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Over the years on this form many have posted reports similar to Orson regarding their experiences at Prime. He gave it a favorable review and commented that genitals were grazed. That hardly describes “pawing” or that he desired anything more that greater pressure. Having had more than my share massages in shops all over town, I can say with confidence that it’s just about impossible to do a naked massage without masseur inadvertently grazing genitalia. Nothing untoward should be assumed about intentions of either party in like circumstances.

From CNN The Robot Building pictured in 2022, shortly before the tower's exterior was stripped as part of ongoing renovations. For almost four decades, its cartoonish eyes gazed out placidly over Sathorn, a commercial district in downtown Bangkok. Now, with its facade stripped back to a concrete frame amid major renovations, the tower affectionately known as the “Robot Building” is barely recognizable, save for its characteristically blocky silhouette. The building’s owners, the Thai arm of Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB), say the refurbishment will make its headquarters more energy-efficient and employee-friendly. While the company would not share images of the proposed redesign with CNN, conservationists and architects — including the tower’s 84-year-old designer, who says he was shown plans for the new exterior — have expressed dismay at dramatic alterations being made to an icon of Southeast Asian postmodernism. Completed in 1986, the Robot Building was intended to reflect changes in the banking industry, which at the time was embracing new computer technology. Its designer Sumet Jumsai, who was inspired by one of his son’s toy robots, is considered a major figure in contemporary Thai architecture, and was named a “national artist” by the country’s government. In an email to CNN, Sumet, who is now retired, decried the “defacement” of his creation. He described renovations as a “devastating statement” demonstrating the “ignorance and arrogance (of) big corporations.” In March, the architect wrote to UOB Thailand expressing concern over the loss of the tower’s “original iconic features,” including its eyes, and urging it to reconsider plans “before it is too late.” The bank’s response, which was shared with CNN by Sumet, acknowledged that the building was a “significant landmark” — but said the planned refurbishment would bring it “into a new era while paying homage to its heritage.” The bank added that it will keep a replica of the building’s original form in “a corner of the lobby.” Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/style/thailand-robot-building-renovation-bangkok/index.html

From Thai PBS World Given the huge difference between penalties for abuse of methamphetamine and for selling the drug, the government’s plan to classify people convicted of possessing more than five methamphetamine tablets as drug traders is a big deal. “We have set this cap based on academic findings by relevant authorities,” Public Health Ministry acting permanent secretary Dr Kittisak Agsornwong said recently. The five-pill classification was deemed reasonable by relevant agencies – including the Medical Services Department, Mental Health Department, Food and Drug Administration, Medical Sciences Department, Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Council of State, Royal Thai Police, and Office of the Attorney-General – at a meeting last Friday. The next step is to present the plan to Public Health Minister Dr Cholnan Srikaew, who had previously proposed a 10-pill cap. If the five-pill plan gets the green light, it will be passed into law as a ministerial regulation. Thailand has been fighting the scourge of narcotics for decades. Authorities have declared several so-called wars on drugs, but meaningful victory remains elusive. The Mental Health Department estimates that 2-2.5 million Thais abuse narcotics. Around 100,000 have entered rehabilitation programs in hospitals while others have received therapy at community clinics or private facilities. The youngest person to enter a state hospital for drug treatment so far was just 12 years old. More than two-thirds of inmates in Thailand are behind bars because of drug-related convictions. In other words, over 200,000 (204,147) of the total 271,967 convicted prisoners in Thailand’s notoriously overcrowded jails are serving time for offenses committed under the Narcotics Act. Continues at https://www.thaipbsworld.com/five-pill-policy-examining-thailands-latest-push-in-decades-long-drugs-war/

From VN Express Cambodia welcomed 3.92 million international tourist arrivals during the first nine months of 2023, surging 211% year on year, the country's Ministry of Tourism said. Thailand topped the sources of international arrivals, followed by Vietnam and China. The three countries posted the respective growth rates of 189%, 156%, and 549% in the numbers of visitors to Cambodia, according to the ministry’s report released on Nov. 3. 1.34 million foreign tourists visited Cambodia by air, up 186%, and 2.58 million by land and waterways, up 224%. Top Sopheak, Secretary of State and Spokesman of the Tourism Ministry, said the country expects to receive at least 5 million international arrivals this year. He voiced his belief that more international tourists will be attracted to Cambodia after Siem Reap Angkor International Airport becomes operational on Oct. 16. Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Cambodian economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export; agriculture; and construction and real estate.

Like the offs we take because they’re so damn good looking only to prove wanting between the sheets, China well knew what the British needed to hear as the deal was being negotiated.

And you don’t in any other East Asian metropolis?

You’re right: it doesn’t matter. CNN’s provides a layman’s definition of the difference between ground speed and air speed to illustrate how the two differ in determining flight duration. I agree that it would have been better to omit “indicated” airspeed which has a more technical definition which you provided.

It must be a government job.🙂

Statistically, this thread is pulling more replies and views than some really good trip reports. The difference between these very divergent categories is that we feel better after reading the TR’s and crappy after reading the more “politically” oriented posts. I wonder if we can all agree on these points, none of which I believe are in dispute: 1, Violent deaths in war of any kind are all repugnant. 2, Arguing with someone with different views on these matters never causes another to change their mind—no matter how compelling we believe are arguments to be—and is a bonafide waste of time and bandwidth. 3. We all—hopefully—have more productive things to do (I.e., do another off, get another massage, write a TR or venue report, plan another trip, call a sick friend).

From CNN Travel Savior of many a cramped pair of legs, the jet stream is well known for lopping roughly an hour off long haul west-to-east flights. But it’s working especially hard for travelers in economy class right now, with the jet stream over the Atlantic so strong that flights heading from the US to Europe are reaching speeds equivalent to that of sound. Sound travels at about 761 mph or 1,100 feet per second in “sea level standard conditions,” according to NASA – a little over 661 knots. In the past 24 hours, passenger aircraft traveling east from the US across the Atlantic have reached up to 778 mph. That’s a little over 200 miles per hour faster than normal cruising speeds. But if you’re thinking these flight times are a match for the much-missed Concorde, whose sonic booms used to mark it breaking the sound barrier, it’s time to think again. There’s a difference between ground speed and speed in the air (indicated air speed, essentially the speed of the plane in relation to the air around it). These passenger flights, however speedy, didn’t break the sound barrier. But they did slash flight times. Emirates flight 222 from Dallas to Dubai arrived 57 minutes early on November 1, having reached a top speed of 675 knots, or 777 mph, off the coast of Newfoundland, according to flight tracking site Flightaware. American Airlines flight 106 from JFK to Heathrow arrived 54 minutes early on Wednesday morning, with a flight time of just six hours and seven minutes. It reached a top speed of 778 mph, or 676 knots, also just past Newfoundland. Meanwhile Delta flight 186 raced from Los Angeles to London with top speeds of 760mph, arriving half an hour early on November 1 at 1.08 p.m. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/jet-stream-flights-speed-of-sound/index.html

Most went to friends but, yes, I probably could have monetized to help buy next ticket. Above photo from rookie year. Here’s more recent.

From CNN This city never slept. But with China tightening its grip, is the party over? Hong KongCNN — As the scattered patrons hop from one deserted bar to the next, it’s hard to believe the near-empty streets they are zigzagging down were once among the most vibrant in Asia. It is Thursday evening, a normally busy night, but there are no crowds for them to weave through, no revelers spilling onto the pavements and no need for them to wait to be seated. At some of the stops on this muted bar crawl, they are the only ones in the room. It wasn’t always this way. It might seem unlikely from this recent snapshot, but Hong Kong was once a leading light in Asia’s nightlife scene, a famously freewheeling neon-lit city that never slept, where East met West and crowds would spill from the bars throughout the night and long into the morning – even on a weekday. Such images were beamed around the world in 1997, when Britain handed over sovereignty of its prized former colony to China, and locals and visitors alike welcomed in the new era with a 12-hour rave featuring Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong and Paul Oakenfold. China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. The city was promised a high degree of autonomy for the next 50 years and assured that its Western ways could continue. Or, as China’s then leader Deng Xiaoping put it: “Horses will still run, stocks will still sizzle and dancers will still dance.” And for long after the British departed, the dancing did indeed continue. Hong Kong retained not only the spirit of capitalism, but many other freedoms unknown in the rest of China – not just the gambling on horse races that Deng alluded to, but political freedoms of the press, speech and the right to protest. Even calls for greater democracy were tolerated – at least, for a time. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/03/economy/hong-kong-nightlife-china-dst-intl-hnk/index.html

Owners may have used this as opportunity to slash expenses across board. Running a venue that size comes with big fixed costs (rent, utilities, upkeep), leaving variables like staffing easy targets. When Lucky Boy occupied same venue, it had 40-50 in rotation plus good show. But It never reopened after Covid.

This marks the return of the Dreamboy policy of only hiring Thais. That policy was abandoned a few years ago in order to boost numbers. I agree that any bar that size will likely experience difficulty without non-Thais. Letting all foreigners go due to one bad apple seems rash.

For those who venture to Saphan Kwai in search of massage options, they’ll be pleased to know that that work on new sidewalks (and the water pipes below them) is just about complete on both sides of Sutthisan Winitchai rd. and walking confit are good. Shop update — Saengchan Spa on Inthamara 25, that closed in August for repairs, appears now to have consolidated its operations with KK Massage near Inthamara 23. One hour oil 380, wide selection on LINE or available on tablet upon arrival. On weekends you may find a handful of guys available in the shop. (Line: @bkk23)

From Thai PBS World Myanmar’s military junta has used foreigners including Thais as human shields in northeastern Shan State, where fighting the junta and an ethnic alliance is escalating, according to The Irrawaddy online. Instead of sending them back to their respective countries, the junta’s anti-human trafficking unit sent them to military camps, the online quoted a humanitarian worker as saying. Apart from Thais, other foreign nationals were those from Nepal, Ethiopia and Laos. “The army is using them as forced labor to build bunkers, dig trenches, and carry timber. They are practically human shields.” The foreigners are being held in front-line outposts in Laukkai town where their lives are at risk from fighting that could erupt at any time. They could possibly be caught in the crossfire, the Irrawaddy online reported. The Brotherhood Alliance could launch attacks against Laukkai [any time]. And if they do get killed during rebel attacks, the junta will presumably attempt to frame the Brotherhood Alliance for targeting foreign civilians. The Brotherhood Alliance, made up of the Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, has captured dozens of junta bases in and around the towns of Mong Ko and Chin Shwe Haw, northeastern Shan State, since launching its “Operation 1027” offensive a week ago. Fears are now mounting that the fighting will spread to Laukkai, a border town sandwiched between Mong Ko and Chin Shwe Haw and controlled by the junta-allied Kokang Border Guard Force and militia.

From Thai PBS World The cold season in Thailand may arrive in the middle of this month, about two weeks later than usual, and it may only last about a month. Somkuan Tonjan, head of the Central Weather Forecast Sub-division of the Meteorological Department, said today that the department has not yet declared the official arrival of the cold season because the cold front from China is not strong enough to push the temperature below 24oC. He said that, normally, the cold season starts in the middle of October and lasts through to the following February. In some years, such as in 1983 and 1999, the cold season arrived in the middle of November. He explained that three elements, wind, rain and cold mass, are used when assessing the cold season in Thailand, adding that the key element, the cold mass from China, has not yet arrived. From the assessment of the weather for the next four months, Somkuan said that the average temperature is forecast to drop by fewer than 2-3oC and the temperature at ground level is not expected to drop below 20oC. He admitted that the delay in the arrival of the cold season this year may affect the management of water resources and agriculture, adding that, normally, the Royal Irrigation Department plans the management of water resources in November.

Good to keep in mind that not all bars and pubs will take advantage of the new ruling. Staffing may prove to be an issue because simply extending hours doesn’t mean workers will be amenable to change. And I don’t think there are a lot of readers here who are necessarily excited about the idea of partying that late. Many would prefer to be in bed with off, I’d think. Those who do enjoy the wee hours typically do it in the dance clubs. I suspect the bars in Sukhumvit area will be more enthused with the concept. From Thai PBS World Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has given the greenlight for pubs and bars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chon Buri to stay open until 4am, tentatively from December 15, to promote tourism and increase revenues. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke told the media that the government has carefully considered the proposal with security agencies and is fully aware that, in reality, many pubs and bars have been operating beyond the 2am closing time illegally and it is time to put night-life venues in order and in compliance with the law. Apart from moving closing time to 4am, he said the prime minister has instructed authorities to look into the impacts, such as the noise problem, which may disturb people near the venues, drunk driving and drug abuse. There are steps to be taken by agencies before the new order comes into effect. These include the amendment of Interior Ministry regulations regarding operating hours of entertainment venues, the issuance of licenses, zoning, social problems and support plans to ensure the safety of customers and the public. Chai said the prime minister has advised that any step which can be done first must go ahead, such as zoning of the night life venues, adding that the prime minister stressed the importance of addressing the drunk driving problem. The prime minister later told the media that the new closing time for nightlife venues is not only intended for tourists, but also for Thais whose businesses are related to tourism, such as restaurants and food shops.

At 6-5, 250 pounds, will stack him up against any of your Mr. Universe wannabes at Tawan any day of week and twice on Sundays.

Thanks for the introduction 🙏

If you reported the actual number of Russian prisoners, you’d end up one yourself. 😀

And don’t forget her hunky boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Best tight end in NFL.

You really shouldn’t drink when you’re alone, GP. 🙂

When I moved into smaller living quarters I gave away a bunch of old vinyl. It was like parting with old books that I’ve always found difficult. As I think back on the artists, first that come to mind is the Eagles, Bellamy Brothers, Don McLean, Beachboys and very likely a handful of some of Peter’s selection. Ashamed to admit I can no longer find the names for the songs I can still hear. No matter what the youngsters say, pop will never be that good again.