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From Thai PBS World From Thai PBS World Their Majesties the King and Queen Thursday presided over a royal ceremony to unveil the statue of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the new Chalerm Phrakiat Park in Bangkok’s Dusit district. Thousands of people dressed in yellow along with senior government officials also joined in the ceremony. The Chalerm Phrakiat Park, located on 279 rai of land, is designed as Bangkok’s “new lung” with thousands of new trees to be planted there. It will also serve as a reminder of contributions by the late King and Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother to the Thai society.

From the BBC (21 JUNE, 2011) Barbarossa Hitler Stalin: War warnings Stalin ignored By Patrick Jackson BBC News Russia and other parts of the former USSR commemorate one of the darkest days of their history on Wednesday, the 70th anniversary of Hitler's invasion. It has long been known that Stalin received warnings of an impending attack, prompting one of the great questions of military history: why were Soviet forces, despite their impressive numbers, so ill-prepared to withstand the Nazi blitzkrieg? Some accounts of the war have sought to play down the amount of intelligence the Kremlin had to go on, but this week a wealth of damning detail has emerged in the Russian media. In an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, Russian military historian Arsen Martirosyan revealed that Soviet intelligence had named the exact, or almost exact, date of the invasion 47 times in the 10 days before Germany struck. Moscow knew of Nazi invasion plans from 1935, the historian argues, and was aware as early as 1936 of an attack plan called the Eastern Campaign. It seems that Hitler himself all but let the cat out of the bag in May 1941, when he sent a letter to Stalin, who at the time was still a nominally friendly leader under the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-13862135

Thailand to become a more popular destination for Russians fleeing Putin’s draft From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon After a seven months hiatus, Aeroflot flights from Moscow to both Phuket and Bangkok are scheduled to begin at the end of the month. This was confirmed by Vladimir Sosnov, the Russian consul general in Phuket, and by CNN correspondents who say that tickets are indeed on sale in the Russian capital. There have been no direct flights since March 2022, largely because aero spare parts have been hard to obtain since the imposition of western sanctions. To date, about 90,000 Russians, mostly bona fide tourists or expats, have entered Thailand since the Ukraine war began last February. This largely reflects travel difficulties as air passengers must generally go first to countries – Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are examples – which offer visa-free entry to Russians and onward flights to Bangkok. In 2019, prior to the Covid pandemic almost one million Russians entered Thailand in a similar seven months period. Draft escapee Vadim is a 26 year old Russian, currently residing in Pattaya, who says he fled Moscow via Turkey to avoid the compulsory call-up to the Russian military. He says that he expects more men, hoping to escape the draft, to arrive in Thailand once flights resume. “They are likely to be questioned by the police in Russia prior to departure and they won’t carry too much luggage to avoid suspicion.” But he expected many to get through. “Actually, Putin prefers people opposed to him to be out of the country.” His colleague Alexei, 28, said Thailand had its merits and disadvantages as a bolt hole for draft deniers. “Russians don’t need a visa to come here for 30 days and extensions are easy to obtain. On the other hand, the work permit rules here are very strict.” He said he had been a waiter in both Kazakhistan and Turkey, but that was impossible in Thailand. Alexei complained that he had met some official hostility even in Pattaya. “Bank accounts are very hard to open here and I was told by an official to forget the idea unless I could produce a 12 months’ rental contract. That kind of discrimination doesn’t seem to apply to other nationalities.” Russian journalist Ekaterina Kogutov said the biggest problem for most escapees was how to support themselves abroad. “Some countries have given them refugee status, but others have banned them or made clear there is no state support.” Thai authorities do not provide financial help. Ekaterina explained that many men who had fled here worked remotely as digital nomads beneath the radar. Others were self-sufficient for now or received financial support from their families in Russia. Of course, most Russian draft escapees have transferred by land to those neighboring countries willing to admit them. Those fleeing abroad by air are likely to be the more affluent or well-connected and hundreds are known to have flown out by private jets. But now that Thailand is becoming more accessible by air, and with a history of welcoming one and a half million Russians in 2019, the arrival of more draft escapees is inevitable. A policy statement from the Thai government is clearly overdue.

Stalin was informed of Hitler’s designs on Russia and he chose to disbelieve it. Appease a bully today and be prepared to suffer consequences tomorrow. That’s a lesson that goes back millennia.

The good news is that the sofas are now vinyl. Other than that your recollections are spot on. They had a few guys sitting outside that same night so I believe you’ll be in luck.

That was Neville Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement with another animal in 1938.

As Tom Cruise observed in the original Top Gun, it’s a target rich environment. If you want to survey the most masseurs in the least amount of time, there’s no place in town that makes it easier than Silom Soi 6 and environs. Begin your search at the new, all-Thai 9teen shop on Silom near the mouth of Soi 6 and then turn left on to 6 and you’ll find a total of six shops before you come to the dogleg turn. Continue in the direction of Surawong and you come to Sun Massage, the daytime home of Tawan Bar. All eight of the above shops have male only masseurs and on any given day you can find upwards of 70 available guys. Still not enough? Continue to Surawong road and turn right where you begin to pass by the mixed shops.

From Thai PBS. world Thailand has abstained, as did China and India, in a vote on the UN resolution not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine which Russia has claimed, following referenda held late last month. The UN General Assembly passed the resolution by a large majority on Wednesday, demanding that Moscow reverse course on its “attempted illegal annexation” of parts of Ukraine. The results were 143 member states in favour, with five voting against and 35 abstentions. The countries voting against were Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria. The resolution, now passed in the Assembly, calls on all states, the UN and international organisations not to recognize any of Russia’s annexation claims and demands the immediate reversal of its annexation declaration. On Monday, the UN rejected Russian efforts hold a secret ballot on the matter. A majority of member countries elected to hold the vote in public. Thailand also abstained in a vote to suspend Russia from UN Human Rights Council in April this year, citing inclusivity. In March, Thailand did, however, vote to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

I’ve found that most of straight men (variously refereed to as “all man”, “real man”, in the vernacular) will provide hand job happy ending because they know it will pad their tip. As for Cloud Massage, no one can accurately predict what will actually happen once the door is closed. That’s when the real “policy” is made.

They didn’t appear necessarily skinny or necessarily muscled. A few wore jackets. Best useful term that comes to mind is boys next door, one of who looked too young to drive.

From Variety International streaming company Netflix has unveiled six new titles representing its first wide-ranging slate of content from Thailand. Its four films and two series span the comedy, suspense and comedy drama genres and hail from six different local production firms – GMM Studios, International, GDH, Song Sound Productions, Transformation Films, 18 Tanwa and Jungka Bangkok. Significantly, too, they are sourced from established directors or producers. Writer-director Prueksa Amaruji’s dark comedy film “Lost Lotteries” is produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham (“Beautiful Beautiful Boxer,” “Pleasure Factory”) and will stream from mid-November. Writer-producer Kongdej Jaturanrasmee and veteran indie producer Soros Sukhum (“Memoria,” “Pop-Aye”) are behind director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s “Hunger,” a family drama with food as its central theme. It stars Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, aka Aok Bap, the breakout star of “Bad Genius” and a former Talent to Watch, selected by Variety and the International Film Festival & Awards Macao. Veteran director Wisit Sasanatieng (“Tears of the Black Tiger”) is directing “The Murderer,” a dark comedy set in one of Thailand’s poorest and most looked-down-upon regions in which a British man is accused of murdering his wife’s family, but it is the wife that has to defend him. Another veteran director Nonzee Nimibutr (“Jan Dara”) is set to deliver “Mon Rak Nak Pak,” a drama about the good old days of Thai cinema when dialog was narrated live and medicine carts were used to bring in audiences. “Shutter” director Parkpoom Wongpoom directs and jointly produces series “Delete,” a love triangle thriller in which a complicated relationship leads to people being erased from others’ lives. Aok Bap also stars. Nalina Chayasombat, who previously worked with Wongpoom on “Shutter” and “Phobia 2” is directing series “Analog Squad,” in which a group of misfits is hired to play the part of estranged family members in order to fill in the cracks of a broken family. Netflix has previously commissioned individual shows in Thailand, rather than a slate of local titles and enjoyed success with “Bangkok Breaking,” and the recently launched “Thai Cave Rescue.” The approach is changing as the company tries to drill down to local level in more territories and as it responds to competitive pressure from rival platforms who have also targeted Thailand for expansion. “We’re always looking for stories that are authentically local and when we give it the greenlight, we make sure it’s created in the best possible format to bring that story to life,” said Yongyoot Thongkongtoon, an experienced local director (“Iron Ladies”) and now Netflix’s Thailand content lead, told Variety. “For this initial slate, it just so happened that most of the stories that were pitched to us were most suited for film. However, we’re always looking for opportunities to optimize for more balanced programming as we continue to expand our slate in the next few years.”

I was walking along the Road New Twlight bar is on when three guys stationed by the side of road approached me. “Many new boys, come see”. They gestured toward what at one time formed the lead in the trifecta of sleaze—Super A, Golden Cock and Nature Boy. Sleaze. Really hadn’t seen much signs of it since returning so as the whore monger that inhabits all of us here I felt duty bound to check it out. Stepping through the door of Super A was like time travel, returning to my last visit over a dozen years prior. It was discomforting to see how nothing had changed: sofas to the right, tiny stage to the left and bar in back. Two customers were sitting with guys. I sat down in the unoccupied sofa and order a beer (200). Soon the show, more of a lineup actually, got under way. One guy stood on the stage and moved his arms slightly from side to side. Seven boys in street clothes stood to his right doing nothing, all with the look, “what am I doing here.” The same thought crossed my mind but I cautioned myself to give it a chance. Four or five minutes passed and nothing changed. The mamasan signaled to everyone to sit down. That prompted me to pay my tab and make for the door behind an Asian customer toting his bottle of beer. If I felt anything as I walked away it was sympathy for those who made up the ragtag crew whose vacant expressions spoke volumes. It can be challenging to get a new bar up and running, and sometimes too much of a one. But never under estimate the sleaze factor to prevail in the end.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds 😀

I inhabit Silom area. I rarely see westerners with masks outdoors. In stores, markets and transportation, generally yes. In restaurants and bars, no.

The following quote is from the Wall Street Journal (Oct. 10): In their efforts to understand the killings, many here cite drugs, which they describe as a blight on their community that ensnares teenagers and workers alike. Police said the killer had a history of drug abuse and was fired as a police officer after being arrested for methamphetamine possession. An autopsy showed he hadn’t taken any narcotics before the attack. He was scheduled to appear for a court hearing on Friday in connection with the drug-possession charge. Mayor Taweesak Chantasri, a former journalist and political activist who oversees a larger region that encompasses the district of Uthai Sawan, said methamphetamine abuse is common. Some workers on the plantations and in the factories have been known to get hooked after taking it to help finish grueling shifts or meet production quotas, he said. “It’s a very difficult problem,” he said. Cheap and abundant, “the drugs are everywhere in society,” he added.

Had an opportunity the other night to talk with three massage guys I’ve known for 5+ years who work in Silom area. All had varying degrees of English ability. When discussion turned to tipping, I asked who were best tippers. They agreed westerners were usually good. When I asked them about Asian customers, all three said Malaysians were consistently most generous, especially compared to those from northern Asia. Another point that came up surprised me. If they see a young man and older man approaching the shop, regardless of ethnicity, they’ll try to attract the older client. Older gents are usually better tippers and more appreciative than the younger men, they agreed.

Do you Line ID for this place?

A walk through Patpong Monday night showed that Hot Male ground-level bar was only one open on the Soi at about 10:45.

Did I not say “The driver was worst speed demon I’ve yet encountered, passing every vehicle in sight during moderate rain.” That implies I’ve encountered others before that speed excessively and are likely on meth. I believe it occurs more often than the rare bad apple category suggests.

A member just told me that some bars may choose to open tonight since they can legally serve alcohol after midnight. What they actually do prior to 12 is up to speculation, I suppose. TIT.

From Channel News Asia TOKYO: As Japan throws open its doors to visitors this week after more than two years of pandemic isolation, hopes for a tourism boom face tough headwinds amid shuttered shops and a shortage of hospitality workers. From Tuesday (Oct 11), Japan will reinstate visa-free travel to dozens of countries, ending some of the world's strictest border controls to slow the spread of COVID-19. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is counting on tourism to help invigorate the economy and reap some benefits from the yen's slide to a 24-year low. Arata Sawa is among those eager for the return of foreign tourists, who previously comprised up to 90 per cent of the guests at his traditional inn. "I'm hoping and anticipating that a lot of foreigners will come to Japan, just like before COVID-19," said Sawa, the third-generation owner of the Sawanoya ryokan in Tokyo. More than half a million visitors have come to Japan so far in 2022, compared with a record 31.8 million in 2019. The government had a goal of 40 million in 2020 timed with the Summer Olympics until both were upended by the coronavirus. Kishida said last week the government is aiming to attract 5 trillion yen (US$34.5 billion) in annual tourist spending. But that goal may be too ambitious for a sector that has atrophied during the pandemic. Hotel employment slumped 22 per cent between 2019 and 2021, according to government data. Spending from overseas visitors will reach only 2.1 trillion yen by 2023 and won't exceed pre-COVID levels until 2025, wrote Nomura Research Institute economist Takahide Kiuchi in a report.

I wasn’t in your taxi when you encountered the doctored meter. You weren’t in my taxi as it raced to Silom on slick roads. I’ve never encountered a doctored meter. You’ve never encountered a speeding cabbie. Guess we can booth consider ourselves lucky. I still contend the use of ya-ba to stay awake is not uncommon. Excessively high-speed driving is a common indicator.

The above article lacks attribution. The following claim by the suspect in the case is unsubstantiated: ”A large number of Thai berry pickers coming to Finland work in agriculture and mainly in rice plantations in Thailand where the income level is very low. EUR 12,000 corresponds to 15 years’ salary for rice cultivation, he adds. Most of us might feel disgruntled at best if we had to work and live in conditions of the berry pickers. The article comes across as a puff piece that attempts to put the suspect in the best light.

In observance of last day of Buddhist Lent, Monday is a non-alcohol day and expect to find bars closed. Thursday, Oct. 13, is a national holiday marking anniversary of late King’s death. But bars are allowed to open.

From Thai PBS World Thai immigration withdraw tourist visas of two CNN reporters Thai immigration officials have withdrawn the visas of two CNN reporters who entered the crime scene of Thursday’s mass killings at the child care centre in Nong Bua Lam Phu province, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy national police chief said today (Sunday). He said that the two reporters, 47-year-old Anna Coren, an Australian, and 34-year-old Daniel Hodge, a Briton, were escorted from their hotel in Udon Thani by police and taken to Na Klang police station in Nong Bua Lam Phu province for questioning. He said that police want to know from them which Thai officials had allowed them into the crime scene, as they had claimed, adding, that only the police have the authority to grant such permission. The deputy national police chief also said that the two reporters may face charges of intrusion into a crime scene and interfering with evidence, if it can be proved that they crossedthe crime scene cordon without permission. He explained that, according to Thai legal procedure, the two reporters will be deported and blacklisted, but only after the completion of any legal proceedings. An informed source at the Immigration Bureau, meanwhile, said that officials had checked the two reporters’ visas and found that they are in the country on tourist visas.