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From Thai Enquirer The cabinet on Tuesday approved measures to attract foreign investors and experts to Thailand for a long-term stay with a 10-year visa. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government’s spokesman, said that the measures should attract more than one million foreign investors and experts within five years, which should increase the amount of money spent in the economy by more than one trillion baht. “This includes 800 billion baht from the expected increase in investment and 270 billion baht from the expected increase in tax collections,” he said. The measures include: A 10-year “long-term resident visa,” also for spouse and children A work permit Exemption from foreign income tax Land and real estate ownership and rentership rights 90 days report not required No quota of hiring four Thais for every one foreign employee The four groups that can apply for the visa include: Wealthy global citizen: People with a high income of at least US$80,000 in income over the past two years and a minimum asset of $1 million Wealthy pensioner: Pensioners, age 50 and above, with a stable pension of at least $80,000 over the past two years Work-from-Thailand professional: Foreign workers with employers outside of Thailand, more than five years of working experience and make at least $80,000 over the past two years High-skilled professional: Professionals working in targeted industries such as future services, infrastructure buildings, logistical systems and digital systems who make at least $80,000 over the past two years https://www.thaienquirer.com/32668/cabinet-approves-long-term-10-year-visa-to-attract-foreigners/

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I have been wanting to write about my crazy adventures in Brazil. Because for the better part of the past year I have been living in Rio working remote. It’s been a life changing experience. Once I broke free of the GP scene (be careful it’s a trap). I discovered a whole new world! I have experienced places in Rio that I don’t think many Gringos or expats wouldn’t dare to venture to. Bailes in Mandu, São Joao, Penha, Providencia, CDD, Rocinha, Vidigal and so many other cool places. Which were all very safe for me because I used common sense. Also because I’m a young black man and I’m accompanied by other black Brazilians I never don’t feel safe. It’s been amazing getting to know people and really finding my place in the city. The experience of a younger bisexual black American man is a unique one. And it has gotten meinto some amazing situations. There are also some amazing parties outside the favelas gringos don’t go to. Park Bar in Lagoa on Wednesday night! When I do log in here I get a lot of questions about the sauna in Bangu. It’s called Boate Casa Grande google it for the address and all that info. It’s best on Sunday but open on Friday and one other day I don’t remember. Don’t pay more than 100 and don’t go if it’s raining. Invest in learning Portuguese, the past 6 months I’ve taken it serious and it feels great actually knowing what people are saying around you. I've also spent significant time in Bahia so if you have any questions lmk. And to think just a couple of weeks ago I found out the beach showers is where most people go to take a piss.Especially when the ocean is cold. Lol!!!

I am heading back to Rio and São Paulo the first week in October. i was last there in May, but now i will be flying from Miami instead of OC airport so a lot shorter flight!

Be sure to tell us about your visit! I want to know about the food and weather and...

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.

I agree with Bolsonaro being a big destructive force in Brazil. However, this destruction means less jobs and less money for the boys, and therefore more available boys. While I'd like Brazil, as Thailand, to succeed after COVID, while it sounds bad, I am definitely reaping the benefits in the interim. But is anything fun open? Ugh @reader. From your lips to god's ears. I am ready to go in December. Will they let me? Will there be anything open? Sad state of affairs indeed. I am not a wait and see guy. I am go and do. That's why I go to Brazil and do everything in sight. I went to this party last Sunday btw. Another story for another day... Yes to Europe, and I guess my schedule opened up and Brazil is back on. Sad that you had to cancel your trip. Someday I will see you at a boy bar and I'll buy you a drink @vinapu. So, any new news about reopening? Any new sandbox news?

Houston, we have a problem.

Good to hear !!! St.Olaf , MN will be eternally proud of her, it's most famous daughter by far

Thanks reader! The manager says they are Covid free...good enough for me. By the way....Do you happen to know if the guy getting a leg massage would like his middle leg rubbed?

The Bangkok Post's lead this morning is about the Oct. 1 re-opening but--unsurprisingly--it's woefully short on details. Nothing about what tourists (domestic, international), nothing about entry requirements, nothing about movement restrictions, nothing about insurance requirements. What is there a lot about? Phetchaburi . Tourism to reopen despite Covid, minister says Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has confirmed Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai will begin implementing their tourism reopening plans on Oct 1 as planned. The 21 other provinces will follow suit on Oct 15, he said on Tuesday, dispelling doubts over whether the government would be able to proceed with its plan in the face of the ongoing pandemic. Mr Phiphat admitted the high number of new Covid-19 infections is a major hindrance but said the ministry is fully prepared for the reopening. Asked about the 200 plus new cases of Covid-19 recorded daily in Phuket, he said these high figures stem from the province’s active case finding in every community, including migrant workers. Phuket was the first province to pilot the tourism reopening programme. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the ministry is fully prepared for the Oct 1 reopening. Phetchaburi is ready to reopen to tourists on Oct 1, with effective Covid-19 controls to reduce the threat of new infections, deputy provincial governor Natthawut Phetpromsorn said on Tuesday. Strict disease control measures remain in place to contain infection clusters, said Mr Natthawut. Bubble and seal measures applied at factories and markets have reduced the incidence of the disease, he said. Now that infections have dropped, Phetchaburi can prepare to reopen for tourism on Oct 1, in line with the government’s plan, he said. All sectors are well-prepared, he said, adding that tourists can have confidence that popular destinations such as Cha-am district are safe and free from the virus. Visitors could enjoy their stay in the province, said Mr Natthawut. Phetchaburi public health office chief Phetchakit Thaensawat said that 54% of targetted groups in the province have been vaccinated, comprising mainly people aged 60 years and over, and people with any of seven underlying conditions, and pregnant women. Vaccination would reach 70% when more vaccines arrive, Dr Phetchakit said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2181731/tourism-to-reopen-despite-covid-minister-says

It's why reader is so optimistic about the outlook boding well for continued strong job prospects for constructions workers.

Thank you , I hope to see you there as well, not only because of that drink☺️ I follow developments closely but I will not go when all those non-sensical sandboxy restrictions are in place. I can live with proof of vaccination and perhaps test before flight but that's about it. On another hand if they open I'll go even if bars will not be opened yet as I firmly believe that closures won't last long after re-opening and early bird get a worm

That's an informative photo, z909! As pointed out, the pipe may be undersized if, as I reckon, it serves a biggish catchment area of several sois and several hundred metres. Torrential tropical downpours should not be underestimated especially in thise times of global warming. Secondly, I doubt if planners have considered how much silt and trash also gets into drains and how these reduce the capacity of pipes like this one. Even more worrying is the poor construction standard, shockingly visible in the pictuer itself. Firstly, the pipe is made by joining innumerable sections each of 0.8 or 1.0 metres. Every joint is a weak link, particularly if workmanship quality is not closely monitored. Once a crack occurs, water rushes out of the pipe into the loose soil, washing it away, and creating "vacuum" spaces in the ground. Other countries now use long sections of steel pipe for such sewerage pojects, where a steel section is perhaps 15m long, and sections are welded together to a high standard. Steel also has the advantage of tensile strength, meaning it can bend and flex slightly (though imperceptible to the human eye) and therefore is a better material for horizontal structures. (Concrete has good compression strength and thus has advantage in taking vertical loads --- but not if it has so many joints.) Secondly, look closely at the picture and you see vrtually no support beneath the pipe. Loose, shiftable sand/soil below the pipe means that, with its numerous weak joints, it will cannot resist the soil forces around it. Imagine when the job is done and the area paved over and one day a tractor decides to drive over the walkway above it. Imagine the load the tractor will put on the pavement, which is then transfered to the soil/sand below it, which is then transfered onto the pipe sitting within the soil/sand, sans foundation!

@bucknaway yes I find our experiences can be very different than others. I find there is a shared connection between most minority communities. But when it comes to GP no matter how much you think they like you it’s about the money. They might give you a little more time at no charge if they enjoy your company but it’s about the real! Lol The community outside the GP world is where I think the difference really shows. Black culture is global and something we can all easily connect on. Plus we don’t stand out too much when we decide to go off the normal Gringo path. No one looks at me weird when I go to Rochina on a Saturday night to listen to Somba in the street. The truth is I have never seen any violence in the favelas. The bandidos don’t allow it. There are steep penalties for commuting crimes in the favelas. I’ve been to more than 50 this year and never saw anything past a heated argument. Now if you go to a favela where you don’t know anyone you will prob get robbed because you don’t know the bandidos chefe. @davet I’ve always taken an Uber there and back and never had any type of delay in catching one. You can go as early as 3 or 4 but I usually get there around 6 and stay until around 9:30-10. The area is safe.

Betty White is 99 years young!

If there's any upside, the outlook bodes well for continued strong job prospects for constructions workers.

'Round up the usual suspects.' and... 'Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.'

All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.

You're terrible Muriel. That's not a knife.

From The Thaiger / BP Developments in next 2 weeks to decide next steps An advisor to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says what happens in the next 2 weeks is crucial to determining any further easing of restrictions. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Udom Kachintorn says there is unlikely to be any further relaxing of measures until officials are sure the situation is under control. Udom says the easing of restrictions on September 1 could have caused a surge in news infections, adding that the recent decline in infections is because of the lockdown introduced from July, coupled with more people being vaccinated. He says that in order to keep infections trending downward, people must continue being careful. “The lockdown easing from September 1 has flattened the downward trend and cases will begin to rise, so we must rely on the public’s precautions and universal prevention measures. State agencies and the private sector must conduct random spot tests every week.” Udom adds that having people fully vaccinated might not always translate to falling infection rates, as can be seen in the US and Europe. In Thailand, the predominant Covid-19 strain is the highly contagious Delta variant. Thailand has reported 132 Covid-related fatalities and 12,583 new infections in the last 24 hours. 1,177 were detected as a result of mass testing, while 163 were found in prisons. There are currently 132,113 patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19 in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/ccsa-monitoring-developments-in-next-2-weeks-to-decide-next-steps

I want to know more! I can relate to you in a way. The Thailand I experienced as a black man was a little different than the Thailand I read about on the gay forums where most contributors where Caucasian. Of course I had no idea if my experience was typical for others like me but I did know they were different than the norm of the message boards. Often the guys would seem to let their hair down and talk to me as if I was not one of the tourist they began to complain about. Some of them shared with me some of the tricks they used to get more money from the guys, showing me text messages as well as money transfer notifications. Only when it came time for me to settle up did they realize that they told me too much... Haha! I don't know if my interaction with the guys in Brazil is typical... So please continue to share, I'm sitting on the edge of anticipation!

Great article here. It says: "As he becomes bolder in his lyrics and creative vision, Lil Nas X begins to transcend confines of "The Gay Rapper" stereotype, carving out space for himself as an unapologetic messiah for today's young, queer generation. " https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/07/26/1020734173/lil-nas-x-feat-jack-harlow-industry-baby