pizzachang

On 6/13/2021 at 12:27 PM, cardinalblue said:

they also rejected my photos - they say too old as I had been using the packet of photos over the years that come with a passport shoot...

I find this interesting, because it proves they keep last year's extension documents. Now, of course this begs the question about actually using previous data in a useful way; to facilitate efficient processing of extensions that change very little. Bureaucracies seem to be universally (or nearly so) inefficient. 

22 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

No tourists in the right mind would put themselves through this

For the most part, I think you're correct. IMO, there is a type of tourist who might well submit. It is the "cruise ship" variety. As long as food and drink are included or some incentive to make them imagine they are 'getting a deal', this "day care" variety of tourist, might just be interested. But, from what I've observed in this country, the instigators have a long way to go before such a thing is possible. It might be because, they don't have any real investment, as do the hardworking capitalists that support the tourist industry...by investing, owning and running the businesses that made this nation a "great" tourist destination.

6 hours ago, blackcab said:

Several countries also require a covid test within 72 hours of returning home.

I suspect most other countries give tests for free. This makes the most sense.....if a particular country actually wants to prevent covid 19 infections. The mass poor of any country are not likely to pay for a test and will also avoid a hospital, unless they are feeling so bad that they think they're dying. The survival rate is so high, that (IMO) most will risk not paying for an expensive test anyway.

3 minutes ago, pizzachang said:

Hahah, the gamble is the chance of getting injected with an experiment or a vaccine that has had at least a year longer testing. The traditional [weakened/dead virus], while not totally without risk, has been a documented success, with most other lethal viruses worldwide.  Personally, I have seen no evidence that changes my mind about taking an experimental drug, for a virus with such an extremely high survival rate.

And a firsthand report about "new variants" 

9 hours ago, Uroller said:

Why would anybody go to Thailand for holiday as it is rated a high risk country requiring quarantine when you return home, Thailand was a green rated country before the Songkran mess but is now Amber and could easily go to red the way things are going????

What's even more interesting, is the rhetoric we heard LAST summer..." The virus doesn't like hot weather, direct sun and open spaces." Then why close beaches?  Why are healthy people STILL not getting sick"?  Anyone who "tests" positive is "required to hospitalize....what do you think a poor, jobless (because of dubious, 'slow the spread controls') national, will do? And of course, the pipe dream of fantasizing about tourists (other than Chinese, some Japanese and Koreans) thinking a tightly controlled tour is a vacation?  There are the class of "tourists" who like being confined on cruise ships; places where viruses have spread regularly, long before C19....but those do supply all the food and drinks required for two weeks.

On 6/5/2021 at 1:35 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Yup, we had an Op where many discussed such expenditures yearly not long ago and it turned into a sensitive subject where many called BS on others unless we posted proof.....

Hahah, I didn't see that. But every Non-O  I know spends that or more. I suppose there could be exceptions, that haven't been deported yet.......but even maintaining 800K each year is a form of spending, as any economist will tell you.

On 6/5/2021 at 4:05 PM, Presnock said:

I spend a lot more than that each and every year.  but then again, as we have noticed over the period of the pandemic and fleeing of tourists plus lockdowns,

Yes, I spend more than a million some years. Since 2008, I've done this. What is strange is the "sudden" idea that long-term expats don't contribute this much. as a rule, rather than an exception. And to categorize the "new" vs the "old" isn't helpful. Unless the Thai govt, makes actual changes to tempt foreign retirees, nothing will tempt them. This is well-understood by every University student, I've spoken with (and I speak to them regularly) As you say, a good faith measure of eliminating the 90 day report would go a long way to attracting foreigners....after all, it isn't as if the IO can't locate us.

3 hours ago, Shuya said:

That pool looks so small, nearly impossible to drown. Maybe some sloppy electric work?

A toxicology report and determine who benefits the most.

22 minutes ago, pizzachang said:

What is really interesting (IMO) going to the CDC website and looking up "deaths, all causes \,USA [for the last 20 years/2000  -per 100K people It's extremely odd that this data has changed very little in 20 years...so any reasonable conclusion would be that "pandemic" is the wrong terminology, for the minuscule situation. Most people suffer no ill effects, otherwise 'deaths per 100 thousand would be very high.

Found this morning:   https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2021/06/03/why-axios-is-nixing-their-weekly-covid-map-n2590437

On 6/1/2021 at 4:54 PM, Phillip9 said:

 

Maybe they have read some of the CDC reports on covid in gyms, so they realize gyms are quite high risk.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7009e2.htm

What is really interesting (IMO) going to the CDC website and looking up "deaths, all causes \,USA [for the last 20 years/2000  -per 100K people It's extremely odd that this data has changed very little in 20 years...so any reasonable conclusion would be that "pandemic" is the wrong terminology, for the minuscule situation. Most people suffer no ill effects, otherwise 'deaths per 100 thousand would be very high.

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The only diseases that have ever been successfully eradicated are ones with no animal resevoir. E.g. small pox (and hopefully soon, polio).

 

To eradicate a disease completely from the earth it must be eradicated in every species that harbors it, including species that are nto made ill by it.

 

Obviously not possible with any of the coronoaviruses.

 

However a disease can become quite rare and less lethal through acquired immunity in the human population.

 

 

True for the most part. Some viruses mutate to a state of being that is no longer much of a problem. One I can think of is "scarlet fever". My parents and grandparents generations were worried about this. Now we hear almost nothing about this. Some, seem to go dormant; maybe even live somewhere we haven't investigated. It's even possible for one of the less problematic ones to mutate again, to something serious. Smallpox, exists in several labs and there is no guarantee in life, about the honesty, motives and agendas of human beings. Scientists gave us nuclear waste, so is science in the hands of greedy, motivated people, any kind of guarantee?

20 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Indian variant arrives in Thailand..............okay, UK here we come.....had enough of this.....oh wait......???

Doesn't this simply mean that a 'expected mutation' occurred? The virus is never "going away" - like any other corona virus. isolation is only a delay and a vaccine (that really isn't a vaccine) likely carries a higher risk than immunity (even partial) acquired from recovering. Until a long-term proof is available from inoculated humans, this seems the most logical way to think about this. Testing to see if you already have antibodies, also seems like a rational, pre-vaccination procedure. IMO

On 5/14/2021 at 10:26 PM, captainjackS said:

When you use the power supply and LEDs light up, have you measured the current being drawn by the LED circuit?  If your DC power supply is fancy enough, it should show on the display.  Otherwise, use your DMM in series to measure DC current.  Is it possible that your your fully assembled configuration is starved for current and not lighting up?  Perhaps some component in your full configuration is not capable of suppying sufficient current to light up so many LEDs at the same time.

Thanks for your reply. Enclosing 2 schematics The one using the ULN 2003 and no capacitor was designed using incandescent, single bulbs. I used the common available 12 volt LED, multiple car lights and have 100% success, in function on my breadboard, so if my soldering is good, should  work on the 9 x 15, double-sided pcb.  The schematic using the ULN 2803 and 4, 48 LED arrays, has been my problem. As I said, I can make the arrays light in tests, but as soon as the ULN and capacitor are in the circuit - zip. So, you might well be correct in suspecting too low current, somewhere. Or my solder job - other than the arrays/resistors pcb's has a fault.

8 x 6 led array (5).pdf

Odd for a government to forcefully mandate an "experimental vaccine", that really isn't a "vaccine" at all. Since the survival rate is so extremely high, why not have the option of waiting until the "vaccine that isn't a vaccine" proves itself?

On 5/11/2021 at 11:06 PM, dingdongrb said:

I never did see any posts indicating exactly what fixed the problem....or was it not fixed?

Not fixed. But I do have some well-made, 48 LED matrices, that work until I connect the machine that I want to supply the actual signal to operate the LEDS

18 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

This is more in line with what every other country is doing.

Yes, Thailand is experiencing sel-imposed "stress on the system". By not following a simple and proven strategy of 'test', isolate only high risk and inoculate the high risk group first,  a setback scenario is inevitable, along with the panic we are seeing. 

On 5/1/2021 at 1:54 PM, Crossy said:

Stick in a small automatic pump near the tank to boost your pressure.

Lazada has some nice ones for around 900 to 1 thousand baht. .

On 5/3/2021 at 1:39 AM, blackcab said:

Here is a news item from last year. The tracking wristbands were not implemented.

 

Instead the government designed the ThailandPlus locator app and made it mandatory for non-Thai citizens entering Thailand with a Certificate of Entry to install on their phones.

 

 

This would require an internet connected phone. Is an internet connected phone a new, legal requirement?

Nor many "rich" retirees are going to invest  money in land, without real protections IMO.

The reason people will invest in land in the USA, is because there are plenty of laws that protect real estate investment.  In Thailand you can rarely get a refund if you buy something unsatisfactory! The 90 day report may change...it's redundant and any nefarious activity has 90 days after a report to accomplish whatever it is, Thailand is worried about. I've always enjoyed the outing to make the report, but not the long lines and inefficiency of years ago. Ending the 90 day report, IMO, will not entice anyone, since it is actually a reasonable immigration request, but not really a necessary one for established expats.

11 hours ago, YetAnother said:

they still have time to totally screw it up and more than enough ability

What is curious, to me anyway, is the fact that all past restrictions did nothing to "stop" the virus, nor will getting a "vaccination "stop" the virus. In some nations, getting a vaccination won't excuse one from lockdown restrictions. The "virus" is here to stay, it seems. Thailand is "planning" for the "big surge" by adding emergency beds - even separate from hospital grounds! What are the actual hospitalization rates? What is the ratio of "new cases" to hospitalizations? How do these two questions compare to the initial outbreak?. IMO, these are much more pertinent questions; ones that have a bearing on the well-being of the survival of the Thai economy and the health of it's population. All data (that I have read) indicates a greater risk for "indoor exposure", than any other source. And the all-important, high-risk groups have not changed.

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

Yeah.

If you can get each string to light up like that, then try at the 2803 outputs (it's quite safe to short the outputs to gnd/0V).

Take it step by step fixing each issue as you find it.

 

Ok, have tested by using my bench supply connected at the power supply for one side (24 leds) and the cathode consolidation line (the line that runs to the ULN outputs) and the results:

Both green arrays fully light (as a unit of the 24, lighting at once)

One red led array (24 leds) fully lights and the other array of 24 has one string that does not light.

One white array fully lights and the other 3 each have the sma problem - with one white array having 3 strings not lighting.

Assuming I have damaged or failed to solder a quality connection on the non-functioning strings.

6 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Have you yet powered the whole lot up from your 15V supply and shorted the "bottom" of your strings to gnd/0V either at the string or at the 2803?? Result??

 

I'll do that today. I'm assuming by "bottom" , you mean the cathode of the last Led in the string?  I did get strings to light up by using the bench power supply, using the resistor connection and the last cathode leg in the string. I may have done something else wrong , as I couldn't get the same results on each of the strings for all the arrays.