Equatorial

Good idea, I agree. For border crossing, the card is only good at the Mexican and Canadian borders, but it is valid worldwide as 1/ Proof of Identity and, 2/ Proof of US Citizenship. One never knows when it may come handy...

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has a GDPNow model estimate for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate). The estimate for the fourth quarter of 2025 is 5.3 percent on January 14, up from 5.1 percent on January 9. https://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnow

Based on your previous post (changing passports) sounds like you'll have to leave Thailand. I think it would make more sense to apply for marriage-based Non O while you're outside Thailand, rather than come in on a 60-day tourist. Before leaving Thailand, I would open an account with Kasikorn Bank and transfer 400k there. That way, when you return, you'd have the proper visa without having to convert, and your 400k would be in place, everything ready for the marriage-based Extension of Stay.

Finishing The Sense of an Ending, starting The Lemon Table. Both by Julian Barnes. The underlying theme - getting old and reflecting upon the past.

I have had a BBL account since ~2005. I've been using it since then with no issues, but my local branch in Si Sa Ket won't update the bank book, or install a mobile App, or update my account. They say that my passport number is out of date (which is correct) and that I need to go back to the branch where I opened the account, which is the Siam Square Branch in Bangkok. Any thoughts on how to get this update done without a trip to Bangkok?

Ordered where? Looking for a reliable vendor to buy one myself. Thanks!

It clearly depends on the IO as well as the banks. I got my COR at the Immigration Office in Sri Saket, and they didn't ask for the name of the bank. I used it with two different banks, both just made copies of the COR and returned the original without my asking.

I've had a difficulty opening a bank account before. I just kept trying. First I got an account with SCB (retirement-based EOS, no work permit), and later with Kasikorn.

I don't get it. Paper or tablet is just a medium. Who cares. What matters is that people read. When I moved to Thailand, it was not practical to move my entire library. I only have a small shelf of paper books left, and I get 99% of my reading done on my iPad. I do like the feel of a paper book, but I find reading on a device a lot more pleasant. I can adjust the background, size, and font, to my liking.

I am halfway through Tolstoy's War and Peace. An outstanding read.

Just to illustrate how arbitrary the rules can be between the different offices, I looked up the COR requirements (passport and visa copies, etc.) here, and went to my local immigration office in Sri Saket. I told the IO what I wanted and the reason, and he handed me back all of the copies that I brought with me. He looked up my information on his computer, told me to wait, and handed me a printed and signed COR in less than 10 minutes. No charge.

Another place for great burgers and pizza in Muang Si Sa Ket is Cookoo's Nest, near the Big C.

Yes, Cuckoo's Nest does serve pizza.

Another place in Muang Si Sa Ket for a good burger is Cuckoo's Nest. Near the Big C.

@Pawpal - The first three steps (1/ getting the marriage cert from the County; 2/ State Apostille; 3/ Dept of State Certification) take about three (3) months. The third step alone takes two (2) months. (On the website they claim up to five (5) weeks, but right now it is around 7-8 weeks.) Neither of the three steps is overly complicated. The forms are fairly basic, simple fillable PDFs. The total cost is around $100, including Priority Mail tracked postage. If you're going to hire third party to do the legwork, I would not hire a Thai-based agent, but a US-based service. The only service I am aware of is https://www.usnotarycenter.com/post/post172 . I have not used them and I have no information about how reliable they are. I am not sure they can assist with step 4/ - Thai consulate certification.

Sadly, more and more that seems to be the case...

I am confused. I thought for visa exempt one needed both the onward ticket and money on person. (Of course it is understood that IOs do not always check.)

@connda - I disagree with most of Harari's political positions, but I don't read books to confirm my political bias. He has a unique way of understanding and interpreting history, and an equally unique way of assessing the future. I can say without hesitation that his books Sapiens and Homo Deus are among the most inspiring books I have read over the past few years. Turns out that Nexus is equally interesting.

Nexus - a new book by Yuval Noah Harari, where he talks about the complex relationship between information and truth, bureaucracy and mythology, wisdom and power. Complemented by The Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges, with motifs such as dreams, labyrinths, chance, infinity, archives, mirrors, fictional writers and mythology.

Miles Davis - Pangaea

There is free internet access at most airports... may have click through a few ads to connect...

For testing, a hotspot is all you need. You really don't need to wait for a power outage. Just unplug the UPS from the wall and, voilà, you have a power outage.

This is getting more and more bizarre... Do you really think that this forum is monitored by the AIS technical support team in order to provide answers in case GammaGlobulin has an AIS related question? Unless you do, why don't you just do what the rest of us would do, instead of asking pointless questions. Connect your damn laptop via AIS mobile and see if it provides connectivity that you need. And make sure to report back the results...

It's quite simple. If the router is powered by a UPS, it will remain fully operational. A separate question is, will there be signal (connectivity). That depends on the facility where the signal is coming from. If that facility is configured to handle a power outage, it will. If it's not, it won't.

Sure, you could buy a laptop with large display and high resolution. It's just not clear how display size and resolution help addressing the power outage problem you're trying to solve. In fact, this opposite is true - smaller display size and lower resolution would likely extend the time the laptop can operate without charging.