The Beer Bar

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-deaths-by-vaccination It looks like for those fully vaccinated and boosted, the death rate is about 1 to 5 in a million, unvaccinated some 20 times higher, albeit falling, perhaps due to their getting some immunity from infection, which may offer some protection?

Me and my domestic partner (who's 30 years younger than I am) went to a comedy club last night, where a bunch of stand-up comedians performed. We sat in the 2nd row because he doesn't like to be called out by the comedians. It all went find until the 5th and last comedian of the evening. He picked on almost everyone in the first 3 rows. He asked if I was his Dad, and I said we were domestic partners, and he said "Oh, I see, a sugar-daddy!". I just laughed it off but he was mortified. He hates being called a sugar-baby. I've been picked on by a bunch of comedians at these stand-up shows throughout the year, and I just laugh it off. Just part of the show. How do you feel ab…

Colton Underwood says he was blackmailed after going to a gay spa and someone emailed him and said they had nude photos of him. This is what he said led to his coming out. I hate anyone being forced out when they are not ready. https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/colton-underwood-the-bachelor-netflix-1234970331/

I would like to know if anyone knows more forums similar to this one?

I had heard his name when I was young and he has been a constant for most of my life. RIP https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/27/africa/desmond-tutu-lgbtq-climate-palestine-reaction-intl/index.html

From The Thaiger “Thailand Trusted Destination” is the latest campaign in a long line of schemes government authorities have launched as they attempt to lure international travellers back to Thailand, even amid Omicron uncertainty. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports launched the campaign in a bid to increase the standards of tourism in the country. The project aims to build confidence in travellers by certifying businesses that meet certain quality standards, allowing them to display the Thailand Trusted Destination dancing elephant logo. The Tourism Ministry hopes this will incentivise businesses and venues to bring their standards of management, cleanline…

Although I remain among those still hoping to experience Bangkok again in the not too distant future, news that my favorite method of getting around Krung Thep--second only to walking--continues to thrive helps keep the dream alive. From The Nation More than 1.3 million people used Thailand’s railway services on December 29 and 30 The five lines that saw the highest number of passengers were: • Southern: 26,852 passengers • Northeast: 26,420 passengers • Northern: 23,402 passengers • Eastern: 11,010 passengers • Mahachai-Mae Khlong: 6,066 passengers Meanwhile, more than 1.28 million people used rail services in Greater Bangkok on Dece…

'Tis that silly time that comes twice a year in the UK when the great, the good and a good few of the bad - along with some ordinary folk who have gone about their business with extraordinary zeal - are awarded with "honours." These are the people the British Empire continues to evoke - Member of the British Empire, Officer of the British Empire and Commander of the British Empire - all titles that should have died decades ago. Rightly, many this year have been health workers. But I will just select two from this year's long list. That Tony Blair, the Prime Minister who led Britain into the disastrous Iraq war, is not now merely Sir Tony but a member of the exclusive…

From Reuters / The Thaiger He will forever be known as a hero, but Dr Li Wenliang, the Chinese ophthalmologist who first sounded the alarm over Covid-19, was initially shut down and threatened by his government. Now, nearly 2 years after his own death from the virus, thousands of Chinese netizens have posted messages to honour the Wuhan medic who tried to warn the world. According to a Reuters report, the messages have been posted on the second anniversary of Li discovering a pneumonia-causing virus in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. On December 30, 2019, Li, who worked at a hospital in the city, caught sight of a medical report that referenced potentia…

From The Thaiger More than 160 Thai soldiers were apparently forced to masturbate… and climax… before they were allowed to take a shower. At least that’s what a social media user claims. Numerous Thai media outlets have reported the story, but there has been no confirmation or statement from military officials. On Facebook, a screenshot was shared, and picked up by Thai media, of soldiers sitting together with a caption in Thai which translates to “The week of masterbation check. Finish your masterbate first, then you will be allowed to take a shower. Do it together with 168 members.” The original video was said to have been posted on an Instagram story and…

From the BBC website We're back in familiar territory - growing concern about a new variant of coronavirus. The latest is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far - and it has such a long list of mutations that it was described by one scientist as "horrific", while another told me it was the worst variant they'd seen. It is early days and the confirmed cases are still mostly concentrated in one province in South Africa, but there are hints it may have spread further. Immediately there are questions around how quickly the new variant spreads, its ability to bypass some of the protection given by …

I loved reading this story. If anyone finds the initial TikTok video I'd love to see it. It says it is now longer available. Male teachers in Spain are wearing skirts in solidarity with a student who was expelled and sent to a psychologist for wearing one to school. Teachers across the country have joined the Clothes Have No Gender movement (#laropanotienegenero), sparked when 15-year-old Mikel Gómez was punished for wearing the clothing in October last year. In a now-viral TikTok video, the teen explained that he wore the skirt to challenge gender norms and support women’s liberation, but was promptly pulled out of class and taken to a psychologist who gri…

From Richard Barrow's Twitter site As promised, the Bangkok Governor opened the first section of the Chong Nonsi Canal Park on Christmas Day. This section, between Sathon Road and Narathiwat Ratchanakarin 7, is only 200 metre long, but by the time it is finished, it will run for 4.5km

From Richard Narrow Twitter site The government has announced four additional holidays next year to make four more long weekends in order to help stimulate travel and the economy. Friday, 15 July (five days) Friday, 29 July (4days) Friday, 14 October (4 days) Friday, 30 December (4 days)

Hey everyone, I'm a researcher of gay/queer history at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, working on a project about gay travel and sexuality. As part of this project, I'm conducting interviews with men who have experience traveling around the world. What I'm trying to do is push back against the moralizing (and sometimes homophobic) rhetoric of "sex tourism" and talk about the different ways gay men like us have sex - whether it's just for fun or also involves romance/relationships - when traveling. I'm especially interested in talking to guys who have experience traveling to or living in Southeast Asia during the 1980s and 1990s, but I also want…

From The Thaiger What options are there for people who want to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days? A lot of people travel to Thailand for a short holiday and often decide that they want to stay for longer. But what do they do when it comes to visa? What about the smart visa that helps people fall in between the lines such as the digital nomads? Tim Newton sits with Ben Hart from Integrity Legal and talks all things related to long term visa in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/long-term-visa-thailand

If you follow the government rubik's cube scheme of color-coded zones, you'll have one less color--red--to deal with come Thursday. You will, however, still have to make sense of the following seemingly endless lists of colors, zones, restrictions and exclusions. From Bangkok Post All maximum Covid-19 control zones will be lifted and the number of tourism pilot zones increased from Thursday this week. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said on Monday that red zones of maximum control will be lifted in all 23 declared provinces. The number of provinces declared control zones (orange zones) will increa…

From Richard Barrow Twitter Site The monorail trains on both the Pink & Yellow Lines are now doing test runs.

Those of us who buy sim cards on arrival will soon have fewer--if practically none--choices in the future. From Bangkok Post Telecom firms Total Access Communication Plc (DTAC) and True Corporation Plc have agreed to merge, to pursue new tech business and raise venture capital for startups. The merger plan was approved by their respective executive boards on Friday and their decisions forwarded to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday. The two companies on Monday also signed a memorandum of understanding for an equal partnership to form a new merged firm to pursue tech business. The companies said that Citrine Global Company, a joint venture of…

Lawmakers Approve Marriage Equality in Chile A reaction to marriage equality in the Senate chamber in Valparaiso, Chile on December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido Lawmakers in Chile overwhelmingly voted to approve a marriage equality bill on December 7, capping off a four-year political standoff and ushering in a new era for the LGBTQ community in the South American nation. The legislation passed both houses of Congress and President Sebastián Piñera has vowed to sign the measure into law. Piñera opted to support the bill after previously opposing it, paving the way for legislation that had stalled for years after forme…

News A Landmark Year for U.S. Cities in Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality Chicago skyline image by Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock The number of cities earning a a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index has surpassed 100 for the first time. November 18 2021 9:00 AM EST For the first time, more than 100 cities across the U.S. have earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality I…

Here's reason to keep it up well into our senior years, helped by Viagra. A roaring sex life keeps you young in more ways than one Viagra could be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, study finds US scientists say users of sildenafil – the generic name for Viagra – are 69% less likely to develop the form of dementia than non-users QUOTE: They found sildenafil users were 69% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than non-sildenafil users after six years of follow-up. To further explore the drug’s potential effect on Alzheimer’s disease, researchers developed a lab model that showed that sildenafil increased brain cell growth and targeted tau proteins, of…

From The Thaiger The Thai embassy in Berlin says Thailand has been removed from Germany’s list of Covid-19 high-risk countries, according to a Thai PBS World report. Provided they are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine, travellers from Thailand can now enter Germany without having to quarantine. The accepted vaccines are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. In addition to being fully vaccinated, arrivals from Thailand must produce a negative PCR test result, taken within 72 hours of travel, or a negative antigen test taken within 48 hours. Travellers who have recovered from Covid-19 need to show proof of a posit…