bamboozled

Yes, that's the point of the post. Riffing on the reasons for the movements, up or down.

8 minutes ago, kennw said:

FX transactions are much larger than all stock trades world wide. The Thai Baht trend line offered speculator opportunity, ie. the dip. Look at the trend line though, try to catch it on the up. 

Can you explain what you're getting at? The first part is easy enough, FX is huge. But what opportunity did the baht offer? It was becoming less valuable, as far as I could tell. So how was that an opportunity?

The bath never goes up that fast but always much slower, despite all the negative factors. The USD, however, can change quickly. Perhaps that's due to the size of the economy and all the players. But I'm pretty dumb on the subject.

14 minutes ago, tonray said:

It means interest rates in the US are expected not to rise as quickly as previously anticipated. When rates rise...it makes investment in dollars more attractive to alternatives. Since rates will not rise as fast as expected (presumably) then the dollar will not be as attractive, thereby lowering its xchange rate against other currencies, all other things being equal.

That makes some sense. So complicated. So I guess USD going down against the baht is sort of happenstance? Or are big Thai players trading dollar for baht and influencing it? As SpiderMike says, it looks pretty grim here right now. But nothing new there. You only have to look at the last few years to see that it never seems to make a difference. The teflon baht slip-slides along. True I have some emotional bias in the game so maybe I'm not seeing things clearly. Sure, plenty of huge problems in the US, too.

35 minutes ago, tonray said:

https://www.ft.com/content/cf64e783-e2fb-4437-bcfd-396ae8a7254a

 

The key takeaway is the inflation report was not a blowout and was in line with expectations, leading traders (who influence real interest rates, which in turn influence the attractiveness of Treasury investments and the dollar) to believe that any rise in rates due to a withdrawal of monetary stimulus would be gradual as expected and not a sudden unexpected surge.

Ok, so they're ok with the rate of inflation, is what you're saying (I can't read that link unfortunately)? But how does that influence the dollar to go down against the baht?

7 minutes ago, tonray said:

NO...USA inflation report. The dollar has a lot more to do with the Baht/Dollar exchange rate than the Thai economy does

Didn't the US report say inflation was continuing to climb in the US? As for the Thai economy not contributing to the exchange rate, are we saying that nothing that happens in the Thai economy will affect the baht's performance? That clearly can't be true but I can see how it's more of a small boat in a big sea. Well, I know it's a very complicated mechanism and I guess I'm trying to make it simple. I suppose that's why it's such a fun puzzle to think about. Confounding.

This might be on another post somewhere but I didn't find it. This is the eternal question, of course, and yes, I have USD. I'm not really asking the hows and why in general as that's an endless debate. The USD has been going up against the baht a decent bit in the last month or two. I'm just curious what might have caused the .30 drop in the last couple of days. That's the biggest movement in that time span in a long while and it surprised me as the economic signs here are not good. There must have been some news or action that prompted that movement...anyone?

Thanks!

27 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

If fake it could also be a lifesaver to not use - had another model (copy of Black Hole) several years ago that the cheap plastic fan caught fire and entire plastic case became an open flame - luckily was during day in occupied room so no major damage but could have been serious.  Bought this model specifically because of the computer grade fan system and Japanese made light (unit itself made in Taiwan).  Suspect Black Hole brand would also be good but again very expensive and many fakes/copies.   Below is what lamp and fan should look like on real Portoti PR-25MB and the item itself out of stock at 899 baht is same dealer I bought from.  They seem to have a new water drowning type for about 1,600 that is probably good but can not be sure and highly advise not buying really cheap units do to fire dangers.

https://www.lazada.co.th/shop-outdoor/portoti/?spm=a2o4m.pdp_revamp.0.0.f6c116a34NsEpw

Looking at those pics, the fan in the one I have looks more like the one on the left, that is, it has a housing around it. But the lights are those LED lights. Hmm, all the talk on here that the light does not attract the mosquitos so maybe UV or LED doesn't matter? I don't know anymore. What is supposed to kill the mosquito in this thing, anyway? Just trapping them in the bottom? The cost is ridiculous. You could make this set-up yourself for about 100 baht that probably would work better. Small fan, container, screen, and a light. Hmm, I might do it! No word back yet from the seller. Does Lazada intervene in these cases or is it just between me and the seller directly?

8 hours ago, internationalism said:

I have refused to pay for this lazada 839b trap.

Parcel was very small and very light. I did expect something substantial, several kg and cubic feet size box.

I need with transformer and plug, not usb. Will look on lazada at the other shops

I initiated a return. Not sure how that will go. Even if I send it back and don't get the refund, well, won't be any MORE of a loss. Just won't have that piece of garbage sitting around. Did you refuse the delivery after reading of my experience, by chance? Though I noted how light the box was, I was not quick enough on my feet to refuse the delivery.

Best to pull the engine....taking the <deleted>, of course. This seems like a lying awake in the middle of the night type of worry. I get them. I would just wrap a cotton rag around the lead.

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Starting to sound fake - light is not LED and a thin/straight straw size lamp made in Japan - plug is 220v transformer (no USB) - fan is computer grade and replaceable.  And advertising and photos on that link seem to show same unit as mine as being sent to customers although advertised photo slightly different (long feet which is not on mine - and look of plastic on side openings which is mesh screen on mine).  

I don't happen to have a lot of mosquitos buzzing around at the moment, strangely, so not the best time to test it. But looking at it and picking it up, seems like it should come out of a gumball machine. Maybe I'll return it, if possible. Thanks for your time.

11 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Although it looks a bit different than what I ordered believe same unit but newer and indeed it is small and light - and best to hang rather than place on ground (instructions should point that out).  Give it a try and count the dead - believe you will be impressed (unless using in a mosquito free area).  

Thanks, Lopburi. Yes, I absolutely wasn't trying to slam you in any way, nor the other poster, and appreciate the advice. I just didn't read at all the description (in Thai anyway!) and was expecting something that was bigger and more robust. Certainly seems quite expensive for some plastic and a cheap fan motor. What do you think justifies the price, if anything?

I don't know if it's a UV light....the 6 purple dots where the light is coming from look to me like LEDs but I suppose I might not know the difference. The plug is a USB plug, which I'm not all that happy about. How about your version, Lopburi!

Cheers, Bam

I've been lurking in the background of this thread and bought one of the first mentioned zappers mentioned and here is the link:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/portoti-pr-25mb-mosquito-pest-killer-i2446139267-s8486400578.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.22.11242510T69CT1&search=1&freeshipping=1

It just arrived about 30 minutes ago. I have no idea yet if it works or not but just wanted to mention how surprised I was at the small size and lightweight. I will admit to not reading the listing, I just went on the recommendation of the other posters and not calling them out at all. But just saying....it's about the size of a coffee can, but with an umbrella head. Just really small. And weights far less than that coffee can does. It looks like a little toy. Yeah, might be good for under your desk but can't imagine for much more given its size. It is not an industrial killing machine, I would think but happy to be proven wrong. It's just so tiny and cheap feeling. But again, this is all anecdotal and again, not complaining about it. Just pointing out the tiny size and cheap quality. Must weight about 250 grams.

Cheers, Bam

6 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Where are u seeing the dinners  and drinking? 

In Chiang Mai, on personal property, either inside a yard or half on the sidewalk in front of a shop house. Not in restaurants...all private affairs. But some of them are big, 10-12 people. Or 3 or 4 friends having BBQ's with beer and whiskey.

Horrible. I would think drugs involved, too. Or a lot of drink. I'm sure it WAS an accident. Accident in the sense that he most likely did not want to kill her in the big picture. Something caused a snap in the brain and blind anger and irrationality came to the forefront and took over. How else can one make sense of these things? Tragic for everyone involved.

You can have an operation (not cheap!) to become ethnically Thai after which the mosquitos will no longer bother you.

What I'm getting at, of course, is that, for example, I sit outside with my wife and she's got not a care in the world concerning the 'skeeters while I, on the other hand, actually, no, let me take that hand back, I need BOTH for swatting the buggers!

For years, I had severe diarrhea immediately after eating anything at all. I went for check ups in this regard, had 2 colonoscopies, and had stool sample tests, at 3 different times in 3 different hospitals, Chiang Mai Ram, Rajevej in Chiang Mai and Bumrungrad in Bkk, and nothing was ever found. This included allergy tests at Bumrungrad, if I remember correctly. It was considered IBS, as well, but I wasn't really convinced of that. I tried various diets and what not on my own but nothing worked. At some point, I got a tenacious ear infection which kept coming back even after taking different antibiotics prescribed by the hospital. Finally, after coming back a third time, I was prescribed Ciprofloxacin. It got rid of the ear infection for good....and also cured my chronic diarrhea. Boy, I never fell in love with an ear infection like I fell in love with that one, let me tell you!

My point is not that you should take Ciprofloxacin, necessarily, but that even multiple tests and check-ups might not pinpoint the problem. My conclusion had been that the stool sample tests did not find the bacteria that was ailing me. But in writing this, I suppose I cannot conclude that it was a gut bacteria that was causing the problem. I can only say that when I took the Cipro, the diarrhea stopped. I don't recall what they tested for but these days you hear a lot about C. difficile popping up and I don't think that was something that was checked; I'm not sure Thailand 5 years ago had that on the radar. I believe Cipro is one antibiotic that is used to eradicate that bacteria and so, well, I sometimes think that was perhaps what was ailing me. Anyhow, that's my story and perhaps it can help you.

Cheers and good luck, Bam

I don't know about the fungus and my knowledge is pretty anecdotal but this "rust" thing is extremely common. All the leaves will turn brown and fall off and the tree will remain like that for a long period. Then, eventually, the leaves will regrow and for a brief period the tree will look pretty. But soon the rust starts again and the cycle repeats. If I remember correctly, you can get flowers even though the tree has no leaves which at least softens the blow. But I've gotten rid of the ones I had as they were too much trouble and spent most of their lives looking pretty ugly.

Cheers, Bamboozeled

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Historical.... prisons were overlooked for some time early on in this wave, then, when tested, it caused rather a frightening jump in total numbers. To make this less a source of panic, the numbers were listed separately and it just carried on that way. 

Thanks. I do remember that sudden jump and prison inclusion. It seems as if, by presenting them as separate, you needn't worry about them as much. As if it doesn't matter because they are in prison. Hmm, perhaps because it's a closed group of people so not a source of infection for non-prisoners.

There's a fix it guy near that long defunct bar Las Vegas, if you know where that is. On the opposite side of the street...you'll see all the fans and what not spilling out into the street. If you're standing looking at Las Vegas, it will be on your right, about 100m down the road. I know, crummy directions. Gee, not sure he's still there, either, but I've had a few things fixed there over the years.

9 minutes ago, pagallim said:

Sounds a nightmare, good luck..

Look! It's compassion! We need more of THIS folks. Not friction and animosity. Nice job, pagallim. Kudos to you, and good luck to rickudon. And everybody for that matter.