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All the way to Memphis
Dear Mott the Dog;
Congratulations on your new paper, it is excellent. I
used to live in Chiang Mai 2 years ago, so nice to see a “local” English
language paper starting up. I now live in Bangkok, and edit a gemstone and
jewellery magazine, small money, but great job.
I read your article on Mott the Hoople and it brought
back memories of that great underrated band. Remembering the gigs, Croydon,
Aylesbury, Roundhouse, Albert Hall and many others.
I met Ian Hunter once briefly in London, at Steve
Strange’s club in 81, and he took the time to say hello in response to my
drunken hello, etc. A real hero from a time when real music was being made.
His book was and still is the best book ever written about that era. I read
and re read it so many times. Sadly my copy lies in London, never to be seen
again.
My last real connection with Mott was seeing Hunter /
Ronson at the Hammersmith Odeon in London during 74. I saw Hunter and Ronson
perform on TV at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert at Wembley, sadly
Ronson died of cancer. My interest in rock died as my interest in black
music rose. Hunter moved to the US and the others faded away. Nice to hear
Buffin has a career as a producer, I didn’t know that. I remember a report
in the 80’s of Overend selling his old stage clothes at some London market
due to money problems. Sad. What of the others? Ralphs had a long career
with Bad Company and solo albums. A photo I saw 5 years ago showed he
hadn’t worn well.
Favourite songs: Angel of 8th Avenue, At the Crossroads,
The Saturday Gigs. I liked the slow songs, as well as the rockers.
Some punk bands gave Mott as an influence, The Damned I
think were one.
Hunter was great front man, and the band were never liked
by the media of the time. The break up was sad, and the new members Ariel
Bender, etc., replacing, Ralphs, Verden Allen were never really “Mott”
in my opinion.
Look forward to more about the band.
Thanks for the article. Fortunately the net carries much
about the band, so they live on.
Best wishes,
John Cook
An open letter and question
Editor;
It occurs to me that in the future (not too distant) the
number of “grudge” on going conflicts will likely increase. The reason
for this is simple... With today’s technology in maintaining and
dissemination of each and every action of all countries and ethnic,
religious, special interest and any other “group” of people you wish to
choose, there will always be something for all of each to go back to and
say, “Ah, well, we were done wrong by ***** group back in 19xx or 20xx, so
we have a right to do harm to those people or that country or that
government! And, we demand support for our cause as it must be a righteous
and just cause!”
To be best of my knowledge, there is not any person,
group, government or country, who is perfect and never makes a bad decision
in any area of life. So, if the trend of conflicts based on “well, they
did this or that to us back in...” the question arises of where is the
line drawn? Is there no “statute of limitation” for such past actions?
If there is not some rule of international law, and social acceptance of it,
the number of conflicts are only going to increase and never cease. There
are going to be growing numbers of smaller (as well as larger) groups who
will dig to find something to fight about with someone!
So, my question to you is, where does it begin to stop?
And, my suggestion to you is that it must begin to stop with each and every
individual on a one by one bases, by taking great care in what one does,
says and who support of any kind is given to.
Mahatma Gandhi said, “We must become the change we want
to see.”
Ron
Working towards a greener Chiang Mai
Dear CM Mail;
Thanks for understanding that the bottom line is not just
about money but also about “Greener Chiang Mai”.
But about recycling; it comes as news to me that any
happens here. Last year I lived in Nakhorn Sri Tammarat where a color coded
system of public bins is in place and the mayor of Tung Song claims it to be
a great success.
Here it seems the whole of Doi Suthep Pui National Park
is a rubbish dump and I was told today that some Chiang Mai people actually
take rubbish there and burn it, thereby starting forest fires.
It seems last week the forest got angry and decided to
dump its rain in the city in a flash flood.
If the city folk and hilltribes were to cooperate with
the National Park Authorities to end the annual fires and reforest the
highlands, in place of garbage natural leaf litter would gradually
accumulate, decompose and increase the soil’s ability to absorb and hold
water.
Perhaps in future editions you might like to advertise
the Chiang Mai Forest Fire Station 24 hour number 053-939398.
PS - Thailand celebrates Thai Environment Day every
December 5th, but Chiang Mai is going 3 better with activities from the 2nd
to the 4th.
Best Wishes,
Ricky Ward
Thailand is getting over regulated
Editor;
I love Thailand. But there is starting to be less reason
to go there. I live in Canada and the reason I go there is I am sick of
being regulated to death. Fireworks banned. Smoking banned. Bars close
early. Hmmm, sounds just like home. I have booked a flight there but maybe
this will be my last trip. If I want Big Brother I might as well stay home
and save airfare. Just another Nanny state. I love you Thai people but maybe
you should come here? Why do you think people go to Thailand and not
Singapore, etc.?
John Sutherley
Canada
Congratulations from the USA
To the entire Chiangmai Mail staff,
My hearty congratulations on this exciting venture!
It’s a great way to help keep people like me informed
about things happening in and around Chiang Mai. We’ve already added your
online edition to our library catalog.
Hope to see you in January when I’ll be visiting again
like last year.
Best wishes,
Larry Ashmun
South & Southeast Asian Studies Bibliographer
University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
Pha Jarn is elephant abuse
Dear Editor,
The director of Chiang Mai TAT is out of line with
government policy by callously describing Pha Jarn elephant beatings as
‘not being torture’. Fortunately, the National Elephant Institute is
introducing a bill which would outlaw such barbaric cruelty as Khun
Chalermsak defends.
Following the PETA video depicting elephant calves being
abused, staff from Lampang’s TECC took steps to hunt down and re-educate
those responsible and rescued a bloodied four year old calf which had been
tied up and beaten over three days in Mae Wang, Chiang Mai Province.
Khun Chalermsak’s comments only undermine the
protection efforts of dedicated conservationists.
Regards,
Ian Cruickshank, Naturalist
Chiang Mai
Have enjoyed 25 years and hope you do too
Dear Chiangmai Mail,
On the occasion of your first issues we wish you
Godspeed, full-blown sails at all times, and many advertising millimeters.
We, the ‘Bad Kissinger Anzeiger’, just recently celebrated our 25th
anniversary, and sincerely hope that you will be enjoying yourself as much
as we are, even after 25 years!
Heinz and Edith Schlick
MD, Bad Kissinger Anzeiger, Germany
Congratulations on your Chiangmai Mail Newspaper
Editor;
Congratulations on your Chiangmai Mail Newspaper!
We are very impressed. Keep up the good work!
Gerard Henderson,
Sydney, Australia
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