gk10002000

As long as they maintain proper social distancing, I think there are more important things to worry about

14 hours ago, YetAnother said:

this is what is wrong with thailand; corruption in the form of nepotism , blatantly in everyone's face; and they are even smiling !

the most elemental <deleted>

and Thais in Pattaya were sitting out in the heat and humidity on the pavement in the parking lot the other day for 200 baht handout from a local market.  More patience and tolerance than I have rarely seen.  Just how much can the people take?

Chicken bones, entrails, thin air, etc.  There is no way things are recorded or reported or coordinated precisely across so many countries and agencies

Just now, jeffandgop said:

Thank you...I agree with your view that if the IRS Refund website uses the statement "was sent to you bank" it means it was direct deposited...why in the <deleted>*k they would mail my refund- no question my correct banking information was on the tax return- is beyond my understanding.  

USPS is not air mailing from what I've read...it could be months before I see the refund check- if it arrives at all....

Once or twice they mailed me paper even though my bank has not changed a thing in 18 years.  Sometimes the system just fails and they seem to recognize it, or don't retry it and then just step back and punt and send paper mail.  Happened twice as I recall with the Feds and one time with my California refund too

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

So if there are already 10M unemployed and the CoC is expecting up to another 10M to lose their jobs, how come the bank study only expects 8M to be in trouble?

It's the new math.

49 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

I think that counts for life doesn't it?  count the number of true friends on one hand? now 'mates' are a different thing (drinking, trips, dinners etc. but you don't really know them). I truly never think about it and i'm cynical anyway and, yes, I'm here because I like girls and booze (sorry).

Having worked in 17 states across the USA coast to coast I echo your comments.  Sure I made some acquaintances at work, did some outings, went to the local county fairs, a casino night, the Del Mar race track, but close friends?  nah with two exceptions.  I did make good friends with two fellow contractors.  One I do call my best friend and over the years we helped each other a lot.  I got him jobs, he got me some jobs, I stayed at his home, got to know his family, helped him build his retirement home in Canada.  He put me up now and then between jobs and I put him up when starting jobs on the road where I got to the place first.  And the other guy I was the best man at his wedding (RIP BIll).  All the people I grew up with, well of course most we grew apart.  They stayed in Rhode Island I moved out.  Keep in touch with some.

  On my 15 or so trips to Thailand, the longest stay was two months.  So I was not expecting nor going there to make friends with expats.  Ran into a few over the years that I would see on and off, some from the UK some from the USA, but I had no plans or desire to share personal stuff.  I mean, we really are strangers.

  As far as any Thais, I was friendly with some on my first few trips but they moved on, the bar we all hung out at changed owners, etc. Not much permanent there.  If I were to expat more full time there, things might be a little different, but the language and cultural challenges are not small.  Would not mind sharing and exchanging things with fellow expats as both can profit from information, how to do things, etc.  On some of my long plane rides or bus rides in the country I have had some fine chats with people from various countries.  But friendship.. nah doubt it

  I do not have an app phone.  I have an old LG flip top phone, voice and text only.  Are they going to mandate people buy smart phones?  Or will they just say, well, everybody must install the app.  You are not forced to get a phone, but if you do not use the app that is your choice but you will be subject to prosecution.  Or if one installs the app but never turns their phone on .. then what?

"Snakes on a Plane" but a lot smaller virions

 Florida has opened up and is opening up many beaches.  So if one were told to self quarantine for 14 days, can one now go to the beach for a few hours?  Doesn't the beach openings contradict even the current stay at home,  travel for essential things only order?

Mine was direct deposited and here is the text from the IRS Refund site

The balance of your refund, $1,217.82, was sent to your bank on March 17, 2020 .

 So I believe if it says mailed it probably really does mean paper mail.  Now if your address is in Thailand, I can only guess at the delivery time lines.  Many sites report Air mail not coming or going, but cargo planes are still flying, and things like DHS and Fed ex still deliver.  No idea what USPS mail might do.

Many of the Thai Defense purchases and goals are ridiculous.  I am in the defense industry here in the USA and have been in engineering and acquisition and am an ex Captain.  Every country has some need to monitor and defend its borders, but the risk of Thailand being attacked by an invasive military force is nill.  Submarines? Ridiculous.  But I bet the Army is quietly diverting money to crowd control vehicles, riot gear, etc. 

It is a close call between drinking to help handle the stress of being cooped up in a small non air conditioned apartment as many Thais have, versus getting drunk and acting like a drunk.

On 4/18/2020 at 9:24 PM, baansgr said:

Hopefully we will be able to buy fake Raybans and Von Dutch t-shirts like in the good ole days

not to mention knock off steel rolex's

it is not really a political turn but a reality turn.  People are going to die.  no such measures were taken for zika virus, SARS, MERS, Polio.  Such moderation and mediation of course should have been done.  But lockdowns and shut downs no.  The damage to individuals and businesses and states and countries is huge and will cause more deaths by indirect means than the virus did.  Bankruptcy personal and business wise.  Unemployment approaching 15 % in the USA alone.  Debts, loans, foreclosures, bills, many people already in the USA were not buying health insurance OBamacare junk since the tax penalty went away, so now many more will not.  And many of those now go to hospitals and start the crushing emergency services all over again as happened in Los Angeles Californa where several major hospitals had to give up and close.  Crime statistics, mental health issues aggravated by people cooped up in their small apartments.  Education opportunities lost.  The list goes on. 

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You were fortunate. They always want money up front and usually any refund is unlikely, They seem to think they have a right to their scams. 

Yeah I know.  The lady manager knew what she did as she was there the day before when I booked.  There was no intermediate handoff to blame on anybody else.  I actually gave her two hundred baht as I recall for her loss of business on the off chance it was an honest mistake somewhere along the line

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

As informed by my doctor Flu has primary mitigation in place i.e. vaccine without which there would be millions of deaths p.a. w/w in comparison to the current number of approx 500k p.a. w/w. Tell me what are the projected number of deaths if there were no current mitigation policies (test, track, quarantine) in place for Covid-19. Only then will your argument have any relevance for comparison.

You are free to ignore it do whatever you like.  I argue for nothing. 

Florida Sun Sentinal paper published an article noting the spike in deaths due to pneumonia in March.  None of those people were tested for the virus and now seems of course likely that some had it.  But again, almost any ailment would gravely harm the elderly which of course Florida has many of.

15 minutes ago, simple1 said:

it's only temporary measures which on the current curve will probably be lifted no later than July. So far we can we be thankful Oz has done well (except error of judgement with cruise ships) with containing the spread of Covid-19 unlike some other countries such as the US who initially dropped the ball and are heading for 700,000 cases and 40k deaths.

it is irrelevant because all they did is flatten the curve.  The overall total number affected will increase with time and in the end, there will be little difference had they done more or less lockdown.  Lockdown only slows things down and the goal of the lockdown was to keep the care facilities from being inundated and unable to handle the large initial surge.

Many of those deaths would have occurred due to various flus, obese conditions, just being old and weak, etc.

Every year 148,000 people in the USA die from lung cancer, and 80% of those people were smokers.  Thousands die from regular flu.  Thousands die from other conditions.  Has anybody seen any of those deaths mentioned on the news?  Of course not.  Heck in many cases, hospitals were not even testing people for the COV due to shortages of testing, both the dead or ill.  Florida reported 726 deaths due to or related to the COV.  726 is insignificant relative to so many other ways of dying in Florida.

2016 - 3,176 fatalities in 2,935 fatal accidents

The CDC estimates 12,000 Americans die from flu-related deaths in a mild year. In a bad year, it kills up to 56,000 people.

On my recent stay in Bangkok, man those trains were crowded.  A few times it was so busy I could not get on to the train.  There just was no room.

On 4/17/2020 at 12:49 AM, totally thaied up said:

If these restrictions keep my parents that are both in there 80's safe, I am all for it.

yes but at what cost?  What lifestyle?

On 4/14/2020 at 2:50 AM, smedly said:

I was on beach road a few weeks back and was offered marijuana every 10mins by Thais selling - one was directly across from the police staion

and more will happen as the Thais struggle to get money some how.  Would not be surprised if there is all sorts of black market stuff going on also, some with and some without some crooked cops in on it.  Happens every time in situations like this everywhere in the world and in all cultures

4 hours ago, Leaver said:

Strap yourself in.

 

It will get even more interesting if/when America declare the virus an act of terrorism.  

I think the response from most USA states was tantamount to an act of terrorism.  Tremendous over reaction that has and will have monstrous short and long term effects. 13% of the USA labor force have filed for unemployment.

some of the places a bit off the main street might.  Soi Lengkee next to Opey Place there are a few guest houses that have a pool table.  I bet you could saunter over there and for a very nominal fee play a few games,  The bigger hotels probably would not be open or want to allow it.