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4 hours ago, h90 said:

I think controlling what information the people of the country can see is a bigger problem than when the oligarchs and elites put themself in jail.

Which oligarchs and elites are going to jail for lesse majeste violations?

I'm thinking of the 200+ students who have been jailed in the past 2 years since the current administration upped enforcement of lesse majeste laws. Anutin and Bhumjaithai vow to continue that level of enforcement. 

If you think needing to use a VPN to access some websites is worse than spending time in jail for speaking out against the government, we'll have to disagree. 

26 minutes ago, h90 said:

Maybe an additional point: I recall during Thaksin all internet traffic had to pass a state censorship server and you got sometimes an error message when it could not keep up with it. And he boasted that he hired 10.000 people to check/block/censor internet and I frequently saw foreign newspapers blocked. I am sure they still block some gambling or p*rno but I can't remember to ever again saw any message. It was a bit Chinese style. Don't know when it ended, but for sure it is not worse than before.
But agree every bit of censorship is bad. Don't know for TV and local newspaper as I don't own a TV but on Internet outside of Thailand I don't see anything blocked in my usage

Any idea which parties do and don't support harsh enforcement of lesse majeste laws? AKA jailing those who speak out against royalist governments?

In my mind, jailing the opposition is a little more harsh than internet censorship, which I recall being most severe immediately after the coup

8 minutes ago, h90 said:

..For one time Thailand is modern and understands that putting people in jail for smoking ganja is no solution.

And yet the current administration and Bhumjaithai aren't modern enough to understand that putting people in jail for criticizing them isn't the solution 

1 minute ago, h90 said:

I can not remember the prices but I think the Chinese vaccine was cheaper. It does not work well, but as we know now the other vaccines the same don't work well. That homebrew AstraZeneka is most probably something he had no choice, not his fault.
I hope the ganja won't be overturned, but I worry that you are right and it will....For one time Thailand is modern and understands that putting people in jail for smoking ganja is no solution. But I see how it angers many of the hardcore shoot first ask later right wing narcotic hardliner.

Sinovac was cheaper worldwide, but Anutin was paying a premium for it. More than AZ and about the same as Moderna and Pfizer while refusing to allow them to be imported. 

1 hour ago, h90 said:

I think the decision to use a proved vaccine technology over a new one, was good.

Was over paying for a vaccine shunned around the world, but manufactured by a powerful friend a good decision? 

Was disallowing and refusing pleas from hospitals and Dr's to import the vaccines medical experts worldwide deemed most effective a good decision?

Allowing people to choose their preferred vaccine would have been the best policy. Anutin absolutely failed by that measure. 

And pushing the ganja agenda through in a chaotic manner that's very likely to be overturned is another example of poor administration skills and decision making. 

8 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

Bhumjaithai are no different to Pheu Thai. A party of the rural masses, albeit on a more localized scale than Pheu Thai. Pheu Thai themselves are a very conservative party. Absolutely no initiatives for advancing democracy. 

Some differences between Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai. 

- Pheu Thai did not participate in a coalition to keep the junta in power.

- Pheu Thai did not participate in making the voting process substantially less democratic by appointing 250 senators friendly to the ruling coalition. 

Pheu Thai is far from perfect but a lesser of two evils. 

1 hour ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Don’t worry if cannabis does take off the big boys will move in and put the small growers out of business.

25 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

          You are  joking  right?,  At least I hope you are.  There is absolutely nothing difficult whatsoever about brewing alcohol, absolutely anybody can do it !.  We even did it in school as a project when I was about 10 years old ! 

          The Thais have been doing it for probably thousands of years, all  or should I say  both of the necessary ingredients are easily available anywhere, don't you know what they are?

           Have you really never heard of "Sah Toh" ?  Never heard of "Khao Mark" ?  My mother in law was distilling her own Lao Khao years  ago   Are you  completely unaware of the thousands or more likely millions of people around the world who brew their own wine or beer as a hobby?

            You obviously know very little about either alcohol or ganga !

 

Anyone with a small patch of land or some large pots of soil can grow ganga for their own consumption or to sell on a small scale. 

Yes, individuals can brew alcohol too, but it's more complex than growing a plant. As an example, in my residential neighborhood of about 40 homes, probably close to 50% are currently growing ganga in gardens. Zero are brewing alcohol. 

Without knowing the source of the ganga currently being sold in the small shops scattered across the country I can't believe a large portion isn't supplied small scale growers. By contrast, the major beverage conglomerate monopolies have a tight grip on the alcohol supply in the major population centers. 

I don't believe that situation will remain after the upcoming election. 

3 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

Now look at the state of the nation.....thousands of people have in vested in businesses selling cannabis, hoping to make billions of baht....what's going to happen to these businesses.

3 hours ago, Jumbo1968 said:

all the parties apart from one are against full legalization of cannabis, it will be legal but for medical purposes only, the intention in the first place.

This is all a political ploy to add some rural voters who'd never vote for the conservative parties to the conservative coalition. Rules as they are will last through the election and then it's game over.

The current policy makes no sense. Why allow small players a piece of the ganga action when they've been shut out of the (micro brewery) alcohol industry for ages to protect the big boys? 

Why the stupid mid day and holiday alcohol bans which currently don't apply to ganga shops?

Nonsensical and elite protective alcohol policies have been intransigent for decades. Either they change to be more similar to the current ganga free for all, or the ganga rules change to look more like alcohol rules. Difference being that while not everyone can brew alcohol, any idiot can grow a ganga plant. Which to me spells doom for the ganga industry unless the big boys can somehow monopolize it like they do alcohol sales.

As the US is currently (re)proving, if you hand out/spend far more than you take in in taxes, inflation goes through the roof and no one is any better off.

Fun party, but the hangover sux.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

 

Tell your doctor:

 

1. Biosulin 30:70

Human insulin (30% soluble insulin, 70% isophane insulin)

 

2.  Biosulin R

Regular Insulin

 

 

Thanks Sheryl. You're responses and advice are alway appreciated. 

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Your doctor will know the options. Just tell him/her you want less expensive locally made insulin and are OK with drawing up from a vial

My Dr is US based and unlikely to know the less expensive local options in Thailand. 

Can you offer any guidance on what's inexpensive and readily available locally so I can pass that info on to the US Dr?

29 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

There are much, much cheaper insulin alternatives with locally made insulin brands but they are not exactly the same formulation as what you are all using so need a doctor's advice to change. AND these much less expensive options are usually nto pre-filled pens, you'd have to learn to draw up correct dose from a vial.

Drawing from a vial is not a problem.

Do you have any suggestions as to which readily available, cheap insulin has the most similar formulation/purpose to Lantus, so I can enquire with my Doctor?

On 5/5/2021 at 8:57 PM, Sheryl said:

Prices are nto going to vary much by pharmacy. And in Pattaya, Fascino prices are as good as most.

 

Your problem is that you are getting an expensive imported brand.

 

Less expensive brand of the dame thing (Insulin glargine) is Glaritus.  Should save quite a bit compared to Lantus. They sell it as catridges that fit into a special  reusable pen, you probably have to buy the pen device separately.

The pharmacy I use (small independent shop in Sattahip) and normally is able to order anything they don't stock, says they can't find a supplier for Glaritus (or Basalin which you recommend on another thread).

They are able to sell me Lantus pens or vails, but say their suppliers don't have Glaritus or Basalin. 

Any idea where to order them? Pricing?

22 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

What visa would they get in Thailand if they are young enough to be conscripted?

ED

3 hours ago, pomchop said:

What's the delay?  They either have it or they don't.

You answered your own question 

1 hour ago, Lemsta69 said:

There ain't no such beast. I think you're referring to a Multiple Re-Entry Permit which is applied for separately to the non-O extension. 

 

Perhaps you got one at the same time as the extension for convenience's sake. If you leave the country without either a single or a multiple Re-Entry Permit then your visa/extension is null and void.

Yes, I have my terminology wrong. I have a Multiple Re-Entry Permit valid through May 2023.

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Check your stamp from your November arrival to ensure your date was extended to next year's extension end date. If not then you might have just a 45 day entry. Best to check and be safe. No such thing as a multi re-entry extension. If your thinking about your ME Visa, we'll that disappeared when you were given your 1 year extension 

And yes, the latest arrival stamp allows me to be in country until May 2023.

30 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Did you actually get a re-entry permit before leaving??

 

Check you latest entry stamp for it's expiry date!

 

I have a multiple entry Retirement Extension. My entry stamp expiry date is May 2023 and I understand that I need to renew the Retirement Extension at that time or start with a new Non-O visa.

27 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can extend your current extension of stay for another year without needing a new non-o visa. And get a new re-entry permit.

Thanks again.

Can I "extend the current extension of stay" only one more year, or year after year assuming I'm not out of country when the Retirement Extension expires?

As always appreciate your responses which are more clear and concise vs everywhere else I've tried.

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Since June of 2020 a new TM30 report is not required when enter the country with a re-entry. I would only be needed if you enter with a new visa. Also not needed if you travel within the country.

A yellow house book does not exempt you doing a TM30 report.

Thanks for the reply. I entered in February 2022 on a Non-O received in the US, and received a Retirement Extension in May 2022 which is valid through May 2023. I departed in June 2022 and returned in November 2022, so I assume I have entered on the same Visa.

I plan on staying in Thailand through June 2023 and to do a new Retirement Extension in May 2023. Based on this;

1) Will I need a new Non-O Visa for my Retirement Extension in May 2023? Will the other have "expired"?

2) Assuming I don't, then if I re-enter in November 2023 will I still be entering under the same Visa and once again not need to file a new TM30?

Both my neighbor and I have Non O visas with Retirement Extensions. We both have Thai wives who own houses and are both registered at our wife's houses via Yellow Books, and we both have pink Thai/Foreign ID cards.

I have always gotten a TM30 Form upon arrival to Thailand as I understood this to be required of all foreigners not staying at a hotel. The neighbor tells me it's not necessary to file TM30 if you are registered to a house address via a Yellow Book.

Is he correct? Can I/my wife skip the TM30 process?

5 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Judging by this and your earlier posts I can pretty much guarantee that you have absolutely no idea whatsoever what Thai youths get up to or what drugs are available to them  

I posted some links below. Per those links prior to decriminalization of cannabis, about 3% of Thai youths used cannabis or yaba. Versus about 30% who used alcohol. That sounds about right to me. Up until very recently, alcohol was far more readily available than cannabis or yaba.

Does that mean that it was impossible for someone determined to aquire cannabis or yaba to find it? Of course not. But I personally didn't know where to find either, while I did know where to find Thai whiskey which like cannabis and yaba I don't consume. 

Now I do know where to find cannabis. It has become more readily available due to Mr Anutin's efforts. 

Which part of that am I getting so terribly wrong?

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17450128.2020.1770391?journalCode=rvch20

https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/45/3/278/209016

11 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

By this comment you are not understanding that especially when you are pre teen/young. Most of these  kids don't know what is even CONSIDERED legal or not. Opium , cocaine , yabaa, Tina,  ecstasy are not less available here than even alcohol!  For most pre teens alcohol is the hardest to get and even do in public.  In inner cities and rural areas as well in North America , Europe etc alcohol is also harder to get. Other drugs readily available. So that is why I think your thinking is def in a " bubble mentality " many find drugs to shoot up easier to get.  By your thinking alcohol is easy to get.  Yes if over 20 it's very accessible. Under 20 harder to get but available. 

I guess it depends on the neighborhood. In my neighborhood alcohol is readily available in refrigerators and on kitchen shelves to kids. Yaba, cocaine, opium etc are much less available. Similar situation to my North American neighborhood as a youth. 

Apparently it's different where you live/lived. 

17 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Personally I think weed should be banned as before , BUT in actual defence of the minister and weed,  does this mean the transport minister should be  fired also for the same kids - and all kids here under 14 it seems - riding motorbikes illegally ?  

Yes.