Jonathan Swift

Shoddy "journalism" is a universal plague of the 21st century

What you said LITERALLY is that you've never seen the government dissuade tourists. I'm sure you meant: "In all my years here I don't think I have ever seen a short period(the last month or so) where an inept government ISN'T making one decision after another to dissuade tourists from visiting the country."

"will you take a check?"

What's actually very sad is narrow minded people making nonsense comments simply because they are unable to grasp the big picture. People who don't grasp that the police are 100% justified in what they are actually trying to do - prevent the spread of covid and to contain existing outbreaks. Very sad when people cannot grasp that the government is not doing this without regard to economic consequences, but simply doing everything, no stone unturned, that can and must be done for the sake of public health. What's sad is that the government and police have every right, moral and legal, to exercise their own judgment as to what needs to be done. I think statements such as yours are not even fully honest - I think you don't like that your own access, and that of your buddies, to open bars and alcohol consumption are restricted. I hear such habitual drinkers in my apartment continuously whining about not being able to go out on their drinking binges, and these guys are not suffering economically. They are simply selfish. I come from a country which has seen 700,000+ deaths from covid, and would love to have seen identical measures enforced, which would have prevented those deaths. No doubt this is an economic hardship, but that is partly because so many businesses in Thailand depend on the spending of tourists and drinkers. This is simply an unfortunate reality and not something you can blame on the government. But since blaming and ridiculing the Thai government is popular sport among commenters, it's a sad irony that those very complainers are actually safer for the actions of the police and government. So that is what's "very sad" .

I have never in the past been able to do this online, but tonight I used the latest form and was processed and received my confirmation email immediately today Sunday 9 January. One odd thing is the box for type of visa is unchecked, and the arrival card number is also blank. I assume that all of that info is already in their system attached to my passport number and not required on the form. So maybe sometimes the bureaucracy gets it right. I think we finally have a functional system for TM 47 90 day reporting

"Friend of a friend" meaning unreliable 3rd or 4th hand unconfirmed sources, you being in the middle between your secretive meeting and us, you having no particular expertise or credibility as a source. Where is your documentation? You give no names whatsoever, not even the name of the "money manager". Did you yourself try to contact the "Director of International Infectious Disease" (what's his name?) at MGH before posting this for confirmation? Do let us know when you have something factual to offer beyond hearsay and your local gossip. None of those numbered statements which are presented as though factual are to be trusted. Most of them sound pretty fishy and do not sound like the language of reliable medical professionals. This is all, according to you, a corporate presentation and not an authentic reliable peer reviewed scientific study or bonafide medical opinion or policy. Anyone who would take this at face value has rocks in their head. And you are recklessly spreading hearsay. Shame on you.

All six have been found, claim not to have known they had tested positive, per Bangkok Post. Wonder how this website missed that little item? But I predicted capture within 48 hours, and was correct.

It's really not funny. Your juvenile remarks are inappropriate given the deadly seriousness of this matter. And I otherwise agree, hunt them down like fugitives and prosecute them. Hospitalize, deport, and ban them. Same as you might do to someone committing hit and run, evading the scene of an accident. Yeah, I know, someone will weigh in about the Red Bull kid, but that's irrelevant to my point

My bet is 48 hours or less, and they will be immediately confined to a hospital, passports confiscated, if and when they test negative if they don't die they get deported, and good riddance.

Does he have a dog face shaped "bat signal" that we can shine on the clouds?

First, the exchange rate at 33.5 baht to the dollar is great. Use Wise for transfers, there’s only one fee, I pay about $15 for a $2000 transfer, and it comes within 24 hours. Second, there is no way around the practical necessity of having a Thailand bank account. In fact, your imaginary nemesis Kasikorn, has a phone app where you can make international transfers back to the US for a flat 250 baht, they convert to dollars before it leaves the country, you get it the next day, and it comes in as a generic ACH deposit so your bank will charge no incoming fee. Also, from time to time these websites will change their security protocols such that glitches in the system will randomly reject certain cards. I have had my Bangkok Bank Mastercard rejected online yet the same business Big C when I pay on delivery their wireless card system accepts my Bangkok Bank card just fine. But you are right about billing addresses being accurate. I had to update Amazon and Ebay to reflect the Thailand addresses for those cards, but they work fine now. Also, T-Mobile suddenly rejected my Bangkok Bank card, so I switched to the Kasikorn card and it worked. T - Mobile couldn’t explain it and their employees just made up a bunch of bull$hit so I just did a successful end run around them. Bottom line is sometimes these glitches can be nearly impossible to diagnose, so you have to have backup plans.

Mixed up people getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. A well adjusted person doesn't fall victim to booze, loose women, or gambling. As many of you no doubt know, there are some people that should not spend time at places like Bangla and others because of vulnerability to such temptations. Loose cannons without rudders. Pretty sad really. I feel bad for the family.

why don't you ask his family?

I doubt there's anything sudden about this other than your new awareness of it.

I believe that would

Isn’t that name already taken?

Agreed. All these people with similar transphobic judgmental attitudes should self deport to the US, where they’d fit right in. They don’t belong here. This is the Thai people’s country, and that includes the sex workers and anyone else suffering from the pandemic. Hate and transphobia are the currency of America, and one reason I left.

BS. Not sarcasm. Insensitivity devoid of humanity, disguised as sarcasm. It’s no laughing matter. You don’t know the life stories of these people, what their limitations and life options and choices were, or how they ended up in their profession. They are suffering genuine hardship just as are all Thai people whose basic needs and livelihoods depend on tourist dollars. They deserve as much respect as anyone else. Please do us all a favor and leave Thailand. You’re not worthy of this place. I think you’d find a home full of kindred spirits in the US, I suggest you self deport there. You can join all the MAGAs and white “nationalists”, your contempt for trans people would fit right in, you could even campaign for Trump in 2024. He’s your daddy.

So the answer to his question is: nobody. Let the manhunt begin.

If this is the worst of his life's problems he's got no worries. Everyone here is right - these things happen, and they are almost inevitable, and most of us can handle it without whining to the press. I had my tests in the US come back with dates outside the 72 hour required window, I just scanned them into photoshop and made my own corrected copies, and printed them. Since the tests were valid and all I did was correct the date, problem solved, no risk. These are uncertain times, we'd all best be prepared

I want to update. I spent a week in Pai, where to my amazement I had speeds exceeding 300mbs! So AIS is not misrepresenting or exaggerating my plan, it's just like most of us already know, it depends on location. It's so odd that a remote location up north would have incredible speed, yet in Bangkok I have a nominal speed of between 20 and 90 mbs. But, This Is Thailand.

I think I will do the sensible thing and when I go in person this time I will ask THEM, maybe show them on my ipad. Doesn't mean the worker bees will know, but it's not uncommon to find one knowledgable person amongst the unqualified. That's how I handle banks, I just go there, and if they have to I wait while THEY make phone calls. They's very accommodating and eager to help.

Tried about a dozen times, every time I got "failed to save data" error

“The sky is falling, bukAWK!” - Chicken Little.

Just did a speed test right now, I have AIS, my download speed just now is 26 mbs. My plan promises up to 300mbs, but that is only theoretically possible. It very much depends on your location. If I'm in a bad location it will suck, but that's Thailand, and it's a lot better than it was a few years ago. My plan "Serenade Max Speed 1099 Baht" is about 1200 baht/month, unlimited data, once a month autopay billing. AIS is supposedly 5g capable, but I'll believe it when I see it.