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Perhaps he'd entertain a guest appearance invitation. And would nominate Kunlavut as a solid twunk addition to line up (I'd go just to see his legs up close).

From VN Express The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line in Hanoi is operational from 8 a.m. Thursday, becoming the second running metro line in Vietnam after 15 years in the making. There were not many passengers present at the S8 Station on the opening day. Most of them were elderly people and students. Hoang Minh Tan, 75, from Ba Dinh District, who took a ride on the opening day, said: "The stations and the trains are nice. They feel better than the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line." Cat Linh-Ha Dong in Hanoi was launched in November 2021 as the first metro line in Vietnam. The second line covers a total distance of 12.5 km, featuring eight elevated stations and four underground ones. Only the elevated section of 8.5 km from Nhon to Cau Giay was launched on Thursday, while the underground portion of 4 km from Cau Giay to Hanoi Station is scheduled to complete in 2027. During the initial three months, the metro line will operate daily from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with trains running every 10 minutes. The schedule may be adjusted based on passenger demand. The metro rides are free during the first 15 days of operation. Then tickets are set at VND8,000 (US$0.32) for a single ride, VND12,000 for a full-line ride, VND24,000 for a day pass, and VND200,000 for a monthly pass. Students receive a discounted monthly pass at VND100,000. Children under six, seniors over 60, people with disabilities, and certain prioritized groups can ride the trains for free. Tickets are circular, resembling coins. Passengers scan these at the gates to enter and place them in scanners to exit the train. Tickets are valid for 20 minutes after purchase, and passengers must "update" them if they do not board the train within this timeframe. The metro line consists of 10 trains, each capable of reaching a maximum speed of 80 kph. Every train has four cars, with each car accommodating up to 236 passengers. A total of 353 employees manage the line's operations.

From Pattaya Mail Pol. Lt. Col. Piyapong Ensarn, Superintendent of Pattaya Tourist Police, led a meeting with foreign volunteer officers participating in the Strong Tourist Community (S.T.C.) project on Pattaya Walking Street. The training program included 40 participants from 17 countries: Australia, China, Congo, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The S.T.C. project seeks to enhance the tourism community’s resilience and ensure a safer environment for visitors in Pattaya. The meeting provided updates on the project’s progress, highlighting the essential role of these volunteers in improving tourist safety and community cooperation.

I don't even wear a cheap watch (if you have a mobile, you don't need one, anyway) so I share your conundrum. But no matter where you travel you'll see people of all ages wearing gold chains. In many cultures, gold is associated with wealth and power. Others just seem to like how it looks in their body. But why people choose to display it in locations known for gold-snatching crimes I can only be attribute to ignorance or risky behavior.

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Thai Police officers spent two weeks tracking down and arresting a thief who stole a necklace from an Australian man in downtown Bangkok. On August 7, officers from the Crime Suppression Division of the Central Investigation Bureau arrested Thosaporn, a transgender woman suspected of stealing a gold necklace from Mr. Brock, an Australian national, in the parking lot of Krongthong Mansion on On Nut Road, Suan Luang District, Bangkok. The incident occurred on July 21 at 6:14 AM near the pedestrian bridge in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana District, Bangkok. At that time, Mr. Brock was wearing a gold necklace worth approximately 4,000 Australian dollars or about 97,000 Thai baht. He was walking on the sidewalk from Sukhumvit Soi 11 towards the Asok intersection. At this point, a transgender woman wearing a black dress, with long hair (tied up), flip-flops, and carrying a handbag approached him, pretending to talk. She used her left hand to embrace him from behind and her right hand to grab his neck and unfasten the gold necklace without him noticing. The investigation team discovered that Thosaporn was the perpetrator and was hiding in Krongthong Mansion on On Nut Road. They set up surveillance and arrested her as she was leaving the dormitory. Thosaporn confessed to being the person in the arrest warrant and admitted that this was her first arrest for this crime. She fully confessed to the charges and led the arresting officers to her room to retrieve the gold necklace, which she had not yet sold, to return it to Mr. Brock. The police then took her to Lumphini Police Station to formally charge her.

A benevolent approach indeed. 🙂 Thanks for another good report.

Not necessarily.

I provided the source to both of the news accounts that appeared in Thai media above. We are left to conclude that Riobard made up this yarn:

From Bangkok Post The United States and the European Union on Wednesday issued statements expressing serious concern about the Constitutional Court order dissolving the opposition Move Forward Party and its implications for democracy in Thailand. The US State Department said the decision “jeopardises Thailand’s democratic progress and runs counter to the aspirations of the Thai people for a strong, democratic future”. “The United States does not take a position in support of any political party, but as a close ally and friend with deep and enduring ties, we urge Thailand to take actions to ensure fully inclusive political participation, and to protect democracy and the freedoms of association and expression,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. The European Union called the court ruling “a setback for political pluralism in Thailand”, noting that Move Forward placed first in the 2023 general election with 14 million votes out of 39 million.“No democratic system can function without a plurality of parties and candidates,” said a statement issued by the European External Action Service press team. “Any limitation on the exercise of free association and expression, in particular through the activities and formation of political parties, must be consistent with relevant provisions and principles of international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." The statement added that the EU “stands ready to broaden its engagement with Thailand” under a cooperation deal signed in 2022 that covers issues including “democratic pluralism, fundamental freedoms and human rights”. Amnesty International issued a statement describing the court decision as “untenable” and said it showed that laws in Thailand were being used to intimidate critics. The Asian Forum for Human Rights said it posed “serious risks to democratic principles”.

In other words, you have no source. 😃

In other words you have no source. 😄

You might want to cite your source for above.

From The Thaiger The baffling disappearance of a British tourist hours before his flight from Bangkok has taken a twist: his sister insists he did board a plane. Sarah Robinson-Dale revealed that her brother, 27 year old Simon Robinson, boarded a flight to Helsinki, Finland. This revelation has shifted the search a staggering 5,000 miles from Southeast Asia to the Arctic Circle. Initially, Robinson was feared to have vanished in Bangkok, leaving his family distraught and believing he never boarded his July 26 flight home, despite his phone pinging near the airport minutes before departure. “We have received confirmation that Simon did board the flight on July 26. A massive thank you to everyone who shared and to the kind people who found this information, as police on both sides haven’t done anything. I am waiting for a call back from the police and embassy in Helsinki.” The family’s new theory was prompted by a man claiming to be a Thai immigration officer, who informed them Robinson was on flight AY142 – Finnair’s Bangkok-Helsinki route. Dale confirmed her brother jetted off to Finland but did not reveal the source of her confirmation. Finnair declined to provide customer information when The Sun requested verification of Robinson’s flight details. Robinson, from Skegness, Lincolnshire, initially flew to Thailand on July 22 and was not due home until August 3. However, on July 26, he called his girlfriend to announce he was flying home early. He has not been heard from since. The UK Foreign Office stated it stands ready to assist any Brit abroad but refrained from commenting on Simon’s case. Interpol also declined to comment, citing the need for special circumstances or approval from the missing person’s country, reported The Sun UK.

Home Spa is offering a promotion on 1.5 hour massage of 288 baht through August 13th.

I've posted before that this is not unusual in SK shops. The posted pics are almost always original to the date they began working so I'm always prepared to see a somewhat older guy in person. Having said that, on only two occasions that I recall did this become so pronounced that I initially wondered if it was the same individual. And of those two, only one proved to be disappointing in performance. Another reason going to Silom Soi 6 shops have a big advantage over SK venues is because the guys work 10+ hour shifts in person.

Staying up late paid off last night as I got to see some preliminary rounds of the vertical wall climbing event. If you like watching guys with sinewy muscles display speed, strength and competitiveness, you, too, may become a fan.

From Thai PBS World The Constitutional Court decided unanimously today to dissolve the main opposition Move Forward party, after finding the party guilty of attempting to overthrow the system of democracy under a constitutional Monarchy. The court also decided to debar the party’s executive committee members from contesting elections, from involvement in the setting up of a new party and from sitting on the executive committee of a new party for 10 years from today. The court ruled that the party’s attempt to amend the lèse majesté law (§112 of the Criminal Code), the inclusion of such proposed amendments in its policy platform and the continuous election campaign for the amendments amount to an act to “degrade the value of the Monarchy”, an act deemed hostile to the highest institution in Thailand. The court explained that its decision to disband the Move Forward party and to debar its executives is appropriate and proportionate, given the severity of the offences. The court said that it had exercised extreme caution in arriving at its ruling, adding that dissolving the party was unavoidable, in order to protect democracy under a constitutional Monarchy. Before arriving at the ruling, the court dismissed the Move Forward party’s challenges to the court’s power to dissolve the party and the legitimacy of the Election Commission in filing the case, seeking the dissolution of the party and the debarment of its executive committee members from politics. The court ruled that there was no need for the EC to conduct an enquiry, as demanded by the Move Forward party, because the party dissolution case was similar to that already ruled on by the court on January 31. In that case the party was found guilty of attempting to overthrow constitutional Monarchy over the party’s continuous campaign to amend the lèse majesté law. The court ordered the party and its former leader Pita Limjaroenrat to cease all activities related to amendment of the lèse majesté law.

From The ThaIger Thailand Parliament rejects pornography and sex toy legalisation Parliament today rejected the Move Forward Party’s (MFP) proposal to legalise professions related to pornography and the sex toy industry. The decision was based on concerns about explicit advertising and potential violations of Muslim religious principles. MFP MP Taopiphop Limjittakorn submitted a draft to revise Section 287 of the Criminal Law to legalise professions related to pornography and the sex toy industries. Section 287 states that anyone who produces, possesses, imports, exports, or distributes indecent documents, paintings, publications, pictures, advertisements, photos, films, voice records, or other materials must face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both. Taopiphop’s draft aimed to allow people to produce, possess, import, export, or distribute indecent documents, paintings, publications, pictures, advertisements, photos, films, voice records, or other materials legally, provided the content is not related to children or people under 20 years old.

Yes.

At one time precovid there were three brothers from same family working Screw Boy (now Good Boy). Adding to the potential confusion, one went by the same name of another boy there but they were not related. I think they've all been mentioned here over time.

From CNN Vice President Kamala Harris has made a decision for her running mate, with four people close to the process saying Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her choice. A former educator, Walz is currently in his second term as Minnesota governor and chairs the Democratic Governors Association. He previously served 12 years in Congress, representing a conservative-leaning rural district that, both before and after his tenure, has been mostly dominated by Republicans.

From Bangkok Post The Bangkok Pride association has been awarded by France for championing LGBTQ rights in Thailand. The city of Paris chose "Bangkok Pride", which organises the annual Pride March in Thailand, to be awarded the International Prize of the City of Paris under the "Prix International" category for its advocacy. An award ceremony for association members took place on Monday at the French embassy residence in Bangkok. Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, the deputy mayor of Paris, presented the prize to leaders of the association in the presence of Remi Lambert, Chargé d’affaires of the French Embassy in Thailand. He said during the ceremony that the decision to award Bangkok Pride was made after meeting a deputy Bangkok governor during a visit last year to discuss about how the city could boost the protection of LGBTQ rights. He said that during the visit, he met mebers of the Bangkok Pride team, adding that he was "stunned" to hear about their push for LGBTQ rights in Thailand, including the Marriage Equality Bill. "Although it is in the parliament, it is a work of the activists," he said. "If there is no activist in the country, it is impossible to achieve equality." "I know it is difficult for every sector [to achieve this]," he added. "So, we decide to give this award to the [Bangkok Pride] organisation." Created in 2018, the "City of Paris Prize for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people", together with the international association of French-speaking mayors, aims to reward individuals and associations participating in the advancement of LGBTQ rights.

+1 And he has that classic Thai smile that keeps many of us flying across the Globe to see up close again...and again.

From Pattaya Mail On August 5, Anupong Phutthanawarat, Chairman of the Pattaya City Administration and Peacekeeping Committee, led a meeting with Pattaya police and other relevant officials to address road congestion and traffic management issues in Soi Buakhao, Central Pattaya. The meeting reviewed the results of the one-way traffic system trial on Soi Diana (Pattaya Second Road Soi 11) and Soi Honey (Pattaya Second Road Soi 13), which began on May 21. The trial has led to a significant improvement in traffic flow, with positive feedback from both residents and visitors. The one-way system was introduced to tackle severe traffic congestion exacerbated by the growing number of residents, tourists, and workers. Based on the trial’s success, the committee has decided to make the one-way traffic system on these streets permanent. They will now seek approval from the Pattaya City Traffic Committee to formalize the changes.

From The Thaiger The Thai Department of Health issued a health warning to avid Thai milk tea drinkers about the risk of developing kidney stones due to the high sugar, calcium content, and compounds found in tea leaves. A post on the Department of Health’s Facebook page today cautioned those who consume milk tea daily, highlighting the potential health risks associated with their favourite beverage. The statement emphasised that regular consumption of Thai milk tea could lead to the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones are formed when minerals in the urine crystallise, creating hard stones that can range in size from a grain of sand to a ping-pong ball. These stones can block the urinary tract, causing severe pain and, in some cases, leading to kidney failure, said a Department of Health. Several components in Thai milk tea can accelerate the development of kidney stones. Fructose, a type of sugar found in milk tea, is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, making the kidneys work harder and increasing the risk of stone formation. Additionally, some milk teas contain high levels of calcium due to their milk content. Excess calcium is excreted through urine and can crystallise, forming stones. Another contributing factor is oxalate, a compound found in tea leaves. Oxalate can bind with calcium to form calcium oxalate stones, which are the most common type of kidney stones, reported KhaoSod. To mitigate the risk, the Department of Health recommends several measures for milk tea lovers. Reducing sugar intake by ordering less sweet or sugar-free options is advised. Drinking plenty of water can help dilute the urine and reduce mineral crystallisation. Opting for low-fat milk, skimmed milk, or soy milk can also lower calcium intake. Consuming potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, such as bananas and tomatoes, can further decrease the likelihood of stone formation.