Lucky

LOL! Of course they had to return Hong Kong to China. It was a lease! But I made the remark "which the British cowardly ceded to Beijing in 1997." because I think Hong Kong was much better before they did. Joshua Wong and friends excepted. The Brits made a bad deal though with the phony two countries deal. No one expected China to abide by that for 50 years, and they haven't.

No, not our poster PopeFrancis! The real pope! He's down in Chile crying with the victims of predator priests. (Don't get excited bibttmboy.) Then, before he leaves, he undoes all the good he has done by saying that people criticising a bishop for shielding one of the worst predators are being libelous! "Show me proof," he said. People were aghast! The bishop's role had been widely accepted, and now the Pope was undoing it all. In the process, Chileans who looked to him with hope were saying that the pope is a dope! http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-shocks-chile-accusing-sex-abuse-victims-slander-article-1.3765039

Previews begin on January 23d for Jerry Springer: The Opera, one of the best hows I have ever seen. I saw it in London at the National Theater, where it was produced with a full orchestra and choir. It's a comical look at the Springer TV show that ends with Jesus and Satan going at it on the show. Irreverent and very funny, conservative Christians, and only a small segment at that, were able to keep it from Broadway stages. Today's NY Times has an article about the show coming to the Signature Theater, which means a smaller production, but it should still have all of the comedic content: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/theater/jerry-springer-the-opera-new-group-john-rando-terrence-mann.html?hpw&rref=theater&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Good for you! I didn't realize that Portland compared so favorably to San Diego on housing costs. I hope that they have an active theater scene.

I like this thread. Having gone to Thermas in Barcelona a few times, I get some vicarious pleasure from the stories. It was exciting to plan a visit there.

Another good observation by Larstrup. The coincidence totally escaped me.

Larstrup" "I'm giving it a shot." LOL. good line about a movie involving gunshots.

Joshua Wong, the 21-year old Hong Kong activist, has been jailed for three months for his part in leading protests in Hong Kong. "They can lock up our bodies, but they cannot lock up our minds," Wong said before he entered the jail. Wong has been active for several years in fighting encroaching Beijing efforts to assert more control over Hong Kong, which the British cowardly ceded to Beijing in 1997. The story of yesterday's court appearance and jailing: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/16/world/asia/hong-kong-umbrella-movement-joshua-wong.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 For me, I am so pleased to see such a heroic young man speaking up.

19-year old Blaze Bernstein, a pre-med student at the University of Pennsylvania was home on break in Southern California when he made a late night rendezvous with a former classmate at the Orange County School of Arts. Bernstein ended up dead after allegedly trying to kiss 20-year old Samuel Woodward. Bernstein had been stabbed 20 times. His body was found 3 days later in a shallow grave. Who knows what Bernstein knew about Woodward, but one wonders if he knew what a right-wing Neanderthal he is. Apparently, last June, Woodward "hit on" Bernstein so he might have felt he could go further when he returned home. He couldn't, as it turned out. https://www.ocregister.com/2018/01/15/blaze-bernstein-stabbed-at-least-20-times-in-possible-act-of-rage/ Details: http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-blaze-bernstein-funeral-20180115-story.html https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/15/blaze-bernstein-stabbed-at-least-20-times-in-possible-act-of-rage/ Woodward:

Portland? I have only been there once and liked it, but I prefer dry weather to rain, warmth to cold. To each his own, but I am curious as to why you chose Portland over, say, San Diego.

What about shithole websites? Do they get a pass?

Sorry, but I can't agree. Young men with a desire to advance their careers are preyed upon by older men who may offer help if they can get the guy naked. A photographer has no more right to violate a person's personal boundaries than anyone else.

One Finger, it was in Costa Mesa last November, but I didn't see any plan for it to go to San Diego.

On March 16th, another coming of age film opens, Love, Simon, starring the handsome Nick Robinson. (Nick is 22.) In the film, he plays a 17-year old. More: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-mn-sneaks-love-simon-20180112-story.html

Possible but doubtful. You don't secretly record a meeting with the president, even if he is a shithole in the Oval Office.

On a barely related topic, a 30-year old San Francisco police officer faces " charges of sexual assault when the victim is prevented from resisting by an intoxicating substance and sexual assault of a victim who was unconscious or asleep", San Francisco police officials said. I ask, doesn't he realize that there might be better opportunities?

No! No more celebrities on ego trips. Proven government experience required, along with foreign policy expertise.

A former girlfriend took the opportunity of attempting to ruin the mood after James Franco won a Golden Globes Award for Best Actor. She asks Franco: "Remember the time you pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis & that other time you told my friend to come to your hotel when she was 17? After you had already been caught doing that to a different 17 year old?'" Yet another actress claims that Franco did not pay her well enough for doing sex scenes in his movies. Well! If I were faced with James' erection all hot for my attention, I would have taken a different course than did the complainer. And you wouldn't have had to pay me at all for having movie sex with him. No siree. It shows that context is key. One person's offense is another person's chance. No?* As for the 17-year old, call me by your name. ** *Nothing herein is meant to suggest that the women alleging bad acts by Franco do not have a right to make their allegations and be heard in court. ** Nothing about the movie reference is intended to suggest that a 17-year olfd is fair game for older men. Obey all laws on this topic.

PopeFrancis, thanks so much for the excellent trip reports. I like the wise usage of white space too!

Yawn.

Oz, you have always been exciting. Now get excited!

"Everyone's been getting" Anal bleaching is wonderful when needed. But everyone doesn't need it! I don't know anyone who has done that. Maybe a new boy band could adopt the name Anal Bleachers and then it would take off! But, to date, I haven't needed it and don't expect to. But if anyone here has done it, please post a photo so we can all know what it looks like !

I can probably imagine the before and afters, but I can't imagine myself having the procedure. A Thai newspaper has a few more details including a first um, hand report: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30335410

For anyone interested, penis bleaching by laser is now available at a Thai hospital. Check out this article and then book your flight to Bangkok and make that appointment! http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/penis-bleaching-bigger-article-1.3737468 (They didn't have any before and after pictures!)

My interest in this story has more to with Jesse, the photographer who helped his whole family shape up. Jesse did quite well himself, becoming a hunk with a six pack. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5257932/weight-loss-transformation-chinese-family/ You will find other pictures in the Sun story, but the above is my favorite! For example, Jesse looks great in a tight t-shirt!