The Beer Bar

From Thai PBS World A pub in Bangkok’s Ram Inthra area was ordered closed for five years as an initial penalty after it was found to have been operating with an expired license for the last three years, and more than 120 of its patrons failed drug screening late Saturday night. A police source said that the raid on the “Sonic” pub was carried out after the Interior Ministry learned that the pub often stays open beyond the 2am legal closing time and that illegal drugs were available there. Some customers tried to flee, but were rounded up by the officials. All 214 patrons in the premises at the time of the raid were searched and tested for drugs, which retur…

From Thai PBS World The government’s universal healthcare scheme will make a groundbreaking leap next year, when Thais will be allowed to receive free medical treatment anywhere in their home province, including private hospitals, simply by presenting their national ID card. “We are revolutionizing the country’s public healthcare. The paradigm will change for the first time in 20 years,” said Dr Surapong Suebwonglee, secretary to the National Healthcare Service Plan Development Committee. In the initial phase, individuals covered by the healthcare scheme in four pilot provinces, namely Roi Et, Phetchaburi, Phrae and Narathiwat, will be able to enjoy this pr…

From Simply Flying A Taiwanese man is facing charges after being caught smuggling live animals in his pants at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok last week. Authorities discovered three animals – two otters and a prairie dog taped under the traveler's boxer shorts after security guards became suspicious of a prominent, wobbling bulge below his waist. It comes after another animal smuggling incident occurred at the same airport two months ago. Thailand has reportedly been a hotspot for illegal wildlife trafficking of various animals into China. According to Newsflare, the 22-year-old man was traveling from Bangkok to Taipei, Taiwan, on Thai Airways flight…

From Agence France Presse Beijing, China – China on Thursday slammed what it called the “smearing” of its Belt and Road infrastructure project after Italy said it would withdraw four years after it became the only G7 nation to sign up. An Italian government source confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that Rome had pulled out of the initiative. Proponents of the BRI praise it for bringing resources and economic growth to the Global South. But critics have long pointed to opaque pricing for projects built by Chinese companies, with countries including Malaysia and Myanmar renegotiating deals to bring down costs.

From Apple Insider Apple is reportedly moving key engineering resources to Vietnam, which will now be involved in iPad development as well as production. Apple moved at least a significant proportion of iPad production from China to Vietnam in June 2022, and had been planning to do so for over a year beforehand. According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is now working to move what's called New Product Introduction (NPI) development to Vietnam. It's a significant move away from China, but it's being done in conjunction with Chinese iPad manufacturer BYD. Nonetheless, Nikkei Asia says it's the first time that Apple has allocated NPI resources for such…

Around 30 years ago, when I was much, much younger, and Pattaya was a gay paradise, my friend and I had nowhere to sit in a bar in Boyztown - was it Throb? too long ago to be sure. We had to share a table with a guy (he was alone) who didn't mind at all. In fact he probably welcomed the company and the opportunity to make conversation. I remember this incident even though it was the last century because it was the first time I had ever met someone with a foot fetish. For the better part of the time in that bar, he went on and on, and my friend and I had little to say in response. Looking back, I should be grateful to him. He opened my then-younger eyes to the fact th…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Speaking to a packed meeting of Pattaya City Expat Club, Thomas Carden advised worried expats living here on cash already taxed in the home country not to panic. The managing director of the Bangkok-based AITaxAdvisers said the Thai authorities had no intention to punish typical retirees or foreigners married to Thais or bringing up families. Moreover, the double-taxation agreements between Thailand and 61 countries – which included all those represented at the club meeting including the US and the UK – were an added safeguard. However, Mr Carden did stress that the Thai revenue authority would need to ascertain who had tax…

I think CNN summed up his life and work succinctly this morning. To many he was revered; to many others he was reviled.But we should not, I suggest, consider his legacy without recalling that his German Jewish family fled to the USA in 1938 after suffering many humiliations at the hands of the Nazis. Nor that he was very much a product of the Cold War during which he was determined to protect American interests. I have read much about his career, mostly those parts which are more reviled today. Of his achievements, there is the ending of the Vietnam War for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize (although this rather hides his many actions in the pursuit of that war)…

A new documentary has just opened in New York, London and Los Angeles. 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Cultures has as its premise the mistranslation of just one word in a 1946 publication of The Bible - in 1 Corinthians 6:9. It has long fuelled the Christian anti-gay movement that continues to thrive today, particularly with the Christian Right. The word "homosexual" first appears in translations of The Bible in 1946 when the Greek word malakoi was confused by scholars with a compound Greek word arsenokoitai. The former is defined as someone who is effeminate and leading a lazy, decadent life, whereas the latter basically means "male bed". While this could be …

"Cerro" means "hill " in Spanish and I wonder who named that mountain in the background so poetically? ( read signpost) Photo taken somewhere in Argentinian backwaters.

From Tourism Authority of Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched the ’Vijit Chao Phraya 2023’, a dazzling light and color event along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. Part of the Thailand Winter Festival, this 31-night spectacle features light-and-sound shows, projection mappings, fireworks, and cultural performances at five key locations: Rama VIII Bridge, Wat Arun, Wichai Prasit Fort, Memorial Bridge, and River City Bangkok, extending to ICONSIAM. Each venue hosts nightly shows from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering unique experiences such as 3D laser displays, light mapping, and cultural narratives. Prominent landmarks along the river,…

It was once the talk of the town: a membership card that granted the bearer unlimited stays in the Kingdom for a five-year period. But don’t recall any mention of it in media last year or so. With baht 900,000 the cost of least expensive member, suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

From Thai PBS World The National Soft Power Development Committee (NSPDC) has decided, in principle, to approve about Bt5.1 billion to promote 11 elements of Thailand’s soft power, from food and festivals to music, fashion and Muay Thai. There will be as many as 10,000 activities, with Songkran being the key festive activity which is expected to generate about Bt35 billion in revenues, according to Chadatip Chutrakul, chair of the festival subcommittee of the NSPDC. She said that the Songkran festival, to be referred to as “The World Water Festival”, will be held throughout the whole month of April next year. Bangkok will be the main venue, with three days …

No, that's not the claim of Palestinian or other peoples. It is the claim of an increasing number of Israel's own Defence Forces and reported in Israel's own media. The claims were repeated in yesterday's Guardian newspaper. Israel’s military and intelligence officials were given a highly detailed warning that Hamas was actively training to take over kibbutzim on the Gaza border and overrun military posts with the aim of inflicting substantial fatalities, according to reports in the Israeli media. The claim made by Israel’s Channel 12 on Monday evening was based on leaked emails from the Israeli military’s 8200 cyber-intelligence unit discussing the warnings. …

From Coconuts Bangkok Thailand earned a “very low proficiency” score in English, according to the latest survey by Swiss-based language education company Education First (EF). In yet another year of unsatisfactory pasa angrit (English language) proficiency, Thailand ranked 101st out of 113 non-native-English-speaking countries in the annual EF English Language Proficiency Index report. Thailand notched up a score of 416, which caused it to drop four places from last year. The global average is 502. Thailand came dead last among the eight ASEAN countries in the survey, behind Cambodia, which ranked 98th globally. Singapore (obviously) continues t…

Some guy in Atlanta murdered a Subway employee for putting too much mayo on his sandwich. Then he shot her coworker, for no apparent reason. I hope he never sees the light of day again... 😪 https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/06/29/man-suspected-shooting-two-subway-employees-atlanta-identified/

From The Nation A Thai worker in Mishmeret, an agricultural community in central Israel may have been injured, while a Thai couple is being detained by Palestinian militants, according to Thai Foreign Ministry's initial reports Currently, there are about 5,000 Thai nationals residing in the area near the Gaza Strip. The Thai embassy in Israel reported that on Saturday, at around 6.30am local time (10.30am Thailand time), missiles rained on Israel, from the border with the Gaza Strip to the central part of the country, including Tel Aviv, neighbouring cities, and Netivot. The embassy has disseminated videos instructing Thai nationals in Isr…

Democrats, liberals, progressives -- all had great success in the elections on Tuesday, 8 November. 😃 The Biggest Loser was Drumpf himself, as the causes and candidates he supported went down to ignominious defeat. Before I start discussing all of the big wins, let me just post the following report from my favorite columnist: OHIO (The Borowitz Report) Irate Republican officials in Ohio have been crying foul over Tuesday night’s election results, claiming that there were “widespread cases” of women voting across the state. Harland Dorrinson, a G.O.P. operative in Lake County, said that he had “eyewitness accounts” of “swarms of women” standin…

From The Nation Giant retail chain Big C is pushing its flagship branch — Big C Rajdamri — in the heart of Bangkok to be Thailand’s No. 1 shopping destination for tourists. The superstore in Pathumwan district features local brand products that make perfect souvenirs in representing Thailand’s charms and uniqueness to global audiences. Located in the heart of the city, opposite CentralWorld shopping mall and near the famous Erawan Shrine, Big C Rajdamri has gained a reputation among foreign tourists as a shopping landmark that offers Thai products and delicacies at affordable prices under one ro…

For those of us of a certain age, pre-internet, our porn mostly came in the form of top-shelf magazines from our local corner shops. Like others I used to have quite a little collection built up during the 1970s and 1980s when a more liberal view was then being taken on what could or could not be published and sold over (or occasionally under) the counter. Most of my 'porn mags' were disposed of years ago, much to my regret now. I found a copy or two of my then favourite 'Vulcan' for sale on ebay recently and managed to buy them - they were not cheap! But now I am immersed in a wave of nostalgia. Mostly it was 'soft porn' as they say, flaccid cocks only, o…

Thai LionAir is investigating an engine fire incident that occurred when one of its planes took off from Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport. After reaching 6,000 feet, passengers noticed shaking and sparks from the right wing’s engine. The pilot promptly shut down the engine and safely landed the plane back at the airport. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2692354/thai-lionair-to-probe-engine-fire-over-don-mueang

From Tourism Authority of Thailand Loi Krathong is celebrated annually in Thailand on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, which this year falls on 27 November. All around Thailand, people gather in the evening at lakes, rivers, canals, and beaches to float krathong, which are banana leaf rafts, decorated with flowers, incense and candles, as a way of paying respect to the river goddess. This year, TAT hosts the Loi Krathong Festival at the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, near the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong). The celebration takes place through to 28 November with main activities scheduled on 25-27 November from 16.00-21.00 Hrs. and run until midnight o…

My fiance and I were listening to a comedian not long ago, and he was joking at how incomprehensibly Sir Elton John sings his lyrics. For instance, he misheard "Hold me closer, tiny dancer," as "Hold me closer, Tony Danza." I can think of some more recent songs I've gotten the lyrics wrong on. In Doechii's What's Up? song, for example, I thought she was singing "every black boy needs a little love," when in fact she's singing "every block boy needs a little love": In SZA's Kill Bill song, I was wondering why she was explaining why she was getting the sensitive SalonPas, when my beau explained that she was singing "I get the sense that it's a lost cau…

Hi I want to buy a relatively inexpensive laptop for traveling, but I want a good one. It's Prime Day on Amazon, but they are mostly brands I have never heard of. Is there a tech savvy guy or two here who could look and advise on what is the best choice? Here's what I thought might be good: https://www.amazon.com/URAO-Quad-Core-Lightweight-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B0CF9VHS45/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2EX0OFCBVF9U0&keywords=laptop&psr=PDAY&qid=1696977804&s=pbdd&sprefix=laptop%2Cpbdd%2C113&sr=1-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.ac2169a1-b668-44b9-8bd0-5ec63b24bcb5 Thanks for your help! Lucky

In the old days of the Soviet Union, flying on its home-made aircraft was sometimes a bit dodgy. My first was a Tupolev something on the Polish carrier LOT from LHR to Warsaw. Down by my lower legs there were bolts. During fight you could see the frost on them. Then there was the wide body Ilyshin Il-96 which I took from Athens to Moscow. Entry was by a door from the tarmac after which you climbed stairs to get into the passenger cabin. As I was on a multi-sector trip in business class, I walked up to the front. The flight attendant growled at me "Go back. You do not sit here!" I showed her my ticket whereupon she relented and let me take my seat. Lunch was the economy cl…