TotallyOz

China opens world's longest high-speed rail route! China has officially opened the world's longest high-speed rail route, linking the capital Beijing with the southern commercial hub of Guangzhou. The first bullet train left Beijing on Wednesday morning. Trains will initially travel at 300km/h (187mph), more than halving travel time. A Chinese official has described the route - parts of which were already in operation - as "one of the most technically advanced in the world". The 2,298km route will have 35 stops. They include such major cities as Wuhan and Changsha. The previously 22-hour journey will now take less than 10 hours. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20842836

I have never really enjoyed Twitter and I don't see much use in it but I know many that love it. You might also consider Instagram a form of Social Media. I have friends that love it. It seems that last week when they changed the terms of service there was a huge uproar. I am not sure how well they will recover from it but as it is the same owners as Facebook and we know they have zero value for privacy and content, we should not expect more of Instagram.

I was in Nice Boys last night and there weren't that many boys early on but as the time came closer to 10, the place filled up. Also, it was 100 baht drink special. All drinks were 100 baht last night so they were packed with customers as well.

Yes, and like all "laws" they can be interpreted in many ways. But, since I wrote it, I can tell you the meaning behind it. But, when I do, you will continue to argue it as it does not help your theory. So, it was written to be just like a regular bar in which people come together to share and have fun and enjoy the company of others. I go to these bars in the USA often and having been in many in NYC, I can tell you that I often had people I did not want to speak to in the bars. In fact, one bar had a guy that stalked me for years. I still went to the bar and I avoided him if he was there. I also did not interact with people I did not wish to interact with. If I didn't like a show that was going on stage, I would move to another area of the bar. That did not mean that I got upset that some people enjoyed the show. To the contrary, I always wished them well and hoped they enjoyed it. I didn't need to watch it and I didn't. I would start up a conversation with someone else or I would spend time talking to the bartender or the manager or I would find me a gogo boy and start tipping him. The paragraphs were never intended for much other than to say that the Moderators and Admins have all rights to make decisions. I think a lot is often interpreted of other parts but that is the main jist. They have made a decision in this case and while I don't agree with the outcome, I go along with it as it is their right to make those decisions. It is also within my right to state my opinion and while I don't agree with others regarding the outcome, we all seem to accept it and agree that the site did everything it could to be fair and just. I also will defend to the end anyone's right to speak positively of LMTU or any other poster. It does not make sense to me to tell someone that if they want to hear this gobbley gook to go to another board. IMHO, that is just rude. It is common sense to see that if a poster is not allowed on the site that he will be on another site and to be rude and tell them to go elsewhere is just not needed. IMHO And, in the end, "mature behavior, civility and courtesy" is needed by all. So, as a courtesy, I'll leave this thread for the rest of you to argue about. I have said my peace and have no desire to keep saying the same things over and over as it will not change the outcome or the opinions of others. And, as is also my right, I'll not read other posts in this thread as a way to show how easy it is to ignore a thread. And, to all a good night.

Now now, if I gave you the name of the bars, it would be a scoop. I would not want to upset you.

Nope, I have a motorcycle license as I own 3 choppers in USA. It was not that either. He simply wanted money. He did not want any license. As I said in the original post, if they didn't get you on the license, they would get you for reckless driving for not signaling when you went over to see them. To me, that says that no matter what you did or didn't do, you were going to get a fine.

It is funny as this week I was out with the boys late at night and in both "bars" we went to there was a drunk there. He was causing a bit of a problem but the staff and the customers simply ignored him. He was not thrown out and he was served more drinks. In one bar I asked about him and was told that he was a regular and he meant no harm. He was loud and obnoxious (hooting and hollering) and did cause others to glance his way and laugh a bit. But, for the most part, everyone just ignored him. It was easy for me to ignore his silliness. It was also easy for me to ignore LMTU. But, I have a high level of tolerance for all things. Don't worry, I do not bring this up to debate any further on this. I just found the analogy interesting and thought I'd post it in this tread. I think we have all seen similar things in pubs and bars and taverns. (and on boards)

I agree with you Sir. However, many times I am there, if you don't find a boy on your first walk around, if you keep walking around the area, you may find new ones on the next walk around. IMHO, much the same as going from one gogo bar to the next. I agree with you that it may not be easy for everyone to get there and therefore inconvenient to some. But, I enjoy it and go there occasionally. I also enjoy the gogo bars in Bangkok on Soi Twilight but I can't think of the last boy I offed from there. If I want a "sure thing" I will often go to Hero as I know I will get exactly want I want and was looking for. A lot is about the "hunt" and some enjoy this more than others. I had a great story on this board about my first trip to the park in a hotel limousine. LOL I didn't know much back then and it was pretty comical getting the driver to talk and negotiate the boys for me. I'll try to find it.

I was referring to you and not LMTU. You seem to be suggesting that the poster should go to other boards: "Of course, if you enjoy that, there are other boards around that cater for it." My point was that this board caters to all points of view whether or not we disagree with the poster. In other words, just because one poster or more likes LMTU's posts and did not have a problem with them, we do not show them the door just because you didn't like his posts. All are and should be welcome here regardless of what one thinks of a banned poster.

Well, do you take a boy off in EVERY gogo bar you visit? I don't. I went to about 20 bars in the last 2 weeks and only took off 4 boys. My odds are not good either I guess. When you are horny and looking, you find. When you are just looking, you tend to be more discrete. I have been to the park many times and taken guys many times but not every time for sure. Sometimes I just like to see what is there and walk around. The same is true for me in a gogo bar. Hell, I would be exhausted if I took off one boy from every bar I visited. But, I don't have the stamina that TW has.

I hope this board actually tries to cater to everyone and not telling others there are other board options if they disagree with one decision. IMHO this board is the most inclusive of all the boards and tries to be the least controversial. To be sure Heygay/LMTU was controversial but I hope that a "civil standard of debate" allows for ALL points of view and not just your own.

I totally agree with this. I have learned so much from these boards and gotten some great information. I still learn from them and think that the more people post their experiences, the more we all learn. I know that I would NEVER be an asshole like the Australian guy but I also knew I could not just pay without asking for a supervisor. I knew from the instant I got the ticket that I was on the "hook" for the money but I had to give it a try. I would never do anything disrespectful to have problems in the Kingdom.

He was and he was cute but a bit too old for me. If I were looking for a "daddy" he might have been perfect.

I had both with me. I also had my Passport with me. I had everything required to drive in Thailand.

Is it the shoes being aired out?

The Senate last week passed a resolution exhorting Backpage.com to end publication of its "adult entertainment" section. The measure was sponsored by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Kirk commented, “The numbers are rising, in part because it has become frighteningly simple to order a child prostitute on the Internet. One merely needs to look at the classified ads on Backpage.com, the leading Web site for prostitution advertising in the United States according to the Advanced Interactive Media, AIM, Group. Just a few clicks on this site easily enables ‘johns’ to purchase children for sex. Law enforcement believes that the existence of Backpage encourages the recruitment of victims for sexual exploitation because it allows traffickers to operate out of sight from police patrols.” Backpage.com argues that it works closely with law enforcement to identify, track down and arrest anyone trafficking minors through the site. One such criminal was convicted in Florida a few weeks ago. Backpage.com, which was severed from Village Voice Media a few months ago, is now run by Phoenix New Times founders Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin. Operators of the site have also consistently claimed that legitimate speech will be censored if the government tries to force it to shutter the section, and that any moves to do so are unconstitutional. http://business.avn.com/articles/legal/U-S-Senate-to-Backpage-com-Tear-Down-These-Trafficking-Ads-498590.html

Khun TW, I have picked up a great deal of guys from this area over the years and never had a problem. Some of the guys are military and some are students but all of them did not want to work in the gay bars. They rarely get farang customers and the Thai customers pay 500 baht. I also pick up guys from the street in Sao Paulo and this is not smart but I have never felt unsafe in this area of Bangkok. It is to each his own but anyone that does not feel safe, should not do this. As for the 500 baht, that is what they ask for. One can tip above that amount. And, IMHO, they should. I know many guys that live in Pattaya that will pay this same amount to guys they meet and tell them that is what they pay and they can take that or not go with them. I don't think that the guys in the area in Bangkok that work this park area will ever turn down more than 500 baht.

haha How did I know you would say that?

Sorry, I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off as it is Christmas Eve and in 7 minutes Christmas Day. I have been busy cooking up a storm. This is not a movie I can see. I was supposed to be in Phuket during that time and I have many friends that lost loved ones in it. The 2 boys that live with me in Thailand told me they did not want to see it either. I guess for us, it just brings up really bad memories. I have also not seen many movies that were based on Sept 11. I tend to stay away from those kinds of movies. This movie looks beautiful well made. I am glad it is doing well. The movie I am waiting for is Les Mis! Can't wait.

I wish each and every one of you a very happy holiday season! I hope you get everything in your heart's desire!

I have a friend that has to get a few stints in his heart and he is very worried about this. I had a friend that had these put in last year and it was very quick and he recovered very fast. Has anyone else here ever had a stint? How much recovery time did they need?

Not sure, but I have checked on 2 machines and neither have that advertisement on the site. Doing a google search of the name I also see one other person page but no advertisements.

FH, not sure why, but I am not getting that advertisement at the top. However, this looks like something similar that many hosting companies to when they offer free hosting as opposed to a paid account.

I can't find this. What is the url you are looking at? I see a personal site with only one page with a photo. What do you see?

I was driving on 2nd road today on a motorbike. I had my helmet on. I was driving slow. I had not broken any laws. There was a police stop not far past Royal Garden and before Central Festival. They were stopping mostly foreigners. I was motioned to pull over. I did as requested. The officer asked me for my Driver's License. I showed him my International Driver's License and he said in English that he wanted to see my Thai Driver's License. I told him I did not have one. He started to write a ticket. I told him that the International Driver's License was acceptable according to the law. He said he only accepted the Thai Driver's License and said I would have to go to Police Station on Soi 9 to pay the fee of 400 baht or I could give him 2,000 baht and go now. I told him no that I would got o the police station as I wanted to talk to his superiors. I did go to the station and I got my number to wait in line and was told by others it was about a one hour wait. I asked the people at info desk to speak to English Speaking Officer and one came out that was in full uniform but not Thai. He appeared to be either from Norway or Sweden. I showed him my ticket and asked why I was given this and he said I did not have a Driver's License with me. I showed him the International Driver's License and he said sorry but I needed to pay the ticket. I explained that this was a legal way to drive and he said, "yes, but today they need money and it is better for you to just pay the ticket." I asked if there was someone else I could speak to and was told no. There was a group of guys from Australia that were here for 2 weeks and had the International Driver's License as well and they were told the same thing as me. When they refused, one officer took the guy away. As I am not stupid, I was not going to cause a problem. But, the other Australian was yelling at the officer when he paid to ask why and the officer just laughed. He said, "Pattaya sucks. I'll never come back to Pattaya again" to which the officers all laughed and said, "OK." There were others in the place that had a driver's license in Thai and were fined because they "switched lanes" to go over to the officers that were pulling people over. So, if they had not stopped for the officers they would not have broken any laws. The officer I had spoke to apologized to me but said there was nothing he could do when I had a ticket written. I told him that the other office back on 2nd road would not have written if I had paid 2k baht to which he said, "maybe a better choice for you." Needless to say, I am not happy with the situation but I am also not an idiot. I'll not cause a stink in a police office in a foreign country and I paid the fee and went back to get the book they held until it was paid. When I picked up the book, the officer said, "Merry Christmas." I said something very nasty but said it so fast he could not understand. To which all I can say now is: TIT So, regardless of what others tell you, you may need a Thai Driver's License if you don't want to get trapped in one of these money making scams. And, even that would not have helped as they needed money and would then get you for driving reckless and changing lanes without signaling.