Why a Nite Owl archive?
Bernard Trink has been a fixture in Bangkok newspapers for decades: first in tabloids, then with the defunct Bangkok World and for many years since a staple of the Bangkok Post. His Nite Owl column has been the most-viewed feature of any Asian newspaper since the Post began publishing online in 1996. His weekly column remains a touchstone for expatriates in Thailand and Siam-philes abroad, reminding them all by turns of why they came and why they left.
Certainly he can be given much credit (or blame) for raising awareness of Thailand's nightlife and daylife scenes while regularly touching on many diverse themes: paid sex in Bangkok and Pattaya; bar and restaurant tips; popular entertainment and current events; scams, scandals and scoundrels; cab rides and khatoeys (ladyboys); prostitutes, punters and publicans; the price of tinned beef stew; and often the very personal and painful details of his own life.
More to the point, if he hasn't gored your ox at least once, either you're not living in the twenty-first century or you've never been to Thailand!
While Trink has his detractors and supporters in roughly equal numbers (they read him weekly, just the same) and has been the subject of a less than flattering biography, to be best appreciated he must be read, preferably with a larger frame of reference and through a longer timeline. It is to that end that this work is offered.
There has been no effort made to date to create a comprehensive "webography" and master guide to Trink's Nite Owl columns and we undertake this as our purpose. While the archive and search features of the Bangkok Post remain woefully poor, we've been able to locate a great number of articles using the Internet Archive "Wayback Machine".
As of this writing (mid-August 2002) we've located 290 of 328 prior editions of the Nite Owl (or Trink Page as it was styled in some periods) and will continue, time permitting, to add the most recent columns as they are placed into the Post's archives. We welcome all assistance in locating articles not currently listed. Our research efforts will go on as well.
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Emergency Update!
We were afraid this day would come. The Bangkok Post has taken to charging for access to the full-text articles in their archives.
What this means most immediately to this page is that NONE of the links in pink below will work: the server formerly located at search.bangkokpost.co.th has been taken offline. To underscore this point, all affected links have been marked up with a line through them.
Fortunately we have preserved an independent archive, downloading all of the articles (though 29 August 2003) to which we were formerly linked and have stored them safely away.
Now we are faced with two challenges: the rather mundane technical task of presenting those articles in a readable format; and more importantly, the ethical implications of copyright violation, theft of intellectual property and undercutting the revenue of the Post to whatever degree.
We stand by what we wrote from the begining -- We definitely DO NOT say "I Don't Give A Hoot" about intellectual property rights...
However, the richness of this resource as well as the time invested in this site make us wonder if a middle path is available, something between outright theft and a full-blown scholarly project cum justification for retransmission. As a hobby project, making a purchase of the Trink archives from the Post is not within reason.
We're going to think about this for awhile. Thanks for your patience and please check back with us in a few weeks
DoxyBlue 7 November 2003
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Adminstrativa
Scoreboard: through 29 August 2003
- Total articles expected: 383
- Missing: 7
- Truncated: 8
- Stored Locally: 11
- Internet Archive: 226
- Bangkok Post Archive: 131
We wish to thank:
- "Tintin of Sweden" for the 11 pieces now stored in the local archive.
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©2002-2003 DoxyBlue. All Rights Reserved.
Text, layout, data and link compilation are protected original work products and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without express written consent. Contact doxyblue@yahoo.com.
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User Guide | Notes
Articles are organized by year and month.
Article dates in links are given in European/Thai format DD/MM/YY.
Clicked/visited links will remain 'Hyperlink Blue' for sake of readability but will lose underlining [in most browsers].
|
31/12/90 |
No Article Source |
31/12/90 |
Bangkok Post Archive |
31/12/90 |
Local Document** |
31/12/90 |
Internet Archive* [unverified] |
31/12/90 |
Internet Archive [intact] |
31/12/90 |
Internet Archive [truncated] |
*The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is sometime unable to serve a given page. Owing to the complexities of maintaining an web-accessible document collection in excess of 100 terabytes this is understandable. Try again another time.
HINT- If an Internet Archive page comes back blank, try using the Refresh/Reload button once or twice before giving up.
**In the rare case where a weekly column is available but not linkable, most notably from a newsgroup posting, mailing list item or a contribution from our visitors, we've stored the article and provide a link to it on our site. We definitely DO NOT say "I Don't Give A Hoot" about intellectual property rights and we beg the indulgence of the rights-holders.
Articles which are particularly noteworthy are described following the year. Your suggestions for other articles which should be pointed out are welcome as are your responsible comments and criticisms.
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More Trink Online!
Serving as Guide to a Richly Tawdry Bazaar
Seth Mydans pens a fluffy piece for the Saturday Profile section of the New York Times.
Includes a rare photo of Trink on his rounds. [Registration may be required to view article.]
(Update: Fee now required to view this item in the Times' archive. Bastards...)
A Walk on the Wild Side
Robert Horn reviews Jennifer Bliss' biography of Trink for TimeAsia, October 16, 2000 Vol. 156 No. 15.
Another photo -- Trink on the job circa 1987 -- is the highlight here.
This is Trink!
Chris King, The Nation's "Farang Affairs" columnist, does a turn in the style of the master. (22 Nov 2002)
S. Tsow gushes in this Bangkok Post review of Bliss' book.
National Radio reprises Trink on Pattaya, plus a photo.
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1996 |
May |
05/05/96 |
-none- |
Sep |
07/09/96 |
Not in the Thai vocabulary |
11/05/96 | -none- |
14/09/96 |
Paragons of virtue |
18/05/96 | On violent movies |
21/09/96 |
People with strong convictions |
25/05/96 | Exaggerations |
28/09/96 |
Readers' suggestions |
Jun |
01/06/96 |
Daydreams and reality |
Oct |
05/10/96 |
The end of an era? |
08/06/96 |
People need beliefs |
12/10/96 |
The importance of image |
15/06/96 |
On raising children |
19/10/96 |
Universal male circumcision? |
22/06/96 |
Cases of "TIT" |
26/10/96 |
The feminist movement |
29/06/96 |
Who is the 'real me'? |
Nov |
02/11/96 |
Lottery ticket hopes |
Jul |
06/07/96 |
Far from my thoughts |
09/11/96 |
Another business offer |
13/07/96 |
Hard luck stories |
16/11/96 |
Advice is cheap |
20/07/96 |
Everybody cheats |
23/11/96 |
Credit, IOUs and collateral |
27/07/96 |
Favourite sports films |
30/11/96 |
An incident in the life of yours truly |
Aug |
03/08/96 |
Welcome to the future |
Dec |
07/12/96 |
Many statistics are spurious |
10/08/96 |
Identifying with screen characters |
14/12/96 |
Creatures of habit |
17/08/96 |
Madness |
21/12/96 |
An offer I refused |
24/08/96 |
On doomed marriages |
28/12/96 |
Prostitution is here to stay |
31/08/96 |
Censors have it wrong |
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03-Aug-1996: First column after Trink's page space in the print edition is cut in half. He takes it well.
19-Oct-1996: BT announces the death of his son, Terry Trink, from cancer at age 27. RIP.
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1997 |
Jan |
04/01/97 |
New Year resolutions |
Jul |
05/07/97 |
Rescind these laws, please |
11/01/97 |
Farang know-it-alls |
12/07/97 |
A dozen working years |
18/01/97 |
The motto of the 90's |
19/07/97 |
The underlying cause of the disaster |
25/01/97 |
Sidewalk superintendents |
26/07/97 |
Unmerited insults |
Feb |
01/02/97 |
Nigerian scam spreads to Gabon |
Aug |
02/08/97 |
Obsessions people have |
08/02/97 |
Wishful thinking and reality |
09/08/97 |
Fanciful accomplishments |
15/02/97 |
Two scary crimes |
16/08/97 |
-unknown- |
22/02/97 |
What I don't want to know |
23/08/97 |
-none- |
Mar |
01/03/97 |
A scary story debunked |
30/08/97 |
-none- |
08/03/97 |
Who says life is fair? |
Sep |
06/09/97 |
-none- |
15/03/97 |
Taking on a new persona |
13/09/97 |
The astrology profession |
22/03/97 |
Don't blame men please |
20/09/97 |
-none- |
29/03/97 |
When everybody lies, whom can you trust? |
27/09/97 |
-none- |
Apr |
05/04/97 |
My criterion for judging religions |
Oct |
04/10/97 |
A Joke is a joke is a joke |
12/04/97 |
Self-serving scenarios |
11/10/97 |
Ambiguous headlines in the Press |
19/04/97 |
Waiting for the bus |
18/10/97 |
Times are hard |
26/04/97 |
The system needs changing |
25/10/97 |
The book I won't write |
May |
03/05/97 |
The height of stupidity |
Nov |
01/11/97 |
The spurious HIV connection |
10/05/97 |
Memorable film music |
08/11/97 |
Faith, hope and dreams |
17/05/97 |
Why do people marry? |
15/11/97 |
Minority view makes sense |
24/05/97 |
Convention decides sex appeal |
22/11/97 |
Who cares about the great questions? |
31/05/97 |
'Why don't you?' |
29/11/97 |
No offence intended |
Jun |
07/06/97 |
Very well read, indeed |
Dec |
06/12/97 |
Responses from readers |
14/06/97 |
Not as easy as it looks |
13/12/97 |
Professional honesty |
21/06/97 |
E-mail from my readers |
20/12/97 |
Intransigent opinions |
28/06/97 |
Who needs people? |
27/12/97 |
Off the top of my head |
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1998 |
Jan |
03/01/98 |
-unknown- |
Jul |
04/07/98 |
Right is right |
10/01/98 |
Persuasion: Thai-style |
11/07/98 |
Conmen can be convincing |
17/01/98 |
The perfect fall guy |
18/07/98 |
I know what I like |
24/01/98 |
How the sexes differ |
25/07/98 |
Books open our minds |
31/01/98 |
When the sap is flowing |
Aug |
01/08/98 |
The Nigerians are at it again |
Feb |
07/02/98 |
HIV not sexually transmitted |
08/08/98 |
The wicked witch lives on |
14/02/98 |
VIP treatment is fun |
15/08/98 |
Wise and witty quotations |
21/02/98 |
Meaningless polite phrases |
22/08/98 |
Favours and obligations |
28/02/98 |
Advice: Worthwhile or worthless? |
29/08/98 |
Animals have right to life |
Mar |
07/03/98 |
Church bulletin bloopers |
Sep |
05/09/98 |
The way I see it |
14/03/98 |
Some people are certifiable |
12/09/98 |
Correcting misconceptions |
21/03/98 |
Good entertainment, poor history |
18/09/98 |
Panning for stories |
28/03/98 |
Look for rectitude elsewhere |
25/09/98 |
Lessons of the masters |
Apr |
04/04/98 |
Disappearing people |
Oct |
02/10/98 |
Nobody appreciates it |
11/04/98 |
Looking forward to happiness |
09/10/98 |
A nasty nitery scam |
18/04/98 |
Opposing points of view |
16/10/98 |
Surrounded by lies |
25/04/98 |
Emotive English words |
23/10/98 |
Empty threats |
May |
02/05/98 |
School absence excuses |
30/10/98 |
Undermining Wall Street |
09/05/98 |
Hot enough for you? |
Nov |
06/11/98 |
Lots to laugh about here |
16/05/98 |
The years between |
13/11/98 |
Few books worthwhile |
23/05/98 |
Prostitution and morality |
20/11/98 |
What is a vet? |
30/05/98 |
Admirable people and sundry questions |
27/11/98 |
-unknown- |
Jun |
06/06/98 |
'Do you love your mother?' |
Dec |
04/12/98 |
Complex, illogical, puzzling |
13/06/98 |
Marking time until 18 |
11/12/98 |
Memories are made of this |
20/06/98 |
The brush off by e-mail |
18/12/98 |
The nitery scene in 1999 |
27/06/98 |
Relationships and attitude |
25/12/98 |
Owl impersonation |
25-Dec-1998: Bernie announces he's been hacked!
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1999 |
Jan |
01/01/99 |
Elephant jokes on Day One |
Jul |
02/07/99 |
Laws aren't holy writ |
08/01/99 |
Trink's top 10 films of 1998 |
09/07/99 |
It's about commissions |
15/01/99 |
Misunderstandings |
16/07/99 |
Male jokes are sad |
22/01/99 |
Hiding the real you |
23/07/99 |
Pregnancy Q&A |
29/01/99 |
This page isn't porno |
30/07/99 |
What the people want |
Feb |
05/02/99 |
An Internet petition |
Aug |
06/08/99 |
More household tips |
12/02/99 |
Of naivete and experience |
13/08/99 |
Quotas and costumes |
19/02/99 |
In the spirit of goodwill |
20/08/99 |
The projected Thai image |
26/02/99 |
Drink in moderation |
27/08/99 |
Letters from readers |
Mar |
05/03/99 |
With a grain of salt (I) |
Sep |
03/09/99 |
Professionals and wannabes |
12/03/99 |
With a grain of salt (II) |
10/09/99 |
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? |
19/03/99 |
Called to the colours |
17/09/99 |
What the animal rightists say |
26/03/99 |
People with only one story |
24/09/99 |
No book in the pipeline |
Apr |
02/04/99 |
The other fellow is smarter |
Oct |
01/10/99 |
Letters from readers |
09/04/99 |
Nigerian scam on Internet |
08/10/99 |
Talking at cross purposes |
16/04/99 |
Learning from experience |
15/10/99 |
Papadoxes of our time |
23/04/99 |
Readers' requests |
22/10/99 |
Jokes about the dead and dying |
30/04/99 |
Keeping up with change |
29/10/99 |
Time on their hands |
May |
07/05/99 |
The slaughter of innocents |
Nov |
05/11/99 |
My etymologist readers |
14/05/99 |
Making major choices |
12/11/99 |
Over 20 e-mails a day |
21/05/99 |
Neo-Murphy's laws |
19/11/99 |
Nigerian scam pandemic |
28/05/99 |
-unknown- |
26/11/99 |
Answering e-mail |
Jun |
04/06/99 |
Things I don't know |
Dec |
03/12/99 |
Heard from my readers |
11/06/99 |
Readers' observations |
10/12/99 |
Fans and detractors |
18/16/99 |
Luck -- good and bad |
17/12/99 |
What men seek in a wife |
25/06/99 |
Allowable limericks |
24/12/99 |
Carnival - a temple fair |
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31/12/99 |
A wish for the new millennium |
Article of 12-March-1999 is new, but the title, 'With a grain of salt', was left unchanged.
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2000 |
Jan |
07/01/00 |
Trink's 10 best films of 1999 |
Jul |
07/07/00 |
The origins of the wrench |
14/01/00 |
Art for art's sake |
14/07/00 |
Farang husband's lament |
21/01/00 |
HIV to Aids? Not according to the facts |
21/07/00 |
Support for writers |
28/01/00 |
Majority view by e-mail |
28/07/00 |
Your blood is needed |
Feb |
04/02/00 |
Lost E-mail and comments |
Aug |
04/08/00 |
Thanks for the blood |
11/02/00 |
Shooting down Cupid |
11/08/00 |
Advice asked and given |
18/02/00 |
On being a child again |
18/08/00 |
friend A growing menace |
25/02/00 |
Brickbats and bouquets |
25/08/00 |
Con and scam together |
Mar |
03/03/00 |
Urban myths on the Internet |
Sep |
01/09/00 |
Debunking an urban legend |
10/03/00 |
But is my e-mail trustworthy? |
08/09/00 |
Same scam, another approach |
17/03/00 |
St Patrick's Day and pillow talk |
15/09/00 |
Lawyer jokes aside, hire 'em |
24/03/00 |
Letters from home |
22/09/00 |
Marriage: Give and take |
31/03/00 |
Still only a spectre |
29/09/00 |
Few Thais are colour-blind |
Apr |
07/04/00 |
There are exceptions |
Oct |
06/10/00 |
Farangs don't rate |
14/04/00 |
A cry for help |
13/10/00 |
Thailand's dowry system |
21/04/00 |
The cry is heard |
20/10/00 |
Visas, jobs and names |
28/04/00 |
Airport chicanery |
27/10/00 |
Saving money, losing face |
May |
05/05/00 |
Is the whingeing justified? |
Nov |
03/11/00 |
-unknown- |
12/05/00 |
Perfect hamburger quest |
10/11/00 |
Standard sob story |
19/05/00 |
Cool tips on the hottest buns |
17/11/00 |
Satyrs keep score |
26/05/00 |
Over to you |
24/11/00 |
Prostitution and jokes |
Jun |
02/06/00 |
Striking a balance |
Dec |
01/12/00 |
A dubious progress |
09/06/00 |
Statistics and definitions |
08/12/00 |
Round eyes on the strip |
16/06/00 |
Unauthorised biography |
15/12/00 |
It's Greek to me |
23/06/00 |
-unknown- |
22/12/00 |
Minority view not discredited |
30/06/00 |
Readers' observations |
29/12/00 |
Have I been cloned? |
http://web.archive.org/web/20001202060200/www.bangkokpost.net/trink/trink260500.html dated 26-May-2000, and
http://web.archive.org/web/20001202035100/www.bangkokpost.net/trink/trink230600.html dated 23-June-2000
yield exactly the same article, 'Over to you'. It's presumed that the article is correctly dated 26-May and the 23-June article is designated missing above, but we request our visitor's assistance in verification.
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2001 |
Jan |
05/01/01 |
10 best films of 2000 |
Jul |
06/07/01 |
Closed to business |
12/01/01 |
Orgasms: Readers' ways to tell |
13/07/01 |
The good old days |
19/01/01 |
Advertisements are just business tactics |
20/07/01 |
Was that you? |
26/01/01 |
The 'whole nine yards' |
27/07/01 |
The hunt is on |
Feb |
02/02/01 |
Another incorrect diagnosis |
Aug |
03/08/01 |
A question of character |
09/02/01 |
Upper strata women sought |
10/08/01 |
A flourishing scam |
16/02/01 |
Variation on a theme |
17/08/01 |
Farangs as fall guys |
23/02/01 |
African An offer to co-eds |
24/08/01 |
Immortality beckons |
Mar |
02/03/01 |
Beware the scams around us |
30/11/01 |
Cost benefit analysis |
09/03/01 |
Equal and opposite |
Sep |
07/09/01 |
Figuring it out |
16/03/01 |
Some mixed marriages work |
14/09/01 |
Who needs tourists? |
23/03/01 |
Songkran is no longer fun |
21/09/01 |
Soul survivor |
30/03/01 |
Restrooms and demimondaines |
28/09/01 |
Double whammy |
Apr |
06/04/01 |
Convenient stereotypes |
Oct |
05/10/01 |
Each to their own |
13/04/01 |
The passport scam |
12/10/01 |
Paying the price |
20/04/01 |
Playing it by numbers |
19/10/01 |
Ode to New York |
27/04/01 |
Gypping is the locals' birthright |
26/10/01 |
Booze, bombs and bars |
May |
04/05/01 |
Hangovers and HIV |
Nov |
02/11/01 |
In search of sense |
11/05/01 |
Objective deception |
09/11/01 |
Makeway for the fembots |
18/05/01 |
Putting a price on fun |
16/11/01 |
Danger in the dark |
25/05/01 |
Cyberbabes |
23/11/01 |
The 'ao dais' have it |
Jun |
01/06/01 |
The Spirit of '76 |
30/11/01 |
Similar yet different |
08/06/01 |
The conmen cometh |
Dec |
07/12/01 |
Thanks for the memories |
15/06/01 |
Out of Africa |
14/12/01 |
The good old days? |
22/06/01 |
Tea and sympathy |
21/12/01 |
Search and deploy |
29/06/01 |
You, I and the column |
28/12/01 |
From spirited to spiritual |
17-Aug-2001: Bangkok Post changes web publishing formats and the Real.Time era begins.
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2002 |
Jan |
04/01/02 |
Celluloid appraisal |
Jul |
05/07/02 |
Dropping the other shoe |
11/01/02 |
Busts on bars a cop-out |
12/07/02 |
Is the premise valid? |
18/01/02 |
What price virtue? |
19/07/02 |
A high price to pay |
25/01/02 |
Numbers that count |
26/07/02 |
In the eye of the beholder |
Feb |
01/02/02 |
Put a cork in it |
Aug |
02/08/02 |
Phoneys at the petrol pump |
08/02/02 |
System on a down |
09/08/02 |
Sexotic competition |
15/02/02 |
It's a fair cop |
16/08/02 |
Cross my heart |
22/02/02 |
Paperwork and pile-ups |
23/08/02 |
Unfortunate figures |
Mar |
01/03/02 |
Comparative advantages |
30/08/02 |
You can bet on it |
08/03/02 |
Cynicism has its place |
Sep |
06/09/02 |
The Laotian connection |
15/03/02 |
Beep, beep... bang! |
13/09/02 |
Wear a moneybelt |
22/03/02 |
The lush's lament |
20/09/02 |
A complex problem |
29/03/02 |
Ignorance is bliss |
27/09/02 |
Hope floats for the subway |
Apr |
05/04/02 |
It's a wash out |
Oct |
04/10/02 |
Publicans staying put |
12/04/02 |
Keep the country clean |
11/10/02 |
Cruel solution |
19/04/02 |
A deed praised |
18/10/02 |
A touch of exotica |
26/04/02 |
Cotton Mather gets his wish |
25/10/02 |
Bin Looney's bar fixation |
May |
03/05/02 |
Beating the odds |
Nov |
01/11/02 |
Sitting ducks |
10/05/02 |
Talking trash |
08/11/02 |
Gullible and greedy |
17/05/02 |
What readers want |
15/11/02 |
A New Yorker's plea |
24/05/02 |
Scammers make a fortune |
22/11/02 |
Chinese mafia get into the act |
31/05/02 |
Bars aren't brothels |
29/11/02 |
Mistake's theirs, problem yours |
Jun |
07/06/02 |
Bad-mannered and over here |
Dec |
06/12/02 |
Grace out of favour |
14/06/02 |
The celebration is on |
13/12/02 |
Night workers feel the squeeze |
21/06/02 |
Is she already wed? |
20/12/02 |
Loud and clear |
28/06/02 |
The pendulum will swing back |
27/12/02 |
Your guess is as good as mine |
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2003 |
Jan |
03/01/03 |
Tinseltown trash |
Jun |
06/06/03 |
Camp followers |
10/01/03 |
New Year's Eve fiasco |
13/06/03 |
Quiet valour |
17/01/03 |
Highway tales |
20/06/03 |
Etched in stone |
24/01/03 |
Scam letter takes holy turn |
27/06/03 |
Variation on old trick |
31/01/03 |
Grin and bear it |
July |
04/07/03 |
Strange fruit |
Feb |
07/02/03 |
Never ending story |
11/07/03 |
Bright ideas |
14/02/03 |
Nigerians talk back |
18/07/03 |
Wife on the loose |
21/02/03 |
High and dry |
25/07/03 |
Counting their lucky stars |
28/02/03 |
Trouble on the pitch |
Aug |
01/08/03 |
The good, the bad and the ugly |
Mar |
07/03/03 |
The Secretary's early beginnings |
08/08/03 |
Home-made bombs |
14/03/03 |
Two-tier pricing all over |
15/08/03 |
Proper English |
21/03/03 |
One born every minute |
22/08/03 |
Theory doesn't hold water |
28/03/03 |
No credible threat |
29/08/03 |
A cry for help |
Apr |
04/04/03 |
A ghoulish business |
Sep |
05/09/03 |
Those were the days |
11/04/03 |
Seeking a decent wage |
12/09/03 |
The marrying game |
18/04/03 |
Keeping up with the times |
19/09/03 |
-unknown- |
25/04/03 |
The injustice of survival |
26/09/03 |
-unknown- |
May |
02/05/03 |
Safety first |
Oct |
03/10/03 |
What's in a name? |
09/05/03 |
Car thieves seem a step ahead |
10/10/03 |
Compassionate indifference |
16/05/03 |
Idiomatic phrase has elusive origin |
17/10/03 |
Eastbound downers |
23/05/03 |
Where in the world is 'Frawco'? |
24/10/03 |
Macho maelstrom |
30/05/03 |
Out for a breath of fresh air |
31/10/03 |
Making a virtue of theft |
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