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The English language news cast of Japan's NHK Newsline program features an inspiring video about young man from Bangkok's Klong Toey (aka: Khlong Toei) slum who is on a mission to find his brother. He pulls no punches about the education system or the discrimination he experiences. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/nhknewsline/eoabl/eyeonasia/

From Reuters Thailand to hold first general election since coup on March 24 BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will hold a general election to restore civilian rule on March 24, the election commission said on Wednesday, announcing a new date for the often postponed vote, which will be the first since a 2014 military coup. The commission said in December the elections would be held on Feb. 24, but the military government expressed concern that election-related events would clash with early preparations for the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, scheduled for May 4-6. The monarchy is revered in Thailand, and this year’s coronation will be the first in living memory for most of the population. “The Election Commission agreed to set the election date for March 24,” chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong told reporters. He added the new date “is appropriate based on different factors, including early ballots and candidate registration.” Political parties will submit lists of parliamentary candidates and up to three candidates for prime minister to the commission between Feb. 4 and 8, he said. Thai stocks rose by around 1 percent following the announcement and a royal decree, which was published earlier on Wednesday and confirmed the election was imminent. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, has been on the throne since shortly after his father died in 2016 following a 70-year reign, but he has not been officially crowned during a lengthy mourning period. Hundreds of activists have protested delays in holding the election since early January, the first such gatherings since the government lifted a ban on political activity in December. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-politics/thailand-to-hold-first-general-election-since-coup-on-march-24-idUSKCN1PH0VN

Quite a long time has passed since i first encountered Nicky at Moonlight but the experience remains locked in my memory. When I posted about it in a trip report, I included this link in which Nicky appears at the 3:45 mark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki61caIuzmw&app Although I didn't end up offing him (was meeting my regular guy less than an hour later), I wrote this: At some point I glance to my right and the object of my desire (the model just described), is casually leaning against wall, looking my way. I invite him to sit beside me and waiter asks me if I will by boy a drink. Of course I do and gladly pay the 400 tab presented. He tells me he's from Phuket and places a hand on my leg. I get immediately weak at the knees. I run a hand over shoulders and down the most amazing back that I've ever had pleasure to explore. When I tell him he's the best guy in show, he asks waiter to translate. Big smile and wai when he hears the words. We exchange usual stuff (where you from, how long you stay) while he maintains should contact. After about 20 minutes, he has to get back to work, I slip him 300 for his time. I get up as he does and he grabs my hand leads me away from seats, thanks me, puts his hands on my sides and then gives me another wai as he leaves. I find the waiter and give him a red note and exit. It was like flying too close to the sun. Never entered club figuring I would get to meet one of the star attractions. Somehow I managed to stumble back to hotel. When I got to room I had a bag from Family Mart in my hand and don't even remember stopping there. Vinapu and others went on to off him and posted impressiveluy about it. Their reports are far more detailed and revealing. But in IMO, he looks a lot more sexy in the video and in my memory than he does in the photo above. I recall my brief encounter with a smile and do not discourage anyone from offing him.

....be advised that as of March 11 you will no longer be able to contact the carrier's Privilege Club program by any means other than on its website. Information regarding the use of miles for any purpose will no longer be available by phone regardless of member status. You will be not able to even inquire on line about upgrade availability until AFTER you have purchased your ticket. Qatar notice: With the implementation of self-service functionality, all redemption requests and profile updates can be completed online our website www.qmiles.com. In line with this enhancement, from 11 March 2018, we will no longer be supporting these activities through our ticketing offices, contact centers or any other offline channels.

From CNBC Apple's 2020 iPhones will likely get upgraded displays after the XR disappoints Apple's 2020 lineup of iPhones are likely to ditch LCD displays completely in favor of OLED, according to The Wall Street Journal. OLED displays appear more brilliant and colorful and offer more flexibility in design compared to LCD displays. Japan Display, which supplies LCD displays for Apple, is reportedly seeking a bailout as its business suffers from Apple's supply changes. Apple's full line of 2020 iPhones are likely to get a display upgrade and ditch LCD completely, according to The Wall Street Journal. The iPhone XR is the only model in Apple's latest iPhone release that still uses an LCD display, rather than an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, which allows for greater design flexibility and is supposed to show a higher quality color display. But the phone, which was expected to be more appealing to budget-conscious shoppers with a price tag starting at $750 rather than $999 for the XS, has failed to meet sales expectations. Earlier this month, Apple published a letter to investors downgrading its guidance for its first quarter 2019 in light of weak iPhone sales, among other factors. However, CEO Tim Cook told CNBC earlier this month that the XR has been Apple's best-selling iPhone model since it launched last fall. The shift from LCD to OLED would have a great impact on Apple suppliers like Japan Display, which is already suffering from supply cuts from Apple, the Journal reported. Japan Display, which supplies LCD displays for Apple, is in advanced talks with an investor group from Taiwan and China to bail it out with a potential investment of the equivalent of $550 million with a 30 percent stake in the company, the the report says. The deal could give Taiwan's TPK Holdings and Chinese state-owned Silk Road Fund even more control in the company later on, the Journal reported. Japan Display has sought bailouts in the past as the industry has begun to shift to OLED displays. In 2016, Japan Display sought a bailout equal to about $703 million from a fund backed by the Japanese government as Samsung increasingly used OLED displays in its designs, the Journal reported at the time. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/22/apples-next-iphones-likely-to-get-oled-displays-after-xr-disappoints.html

Buying the baht during times of political turmoil may be a good idea. It's probably more predicable than trying to pick equity market tops and bottoms. This is a 20-year chart of the baht vs the euro (you can compare any currency at the same interactive site). NOTE: The yellow shirts closed BKK airport in 2008. Other political turmoil occurred in 2006 and 2014. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-thb.en.html

From Khaosod English Student Furor Over Chula Prof’s Alleged Homophobic Comments BANGKOK — Outrage spread Monday at one of the nation’s top universities over a veteran professor’s conduct and comments toward transgender women. Students have demanded that the university look into repeated homophobic comments about transgender women, known as khatoey, made by an assistant professor in the education department they allege also barred a student from his class. Niran Sangsawat’ students complain that he has told them in class that “being a kathoey is no different than being a lunatic” and that “kathoeys are sexual deviants, they shouldn’t be teachers.” A former student body president and activist posted an online petition calling for Niran to be probed by the university board. Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal said he’s heard complaints about Niran for a long time from his friends in the Education Faculty. He posted the petition after one transgender student went public in the media to say Niran barred her from his class because she dressed in a female uniform. Continues with photo http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2019/01/21/student-furor-over-chula-profs-alleged-homophobic-comments/

From Coconuts Bangkok Come take a seat in the beautiful gardens of the Dutch Embassy on February 7, from 6-10pm, and enjoy a night of mind-opening documentaries focused on LGBTI+ stories. The night is organized by Document Our History Now a foundation that works in close cooperation with the Dutch embassy in Bangkok to support LGBTI+ storytelling in Southeast Asia. At this screening, you’ll get to see a few of the titles they have produced in recent years, including productions from Myanmar and Cambodia. Our Coconuts TV documentary “Toms: The Complex World of Female Love in Thailand” will also be screened as part of the evening. So click and watch now, or save it for February 7. We don’t mind! Entrance is free, but registration is mandatory so be sure to sign up via Eventbrite here. Like Document Our History Now on Facebook to keep up with all their events and updates. Continues with photos and map https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/lgbti-documentary-night-dutch-embassy-friday-feb-7/

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN)When Thailand officials hinted that scheduled elections to end military rule would be postponed for the fifth time in almost as many years, anger and frustration rippled through the country. The hashtag #delaymyass has trended on Thai Twitter in recent weeks, with a series of small but significant protests also taking place -- a poignant show of opposition during a period in which free speech advocates have been prosecuted and face years in prison. A small demonstration took place again Saturday. Elections slated for February 24 could now be postponed until March 24, according to Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who claims the February date would interfere with the new king's coronation ceremony plans. The monarchy is revered in Thailand, but activists have accused the ruling military junta of manufacturing the delay. "The junta are playing a game," Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, a 21-year-old student activist told CNN. "If the election is a trick on the people, Thais will march and not accept it." While public outrage has not reached levels seen before the coup in 2014, violent street protests between rival political factions have been common in recent years. Mass violent confrontations in 2010 paralyzed the capital Bangkok and an ensuing military crackdown killed 90 people and injured more than 2,000. The military will be keen to quash a repeat of such unrest, and Army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, who was put in charge of the country's army in September, warned pro-democracy protesters last Wednesday, "don't step over the line," the Bangkok Post reported. Elections will be the first official poll the country has seen in eight years and are widely considered to be a vote between a form of democracy and legitimized authoritarian rule. Continues with pics and video https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/19/asia/thailand-election-prayut-military-intl/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/19/asia/thailand-election-prayut-military-intl/index.html

Microsoft recommends switching to iPhone or Android as it prepares to kill off Windows phones From CNBC Microsoft says anyone who uses Windows 10 Mobile should switch to Android or iPhone. The company will kill off support for Windows 10 Mobile in December of this year. Microsoft once hoped to beat the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. Microsoft says anyone who still uses its Windows 10 mobile platform — once called Windows Phone — should switch over to an iPhone or an Android phone. A change to the Windows 10 Mobile support page was first spotted by Thurrott, a site that covers Microsoft. Microsoft said that on Dec. 10, 2019, it will stop sending "new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free assisted support options, or technical content updates from Microsoft for free." In other words, there aren't going to be any more updates, and only a few phone models will even be supported until that final date. "With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers move to a supported Android or iOS device," Microsoft said. "Microsoft's mission statement to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices." The company once had huge plans for Windows on mobile devices, particularly when it refreshed the operating system in 2010 and launched Windows Phone 7. At the time, it held a parade and declared that both BlackBerry and iPhone were dead. Microsoft also acquired Nokia's mobile unit so that it could build Windows Phone products internally. That too was a failure, and Microsoft eventually wrote down its $7.6 billion Nokia acquisition. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/18/microsoft-ending-windows-10-mobile-says-switch-to-iphone-or-android.html

That may be true, Nathan_B. Ignorance can be bliss but that doesn't lend any credence to the tale.

I'm sure you know this guy. He's a snappy dresser who likes to call himself Vinapu. Claims he always dressers for the occasion. Never wears shorts or tee shirts and is frequently accompanied by a man servant. Here's a photo of him taken during last trip, peeking in door of Screwboys on Patpong 2. (Full disclosure warning: this photo may not bear a strong resemblance)

On reflection, Kokopelli, I'm inclined to agree with you. Certainly don't want to be equated with that individual. I realize that I could have been just as effective an advocate for my position without stooping to The Donald's level. I believe this thread offers many insights into the influence our posts have on those who read them. PeterRS has done a fine job of describing how a post can take on an unintended consequences that OP didn't necessarily set out to do. The ambiguity of the story triggers uncertainty of motive and from there we're off to the races. I'm convinced that all participants had good intentions in their replies. It may have become argumentative but it also featured much humor and spontaneity--all good stuff in a well-followed post. As I reflect back on the last few days, I believe the Covenant and Code of Conduct (you can find the Guidelines tab below the masthead) deserves reading by all of us. It was Divine Madman, I think, who called attention to it shortly after the forum was reorganized. By adhering to its tenets, I believe we can all keep this an interesting, civil forum where ideas and information can be exchanged and shared in a respectful--even friendly--environment. It's not necessary that agree with everything but we (and I certainly include myself) have a responsibility to maintain that welcoming atmosphere that allows the forum to fulfill its mission. BTW, Kokopelli, that was one clever rejoinder you made.

No, you're not the only one. I got discombobulated when I just reviewed it. Part of the problem is my screen name. In both cases, I intended reader and readers to refer to the generic reader of the forum and not just me. During the course of this thread we heard members express two opposing views. One holds that it doesn't matter to them if a post is true or fiction: it's the entertainment value of the post that counts. The opposing--and minority--view was that it did indeed matter to them: accuracy counted. That's the dilemma I was struggling with. Guess it's up to each member to decide if they choose to believe that the event portrayed in the OP was real, embellished or fiction. Agree that I could have done a better job of clarifying my message.

You could try uninstalling the Firefox app and then reloading it again. But you may first want to check out the current Firefox system requirements. I've used Firefox years and really like it. Good luck! https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/64.0.2/system-requirements/

It's been about 10 hours ago since I posted the "collaboration" post. There was no collusion (been waiting for a long time to use that word in a sentence that didn't apply to Washington) between me and williewillie aside, perhaps, of inadvertently contributing to a well-followed post that attracted a wide range of posters. I did this to make a point about the issue of accuracy and whether we--as readers--have an expectation that that appears to be presented as fact may actually be partially or wholly lacking in it. Does it bother us if we are misled? Or does it matter at all? I've responded to many posters, all of whom I believe were sincere in their posts. Many made it clear that they were here primarily for the entertainment value the forum can offer. A decidedly smaller number expressed some hesitation because they, like myself, were troubled by the lack of factual information and the potential for ridicule of the protagonists in the story. And, yes, it was a bit frustrating as one poster surmised, because I felt the question of fact vs fiction hadn't been sufficiently resolved. Should we read the forum like we watch CNN and Fox news, aware that accuracy takes a back seat to politics and we should therefor be suspect of the content? Should we just go along for the ride with a mai pen rai attitude? On the spur of the moment I decided to try to test it out and posted about collaborating with the OP. It didn't take long to learn that attitudes were more complex than they appeared before the post. Clearly, it did matter to some readers whether or not they believed what they were reading was fact or fiction--or something in between. More than 20% of the total views (now over 1,000) occurred within the last 10 hours. DivineMadman and Michael correctly predicted that the post was tongue in cheek. Not surprisingly, Vinapu provided a moment of comic relief while others expressed opinions ranging from acceptance to disappoint to outrage. Thank you, all of of you. Couldn't have put it better myself. I've always enjoyed your posts, kokopelli, but you remind me of Rudy Giuliani here--not that there's anything wrong with that. That thought has crossed my mind. We often want to have our cake and eat it too. Slightly trusting a story is like being slightly pregnant. Indeed! See you Saturday at our favorite haunt in Rapid City. ------------------------------------------ I beg everyone's forgiveness for being unwitting participants in this ad hoc experiment. This forum is a great place for an exchange of views. Now if you haven't read the last installment in ggobkk's latest trip report, please don't miss it. He sets the gold standard for TR's alongside Vinapu. There are others coming along (Spoon certainly entertained us) and just today a newcomer has emerged on the scene. The authors may not be youthful but they provide us with salad days of good reading.

Well, folks, I think this thread has run its course. What you didn't know is that williewillie and me collaborated on this project for a week beforehand. Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did bringing it to you.

For those who now have good reason to want to know more about this shop. I refer you to DivineMadman's excellent massage website. Just scroll down to the shops under the Lumpini heading for a capsule report. https://m4m-massages.com/shop-specifics/

The misfortune is that the easily-identifiable farang (assuming that he does indeed exist) has been exposed to ridicule. I've learned over the years that it's a mistake to underestimate Thais or guys from any of the other SE Asian countries we're attracted to. What they may lack in formal education they compensate with in street smarts we can't come close to appreciating. The surname was not given but the OP makes it easy to ID by the mentioning the bar's name and the age and nationality of the wealthy farang. You'll have to ask williewillie, or his accomplice and longtime--and former--friend, if he indeed exists. Given the popularity of this thread, I think a thread about this guy (let's call him generous farang #2) would make a good topic on its own merits. It could open up the discussion to dwindling virility and the pros and cons of various drugs to maintain an erection if that becomes a matter of concern. I think a lot guys here could weigh in on that one. You paint with a broad brush. As I say above, it's easy to underestimate some of these guys. Although what you say most likely is accurate in describing the circumstances of the majority of bar workers, I believe it's a mistake to think that all fall into this category. ------------------ More than a few claim that whether this thread is true or fantasy doesn't matter. It simply makes for good entertainment as evaluated by the number of views. This isn't the first time this issue has been debated here and certainly won't be the last. So I take this opportunity to say why I think it does indeed matter. Those of us who read the forum regularly want to believe what posters say is true and not fiction. Take, for example, trip reports. They historically garner the greatest readership of any category of posts. They provide information that's instructive as it is titillating. And for those of us half-way or so around the globe from the scene of the action, they remind us why we should return. Meanwhile, they allow us to live vicariously though the adventures of others. Fortunately, for the best trip reporters, we have no reason to doubt the veracity of their posts because we either know them personally or know their reputation for accurately portraying their visits. It's always a pleasure to read them and we eagerly look forward to their TR's (just ask Vinapu who is not shy in reminding trippers to crank out their reports). And here's the crux of my argument for accuracy in posting. Once we begin to adopt a "what does it matter" approach to reading some posts, it likewise diminishes the efforts of those posters who take pride in their accurate reporting. True events described by those who experience them have become very popular in recent years. In the US, public radio and television feature programs like Stories from the Stage and Ted Talks. People willing to share major events if their lives with us have the power to change attitudes and open our minds and hearts. Why would we want to tamper with that? I'm a reader of not just news but I enormously appreciate good fiction that I read almost daily. And fiction can not only entertain but also expand our minds and attitudes. But it's nice--no necessary--to be able to distinguish between fiction and non-fiction if the trust between reader and author is to remain in tact.

....or a player to be named later. GO KC CHIEFS!!!

I remain baffled that not a single individual can verify that anything in this story is true yet so many individuals are prepared to believe it. Half a million dollars, really? You write as if you know this is gospel. No more than williewillie can back up anything that he wrote in the OP. And he adds insult to injury with this gem of logic: "I knew some would want proof..." You're right on that count. You had no problem with putting this tale out there and making it easy to identify the players. But all you have to back it is an unnamed source who took you into his confidence and related this tale. Not exactly an unimpeachable source, either. You admit that this source is no longer on friendly terms with the alleged generous farang. So my question to you: if you knew some would want proof, why did you proceed without it? Was it just too good a hoax to ignore? Other than me, not many I guess. LOL. At least you knew this was true because you were personally witness to it. But you can't say the same in this case. IMO, this whole thing would be, as DivineMadman says, just a guilty pleasure of someone else's misfortune, if not for the fact that anyone who wants to know the identify of the generous farang knows it by now. Even if he still has his half million and the bar guy is still working offs because he never got a sent from the farang. All you had to do, williewillie, was omit the name of the bar and the particulars of the generous farang's identity. Hopefully, you'll never find yourself embarrassed by someone else's lack of judgement. BTW, did you ask the guy who allegedly told you this yarn that you were going to publish it?

Don't disagree that there's relevance to a lesson for all readers here but it could have been made without making it easy to identify the parties supposedly involved. And certainly agree that what we choose to do with our money is of no one else's business. I acknowledge that few of the guys are likely to make their earnings work for them. Many are sending a share home and spending the rest on their life in BKK or Patts. Nevertheless, as you say, there are exceptions and I think we all know a few who use it to finance their education or simply save a bit of it. A small minority of these guys actually realize they can't work the bars indefinitely and manage to plan ahead.

Here's what troubles me about this thread: Until someone comes forward and announces that they have genuine first-hand knowledge that the events portrayed here are indeed factual, everything remains hearsay. The gay farang ex-pat community in Pattaya is not huge, and it becomes smaller as the number of venues where they gather dwindles. Although the OP does not identify the generous farang by name, he identifies the particular bar where the young man works and he describes the generous farang by nationality and age. The OP, however, does acknowledge that he has met the generous man several times. The OP identifies the person who relates the story as a "life-long" friend of the generous man. And contrary to the OP's claim that this life-long friend didn't discuss his generous friend's finances, he goes into specific detail about amounts of cash allegedly given to the young man for various purposes. The life-long friend did "fall out" with his generous friend. Hummmm..... By this time, much of the gay Pattaya community is aware of this yarn and speculation is ripe as to the identities of both the generous man and the bar worker. And a few questions come to mind: Did the life-long friend provide the information with the understanding it would be posted on a gay Thai forum? Did the OP author tell the life-long friend he'd be writing on line about it? Since he says he knows the generous man, why didn't the OP go to him with his concern that he was being taken advantage of? The bottom line in this thread makes unfounded allegations about two individuals who can be identified with minimal effort by those in the Pattaya gay community. There is no evidence whatsoever that anything criminal, immoral or untoward has occurred. Yet two people are subject to embarrassment. I don't believe the OP set out with this outcome in mind. He most likely just wanted to circulate a piece of what appeared to be salacious gossip. And for the life of me I cannot figure out why a bar worker, who has reportedly amassed half-a-million USD from a benefactor, is still doing ST regularly at the Ambiance.

This is about hearsay supposedly gathered at a bar in Pattaya. I wouldn't be inclined to take it to the bank. But regardless of the veracity of the account, I'm sure you can think of other qualities this guy has that are worthy of praise. Given your obvious concern that this farang might be getting fleeced, it would be magnanimous of you to step forward and offered him--and others like him--some free and unsolicited financial advice. However, I suppose it's worth keeping in mind that he's already the millionaire. Maybe he could share some advice with you? Since the lad still seems to be in the vicinity, why not ask him. May be he could benefit from some financial planning advice? The more I consider your post, the more I'm persuaded that you're just the person to help these young men recognize the errors of their ways and get them on the road to financial independence. This Lao guy has already indicated an interest. Then, if you're successful, they wouldn't need to work the bar scene. I'm truly impressed with your good intentions.

Worked for it? Invested sagely? Started a successful business? It's the dream of most Americans--and Thais alike--to achieve financial independence. And if the farang was indeed a millionaire, he's among over 15 million others worldwide who are free to do what they wish with their wealth. In this case, it seems he choose to educate a young man. I can think of a lot less appealing tasks bar guys have been asked to do for a lot less compensation. And, as the OP states, the boy was very popular and could be seen bringing shorttime customers to Ambiance hotel two or three times a night, he clearly demonstrates entrepreneurial resolve in his own right. More power to him: nothing succeeds like success.