reader

From CNBC Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday said landmark high court rulings that established gay rights and contraception rights should be reconsidered now that the federal right to abortion has been revoked. Thomas wrote that those rulings “were demonstrably erroneous decisions.” The cases he mentioned are Griswold vs. Connecticut, the 1965 ruling in which the Supreme Court said married couples have the right to obtain contraceptives; Lawrence v. Texas, which in 2003 established the right to engage in private sexual acts; and the 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which said there is a right to same-sex marriage. Thomas’ recommendation to reconsider that trio of decisions does not have the force of legal precedent, nor does it compel his colleagues on the Supreme Court to take the action he suggested. But it is an implicit invitation to conservative lawmakers in individual states to pass legislation that might run afoul of the Supreme Court’s past decisions, with an eye toward having that court potentially reverse those rulings.

From CNN Oslo's annual Pride parade was canceled on Saturday following a deadly shooting at a gay bar that Norwegian police are investigating as a possible terrorist attack. Two people were killed and eight others taken to hospital after the shooting near the London Pub, which describes itself on its website as "the largest gay and lesbian venue in Oslo." Police received multiple calls about the shooting at 1:14 a.m. local time, and arrived at the scene minutes later. They apprehended the male suspect three minutes after arrival, police said. The suspect, charged with terrorism, is a Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, and was "known to the police," but has only received "minor convictions" up until now, prosecutor Christian Hatlo told reporters in Oslo Saturday. Norway's domestic intelligence service said it was working to clarify whether more acts of violence may be planned after the shooting. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) announced in a tweet Saturday that it was "informed about the shooting in Oslo on Saturday." "We are now contributing all the relevant information we have to the Oslo police district and are working to clarify whether more acts of violence may be planned. We do not currently have any indications of that," the PST said. There were wounded people on the ground inside and outside the bar when the police arrived. "The scene was chaotic, it was a warm evening and a lot of people were outside, so there were people running everywhere," police told CNN. Among the eight in hospital, three people are in critical condition. Another 14 victims sustained minor injuries.

From Bangkok Post Full resumption of business, other activities allowed The government has declared the whole nation a green (Covid-19 surveillance) zone, allowing the full-scale resumption of business and other activities, as pre-arrival registration will end next month. The Royal Gazette on Friday published the announcement to the effects by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as the director of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Dated on Thursday, the announcement lifted Covid-related restrictions on business and activities according to green zone regulations immediately. Entertainment places can resume their pre-Covid closing hours, either midnight, 1am or 2am depending on relevant regulations. From July 1 visitors will not have to do pre-travel arrival registration and quarantine rules will also end. No Covid-19 insurance will be required. For fully vaccinated arrivals, those aged 18 years and over will show proofs of their vaccination that occurred at least 14 days before their travel. Those aged from five to 17 years are required to have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days before travel. Vaccination certificates will not be required from people under 18 years old who travel with guardians.

I believe most of us have a pretty good handle on what a fair tip is regardless of they type of massage they receive. And I don’t think most of us don’t travel many thousands of miles for a foot massage.

7-Eleven workers don’t meet you in a small room and place their hands on your naked body so perhaps masseurs might be worthy of greater consideration.

I’d be interested how the guy providing a very personal, hands on service might judge it.

From Coconuts Bangkok Wild Boars make alms four years after cave rescue The Wild Boars soccer team made an appearance at Tham Luang in northernmost Thailand Thursday morning to pay their respects to their rescuers on the fourth anniversary of their world-renowned ordeal. Seven of the 13 boys of the Wild Boar soccer team, whose rescue after 17 days trapped in the cave drew global interest, made alms to 39 monks at the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park in anticipation of its Oct. 1 reopening. Those in attendance also paid their respects to Saman Kunan, the Navy Seal who came out of retirement to aid in the rescue and drowned while helping to prepare the operation. The park is currently closed as national park officials make the cave safer for visiting, including a 2-kilometer road link to the park’s emerald pool. Four years ago today, the 12 young footballers and their coach disappeared inside Tham Luang after practice. Before long, their bicycles and belongings were found left at the entrance, kicking off a massive effort that drew the help of amateur cave diving experts from around the world. Heavy rainfall had caused the cave to flood, trapping the team in darkness deep inside the cave complex. It took 17 days for rescue teams to get the team out safely in a perilous rescue mission that gripped the world. A film based on the incident was released in 2019.

From Thai PBS World Tourists entering Thailand from Malaysia are expected to outnumber Indian tourists after the scrapping of the “Thailand Pass” requirement from July 1st, said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn yesterday (Thursday). According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, 123,606 Indian tourists arrived in the country in the first five months of this year, followed by 96,323 from Britain, 78,523 from Malaysia, 77,707 from Germany and 72,482 from the United States. Total arrivals in that period were 1,336,068. He admitted that he had hoped that the removal of “Thailand Pass” requirement would attract more tourists to Thailand, estimated at about 900,000 a month, up from between 400,000-500,000 in May and about 700,000 this month. He said that the incentives that attract foreign tourists to Thailand include the weakening of the Thai baht against the US dollar, the relatively low cost of living in Thailand and reasonable hotel room rates. Regarding tourists from the Middle East, the minister said that about 15,000 arrived in May, and that is expected to increase to over 20,000 this month, as he expects total such arrivals for the whole year to be at least 300,000.

From Bangkok Post The government has lifted its face mask mandate and advised vulnerable and infected people to still use masks for the sake of personal and public health. The decision was made due to the improving Covid-19 situation and intended to let people resume virtually normal lifestyles, according to the government announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Friday. The use of face masks now voluntary, but is recommended to prevent infection by respiratory diseases including Covid-19, the announcement said. The Public Health Ministry advised people to continue to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places. Vulnerable people, mainly the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, should wear face masks while staying with others to reduce the risk of infection, because catching Covid-19 could jeopardise their life.

There’s an Ibis across the road. Stayed their once. Tiny but tidy rooms. https://ibis-sathorn.com-bangkok.com/

From Bangkok Post Kasikornbank (KBank) expects the baht to bottom out in the next two months, depending mainly on the US Federal Reserve's benchmark interest rate hike. It also expects the Bank of Thailand to increase its benchmark interest rate two times this year. KBank assesses the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will increase its policy rate by a quarter-point at its meeting in August. Aggressive rate hikes by the Fed would strengthen the US dollar compared with other currencies, including the baht, said Mr Kobsidthi. In this scenario, he said the baht would continue to weaken for the next two months and it could reach a nadir of low 36 against the greenback. The Bank of Thailand will need to manage the local currency to make it move in line with regional peers, said Mr Kobsidthi. An improving tourism sector in the second half of this year will continue to support a firmer baht to the dollar, reaching 33.5 against the dollar at the end of this year, said KBank.

+1 This is not time to procrastinate.Bargains can still be found in accommodations. And although it’s more challenging to find great airfares, due diligence will pay off if you remain flexible. If you’re not originating in a carrier’s hub, you’re likely looking at two stops from US locations. Try altering departure cities. New York departures, once the most competitive, are getting more pricey.

Worth keeping in mind that it’s the carrier and not the manufacturer that specs the seats, pitch and width. Seats are add-on costs and it’s up to carrier to decide on configuration it desires.

Those sneaky sons of guns. They’re just like us, pretending not to speak Thai.

Many—if not most—shops do not remit any of the fee to the guys.

From CNBC After more than two years of lockdowns and border controls, Southeast Asia is finally experiencing some semblance of the old days of travel. Flights are steadily returning to 2019 levels in the region’s major economies, with Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia being the most popular destinations this year, according to the flight data analytics firm Cirium. In Singapore, which had the most inbound flight bookings in the region this year, bookings rose from around 30% of 2019 levels in January to 48% by mid-June. The Philippines also saw a sharp uptick in bookings, from about 20% at the start of January, to almost 40% by mid-June, according to Cirium. Tourism is a key moneymaker for Southeast Asia, a region which saw international visitors more than double from 63 million in 2009 to 139 million in 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The industry accounts for around 10% of gross domestic product in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia and between 20% and 25% of GDP in Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines, according to a May 2022 report published by the Asian Development Bank. The pandemic “was probably more devastating in Southeast Asia than the rest of the world [because] governments kept the borders closed for almost two years,” said Gary Bowerman, director of the travel research firm Check-in Asia. “There were even restrictions on domestic travel.” “If you compare that to North America or Europe, for example, in both years 2020 and 2021 … they had some tourism and travel flows,” he said. Changing travel habits Most countries in Southeast Asia — including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines — have stopped requiring fully vaccinated travelers to take Covid-19 tests before traveling. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/23/travelers-return-to-southeast-asia-but-inflation-could-hurt-recovery.html After Singapore dropped its pre-travel testing requirement in April, business has been “picking up fast and furious,” said Stanley Foo, founder of the local tour operator Oriental Travel & Tours. He said travelers are booking longer trips and spending more than before too. Before the pandemic, the company received around 20 tour bookings a week, mostly for tours lasting three to four days. Now, its handling 25 bookings a week, some for trips up to 10 days long. Average expenditures on customized tours rose from around $2,000 per person before the pandemic to $4,000 to $6,000 today, said Foo. “It’s because of the revenge traveling,” Foo said. “They have saved up enough for the past two years.” Since tourists are spending more time in Singapore, Foo and his team of tour guides are taking clients to places outside the usual tourist itinerary — to the suburbs to watch residents do tai chi and to order coffee at hawker centers “the Singaporean way,” he said. Joanna Lu of Ascend by Cirium, the company’s consultancy arm, said people are spending more time planning their journeys too. They are “making sure they’re covered for unexpected changes,” she said. Not your usual tourists Tourists contacting Foo are from all over the world, especially Southeast Asian countries, he said. That’s in stark contrast to his pre-pandemic business, when Chinese nationals were among his company’s biggest client groups, said Foo. China continues to “strictly limit” non-essential travel out of the country. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/23/travelers-return-to-southeast-asia-but-inflation-could-hurt-recovery.html

Thank you for taking to share the story of the boy’s life as he related it to you. There are many things that did not surprise me but one that made me angry. That the guy’s bf thought he was entitled to manipulate him into bottoming simply to satisfy his own needs I find despicable. There are so many great moments the guys we meet can provide as long as we treat them with respect. I take the guys as they are because that how they take me. .

The beds at Tarntawan were replaced about the same time the Mahanakhon building observation deck opened. Remember this because day after going there I passed by Tarntawan and workers were hauling old mattresses down driveway. It coincided with change in name of hotel and management. Believe I posted photo on forum. If only those beds could talk.

Look on the bright side. Got your phone fixed and caught up on your reading 🙂

Correction — I said above that Green Massage was open. It is not. Walked past location again tonight. The massage chairs are all still inside so it does not appear abandoned.

I usually walk Patpong 1 nightly if for no other reason than to judge how its reopening is progressing. Last night I was impressed how many of the lady bars were open. What’s different is taxis now have free use in either direction, dropping off and picking up patrons. One of the old restaurants seems to be doing a halfway decent business, feeding the workers. I make it a point to check the Madrid for signs of life. Nothing new to report but it does not appear abandoned, just closed. I walked it from end to end this afternoon and was surprised by how many small shops had recently opened (eateries, barber, nails shop, massage and sundry others). Would not be surprised if night market returns by high season.

The massage scene continues to evolve by the day. I toured Surawong from Patpong to Soi Tarntawan this afternoon and found a few additions. Olivia massage has reopened on Surawong, roughly opposite Le Meridien. It has a mixed staff but heavy on the male side. Olivia also has shop on Silom in vicinity of. Saladeang. BTS. The upscale Urban Thai Massage has also reopened further down Surawong with a predominantly female staff. The flagship outlet of the chain is located in new facilities at the corner of Soi Thaniya and Surawong. Green Massage is located next to the driveway for the Tarntawan Hotel with mixed staff. Turning onto Soi Tarntawan, Sun Massage (Tawan bar’s daytime business) is the first shop you’ll encounter. If you continue on past The Quarter hotel, The large Prime Massage* building faces you just before the dogleg turn where the road becomes Silom soi 6. Here you’ll find 4-5 (depending on time of day) mostly or exclusively male shops, several of which have been written about on the forum. *Probably the most established (and otherwise legit) massage operation in Silom, Prime has a well-earned reputation for excellence and value. It’s professional staff is well trained. You can choose a male or female for your massage and discretion is always observed.

From the Thaiger The Airport of Thailand announced that the new passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok will be ready for use by April 2023. The Automated People Mover train, which will be the nation’s first driverless electric train used in Thai airports, will be available for passengers to travel between each terminal at the same time too. The President of the AOT, Nitinai Siriamatthakarn, informed the media that the construction of the new passenger terminal, Satellite 1 (SAT1) had finished, and it would be ready for use in April next year. He also added that the airport capacity would be increased to welcome 60 million passengers per year, up from 45 million passengers. And, with 28 aircraft stand taxiplanes, the airport will be able to support up to 68 flights per hour. The new SAT1 terminal is a 4-story building giving way to 216,ooo square metres. The B2 floor is for the APM trains, the B1 floor is for the airport office, the G floor is for a conveyor belt, the 2nd floor is for arrivals, the 3rd floor is for departures, and the 4th floor is for restaurants.

Jason, regarding your cannabis infused food experience, you’re not alone. This article appeared in Bangkok Post article today: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2331063/new-pot-scare-alert-heart-problems

The Thai News Agency is now reporting as many as 40 homes destroyed in the blaze.