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And I hope a McDonald’s or a KFC never surfaces on the island of Cuba. Dominicans have gotten more obese and less into fitness since the spread of American fast food restaurants on their side of Hispaniola. That being said, the island of Cuba is much more Afrocentric than you may realize. Many of the “white” Cubans or their families left for Miami (and bite like white Florida Republicans), while the black Cubans remain on the island. Black Americans and Black Europeans get treated very well there and are privy to some very interesting private conversations about Afro-Cuban life. The Castros may have been a lot of bad things, but they were very pro-Black diaspora. I actually have a Black American female friend who went to medical school there for free, because she was African-American. Although it is improving a bit, the DR suffers from horrible colorism issues, which manifests itself through a virulently racist and colorist anti-Haitian public policy. Black Americans and Black Europeans are normally insulated from the brunt of this, but we can still witness it and it is troubling. Someone above tried to throw in classism, conveniently ignoring that, especially in Latin and South America, classism and race / color are intertwined.

I cherry pick that the news today--official or otherwise--is better than the news yesterday, official or otherwise.🙂

I cannot be responsible for how you may receive or process information. a lesson I learned years ago., when I stopped dating women. Facts over feelings. I didn’t realize that this was even a discussion about WHY we like or don’t like certain kinds of guys. But what you said above is all just a matter of personal perception. I don’t see them the way you described them at all, I am “friendly” with a lot of them and their personalities vary just like in any other group of people. That to me is just a stereotype or gross overgeneralization, like “all fat girls are funny”. But a little cockiness in a guy doesn’t faze me much, anyway. One of my travel partners likes them slim and short (with big dicks), and he says one of the turn-ons is they make up for their size and stature by being cocky and super forward and aggressive — whereas when they approach me, I merely find their behavior to be annoying. So, like I said above, it’s all just a matter of perception (we tend to excuse or find attractive the same negative behaviors from the people we like — human nature). This should be a Ted Talk!

Great cast...looks very well made...hopefully does justice to the Herbert novel. 2119791287_DuneMainTrailer.mp4

From Pattaya Mail Large swathes of Pattaya’s main districts are being demolished by bulldozers and replaced by high screens and metal walls. New condos, hotels and entertainment parks await only the go ahead from the civic authorities. Runway 88 on Second Road will specialize in street food from various continents. There is already a Pakistani Airlines 747 parked as the main attraction and enough space for 200 eateries, market stalls and kids’ play areas. If you don’t believe that Pattaya is changing fast and preparing for a very different future, here’s the evidence.

From Channel News Asia TAIPEI: The situation in the Taiwan Strait is "complex and grim", Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in a congratulatory letter on Sunday (Sep 26) to the newly elected leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, who has pledged to renew talks with Beijing. Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) elected as their leader on Saturday former New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu, who said he would rekindle stalled high-level contacts with China's ruling Communist Party. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has stepped up military and political pressure to force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty, even though most Taiwanese have shown no interest in being governed by Beijing. In Xi's letter, a copy of which was released by the KMT, he said both parties had had "good interactions" based on their joint opposition to Taiwan independence. "At present, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and grim. All the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation must work together with one heart and go forward together," wrote Xi, who is also head of the Communist Party. He expressed hope that both parties could cooperate on "seeking peace in the Taiwan Strait, seeking national reunification and seeking national revitalisation". Chu, who badly lost the 2016 presidential election to current President Tsai Ing-wen, responded to Xi that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait were "all the children of the Yellow Emperor" - in other words, all Han Chinese. Chu blamed Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for tensions with Beijing after pursuing anti-China policies. Chu, who met Xi in China in 2015, said he hoped to "seek common ground and respect differences, increase mutual trust and geniality, strengthen exchanges and cooperation so as to allow the continued peaceful development of cross-strait relations". Under outgoing KMT leader Johnny Chiang's 17-month tenure, high-level contacts with China stalled amid military tensions and suspicion in Beijing the party was not sufficiently committed to the idea Taiwan was part of "one China". Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwan-kuomintang-eric-chu-xi-jinping-china-2202881

If I read the reviews first, I would not have watched the first episode. But, I didn't. And, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The cinematography was amazing and I loved all the visuals. The acting was good and it was just pretty to watch. Sure, there are some plot issues. But, watching this on a 80 inch screen was just stunning. I really enjoyed it and will keep watching. Plus, I love the hottie Alfred Enoch and watch everything he is in.

And for those of you naysayers who are in deep about certain higher-end garotos commanding higher prices in Brazilian saunas, the younger live-in boyfriend / possible husband of the mother of soccer superstar Neymar was getting paid 500 reais at Sauna Boa Vista in Recife — according to the Braziiian client who paid him (“worth every penny!”). (article from June 2020). English translation: 'Worth every penny:' Neymar's mother's boyfriend attended gay sauna as a male prostitute A man told Léo Dias that he met Neymar's stepfather in a gay sauna; know more. per FERNANDO Bhá um ano Tiago Ramos was known for getting involved in several controversies and for currently being Neymar's stepfather. This week, columnist Leo Dias, from the news portal Metrópoles, said that Tiago Ramos would be advertising on a prostitution website in Spain. In the ad, the boy says he's up for going to bed with men, women and even bisexual couples. The boy, however, ended up having another revelation about him revealed this Tuesday, June 9, by columnist Léo Dias. An alleged client of the boy got in touch with the gossip reporter and said that he met Nadine Gonçalves' boyfriend in a famous gay sauna in the city of Recife, in the state of Pernambuco. “I hired Tiago's services at the Boa Vista spa, in Recife. I paid 500 reais and it was very well invested. It was worth every penny” , said the alleged former client of Tiago Ramos when talking about the topic, which had huge repercussions in the media. On the European prostitution website, Tiago Ramos would not use his name. He would have chosen the name Ivan so as not to draw so much attention. In space, the supposed photos of the boy would be in hotter poses, but none entirely without wearing anything. The boy still makes some demands in the ad, explaining how his services work. It is worth remembering that this week an audio leaked by Neymar with homophobic criticisms from the player to his stepfather. In the audio, which could become an inquiry at the Public Ministry of the State of São Paulo, the PSG player calls the boy a “faggot”. A “parça” of him talks about killing the boy who is dating the ace's mother.

Tiago Ramos aka Ivan is also a former footballer — thus, like I said in a previous post, certain guys (muscle gods, competitive athletes, real-life fashion and print models) charge more than “regular guys”. It just is what it is. https://www.republicworld.com/amp/sports-news/football-news/tiago-ramos-neymars-mothers-boyfriend-stabbed-in-the-neck-in-mexico-almost-dies.html https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiago_Ramos_Fernandes

@Alaskabear, starting 11/1, Argentina is opening its borders to foreigners with proof of COVID vaccine and a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of arrival. The return into Brazil requires a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of re-entry as well. So, what you need to do is: take the COVID antigen test at the Drogaria farmacia in Brazil, and make sure the test is taken within 72 hours of your crossing over into both the Argentine side of Iguaçu Falls AND your return to the Brazil side. Here’s a link with more info: https://iguazufalls.com/national-park/

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Thanks to Government’s Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP on support for enterprises, cooperatives, and business households, the criteria for obtaining a Work Permit as a foreigner in Việt Nam has been eased. To resolve some of the difficulties facing enterprises and foreign workers, this resolution has been approved by the Prime Minister and was issued on September 9. To facilitate foreign workers coming to work in Việt Nam, the Government requested the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to relax some of the regulations and conditions on granting and extending Work Permits, while ensuring pandemic prevention and control measures are not compromised. Under Point A, Clause 3, Article 3 of Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP, foreigners must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or an equivalent degree, and have at least three years of work experience in the field were trained. That experience and academic qualification must match the job that the Work Permit application is related to. This rule has now been eased; foreigners must still hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or an equivalent degree, and have at least three years of work experience in a field relating to the Work Permit application. However, Point A, Clause 6, Article 3 of Decree No 152/2020/ND-CP states that the requirement for “having at least three years of work experience in the specialities that workers were trained in” has now been amended to “having at least three years of work experience that matches the jobs foreigners plan to work in Việt Nam”. Point B, Clause 4, Article 9 of Decree No. 152/2020/ND-CP supports this with the term “giấy chứng nhận” (testimonial). This means that previous issued Work Permits can now be used as documentation to prove eligibility for new Work Permit applications, removing the need for all previous experience to have been gained outside of Việt Nam. It now reads: “The papers proving experts and technical workers under regulations in Clauses 3, 6 in Article 3 of this Decree are: diplomas, degrees, certificates, testimonials; confirmation documents issued by agencies, organisations, and enterprises in other countries about the years of experience of experts and technical workers; or the already granted work permits to prove experience.” — VNS https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1049266/new-resolution-eases-requirements-for-work-permit-applications-for-foreigners.html

I don’t get the point of your post. Were you feeling left out of the conversation?

Black African immigrants and Arab / Middle Eastern immigrants get treated poorly in many parts of Europe (France, Italy, Spain, especially). Black Americans, at least once it’s known thry are black Americans, receive much better treatment. Black Africans are treated there in Europe like Black Americans (and Haitians) are treated here in the USA. I’m not suggesting that racism against black people doesn’t exist in Europe — that would be a stupid assertion — but it manifests itself much differently there for black Americans than it does here in the USA — where it’s racism on steroids, and everyone has a gun. Well, Principal Joe Clark is dead. He died at the end of 2020. But behind the mystique of his book and movie, he’d always been a super staunch conservative, politically and religiously. I’m not surprised at all that he would express these views to people he had just met on a plane.

I am not black. But I think people still judge me based on my appearance: how I look, how tall/short I am, what I wear and how I talk. Of course one is expected to wear and act in certain way if staying at 5 stars hotels, fly business class, or dine at fancy restaurants. Pre-covid time at GRU, there used to be one handsome officer standing at the start of immigration line greeting/directing arriving passenger. He knows the first few passengers are always first/business class and he was super friendly and greet/chat with these passengers. Then, a total different attitude toward the following big crowd. This is no racial discrimination, it's "class" discrimination.

@JKane, How fortunate you connected with that book club. The Internet knew to find you! I'm glad you commented on the book. I definitely wanted to know if you'd recommend reading it. Thank you!

In Thailand I was treated like a celebrity. The only time I experienced any racial issue was in Pattaya when a bar stopped me at the door because they thought I was Indian. They told me in the future, if the issue happened again, to tell the person at the door that I am American...

That is because there are none. Sometimes it is easy to forget that anyone can write whatever they want on the internet and anyone can set up a web site. And there are many who think if they see it on the internet, then it must be true. Based on what he says about Bangkok, that tells me how much attention to pay to that web site. I see nothing on this guy's site to indicate who he is or how he knows anything more than anyone else about the places he writes about. How come he knows more about Bangkok and what to expect to experience than those of us who have lived in Thailand 20 years plus? El toro caca . . .

I think YouTube is eaves dropping on me

Wow. CKS must be rolling over in his mausoleum to see his party colluding with the commies to undermine Taiwan. Chu also ignores all of the non-Han people in Taiwan which is a sizable group. With people like this running the KMT, they have no hope of regaining power. Most of the younger generations consider themselves Taiwanese, not Chinese.

I think they should allow foreign tourists to drive on the right if so inclined without penalty but only those who are from right side driving countries like Chinese but not British or Japanese

Stick it where the sun don't shine Chairman Xi.

Will it be called "Second Road International Airport", airport standard abbreviation will be SEX to distinguish it from BKK or PTY

Holy shit Dune is amazing! It is truly an adaptation, as such may be more faithful than other attempts that stayed word-for-word. Maybe starts off a bit slow but steadily builds. THE VOICE, the visuals, and the visual effects are fucking amazing. The soundtrack is forceful... maybe a bit to much so, maybe it'll grow on me but don't immediately need to have like I needed Toto's. Worth seeing in IMAX the first time if it's an option for you. I'm not sure whether my second viewing will be IMAX too or just a great Dolby Laser theater. Have to wait to Oct 22nd for actual release (saw it at an industry screening). I believe October 22nd is also when it hits HBOMax and I'll watch it again there eventually but would strongly suggest a first viewing in a great theater.

i am traveling at the beggining of january. i made a deal with a cute 21 year old uber motorcycle driver yesterday via internet. we made a deal for 2 day motorcycle drive around rio to see some waterfalls and different beaches and to stay with me 2 nights for sex. also to go to some music places.... we agreed for 500 reais for each 24 hours.

Here he is at the new club, with his full name, the professional one at least: It does sound like a Japanese surname. More pics from internet: I'm still a little hung up on another buff, BIG-DICKED Brazilian nisei I tumbled with a few years ago so pardon my little obsession here.

September 2024 news: Pandemic continues!

I looked in the mirror.

Also for fans of Dune who may want to re-read it before the premiere, it is one of the only books I've re-read repeatedly and each time I got something more out of it. I especially enjoyed the latest time where I was part of an online book club, these videos are the discussions and they are very in-depth:

I want to be sure that everyone knows that no matter temporary or permanent, all are welcome here. This site is totally free for everyone (and always will be) and we will be around for many years go come.