Many ISP's use what they call "Traffic shaping" where they analyse your internet traffic and priorities or even ban the traffic, especially to porn and news websites.

Shaping is widely used for network traffic engineering, and appears in domestic ISPs' networks as one of several Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs). Some ISPs may use traffic shaping to limit resources consumed by peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, such as BitTorrent

The easiest way to get around this problem is to use a paid VPN (Virtual Private Network) which basically disguises your traffic so it is unreadable by your ISP therefor they do not know what your internet request is and cannot block or shape it therefor you will normally receive the highest speed possible depending on your purchased download speed. 

Many ISP's  do not like VPN's as they cannot see what you are requesting. Plus using a VPN, you can mask your real IP therefore bypassing many ISP prevention techniques.

Here you will find many countries that block VPNs. In China for example, being found using a VPN is a law breaking offence and will penalise you the equivalent of $145. 

China introduced a public security law back in 1997 making it illegal to access the "foreign internet" without first seeking permission from the government. Since then, VPN services have appeared and allowed much easier access to sites and online services outside of China's oversight.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!!!

VPN's are not illegal to use in Thailand. If you are using Netflix, possibly some content will not be available for your country however, using a VPN and changing your country ip to another country (spoofing your IP) can give you more content as you have bypassed their geo ip restriction blocking. 

Another reason ISP's do not like VPN's is because you can surf illegal websites. Most VPN services are state as "anonymous" meaning they keep no records of your internet activity so your internet traffic cannot be traced at a later date however, it is not unheard of that many VPNs to record your activity so police can trace what you have been surfing for. In most instances the authorities will need to present a warrant to your VPN company before they will release any private information.

Most ISP's work on the assumption that if you are using a VPN then you have something to hide.

You have been warned!!

I watch every few weeks as the red Loss of Service light is activated remotely then after 5. minutes, my internet is returned. If I do a speed test, I usually find my speed has dropped by 50% or more. as soon as I call 3BB, they inform me an engineer will check the line and call me back. normally within 30 minutes my router is back to full speed and on occasion, it shows more than the speed i purchased, for awhile ????

Perhaps it is some form of line throttling, who knows but it happens far too often.  I have set my router to automatically reboot at 2am so it is fresh for the next day although manually resetting the router sometimes returns my purchased speed, sometimes.

My problem is the ping times. I am an occasional gamer so short ping times to a remote server is vital.  I did a Traceroute to 3bb's servers at www.3bb.co.th. It does not complete after 10 minutes as many servers along the destination drop packets which is the cause of the slow down of service or the serious lag when gaming online.

Traceroute to 3bb.co.th (110.164.192.228), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets - Incomplete

I also did a traceroute to www.thaivisa.com (104.28.28.63) which completed in 10 hops giving me an average ping time of 15 milliseconds which is very respectful ping times.

Result

traceroute www.thaivisa.com, traceroute: Warning: www.thaivisa.com has multiple addresses; using 104.28.28.63. traceroute to www.thaivisa.com (104.28.28.63), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

Result : average ping time is 15 milliseconds, very good ping times.

Video on what traceroute is and does here

Don't take my word for it. you can open application 'terminal" on mac or "cmd" windows. Type "traceroute www.website_name.(com, co.th,) which ever is relevant for the website and see for yourself.

It's not just the speed of your router thats important but how many hops it takes the router to connect to your chosen website. The less hops and faster overall ping times are best.

In most "civilised" countries there are rules for bouncers. In the UK for instance:

Bouncers are legally allowed to do the following:

• Issue verbal warnings
• Ask you to leave
• Check for ID
• Refuse entry if you're too intoxicated, fail to comply with establishment policies, or engage in aggressive behaviour
• Call the police
• Protect innocent bystanders from violence
• Break up fights they are not involved in
• Respond with equal force if necessary

What are they trained to do?

Most bouncers are trained to resolve tense situations through verbal communication instead of physical force.

Their presence alone can be enough to deter patrons from aggressive behaviour.

What are bouncers not allowed to do?

Bouncers can't use force unless they are first threatened with physical harm.

So, unless they are physically threatened, they can't do the following:

• Hit someone
• Push or physically throw you out of somewhere
• Restrain you in a chokehold (or in another way)

I guess the old saying "This is Thailand, we are different" applies here. Notice they are not allowed firearms.

5 hours ago, vogie said:

As much as I like Makro, buying fresh meat from there has turned into a no no, when they have the fresh meat for anyone to touch with their bare hands it is somewhat off putting, I know they supply plastic gloves but not everyone uses them. So due to the present climate it is all frozen meat from now on.

But will pop down down later and get a little more provisions than I normally would, the less times you go out is better for all concerned.

Don't take it the wrong way but when I buy raw meat regardless of how it is packed, I cook it over 145°Fs. NO bacteria will survive however, I see shoppers touching, squeezing, coughing over fresh fruit then replace it for someone else to buy. Now, how many people really wash their fruit thoroughly? Not just a dash of water over the waxed skin that the cold water just rolls off of or rub it on the side of your not so clean trousers then eat it. Honestly, raw meat is the last of your problems unless you are eating it raw. 

Frozen meat has it's own complications to prepare before cooking and if not done right, it  can lead to severe food poisoning more so than raw meat being touched by dirty hands.

Food for thought.... No pun intended:

Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Even though the center of the package may still be frozen as it thaws on the counter, the outer layer of the food could be in the "Danger Zone," between 40 and 140 °F -- temperatures where bacteria multiply rapidly. When thawing frozen food, it's best to plan ahead and thaw in the refrigerator where it will remain at a safe, constant temperature -- around 40 °F

There are a probably a few options look at however, I look at the main 2:

1. If he really did say this, he should be severely reprimanded for spreading fake news. We all know where the virus originated from and it wasn't Europe or any so called Farang land. Does Thailand class their close Chinese cousins as farang or it's only a term used for so called westerners? I'm also curious how many farangs he personally knows, (probably less now after this statement) that he can surmise and report on the bathing patterns of ALL Farangs around the world. Please present us with your detailed, independant research and findings.

2. If he didn't say this and as others have mentioned the possibility of the twitter account being fake, then surely he should pass this over to the police to investigate this imposter spreading fake news according to Thailands "Computer Crime Act B.E 2550 (2007)".

Let's see if anything happen's although I'll not be holding my breath...........

I just finished watching Contagion (2011). Very similar to what social effects the coronavirus has. Too near to reality for my liking. Watch the trailer HERE, Whats your thoughts?

I mean, how much of a hurry must he have been in to avoid the easy path? Looking at the location, it's no easy feat to get your bike over the rails unless you're Evel Knievel. 

This is how you do it.

I've decided to go for a full body protection suit. Comes with an optional lightsaber for people that might come too close. No issue touching my face ????

I think i'll be taking my and neighbours kids to Ice Arena in Boat Lagoon for some ice skating. It's great fun for the kids, very cheap, easy parking and i'll be sipping a cold one while i watch them ????

Isn't this just plain old capitalism? In thailand Expats pay more for:

• Increased hospital bills compared to thais with the approval of the government = more profit.
• We pay more than thais for entry into government run businesses like national parks, temples etc = more profit
• All pay a higher price for alcohol which makes most prices ridiculous compared to other countries = more profit
• The street food vendor buys their wares in Macro, sells at higher price  = More profit
• Airlines increase their seat prices sometimes 100's of percent more nearer to the flight date = more profit

Do any of the above actions call for price gouging? 

So what's the difference if someone buys mask cheap and sells them at a higher price? isn't it at the discretion of the buyer to choose whether they perceive value and make the choice to buy? No one forces any one to buy a face mask for crazy prices. In my case I just walk away.

Could it be the Thai government feel they are not benefiting from any additional tax on this now high demand item? IMHO i cannot see any thai caught selling these higher prices masks getting anywhere near the punishment which calls for imprisonment of not more than seven years or a fine of not over Bt140,000 or both. We all know we may never hear the outcome of these 51 cases.

Although the "regular" price is 2.5 THB, it is said that " some of the masks were being sold at Bt15 each", I mean, these sellers must be making an absolute killing!!! I can only imagine how many more beemers and mercs there will be on the streets after this has all blown over ????

"They said selling masks, which is a controlled product....." Since when was this a controlled product? Was it always controlled? How did they relay this information to all sellers? How much is a "reasonable" price, 3/6/10 THB? 

I just checked Lazada thailand and searched for "facemasks" then in order from cheapest first.

The cheapest is 45 THB for 2 so 22.50 THB each, a bit more than the 15 THB from the accused vendors. I'm curious what the thai government plan to do about this? Yeah, I don't think so......

Just seems to me that if any price gauging has the backing of the government then so be it but don't ever copy by example or face the the wrath!!!

As expats we are used to paying higher price so who really is this policy for "over pricing" supposed to protect as it's not us for sure. 

Im just saying..............

Had it not been a Chinese person, would they have investigated so hard and fast?

In most cases I would not bother with a repair especially if it is an electrical issue. Most every day home printers are not designed to last and are sold at cost or even less. The printer manufacturers make their money on the crazy priced chipped ink cartridges that tell the printer not to print because you have no more black ink but the other 3 cartridges are almost full. You can buy a new printer say off lazada for around 1K-3K Thb

This is Why Printer Ink is So Expensive

Sometimes these Smart TV's are just too smart for their own good!! ????

Maybe this would help?  

3 easy ways to connect your Smart TV to the internet

If you prefer to watch and not read then follow this youtube link:

Connecting your TV to the Internet

When i was young, my mother sent me to church. Not to find religion but more so for peace and quite with the bonus that she could listen to David Rodigans reggae radio show on Sunday afternoon whilst preparing dinner. When I was there, this old frowning man standing way high on his pulpit would tell us 50 ways we would all go to hell with the answer to our prayers being not to be so materialistic. At the end of his sermon, a a "gold" bowl was handed out to the congregation for the "collection" with a note stating "No coins please, it scratches the plate"

That told me all I needed to know!

If religion can help someone cope through the stresses of life, I have nothing against it however, I have seen how it is used to manipulate the masses with it's vague scriptures and seemingly impossible  stories (of which that's all they are). Most every religion, their GOD has a different name but his agenda appears to be the same, guidance but who guides the guides?  I myself cannot believe in a priests conjecture just because it is said to be so.

10 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

No one in Thailand has been given 15 years for picking mushrooms.

Click the link why dont you and maybe take a read:

 pick mushrooms and get 15 years with 500k THB Bail!!

Wipe out half a dozen vehicles, kill someone then receive a suspended sentence, pick mushrooms and get 15 years with 500k THB Bail!!

The disparity between prison sentences here is just unbelievable!!!

As some posters have mentioned, had it been a foreigner, it would be a whole different case for example:

I Spent 6 Months In A Thai Prison For Shoplifting

Thailand's king has pardoned a Swiss man who was sentenced to 10 years in jail for defacing images of him

Thai court sentences Dutch national to 103 years in jail 

Compared to 

Thai former abbot was yesterday (19/02/20) sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to a suspended jail term of 36 months and fined 27,000 baht for the embezzlement of 69.7 million baht of temple funds.

Just my thoughts.......

I had the same thing happened to me from the doctor in chalong. After his initial examination he offered me a handful of clear plastic bags full of pills. I requested information regarding what he is giving me and his response was, "I am a doctor, you no believe me, get out!! ". he stood up and almost forced me through the door then said something in Thai in front of the other waiting patients while I left.   This left me a A little surprised as I only wanted to know what meds I'm taking and if they were necessary. Obviously in this case the patient is not always right. It's not the first time I have attended a doctors practice where they give off this "superior than thou, do as I say" attitude.  When i asked thai friends about this, they informed me that doctors study for years and know what is best for you!! -- Really!!

My questions are:

1. Did he have a valid bike licence?

2. Was he fined for not wearing a helmet?

3. Was he fined for riding an overloaded bike?

4. Did they check his MOT as they stated the driver had brake failure?

5. Will the driver learn from his mistake?

 Personally I unlike the policeman, I would not put my life on the line for such idiocracy. Maybe next time and there will be, he will be not so lucky.

I find it interesting that when a partner has an affair, in most cases the injured party goes after the person whom was having the affair with their partner. Perhaps the wife didn't tell her lover that she was married or partnered up. I know this to be the case in many affairs. Typically men are opportunistic and will have an affair at the drop of a hat however, women are more emotional. For most women to have an affair means home life was going south for a long time already. Women tend to show there is a problem, eg. no sex, sleep with her back to you, doesn't cook food, arguments over the stupidest of things etc, long before it goes this far. As men we typically choose to ignore the signs or go on the defensive. As he said, she didn't answer the phone and he got suspicious. In most cases, not answering your phone is not a huge problem but of course, he knew something was wrong, why? He remembered and understood all of the above. IMHO it is the philandering partners mistake that they made every step to the point of having the actual affair. A simple NO would and this situation would not exist. The questions are, do you still want to be with this person, is there any trust, can you forgive? If not then just walk away but to commit attempted murder is not the way although it is easier said than done. The husband has shown he is unstable, over reactive and willing to kill, he might spend time in jail where he can do nothing plus leaving his wife to continue with this man now believing she was right to move on. "He decided to visit the "mansion" room that he shared with her two or three days a week' -  The final question - how many here think he was an innocent bystander and didn't have a geek for those 3-4 days he was not seeing his wife?

I read:

Apparently, when it comes to having affairs, Thailand tops the global list when it comes to infidelity. A recent survey published by condom manufacturer, Durex, proclaimed that the Thai people were the least faithful in their relationships with 59% of women and 54% of men admitting to cheating on their partners. In a nation that has a strong culture of family values and purity is preserved until marriage

“Women from Thailand are ranked the world’s second most unfaithful lovers…. The survey….names the women of Ghana the world’s most unfaithful, with 62 per cent of the women questioned there admitting they often cheat on their boyfriends and husbands.

Thai women were just a little more faithful, with 59 per cent admitting to infidelity…..As for men admitting to extramarital affairs, Thailand came out on top (54 per cent).”

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I don't think I've watched any decent movies since Fight Club and American Beauty.

(Maybe add Inglorious Bastards to that list)

 

Downey is a decant enough actor, but he's only ever been in rubbish movies.

(Air America was about the best he was ever in)

One of my favourites Dude ????

who?