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From The Star PHNOM PENH, Aug 29 (Bernama): Cambodia has allowed its citizens to get a third Covid-19 booster shot to build "real herd immunity,” Anadolu Agency quoted the state-run news agency Agence Kampuchea Press. In a statement released by the government this week, Prime Minister Hun Sen said a third dose of vaccines will be offered to people aged 12 and above. "In order to rapidly build a ‘real herd immunity’ which is a key foundation to protect the people’s lives from Covid-19, particularly the Delta variant or other variants, as well as to get prepared for the plan to reopen all sectors and to live with Covid-19 in a new normal norm, the Royal Government decides to launch the Covid-19 booster shot policy to the general public aged 12 years old and above,” the statement said. The campaign will run until mid-2022, and is conducted on a voluntary and free-of-charge basis, it added. Nearly 8 million people out of the 10 million eligible have been fully vaccinated with the UK-produced Oxford-AstraZeneca, the US-donated Johnson & Johnson, or the Chinese-made Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. The Southeast Asian country has a population of 16 million. The kingdom has also began vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17 earlier this month, and up to 2 million are expected to be inoculated by early November. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2021/08/29/cambodia-now-allowing-citizens-to-get-covid-19-booster-shots

From Anthem Press A Longitudinal Study of Young, Rural, Same-Sex-Attracted Men Coming of Age By Jan W. de Lind van Wijngaarden Anthem Studies in Sexuality, Gender and Culture This book presents the very first analysis of male homosexuality in modern rural Thailand that is based on sociological/anthropological research directly with 25 young same-sex attracted men. It explores changes in the way men view and describe their sexuality over time by interviewing them three times over a period of around 18 months. The men are followed during an important transition in their lives: the end of their high school years and the end (in most cases) of their life as a child with parents or extended family at a rural home. Nearly all decided to move to a city to continue their education or to find work. Some also had stints with sex work in one of Thailand’s well-known centers for prostitution. For nearly all men, this transition brought them into contact with new ideas about gender and sexuality, and many experienced an abrupt increase in their opportunities to have sex, leading to a readjustment of their moral universes. The young men in the study were still in the process of figuring out who they were/wanted to be, and many contradictions emerged in their narratives over the period of data collection. These contradictions, and the way they were resolved, presented an opportunity to critically explore the way the social structures in which these young men operate influence the way they think and explain their own sexual/gendered selves, and how changes in these social structures affect their sense of self. A number of explanatory ‘lenses’ are used in the different book chapters that zoom in on different structuring/explanatory frameworks for making sense of gender and sexuality in Thai cultural contexts, as used and applied by the study participants. The first is Buddhism. Buddhist beliefs and traditional ideas about karma, fate, hierarchy, family, masculinity and femininity played important roles in the young men’s childhood understandings about homosexuality and same-sex relations– especially in terms of their cause and morality. The second lens for understanding male homosexuality in Thailand is gender, where men are divided into feminine-oriented bottoms and masculine-oriented tops. A third lens is modernity/the desire to develop and grow, closely linked to Thailand’s globalizing economy and the increasing role of the Internet and social media. The Internet functioned as an important ‘playground’, a platform for trying-out different presentations of the self via Facebook and chat applications – and in many men this resulted in a rejection of their previous self-presentation as effeminate, which they gradually started to associate with being backwards, rural and ‘traditional’. The fourth lens is related to economy. Many of the young men in the study searched for romantic relationships based on complementarity and were looking for boyfriends who had something they did not have—money, a better position in society, or ‘wisdom’/the ability to guide. Most of the more effeminate men saw their sexuality as valuable, and several of the study participants described in this book – especially those coming from poor families – engaged in sex work and used their youth and beauty to find a wealthy long-term partner, in the hope of lifting their families out of poverty, towards a more prosperous future. The fifth lens is nationalism, or more specifically the concept of ‘being a good Thai’; gradually the young men learned that the Thai sense of self and the importance of performing one’s role as a ‘good’ son in public can be used as a strategy to cover-up private behaviors and desires. The sixth and final lens is family. Being ‘good’, respecting elders and elder siblings, financially supporting (grand-)parents, having good manners, meaning ‘acting appropriately in time and space’, gave the young men a way to retain the respect and support of elders and seniors, and determined how they dealt with (non-)disclosure of their sexuality to their families and others and explained their ability and desire to remain part of the mainstream of society. In the final chapter, a discussion about three critical concerns pertaining the health and wellbeing of same-sex attracted Thai men are discussed in the light of this proposed model: the ongoing HIV epidemic, mental health and LGBTI rights. Overall, this book presents significant new insights about the Thai sex/gender system, particularly on how it is affected by processes of globalization and the ascent of the Internet and mobile phones as tools for dating and romance. https://anthempress.com/sociology/books/male-homosexuality-in-21st-century-thailand-pdf

I thought we'd put to bed the notion that otherwise straight men aren't interested in sex with gay men. There are many guys on the board who have a preference for straights--regardless of their nationality. Most of the guys who work the bars and massage shops in Bangkok are straight. That they can service both men and women adds to their utility and--for many admirers--their attractiveness.

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese nationals and foreigners can now register online for COVID-19 vaccines, according to Nguyễn Trường Nam, Deputy Head of the Information Technology Department of the Ministry of Health. The ministry has confirmed that anyone over the age 18 can choose one of two ways to register for their vaccination online. “The entire process, from registering for online vaccination to looking up vaccination history and results, can be done on the E-health app. The healthcare sector can monitor quantities of people who registered for vaccination, have received vaccine shots or remain unvaccinated, and the number of vaccines delivered to the venues,” Nam said. He said with the online system, people do not have to visit vaccination venues to register. Information is sent to authorities quickly and they can avoid lost or duplicate information. People must provide information on which priority groups they are in. Based on that information, authorities will arrange vaccination schedules for each group, Nam told Vietnam News Agency. Option One: Directly via the COVID-19 vaccination portal: https://tiemchungcovid19.gov.vn/portal/register-person Option Two: Via the E-health app for phones using Android and iOS that can be downloaded here: https://hssk.kcb.vn/#/sskdt. The website and the E-health app are expected to be updated with an English version in the next few weeks. Foreigners will be able to access these systems to make registration once the English version is completed. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/992011/how-to-register-for-your-covid-19-vaccine-for-vietnamese-and-foreigners.html

Sure it wasn't that the Vietnamese guys wouldn't take you as a client again and tossed you out?

From Bangkok Post Support for mid-Oct launch grows with fall in infections, jabs boost When Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on June 16 that the country was gearing up for reopening in 120 days, many wondered if he had set himself an unattainable goal. The country was languishing in the throes of the Covid-19 crisis and prognoses about the pandemic were not encouraging. The daily caseload was spiking at a time when the government had fumbled over vaccine procurement as it tried to figure out when the next batch of vaccines would come from. It is now half-way through the 120-day deadline that falls in mid-October. Daily infections which peaked at more than 23,000 have retreated to around 18,000 in recent days. More vaccines have arrived with more than 120 million doses promised by the government by the end of the year. The government is pinning its hopes on the success of the tourism sandbox programme underway in Phuket and Samui to lure back overseas visitors. At the half-way mark to the government's mid-October reopening promise, politicians and stakeholders interviewed by the Bangkok Post cautiously agreed the deadline must be honoured as the economy cannot stay shut any longer. The economy has been in free-fall for long enough as a result of intermittent lockdowns and public health restrictions. It must be allowed room to breathe come the middle of October, said Kla Party secretary-general Atavit Suwannapakdee. He predicted the pandemic will still be lingering in October although reopening the country should be the rule, not an exception. "We've reached a point where we can't keep shutting our door. We must also face the fact the government's centralised approach to handling the pandemic is out of place," he said. "The reopening plan must go ahead. If we delay it, what the country has planned will be ruined and the country as a whole will lose its credibility," Mr Atavit added. The government's fight against the pandemic has been less than successful with the latest lockdown and restrictions proving an exercise in futility to contain the virus. "Many won't die from the disease but from being unable to make a living," he said. The chance of the country getting back to business in October depends on its "saviour", the vaccine. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2172887/ready-to-reopen-safely

From AFP / Bangkok Post A woman buys drinking yoghurt from a vendor at Hua Lamphong station. (AFP Photo) An uncertain fate awaits the vendors, drivers and rough sleepers who have made a second home under the ornate arched ceiling of the century-old Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok. The elegant Italianate columns and stained glass windows of the station will soon echo no more to the constant rattle of trains arriving and departing. The vast majority of services will move in November to the new Bang Sue Grand Station, a modern hub that eventually will be part of a network of high-speed rail services including a line to China via Laos. The coronavirus pandemic has already bought a year’s reprieve for the current station — Bang Sue is almost finished but is currently being used as a vaccination centre. But movement restrictions and a lack of foreign visitors have crippled the kingdom’s tourism-dependent economy and the dozens of people eking out a living at Hua Lamphong are already feeling the pinch. “We have to be very frugal — I’m using my savings to cover living expenses,” said Boonkerd Khampakdi, who has sold food to hungry travellers at the station for the past 20 years. The 51-year-old told AFP she now makes only 1,000 baht per day, a tenth of what she made before the pandemic and barely enough to cover monthly rent for her stall. Nearby, tuk-tuk driver Wutthisak Inthawat waits patiently for what few potential fares pass through the station’s entrance. He said it had been increasingly difficult to cover the hire fees for his vehicle, pay rent and feed his family. “I have two young daughters — three and nine years old,” said Wutthisak, 34. “If I can’t manage to pay off my debts I will have to return to my home province.” The long platforms and languid atmosphere of the Hua Lamphong station have long imbued an element of romance to rail travel in Thailand. It was a crowning achievement for the Italian architect Mario Tamagno, who worked extensively in Thailand at the turn of the century and whose blueprints drew inspiration from the Frankfurt central station in Germany, built near the end of the 19th century. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2172663/end-of-the-line-looms-for-hua-lamphong-regulars

From Channel News Asia Commentary: Why is former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra still so popular on social media? SINGAPORE: On Aug 8, former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra reached out to the Thai people on social media, saying that “pi (brother) Tony” is “ready to talk to young people”. The message, which was conveyed via his son and daughters, signals Thaksin’s return to Thai politics. The politician, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2007, looks certain to play a role in the country’s next elections. Years after his departure from the political stage, Thaksin still holds some cachet in Thailand. Thaksin is a founder of the Thai Rak Thai Party (TRT) and the head of the first elected civilian administration to complete a four-year term in 2001-2005. The TRT was enormously popular, especially among the rural poor. He was ousted from power by a bloodless military coup in 2006 and accused of corruption and abuse of power. Although Thaksin has been away from Thailand for more than a decade, he continues to play a major role in Thai politics. He established the People’s Power and Phuea Thai Parties to replace his TRT party, which was dissolved by court order. In a bid to influence elections at the local and national and local levels, he nominated relatives to serve as prime minister: Somchai Wongsawat, his brother-in-law and Yingluck Shinawatra, his sister. Parties affiliated with Thaksin have shown consistent electoral victories, as evident in the performances of the People’s Power Party in 2007 and the Phuea Thai Party in 2011 and 2019. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/thaksin-thai-political-comeback-youth-support-2139476

Separate zones for men and women? Hmm... From Thai PBS World Field hospital gender separated after alleged sex scandal involving patients Provincial health officials in Thailand’s Samut Prakan province have decided to separate a field hospital for COVID-19 patients, in Banag Pla sub-district of Bang Phli district, into male and female zones, after it was discovered that some patients were being accused of engaging in sexual activity and drug abuse. Police and local administration officials went to the field hospital yesterday to investigate, after officials filed a complaint alleging improper conduct by some of patients. The authorities checked CCTV footage and conducted a search of an area, where the men and women were seen gathering together, and found 23 packs of cigarettes and some electronic cigarettes, but no illicit drugs were found. All the men and women, suspected of having been engaged in improper activities have, however, been sternly warned that they will be transferred elsewhere if they indulge in similar activities again. To prevent a recurrence, a small detachment of police, military personnel and local administration officials has been deployed to the field hospital to assist the medics. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/field-hospital-gender-separated-after-alleged-sex-scandal-involving-patients/

Over the continuum of recorded history, no one has profited by betting against the proliferation of commercial sex.

I keep telling the dead horse I'm doing this for my personal edification and not to take it personally. But he just lies there and takes it like a man. OMG, it's a sensual experience I can't get enough of.

I don't think that Moses will mind if I reference a thread from Sawatdee Network where one of my favorite Pattaya posters hangs out. Dodger has written well over many years in his tenure as both a tourist and now an expat. There's something authentic about his earthy style of describing his travels and relationships that sets him apart. In a recent post (Pattaya Update: From the Trenches) he talks again about riding his motorbike around Pattaya and reporting on what and who he sees, and how the boys still in town are getting by--some with no place to sleep but the street. One of the homeless guys he's followed in his weekly forays he locates near Dong Tan Beach, asleep in a makeshift hammock suspended between two trees. The young man awakes with a smile. Dodger banters for a while, gives him some money for food and wishes him well. What stayed with me about the brief encounter is the both the resiliency of the boy in dire circumstances and Dodger's easy way of offering hope and comfort. Dodger is very lucky. He finds himself in a position to bring a little light into the lives of the guys that posters on all the forums comment on from time to time--most of them good times. He doesn't seclude himself in the grip of the pandemic but searches out the down and out. And it's his banter as much as his baht that gives them some respite. That there's at least one foreigner who remembers who you are can makes a big difference when you live hand to mouth. Most of us, of course, can't be there to imitate his way of caring. But perhaps all of us know at least one boy in not dissimilar circumstances. These are among the choices we face in this time of covid.

From VN Express Vietnam Airlines is planning to operate regular flights between Vietnam and the U.S. starting October, seeking to fulfill a dream of nearly two decades. The state-owned carrier will use either Boeing 787 or Airbus SE A350 aircraft for its inaugural U.S. route from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco with one refueling stop, CEO Le Hong Ha told Bloomberg. Since last year, the airline has been operating irregular charter flights to repatriate Vietnamese from the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline will rely on transporting cargo to offset initial low passenger demand, Ha said. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/vietnam-airlines-aims-to-start-first-us-route-in-october-4347333.html

From The Nation Police raided a field hospital in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province after learning that some patients had engaged in group sex and smuggled in illegal cigarettes. he raid happened on Thursday afternoon after a tip-off by staff at the fifth field hospital in the province. In addition to police, officials of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) joined the operation to maintain peace after reports of brawls. Isoc officials told the press that they found 23 cartons of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, which the patients had brought in illegally. They were later confiscated by the hospital. Continues with photos https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40005355

I'm encouraged by the number of bkk residents who received their first vaccine dose (reported today to be 6,717,824). The number of new infections appears to have stabilized across the country the past 10 days. This leads me to believe Thailand may be approaching the tipping point. And if these trends hold up we could see a return to some degree of normalcy in time for high season. Westerners make up a good representation of foreigners attracted to the Phuket opening and I suspect they'll also be near the front of the pack when Bangkok opens directly again. And the first to take the plunge will be those tourists who've supported the Thai economy repeatedly and loyally in the past--like the members of this forum. I look forward to walking down Patpong 2 and Silom again before Christmas with some semblance of the sights and sounds that I recall from 2019. I don't expect all of the old venues to be up and running but Thais are among the world's most resourceful and resilient souls. If anyone can mount a recovery, you'll find them first in Bangkok.

I know the horse is dead but I feel so macho when I keep beating it.

From Reuters / MSN Thailand develops robotic system to squeeze out more vaccine doses Reuters/JUARAWEE KITTISILPA A vaccine extraction machine called AutoVacc, designed by the Chulalongkorn University's Biomedical Engineering Research Center to extract extra doses out of AstraZeneca vaccine vials, is seen in Bangkok BANGKOK (Reuters) - As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies. Using a robotic arm, the "AutoVacc" system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according to researchers at Chulalongkorn University, who made the machine that has been used at the university's vaccination centre since Monday. That is up 20% from the standard 10 doses drawn manually, they said. The machine only works on AstraZeneca multi-dose vials currently and labels show each vial can provide 10 to 11 doses. "The machine guarantees with accuracy that we can gain an extra 20% from each vaccine vial - from 10 to 12 doses," said Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, the lead researcher of the team at the university's Biomedical Engineering Research Center. "The extra 20% that we get means that if we have AstraZeneca for 1 million people, this machine can increase the number of doses to 1.2 million people," said Juthamas. Continues with photos https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/thailand-develops-robotic-system-to-squeeze-out-more-vaccine-doses/ar-AANICqt

Moved to Expats are included in vaccination plan

From the Thaiger Thai Vietjet will resume international flights to and from Taiwan and Singapore starting on October 20 and 21 respectively. Flights from Singapore will have routes to Bangkok and Phuket. Sealed domestic flights connecting for those entering under the Phuket “Sandbox” will be available for those on the Taipei-Bangkok flights. Thai Vietjet had also previously stated that domestic flights across Thailand would begin on September 15th. Instead of using Bangkok as a hub for domestic travel, the airline will fly directly between Phuket and Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Udon Thani. Currently, Bangkok Airways operates a weekly trip from Samui to Singapore, which is the island’s only international service. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thai-vietjet-to-resume-flights-to-singapore-and-taiwan-starting-october

From Thai Enquirer Bangkok considers re-opening dine-in with following restrictions The government are considering a proposal to allow dining-in in Bangkok with some restrictions. Here is a quick recap: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31760/infographics-bangkok-considers-re-opening-dine-in-with-following-restrictions/ ====================================== Number of waiting-list for hospital beds significantly drop over the past three weeks The amount of Covid patients who are waiting for hospital beds has significantly dropped over the past three weeks, the Ministry of Public Health said on Thursday. “The numbers of patients with mild, moderate and severe symptoms who are waiting have clearly reduced after the launched of the home isolation and the community isolation programs,” said Dr Somsak Akksilp, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services (DMS). There were 39 registered Covid patients waiting for a hospital bed on August 25 compared to nearly 7,000 on May 31. From the 39 patients who were waiting for a hospital bed, 16 have mild symptoms (green group), 21 patients with moderate symptoms (yellow group) and two severe cases (red group). “There are not that many patients within the yellow and red groups who have to wait for more than 24 hours to find a hospital bed,” Somsak said. Registered Covid patients in the green group will enter either the home isolation program or the community isolation program. For home isolation, they will receive medical equipment, medicine, food and a way to communicate with a medical worker while they isolated themselves at home. https://www.thaienquirer.com/31829/number-of-waiting-list-for-hospital-beds-significantly-drop-over-the-past-three-weeks/

From Pattaya Mail Foreigners living in Pattaya and surrounding areas can apply for vaccines via BHP online form 40 years old and over foreign residents can now fill in the survey form and select your preferred vaccination program as per link below. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya invites foreign residents to ascertain their appropriate vaccine within the following criteria: -Foreign residents aged 40 years and over. OR -Pregnant Female foreign residents with gestational age at least 12 weeks or over OR -Foreign residents who have had at least one of these the following 7 underlying medical conditions: Severe chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) Coronary artery diseases (CAD) Chronic kidney disease (CKD, 5th stage) Cerebrovascular diseases Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy Diabetes Obesity (weight > 100 kg. or BMI > 35 kg/m²) To ensure your eligibility, you need to present your Medical Certificate from the Authorized Hospitals showing your medical condition which meets the above inclusion criteria. -AND have never received any other COVID-19 vaccine This survey is only to ascertain the number of vaccines needed. The hospital cannot specify the number and vaccine type including the date and time of vaccination. The hospital will contact you via the provided mobile number once the vaccine is available, locations of your vaccinations and will allocate vaccines in accordance with the conditions in numerical order. In this survey, you can select your preferred vaccination program as per link below from 20 – 27 August 2021 only. Survey link: https://forms.gle/wc8BfpbGNx7fpp8h6 Or visit www.bangkokpattayahospital.com https://www.pattayamail.com/news/foreigners-living-in-pattaya-and-surrounding-areas-can-apply-for-vaccines-via-bhp-online-form-369171

From CNN OnlyFans suspends proposed ban on sexually explicit content (CNN)OnlyFans said Wednesday that it will suspend its upcoming policy change to restrict sexually explicit material, citing "assurances" it received that would allow it to be "a home for all creators." "We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change," the company said in a tweet. "OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators." Asked by CNN Business whether the announcement means the policy change might take effect at a later date, and whether the company agreed to make any changes to appease banks and allow for this reversal, OnlyFans said: "The proposed October 1, 2021 changes are no longer required due to banking partners' assurances that OnlyFans can support all genres of creators." The reversal comes just days after OnlyFans announced it would bar creators from posting "content that contains sexually explicit conduct," sparking an outcry among sex workers who had helped create the company's success and popularity. OnlyFans said the changes followed requests by "banking partners and payout providers." https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/25/tech/onlyfans-suspends-ban/index.html

From Khmer Times The Ministry of Culture will send a team to Thailand to check on an Angkor Wat-like temple being built in Buriram province. This comes after Cambodia requested Thailand to provide blueprints and information related to the construction of the temple. The ministry’s Culture Technique Departmen director Hab Touch told Khmer Times yesterday that representatives from each country have spoken to each other to ensure that the second Angkor Wat is not an exact copy. He said: “The Ministry will send archaeologists and temple architects to look over the construction.” “We are unsure of when we can go because of the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine situations, which make things difficult,” Touch said. Because of the construction in Thailand looking similar to the world famous Angkor Wat, it has become a hot topic for social media users, with some claiming that the Ministry of Culture is not doing enough. Continues with photos https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50922507/moc-to-investigate-second-angkor-wat-in-thailand/

From Bangkok Post A court has approved arrest warrants for a senior police officer and six subordinates in Nakhon Sawan for alleged torture after a video clip on social media showed a drug suspect being suffocated to death with a plastic bag. The seven policemen are: Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphon, who was superintendent of Muang police station in Nakhon Sawan, Pol Maj Raveeroj Ditthong, Pol Capt Songyot Khlainak, Pol Lt Thoranin Makwanna, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wisut Bunkhiew, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Supakorn Nimchuen and Pol L/C Paweekorn Khammarieo. They face charges of malfeasance causing damage to another person, colluding with five people or more in the coercion of another person and collusion in killing another person by torture. National police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk has already sacked the most senior officer, Pol Col Thitisan, 39, from the police force for his alleged role in the torture. The officer is known as "Jo Ferrari" because he owns so many sports cars, including a Lamborghini limited-edition Aventador LP 720-4 50 Anniversary special. He was reportedly the first Thai to own this moldel car. His sacking came after a video clip showing a man being suffocated with a plastic bag was posted on Facebook and went viral online on Tuesday. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2170951/arrest-warrants-for-seven-cops-in-torture-death-case

When I beat the horse I feel better about myself