steve73

In late 2017 as BTC headed towards its giddy heights it represented less than 60% of the total crypto market valuation.  This share dropped to under 50% at the Dec high, and then down to less than 35% as the "alts" played catchup in the first couple of months of '18.

This time around BTC was over 60% in Nov '20, and has been increasing since then to over 70% now, indicating it is outpacing all the others, at least collectively.

I think this is due to the mainly institutional investors this time around that will be looking for stability, and a store of value as the fiat currencies are printed excessively with QE, so I don't think we'll see a collapse like 2018, at least not until we're over $2-400k.... bwtfdik.

Mike Maloney (a big Gold supporter) published a couple of videos on U-tube asking  Bitcoin: Is it too late? which are well worth watching whether you favour Bitcoin OR gold.  I'm not posting the link as I got banned previously for posting a U-tube link,  so you have to find it yourselves - sorry..!!!. 

15,000 fatalities is around half what it was a few years ago... so perhaps the Covid lockdowns & alcohol ban has made some impact.

But a million injuries is shocking.. that's 1.5% of the population...!

40 million foreign "visitors" last year equates to around 110,000 per day... And this year there's been just 40,000 since July, or what would normally arrive in less than 9 hours....  Nothing to crow about..

I hope they keep the numbers low until the country can adequately protect its residents, and if this means mandatory vaccinations for ALL arrivals then so be it.

Thailand had done extremely well in preventing the spread of Covid, and I just hope they can keep it up in what is hopefully the final stages.  I'm not expecting (or hoping) 2021 to be much busier than this year.

So ASQ is costing the tourist 3-4,000 bt per day.  Probably about the same as a short-term tourist would normally be spending, but then of course he would be spreading around a bit more, and helping the wider Thai economy....

But there should be alternatives for those with visa extension who have their own place to self Q... but of course it would need to be properly policed.... and we all know how this could be "avoided"...

9 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

They won't extend beyond period your insurance is valid. And, for extension they will require that it be fro ma Thai company i.e. can't use a foreign policy whereas you could for the initial visa

Is insurance now mandatory for those on a non-O PtS extension (for retirement)..?

If you don't fancy the idea of a holder that straps onto your boot (tailgate??) cover,  you can also get a rack that fits on the roof.  They're a bit more cumbersome to load and offload, but there's nothing protruding behind.

Not sure if they're available in T/L, but then there are other types that fit onto a rear tow hitch to take the weight, rather than simply hanging off the body. 

7 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

So, I've set the ball lower.

 

Trying the colour test again. Damn, that food colouring doesn't come off the hands, but at least I smell like a nice cake(vanilla).

 

 

Try lifting the ballcock to shut off the water when the flush tank is empty....  Use a loop of string tied to a small stick across the tank.

Does the water coming in stop?  If not the incoming cock valve could be passing (and the tank overflowing).

If the water definitely stops filling the tank, does the pump continue cycling..?  If so, there's a(nother) leak somewhere else.

Having set the ball lower, does the level rise as high as it did before - if so the cock-valve is passing/leaking.

You can test how much the leak is by opening any tap slowly, and see how much water comes out between pump cycles..  It's usually only a few cup-fulls, so over a few minutes, you'd hardly notice it.

Hope this makes sense to you...!

9 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

<snip>

I know a lot of guys have said the system didn't work or worked when it wanted too and I remember a few years ago trying it and it didn't work, so my question is, what changed and when if anyone knows ?

It's always worked for me since it was first introduced (and also for around 6 of my friends I've helped with, and I've never failed with any of them).

It's important that you use ALL the drop-down menu where available.. (Others have reported here about new PP's, etc. that I've never had to deal with so can't comment.)

There have been a few recent changes - it now accepts Chrome (apparently - I've always used IE for this so can't comment), and since the past 6-9 months it now gives me an immediate approval in a pop-up window as soon as I hit the submit button (Rayong). 

And I also hear there is now an App... although I've heard mixed reports about that.  I'll stick with what I know works..

14 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

I would imagine if they sent me an email it would be something on the lines of a document to print off and put into my passport with the new date, just like we get when we go into the office doing it that way, or alternatively if I don't get an email and find it on the system, then I would just print it off there ?

The e-mail they (might) send you will just inform you that your report has been approved.

You then need to go back into their system and "check the status of your application", and from there you can print the "date of the next report".  Note: that the "Check status" defaults to the application reference number (that you probably didn't record), but you can switch to "Name", "PP#", & "Nationality" and check using those. 

55 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

 

It seems to be going on for just a couple of seconds but every minute or so.

OK - so your non-return valve is OK.  As it's holding pressure for a few minutes it'll be a very slow leak.  (You can open a tap VERY slowly and see how little you need before the pump starts, and that'll give you an idea of the size of leak you're looking for.)  It could also be that your expansion tank is full of water (leaking bladder so no air), but that would typically cause it to cycle quite quickly when a tap is only cracked open.

I always install a separate air reservoir to give a bit more "surge" capacity so it doesn't turn on/off for something a small as a dripping tap, or slowly leaking WC flush tank.  A 2m length of 2" PVC pipe mounted vertically with an isolation, vent, and drain valve connected anywhere on the pump outlet works well, and will extend the pump cycle frequency from minutes to hours (and is easier than chasing out all your piping to try to find a really small leak).

Food dye in the W/C flush tank will often detect a small leak, but some WC's have a small routing direct into the "S" bend (to break the syphon when it flushes), so it may not show in the bowl...  You need to turn off the water to each WC in turn to be sure they're not leaking (lift the ball-cock if there's no external shut-off valve). 

How long is it on... how long is it off..? 

If on for a few seconds then off for more than a minute or so - yes it suggest a leak.  But if it's on/off/on/off rapidly it suggests a passing NRV at the pump suction.

Make sure you use the drop down calendar for the "Arrived in Thailand" field.

I've had problems when entering the date directly even using the sames format and delimiters.

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

It's a bigger gamble owning stock right now. I'm amazed at how some friends have seen a recovery in the DOW, which is OBVIOUSLY just propped up by Munchkin and Trump so they can keep their jobs, and they are NOT selling. Why on earth would anyone NOT sell with the greatest Depression just round the corner?

There's so much printing going on (QE) that will keep many of the stock prices high, at least the one's that have a viable business after all of this...  There will almost certainly be a depression, but the markets won't show it as such.  Otherwise Gold (and miners, etc) will prevent a loss of value, and as you say, Bitcoin (plus a few other CCs...)

The only raw meat I eat * is the raw shrimp salad..

But I won't go as far as to eat the live "jumping" shrimp.

* Apart from a rare steak, ceviche, or smoked salmon..

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

snip..

I'm not aware of any health condition that is improved by obesity.

Starvation perhaps... sorry!

Lots of discussion on various forums about the benefits of maintaining a healthy level of Vitamin D, and that requires adequate exposure to sunlight.  

Not saying it's the be all and end all, but it possibly contributes more here (especially in the rural farming provinces) than the Air Conditioned cities of the more highly developed west... and possibly why locking down hinders rather than helps.  

Transferwise offers the best rate/lowest fees.  You need to first set it up using your own sending UK bank details, but you can pay out to any named account.  A regular transfer usually arrives the next receiving bank working day.

Once you're set up and made one regular transfer, you should open a "borderless" account for GBP & THB.  Then anyone can pay GBP in to YOUR GBP account (free from most? UK banks), you can convert it at will (@0.58% less than MMR at the time), and when you send it to your/anyone's Thai account (fee 59 bt) it usually arrives in seconds.

YMMV..

So public parks will open.. Wonder if that includes beaches... I'm getting fed up swimming in the dark..