pizzachang

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

hazmat leak sealers kits

Interesting. We never used these types of aids.  Just as a reference, an ammonia leak would have to be extremely small to be able to use such an item, since the ammonia is under a lot of pressure, and  if it's out of control by valves, you'd need protection to get close.  I can certainly see the use, in a remote, field condition situation, as in a tiny leak in a large tank.  Thanks for the conversation

12 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

it was not possible to close the valve

I'll try and respond in order.  It is quite possible that the valve couldn't be closed (various reasons, including corroded parts inside or simply to much escaping gas) Remember, it's under pressure to keep it liquid. To my knowledge, limited to my years of service ending in 2008, there is no "leak stopper" or sealer. Maybe there is now, I haven't kept up. #2 Ammonia likely was already fully expended from the system in the Thailand leak - up to the next closed valve. In the case of say, a 100 lb. refill tank (looks like a big lpg tank but beefier) a faulty valve or unscrewing past a certain point will be a big surprise to the tech. Once I had an assistant who did exactly that on a routine replenish to our holding tank, and the 100 lbs of instantly converting liquid to gas, emptied in about 3 or 4 seconds. I had time to stop him from trying to rethread the valve - even with heavy rubber gloves, he would have had frostbite or worse. This much ammonia dispersed quickly, but the surrounding businesses complained a lot. By the time the complaints reached the city's manager, even the smell was gone. Remember, 5ppm can be detected but it's not really a danger - think of household ammonia sold in the US ( I never see it in Thailand) The fire was out of control in our situation before the f.d. arrived and the decision was made by them & plant managers to let it finish but contain it to the building. The bad part was the various materials other than ammonia that burned, insulations, paint, oils, and lots of paper/plastic packaging supplies. But the ammonia was long dispersed. #3 Location of sensors, their maintenance would be the factor here. The sensors we used had a industry setting 25 ppm, set in potential leak areas at around 6 feet. They require periodic maintenance to do their job. I'd guess that the leak (Thailand) was small enough to be contained  and don't know if the particular location of the leak could have been tied to any automatic shut-off.  Usually these sensors are tied to a sound warning for the particular area; then any responder had to have the proper gear to enter the area; first to assess the location, turn off adjacent valves or see the situation is serious enough to allow the expulsion to finish and then fix the problems. Remember, NH3 dissipates very quickly and containing an active leak depends on different factors - of responders, equipment quickly available and the actual amount of NH3 that is involved.  A train tank car is much different than a small ice plant's storage or refill vessels. Here's some photos of the one I witnessed. As you can see, the location was about as good as they get for quick dispersion of the ammonia. 

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

employee forgot to close a valve,

The most common reason for larger leaks.  We used a check system and even had actual key locks for valves that were normally closed and a tag when you removed the lock to use the valve.  Ammonia does have to be added to the systems periodically, because ammonia does leak, even through the tiniest of openings - the good thing is you can smell a leak at 5ppm and that is when action needs to be taken.

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

would be interesting to know your thoughts, on what had the potential to go wrong here.

 

Well, as I said maintenance is the key in systems like this. Interesting enough "oil" is essential in maintaining the integrity of piping and valves.  I witnessed an explosion of the ammonia tank at a fish processor in Alaska - across the street from our ice plant - 4000 lbs of liquid ammonia.  The resulted cloud dispersed relatively quickly because of the location in a bay, but the fire took some time to extinguish.  This accident started with an rusty valve in a supposedly unused section of piping. The engineer (a very competent tech that I knew personally) had his mask and an assistant, and were aware of all the possibilities; the threads at the valve broke (corroded from the inside - ammonia is corrosive - much less so if there's enough oil in the system.) and they ran outside and then attempted to turn off another valve that "could" supply that piping, but too late. Neither were injured but did get some serious inhalation - ammonia turn chemically into sulfuric acid when it contacts the moisture in your lungs. We used sulfur "sticks" to locate small leaks and those are terrible to inhale too, but the masks work very well. So, in a guess, a leak unattended, a rusty pipe corroded inside and looking perfectly normal outside, or just not double-checking a refill procedure could have caused this one. The storage tanks are usually regulated and inspected but do require safety valve replacement by time in service, at least in the US.

On 2/14/2024 at 4:36 AM, SailingHome said:

I don't keep my bankbook up to date and even if I did, it does not say who sent the money.

Mine says FTT on every deposit to Bangkok Bank NY - Bangkok Bank here in Chiang Mai prints the 12 month print out (usually takes two weeks or less) But I've noticed that the last 1 year renewal of NON-O, that the officer just looked at the summary from Bangkok Bank (required document) and simply added the print-out to the "finished stack". Maybe someone else looks at it later, during the "consideration period"?

On 2/3/2024 at 3:15 AM, timendres said:

I think your agent did that and received the letter I refer to.

I just did mine myself using the US Embassy "new" policy. More trouble than the previous renewal procedure 10 years ago. However, the Letter is a required document at Chiang Mai. Reading the instructions for "transfer of visa stamp", a verification from the Embassy is required. Since the US Embassy no longer issues such letters (along with many other services) you can download a form letter from them, stating as much. This was accepted by Thai Immigration and actually getting the que number to the "transfer visa" window, took about 3 hours total, including 30 minutes wait at the window counter.

22 hours ago, BritScot said:

If your embassy is correct then every expat is going to get a massive tax bill and its very simple because minimum 400,000baht ~ 800,000baht has to be brought in to Thailand for a retierment visa every year.

Would Thai citizens be paying "taxes' on their "pension income"?  Somehow, this is more confusing than I thought. Pension funds are not "earned income", in any sense.  If a pensioner was "earning" interest on funds brought into Thailand, I could see a case being made to tack on taxes, but otherwise... nope.

5 hours ago, pizzachang said:

"Letter from the embassy to the Immigration Office asking for cooperation; " How to get this document from US Consulate Chiang Mai? The US website give no clue - just says "go to Thai Immigration to transfer stamp"

Adding that this question is about transfer of visa stamp to new passport. 

"Letter from the embassy to the Immigration Office asking for cooperation; " How to get this document from US Consulate Chiang Mai? The US website give no clue - just says "go to Thai Immigration to transfer stamp"

18 hours ago, tkramer said:

No, they definitely will...but they are not the ones sitting in the White House today.

 

As far as I'm concerned...the Israelis brought this upon themselves. Inch by inch, day by day, with their constant and systematic 'land theft'.

 

The UN warns them every time they make a new infringement, but the rest of the west looks the other way.

 

2nd half of this 2 minute video...

 

'Absolutely predictable': Analyst on why Hamas attacked Israel | CNN

Well, the propaganda key here is "CNN" - antisemitic for years and no friend to Israel. IMO, the Israelis did not "bring this upon themselves".  In 1993, the nation of Israel traded their land (Gaza) for peace with the PLO, a terrorist organization, first headed by the terrorist Yasser Arafat. Israel never received the "peace" part of the Accords. So now, repossession of the "land is the most reasonable option. Pundits can sit in Ivory Towers and claim that Israel should "do this or that", but it's really just virtue signaling. Using this kind of logic - here's what we would conclude: "tit for tat" - so how many babies would the Palestinians allow to be beheaded of their own?  "Measured response" as the Ivory Tower apologists for Hamas suggest is foolish. Pearl Harbor bombing by Japan... everything would be "equitable", if we had just bombed a Japanese harbor?  War is horrific, so if one wants to avoid consequences, don't start one.

I'm wondering, why 10,000 tourists of any nationalities welcome in Thailand, need to be "grappled with"? Are more Immigration Officers needed at the international airport entry points?

On 9/17/2023 at 8:35 PM, bdenner said:

I'm thinking a lot of you have your "nickers in a twist" over an item that will not effect you!

Yes, you're correct. This refers to people who regularly pay income taxes in Thailand. I imagine, it is Thai citizens, who earn money abroad and pay their taxes.  A retired citizen from another country (not a Thai or a Thai passport holder) is not a "tax resident".  

7 hours ago, paul1804 said:

No, just castrate him, there is no excuse for that type of behaviour so without testicles he will not be able to repeat that act. Probably she is not his first victim, the guy has to be sick in the head given her age! 

Actually, making a eunuch of him would not impair anything except his ability to impregnate female.

Removing the testicles pre- puberty would lessen the "urge" but not remove it. Now, removing the penis would have the effect you're describing. Unfortunately, sick individuals that do this kind of stuff, could just start killing.... you never really know.

On 8/27/2023 at 12:03 PM, webfact said:

In the video clip, the woman was wearing a bikini and a man was wearing underwear while doing erotic behaviors.

So is 'twerking' illegal in Thailand?

15 hours ago, bbko said:

Ghod I miss the US Consular outreach program where we could just walk-in and submit our forms and pay right there.

Yes, so much easier to pay in person and be id'ed in person. AND, actually SECURE.

3 hours ago, The Patriat said:

it took 6 1/2 weeks had made copies of identity page to hold while passport

So, I suppose you also had to make an arrangement with your bank to pre-verify your identity, for making a withdrawal from the "deposit account"  that you use to get funds into Thailand?  I use the monthly deposit (FTT) and usually have to withdraw some money for local expenses during a 30 day cycle - unlucky me - 6 1/2 weeks is longer than 30 days, so before I get the renewal done, I'll speak with the bank manager about the "problem". Thanks for your detailed response. "US citizen services" at the Consulate, now seems like an inconvenience, in this regard. I see that "other locations may not use the mail in renewal service" - just Thailand and maybe(? )some other countries/

On 8/18/2023 at 9:32 PM, The Patriat said:

So the B100 pays for the return envelope and postage...and is paid online?

So, I'm wondering why the "Checklist - U.S. Passport renewal by mail" states that "prepaid envelope cannot be accepted if you are applying for a U.S. passport in Thailand."  Is this only referring to a first -time application? I also reviewed the US Consulate instructions and it seems that signing my name in front of a Consular official is not required. This hardly seems 'secure' - anyone could mail in these documents other than photos "less than 6 months old".  I find this odd, since I renewed my passport in 2014, in person and it was so easy. I received my "expires in 2024" passport at the Consulate; now I just trust the Thai Post with all these documents and sign nothing?  I suspect the "payment' has become the "identity verification" -   the bank or paypal or c.c. verifies ?

On 8/18/2023 at 9:28 PM, The Patriat said:

On 8/18/2023 at 5:38 PM, Skeptic7 said:

So the B100 pays for the return envelope and postage...and is paid online? Do I have that correct? 

Yes this is correct data I renewed .y USA passport in june 2023 you go to the USA website here in Bangkok it tells you the complete steps you have to mail in your current us passport to prove who you really are

I renewed my US passport by making an appointment at the US Consulate in Chiang Mai.  So, I appeared in person with my old passport.  I have to renew by April 2024 - is the in-person option no longer available at the Consulate in CM?

3 hours ago, connda said:

Liberal govt led by Move Forward may be a pipe dream

Nyah.  Can't be a "pipe dream" as Pita wants cannabis to be criminalized again.
More like a Johnney Walker Blue Label dream.

Most of his ideas fit a conservative world view. "liberal" here must mean something akin to the classic definition

My actual question was intended  to be: Will using a VPN allow me to purchase/download a digital product key from (amazon) ? Company states they don't sell digital product keys outside the USA.

However, I appreciate all the reasonable suggestions, but wonder about the validity of internet product keys.  10 Euros seems too good to be true.

2 hours ago, MJCM said:

Why get a USB stick from the US? You can download the ISO from the Microsoft site and burn that to a usb stick you have and then install Windows 11 that way.

 

A key can be bought for a couple of USD online (ebay for example)

 

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

 

 

Guess I wasn't clear. I already have a non activated, free Windows 11.  I want a product key so I can activate my OS. 

2 hours ago, MJCM said:

Why get a USB stick from the US? You can download the ISO from the Microsoft site and burn that to a usb stick you have and then install Windows 11 that way.

 

A key can be bought for a couple of USD online (ebay for example)

 

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

 

 

I must not know how to do this, as I have tried the ISO Microsoft download but never worked for me. 

Does anyone know offhand if I can use VPN to purchase digital download [Windows 11] ? The (amazon ) company states the don't sell outside the USA, for digital but will send a flash drive - I don't really want to wait, unless there's no other way.