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Gotta tell you, Stevie, how flattered I am that you posted six times on a thread you consider "dumb", including three consecutive ones (think that ties your personal best for posting trademark gibberish). And thanks for the bump on the thread you thought "irrelevant" about traffic tickets in English. Now you just keep thinking positive thoughts about your performance issues and you'll soon return to your old, happy self. You're a sweetheart, good buddy!

I think I got you wrong, Stevie. Now I realize what you're really trying to get across. You expressing extraordinary empathy with a guy who was told by his partner that he sucked at sex. It's all so obvious now. But you mustn't allow that experience to sour you on life, or feel that you must constantly work to improve your body image. You're great just as you are, buddy!

Police now say that the assailant is also wanted for unprovoked attacks on young Thai men whom he considered overweight and had "loss of tone in the core muscles that help the abdomen to protrude and form a disgusting shape." Victims said he could be heard screaming "and I don't like this" as he fled the scenes of the attacks.

You may find this article on Mexico City street hustlers of interest: https://news.vice.com/article/mexico-citys-male-hustlers-inside-the-rough-lives-of-the-good-vibe-guys

Nice try, Stevie. Dragging out your old "blame the victim" rationale again I see. Last time you employed that it was in defense of a Pattaya ladyboy who snatched a gold chain from a tourist. Blaming the victim didn't work for the Nazis and it's not working for Trump. Your "nice man" is a old-blooded murder. And you are so predictable. (This doesn't have anything to do with your jewelry fetish does it?)

From The Nation New traffic tickets include English, allow appeals August 21, 2017 By Suriya Patathayo A new generation of traffic tickets about to be launched will include both Thai and English languages, along with a barcode to help in paying fines. The new approach would also allow accused motorists to object to the officers’ charges and explain themselves within 15 days. The new ticket would have a section for a police officer to record whether the accused agreed or not with the charges. When an accused violator reported to a police investigator at the precinct to pay the fine or to proclaim innocence and object to the charges, the ticket would be revoked if the investigator were convinced, said Pol Lt-General Wittaya Prayongpan, acting advisor to the Royal Thai Police (RTP), on Monday. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30324462

From Coconuts Bangkok A Thai man confessed to police that he murdered a woman he was on a first date with out of anger, after she let out a complaint that he “sucked at sex” during their coupling — at least in his version of the story. In a press conference on Sunday, police in southern Songkhla province announced the arrest of Natthan Raknui, 23, for the murder of a woman named Jiraporn Theppaya, 22, who was found dead on a rubber plantation near Prawk Suwan Canal. According to police, Natthan started talking to the victim on Facebook in July. After two weeks of a long-distance courtship, he rode two hours in a public van from Phatthalung province to meet up with Jiraporn in Songkhla on Aug. 12. As Natthan could not afford to rent a hotel room, they rode on Jiraporn’s motorbike together to the rubber plantation to have sex, which matched the CCTV footage police have of them on a motorbike, Manager reported. Natthan told police that he slit the victim’s throat after she complained about his sex skills. After that, he escaped on her motorbike, which he later sold for THB7,000. The suspect was later arrested near Pabon Reservoir in Phatthalung, where he often checked in on Facebook. The man who “sucked at sex” was charged for murder and theft. http://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thai-man-confesses-slitting-throat-facebook-date-said-sucked-sex/

From Coconuts Bangkok The two Myanmar nationals on death row for the savage 2014 murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao filed their last appeal today. This 300-page document, handed in to the Supreme Court, states that the forensic evidence, including DNA tests, used to convict migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, was not carried out according to international forensic standards, reported Bangkok Post. Lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat, leader of the men’s defense team, was turned down by the Appeal Court in March. The Appeal Court ruled that the evidence was collected correctly and that the men had committed the rape of Witheridge and both murders “without a doubt” on Sept. 15, 2014. The death sentence was upheld for both men. Nakhon still maintains that problems ranging from custody of the DNA samples during the investigation to how the men were charged and interrogated prevailed. The lawyer also pointed out that a proper interpreter or legal representation was not provided early in the case for the two convicted young men. In advance of today’s appeal, Nakhon met officials from Myanmar to coordinate information as well as meeting his clients at Bang Kwang Central Prison to get their signatures on the final documents. He said that his clients still hope for justice. Migrant rights groups have suggested at various points that the men were being railroaded, and the government of Myanmar protested the initial guilty verdict, saying at the time that the men were being “wrongly punished.” http://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/final-appeal-filed-today-two-myanmar-men-death-row-2014-koh-tao-murders/

Excerpts from Khaosod English BANGKOK — Passing through airport immigration is a little swifter today for some, so long as they hail from the sparkling city-state to the south. Singaporeans are the first foreign nationals to be approved to use new automated passport control gates at Suvarnabhumi International Airport as of Saturday. “This will help solve the problem of crowded queues in airports,” Lt. Gen. Nattatorn Phrosoontorn of Immigration Bureau police said. “We’re using technology to tackle this problem in a concrete way.” At the gates, a photo is taken of each passenger, their passport information collected and their fingerprints scanned. Although the service is limited to Suvarnabhumi for now, it will eventually be rolled out to all of Thailand’s international airports, Nattatorn said. The Immigration Bureau and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working on approving other nationalities for use of the automatic gates, but no specifics have been made public yet. What is made clear is that “high-quality” tourists, meaning those likely to spend the most, will have priority. “Countries will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We will focus on countries that have high-quality tourists who visit Thailand in large numbers each year, but keeping security as the main priority,” Nattatorn said. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/bangkok/2017/08/21/auto-passport-control-gates-open-suvarnabhumi/

My personal experience in DF is a dozen years old now so I'll keep it simple: Because of its location and altitude, I found the climate comfortable and good for walking. The subways are fast but don't dawdle getting on and off because they halt for very brief station stops. (subway car and station cruising was productive in my visit). It's a beautiful city in many respects. Don't miss the the Zocalo and adjacent ruins of the Templo Mayor in heart of city (see first link). I felt relatively safe there but keep your wits about you and use a money belt or other method to secure valuables your carrying. Avoid poorly lit and deserted streets after dark. The sights: https://www.tripsavvy.com/top-mexico-city-sights-1589081 Now for what you really are looking for: http://gaypassage.com/mexicocity http://www.spartacusworld.com/saunas/northamerica/mexico/ciudaddemexico-df/ Only suggest this because it has an interactive map: http://www.gayscout.com/en/map3769/Mexico%20City Hope others chime in with more recent stuff.

NOTE -- Despite the multiple modifiers that justify its claim, Alfresco 64 is now open in the Lebua State Tower hotel. Hint: it serves only whisky drinks. Excerpts from CNN (CNN) — Does whisky taste better at higher altitudes? It does when it's paired with some of Bangkok's hottest views. Billing itself the world's highest outdoor whisky bar, the new Alfresco 64 -- A Chivas Bar, sits on the 64th floor of the city's Lebua at State Tower hotel, 800 feet above ground. It's the latest addition to a collection of rooftop bars and restaurants at the hotel, collectively referred to as "The Dome" in reference to the golden dome that sits atop the building. Though Alfresco 64 might not be quite as dramatic as Lebua's stunning Sky Bar, which juts out over the city and has appeared on dozens of "best rooftop bars" lists, it does have its advantages. Unlike the Sky Bar, which has no seating and is often crowded with selfie-snapping tourists, Alfresco 64's vibe is intimate. Among the rarest bottles in stock at Alfresco 64 is the Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute, which costs $550 a pour. There's also the Chivas Regal "Lebua blend," which costs just over $6,000 per bottle. It marks the first time Chivas has ever created a whisky blend for just one client and only 96 bottles have been produced. Though you're not going to be able to rock up and order a beer -- staff made it clear this joint serves only whisky -- there's no need to worry if you can't stomach a Yamazaki single malt on the rocks. http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bangkok-worlds-highest-whisky-bar/index.html

NOTE -- The last few paragraphs persuade me that we may have not seen the last of Stick yet. Excerpts from Stickman Aug. 20 column Today marks the end of this column and with it, the end of this site as you know it. It comes at the end of what has been a very frustrating few weeks in which a deal to save this column could not be worked out. This site has been such a big part of my life that I’m not sure quite how I feel about it all coming to an end. Mixed feelings really. Relief that I will no longer have a Sunday deadline to meet. Disappointment in the totally unnecessary way it has ended. Pride in what I have achieved. I had no idea that what started almost 19 years ago as a bit of fun would grow in to a popular website with a large and loyal following. But nothing is forever and everything has its day. The time has come to say goodbye. Rewinding back to 1998, I’d been living in Bangkok for 6 months when I bit the bullet and bought a computer. That was an admission to myself that I would be sticking around for a while. The original plan was to stay in Bangkok for a year, two tops. I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would stay for 17 long years. Back then our lives weren’t entwined with the online world in the same way they are today so you didn’t need a computer. At the same time, stopping by an Internet café once or twice a week to check emails and read news from home wasn’t exactly convenient. I loved the Bangkok lifestyle and enjoyed writing about my new life. Emails came in from people all around the world as I came to realise that others liked my take on life in Bangkok and encouraged me to write more. It was never about the money in the early days and for years I beavered away on this site without any financial reward. It was a hobby and I did it entirely for fun. The reward I got was the opportunity to exchange ideas with readers, many of whom I would go on to meet, some of whom would become good friends – and a few of whom I am still in regular contact with today. There was a time when owning a bar in Thailand was a licence to print money. Thaksin was in charge and business was booming. Companies providing services to expats were opening every month and sentiment in expat circles was extremely positive. Visitor numbers increased every year – and much of that increase was farangs. The dollar, the pound and the Euro were all strong, and everyone was living large. Just as it was a good time to be a bar owner, 2004 – 2008 was a golden period for Bangkok webmasters. There was fun to be had and money to be made, lots and lots of money. That really was a great time to be in Thailand. I loved my life there and I really loved running this website. Each week I would write the weekly column, and proof-read & publish 20 odd readers’ stories a week. Each month I was carrying out on average 6 or 7 investigations, all of this while working full-time as a teacher. Looking back, I don’t know how I managed it. There were frequent trips to Pattaya to gather news and hang out with friends, and I made a point of meeting at least one new Stickman reader every week, someone I had never met before. Those were the glory days of this site…good times, good friends, and very good money. 2010 was the turning point. Readers’ submissions, the number of emails I received and advertising revenue all came off their highs – but all were all coming off such lofty highs that I was not at all concerned. The combination of the effects of the global financial crisis, a change in visitor demographics and increased competition with more Bangkok-centric websites and forums meant that turning things around would be a challenge. The peak might have passed, but life was still pretty good. I do enjoy putting the column together from New Zealand. I signed a contract that stipulated that I would continue to write the Stickman column and I would be paid for that. The majority owner’s responsibilities were the technical side of the site and monetising it. He did a tremendous job with the site technically and a lousy job generating revenue. And that is why we are where we find ourselves today. When the majority owner said that was no longer able to pay me, it was a deathblow. In retrospect, I should have written my final column when he first told me, instead of writing The End Is Near and hanging on for a deal that would never eventuate. As much as I like writing this column and running this site – and as willing as I am to continue with it – it’s too much work to do it for nothing. There was talk of a deal being done with the site being sold and me staying on as an employee but a deal has not been reached. I left Thailand almost 2 and a half years ago and while I have made various trips back to Bangkok, I am firmly ensconced in New Zealand. Not being paid to write the column means, sadly, that there is not sufficient reason to continue. This site has a large and loyal following and when I wrote 3 weeks ago that the end was near I received a massive number of emails from readers keen to see it continue. And let me say it again, I am willing and able to keep it going. But without payment, it’s too much time, too much effort and as such, this is the end. I am not sure what will happen next. The site will most likely stay online but there is a serious conversation that has to be had, copyright and contract issues that need to be discussed and I just don’t know what will come of it. There is no grand finale column. Maybe I’ll save that for a book. Or maybe this is the end of Stickman entirely and I’ll never write another word as “Stick” after today. To everyone who has tuned in over the years, whether you’ve been with me since the beginning or have been but an occasional visitor, thank you for being part of the Stickman community. Your Bangkok commentator for the last time, Stick

From the Nation Seven critically-acclaimed films from seven countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) find their way to Bangkok this month for the SAC Asean Film Festival 2017 running at the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (SAC) from tomorrow until Wednesday. This film festival kicks off tomorrow evening at 5 with Vietnamese director Rony Hoa’s “Forever Yours”, a romantic drama centred on the complex relationship between three men. In operation since 2012, the SAC festival is a cultural exchange forum for Thailand’s Asean neighbours. From an anthropological point of view, films are considered “cultural media” that help people examine and understand culture and society. The seven films from Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, The Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia cover multiple dimensions, including socio-culturalism, economics and history. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/movie/30324054

In these days and times, it seems prudent to use reliable and known guides such as those at Siam Roads. You get what you pay for.

From RadioTimes Mammoth Screen, the production company behind Poldark and Victoria, have been commissioned by BBC1 to make new drama The Serpent. The eight-part series will be written by Ripper Street’s Richard Warlow, directed by Tom Shankland (The Missing, Ripper Street, House of Cards) and is based on the true story of one of the most elusive criminals of the 20th century. The story revolves around con man Charles Sobhraj who was the prime suspect in a string of sensational unsolved murders through 1975 and 1976 of young travellers across India, Thailand and Nepal. By 1976, he was Interpol’s most wanted man and unwittingly crossed paths with Herman Knippenberg, a junior diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok. Controller of BBC Drama Piers Wegner said: “The Serpent tells the story of Charles Sobhraj, who preyed on the lives of young backpackers in Thailand in the 1970s. Richard Warlow’s scripts will bring this notorious story to life on BBC1, for the first time showing the great lengths Dutch embassy diplomat Herman Knippenberg went to get justice for Sobhraj’s innocent victims.” http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-08-18/bbc-commissions-new-drama-the-serpent-from-poldark-producers-mammoth-screen/

NOTE -- Christianpfc has reported on several of the theaters, including the Phanom Yotin Rama pictured below (on same soi as 39 Underground sauna), described in this article. Excerpts from Khaosod English BANGKOK — Back in the golden age of cinema, more than 100 cinema houses beckoned audiences throughout the capital. But decades ago, as viewing became a private act, they faded away. Most were simply knocked down and replaced. Yet still, a few live on. Nearly invisible in the fabric of the city, they can be found in unlikely places, adapted to new purposes on the margins of society. “Stand-alone theaters used to be city landmarks and the only mass entertainment place for people of all ages,” said writer Sonthaya Subyen, who roamed Thailand with his colleague Morimart Raden-Ahmad to capture the remnants of movie halls nationwide for a photo book called “Once Upon a Celluloid Planet: Where Cinema Ruled.” According to Sonthaya, stand-alone theaters flourished in Thailand between the ‘50s and the ‘70s before their popularity waned in the 1980s with the advent of VHS tapes and players. “Similar to attending temple fairs, locals dressed up to go to stand-alone theaters although they didn’t go watch any film,” Sonthaya said, explaining that the theaters were usually situated in city centers and markets, where they became community gathering points. “They supported one another, the theater and the community.” A few minutes walk from Robinson Department Store on Charoen Krung Road sits a decomposing, Art Deco icon. Since the 1950s, the Prince Rama has been surrounded by rows of two-story wood houses – including famous rice porridge shop Jok Prince. It too showed skin flicks for some years before shutting its doors nearly a decade ago. Prince Rama Some of Bangkok’s legacy theaters show old gay porn films and charge 60 baht to patrons who engage in casual sexual encounters. Three such theaters are the Phahon Yothin Rama on Phahon Yothin Road, Chinatown Rama on Yaowarat Road and Laemthong Rama on Rama IV Road in the Khlong Toei district. Chinatown Rama Laemthong Rama http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2017/08/18/find-hidden-treasures-bangkoks-golden-age-cinema-photos/

From Pattaya Mail / Thai Visa PATTAYA:--The death sentence has been handed down for Pattaya’s Dolphin Roundabout, which will be replaced with a four-way intersection, although the landmark sea mammal will remain. Pattaya spokesman Pinit Maneerat on Aug. 9 confirmed long-circulating rumors that the traffic circle soon will be history. Plans are underway to install traffic lights and, somewhere, a new home for the dolphin statue. Pinit acknowledged the considerable public sentiment for keeping the landmark traffic circle, which has sat at the junction of Beach, Second, North and Naklua roads for more than 20 years. But the signal-free interchange has become too much of a traffic bottleneck and has to go, he claimed. No date has been announced for its removal.

Excerpts from National Public radio (US) Turning To VPNs For Online Privacy? You Might Be Putting Your Data At Risk Worried about Internet companies snooping on your online browsing? You might turn to something called a virtual private network to protect your privacy. But researchers say these networks can themselves be insecure. One solution is a VPN, which is like a dark, secret tunnel you use to go from your computer to a website. While you're inside the tunnel — clicking on Instagram photos or checking your bank account — third parties can't see what you're doing. The data are encrypted. Some VPNs promise anonymous browsing for free or just a few dollars a month; they claim not to share your data. But these services don't always deliver on their promises. "If you're not careful with choosing your VPN service provider, the medicine might be worse than the illness," says Nick Feamster, a computer science professor at Princeton University. He says tens of millions of people have downloaded VPNs — and many don't realize they're not as secure as they claim. In the first major review of VPN providers, researchers from across the globe tested nearly 300 free VPN apps on Google Play. What they found was alarming. Nearly 40 percent injected malware or malvertising. And nearly 20 percent of the apps didn't even encrypt user traffic. This month, the Center for Democracy & Technology filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging the VPN Hotspot Shield collects data and intercepts traffic. If true, that would be a direct violation of claims by the company's policy to "never log or store user data." Experts say the safest option is to set up your own VPN server and connect to it, use Tor to browse the Web anonymously. But Feamster admits most people won't do that. For now, he suggests researching a VPN before using it and to think of it as a supplemental tool, not a privacy solution. He advises reading the VPN service provider's privacy policy to see whether it collects or retains any user information that could be traced back to you — and if so, for how long. If you're looking to use a VPN, comparison chart (link below) is a good resource. And, if you're feeling adventurous enough to build your own, Ars Technica provides helpful guide (link below). Comparison guide: https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/ Build your own VPN guide: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/05/how-to-build-your-own-vpn-if-youre-rightfully-wary-of-commercial-options/ http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/08/17/543716811/turning-to-vpns-for-online-privacy-you-might-be-putting-your-data-at-risk

Although I fall squarely into the hunk camp, I have often strayed. When I do it's almost always a lad who exhibits characteristics of both camps. To me, that's one of things that keep bringing me back: choices. You can get a sense of the crossover factor in the photos section. Members who usually only "like" twink or hunk find themselves sometimes in agreement on a certain type that defies classification but you know you like it when you see it.

Similar train type in Sao Paulo (exterior and interior POV).

Fair enough, Stevie; know when I'm beat. But like every good salesman, I'll keep you on the mailing list in case a new line emerges that may appeal to your palate.

If I can't appeal to you on biblical grounds, allow me to try the Vegas approach: odds are that you'll like it.

You may have a point. And although I place high value on the face-to-face experience, maybe an adventurous tech genius would find a way to manage it all.

I find that closing and clearing browser may resolve some issues.

..and the boys will off us. Think I'm warming to the idea. lol