts 2nd Jimmy Carr ((17) 37pts 3rd Les Cobban (6) 34pts 4th Phil Moore (15) 34pts Of all the Bunker Boys, Geoff Cox seems to have a real handle on the mental side of the game

MON 01

TUE 02

Pleasant Valley

WED 03

THU 04

FRI 05 Khao Kheow

Pattaya C.C.

TBA Greenwood

Bangpakong Burapha

Burapha

Pattavia TBA

Green Valley

Growling Swan Le Katai

Friday, June 21, Pattavia – Stableford

Treasure Hill

Cafe Kronborg

Billabong Golf

Les Cobban putting his name on all four flags with the expectation that he might join the exclusive “all four club” as all his shots had a real chance of standing, however Jimmy Carr had other ideas and stole two of them.

The next PSC monthly golf tournament is a 2-Person BB Stableford event at Laem Chabang C.C. on July 15

Apple’s Irish

Colin’s Golf

the lead in the race for golfer of the month. Les Cobban took third place with thirtyfour, and Phil Moore rounded out the scoring also with thirty-four points, missing out on countback.

Near pins went to Les Cox, Phil Moore, Les Cobban, and Craig Dows.

Crystal Bay Greenwood

Phoenix

Green Valley

Burapha

Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley

Lewinski’s

Siam Old Coures

Green Valley

Siam Old Coures

Siam Old Coures

The Links

Pattavia

Treasure Hill

Burapha

Eastern Star

Khao Kheow

Pattavia

Eastern Star

Plutaluang

I Rovers Retox Game On Siam Country Sugar Shack

Plutaluang Pleasant Valley

Crystal Bay

Khao Kheow

Green Valley

Green Valley Eastern Star

Plutaluang

Harry’s Golf The Golf Club The Players Lounge

Pattavia

Silky Oak

Eastern Star

Green Valley

Tropical Golf

Treasure Hill

Valley View Hackers

Green Valley

Eastern Star Green Valley

Pleasant Valley Green Valley

Green Valley

The Bunker Boys meet at Woody’s Bar on Soi Skaw Beach for golf outings every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (www.bunkersociety.com) or call 094368 3580, 081 788 2338 or 087 693 7803. Transportation leaves from Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, (contact Dave on tel. 038 602 2117). Colin’s Bar plays golf Sun/ Mon/Wed & Fri (www.colinsbar.com). The Growling Swan plays golf on Monday & Thursday (www.thegrowlingswan.com). Lewinski’s in Soi Pattayaland 1 (Soi 13/3), play Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Transport is available, call Marcus on 089 503 9179 for further information and booking. 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 Golf Club is located on Soij 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. Retox Golf – Tel. (Paul) 0923744276, Email retoxgolf@gmail.com

22 FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Hamilton wins French GP, sympathizes with bored fans From page 28

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, celebrates on the podium after winning the French Formula One Grand Prix, at the Paul Ricard racetrack, in Le Castellet, southern France, Sunday, June 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

But Hamilton’s wider point is that — although Ferrari pushed Mercedes during 2017 and 2018 — the seasons are somewhat resembling each other in terms of one team’s overwhelming dominance over the rest.

To remedy this he wants more drivers consulted in the decision-making process leading up to 2021, when new rules will be approved.

Those rules have yet to be defined by governing body FIA, amid the diverging interests of teams.

Drivers should have a greater influence in such matters, Hamilton says.

“We are trying to get in the door ... for many years they have not wanted us in the room,” Hamilton said. “They have to make serious changes to their idea of what 2021 should be.”

Fans want more wheel-towheel racing and more overtaking, yet the inflexibility of zealously applied rules works against that.

Vettel thought he had won the Canadian GP two weeks

Brazil’s Bolsonaro says 99% chance Rio will host Formula 1

In this Nov. 11, 2018 file photo, cars vie for position after the start of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)

Anna Jean Kaiser Rio de Janeiro (AP) — President Jair Bolsonaro said Monday there is a “99% chance” that Rio de Janeiro will host Formula One’s Brazilian Grand Prix starting in 2021 — the latest in a battle with Sao Paulo, the current host city.

Bolsonaro made the announcement at a news conference alongside Rio de Janeiro state Gov. Wilson Witzel and F1 CEO Chase Carey. Bolsonaro said plans are “already very far along,” although Carey said only that they are negotiating.

“We will not lose Formula One. Sao Paulo’s contract

ends next year and they’ve decided Formula 1 will come back to Rio de Janeiro,” Bolsonaro said.

Carey said his goal is to continue Grand Prix racing in Brazil.

“We are focused on finding the best opportunity for everybody for 2021 forward,” he said. “... I’ve talked about every race being a Super Bowl. We want to make our races events that captivate the entire city and region’s imagination when we’re here, and we want to be in a destination city that really captures the world’s imagination.”

When asked if Rio de Janeiro’s violence could be

a problem for hosting the event, Witzel responded that homicide rates have gone down since he became governor in January and he expects to add 10,000 new police officers through 2021 while spending more on surveillance equipment.

Rio de Janeiro has not hosted Formula One since 1989 and does not currently have a racetrack.

Bolsonaro previously said a new track could be ready in six to seven months. However, Rio Motorsports, the consortium that is leading the effort to bring the race to Rio, told The Associated Press that a track would take 16 to 17 months to complete.

ago, crossing the line first. But he was hit with a five-second time penalty for swerving off and back onto the track when under pressure from Hamilton chasing him.

Ferrari’s request for the penalty to be overruled was turned down flat on Friday.

Sunday’s win was all rather comfortable for Hamilton, especially after he clinched a record-extending 86th pole on Saturday.

The bad news for Hamilton’s fading challengers is that he feels he’s just warming up.

“The car’s improving the more I get into the season,” he said.

Leclerc provided late excitement, at least, when he almost caught Bottas on the last lap.

“I saw an opportunity but unfortunately there weren’t

enough laps left,” Leclerc said after his third career podium.

It was a consistent race weekend from the 21-yearold Leclerc, who was third in all three practice runs and qualifying.

By the end, Bottas was relieved Leclerc ran out of time.

“It became a bit close with Charles,” the Finnish driver said. “Closer than we wanted.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen placed fourth ahead of Vettel, who took a point for the fastest lap in what was otherwise another disappointing performance from the fourtime world champion.

Vettel, who started seventh after a poor qualifying stint, has not won for 16 races dating back to the Belgian GP last August.

When Hamilton won here

at the same stage last year, he regained the championship lead from Vettel.

Now he leads third-placed Vettel by 187 points to 111 — in what looks like becoming yet another disappointing season from the German driver, who lost the last two titles to Hamilton due to mistakes under pressure.

Hamilton appears much better than Vettel at keeping his cool.

Afternoon track temperatures hit 56 degrees Celsius (133 Fahrenheit) on the 5.84kilometer (3.6-mile) on the Circuit Paul Ricard in southeastern France.

But aside from the heat, there was little for Hamilton to sweat about.

Note: For more on the 2019 F1 French Grand Prix, turn to page 24.

After World Cup rage, Cameroon faces demands for punishment Rob Harris Valenciennes, France (AP) — After all the rage and rebellion in the stadium, England players received a far more convivial reception back at their hotel they shared with Cameroon.

It came remarkably from Cameroon supporters who were far more graceful than some of their dissenting national team players earlier last Sunday evening in the humid cauldron of Stade de Hainaut.

England players who had denied their country a place in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals by winning 3-0 were applauded back into the Royal Hainaut Spa and Resort Hotel.

The England traveling party led by Phil Neville welcomed the unexpected reception.

The manager had concerns the moment he was informed by the team operations manager that they were sharing with the opposition in the small city of Valenciennes.

“I thought, ‘No, that’s not right,’” Neville said. “Then we went to hotel and it’s been amazing. We saw them go out to training (on Saturday) and they had a ghetto blaster and the kit man went out singing and dancing.

“My players joined in dancing in the corridors. Our meal and meeting rooms were side by side. That’s the spirit of football.”

But what unfolded on Sunday in the last-16 game was far from the “carnival atmosphere” Neville enjoyed the previous day in the newly opened hotel on a site of a former hospital.

By revolting against VAR decisions and contemplating not resuming play, the Cameroon players left Neville “completely and utterly ashamed.”

The Cameroonians were convinced of a plot against them by the refereeing team.

In the dressing room at halftime, trailing 2-0 after Ellen White had been awarded a second goal initially scrubbed out for offside, Cameroon coach Alain Djeumfa inflamed the anger.

“The referee wants England to win today,” Djeumfa said, according to an account of midfielder Raissa Feudjio.

As Cameroon seethed and wept at times on the field, there was at least one high-profile advocate of the petulant behavior: The head of the FIFA administration.

FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura tweeted the Cameroon players “inspired many young girls,” with “passionate and talented play on the field that made your fans proud and your country is proud of you.”

The view from the Confederation of African Football was very different.

Cameroon players react after a VAR decision that ruled out a goal for offside during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match between England and Cameroon at the Stade du Hainaut stadium in Valenciennes, France, Sunday, June 23, 2019. (AP Photo/ Michel Spingler)

Isha Johansen, president of CAF’s women’s committee, said the match “reflected badly not only on African women’s football but African football on the whole” and wants punishments imposed.

“It is an issue which will be addressed and dealt with at the appropriate levels of governance,” she added on Monday.

But Samoura endorsed the conduct of players who openly undermined the authority of referee Quin Liang by forcing delays to restarts as they huddled to protest against England goals.

Instead, Liang was just following the laws of the game by allowing White’s goal to stand and then denying Ajara Nchout a chance to pull it back to 2-1 for another offside call that went against Cameroon on a video review.

Nchout was in tears as angry teammates delayed the restart once again.

England players seemed more clued up about the application of VAR and the laws after pretournament briefings before flying out.

“Maybe (it’s) why you’ve seen our players in a little more control,” defender Lucy Bronze said.

As the opposition anger boiled over, the English just waited for it to subside.

“As soon as you get caught up in that, or get worried about it,” defender Millie Bright said, “you will lose momentum in the game.

We stayed away from it.”

FIFA was silent on action against the team itself, or any criticism of disobedience that led to the most chaotic scenes in Women’s World Cup history.

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Tennis greats applaud Barty’s rise to No. 1 Sydney (AP) — Australia’s greatest female tennis players, Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong Cawley, have joined in celebrating the rise of compatriot Ashleigh Barty to the No. 1 world ranking which they both held.

Barty became the first Australian woman in more than 40 years to take the top ranking by claiming her third title of 2019 last Sunday in Birmingham. Her mentor and idol Goolagong Cawley, who won seven grand slams, was the first in 1976. The WTA rankings were introduced in 1973.

“In 2019, with all the pieces in place, her rise has been almost unstoppable,” Goolagong Cawley said in a statement on Monday. “Ash is a very worthy No. 1 and winning at the French will have given her even more confidence.

“I am so proud that another Aboriginal player sits on top of the rankings in women’s tennis, particularly a young lady who conveys such happiness in all she does.”

Court, who won 24 grand slams, said the challenge for Barty was to stay at No. 1.

“It was always easier climbing up the ladder than staying there,” Court said. “That’s a real champion — to stay at the top.”

Compatriot Sam Stosur, who won the 2011 U.S. Open, said Barty’s attitude will

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Australia’s Ashley Barty poses with the trophy after beating Germany’s Julia Goerges during the final match of the Nature Valley Classic at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, England, Sunday June 23, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP)

serve her well as she goes into Wimbledon next week as the top seed.

“She is playing fantastic and grass is a surface that she openly says she can’t wait to get on every year,” Stosur said. “I don’t think she went to the French thinking she had a shot which is maybe why she went there and put no pressure on herself.

“She was just playing it and enjoying it and getting through the rounds and suddenly she’s won a grand slam.

“Wimbledon will be a different scenario.”

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said

Barty could win another grand slam title this year if she avoids injury.

“The top women players aren’t used to the type of game that she has,” Tiley said. “That’s what is putting her at a high level quickly while the other players figure out how to play her I think they will continue to struggle.”

The great Billie Jean King congratulated Barty on Twitter.

“With incredible versatility, perseverance, and focus, Ash Barty is an inspiration to the next generation of young players in Australia.

“Well done!” King tweeted.

Bernal lifts injury-hit Team INEOS with Tour de Suisse title

Home advantage pays off in Super Rugby playoffs Wellington, New Zealand (AP) — The power of home advantage in Super Rugby playoff matches was emphasized again last weekend as all four home teams advanced to the semifinals.

Defending champions the Crusaders beat the Dunedinbased Highlanders 38-14 in Christchurch, the Hurricanes beat the Pretoria-based Bulls 35-28 in Wellington, Argentina’s Jaguares beat the Hamilton-based Chiefs 21-16 in Buenos Aires, and the ACT Brumbies beat the Durban-based 38-13 in Canberra.

The Hurricanes will now travel to Christchurch where they will attempt to stop the Crusaders’ seemingly inexorable progress to their 10th Super Rugby title, their third in consecutive years.

The Brumbies face a similarly difficult task, traveling to Buenos Aires where the Jaguares will host a semifinal for the first time in their four-year history.

The Jaguares have won seven of nine matches at home this season and extended their late-season winning streak to six matches with Saturday’s win over the Chiefs.

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is undaunted by the travel challenge facing his team in Buenos Aires.

“It has its challenges but we love getting on the road,” McKellar said. “The boys just enjoy each other’s company and love being around each other.”

“We’ve always toured well so we won’t be looking at the travel as a negative or

Crusaders Jack Goodhue is tackled by Highlanders Liam Squire as he makes a run upfield during the Super Rugby quarterfinal between the Crusaders and the Highlanders in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

something that’s going to be an excuse. You’ve got to embrace it.”

The Jaguares had already made history by hosting a quarterfinal for the first time on Friday. They again showed polish and well-honed teamwork to hold out the Chiefs, rallying from 16-8 down in the second half to clinch their 12th win of the season.

But the Crusaders continue to loom over the competition as likely champions after Friday’s comprehensive win over the Highlanders. The Crusaders led by three points, 17-14, at halftime as the Highlanders scrambled on attack and defense.

But the home side ran away with the match with three converted tries in the second half, two when Highlanders flanker Liam Squire was in the sinbin. Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga scored two tries and kicked five goals from five attempts for 20 points.

The Hurricanes, champions in 2016, now inherit the task of trying to stop a Crusaders team which has lost only once in the last two years and seems headed for a third-straight title.

There were no apparent chinks in the Crusaders’ armor on Friday; their forward pack was formidable, dominating scrums and creating tries from lineout drives. Mo’unga expertly led the backline.

Hurricanes coach John Plumtree is also taking a positive view of the challenge of winning away from home.

“We’ve been down there (Christchurch) a lot this time of year and come away with nothing, so we need to really dig deep next week,” Plumtree said. “I don’t think they’ve lost down there for the last 26, 27 times. That’s pretty amazing. The pressure will be on them and we can just go down there and have a real crack.”

Platini questioned by French police in World Cup probe

Leader Egan Bernal from Colombia (left) leads the pack over the Gotthard pass during the ninth and final stage of the 83rd Tour de Suisse UCI ProTour cycling race, on Sunday, June 23, 2019. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

Ulrichen, Switzerland (AP) — In a rough month for Team INEOS, Egan Bernal lifted the British squad with overall victory last Sunday in the nine-day Tour de Suisse.

Bernal came to Switzerland to support team leader Geraint Thomas, the 2018 Tour de France champion, who crashed out in a nasty fall on Tuesday.

Thomas’ accident followed teammate and fourtime Tour de France winner Chris Froome suffering season-ending injuries in a training crash in France.

Bernal is still slated to start the Tour de France on July 6 as Thomas’ top aide, though this confirmed race-winning potential after his Paris-Nice title in March.

The 22-year-old Colombian finished 19 seconds ahead of Rohan Dennis overall after they finished Sunday’s stage together, 1 minute, 2 seconds behind Hugh Carthy’s solo breakaway on snow-lined roads.

Bernal was 3:04 clear overall of third-place Patrick Konrad.

Paris (AP) — French police investigating whether corruption played a role in the stunning decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar took 1980s soccer superstar and former top executive Michel Platini into custody last week for questioning.

Platini’s representatives denied any wrongdoing on his part, saying he is “absolutely confident in the future” and has “strictly nothing to reproach himself for.”

Also questioned were two one-time associates of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, adding a layer of political intrigue to the investigation of the

Michel Platini.

(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

hugely controversial decision to hold soccer ’s showcase tournament in a desert country so scorching hot in June and July that the matches will be played instead in November and December.

As head of European soccer’s governing body UEFA, Platini was the continent’s top representative on the FIFA committee that picked Qatar in 2010.

Platini, 63, was taken into custody Tuesday, June 18, after being summoned to a French police anti-corruption and financial crimes office outside Paris. He was later released Wednesday morning after hours of questioning.

“It was long but considering the number of questions, it could only be long, since I was asked about Euro 2016, the World Cup in Russia, the World Cup in Qatar, Fifa,” he told reporters.

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

Austrian Grand Prix this weekend

Dems is the brakes If you hadn’t noticed, the Wet Season is upon us again.

With a vengeance. With the heavy rains we have had our fair share of wet and slippery roads. The sealed sections of Beach Road being classic examples, with mud being strewn all over the place. (The unsealed sections have pot holes so deep there is Chinese music coming out of some of them, but that’s another story.)

These slippery conditions have caught out a few drivers and tail-enders have become rather common place.

When braking in these kind of conditions you should remember that as soon as the front wheels lock up you have lost all decent retardation and all steering for avoidance. A sliding wheel does not respond to the influences of directional forces and is only under the straight line effect of momentum. You can twirl the steering wheel as much as you like,

Red Bull.

you just go straight on.

The answer is to take your foot off the brake pedal to unlock the brakes then progressively pump the brake pedal up to the point of locking up then release and repeat the sequence. This is called cadence braking and is what ABS systems do for

you if your car is fitted with it. Practice on a bit of dirt one day and it might just save you some trouble and expense in the future when you can steer your way out of trouble. You can feel the brake pedal pumping under your foot if your car has ABS fitted.

What did we learn from the French GP? Well, we learned that it was boring. On top of that we learned that it was very boring. I would even say incredibly boring.

The little Frenchman Jean Todt and boss of the FIA was there, so he knows full well just how boring it was.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) ran away and hid, leading every lap and setting fastest laps as well. In his wake was his team mate Valtteri Bottas, who remained in second place and 18 seconds in arrears for the duration and was never in the leadership hunt, but stayed safely in front of third placed Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

Behind the top three was Max Verstappen (Red Bull and 34 seconds behind), followed

by Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari and 62 seconds behind).

If you can call it “excitement”, Daniel Ricciardo

(Renault) was given two five second penalties consecutively. Reason? Aggressive passing, resulting in some evasive action by the car being passed. Perhaps if the other drivers would have a go at passing, instead of blocking, it could spice up the entire F1 scene. As it is, F1 is totally over-regulated with no passing (other than

by Ricciardo) making dull Results 1. Lewis Hamilton 2. Valtteri Bottas 3. Charles Leclerc 4. Max Verstappen 5. Sebastian Vettel 6. Carlos Sainz Jr. 7. Kimi Raikkonen 8. Nico Hulkenberg 9. Lando Norris 10. Pierre Gasly Let us hope there is Austrian) June 30.

races. With Mercedes head and shoulders above everyone else, there is no visual spectacle.

Kyvat and Albon, teammates for Toro Rosso, are going at it with each other down that Mistral straight, that from Chequered Flag.

That’s a battle for 15th and 16th, and that’s where the “thrills” were coming in this (not very grand) prix.

Mercedes Mercedes Ferrari SF90 Red Bull Racing-Honda RB15 Ferrari SF90 McLaren-Renault Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari C38 Renault McLaren-Renault MCL34 Red Bull Racing-Honda RB15 some action at the next GP (the

The Grand Prix circus returns to Austria and the Red Bull Ring. The circuit has had a revamp from Red Bull and Red Bull Racing will naturally be hoping they can get a win on home soil.

The “Ring” has seen many configurations of the track, mainly to slow the cars down, as speeds of up to 256 km/h for a lap average have been recorded previously.

The current history is interesting. Grandstands and pit buildings were demolished in 2004, rendering the track unusable for any motorsport category. Then in late 2004 and

early 2005, there were intense discussions concerning whether the owner of the circuit, Red Bull, would find another use for the site, or return motor sports to the venue. There was a circuit extension proposal using part of the old Österreichring, however Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz publicly announced that he had no intention of wasting money on a race circuit.

Despite what he had avowed before, late in 2008, Red Bull began their €70m reconstruction of the track.

With the reconstruction, the Red Bull Ring has hosted

the DTM Series, F2 and also the FIA Historic Formula One Championship.

The telecast of this year’s race begins at 8 p.m. Thai time and we will be watching at Fletchers Folly (Siam Country Club Road opposite Maxxis and 300 meters before and we get there around 7 p.m. for something to eat and a convivial drink or two before the race starts. Come in a koala suit and barrack for Ricciardo and I’ll get Kim Fletcher to buy you a beer or a eucalyptus leaf or something.

Wait and see if Lewis Hamilton’s ‘magic’ run continues.

Fiat Chrysler-Renault deal collapses Colleen Barry, Lori Hinnant & Angela Charlton Milan (AP) — Fiat Chrysler’s surprise decision to withdraw a merger offer with French carmaker Renault stunned the industry last week, collapsing on fundamental differences over when Renault’s long-time alliance partner, Nissan, would be brought in.

The merger plan, which had sought to create the world’s third-largest automaker, had been viewed positively across the industry since it was announced last week. But Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann decided to withdraw the offer as the Renault board meeting entered the early morning hours after the French government - Renault’s top shareholder with a 15 stake - asked for more time to seek Nissan’s blessing.

A person in Italy who has been close to the talks said both the French government and Nissan had agreed during the course of months-long negotiations that the Fiat Chrysler-Renault merger would happen first, and then the future of the alliance would be considered at a later stage.

The person said France essentially backtracked this week when it said it wanted the backing of Nissan before agreeing to start working on the details of a potential merger.

“A merger cannot be subject to external conditions,” said the person, adding that withdrawing the offer was not a negotiating tactic. The person spoke only on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations were not publicly disclosed.

In a statement, Fiat Chrysler cited “political conditions in France” for its withdrawal.

The company said it had no hard feelings with either Renault or its alliance partner Nissan, thanking them both for their “constructive engagement.”

The French government hit back by characterizing Fiat Chrysler’s behavior as “pushy,” blaming it for placing “massive pressure” to quickly take the offer or leave it. They later softened their tones, indicating there might be room for future negotiation.

“We have closed no doors,” said an official at France’s Economy Ministry who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations.

Renault said it was disappointed over the lost opportunity but also talked about

the offer in the present tense, indicating there was still hope to revive it: “We view the opportunity as timely, having compelling industrial logic and great financial merit, and which would result in a European-based global auto powerhouse.”

In Italy, a representative of the powerful metal mechanics union also expressed hope that the withdrawal was a tactic to restart negotiations, blaming Nissan and the French for complicating talks.

The combined company would have produced some 8.7 million vehicles a year, more than General Motors and trailing only Volkswagen and Toyota. It would have saved an estimated 5 billion euros ($5.62 billion) per year in purchasing expenses and costs developing autonomous and electric vehicles.

It would have been worth almost $40 billion. If Nissan had gone along, it would have created the world’s biggest auto company.

Now, Fiat Chrysler and Renault must find a new way to address any shortcomings at a time when the auto industry is in the midst of a global sales slowdown and facing enormous expenses to develop future technologies.

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E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

Remarkable wine dinner held at Royal Grill Room & Wine Cellar

Royal Cliff’s DeVine Wine Club members and wine lovers recently enjoyed excellent cuisine prepared by Royal Cliff’s Executive Chef Peter Held and his talented culinary team, along with premium wines from Yalumba Family Vignerons, Australia’s oldest family-owned wine company. (l-r) Philippe Guenat, CEO PMG Marine Complex, Caroline Leib, Marketing Manager of Bakri Cono Shipyards, Adam O’Neill, Executive Director of Yalumba Winery, Panga Vathanakul (centre), MD of Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Alan Riddell, Dr Iain Corness and Mr. Prem Calais, GM of Royal Cliff Hotels Group.

Cape & Kantary Hotels donates 500,000 baht to SOS Children’s Villages

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya celebrates HM the Queen’s Birthday

Jari Nielsen (left), Resident Manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, together with staff and guests performed a candlelight ceremony to mark the auspicious occasion of HM Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana’s birthday on 3 June 2019.

Yupins, a good place to start your holiday

Graham and Foo, two well-known local Pattaya and Jomtien personalities invited Michael Cannon and Philip Canning who had just arrived in the Land of Smiles after a gruelling 12hour flight to spend an evening of rest and recreation at Yupins Restaurant. A good start to their holiday in Thailand’s favourite beach resort.

Cape & Kantary Hotels Executive Director Tirapongse Pangsrivongse (2nd right), and Project Development Manager Tirawan Pangsrivongse (3rd left) donated 500,000 baht to SOS Children’s Villages Thailand to support the organisation’s day to day operations. (l-r) Romanee University students take part in 2019 Careers@Hilton Week Thienprasith, member of the board of directors of SOS Children’s Villages Thailand; Pol. Col. Norawat Charoen- Hilton Pattaya took part in CaRajapark, Tirawan Pangsrivongse; Khunying Rose reers @Hilton Week, an annual Boribalburibhand; Runcha Boribalburibhand, member of the global career event showcasing consulting committee of SOS Children’s Villages Thailand; the many opportunities available Tirapongse Pangsrivongse and Supakporn Pongpan. in the hospitality industry for young job seekers. As part of the program, 45 students and teachers from the Faculty of Management and Tourism, Burapha University in Chonburi recently were shown around the hotel to see the work of the various departments, including the reception, room setup, the art of folding towels and the F&B department.

Blood drive at Mike’s Shopping Mall

Mike Shopping Mall hosted a blood drive recently dedicated to HM the late King Rama IX. The event organized for the Thai Red Cross also honored HM King Vajiralongkorn. Mike’s Shopping Mall has held blood drives frequently to collect blood for the Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital in Sriracha.

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VOL. XXVII No. 26

The House of Pascal With dinner at Casa Pascal you begin with an Amuse Bouche as artistic as well as something to titillate the taste buds. We then began our starters with mine being the Pascal’s smoked salmon. This was a wonderful beginning with the onion and capers on the stone plate. Brilliant presentation, as well as palate pleaser.

An angry Dover Sole.

Students of language will appreciate that “Casa Pascal” means the House of Pascal, and our Casa Pascal has both Pascal and Kim Schnyder at the helm, both of whom are masters of language.

Right at the outset, I will admit to having a bias when it comes to a dining out review at Casa Pascal. Family birthdays have been celebrated at Casa Pascal for many years. Special occasions likewise. We have never been disappointed.

Where is Casa Pascal situated? In a small soi off Pattaya Second Road on the right, almost opposite the Avani Resort’s Dicey Reilly’s Pub and Restaurant next to Ruen Thai. Plenty of secure parking too.

There are two dining areas – the inside air-conditioned section which has large tables and very comfortable chairs in an atmosphere of “class”, and this is nonsmoking. Outside, where smoking is permitted, there are two levels of terraces set under red umbrellas. At the far end of the upper terrace there is a large BBQ used for the breakfasts.

Attention to detail categorizes Casa Pascal, even to

prawns served in a heated iron pot at the table. I continued with a seafood dish, being the Wild Dover Sole, pan-fried with my choice of mashed potato on the side.

We finished our wine while refusing another bottle, and took advantage of Pascal’s limousine service, to finish a wonderful evening.

This restaurant could hold its head up in any culinary collection, and the prices are not over the top. Casa Pascal gets our highest recommendation possible. You don’t need to wait for special occasions. Book now!

Casa Pascal, 485/M10, Pattaya Second Road (small soi next Ruen Thai and opposite Dicey

Pascal’s home smoked salmon.

such subtle touches as stools beside the tables on which the ladies can place their handbags. Glassware and napery are spotless. There are also amethyst stones (called ‘thunder eggs’ in Australia) on display and for sale if you want something different for your home decor.

Even the menu has class.

It’s written in several languages so take your time to take it all in. Likewise the wine list.

Pascal has experience in some of the world’s top kitchens, and in my opinion, he is the most innovative chef in Pattaya. Not too

many chefs build their own smoker in their own garden, for example. Not too many chefs can tell you about the differences between a Spanish ‘filet’ and South American ‘filet’ for example, and I always leave Casa Pascal better educated than before.

The separate wine list is a well presented and photographic menu covering 117 wine labels, with many in the 1500-2000 THB range. We chose the Penfolds Koonunga Shiraz 2017. A pleasant red and not in the expensive range. Pascal also had the wine decanted through an aerator. A nice touch.

Garlic prawns in an iron pot.

The classy interior.

Our main dishes were also a gourmet delight, including a very large pork knuckle and an equally large schnitzel and a lamb Provencal.

The most spectacular dish, however, was the garlic

A “small” schnitzel.

In the second paragraph I mentioned never being disappointed. That still stands true.

We all thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Casa Pascal.

I should also mention the Casa Pascal BBQ breakfast and lunch buffets. These are outstanding.

Casa Pascal also has the most amazing restrooms. So many restaurants let themselves down by having mediocre toilets. Casa Pascal’s are just superb.

The delicate job of decanting.

Reilly’s Bar and Restaurant) Pattaya Central, telephone for reservation 038 723 660, (mob) 081 983 4182, email info@ restaurant-pattaya.com, web www.casa-pascal.com. Secure parking. Breakfast and Lunch Buffet from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. (or a la carte if you wish), dinner 6 p.m. until late.

You can also book the Casa Pascal limousine if you wish to avoid the plethora of check points around town on the way home.

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E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Events The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, June 30. The PCEC program varies, but usually involves a guest speaker on a topic of interest to Expats. The program starts at 10:30 am with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road.

A Joint Chambers Eastern Seaboard networking evening will be held at the AVANI Pattaya Resort on Friday, July 19 from 6.30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (last drinks at 8.30 p.m.). Entrance cost is THB 500 on the door for members and THB 1,000 for non-members.

Admission includes freeflow drinks and finger food.

The Bangsaray Beach Club is hosting a fundraiser for Disabled Sailing in Thailand on Saturday, June 29. It aims to help Thailand’s disabled sailors realize their ultimate dream of sending a team to the Paralympics. The evening includes a buffet, raffle, games and entertainment. Ticket price: THB 350. Visit website www. disabledsailingthailand.org

Fax: 038-427596

for more details or call 063 306 4656.

Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya will hold its 16th annual charity fundraiser including a special concert by ‘The Parkinson’ on Friday, July 5, from 7:00pm. All proceeds go directly to the Hard Rock Pattaya Philanthropic projects.

The night will start with predinner cocktails and followed by a signature grand dinner buffet at the Hall of Fame. Drinks are free-flow and unlimited. A fantastic charity auction of many wonderful prizes will follow.

Normal ticket price: Bt 3,000, Premium ticket: Bt 3,500. Tickets can be purchased at the hotel lobby or call 038-428755.

The Eastern Seaboard Businessmen’s Dinner is a monthly event taking place at the Mantra Restaurant at the Amari Pattaya Resort on the last Thursday of the month.

It brings together business leaders from various backgrounds including Automotive, Aerospace, Real Estate, Architecture, FMCG, Electronics, White Goods, Logistics, Recruitment, Legal, Consulting, and others in a relaxed atmosphere. If you are interested in attending please contact Anuttra.Sukruen@tinfish.co.th.

Balinese Fried rice Here is something a little different from the usual Asian fried rice. The garlic and chilies will give this a little more zing than standard fried rice, but remember that the degree of spiciness is under the control of the cook! The secret with all fried rice is to use the boiled rice left over from yesterday which has been stored in the fridge.

Ingredients Polyunsaturated margarine Onion, coarsely chopped Cooked ham in thin strips Garlic, finely chopped Chili sauce Spring onions, chopped Cold, dry boiled rice Prawns, small peeled Soy sauce Fish sauce Scrambled eggs Peeled tomatoes, sliced

Serves 4 4 tbspns 2 225 gm 1 clove 1 tbspn 4 225 gm 225 gm 1 tbspn 1 tbspn 4 2

Cooking method Heat the margarine in the wok and add the onions until they change color. Add the ham strips and garlic and stir-fry quickly and then add the chili sauce and the chopped spring onions.

Now break up the cold boiled rice and slowly add to the wok, letting the rice warm up without burning.

When the rice is thoroughly warmed through, add the prawns, soy sauce and fish sauce and continue stirring until the prawns are also hot.

Serve in a warmed dish and sprinkle with the scrambled egg and finally garnish with the tomato slices.

A Farmers’ Market takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Holiday Inn hotel on Pattaya Beach Road from 10.30 am - 3.30 p.m. Products range from wellness items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables and fruits. The next market will be held July 13.

A stamp market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.

Community Services The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon - Fri from 10.30 a.m. till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members. Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free).

For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email wan_nujan@yahoo.com Alcoholics Anonymous: The Pattaya Group meets Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. All meetings are

closed (alcoholics only) and are held at Soi Skaw Beach (off Pattaya 2nd Rd). Contact Carl 08-456-31-671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 080 563 0232.

The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: Contact, Andrew 086 107 6631. The Scandinavian Group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays 6 p.m. at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Thappraya Road Soi 7: contact Hans 085 135 7755 or Rune (Rayong) 089 754 9515. 9.00 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 080 563 0232.

The Samaritans of Thailand English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge. (02) 713-6791.

Overeaters Anonymous The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road.

Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.

Narcotics Anonymous Hotline: 082 811 2686. 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 in Jomtien each week.

Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.

Groups & Associations Rotary Club of JomtienPattaya (English) meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, Pattaya City. Fellowship begins at 18.30 hrs and Dinner meeting at 19.00 hrs. President Vutikorn Kamolchote Email: <vutikornk@hotmail.com> Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (English) meets at the Siam Bayshore Hotel, 17.30 hrs for 18.00 hrs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, followed by dinner (Fellowship) President Brian Songhurst Email: <bjs2904@yahoo.com> Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya (German) meets every Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya at 19.00 hrs. President Peter Schlegel Email: info@rotaryphoenix-pattaya.org.

Le Rotary Pattaya Marina, seul Rotary Francophone d’Asie, vous accueille les premier et troisième vendredis de chaque mois, début des réunions 19h, à l’hôtel Pullman G Pattaya Wongamat - 445/3 Moo 5 – Soi 16 – Pattaya Naklua Road. Venez agir avec le Rotary pour changer des vies.

Pierre Yves Eraud Président

2018-2019 Email: < info@ rotarypattayamarina.org.

Rotary Club of Pattaya (Thai-English) meets at the First Pacific Hotel, Central Road on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Meetings begin at 19.00 hrs. President Stephen Devereux Email: < stevecarlow@gmail.com> Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America (Ban Chang – U-Tapao, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 at Sinthavee Park Condo, 2/ 1 Moo 5, in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at <banc hangvfw12146membership@ gmail.com> or visit website: www.banchangvfwpost12146.org.

The Royal British Legion Thailand meets on the last weekend of every month at various locations around the city. Please join and like the Face Book page and you will see the all the social events listed. You do not have to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send an email to - chonburi.secretary@ rbl.community.

28 FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 26

Teen star Atthaya wins second Ladies European Thailand championship

Thai amateur star Atthaya Thitikul poses with the champion’s trophy after winning the 2019 Ladies European Thailand Championship at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya, Sunday, June 23.

Thai amateur star Atthaya Thitikul put on a dominating show last weekend to win the Ladies European Thailand Championship for the second time in three years.

The 16-year-old finished with a five-under-par 67 on a weather-interrupted final day Sunday to win by five shots from Esther Henseleit.

Thitikul’s triumph at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya two years ago aged 14 years, four months and three days made her the youngest known winner of a professional golf tournament.

She backed up that success with a phenomenal performance at the same venue, posting rounds of 69, 67, 63 (a course record) and 67 for a winning total of 266, 22-under-par.

Rising golf stars Esther Henseleit, Julia Engström, Kanyalak Preedasuttijit, Chonlada Chayanun, Atthaya Thitikul and Yoo Hyun Ju pose for a media photo during the Ladies European Thailand Championship at Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club in Pattaya.

At 16 years, four months and three days, the No 5 ranked amateur in the world is the youngest player to win two Ladies European Tour titles and the most exciting prospect in women’s golf since Lydia Ko, who had won four professional titles by the same age.

“It feels unreal,” said Thitikul, who was undistracted by a three-hour weather delay on Sunday due to storms in the middle of her final round. “I’m really pleased with all the things I’ve done in this tournament. The last time I had a bogey was in round two. I just put the ball where I wanted it. Since I won two years ago I’ve kept working hard and I’ve grown in confidence. Today I didn’t actually sing a song to myself, I was just talking with my caddie.”

German rookie Henseleit shot a final round of eightunder-par 64 and as Thitikul is still an amateur, she collected the winner’s cheque for 45,000 euros, moving to second on the LET order of merit although she said that she would have preferred a trophy.

“This is my third second place this year and of course I would love a victory, but Atthaya played so well and she deserves this trophy.”

Germany’s Olivia Cowan finished third, with Norwegians Marianne Skarpnord and Tonje Daffinrud tied for fourth place. Hannah Burke, Beth Allen and Nattagate Nimitpongkul

Atthaya Thitikul plays an approach shot during the final round of the Ladies European Thailand Championship, Sunday, June 23.

were joint sixth and Carmen Alonso tied for ninth with Chorphaka Jaengkit.

Thitikul’s second win in the tournament will renew the question of when she will turn professional, but with

her second LET title, she will once again qualify for the Evian Championship and the AIG Women’s British Open, which means that European fans will get to see her perform in next month’s majors.

Hamilton wins French GP, sympathizes with bored fans Jerome Pugmire Le Castellet, France (AP) — Lewis Hamilton needed only a few seconds to take control of the French Grand Prix last Sunday.

Once he accelerated away from pole position, leaving Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas trailing, Hamilton was not challenged over 53 laps.

His fourth straight win, sixth overall this season, and 79th of his career looked easy as he finished 18 seconds ahead of Bottas and 19 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

It moved Hamilton 36 points ahead of Bottas and a massive 76 points clear of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in a quest for a sixth title which is looking increasingly likely for the British driver. It remains a highly unlikely feat but, if Hamilton wins the remaining 13 races this season, he will break Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 F1 wins.

Yet despite his imperious dominance, Hamilton has sympathy for F1 fans who want more exciting racing, and long for the overtaking duels of old which gave

races an unpredictable edge.

“If you say it’s boring, I totally understand it,” Hamilton said after his win. “Don’t blame the drivers. We don’t write the rules.

Put the pressure on the people at the top, who should be doing their jobs. They have made mistakes for many, many years.”

Hamilton’s Mercedes team is favorite for a sixth straight drivers’ and constructors’ double.

From 2010-13, Red Bull did the same when Vettel won his four F1 titles.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the French Continued on page 22

Formula One Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet, southern France, Sunday, June 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

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