Wino

The US is behind the world in this aspect. My bank puts my picture on my ATM/Visa card for security. Hard for me to believe the following statement, "the United States banking industry has no immediate plans to adopt the technology. Part of the reason, experts say, is that fraud issues haven’t been as prevalent here as in other countries." I would think credit card fraud and identity theft is a big problem in the US. Although, I do understand the reluctance to spend 5.5 billion dollars in this new technology.

And did he do anything noble? Live up to a campaign pledge?

This is an old interview by Kate McGeown I found on BBC. I think it is worth re-visiting it here. By the act of patronizing prostitutes are you in some way wrecking a young life? Or is it the bar owner? Or is it the girl friend that states you can earn big money waitressing? Or is it a victimless crime? What do you think? Many bar girls are sending money to their families back home Bangkok is a notorious destination for sex tourism. But the lives of many of the city's sex workers are full of danger, disease and the urgent need to send money home. Pim, who recently left her job in a go-go bar, has a typical story. "I grew up in the countryside in Phetchabun, northern Thailand. My parents were farmers and I helped them in the fields. We were poor but we always had enough to get by. When I was about 15, my family fell apart. My father always drank a lot, but it became worse and worse, and he started becoming violent. So my mother, sister and I moved out. I wanted to study to become a nurse, but when my parents split up I had to leave school and find work as a day labourer, harvesting crops for local farmers. I didn't like it much, and it only paid 100 baht ($3) a day. At about that time a good friend moved to Bangkok, and when she came back to visit she told me she was earning a lot of money there as a waitress. Bangkok is known as a prime destination for sex tourists There was gossip in the village that she was doing something other than waitressing, as she was sending 10,000 baht ($300) home a month, but she always denied it. She asked me to come with her, but at the time I was still 16 and too scared. A few years later, though - when I had given birth to my daughter, and my husband and I had separated - I changed my mind. I left the baby in Phetchabun with my mother, and told her I needed to earn some money in Bangkok. But I didn't tell her what I was doing - I still haven't. She'd be so ashamed. 'Can I do this?' When my friend took me to a bar in Nana Plaza for the first time, I was really shocked. I'd never been to a place like that before, and at the beginning I didn't even know what the dancers were doing. When I finally realised, I couldn't take it and I walked out of the bar. I kept thinking 'Can I really do this?' Initially I decided to work there just serving drinks, but the dancers earned a lot more money, and eventually I agreed to do that too. For the first month, the bar owners allow girls to get their full salary even if they just work as dancers. But after that you have to meet a quota of at least 10 customers a month, or your wages will be cut. THAI SEX WORKERS Prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, but the law is very rarely enforced Estimates of the number of sex workers vary from 30,000 to more than a million Most Thai sex workers actually cater to local men, rather than sex tourists Most prostitutes come from northern Thailand, while others are from Laos or Burma Child prostitution and trafficking is also known to be a problem My first customer was a Western man in his 30s. It was scary and I really didn't like it, but I just kept thinking about the money. I couldn't wait for him to leave, and when he did I had a shower for a very long time. I started crying, and thought about what my parents would think if they knew what I was doing. None of my customers ever asked me about my life; they didn't care. There was one time a guy asked me if I was okay, but I didn't know what to say, so I just looked away. While I was working in the bars, I was often worried about disease, and also about safety. Some girls earned extra by going out of the bars with the men, but I always used a room upstairs as I was too scared of the risks involved. My friend once went with a guy to his hotel room, and found lots of other men there too. She wouldn't tell me what happened after that, but she was shaking for a long time when she got back home. I also had some scary experiences myself. One time a Japanese man followed me all the way home at the end of the night, and he kept screaming at me. Taxi drivers can also be threatening to bar girls, and we would only dare go home in groups. Looking forward Despite these problems, new girls often arrive. Many customers prefer children or young girls, and the bar owners always encouraged us to recruit teenagers from our home villages. Even though I got used to it in some ways, I always hated working in the bars. I made some good friends but there was nothing good about the life I was leading. Nightlight gives jewellery-making jobs to ex-bar girls I felt good about sending money home, but I didn't feel good about myself. Soon I was getting penalized as I wasn't getting enough customers. That's when a friend of mine told me about Nightlight [a Christian charity offering training and employment for former sex workers, through a jewellery-making business]. Since I've started working there, my life is so much better. I don't earn as much as I did in the bars, but it's worth it, and people here listen to me and care for me. I've now got the opportunity to look forward in life. I want to finish school, and study accounting, so I'll be able to pay for my daughter to have a good life. I wish I had never become a sex worker. I think some foreign men think it's okay to pay for sex here in Thailand, as they think the girls actually want to do this. But these men don't understand that most of us have no choice - we're just trying to earn money for our families, and waiting for a chance to leave." Interview by Kate McGeown, BBC News, Bangkok. From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6360603.stm

Aung San Suu Kyi changes her view on sanctions and meets with UK ambassador and others for an hour. Looks like this is a tiny step in the right direction. Here is the story: "Burma's democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been allowed by ruling generals to meet top Western diplomats. The Rangoon talks focused on the long-standing Western sanctions. Ms Suu Kyi met the UK ambassador and the deputy heads of the Australian and US missions for talks lasting an hour at a state guesthouse. The US recently announced a change of policy, saying it would pursue dialogue with the military regime while maintaining sanctions. Reports suggest Ms Suu Kyi has softened her views on sanctions in recent times, concluding they are adversely affecting the lives of ordinary Burmese while the military rulers still manage to conduct trade with China and other neighbours." Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8298229.stm

Man has been fucking with "mother nature" for years. I don't think it is going to stop, now.

The USA isn't the only country that deals harshly when it comes to criminals. Here is part of the story. "A court has sentenced a Han Chinese man to death for his role in a factory brawl that sparked the Xinjiang riots which left almost 200 people dead. Another man was given a life sentence, state media reported. The factory brawl in Guangdong province in June left two Muslim Uighurs dead and 14 others seriously injured. It sparked the fighting in July between Uighurs and members of China's dominant Han ethnic group, which was the worst ethnic violence in China for decades." Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8300365.stm

I never listened to his rap music, but his underwear commercial caught my eye, as did his performance in Boogie Nights. Many a movie later, the guy shows that he can act. He has been justly rewarded for his talents.

Oh take it easy on poor Paris, girls they just wanna have fun.

In the US, 76 children have died from the swine flu. If you don't believe the WHO, would you believe the CDC? Here is an article by MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer. The regular flu kills between 46 and 88 children a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That suggests deaths from the new H1N1 virus could dramatically outpace children's deaths from seasonal flu, if swine flu continues to spread as it has. CDC officials say 10 more states, a total of 37, now have widespread swine flu. A week ago, reports suggested that cases might be leveling off and even falling in some areas of the country, but that did not turn out to be an enduring national trend. "We are seeing more illness, more hospitalizations, and more deaths," the CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a press conference Friday. Full story at http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_med_swine_flu.html

This sounds crazy to me but NASA is bombing the lunar surface in order to search for water. Here is part of the story by Jean-Louis Santini Jean-louis Santini – Fri Oct 9 "WASHINGTON (AFP) – NASA sent two spacecrafts on Friday to crash into the lunar service in a dramatic bid to find water, an experiment that could be a stepping stone to building a permanent lunar base." Full Story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091009/ts_afp/usspaceastronomymoon

I hear the same goes for Seattle. All the dark gloomy days increases depression, thus a higher suicide rate.

At this rate, it will be 40 in the new year.

That's why they invented confession. Say one "Our Father" and three "Hail Mary's" and all is well.

Smoothed some ruffled feathers? Just lip service in my book. Let's have some real peace. Get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, now.

I am with you. Why have the headaches of home ownership when rent is cheap.

I have never really used Vista. I still use the old XP. From what I hear, seems many people have had problems with Vista. Reminds me of the Me operating system.

Medical care in Thailand is a good value. Physical exams are very cheap especially when booked around December 5. That is the King's birthday and many hospitals run specials in his honor.

Most free-thinking Catholics I know take that stance with a grain of salt. Nice guidelines but not practical.

Probably one hundred years ago and if they knew about it, they wouldn't care.

Ahhh, that's cute. What is so annoying about that?

I can probably switch from coffee to tea but don't think I can give up my red wine. You know it is therapeutic, good for the heart.

Or get your husband on the male birth control pill. Is that out yet?

It is in the mail. What are those other two classic lies? I love you and I won't come in your .....

I imagine you are right. I vote for better communication.

I am a fan of Thai massage even without a happy ending. I usually don't like to mix the two. I would rather have and pay for a good massage or pay for sex and forget the massage.