Lucky

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.

The airfare is free, the hotels will be about $700, then how much for the local guides?

Would that they all were as good as Mr. Kotter... who still denies diddling Vinnie.

TY, I suggest that you just post as often as you want. And lookin, your pics are so good, they often leave me speechless! Now go over to the Thai forum and help me plan my trip!

So I was able to book a FF ticket to Bangkok earlier by flying out of LA rather than Palm Springs. So now I know I will get some of the cooler weather...I hope. And yes, MsGuy, I can give you reports if that is what you want! Hotels I am thinking about include Tawana Bangkok or Dusit Thani, or Sofitel Silom. I also want to go to Chiang Mai but have not been for very long, so advice welcome!

Participation in the forums seems to be dwindling again. I'll post something and then hours later no one has responded. It's disheartening. And we were doing so well. I know that these things go in cycles, and the other site isn't doing so great itself on new, interesting stuff. But, hopefully the members of this site see it as a special place that they want to keep going and will devote themselves to it. Remember, it is responses to threads that keep conversations going more than new threads. Yes, I am like you, I want to bring something new here and don't often try to respond. But I am better at it than I used to be. But, come'on. we like this place and let's show it! Hoo-rah!

Lucky has to get up the nerve to go. The bf does not like Thailand. To help, I watched the movie Love of Siam, which is 2 and 1/2 hours (in subtitles) but we couldn't stop watching. Even though the boys who star in the movie are meant to be high school age, it is okay to say that they are very cute, because, in real life, they were 19 when the film was made. Mario Mauer, who plays Tong, has gone on to a career in modeling and also been in a few films. Mario Witsiwit Hiranyawongkul plays Mew, whose career as a pop musician is on the rise when he reunites with his boyhood friend, Tong, and they then have to decide how to handle the feelings that they realize they have for each other. Witsiwit Witsiwit, known as Pitch, has gone on to a film and music career. The movie is a bit of a soap opera, involving other plotlines, and very little erotic activity. But it is full of charm, filmed in Bangkok with plenty of local scenes, and was well-received in Thailand despite the homosexual theme.

Tell that to my dogs. Almost all dog food is now made in China.

Everything we buy now is made in China. There are no alternatives.

As I was saying: Rolls-Royce of London, which is a separate company from the carmaker owned by BMW, is also developing an engine for Boeing’s latest aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner. Problems with that engine have contributed to the program’s delays. “This is extremely worrying for Rolls-Royce,” said Phil Abbott, editor of Aircraft Engines, a London-based industry newsletter. “There is no such thing as a shoddy engine maker. But the moment engines fly to bits, no one wants to fly them anymore.” NYT