Enzian

Here we go again. This is like candy (or Thai "whiskey"?) to the press. So many unanswered details. What exactly was the General's trouble with the Administrative Court? And what was going on with the foreigner's permission of stay? Almost endless, not to mention the relevance to the wealth gap in the country.

Because when I-age 82- did get it recently it was almost certainly the vaccines I took that were the main reason that it amounted to almost nothing and was gone in 10 days. That's my presumption, but nothing can be "proven", so I guess we'll just have to keep beating this dead horse forever.

Also with an agent (I've done it once) your passport must be out of your hands for about a week-at least that was my experience. The risk is small but the anxiety for some of us can be great.

It seems they still see their mandate as making this as complicated as possible under the circumstances. I hope I'm wrong. I just hit the 10th day since the start of symptoms, with a negative ATK test in contrast to the clearly positive one two days ago. After two years of craziness and worry it was an anticlimax, almost a nothing-burger. Mild with a capital M. But it happened after one AZ, two Pfizer, and a Moderna. And I'm over 80. Those older Thais have a choice, and I wish the outreach people luck.

What "strategic demands" are we talking about? Have the protestors out at the Din Daeng intersection got their hands on old Mig15s?

The photo looks like something from a Thai Mad Max movie. Living in the Nana area I get a totally distorted view of the challenges faced by Thai females. It's the "caregiver" model. She says I "take care" of you and you "take care" of me. This only works as long as the glow of youth lasts; have to look beyond.

Slightly off topic, but is it still the case that victims who expire in hospital some hours after the accident are still not included in the road death figures?

OP, major update. I wrote my Kaiser doctor in Oakland last night (morning CA time) and woke up this morning to a message from him saying he would write me a note when the time comes saying I had recovered, and that I shouldn't bother getting a PCR here, now. I didn't directly ask him to, just described the total situation. He must believe that it will be accepted even though he will not have seen me in person. I will send him a set of dated ATK test strip pictures for what it's worth. Thanks for reading everyone.

In Bangkok. I'm almost clear of a mild, almost asymptomatic case of Covid, but never saw a doctor or hospital, and the CDC says I may test positive on a PCR test for up to three months to come. I assume that might present a problem when I want to travel to the US or Europe around May or June. I'm at day 8 since the first very mild symptom, have felt fine for past three days, but did test positive on an ATK test today. But the CDC suggests that in about three days or so I may not even be able to infect another person, and I can wait much longer. Anyone with experience with this issue? Should I now go to a doctor and start a paper trail? Any inexpensive PCR testing places? Any insights appreciated. If this question belongs elsewhere, feel free to move it but please let me know. Thanks! (I've had 4 vax shots, last in mid Jan.)

Out of control inflation and various scattered centers of ongoing economic collapse can be just as devastating to the world as the deaths in Ukraine. That may sound heartless but I submit that it is not.

Central banks exist, and should exist, to control inflation. The mandate of full employment and growth is mostly, though not completely, politics. The pressure however is always toward the political end. But history shows that the real long term danger is inflation. I saw an interview recently with Charlie Munger where he made the point that it is inflation which destroys democracy. Of course I could be sarcastic and note that this is not a problem in Thailand because they have never had democracy, nor does the future look bright in that regard anyway. But the BOT should be raising rates now.

Eat to live, not live to eat.

Was reading that Greek hotels expect to lose more money from reopening than they were losing when totally shut down, because of price of fuel, inflation etc., and we should expect to see similar stories coming soon from many places. This is a minor matter compared to the ongoing death in Ukraine, but it speaks to the complexities that lie ahead.

I haven't seen this mentioned: Among other things Steve is the administrator of a Facebook group called the Thailand Expats Writers List, members of which include just about every writer of any note writing about Thailand (and even vaguely related subjects) for the past lifetime of an elephant. All the names you know, and tons you don't, he knows them. I've talked to him online a little, haven't met him yet. What I'm saying is that he knows so many hundreds of people that something will work out for him long term. I wish him luck.

Does seem like a plateau is established, then we move to a slightly higher plateau for a while, then another slightly higher, till the peak plateau is found. While hoping for no new variants.

The Latin phrase most used is cui bono, to whom is it a benefit? Other versions are cui prodest, whom does it profit? and ad cuius bonum, for whose good?

Why those older people in Isaan and elsewhere decline vaccine is a great question. I just asked the gf and she said it's not so much a distrust of the government but that they just don't understand the disease. They think if they stay home anyway which they normally do they don't need a shot. I point out if just one grandkid comes to the house is all it takes, but again, they don't get it. Outreach required I guess.

I would not bash America especially, but imho people are not looking closely enough at the EU and how it operates and the results. Again, my opinion.

Public to officers: How do you people sleep at night? Officers: With the fan on.

"The agency also urged the public to..." continue living a totally miserable existence.

I often walk the RR track from where it comes across Sukhumvit near soi 1, on out to the Saen Saep canal. I would never use the word slum as in the OP; prefer shantytown. Even the dogs are used to me now! People don't seem to be suffering, and they are a big step above the homeless one sees around soi 3. The whole thing is a comment on LOS, visual worth a 1000 words. I recommend the walk if you don't already have your own version.

I just received approval on the second try. Main thing I did different was fill in the address boxes correctly with the crucial help of mtls2005. Thanks! Also of interest perhaps is that this is my first required report after re-entering the country and a few days later extending my Non-O permission of stay in Dec. So "in person" was not required. But it is curious that the new date to report is exactly 3 months from when I sent the report application, not 3 months or 90 days from what I figured was the 90 day point from my last entry to the country, so about 8 days earlier than I would have expected. Not complaining. More to celebrate: both I and gf woke up with a very slight sore throat this morning, but both of us tested negative with home ATK.

Part of my reaction to the high import prices and lack of local quality and value has been to just cut back on my consumption, because anything one consumes here supports some form of corruption or unfair competition or mindless excessive taxation. As a result I feel better (and more horny much of the time). In fact I could never understand a place where for many people the two big activities were sex and drinking alcohol, which are antithetical.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be, blest. Alexander Pope

This is a really big fat yellow canary in the coal mine isn't it. Doesn't take much reading between the lines to finally get some real truth about the real estate situation in Thailand. Long Covid doesn't just apply to our bodies, it's going to affect the property situation here for a long time.