impulse

In New Hampshire, a cybersecurity firm found troubling security bugs — and the Ukrainian national anthem — written into a voter database built with the help of an overseas subcontractor. The revelation prompted the state to take a precaution that is rare among election officials: It hired a forensic firm to scour the technology for signs that hackers had hidden malware deep inside the coding supply chain. The probe unearthed some unwelcome surprises: software misconfigured to connect to servers in Russia and the use of open-source code — which is freely available online — overseen by a Russian computer engineer convicted of manslaughter, according to a person familiar with the examination and granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about it. None of the findings amounted to evidence of wrongdoing, the officials said, and the company resolved the issues before the new database came into use ahead of the presidential vote this spring. I wonder what they'd have to find to consider it "evidence of wrongdoing"? And why such a forensic audit is rare among election officials? https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/01/us-election-software-national-security-threats-00176615

Years ago, before smartphones, I bought an interweb plan that required a USB chip that took a SIM card. That's when I lived in Asia and traveled to the USA, often staying in places with no WIFI. Worked great for email and web browsing, though that was before streaming and pirating terabytes became a thing. Being 15-20 years ago, I'm sure it was super slow and not compatible with current networks. But it looks like they're still available on Amazon in updated configurations, so I can't imagine they're not available in LOS. (Search Amazon for "USB cellular modem") My question, being an idiot when it comes to Thai cellular plans, is whether they include unlimited interweb? I have a 12 month AIS SIM and I just stop in at the shop every few trips on my monthly visit to Thailand, where they tell me I don't need to pay anything yet... I'd sure hate to pay by the GB using a laptop...

Full disclosure: I'm not a chef. But I remember before fajitas got popular, the grocery stores threw the flank away, or sold it at reduced prices and Hispanics bought it up. They were ahead of the curve... Then, fajitas became popular and the price skyrocketed. Since carne asada calls for marinating the beejeezus out of the meat, I wouldn't get too selective. I certainly wouldn't pay 240 baht for 200 grams. If you can find ribeye, that'll make a much better carne asada than the scraps that are traditionally used. The concept behind marinating for hours (and fajitas) is making a great meal with an inexpensive cut.

Before buying anything, have a traipse through the Ban Mo market just outside of Chinatown. They have entire streets and alleys selling woofers, tweeters, enclosures, amps and anything else you may need. I can spend an entire afternoon just wandering the nooks and crannies. Make sure you go into the bowels of the market, with several floors of components. It's an amazing place. 5 minute (brisk) walk from the Sam Yot MRT station. 10-15 minutes if you walk like a local... Edit: I also recommend Ban Mo if you need anything electric or electronic repaired. They have lines of guys outdoors repairing hifi stuff, lined up along some of the streets. Here's a taste... https://wholesaleflyer.com/bangkoks-hidden-gems-top-5-lesser-known-wholesale-markets/ (Though the website needs to be updated, since the MRT is much closer now than Hua Lamphong)

Regarding tire pressures, I was surprised when I replaced the tires on my mid '90s pickup with new ones that called for a much higher pressure than the truck's placard. That was Thailand. Found the same thing back home with my 20+ year old Toyota soccer mom van. I assumed the new tires are rated higher pressures for better mileage. CAFE, and all. Perhaps it was my mistake, but I followed the recommended pressures on the brand new tire sidewall, not the 30 year old placard on the truck and van. I figured it was more current...

Maybe someone can give an update since I haven't been to Jomtien since Covid. My go-to resort there was the Pinnacle. It was south of town, off the main road and had a wide assortment of accommodations from simple rooms to real nice villas. Nice beach, great breakfast buffet, lots of pools and no road noise. But it is a hike to town(s). The potential downsides (though I was never bothered) was that they catered to Eastern Europeans, then to Chinese when the EU business tapered off. I found them to be delightful, because they were with their families and not the mongers you'd run into in town. They did set up a separate breakfast buffet catering to the Chinese tastes. I never tried that side. Shameless plug, because I really liked the place. I'd be interested in hearing any updates in case I decide on a beach visit on one of my monthly trips to Thailand... Bringing it back to the OP, my suggestion is to choose your hotel wisely, regardless of what beach you choose. Find the hotel on Google Earth and see how it's situated relative to the beach and the main roads.

Sheryl, The OP says he's pretty nicely insured. But do you have any insights or suggestions for those whose insurance isn't as stout, and may be on a tighter budget? Or any differential in seeing a particular doctor in the different venues based on how they handle insurance and billing?

Or Florida strain largemouth bass, and open up a world class destination for bass fishing tourism. Stock them in some of the big and deep reservoirs, wait a few years and then turn loose a few fishing influencers. They'd make $$ millions if they could get a few over the world record, and open up a market for bass boats, too. Rednecks and the Japanese would be the target demographic. It'd be like that movie... If you stock them, they will come. (I'm paraphrasing) I'm surprised there's not a barramundi fishing market outside of the fee ponds. I can't imagine none of them have escaped to populate Thai waters. And don't tell my Texas fishing buddies I said this, but barramundi are more fun to catch than bass. But I only found snakehead lure fishermen in my travels on wild lakes and rivers.

I really appreciate the OP taking the time to come back and post his experience. It's really helpful to hear a current update, especially in light of so many conflicting posts, and on a topic as important as banking. Also, kudos to ianguygil for his help.

Then they can start looking for remnants of MH370.

Surely there are some betting websites that post the odds...

Is that a function of Air India, or the route? The same (China) airlines that charge 4100 baht for any checked bags at all from BKK to China, offer 2 free checked bags (50lb each) on economy routes from China to the USA. Because that's what the competition has offered forever on those routes. I miss the old days when my mileage status got me 3 x 70lb bags, free in economy. But I digress.

They do. It's the tropics. It rains. It floods. Then the water recedes. The costs of letting it happen is lower than the costs of trying to stop it. As in any business decision, "do nothing" is one of the choices. Sometimes, the best of a bunch of bad choices. As far as Thailand becoming "green", they produce less than 1% of the world's climate problem. Thailand could go back to walking and living off grid in wooden huts and it wouldn't significantly affect the world's climate situation. And that's regardless of whether you believe the climate situation is man-made or yet another of the hundreds of natural cycles over history.

You do have the same opportunity. You're either XX or you're XY. Compete in the correct category, according to your biology. Not your feelings. Is anyone trying to stop Valentina from competing in the men's (XY) category? Other than not making the cut?

I really don't want any drama at check-in, so I just follow published policy. Works. Some of us don't mind living on the edge. Especially when the worst case scenario is pulling out a hundred bucks or so to pay the excess baggage fee. It's not as if they charge me extra for trying to pull one over on them... And it's also not as if I'm the only one in the queue that's doing it.

Last time I checked, 56 yo wasn't over 65. With an adult population of 258 million, that's 1/2 of 1%. Making the majority of the noise. What a puff piece... Sounds like they have exactly the same concerns that most seniors have. Finding an affordable place where they'll be able to live the life they choose, along with health care where even the 20% Medicare co-pay can bankrupt you in one health related event. Nobody's denying them care. Nobody's dictating where they can live. My experience with transgenders in the USA (Texas, no less) is that they're as accepted as they allow themselves to be- based on their personality and how they treat the people they live around. Of course, those who live with a chip on their shoulder, not so popular. But that's the same with every demographic.

The problem with "looking it up" is that there's often a big difference between the published policy, and what they allow passengers to get away with. Of course, that varies by airline, the route, and even the staff manning the ticket counters. It would be handy to hear from people who have actually flown KLM out of BKK recently. Edit: I'd add that, the last time I got dinged for a checked bag, the ticket gate couldn't process my debit card. I had to go to an ATM and get them cash. (Not KLM...)

Even if you dismiss the possibility of getting a lemon up front, what happens when the pins on the charging port corrode due to sweat? Or any other simple repair is required, that would be a breeze for a Thai-centric brand. I generally go through a charging port every 2 years or so, just from corrosion due to sweaty pocket lint. Eezy peezy at a thousand repair kiosks, as long as they have the parts. Not so easy if the parts aren't available in Thailand. I did find out some parts are interchangeable, and the repair guys have cross reference charts for a lot of brands and components. But I wouldn't spring for a $1,200 phone unless I knew that want of a $2 part wasn't going to brick it. Not that I'd pop for a $1,200 phone anyway, knowing that there will be a better one coming out in 6 months or so... My $150 Samsung works fine for me, with a cheap 128GB SD card. Beyond that, I use my laptop. But that's just me. I ran out of hardware envy decades ago now that even a cheap phone or laptop meets most needs. Even if I don't impress the chippies...

Decent and affordable elder care could be an absolute goldmine for Thai "tourism". I put "tourism" in quotes because it wouldn't really be tourists. More like foreign born residents spending their golden years (and sweaty cash) in Thailand, instead of in a dreary situation back home.

Was that you in the fountain cleaning up a few weeks ago?

The scary reality is that could have been any one of us, driving a pickup or a car. Ending up in the dock because of a kid's inexperience and poor judgment. One more case for installing a good dash camera, in case the CCTV's weren't around.

Best of luck whatever the OP decides. But I wouldn't go anywhere near that driveway with a paint or any other coating. Right now, you have a concrete drive with a nicely developing patina. Slap a coat of paint on it and in a few months you'll have a peeling paint mess that you either have to touch up constantly, or just redo the whole thing. You've already acknowledged that the base you'd be painting over isn't stable. Paints and coatings aren't magic.

Out of curiosity, does Spain have a law (or a dictate) that anyone who makes it to land gets some kind of special treatment they don't get if they're intercepted at sea?

Back when the Ixtoc platform in Mexico was throwing off tarballs that ended up on Texas beaches, we kept Johnson's Baby Oil in our cars to get the tar off our feet, the car body and the carpeting. Very gentle, worked quite well and smelled good, too. The generic name is "mineral oil", but that doesn't smell as good. And you figure it's gotta be safe for use on skin if it's used for babies. WD-40 will probably work as well (or better) on the car without damaging paint. Just take your time, as opposed to rubbing real hard and risk damaging the paint. It takes time for the solvents to work.

Tragic event, but a good cautionary tale that maybe a pub crawl isn't a good idea. Before I took the oath, I used to wake up in unexpected places, often in sub-zero weather. It's only sheer dumb luck that I'm not with this guy wherever we go in the afterlife. Sheer dumb luck and then taking the oath back in the '80s.