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Nor should you. Trump is hardly the first idiot to reach high office. The world has a great deal for which to be thankful to America. But like all countries - all - it has had its less good moments and its faults. I on the other hand will rail against Boris Johnson to any who might listen (seemingly not many!). Its hard to find words for his utter failure with the pandemic and the deaths of so many. Just saying other countries are as bad doesn't cut it with me. A dear friend of some decades died of covid 19 last week. I will never forgive Johnson for that. But in my earlier posts referring to freedoms, I was not specifically referring to politics. I know it is not readers view and I respect his. But I absolutely believe that unfettered freedom of speech is no longer an option in these days and times. I go back to my earlier point that almost the entire world now lives in groups and societies. These only work within a framework of rules. Break the rules and there are penalties. Society cannot work without that. If we are in a pub and I call someone a pathetic moron, I would expect either his drink to be thrown at me or a punch in the face. Freedoms have consequences. Yet if I do that on the internet and social media, I get away with it scot free. Those contributing to this forum are mostly from an older pre-internet age. Youngsters nowadays build their lives around social media. They can mostly say exactly what they like without consequence. If their correspondent calls them out, they can just block him. Social interaction between people has changed a great deal and there will no doubt be further changes. If anyone wants unrestricted freedoms, their only option to my mind is to isolate them in the depths of a thick forest where they are totally on their own. But I absolutely take on board that finding a workable and acceptable middle ground between near total freedom of speech and the curtailed freedoms of an increasing number of countries is close to impossible. I do think though we have to try. I could never give up my freedom to think what i wish. Even so I am happy in quite a number of cases and events to self-censor myself. But I know that there is an increasing number for which this form of self-censorship is just that - censorship and to them that is unacceptable.

Reading this thread, it’s easy to conclude that most posters find it difficult to accept that a nation of this wealth and history of achievement—over a relatively short span of time—could have possibly produced a megalomaniac like our out-bound president. He did it by persuading people that he and only he understood the reasons for whatever troubled them and he and only he could remedy them. Even Trump was surprised that it was so easy. For four long years the country was put through a grinder of his, and his Senate cohorts’, efforts to remake government to fit their image. The more outrageous he became, the more it seemed to work. He continues to this day to push the envelope even in the face of abject defeat. Trump isn’t the first person in the world to stumble on this formula for the acquisition of power. The Fuhrer pounced on it in Germany in the 1930’s and he, too, was a bit shocked how simple it was once you got the knack of it. Other leaders around the world today have followed a similar track to power. And although there are still many in Trump world who hang on his every word, slowly but perceptively there are definite signs that people have had enough. It is no where more evident than in the state of Georgia where Republican office holders and key GOP appointees feel increasingly free to speak out against him and his lies. For those who aren’t following what’s happening in Georgia, there’s a runoff election next month to determine the winners of two critical seats in the Senate. Should Democrats win both (a long shot for sure), control of the upper chamber would shift away from Republican hands. Many believe (and I’m one of them) that the Senate is a more valuable prize than the presidency. Yes, the presidency has broad executive powers but the Senate can out maneuver the White House with its budgetary authority and its power of “advise and consent” to cabinet positions and other key appointments. None are more critical in the grand scheme of things than who sits on the Supreme Court. Returning to the topic of freedom of expression, I look at it this way. When I ask myself what rights I personally hold dear as a US citizen I always come up back to two. First is the right to say what I think without fear from the government. Second, it’s freedom from illegal search and seizure: to be secure in my home. If someone has those than others freedoms flow from them. Trump did, and is still doing, as much as possible to whittle away at those two concepts. I want to believe that more and more Americans will come to recognize this as time passes. Perhaps I’m optimistic but I have to hold on to that aspiration. Many different posters have contributed to this thread and all have expressed their opinions in a respectful way. That also gives me hope.

I have decided to try wring everyday then what i usually do and write just a couple of times about a trip and forget 1/2 the participants! (notice i said try!) this was written Friday morning i arrived today after a long flight from SNA to IAH to GRU to GIG! i think i am getting to old for this long ardourous flights it is much better to do a overnight in Miami if you are flying from the west coast! I got to the apartment in Ipanema then the ATM and was back by 3:00pm to welcome my first visitor! he is a very handsome bodybuilder that i have known for 9 years. He is planning on coming over every afternoon when he gets off of work He left about 5:30 and i headed over to Pointe202 sauna not expecting much since thursday is a weak night for all the saunas...and i was 1/2 right! i was the only client and there were 12 guys working! i thrive in that kind of environment! But the surprising thing was quality of the guys!!6 out of the 12 were good looking by almost anyones standards and 3,of the remaining ones like were very decent looking(s as bu as we would say “you wouldn’t kick them out of bed) usually the slow nights have guys that find it difficult with the better looking or better body types letting them have the slow nights! i ordered a drink and within 2 minutes had 5 guys around me with the rest of the guys sitting within or standing 10’ away! I met a really personable 22yr olld there was one guy in particular who had a amazing personality, great body, big dick so he said i am active so i said let’s find a passive! i saw a muscular guy i had been with about a year ago but he was also a top but he came up to me and said “i will be passive for you” so the three of us went up to a room, and had a great time! I had to get back to the apartment by 9:00 because i had a overnight guest coming then to go to dinner and then spend the night. He was right on time! We went to Rayz for dinner on Farme de Amoedo, which used to be the center of gay nightlife but now 7 of the 10 restaurants in that block are permanently closed and shades of NYC and Weho buildings are being torn down to make way for condos! next ...Friday

From the Bangkok Post Fishermen relying on the Mekong River are seen in Muang district of Nakhon Phanom. (Photo by Pattanapong Sripiachai) writer: Wassayos Ngamkham CHIANG RAI: After almost two decades of campaigning against hydro-dams and water projects built on the Mekong River, local civic groups and conservationists finally launched the "Mekong People's Forum," with the hope of moving their campaign to a policy level. The forum was held on Dec 1–2 in Chiang Khong district, and attended by 200 people including local villagers, conservationists, journalists, and the US and Australian embassies in Bangkok. The Mekong People's forum is the name not just of the event held last week but also a movement of civic groups located in eight provinces. In the past, these groups had no name but they have now come together under the general name "Mekong People's Forum." The organiser also had extended an invitation to the China embassy in Bangkok, as the country also built 11 dams on the upper stretch of the Mekong River, and the Lancang River in Chinese territory. The Chinese embassy, however, did not send anyone to attend the event, according to Niwat Roikaew, the head of a local conservation group known as Rak Chiang Khong and one of the activists who spearheaded the founding of the forum. "Local communities in eight provinces have campaigned against development schemes in the Mekong River for almost two decades," Mr Niwat said. "Those campaigns somehow went in different directions. The Mekong People's Forum will hopefully make campaigns move in a united direction and also leverage bargaining power with the authorities." There are eight Thai provinces located by the Mekong River. They are Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Phanom and Ubon Ratchathani. The resistance against infrastructure projects in the river started almost two decades ago when the Chinese government began blasting rapids in the upper Mekong River from Yunnan to Myanmar and Laos to clear the way for large commercial vessels. A protest campaign was started by Mr Niwat and another Chiang Rai conservationist, Somkiat Kuenwongsa. As the blasting got under way, the campaign ignited questions on the impact of projects on the river, and the movement snowballed into a bigger local campaign as more dams were built. China has built 11 dams on the upper Mekong River in its territory to generate power and Laos has built two hydro-dams and plans to develop several more on the Mekong. Over the past decade, local civic groups in eight provinces have campaigned against dam projects. Protest campaigns came in many forms including organising street protests, submitting petition letters, and raising local awareness, to systematic campaigns including filing lawsuits to the Administrative Court against the Thai government for buying power from dam projects. Early this year, the civic groups sent a proposal to the Bank of Thailand, asking it to impose tough regulations on Thai commercial banks that are now major creditors for dam projects in Laos. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, an anthropologist from Faculty of Social Sciences at Chiang Mai University, said the movement of Mekong People's Forum could add more positive changes to the local conservation movement for the Mekong River. "The Mekong People's Forum group create a new platform that can put local people on the negotiation table with international organisations or even super power countries that play a major role in the Mekong Region, like the US and China," Mr Chayan said. PNPCA is an environmental impact hearing process used by the Mekong River Commission (MRC). Under this process, riparian countries are asked to review trans-boundary impacts yet any decision is not binding. Laos reportedly continued building the Xayaburi dam and Don Sahong dam despite criticism. Foreign ambassadors from countries located an ocean away from the Mekong River region also voiced their concerns at the forum. Michael G Heath, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Bangkok, said the US was worried about the environmental impact of projects on the river because, in terms of policy, the US has a partnership with Asean. "So the Mekong River matters for us in terms of protecting natural resources," he said, adding during the past 11 years the US has provided financial assistance to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam for fair water resource sharing. David Braun, first secretary for the political and economic section at the Australian embassy in Bangkok, agreed with the villagers that the ecology of the Mekong River had been affected. He said the Australian government is worried about the issue as the country has a bilateral and regional partnership with countries in the Mekong River region on food security, water management and energy.

ok so i already missed several consecutive days... but i have a good reason i hae been busy but mostly with non sauna guys!! most were working in saunas for anywhere from a weekend to several years (one of my namorado is a current Brasilian jujitsu competitor, lasted 2 days working in the sauna and didn’t like it! I was his first customer his first day so not sure what that says about the!! Saturday was really slow at both pointe and 117, but then a stunning Black guy showed up who was not only “Modelesque” looking and had a amazing body and a huge dick!! b byte ty t y tug ty tuned putty to be a exceptionally nice guy too! i asked him the important questions “are you a good kisser?” (he showed me and he was!)but He is a top so we found a bottom both of us liked and the 3 of us went to a room! we are meeting again together tomorrow night! i then left for the apartment in Ipanema as my “namorado” was coming to spend the next 5 nights with me, which works for me as he works until 6:00pm and then goes to the gym and arrives at the apartment at 8:00, which gives me from 5:00 to 7:30 at the sauna! we are planning our 5th trip to Mérida Mexico in January! We went to a italian Pizzeria for dinner in Ipanema and it was amazingly good! Today Monday i have a guy i have known a long time coming over at 3:30 and then i am going to pointe202 tonight

Places like Toy Boys have always (at least in recent years) marketed themselves as 'boy bars' rather than just gay bars and female customers were always more than welcomed. Not that all the boys were quite so enthusiastic about that. I recall that one night, on a recent holiday, one of my regulars, a very handsome gay boy, broke off from his group of ladies that he was partying with in Toy Boys to come and have a quick word for a couple of minutes. I asked him if he was having a good time and he wrinkled his nose with a pained expression as he complained 'tonight I have to fuck lady' haha

The reduction in gay tourists visiting Pattaya has been discussed within several threads by members. There is no doubt that it has happened with numbers of older gays dwindling and not being replaced by younger. This is in contrast with the vast increase in family holiday makers and str sex tourists. I first visited in year 2000 and for me the attraction of the low priced facilities , the climate, the gay nightlife and especially of Asian boys has never faded. We have had to live with incursions. into OUR bars by Chinese ladies and onto OUR beach by females. I still do not understand why it has happened

Some of us forget that pre-Covid, the boy bars were mostly empty unless they had a Chinese following like Boyzboyzboyz and Toy Boys. For many reasons, the older gay farangs have dwindled in Pattaya except in Jomtien Complex..

Goes to show how gullible people have always been and still are, even in this day and age of information and internet. Or maybe even more so, because the world gets ever more complex, incomprehensible, intractable, worrying? Someone claiming to have it all under control with simple (even simplistic) formulas is appealing to many in such a world, even if utterly unrealistic. All the cultural and social achievements including a functioning democracy we in the West have come to take for granted are anything but. It takes a permanent effort by everyone to uphold and defend those achievements. The erosion of civilized political discourse does not bode well for that. Coming back to the thread topic, hopefully the simple decency promised by Biden (and I am 100% certain he will deliver on that promise, he already does) will be able to reverse some of the damage. Getting Republicans in their appalling state will be no easy task though. As for the Senate, you are right that it's probably the biggest prize. However, even if Democrats manage to get control through Georgia in January, it may well prove only temporary. There is just a kind of built-in advantage for Republicans to control that chamber given the make up of the countries. Too many rural states between the coasts.... I read an article about that somewhere just very recently, just can remember where lol, or else I'd post a link.

i am never to busy to talk to a friend from the board! if you are at Pointe202 tonight (there are 4 “boys” standing here right now! :-)

Spotted the legend @Tomcalbut as usual the table was too busy with a revolving door of guys to approach the throne lol.

One would think that it should not be an issue as bigger population should mean more voting stations but obviously it doesn't work that way there. If counting would take that long in countries like , say Bolivia, Nigeria or Thailand , West were screaming suspected fraud I'm pretty sure so no wonder some have doubts like PeterRS mentioned above. You are right about social media impact, information and "information' there is churning too fast, before we are able to assess it's accuracy there's something new coming. I'm pretty sure if one of our longstanding contributors posted that Thailand is opening from next Monday on many of us would start looking for ticket and packing before even thinking if that indeed makes sense.

If we go to straight strip club for women and all the gogo dancer rushed to the gays? Yeah i bet they will feel the same way. Having said that, i dont mind what gender comes to the bar. I do mind if the man i wanted suddenly grabbed by someone else, regardless of gender lol

I wonder how straight people feel when us gays visit their bars and shops.

If you liked it, @TotallyOz, watch the previous movie on this same story, featuring Simone Signoret, from the late 1970s (La vie devant soi). I found it much, much better, Loren notwithstanding.

same with me. It removes all the intiamcy.

I recall the old times in New York, when the slogan among the Irish was, 'vote early, vote often'!

I will let TomCal answer the Ipanema/Farme question, but wanted to note that there are two newer gay bars open in Copacabana. Nice to have these with the closer of Leboy a few years ago. Pink Flamingo located at R. Duvivier, 21, which is close to Copacabana Palace. I've been three or fours times and liked it, but prefer it before midnight with mostly music videos vs later when the music format turned to more electronic music without vocals. Black Cat located at Av. Princesa Isabel, 21, which is a cross from the large Hilton Hotel at the edge of Copacabana/Leme. I have not been yet but it was recommended by a couple guys in Rio for me to try.

On the weekends, the tourists are Thai people. The farang are a combination of expats and others who are on visas that have been extended, over and over. Jomtien bars are not full at night, actually quite empty. Most of the customers are expats and others who are also on extended visas. Your assumption is correct, few are choosing the two week quarantine other than husbands/wives with a Thai spouse.

I speak the French that is spoken in Montepellier, France. People in Pairs don't consider it "real" French. It has a lot of arabic and spanish words mixed in. But I do speak it. All more sylables. For us "bien" has four sylables and "oui" three sylables.

I don't believe that Vietnam offers a retirement visa. But if you're a citizen of one of the 13 countries with unilateral visa status, you can come close to similar benefits.

"Oxygen" is finished , quite a few dramatic moments throughout but last, 13th episode bit sugary with all puzzles falling into place to make everybody happy but it seems that business between two young doctors is not finished so we may expect sequel?

z909 came closest to reality. The last answer to the twitter thread can be translated as : "these are spy soldiers who secretly came here to catch the mob ; the place is the 11th Infantry Regiment quarters (that's probably so)". Note to thai readers : "natacha" means spies for obvious reasons. Google gave me the answer about where these quarters are located in Bangkok : Phahonyothin Road in Bang Khen area, just south of the well-known Laksi roundabout. And Google Street View could confirm this in an unmistakable way (picture below).

We both have long memories. It was on my very first trip that I observed this same scene. Tarntawan Place had sent a car to the airport and the driver got into the left traffic lane on Rama 4 in preparation for the turn onto Surawong. Traffic was very heavy as we crept along and I was wondering what all these cute young guys were doing on that block. After quickly showering and unpacking a few things, I walked back up Surawong to Rama 4. Although I had no idea where or what I was doing (other than engaging my hunting instincts), the smiles came quick and easy. The third or fourth guy took the few steps towards me, touched my arm and said, "we go your hotel." He informed me of the financial expectation (500) and that he was university student. I later learned that many of the others on that strip were also students or day workers supplementing their income. That was my brief but excellent introduction to Bangkok.

we spent all money on boys and can't even afford a mirror