Lucky

From the NY Post, this article might make you realize what a peaceful place we have: A Japanese man committed suicide live on the internet after heated exchanges with online users who dared him to kill himself, local reports said Wednesday. The 24-year-old man in the northern city of Sendai was found dead Tuesday morning in his apartment by local police, who received reports from web users, newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported. The man, who lived alone, had been on extended sick leave from his job since August and had posted complaints about his work, local newspaper Sankei Shimbun said. The man began to broadcast images of himself on live streaming service Ustream on Sunday night, announcing his plan to kill himself and discussing his views about life. After a break, his broadcast resumed early Tuesday and he hanged himself in his apartment at around 5:30am local time, Sankei said. His broadcast received many messages, with some web users encouraging him to kill himself quickly, while others urged him to desist. Ustream stopped the broadcast after 6:00am Tuesday, following reports from an increasing number of viewers, Yomiuri said. Japan has one of the world's highest suicide rates, accounting for more than 32,000 deaths last year, the 12th consecutive year to exceed 30,000 deaths. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/japanese_man_commits_suicide_live_AhKeLXIRET51fC15htRbhI#ixzz14tJWSy3g

Who, TY? Kennedy? LBJ? Since I doubt you wouldn't speak ill of the dead, it must be TY!

KY, thanks for the info on the health care bill. I agree that it has problems. But I do think they got the best bill they could get at the time, with the hope of fixing things later. Not the best approach, no doubt. Conway, hard to argue with your last sentence. The Dems buttfucked gays when we only needed a blowjob. Thanks for participating as it has made for some good conversation...I am listening to what you say. Where else could I talk with a Tea Party supporter?

Yes, thank you.

Conway, I don't accuse you of any racism or anti-this or that. I just don't think you have all of the facts. The Health Care bill was not perfect, but health care reform was desperately needed. To say that there was no debate on it, well, where were you? It was being debated all over the place. The Democrat bill won. The Republicans are now playing sore loser, but history tells us that at every turn they will favor the health care INDUSTRY over the consumer. Those fat cat lobbyists are paid by the drug companies, the insurance companies, and the medical associations. With the Republicans, the average Joe has no chance on getting a better health care system. As for the gays voting Republican, well, I understand voting your pocket book. I understand the frustration with weak Democrat support in some corners. But remember Reagan and AIDS. When we needed the Republicans the most, they weren't there for us. They won't be there next month when DADT is voted on, and they won't be there to support gay marriage. You can take that to the bank.

And now Obama is talking about how he didn't try hard enough to "reach across the aisle." That's not how I remember it. He reached, they smacked his hand.

DreadedNed.com has all the maps one could want for Thailand.

Thanks for the info, although most of it is over my head. My AT&T contract is up right before my trip to Asia. So that would be a good time to switch, but I don't understand the SIM card stuff. Would I just sign up for Verizon World plan, or do I need to get a SIM card that's sold in Asia? See, I told you I didn't know!

Wasn't it the responsibility of the loan officer to deny those applications? Was it fair to the people following the rules to allow those who did not qualify to receive a loan? The value of everyone's home collapsed, not just those that didn't deserve the loans. Granted, the loan officer may have just been following the policies in place, but the buck starts with him. The desire for profit, the greed of Wall Street, ruined this economy, and it wasn't the average home buyer's fault. I commend you for meeting your obligations. It's the way I was brought up too. But recently the president of the National Mortgage Association lectured people who were thinking of walking away from their mortgages that it was their moral obligation to pay those mortgages. Then, that very association walked away from its $79 million dollar obligation. Just walked away. So let's lecture them first.

Good post, TY. Sad, but true. I long for the days of Lyndon Baines Johnson, and no, I never, ever, expected to say that. Johnson was elected vice-president exactly 50 years ago today.

So many loan officers have gone down in history for the contributions they made to this country- virtually every small town has a monument to their local favorite, you know, the guy that really helped the town. We'd no doubt have one in Palm Springs if they'd move that Sonny Bono statue. There are so many people who fell for the hype being promoted by both banks, loan officers, real estate agents, and their ilk, that no doubt more statues are about to be erected. Can you imagine believing that the market was really going up, when the characters I just mentioned all knew the real deal- that this money was being given to people who didn't qualify, that loans were no longer something earned, but given away to hype the profits? It was all a house of cards, and the only schmucks who didn't get it were the ones who were following the rules. So much money was made off of these people, with no consequences from the law, and now, guess what, these schmucks think the government should do something about it. Don't they know about the bailouts? The money they didn't lose in real estate was given to the banks and the insurance companies. They can't fail, you know. Just Joe Shcmuck and his family. Can you imagine how smug the loan officer will be the next time they seek a loan?

One would have thought, reading the media here, that Thai hotels were hurting for business. But the rates are slightly higher than 3 years ago, that likely just being the difference in the dollar. So, would you stay at cheap(er) hotel that allowed guys, or at a comfy place that didn't? That's my dilemma at the moment, at least in Bangkok. It's a shock to arrive in Bangkok, for one, and then there is the humidity and the jet lag to contend with...and I rarely have overnights anyway...

God forbid we should tax those who have money!

People go to Brazil to enjoy themselves,and, for some, that means a lot of sex. That sex can be with many guys or just a few guys. I found myself unwilling to keep experimenting, so when I found a guy I liked, I stuck with him. Can't say that that gave me a better experience than others, but it was what I was comfortable with. Still had a lot of sex. Anyone else like it that way?

Thanks. I will keep looking for the Mr. Right (thumbprint version!)

I'd get in on it, but I really pay no attention to the details, I just use the site as is and make the most of it. Technical stuff I leave to those who like it. Function over form, maybe?

I am looking at the Android as well given that AT&T has so many dropped calls. I have had their Blackberry, but now see better things than the new Torch. So perhaps the Droid 2 by Motorola or the Droid x...

It doesn't really look to me like you read, or considered, what I wrote.

Well, of course, I was goading you. The article presented many verifiable facts, yet you respond that only time will tell. Why not tell us why the verifiable facts don't resolve any issues- if they don't, of course. You are right, in that I am also disappointed in so many things political. But the after-effect of the election seems to be that Obama has done more than he was given credit for, learned but I still wait for time to tell on others.

Once again we have RA1 taking a dump on what someone (here Egan) has to say. Is it true, he asks. Well, duh, much of it is provable at this very moment. Go ahead, be a skeptic naysayer, Captain, but it gets tiresome when you have nothing to offer but cynicism. If this is what being a libertarian is, I'll gladly be a liberal.

What's the thrill of seeing his dick, or Brett Favre's dick, or any celebrity besides Brad Pitt's? We can go to Cam4 and see some of the best dicks on the planet. We don't need these!

I wanted to see Inside Job, but it did not come to Palm Springs. Now, Red is the only one that appeals to me. I find myself liking the convenience of Netflix. You don't have high prices, bad seats, noisy people, or people on their cell phones. Even in the theater in New York last week there were so many people checking their messages during the shows I couldn't believe it. And inevitably someone's cell phone goes off.

As much as I like your pictures, I do admit that when there are seven or so thumbnails posted, I won't check them all out. The first one determines whether I keep going...hint.

And here I thought you were going to list the seven worst threads on the board.

This will be my 13th trip to Thailand. It is hard to find a new tourist attraction, but I do love the Chao Praya river, enjoy the klong tour. Spend time in Lumpini Park. Go to the weekend market. And I like to eat at the nice western hotels. Oh, I go shopping too. In Pattaya I spend the day at the beach and have gone for boat rides. In Chiang Mai, I have taken many tours, both of the handicrafts and the temples. Indeed I do like to meet the local young men, especially those who need to practice their English, or perfect their massage techniques. If I see someone who has a sweet smile, then I may strike up an acquaintanceship to see if we might be compatible in bed. I like smooth young men who enjoy making an older man happy, but it is not the main reason I go to Thailand. I go for sanuk.