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from NY Times (18 July) Google and Facebook Are Quietly Tracking You on Sex Websites Silicon Valley’s biggest companies are always watching you — even when you’re browsing pornography websites in incognito mode. Trackers from tech companies like Google and Facebook are logging your most personal browsing details, according to a forthcoming New Media & Society paper, which scanned 22,484 pornography websites. Where that data ultimately goes is not always clear. “These porn sites need to think more about the data that they hold and how it’s just as sensitive as something like health information,” said Elena Maris, a postdoctoral researcher at Microsoft and the study’s lead author. “Protecting this data is crucial to the safety of its visitors. And what we’ve seen suggests that these websites and platforms might not have thought all of this through like they should have.” The study’s other authors — Jennifer Henrichsen, doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, and Tim Libert, a Carnegie Mellon computer science instructor — found that 93 percent of the pornography websites they scanned sent data to an average of seven third-party domains. The authors used webXray, an open-source software tool, which detects and matches third party data requests to scan sites. Most of that information (79 percent of websites that transmitted user data) was sent via tracking cookies from outside companies. Web tracking varies around the web. Frequently users are tracked via cookies, which are bits of text downloaded by your web browser when you visit a site. Other times trackers come in the form of invisible embedded pixels on your screen. In most cases, these trackers help sites identify and classify repeat visitors. They can help you stay logged onto a site, record your preferences and help manage your advertising profiles. The study found that Google (or one of its subsidiary companies like the advertising platform DoubleClick) had trackers on 74 percent of the pornography sites. Trackers from the software company Oracle showed up on 24 percent of sites, and Facebook, which does not permit pornographic content or nudity on any of its platforms, had trackers on 10 percent of the sex websites scanned by the study. Why are the trackers there in the first place? Most of the third-party code embedded in these websites is currently standard practice in the publishing industry. The New York Times embeds similar trackers and collects, uses and shares data about readers as part of its business practices. Some trackers, like those for Google Analytics, provide mundane traffic data to the site. DoubleClick and others provide the infrastructure to run advertising. In exchange, these third-party companies receive data from the website’s visitors. Advertisers and platforms argue that this data is anonymous. And while some of it is basic (device type), other information (your I.P. address or your phone’s advertising identification number) could be used to reverse engineer your identity and match you with already existing marketing profiles. What these companies might be doing with pornography-site browsing data is a mystery. Oracle, which owns a number of large data broker and has been called a “privacy deathstar,” could, for example add data collected by trackers with its current profiles. In the cases of Google and Facebook, which refuse to host pornographic sexual content on a number of their platforms, it’s not always clear why they are collecting such sensitive information, even if unintentionally. Facebook and Google denied that potential information collected by their trackers on pornography websites was used for creating marketing profiles intended to advertise to individuals. “We don’t allow Google Ads on websites with adult content and we prohibit personalized advertising and advertising profiles based on a user’s sexual interests or related activities online,” a Google spokeswoman wrote in a statement. “Additionally, tags for our ad services are never allowed to transmit personally identifiable information isto Google.” A Facebook spokesman offered a similar explanation, noting that the company’s community guidelines forbid sex websites to use the company’s tracking tools for business purposes like advertising. Though Facebook’s pixel tracker is open for any third party to install on its website — you don’t need permission to embed it — the company suggested it blocks pornography sites and, in those cases, does not collect information from those properties. The spokesman suggested that when alerted to new sex websites using the tools, the company will enforce against them. Oracle did not respond to multiple requests for comment. But even if the data is technically anonymous and not used for targeted ads, some browsing information may still end up in the company logs. And when it comes to pornography websites, the most basic browsing data is intensely personal because it is revealing. As Dr. Libert and Dr. Maris note in the study, nearly 45 percent of pornography site URLs “expose or strongly suggest the site content” and in doing so might reveal a visitor’s sexual identity or orientation, or lead third parties to assume a visitor’s sexual interests. “It can be very sensitive,” Dr. Maris said, citing URLs for specific interests like bestiality, and teenage and incest content. “The fact that the mechanism for adult site tracking is so similar to, say, online retail should be a huge red flag,” Dr. Maris said. “This isn’t picking out a sweater and seeing it follow you across the web. This is so much more specific and deeply personal.” The study found that only 17 percent of the 22,484 sites scanned were encrypted, suggesting that troves of user data could be vulnerable to hacking or breaches. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/opinion/google-facebook-sex-websites.html

Yes, directly under Luckyboys.

That end of Patpong 2 was in complete darkness Monday for Buddhist Lent, the only light coming from the open door to the shop. The light fixtures have mostly been installed. It’s encouraging to see the place take shape. Besides the great location, it will have no massage competition on the strip. And there’s ample room for the boys to gather outside, protected from any rain by the overhang of the floor above. Given the heavy foot traffic, the business should fare better than in the old Twilight location.

An electrician was installing fixtures Monday night. When I asked “when open” the reply was “maybe one week.”

It began when a cat decided to explore the top of an electrical transformer on the second level of Patpong 2. It was rapidly dispatched to mell heaven and multiple venues were plunged into darkness, including Hotmale. Screwboy narrowly escaped but many of the smaller restaurants and lady bars on the first floor weren’t as fortunate. Leave it to the ladies, however, who lit candles, giving the bars as romantic an atmosphere as you’re going to find in Patpong on any given night. A half dozen utility workers arrived on a huge flatbed truck equipped with a crane. They proceeded to remove three old transformers with a single larger one. This was no easy feat. The team, several quite easy on the eyes in their hard hats and the thumping background music, created a modern Village People high-wire act to the delight of passers by. One of the bar girls, waving a plastic bag, appealed to them for the remains so she could give it a proper burial. Some of the Hotmale guys could be seen shirtless, viewing the nearby action from their second floor perch opposite Luckyboys.

In 17 years and 40 or so trips, I’ve had three guys ask me via email for money. I told all the three the same thing: when I’m in Bangkok I can help you but I never send anyone money because I need to save it for my next trip. They didn’t ask a second time. There are a lot of things this young man could be thinking. But if you choose to see the glass as always half empty you’ll never be able to view it as half full. You’ve come a long way to meet guys unlike those you meet at home. Carpe diem.

Thank you, Peter, for a fine contribution. The FCCT presentation, coupled with your analysis, do a great job of bringing the man to life. The last—and I believe most recent (2011)—book on Thompson that I’ve read was “The Ideal Man: the tragedy of Jim Thompson and the American way of war.” Here’s a review from The Asian Correspondent. https://asiancorrespondent.com/2011/11/review-of-the-ideal-man-the-tragedy-of-jim-thompson-and-the-american-way-of-war/ Although Thompson was many things to many people, I believe some members of this forum share one thing in particular with him: a love of Thailand and its people. I think readers may well find it difficult to read about this man without identifying just a bit with him.

The Jim Thompson House is a unique piece of modern Thai history and well worth the effort. He was a fascinating character in his own right and the mystery surrounding his disappearance remains.

Good things those mattresses can’t talk. Lol. Each one must have 30+ years of tales.

The location on Surawong near Sap rd. has closed. I was a frequent patron. Always found the food very tasty and the prices reasonsble, presented in a handsome dining room. Unfortunately it was situated in the commercially dead zone between soi Tarntawan and Sap rd.

The mattresses, that were tired when I stayed there on my first trip in 2002, are being carted out as I write.

Yes, I agree that your comments have both of these characteristics. Now if you only had wit.

Point you may wish to ponder: you’re not in your “home” country. I don’t think the kid was permanently damaged by seeing his father naked. Hope that you weren’t, either.

Inadvertent duplicate post

One of the traits I really admire about Thais is their ability to get along with others. I believe it comes about naturally at a very early age because they coexist in close quarters. They find themselves dependent on highly developed social networks of family, friends and neighbors. Children learn to share before they can walk. Parents who work in Patpong bring their youngsters along. You can’t help but notice how they acclimate to what might seem to us to be an impossibly hectic environment. Yet somehow they find themselves looked after by the other vendors. The spirit, and the need, to cooperate is imprinted by these experiences. They’re better socialized beyond anything I’ve seen in the west.

Update on Nakarat since immigration police raid in June: As regulars are aware, Vietnam guys had a strong presence in this shop. Their departure has thinned the ranks but new faces from other shops are appearing. Like many shops, you can expect the perennial question (as Vinapu noted), “how much you give me?” Fair enough. But I think it’s also fair for customers to respond in the manner of their choosing. Lately, when asked the same thing regardless of location, Ive been replying, “you will make out better if you do what you say and trust me to be fair.” Granted, I often have to resort to google translate but I manage to make the point. If the guy continues to haggle I’ve been simply making it a straight forward massage and tipping accordingly. I’ve become less tolerant of bargaining in my old age. But when the guy leaves the compensation up to me, I tip at the top of my range. i’m not recommending this to everyone; just saying what I’ve found works best for me.

This shop enjoys the primo location at Silom rd. And soi 4. The facilities, all located on the third floor, are clean and serviceable and at 450 an hour for an oil massage, it’s a great value. Have been using it since it opened and have never been shortchanged on the clock. Since I get a lot of massages, I’ll offer this bit of business advice to the otherwise personable staff: get your eyes off your phones and on to passers by. That one, simple act is guaranteed to immediately improve your chances of getting at least one more customer per day.

Google is not a good way to source this type of information. This forum is. Be assured that Hot Male is alive and well on Patpong 2.

So where did you decide to go and how was the trip?

It’s probably worth viewing this through a wider lens—the political one. The nation is still experiencing the upheaval of much contested elections and it will be a while before things settle. Individuals, parties and private interests are vying for power and influence. This is nothing new in the history of Thailand, whether the change in government resulted from a coup or elections. If you go back about 16 years, under the Thaksin regime, police staged a very well publicized raid on Babylon sauna. The media was there in force and if I recall correctly the justification was that the premises didn’t have a license to operate as a hotel. But it occurred in the larger context of a “social order” campaign. It came as a surprise to many because the owner was a quite wealthy and influential individual. Popular gay venues have always been popular locations when a point is to be made because few will rise to their defense. It’s perhaps worth noting that the raid on Prince was publicized only in the Thai media. No English language site has reported on it to the best of my knowledge. Similar social movements emerge periodically but particularly when a regime desires to make a point that lends legitimacy to its rule. These events can be popular among certain segments of the population while alienating others. But they all have one thing in common: things tend to regress to the norm in time-honored Thai fashion. Thailand—like many nations—is experiencing its own surge of nationalism. And that nationalism challenges the ASEAN ties built up over time. If history is any predictor, the needle will slowly fluctuate back to the norm, driven by economic and social factors, and of course, politics of the day. It’s probably wise not to make too much or too little of day-to-day events in trying to discern the long-term direction of a government. Successful prior governments have proven adept at maneuvering through political minefields to keep the economy on track and the masses mollified. Until, of course, they don’t.

The new imm hotel received a huge water storage tank the other night.

Maybe, but the “off” experience is more perilous. Lol Btw, noticed you had no qualms about taking US carriers to task but somehow managing to avoid any of the dreaded Euro carriers in your own backyard. A bit myopic, no?

With less competition from the ASEAN countries, the odds are better for the locals. Maybe customers became exasperated with Prince’s practice of adopting the 45-minute “hour.”

You didn’t read what I wrote. I said Jet Blue allows you to carry on (not check) two bags free. This is the same practice for Southwest Airlines, the largest Low cost carrier. They, along with Alaska Air, usually take the top three in passenger satisfaction surveys (and yes they still serve free drinks and snacks). The majors sell their tiered products (pay for only what you want) because passengers may bitch about the add ons but continue to pay for them. It’s charging what the market will bear. Having said that, flying today is little more expensive than it was a decade.ago. That makes the majors profitable without government subsidies. Asian carriers have lower personnel costs with fewer benefits so it’s understandable that they can comp you coke and peanuts . lf you want a smile with your nuts, you’re better off going to Luckyboys.

That’s a lot of crap. US carriers are the most profitable and there plenty of competition. The seat pitch on Jet Blue is among the most generous in economy anywhere and you can carry on two bags free. If you’re headed for Asia, don’t think you can beat the major Asian carriers on price and schedule. And for service, ANA and Singapore stand out among the crowd. For convenience of connections from the US east or west coasts, Cathay Pacific offers the best en-route times to Bangkok.