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I think that for the most part in the M-T-L-C-V countries, the governments don't stand in the "take care" position with the people. Thaksin Shinawatra certainly took steps in that direction in Thailand (for his own reasons), but the conservative/royalist/military/bloc seems to have accepted those steps only begrudgingly (witness the current junta's shitty first steps towards universal income payments to help ease the COVID-19 crisis, finding only 9 million people eligible). I think there was a headline where some government agency was boasting it had created 300 jobs for people displaced by COVID-19. Big f***ing whoop. What these countries do have are the underlying social structures that have been in place long before the rise and fall of "mere" governments: the family, the village (or local communities) and the temple. (I'm less confident of this start as far as VN is concerned, because I think perhaps during the more oppressive communist years there may have been more damage to these sorts of undergoing structures.) Sometimes people here question the idea of the guys sending so much of their earnings home to "mom", but the flip side is that there is a home for them to go to and, out in the countryside, plenty of food. Temples are arranging food distribution - and in the non-urban areas temples have always played that role with the "excess" daily offerings. Also, in Bangkok and I read Pattaya, bars and NGOs are stepping up. SWING Foundation in Bangkok has been providing food and supplies and has stayed open to provide medical services to the gay/trans "service worker" (sex worker) community. Patpong Museum has been helping out also, but I assume their focus is the bar girls. COVID Thailand Aid - I've posted about them before - is providing food and supplies to the elderly and at risk community in the Khlong Toey slums and more recently throughout much of Thailand. Another organization based in Klong Toey that has been stepping up is the marvelous Duang Prateep Foundation. I am sure all through would welcome donations. So, for the most part, I don't expect the government to do much. But I think the local people in the community will make the difference. On a side note, the guys I worry about are the guys who for one reason or another, don't have a family situation where they can go back home, and have stayed in BKK.

I thought I would post together some suggestions rather than create separate threads for them. I love to surf the internet, and find many things I like to share here. But it's not "The Lucky Pub" so I don't want to have too many threads with my name on them. (Someone will no doubt tell me when there are too many!) My first one I will title BUZZ AND TOMMY- What's The True Story? It comes from the several websites. A picture of two very handsome guys, perhaps taken around 1949... So, what's the story? Were they lovers? Is it a good-bye note, perhaps at the end of summer? Your guess is as good as mine. Blogger Andy Towle posts some suggestions and invites yours: https://www.towleroad.com/2020/04/life-guards-buzz-tommy/

Franklin is one of the biggest human turds on earth. His own father delivered one of the most quietly cutting condemnations I have ever heard. When a journalist asked Billy what he thought about his son calling Islam “very wicked and evil,” Billy simply replied, “I have many friends in that part of religion.”

That was very diligent of you! Plus we got to remember the once prolific poster EXPAT.

Did anyone notice this thread started six years ago? No one responded until now!

exactly, there is a sliding scale, and that's because (a) nobody has ever tried this whole virus containment thing on this scale before and (b) there are vastly different cultures to contend with. In Sweden with a highly educated population with a high sense of responsibility and mutual trust (both among the people and between people and government) you can do (or try) that way. In other countries (notably Thailand), you can not. They know their habits and that allowing alcohol may and will lead to lots of unwanted parties = potential virus spreading. so, as @traveller123 said, there is logic. Your assessment of "vindictive" seems a very subjective, western view.

A friend worked in an adult book store for a few months after college. Let's just say he was a little too attractive for that job.

CIRCUS of BOOKS Movie on Netflix Out on April 22d...the bookstore itself closed in 2017. This LA bookstore closed in 2017. It was very popular. I was once a big fan...but a movie about it? I guess I'd like to see it! Here's an article about the closing: https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2017/06/circus-of-books-the-final-chapter.html There was an art exhibit devoted to it: https://www.boyculture.com/boy_culture/2019/03/the-circus-is-coming-to-town-a-review-of-circus-of-books-at-fierman.html

Actually, I was not responding. I did not want to open a new thread, searched for the title of the movie, and this post showed up. No Twilight Zone explanation.

Your note on the self-categorizations gay vs queer is priceless. I am absolutely not the former. I like everything. I think this public-self-labeling pressure forces many into a narrower self-image than is necessary or reality-based.

Looks like a fun film to watch. Thank you!

https://ilikepinga.com/2020/04/14/gerontophilia/

Khao Sad Road ...

A photo in today's NY Times grabbed my attention as I immediately sought to identify the guys in the picture whom I thought were cute. You might do the same... How many did you find? If you read the accompanying article, you will get a hint: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/13/t-magazine/butch-stud-lesbian.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=T Magazine Yup, butch lesbians are getting their due or at least a start for it. None of those pictured are male. Right?

My guys will have to wear condoms, face masks, and socks!

yup, and the number of recovered patients is now larger than the number of hospitalized ones. The number of new recoveries is outstripping the new reported infections and, assuming the new cases remain on their declining trend, will continue to do so. Given new infection numbers from about 2+ weeks ago we should expect around 100 new daily recoveries in the coming week or two, leading to further declines in active cases. Fingers crossed!

And the longer that the lockdown continues in various countries the greater the chance that we will see similar mass 'rebellions' Trouble is the lockdowns are demonstratably making awful situations far less awful than they might otherwise have been - but it will be an increasingly hard message to sell to bored and frustrated families as the weeks continue.

The number of new Covid-19 cases is declining every day the past 5 days in Thailand. That’s a good sign!

Medical professionals across the globe are doing just that; trying to save lives as much as possible. It is however very hard to do when you don't have the resources to test as much as we need to. Testing and isolation protocols should have been activated a long long time based on the advice the medical community gave to political leaders across the globe, but here we are. It is true we can't have economies shut down for an extended period of time, it will spell dire consequences for the world economy and mental health. it is very easy to apportion blame right now, but there is no easy way around this because in a sense we are a tad bit late, so all we can do is to save as many lives that walk through our doors. As for the issue of immunity. Humans are not too great on forming immunity when it comes such seasonal viral infection. The most we have seen in terms of immunity to viruses in this family is 3 years post infection where as some formed an immunity for just 1 year post infection. Unfortunately as the name suggests this Coronavirus is too novel for us to have concrete answers as to how long we form an immunity and how good that immunity is. There are several factors that go into the production of antibodies that help us form this immunity, so for now the general consensus is that people will have some form of immunity but the question is how good/deep this immunity is and for how long does the immunity last. This is all uncharted waters and we are collecting as much data as we can to make informed recommendations as we go along. But it is very difficult when you uncooperative political associates making life harder by dismissing recommendations which would have gone a long way to save lives a long time ago and now. In short, Testing was very important and still is important, we have found that early intubation and ventilation is key to survival (there are not enough ICU beds and ventilators in the world for that). those drugs being thrown around might mitigate some of the respiratory inflammatory response to the viral infection but they are not curative. Way forward; if we are able to truly enforce social and physical distancing, the curve will flatten a little quicker, the plateau of the various models will be shorter and the decline steeper. this will mean less strain on us, healthcare, ICU personnel and resources, PPEs, we can open up our ORs for elective surgeries again. less strain on the economy and I can go back to getting railed and shagging my way through Brazil again. i can't fucking do that if i am permanently scarred from wearing those Goggles for 12-16 hours and mentally scarred from intubating and calling families about their loved one that died alone!!! but i digress lol My two cents but I will let the multitalented experts on this forum make the final call though.

From Khaosod English ‘Not Enough Money,’ Prayut Slashes 3-Month Relief Program BANGKOK — Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday said the government may be able to pay only one month of the promised three-month cash relief package for workers affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The government had earlier planned to give 5,000 baht cash handout to temporary, contract, and self-employed workers who are not covered by the social security system for three consecutive months, beginning this April. Officials also said the program might even be extended for six months, if the pandemic does not subside. But speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting this afternoon, Prayut said the government is struggling to secure funding for the next round of handouts. “I feel sympathetic and sorry for the people,” Prayut said. “I have to admit that the government had initially planned to allocate the 50 billion baht budget to help three million people for three months.” He went on, “But since more than 9 million people signed up for the program, the government could only give it for one month to cover all affected people.” PM Prayut said he will propose slashing 10 percent of each ministerial budget and pushing a 1 trillion baht loan bill into the parliament to help top up funding for the program. However, he does not expect these solutions to arrive any time soon. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2020/04/15/not-enough-money-prayut-slashes-3-month-relief-program/