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From Thai Examiner Thailand’s Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan has disclosed that a further 10,000 foreign English language teachers are to be invited to Thailand to help in his efforts to transform the country’s beleaguered education system and to attract inward investment. The announcement is a volte-face from the policy of the previous junta government which emphasised teaching Thai teachers the language and reducing the number of foreign teachers in the system. The Thai Minister of Education has revealed that the government has approved funding for the recruitment of ten thousand native English language speakers in addition to seven thousand already working within the country’s severely challenged education system. Mr Nataphol Teepsuwan was appointed to the cabinet in July last year and since his appointment has shown an interest in reaching out to countries outside Thailand for help in recalibrating the Thai education system particularly to attract inward investment. Ailing Thai education system needs reform Thailand’s education system derives in character from a huge public network of schools and institutions established throughout the kingdom overseen by a cumbersome and top-heavy state bureaucracy which includes not only the ministry of education but a range of other state agencies in addition to oversight from provincial administrations. The system is facing a crisis with lower educational standards being achieved and rising problems including the key and intractable issue of teachers falling into debt. In addition, there is also a divergence between the standards of education across establishments at all levels from well funded international schools in Bangkok to the poorest public schools in rural areas. Despite this, Thailand’s system of education is quite elaborate and sophisticated in many respects but the system, including the vocational education sector is designed for a society in Thailand which is still looking inward with an emphasis on careers in the military, police or the civil service and old fashioned divisions in societal roles. It is also a well-disciplined environment with a great commitment shown by families and students at all levels of a society which highly values education. The minister made his statement this weekend while addressing a conference of international schools in Bangkok.

Blacklist (2019) There are some criminal activities going on in highschool. Not gay, some cute faces and some familiar actors including Ohm Pawat, maybe all of them a tit too young. Altough the story doesn't probably make too much sense, there is a lot of action going on and it is quite entertaining. No tissues needed. Available on youtube in the gmmtv-channel. Approved for lockdown by 10tazione.

I feel a laptop or motorbike purchase coming up

Vinapu provides sound advice. I've talked with guys who have been taken on trips like this by falangs and while they can be much enjoyed, free-time is important to them. It may be good for you, too! I don't know where you are going but it's possible your friend may have people whom he knows nearby. It would be a real treat for him to meet up.

Love by chance 2 already started with 3 episodes aired so far

Yes I agree. 'Sotus' , 'Love Sick' , 'Gay OK Bangkok' and 'Make it right' all those series's the sequel was much better than primary season. I have huge expectations from the upcoming sequels : Freind Zone 2 Love by chance 2 My engineer 2 2 moons 3 Tharntype 2

I'm also in the camp of 3000 / day. This is what I paid on few of such occasions. I always asked him what his expectations are. Whey they expected less, I made it to 3000/day by way of parting bonus. If they wanted more I counter offered to 3000 and it was accepted. But honestly 20000 i.e 2000 / day would be reasonable as I doubt now even most popular guys get offed that often and 20000 is still sizable amount of money. Of course off fee for bar is on top of it. If you want economize, try to negotiate discount with bar, they may go for it those days. Or even better leave it to the boy - give him money and tell him if he manages to get discount , leftover is his. I'd not mention any parting bonus as it may create unwarranted expectations. Is better to surprise him at the end. 10 days is a long time, make sure you give him few hours daily to do whatever he wants and tell him in advance you will need the same. To boost his face arrange for him to pay bills when you are dining or taking trip somewhere together. This makes an impression in eyes of bystanders both of you are on even footage. Also , even if money is yours you may notice they will tend to order less costly menu items. It doesn't look good if you spend on the dinner the same amount you pay him as daily rate. You know all of that but other readers may find it useful

Riding the bike for shopping instead of taking the bus

From Thai Examiner Thais losing Baht 8 billion per day Thailand is facing a mounting bill for its draconian policy of sealing off the kingdom from foreign tourism and normal passenger flights. A Krung Thai Bank report this week warns that it might take Thailand at least 4 years to recover while its daily losses and impact on GDP may even rise in the first quarter of next year without dramatic action due to last year’s historical base. The economic impact of this situation has already become structural. Krung Thai Bank, through its economic analysis unit, is warning that Thailand could be on the verge of a structural economic change due to the loss of its vast foreign tourism industry, formerly one of the most significant in the world, which it predicts may not return to anything like normality until 2025 as the economic impact of Covid 19 virus measures appear to be more severe than anticipated. As the Thai government ponders on whether it will take a chance and reopen the kingdom to even a limited and controlled form of foreign tourism, the economic analysis arm of Krung Thai Bank has revealed that the kingdom is losing over ฿ 8 billion a day on lost tourism revenue alone since early April.

It looks that in 2nd season his character is more mellow that in 1 st when he was very vivid

I have to laugh just a little bit at Michaels Post. Having know him for close to 20 years and having traveled with him to a few countries , I can say none of the replies to his questions have even come close to what he has already thought as a minimum. Not only that the boy is likely to never be treated any better and feel less like a money boy than when he makes this trip with Michael. Also if the boy is smart and treats Michael less as a client but as a friend he likely will get considerably more than the amount agreed upon. Hopefully Michael has found the Boy he deserves for this trip!!!!!

In general before the apademic long term vacation rate for boys at BKK was around 3k and at Pattaya 2k not include bar fee if you are taking him from a bar ,in the current situation I assume boys will more flexible and will agree to go for less ,as Vinapu advised you can try get a discount for the bar fee for such a long period with the boy from my experience I doubt they will reduce the daily fee but you can try . I also agree with Vinapu try not to eat at high end restaurants and spending lavish amounts in shopping and other things (unless you buy him too) on yourself it may look bad in the boy point of view that you are spending much more money on this things compare to what you are paying him and he might be offended.

Not quite comparable you might argue, but I had a Pattaya agogo lad stay with me for two weeks last trip as my long-time and paid him 2k baht a day plus his off-fee of 600 baht a night. We went out, partied, shopped occasionally, various trips and went out bar-hopping each night together, and he was content, indeed happy, with his remuneration. In fairness, although he works bar, he is heavily sponsored and was not short of cash. But with you providing quality resort hotel, well fed and entertained for 10 days in the current financial/tourist climate, he might well have snatched your hand off for 1k baht day.

and after watching 4 episodes I have an impression that 2 season is faster paced making it more interesting to watch , for me at least. Yes , while characters are the same whole cast is new. Out of main charaters I find Wayo and Fourth better looking in new incarnation By the way , is not first time than sequel of Thai BL is better than primary season, Dark Blue Kiss and Thogether With Me Next Chapter are coming to mind

From Channel News Asia Rising night temperatures a potentially major health issue in Asian metropolises BANGKOK: Prasert Saisamphan’s home used to be a breezy space, surrounded by trees. Now, the 65-year-old finds it hard to breathe, surrounded by confining concrete and the dust of a growing city. “When I was about 20 years old, condominiums were not built here yet. The weather was nice and cool. We only used a fan in the evening. No one had an air-conditioner in my house,” he said. “Now, there’s less air. It feels like I can’t take a deep breath.” The view from Prasert’s house in Klong Khlang in central Bangkok is dominated by the towering pylons of an expressway, and in the distance, seemingly ever-growing residential towers. “It’s hot this year. It’s so hot that the electricity charges significantly rise. It’s so hot that I installed water sprinklers on the roof. It’s so hot that I need water spray. It feels doubly hot compared to last year,” said Jurairat Kruephimai, another local resident. The heat they feel is not imagined. The effect of a phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI) is in force in Bangkok, causing the maximum temperatures to rise higher than the surrounding areas. It is particularly felt at night. Roads, buildings and other concrete urban infrastructure absorb solar radiation during the day and release it slowly at night, causing an increase in temperature. Vehicles add to the issue as well as the clearing of green spaces to make way for new construction. Dr Sigit Dwiananto Arifwidodo from Kasetsart University has extensively studied UHI in the Thai capital. In 2012, one of his studies found that the maximum temperature difference between urban and rural areas was 7 degrees Celsius. And up to 2018, he noted that temperatures amplified by UHI continued to increase year on year. “Higher temperatures because of the urban heat island effect are rising every year. At first, we were surprised,” Dr Arifwidodo told CNA. “When we map it out, the area that is a hotspot is getting bigger and bigger. The latest one where we used the data from 2018, it’s almost the whole of Bangkok.” Bangkok is not alone in having to contend with the UHI problem - it is increasing in regularity and magnitude across Asian cities, as urban areas expand, green areas decrease and poor air ventilation stifles dense spaces. While hot temperatures in the day pose risks for workers exposed to prolonged periods outdoors, research shows that it is at night when more damage can be done, in the form of heat stroke or exhaustion. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/urban-heat-island-asia-bangkok-singapore-climate-change-health-13098858

I feel the bigger question is whether the Covid Tests are at all accurate. How can you test negative and one-day later test positive?? The Saliva Test is especially suspect. But it is now being used at many Colleges and Schools in the USA.

thank you. I hope too but I decided it's better not expect to much for opening soon .Nice surprise is much better than bitter disappointment

I recall Mattis was the one in the Cabinet that refused to profess fealty to the President, and instead mentioned his duty to those serving in uniform. Here is discussion of Woodward's book, that Mattis recognized how dangerous Trump was to the Country.

You and I and many others are doing it. But not the members discussing presidential projects. Not a new subject: See: Smith, Margaret Chase et al. "The Right Man for the Big Job," The New York Times Magazine April 3, 1960, 27, 120-122. Predicting presidential elections was very popular in the 1960 by academics and journalist Neunstadt, Richard E. Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership. New York Signet Ed, 1964 Kennedy and Johnson loved Neunstadt, he is forgotten now

When Adolf Hitler or Mad Dog Mattis, the Butcher of Fallujah starts talking about people not having "moral compasses" , shit's getting thick. Mattis supervised the Marines who went through Iraq dragging 4 - year old children out into streets and putting bullets in their heads. Trump pardoned the last of these butchers. Mattis had already pardoned all the others . Don't use major war criminals for character references for or against. 1,000,000 Iraqis were butchered by the US. under Mattis.