The management of the Sunway Hotel has duly informed the Gecko that Viagra

is not being sold at the hotel. Apologies are also given for the insensitive remarks

made concerning who might or might not need the new drug. No offense was intended.

** One attendee at the UN-sponsored Human Rights Day celebration referred to

it as: "The most surreal event I've ever been to." The party was described

as the Clash of the Titans: sushi vs. human rights and the sushi won.

With the Japanese Embassy reception for the Emperor's Birthday the same evening,

most attendees listened to the speeches at the Cambodiana and then dashed off to

the Inter-Continental for the sumptous spread in honor of the Emperor. That left

only Sam Rainsy behind at the UN affair to watch the film on human rights.

** Ed Fitzgerald has confessed. He now admits that his weapons expertise is a

bit lacking.

Back in 1995 Ed had four Singaporean bigwigs in town to discuss with him a project

to do a promotional film for a new hotel. He took the guys upstairs in his office

where they noticed an AK-47 leaning against the wall. Ed picked up the weapon, pulled

out the ammo cartridge and then, so he thought, checked the slot.

"I don't know what happened," says Ed.

BANG. A round goes off and slams into the Venetian blinds. Everyone hits the deck

"white as sheets". Ten minutes later, nerves a bit calmed, one visiting

client says with a chuckle, "At least we know all your equipment works."

Ed says it was the first, only and last time he has fired an AK. And he even got

the film contract too.

** Be careful when you play pool as the stakes are getting higher. One UN

employee took the dare and lost. The penalty for dropping a game was one lap around

the table with trousers down to his ankles. His light blue boxer shorts were no doubt

a sign of devotion to the cause.

** One recently-appointed Funcinpec undersecretary of state may not have overwhelmed

his new staff. Early on the job, he began by meeting some civil servants in his charge

and started in Khmer "My name is..." but then switched to a language he

is more comfortable with and went on in English, telling all assembled how pleased

he was to have been appointed to the position.

** A Khmer-language paper reported that Nate Thayer is now Pol Pot #3. Apparently,

so the article says, because Nate did such an extensive interview with Pot, after

Brother #1's death his spirit entered Nate's body.