unicorn

Everybody but you understood that he was commenting that the Soviet Union left a bunch of mostly loser countries, mostly run by despots, whose citizens want to leave. The exceptions, of course, are the countries which embraced free elections and joined the west (i.e. the Baltic nations). The only reason Russia isn't also a completely impoverished, loser country is because what you dig out of the ground. Nobody wants to buy anything Russians actually manufacture. People only buy Russian raw materials (of which, thankfully for them, they have plenty).

You're the one who brought up the subject.

Factually false. This is the current situation: Visa requirements for Russian citizens holding ordinary passports Russia Unlimited Visa not required Visa on arrival eVisa Visa available both on arrival or online Visa-free for group tourists Visa required Admission generally refused

Is he Muslim? Polygamy is only legal in Muslim countries (blue), or only allowed for Muslims in countries with significant Muslim minorities (green and brown): Thailand is in the black area (not legal for anyone).

Interesting. The VB is a right-wing anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-abortion, anti-anything that isn't Flemish party. Surprising that he had a Thai girlfriend, since the party he supports believes the Flemish are superior to everyone else.

But to answer your question, "pumping the stomach" usually refers to the placement of a nasogastric tube, then hooking that tube up to low intermittent suction.

Definitely old enough to know better. I hope he has to pay for all of the damage he caused.

It looks as though you're right, unlike in California, there is no enhancement in New York for refusing a BAC test. Probably works out best, if you're dead drunk as JT was, to refuse the test: https://www.bradmazarin.com/test-refusals-in-new-york-state#:~:text=In addition%2C there is a,prior refusal within five years. "...If a person who has been lawfully arrested for DWI in New York State refuses to take a breath test, after being warned of the consequences for doing so, his/her license or privilege to drive in New York will be suspended for either 15 days or until a hearing is held at Department of Motor Vehicles. If the Administrative Law Judge at DMV finds that the driver has refused to submit to a chemical test, his/her license or driving privilege will be revoked for one year. In addition, there is a $500 civil penalty as well as $250 in surcharges each year for three years. Finally, the refusal can be used as evidence of consciousness of guilt in a subsequent criminal trial. The penalties are more severe for individuals who have a prior refusal within five years...". If a person who has been lawfully arrested for DWI in New York State refuses to take a breath test, after being warned of the consequences for doing so, his/her license or privilege to drive in New York will be suspended for either 15 days or until a hearing is held at Department of Motor Vehicles. If the Administrative Law Judge at DMV finds that the driver has refused to submit to a chemical test, his/her license or driving privilege will be revoked for one year. In addition, there is a $500 civil penalty as well as $250 in surcharges each year for three years. Finally, the refusal can be used as evidence of consciousness of guilt in a subsequent criminal trial. The penalties are more severe for individuals who have a prior refusal within five years. California has a harder line on these refusals: https://hartlevin.com/practice-areas/dui/what-happens-if-you-refuse-a-breathalyzer-test/#:~:text=While it is your right,impact on your legal defense. "...Consequences of Refusing a Breathalyzer Test: 1. Automatic License Suspension: Refusing a breathalyzer test triggers an automatic administrative suspension of your driver’s license, regardless of whether you’re ultimately convicted of a DUI. The suspension period typically lasts longer than for a first-time DUI offense. It’s important to note that this administrative suspension is separate from any suspension imposed by the court. The normal suspension on a first offense DUI with refusal is one year of no driving. There is no ability to drive even for work purposes. The one year suspension is a hard suspension which is why it is critical to fight it. 2. Increased Penalties: If you are later convicted of a DUI after refusing a breathalyzer test, the fact that you refused can be used against you in court. The prosecution may argue that your refusal indicates a consciousness of guilt, potentially leading to enhanced penalties, such as longer license suspensions, mandatory alcohol education programs, or even jail time. The DA’s policy is to ask for a minimum of 48 hours in jail for a refusal, not considering any other aggravating factors that may further enhance the punishment. So it looks like it's sad, but you're probably right. Given that this happened in New York, the consequences for JT will be minor. He'll just need to hire a driver, not a big deal for someone like JT. However, one can hope that the judge will see through this and enhance his penalties...

Pretty shameful.

That posting was probably a joke. But what an asshole for being that fucked up, and not even ordering a Lyft or Uber. The cost would have been insignificant for him. And now he's going to pay big-time. Why endanger others' lives when it would be just as easy for you not to? 😤 Seriously messed up.

These questions can usually be answered quickly by Wikipedia or Google: "Anchorage (Tanaina: Dgheyay Kaq'; Dgheyaytnu), officially the Municipality of Anchorage, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska. With a population of 291,247 at the 2020 census, it contains nearly 40 percent of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Matanuska-Susitna Borough, had a population of 398,328 in 2020, accounting for more than half the state's population. At 1,706 sq mi (4,420 km2) of land area, the city is the fourth-largest by area in the U.S...".

Whenever I hear about the Aleuts, this song always pops in my head:

We went to a drag show in Anchorage last Saturday, and I encountered a couple of customs I hadn't encountered before, certainly not in the US. The first was that the entry fee was listed as $5 for those identifying as LGBTQ+, and $20 for those identifying as straight/allies. I wonder if such practices are even legal. This practice does bother me somewhat. It certainly doesn't seem to promote a spirit of equality. Most of the crowd were clearly LGBTQ+, but there were three couples in which the men made a point to lavish their female guests with PDA's. I wonder if they paid the higher fee, just to avoid identifying at LGBTQ+. The 2nd thing I'd never seen before (but my fiance had), was a drag king, who hosted the festivities. Basically, it was a lesbian with a painted-on beard, and a hair muscle chest plastic board which covered the breasts. Have any of you seen either of these customs before? https://madmyrnas.com/events/diva-variety-show The drag king was Hank Van Dickerson: https://madmyrnas.com/divas

While I think it's always a bad idea to have sex with anyone under 18, apparently the law only makes it illegal if the sex is "commercial" for ages 16 and 17, or in any case if the person is under 16: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PROTECT_Act_of_2003#:~:text=In the case United States,still faces an obscenity charge. "...For the purposes of this law, illicit sexual conduct is defined as commercial sex with or sexual abuse of anyone under 18, or any sex with anyone under 16...".

Well, some may recall the string I posted several months ago when the hotel receptionist carded my then 30 year-old fiance because he thought I might be involved with a minor! 😤

I feel a song coming on...

Laws vary from country to country and state to state. I'm not interested in having sex with anyone under 18, but if I were, I would research local laws very carefully. The age of consent may be under 18 in most places, but it may depend with whom and/or under what circumstances. It may be legal to have sex with a 16 year-old, but if he were to complain he was pressured, one could find oneself in deep doo-doo. Just stick to men 18+, and don't stay up all night worrying. I was certainly willing and able to consent when I was 16, but the law can get tricky.

It looks as though a native tribe has won the right to kill whales in the northwestern US. They claimed that killing whales is "central" to their identities. To me, this sounds like a load of crap. What do you think? https://apnews.com/article/makah-tribe-whale-hunt-9b2e4a699431cc144f826dfbf6a9172a “Whaling remains central to the identity, culture, subsistence, and spirituality of the Makah people, and we regard the Gray Whale as sacred,” Makah Tribal Council Chairman Timothy J. Greene Sr. said in a written statement. Yes, of course. You consider the whales sacred. So you must kill them.

There are basically four treatments for ED. The most common, working for most men are the PDE5 inhibitors (avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil). If those don't work, or have undesirable side-effects, there are injections which go directly into the penis, little pellets one can put up the urethra (not too popular), or vacuum/rubber band devices, such as Erec-Aid. The last three usually work if the first doesn't. TRT is not really a treatment for ED. It should be used only for testosterone deficiency, and then only with informed consent, since it has both risks and benefits. Any other treatments for ED aren't supported by factual evidence.

😁

Well, all opinions aside, the debates certainly should be a showcase to demonstrate which candidate is more demented. Biden certainly seemed to be able to hold his own at the State of the Union address about 4 months ago.

I agree that it's probably unfair, but most countries have similar rules. For all practical terms, passports are useless for travel 6 months before their "expiration" date.

Outrage?? Why would anyone care what KR thinks?

I'm happy to change my opinion when presented with new information. 😃 You're the first responder to refute the source I'd originally used to form my prior opinion. Since I don't have first-hand knowledge, I'm open to the new idea. Are you also saying that kathoey are more likely to be bulliers than to be bullied themselves in Thailand? If so, that's probably a unique situation globally. In most countries, even some rather enlightened ones, trans people, especially FTM, are prime targets for bullies.