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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

Allow John 13:17 to instruct you in this matter: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Perhaps, but none come in a better bottle.

OK, but if see any of you guys ordering pineapple juice at Jupiter 2018 it will be our little secret. (Christian gets a pass because he always orders juice or tea.)

From Financial Channel The FINANCIAL -- Bombardier Transportation has announced two contracts for its BOMBARDIER INNOVIA Monorail 300 system for two mass rapid transit lines in Bangkok. This will improve the commute for more than 400,000 people – every day. The contracts are with the Northern Bangkok Monorail Co. Ltd. (NBM) and the Eastern Bangkok Monorail Co. Ltd. (EBM), responsible for the turnkey construction and 30-year concession of the new, elevated lines. Bombardier will design and supply the mechanical & electrical elements for the two monorail lines, and deliver a combined total of 72, four-car INNOVIA Monorail 300 trains (288 cars) equipped with BOMBARDIER CITYFLO 650 automatic train control technology for driverless operation. The contract with NBM concerns the new 34.5 km Khae Rai-MinBuri (Pink) Line to operate with 42 trainsets. For EBM, scope comprises 30 train sets for the 30.4 km Lat Phrao-Samrong (Yellow) Line Operating in the city’s northern and eastern areas, the monorails will integrate with the existing transportation network and run at speeds up to 80 km/h with a maximum capacity of over 28,000 passengers per-hour, per-direction. http://www.finchannel.com/business/67281-bombardier-wins-contracts-for-the-first-monorails-in-thailand

From The Nation New smart driving licences to be valid across Asean Around Thailand August 15, 2017 16:42 By The Nation Thailand’s paper driving licences will be replaced with smart cards starting on September 4, the Land Transport Department has announced. The new licences will be embedded with magnetic strips and QR codes to improve security to prevent frauds. “In the future, they will be compatible with apps that are designed for enhanced road safety,” department director-general Sanith Phromwong said. Names on the smart card will be spelled in both Thai and English so they could be used to drive legally in any Asean country. Sanith said his department would stop issuing paper driving licences on August 15. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/around_thailand/30323873

Nor does mean that it wasn't. I've been drinking JD for 30+ years and know what to expect from the first sip. I sure many others have a favorite liquor they are well familiar with and would be quick to recognize a fake. But if you place assaults on your taste buds aside, the real problem is how the counterfeit liquor was manufactured. In the worst case scenarios, you can easily find accounts of tourists (most of them usually young party goers in the south) dying as a result of methanol poisoning. Methanol is converted in the body into formic acid, the same toxin that is found in the venom of ants. But most of them never saw the bottle their booze came from. What I'm referring to are the bottles with fake labels that are indistinguishable from the genuine. The monetary advantages of making and selling bottles of fake booze are significant for all parties: production costs are low and taxes are avoided but the retail price is the same, leaving room for huge mark up over cost. What I learned from my personal experience with fake booze is to stick to beer when I'm in Thailand. And even the most entrepreneurial locals wouldn't consider creating a fake because they're aware of just how harshly the legit manufactures--who are highly protective of their business--would choose to deal with them on a personal level. The OP noted that folks were buying their booze at the 7-Eleven before heading to NAB. I think the 7-Eleven is probably one of the safest places to purchase booze because it has so much riding on its reputation. Those who wish to read more about the effects of methanol poisoning (and they are indeed nasty) can find it in a report from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney: http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2013/09/10/3845522.htm BTW: the problem of fake wines is much more widespread worldwide but particularly in China.

Go for it; you'll feel much better after.

That got me thinking several years back when I purchased a bottle of Jack Daniels at a market in Silom. When I opened it back in the hotel it was immediately clear that it wasn't the real JD. Thought of taking it back but then I remembered that TIT. Out of curiosity, just did a quick search for "Thailand counterfeit liquor" and the hits just kept on coming. This one stood out: From Thai PBS About five million worth of smuggled and fake liquor were seized by Department of Special Investigation officials in 12 coordinated raids of warehouses in Bangkok recently. DSI director-general Pol Col Paisit Charoenmuang disclosed that officials seized altogether 2,761 bottles of liquor of which 2,307 were smuggled authentic liquor and the rest fake liquor, also smuggled into the country from a neighbouring country. He said that the packaging of the fake liquor looks so authentic that it is almost impossible for buyers to distinguish fake from authentic liquor. He alleged that the store-owner who owns the seized liquor has been in liquor selling business for about 30 years in the Sao Chingcha area. But besides the authentic liquor which is displayed on the shelves in the store, he said that the store also sold smuggled and fake liquor. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/5-million-baht-worth-fake-smuggled-liquor-seized/

Well we know that there's a market out there for used men's undies. That may be a starting place to launch the research. It's been my experience that the worst-smelling t-shirts are worn by female backpackers on the BTS. Not that the male backpackers smell much better but at least they're guys. Although I won't be adopting that diet, don't think I'd mind if the boys thought of me as a bull. Have to confess in advance that I will probably be scarfing down more pineapple from the breakfast buffet in the future (if I fail to get compliments, Vessey will have much to answer for!)

Just passing along what's reported and don't personally advocate any particular diet. Borrowing that old military response, "it's above my pay grade." One thing is for sure: like Scotch, it's an acquired taste. You can find much anecdotal stuff with even a cursory on-line search. Several swear by peaches, pineapple and bananas. In the interest of scholarship (lol), there's even more research out there on what diets produce an odor others find most attractive. All that I've come across seem to involve women smelling sweaty t-shirts. Here's the latest that was making the rounds on public radio in the US today: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/14/540059875/men-listen-up-women-like-the-smell-of-guys-who-eat-a-certain-diet I hope this info will encourage readers to experiment and report back. As Miss Jean Brodie observed, "For those that like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like"

Excerpts from Men's Health magazine Since semen is excreted by the body, male semen taste and smell would most likely be affected by what you eat and drink. So, are there foods that effect the taste of semen and are actually able to change the its taste? What’s the best diet for improving semen taste? For one, you should start living a clean and healthy lifestyle. Cut down and even eliminate alcohol, drugs and nicotine. Avoid junk foods and instead have lots of fruits and greens in your diet. Drink plenty of water. Drinking fruit juices from pineapple, citrus, and cranberry is also known to make semen taste sweeter. Throw in melon, mango, apple, or grape, and other fruits that are high in sugar. Likewise, vegetables like parsley and celery are recommended. There are also some foods that you should steer clear of. Fish and red meat produce a bitter, fishy male semen taste because of their alkaline content. Chemically-processed alcohol can also make your semen taste bitter. Instead, try naturally fermented drinks for a change. Garlic and onion are likely to produce strong odors since they are high in sulfur; so avoid these too. Improving male semen taste so that eating semen is pleasurable is the first part. Once you have achieved this, the next thing you can do is to increase semen volume. Even by just simply increasing your fluid intake, you will naturally increase semen volume. When your body is well hydrated, your body systems are able to work more efficiently and have less trouble getting water from the bloodstream. The most important to remember, though, is to keep yourself healthy and fit. Regular exercise encourages good blood circulation, which in turn, promotes healthy ejaculation. http://man-health-magazine-online.com/male-sexual-health/semen-health/male-semen-taste/