Gay tax break, buffalo challenge, measuring up in the members' lounge

Mario

Superstar actor Mario Maurer has just turned 20, and is getting a shock lesson in how the adult world works. On the day of his birthday last Thursday, Mario found himself in a tug of love between two gay promoters, facing a possible legal suit, and trouble with the taxman.

The Love of Siam star has fallen out with his gay manager Coco in a dispute over taxes, which could result in legal action.

'A'

Mario declared on Tuesday that he was joining the stable of rival promoter Supachai ''A'' Sriwichit, who is also gay.

For months, Mario has stuck by Coco, brushing off rumours that he would join promoter A, whose clients include A-list actress Patcharapa ''Aum'' Chaichuea - and Mario's singer girlfriend, Sumontip ''Koop Kip'' Leuangthai.

When Koop Kip joined A's stable, journalists speculated that it was only a matter of time before Mario followed. More recently, he started staying the night at A's Rama 3 home, for the sake of convenience.

However, Coco says he was nonetheless shocked by Mario's decision to leave. His contract with Mario has yet to run out, and he could ask a court to insist he sticks by it.

Apologising to the media for spinning a misleading image of his young charge, Coco says he no longer wants to cover up for his errant ways. If girlfriend Koop Kip told him not to bother showing up for a job, he wouldn't go - leaving Coco to carry the can.

Coco says he took 20% of Mario's earnings, but paid tax on his behalf for the whole amount, which left him out of pocket. One report says that in the last year, Mario earned at least 10 million baht.

The tax department called him in when it noticed how much he was earning. ''Mario accused me of telling the taxman that he wasn't paying his taxes. Why would I do such a thing?''

Mario's mother Waranya says she had asked Coco for tax receipts, but Coco never handed them over. When Coco called saying he had run into problems and wanted Mario to pay more in tax, she decided to drop him as manager.

Promoter A, a friend and distant relative of Mario's Mum, denies trying to snatch Mario away from Coco, who signed up Mario before he became famous. Mario, for his part, denies that in spurning Coco he is being ungrateful.

He denied they parted over money - though he might have to eat his words if the taxman pays a visit. Let's hope Mario's savings account is in sound shape.-

2.

Ad Carabao

Mixing art with politics can be a messy business, as singer ''Ad'' Carabao must know.

The ''song for life'' singer - a champion of working class heroes standing up against big business - has joined the gubernatorial campaign of independent candidate Kaewsan Atipho, a staunch critic of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

So far, so good. Yet it was only at the weekend that Ad criticised protest group People's Alliance for Democracy, which hates billionaire Thaksin.

Ad Carabao, from the folk-rock band Carabao, joins the team as an arts and cultural adviser. Once a PAD fan, he turned against the group when it occupied the city's main airports.

The Manager newspaper, strident mouthpiece of the protest group, says that Ad was once admired for his ''high political ideals''.

However, the principled idealist started to ebb away when Ad Carabao started promoting an energy drink (dirty capitalist!). Finally the ruthless pragmatist in him triumphed, when he criticised PAD for its< airport occupation.

Speaking to fans at a weekend concert in Khao Yai, Ad (real name,Yuenyong Ophakul), said two friends from low-cost carrier Thai Air Asia lost their jobs as a result of the eight-day occupation, which forced the airports to close. He said Thaksin helped the poor, and the PAD was dragging the economy further into the mire. Oops! So just where do you stand, Ad?

At Kaewsan's campaign launch, Ad declined to comment further on his beef with the PAD, and denied siding with the Thaksinites.

Still upset about his traitorous anti-PAD remarks, Manager readers are making fun of him in his new role. One reader welcomed Ad as culture adviser, and said his anti-PAD remarks have helped him make up his mind who to support at the election.

''Ad rides a Harley, drinks German beer, sips French wine, takes over protected forests, bets on cock fighting, and sides with a convicted politician who ripped off the country. A fine choice.''-

3.

Celebrity fortune-teller to the stars, Mor Krit Confirm, has been spotted with a woman even younger than his tender 22 years. Mor Krit (real name, Sukrit Patumsriwiroj) is fond of making predictions about celebrities' fortunes and love lives, as he sets about making a name for himself.

''Mor Krit Confirm!'' he says at the end of his predictions, to give them extra oomph. Dara Daily gossip rag snapped him at a department store in the company of a young woman friend, who tried to hide her face.

She evidently didn't want to be photographed with him, though Mor Krit, the magazine says, has been taking her everywhere – wai-ing this person here; wai-ing someone else whom he wants impress over there. It's as if to say he is proud of her and is sure her looks can hold up against those of any celebrity,'' it says.

So, does Mor Krit like ''eating young grass'' as the Thai has it? ''Confirm!'' says the headline.-

4.

Fluke

Playboy actor Krerkpol ''Fluke'' Masayawanit is upset after a gossip columnist claimed his penis is small, and has challenged the writer to measure it if she still has any doubts.

''You can write anything you like about me - I am a Casanova, a flirt, unfaithful - just don't say my manhood is small, as I know it's not,'' says Fluke defensively, who invited the columnist to visit him so she could measure it accurately.

''I am sure this gossip hasn't come from someone close to me - if the source is someone I know, they would know it's not small at all,'' he boasted. Journalists were asking him about his latest love interest, but Fluke, they say, quickly lost interest and started holding forth about the impressive size of his ''jao lork'' instead. Sensitive, are we?-
5.

Peck

Hey, it's just my Dad – not my sugar daddy! Grammy singer Palitchoke Peck'' Ayanaputra is unhappy about wild speculation in the Thai press about whether he likes men.

 Scribes spot him out and about with close friend actress Busarin ''Fai'' Mahotan – and assume they are together just to stifle the gay rumour which surrounds him.

However, even worse is when they jump to conclusions about his Dad. These days I can hardly be seen with anyone. I go out somewhere with my Dad...and suddenly, I am seeing a sugar daddy. That's too ugly for words,'' he says.