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Bangkok Post is reporting that International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has removed the "red flag" from Thailand, allowing Thai carriers to expand international routes. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1338422/aviation-red-flag-lifted

Based on comments, it appears there's three perspectives on loin cloths: aesthetic, function and comfort. Aesthetic -- compared to briefs (jockey) style, some of the loin cloths seem less revealing of what they cover (a common complaint made against boxers): Other loin cloths designs, however, are noticeably more revealing: Function -- loin cloths offer the wearer ease of movement and easy access to what they cover: Comfort -- since it's somewhat unlikely that more than a few readers have actually worn one, much is left to the imagination. Some enthusiasts claim it improves circulation. At the end of the video in the OP, the narrator observes: "some businessmen say that it even boosts performance in the workplace," although just what business they're engaged in wasn't mentioned. To assist in evaluating the comfort angle from afar, these candid photos may help stimulate the imagination: Hope this encourages more exploration. Who knows? It may even get Christian to reconsider his initial reaction.

Located this BBC special report released in January this year: Life and death on Thailand's lethal roads There is a ritual that is now very familiar to Thais, before the two big holiday seasons of the year, in late December for the new year, and in April for the Songkran Festival. The government will set a target for reducing fatalities on Thailand's notoriously dangerous roads, exhorting Thais not to speed, or drink and drive. Sometimes good citizens will run publicity stunts, like the coffin-maker, who last year invited journalists to film the huge stockpile his workers were building up for the holiday season. And every year these efforts fail. The grim statistics of death and injury on the roads are tallied each day in the media with, as often as not, worse figures than the year before. And so it was this last new year - 478 people lost their lives on the roads in just seven days. In one horrific collision in Chonburi on 2 January, 25 people died - some burned to death in a crushed and overcrowded passenger van they could not escape. Road accidents in Thailand 2nd in the world for road accident deaths, after Libya 24,000 people are estimated to die on Thai roads every year 73% of those killed are motorcyclists 36.9m vehicles ply Thai roads - it's gone up by 30% in the last five years World Health Organization Continues with video http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38660283

Damn good advice. Many, many years ago (when I was indeed a young man) I was on one of my frequent trips to the Fort Lauderdale area. I had brought along one of the popular gay guide books of the day and noted that there was, for lack of a better term, a small sex club operating out of an old motel in nearby Hollywood. Off I went in the rental car my first evening and found the place as advertised. The owner had taken three rooms at the end of a remote wing of the single story building, replaced the beds with old sofas and opened the connecting doors between the rooms. I think there there was a modest entrance fee and a bar where they sold cans of beer and soft drinks. The crowd appeared to be mostly local and young which was fine with me. I quickly settled in, spotted a cute guy and offered him a beer. We spent the next hour or so on one of those sofas, doing what came naturally. As we were saying our good byes, I instinctively checked my pockets. My cash was there but a folded wad of $25 travelers checks I couldn't find. I asked him, loudly I'm sure, if he taken them and he denied it, inviting me to search him. I declined and left in an angry mood, slamming the door. As I climbed back in the car I noticed my windbreak on the floor by the passenger seat. A sudden sinking feeling came over me. I quickly located the checks in one of its pockets. My first thought was to just get the hell out of there but then I though of the young guy I had falsely accused in front of his friends. I swallowed my pride and returned to the club. I approached the boy and apologized as sincerely as I could. He replied in a quiet voice, "I told you I didn't do it, why didn't you believe me?" I had no answer but I turned and looked toward the on-lookers and announced that i had been wrong and that this guy was no thief. No one said a word. I left in humiliation, knowing that i deserved every bit of it. I hadn't thought about that for a long time but vinapu's account instantly brought it back.

Escapes from grim reaper--no matter how narrow--are always better than the alternative.

Well, I'll meet you halfway on this quote. I agree that If an Australian visits Thailand, the probability of death is lower than visiting The Philippines. As for the remainder of the sentence (so Thailand cannot possibly be the most dangerous country, based on this data), it still remains the most dangerous in terms of greatest incidence of death. In any case, our arguing about how many angels can dance on the top of a pin comes as little solace to the 329 Aussies who met their death in both destinations.

Thanks for the vote, 909, but I look forward to our acknowledged expert on all things undie, Christianpfc, to weigh in.

If the minibar contents are in a separate cabinet, some hotels will lock them on request. If they're out in the open, you could always hide the liquor bottles before going out for the night, leaving only the less costly items on display. There's good advice in posts above. I think the bottom line comes down to just how memorable was your time with this guy. If he makes the "definitely want to do this again" category, forget about the loss and move on. If he doesn't make the cut, there are plenty of others who will. And in any case, you're wiser for the experience.

Volunteers are hitting the streets of Tokyo to clean up trash and spread the word about the latest trend in underwear: the loincloth. Not quite sure if they would pass muster with the board's authority on the subject. Video from Rueters TV http://www.reuters.tv/v/aG2/2017/10/06/volunteers-clean-up-tokyo-in-loincloths

True, but it will be interesting to see how this works out. These machines are already in quite a few 7-Elevens. And the Leo beer must be paying a hefty fee for product placement.

May the force remain with you and the wind be always at your back. And it can't hurt to pray that the odds remain in your favor.

The journalist didn't report death rates; he reported total number of deaths. Thailand accounted 203 and the Philippines 126. Those are accurate numbers and not in dispute by either of us. You're therefore not justified in calling the journalist lazy for reporting the truth.

Then why don't you get off your high horse and prove it? the numbers are are all available in great detail at the link. Or are you as lazy as you say the reporters were?

It's also the truth...or do you have a problem with that?

The figures reported by ABC News Australia are the same as those reported by the government. The actual numbers reported by Australian authorities can be easily accessed by clicking on following link to that report: http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-services/consular-services/Pages/consular-state-of-play-2016-17.aspx If you have contrary data by all means please do the math and correct the lazy journalism.

You seem to overlook that I acknowledged that you made a great point in your original post: I didn't disagree with you on that. Think I stated pretty clearly what I thought when I said it's admirable to have the courage of your convictions. It's one thing to talk the talk, another altogether to walk the walk. I did imply that those (you in this case) who believe that the villages must be backwards to enjoy cock fighting should have no problem then in confronting them. I leave it to you to select your own favorite color because it would be presumptuous of me to do so.

Great point, bkkguy. I wish you Godspeed on your next trip to an Issan where you set the backward villagers straight, and again when you do the likewise in Africa and middle east where even more heinous practices exist. It's fine to have convictions; it's admirable when you exhibit the courage of those convictions. Relinquish nothing, as the second amendment advocates say.

From Coconuts Bangkok After Thai netizens got just a little too excited about a new Leo beer-pouring machine at a 7-Eleven store in Bangkok’s Chinatown this week, Thai officials had to intervene. A video of fresh draft beer being poured from the automatic machine went viral on the Facebook page “Thai Smile” earlier this week. See how the machine tilted the plastic cup for the perfect pour? And at just THB49 (about US$1.50) for a cup of the draft brew, it’s a tasty bargain. While most commenters obviously dig the awesome machine, the Office of Alcohol Committee traveled to the convenience store yesterday after receiving “complaints” from people that questioned whether or not it was legal, Manager reported. When they arrived, it was found that 7-Eleven had the beer machine covered with a big white cloth that hid beer logo, meaning they are not in breach on Thailand’s Alcohol Control Act, which prohibits “advertising or displaying names or trademarks of alcoholic beverage deemed to induce people to drink it.” So thanks to that big white cloth, we can still have the Leo machine at 7-Eleven. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/now-its-legal-officials-allow-it-after-7-eleven-covers-viral-beer-machine-with-big-white-cloth-video/

From ABC News Australia Thailand is the most dangerous destination for Australian tourists, with 203 deaths recorded in the last year. Philippines was next with 126 deaths, followed by Indonesia, the United States and Vietnam. The main causes of death were illness, natural causes and accidents. The figures are part of an annual Consular State of Play report issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Thailand also topped the list of consular cases (893), hospitalisations (195) and missing persons reports (74) during the 2016/17 financial year. Officials urged Australians to take out travel insurance and warned of the limits to the consular services available. "We may limit our assistance if we consider the circumstances warrant, for example, where the person's actions were illegal, or has put themselves or others at risk through deliberate or repeated reckless or negligent acts, or the person has a pattern of behaviour that has required multiple instances of consular assistance previously. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-05/thailand-tops-the-list-of-deadly-destinations-for-australians/9020610

I think we're seeing just how well prepared the gun lobby was for this event before it even occurred. They knew, sooner or later, something on this scale was inevitable. Instead of launching a robust confrontational response, they opted for a more philosophical and reflective approach: the shooter was a deranged and evil man and such men will always exist because of the nature of evil; we should wait to see what the investigation turns up before discussing any legislative solution. This was the mantra rolled out over the past 48 hours. Don't sound angry. Regularly mention the mental health angle (because that's where NRA wants to steer the discussion) and sound like you want to be part of the solution. This response has been consistent from Trump to politicians and differs from the usual bombastic retort we're accustomed to seeing from the gun lobby. The NRA is content to leave the messaging to others while still orchestrating strategy. Sadly, it will probably succeed. What's often overlooked in second amendment debates is what's at the heart of the right to own a gun among so many. There have been two wars that left their imprint in the minds of Americans: the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. When the former broke out, it was a rag tag group of men, formed loosely into local militias, that provided the initial opposition using their own, personal firearms. In the Civil War, many men from both sides reported for duty with their own rifles and handguns. And although the north eventually provided arms, the Confederates mostly continued to rely on their own firearms for the duration. This resulted a well-defined doctrine in the minds of most Americans: you have not just a right but an obligation to keep a gun to defend yourself, your family, and your community. Some, of course have taken it a step further and foresee a need to protect themselves from the power of the state itself. This is why I believe any meaningful legislation remains unlikely even in the face of such tragedies.

It's an unappealing practice based on our cultural norms. But telling people, in their own country, who come from a very different culture they they are engaging in a cruel act is a bit presumptuous. It echoes of the kind of stuff you hear so often from the we-know-better NGO's representatives. We come to Thailand as their guests, as Traveller123 says. It doesn't mean we have to endorse all aspects of their way of life but neither does it mean that we should challenge their customs. Mai pen rai.

Judging by the morning news, the gun lobby and the GOP have settled on a way forward. It's centered on labeling the shooter as mentally deranged and buttress their argument with the old NRA canard "the only thing that stop a bad guy....". And when they peel back the onion, there at the base of their logic is the lobby's core position "guns don't kill people, people do." Personally, I don' buy it and believe he was completely in command of his senses as he plotted and executed a plan capable of producing the nation's biggest mass murder attack. This was not the work of a mad man. Sure, it's evil but evil acts are performed daily around the globe by perfectly sane, committed individuals with an agenda in mind. Stephen Paddock was one of them.

Japan's NHK news looks at Thailand's male-dominated business of cock fighting with an interesting twist. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20171003194436652/

... and in this case an old man. But don't give us Americans too much credit; we're quite backwards on many issues and you're spot on with this one. Class divides us as much in the same way it does India, the UK and Thailand to name a few. The difference, of course, is that the UK and Thailand make it a hell of a lot more difficult to acquire a gun and--outside of terrorist incidents--they're rarely used to murder. But Americans can be crazy blind when it comes to who gets to own a gun. It seems hard-wired into the psyche of many. Last Thursday Steve Scalise, the house majority whip who was gravely injured when shot by a 66-year-old sniper during baseball practice, returned to his job on the Hill. He came very close to death and was welcomed back by a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle. It will be more than just interesting to see how he and his colleagues react going forward on the gun issue.

Gun control is the most divisive issue on Capitol Hill, surpassing tax policy and immigration by wide margins. Keeter was not the first to experience a change of heart in the wake of an incident and won't, I think, be the last. Gabby Gifford, the former member of the House of Representatives from Arizona, had a pro-gun reputation before she was gunned down in 2011. Ever since her recovery, she has been an activist for gun control. Former speaker of the house Tip O'Neill's famous quip, "all politics is local," comes to mind. I personally applaud Keeter and Gifford for summoning the courage to oppose the NRA and risk alienating their fans and voters. They could have remained in "the silent majority" but choose the road less traveled. And that takes guts. This incident, of course, begs the question: will congress enact any restrictions at all in its wake. Despite the gravity of the killings and the sheer weight of numbers of those affected, there's little assurance it will. The NRA's grip on congress is overwhelming in its reach: its ability to finance the defeat of most politicians along with the ability to influence its 5 million plus members' votes tends to mute opposition. It's interesting to reflect on the history of the Brady Bill, named for Ronald Reagan's press secretary who was permanently disabled in John Hinckley's assassination attempt in 1981. It was Chuck Schumer (then a congressman) who introduced the legislation (for the second time) in '93 and it was signed into law by Bill Clinton that same year. Its key provision required the FBI time to do a background check on prospective gun buyers. The bill that was enacted, however, had many exemptions and none more infamous that what has become to be known as the "gun show" loophole that allowed sellers and purchasers an escape route. You can walk away from a gun show on any given weekend with a fully operational AK-47 if you so wish. But the NRA still wasn't satisfied. It financed state objections that eventually came before the Supreme Court in '98. The court ruled that the provision of the Brady Act that compelled state and local law enforcement officials to perform the background checks was unconstitutional on 10th amendment grounds, saying that this provision violated both the concept of federalism and that of the unitary executive. However, the overall Brady statute was upheld and state and local law enforcement officials remained free to conduct background checks if they so chose. Most did. In 1998, background checks for firearm purchases became mostly a federally run activity when the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) came online. Returning to the question of whether the Las Vegas catastrophe will make things different this time, I would very much like to believe it will. But, like vinapu, I fear that any gun control measures are doomed under this--or possibly any--administration. What I am confident of is this: gun sales and NRA membership will increase significantly for the next month as more Americans buy into the the NRA boilerplate: "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."