PCEC members treated to a look inside a killer’s mind
After the usual announcements, Master of Ceremonies
(Emcee) Richard Silverberg began the Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City
Expats Club at the Amari’s Henry J. Beans Restaurant on Sunday, July 26 by
calling on Harry (Sig) Sigworth to introduce the guest speaker.
PCEC
member Harry Sigworth introduces the speaker, Richard Rubacher, biographer
of Charles Manson.
Sig began by noting that Richard Rubacher is 73 years old and comes from New
York in the USA. He has a Masters Degree in social rehabilitation from
Buffalo State University. He noted that Richard had written a book about his
correspondence and interview with Charles Manson, the leader of the “Manson
Family.” Manson and his family were responsible for the notorious
Tate/LaBianca murders in the Los Angeles area some 40 years ago.
In introducing Richard Rubacher, Sig quoted two comments that appear on the
jacket of his book Charles Manson’s Blood Letters: Dueling With The Devil:
“The author has incredible courage or is mad to involve himself with the
psychopathic killer.” - Lawrence McLoughlin, Speakers Bureau, Pattaya
City Expats Club, Thailand, and “Charlie Manson is one of the most
intriguing personalities in law enforcement history. To study him is to
confront evil at its worst.” - Retired Lieutenant H. Sigworth, Los
Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Lawrie and Sig are both members of
the Pattaya City Expats Club).
Richard
discusses his correspondence with Charles Manson. As the leader of the
“Manson Family”, Manson and his followers were responsible for the notorious
Tate/LaBianca murders in the Los Angeles area some 40 years ago.
Richard Rubacher began his topic by relating a story from American Indian
folklore. This story dealt with a shaman (medicine man). People would tell
him their deepest, darkest secrets. The shaman would then “eat” them, thus
relieving them of their guilt. He said that Charles Manson was for his
followers the “eater of secrets.” As such, they were devoted to him.
Richard then went on to say that he had received a total of 92 letters and
12 post cards from Charles Manson. Further, he interviewed Manson in
Vacaville (California) prison. In general he summed up Manson as a
manipulator; one who can get others to do his bidding, even kill. He also
said that Manson, when writing, would refer to himself in the first person,
but when interviewed, he referred to himself in the third person.
Richard’s observations were that the persona Manson would display would be
that of whomever he was talking to - if they showed anger, he would show
anger, if they acted the fool, he would act the fool.
Richard read some passages from his book to reveal some of the psyche of
Charles Manson. He also described a conversation between Manson and Timothy
Leary when they were incarcerated together for a short period of time.
Apparently Manson became furious with Leary’s comments and wrote a letter to
Leary that he mailed to Richard with the expectation that Richard would send
it on to Leary. Richard noted that although Manson’s mail was monitored and
censored by prison authorities, Manson was receiving about 60,000 letters
per year and responded to many - with this volume and Manson’s style of
writing, Richard felt the censors were not as thorough as they might have
been. Thus, the letter to Leary did get delivered to Richard. Richard said
that Manson later sent some of his followers to visit him and try to get the
letter back, without success.
During his interview of Manson, Richard noted that Manson equated hate with
love - if a baby is not loved, it will learn to hate and in later life when
it says “I hate you,” it also meant “I love you.” He commented that Manson
compared himself to Hitler and Stalin and said that he could kill whomever
he wanted. Further that he said that the Tate/LaBianca murders were a
warning to the nation - that Manson had much hate and love.
After the speaker concluded, Emcee Richard Silverberg brought everyone up to
date on upcoming events and called on John Fishback to conduct the Open
Forum. The Forum affords everyone with the opportunity to ask question or
make observations about living here in Thailand, recommend a good restaurant
or movie, or even pass on a few jokes.
Central Festival employees train to prevent fire sale
Fire fighters one and all!
Saksiri Uraiworn
With seven floors and hundreds of shops and restaurants, Central
Festival Pattaya Beach has a lot of places where fire could break out. To help
prevent disaster, employees at the city’s largest shopping mall undertook
hands-on training in fire-fighting and prevention techniques.
The two-day seminar by the Pattaya Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office saw
more than 100 workers learn how to prevent fires and handle fire-fighting
equipment should one break out.
Day 1 focused on theory behind extinguishing fires, fire extinguisher
maintenance, use of other equipment and care for fire victims. The second day
saw employees put their knowledge to use with hands-on demonstrations and
simulations, including a simulated blaze in a basement level restaurant that
required evacuation of shoppers and transporting the injured to nearby
hospitals.
Central Festival General Manager Saran Tantichamnan said that most fires are
started out of carelessness and spread due to poor planning and preventative
measures. Training seminars such as these, he added, can prevent loss of life
and protect property.
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
undergoes fire skills checkup
Vimolrat Singnikorn
With so many patients who can’t easily move, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
makes sure its fire-evacuation plans undergo regular checkups.
BHP
staffers undertake a mock rescue operation as part of their fire training.
Its latest twice-yearly session July 29 saw about 100 hospital staff take part
in fire training organized by Banglamung Fire Department officials. Trainers
staged emergency simulations and taught staff how to handle fire-fighting
equipment.
Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Narin Boonchongcharoen said much of the emphasis is
placed on evacuating patients from fire zones, proper ladder use and basic
fire-fighting skills, such as using extinguishers.
“The hospital is very concerned and realizes the importance of fire training,”
Narin said, noting about 30 employees have been sent to extra training to become
fire leaders. The next drill will be in September during which night-time
training will be undertaken.
Beachfront dining
at Central Festival
(L to R) Wareunada Fawor, owner of
Baritalia by Gie Gie, M. L. Parson Svasti, Itsaret Jirathiwat, Kwankao
Swatewimol, Supitcha Surakup, Naowadat Sippapak, owner of Cafe Chili, and Sakorn
Thavisin, senior marketing manager for Central Pattana Public Co. Ltd.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Taking advantage of its position as Asia’s largest ocean-front shopping
mall, Central Festival Pattaya Beach is making dining on the beach just as big
of an experience.
Mall directors July 29 opened the “New Diving Destination” featuring a range of
chain and specialty restaurants with their own outdoor-seating areas. Celebrity
gourmets M. L. Parson Svasti and Pang Kwankao Swatewimol were among the first to
tour the new open-air cafe.
Itsaret Jirathiwat, business development manager of mall operator Central
Pattana Co. Ltd, said the New Dining Destination will not only be a place for
shoppers to eat, but a meeting place for gourmets as well.
New Dinning Destination features Malaysia’s Secret Recipe bakery, Isaan food
outlet Cafe Chili, Italian restaurants Pan Pan and Gianni, Russian Restaurant,
Segafredo Zanetti Espresso and KFC. Each has its own terrace overlooking the
sea.
Svasti and Pang were given a tour by Itsaret around the New Dining Destination
and its restaurants and sampled food while sharing their experiences and secrets
in selecting dinning places.
Now is the time to join the
Royal British Legion Thailand
August
is the month to join the Royal British Legion Thailand for a number of reasons:
first, you get 1 month’s free membership, you also get to join in all our events
and trips and now you also have the opportunity to join our group medical
insurance.
We have joined forces with Thailand’s leading health insurance company and
Pattaya’s top brokers (who have dropped their commission to Legion members) to
offer massive discounts, but still giving you top of the range cover. You have
to be in it to win it!
The Royal British Legion meets at Tropical Bert’s on 2nd Road opposite the
Bangkok Bank every Sunday from 2 p.m. Stop in or phone Bert on 089 8072335. You
do not have to have served in UK armed forces to join, you must, however, agree
to the principles of the Legion.
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