TallGuyJohninBKK

I noted your VN comment.... Just recapping what the cited article says...rightly or wrongly: "We are introducing a mega project called Tops CLUB for the first time in Southeast Asia. We've spent two whole years developing this never-before-seen store concept." Tops operates a bunch of different store formats in Thailand, some not all that dissimilar, despite the multitude of different store names. I looked at the Central Retail Group's website for Vietnam, and didn't see anything there regarding a membership warehouse operation there....at least not that I could identify as such... https://centralretail.com.vn/ https://centralretail.com.vn/our-business/food/

Maybe it's just my imagination... But I used to be a regular shopper at Makro prior to their takeover by CP.... And in the wake of that, it seems to me, their selection of imported products narrowed and their prices increased. All in all, I liked the "old" Makro more than the newer CP Makro.

I see there's an article in today's BKK Post Business section on the new Tops Club store.... Can't link to it here per forum rules, but it's available on their website. The article says they're going to focus on imported and so-called premium goods...and will have fresh foods available...though none are shown right now on their Android app.... It's also a bit confusing, because the Post article talks about there being a "free" basic membership, and then the 799/999b per year premium membership. The article says the premium membership includes a 5% shopping discount and free delivery in BKK and surrounding areas thru 2023. And the face behind this thing... a farang.... Stephane Coum, chief executive of Central Food Retail Group The article further says the Tops Club store here is the first of its kind on SE Asia.

There's a "Tops Club" warehouse store in Vietnam already open and running?

They're NUTS if they think I'm gonna cough up 800 or 1000 baht per year for the privilege of being able to buy some packages of Kirkland roasted nuts from the U.S.... They're gonna have to do a lot better than just that! ???? I used to love shopping at (membership warehouse store) Costco in the U.S., because they had loads of stuff I wanted to buy.... at good prices...and often things not found in the regular supermarkets. It remains to be seen whether Tops Club is gonna come anywhere close to that.... On the basis of the stock shown in their Android app one day before their official opening, they're a NO for me, right now.

I'm not seeing folks mention, they're asking for an annual membership fee of 799b, a supposed discount from what they claim will be their regular 999b per year fee. And, when I installed their "Tops Club" Android app on my phone today, and went thru the stock they had listed, there was virtually no fresh food listed at all right now.... no fruits, veggies, meats, cheese, dairy, etc., local or imported. And very sparse of everything else.... though they did have a line of some Kirkland (Costo) products from the U.S., mostly things like bulk packages of various roasted nuts. And some really odd stuff, like 7000b inflatable "Swan" boats. And weirdly, their Android app has product sections for stuff from various foreign countries, the U.S., Australia, Korea, Japan, etc.... But I saw no section of UK stuff at all, which seems odd....

They're basically advising that they'll only do in-person applications in emergency or urgent situations. Of course, there's no definition of exactly what that means. But they're doing their utmost to steer people toward the mailed application route. Since return mail receipts of new U.S. passports have generally been running 2-3 weeks lately from the time you apply, I guess you could claim an urgent situation if you needed the new passport in a timeframe shorter than the 2-3 week turnaround time. PS - I live within walking distance of the U.S. Embassy in BKK... Sent them an email asking, given that, couldn't I just do mine in person. They replied, apply by mail.

I've been wearing N95 masks whenever I'm close around other people outside of the house for the duration of the pandemic, and will continue doing so until COVID is no longer a health risk one way or another. I don't need or rely on Anutin or the Thai government to tell me what to do. I don't care whether Thai people have the custom of wearing them or not, though obviously I'd personally prefer they do. Don't care how many people in my home country (with 1 million+ "officially" dead from COVID) have stopped wearing them. Rather, I follow the science, follow public health agency advice, and follow common sense, and do my best to both safeguard my own health and not endanger the health of those around me. But it does quite amuse me how mask wearing for public health purposes seems to drive some folks here literally crazy.... ???? From June 2022: “Now, more than ever, we need to decrease the transmission of COVID-19,” said Dr. Edje, noting that “Omicron is the most contagious of the variants, so far. It is three times higher than that of the Delta variant and the second most contagious virus known to man, only second to measles. “This is the reason that N95s are recommended for use by the general public,” she added, noting that “N95 masks offer the highest level of protection because they protect against both large and small particles rather than just large particles.” --Louito Edje, MD, a family physician and associate dean of graduate medical education at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-wearing-n95-masks

That's in large part because the TH government changed what they were counting as reported COVID cases.... Before, they were counting actual cases, more or less, based on positive tests... Then more recently, they changed to only counting COVID cases involving hospitalization. That's mainly what drove the change. When they rarely talk publicly about actual cases lately, it's in the realm of 30K to 60K to 100K PER DAY, estimated. https://thainewsroom.com/2022/08/04/ccsa-over-200000-people-tested-positive-for-covid-19-via-atk-last-week/ https://thainewsroom.com/2022/07/26/thai-doctor-now-ignores-daily-covid-tally-amid-big-jump-in-atk-positive-total/ and further, from Aug. 19, 2022: "COVID-19 infections in 44 of Thailand’s provinces, including Bangkok, have been increasing, with an average rate of 31,148 cases a day between August 7th and 13th, according to Spokesman for the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin. ... CCSA advisor, Dr. Udom Kachinthorn said today (Friday), before the CCSA meeting, that the actual infection rate should, however, be between 60,000 and 70,000 cases a day, as many are not reported to the authorities." https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-infections-on-the-rise-in-44-provinces-over-30000-new-cases-a-day/

And further from the same Fortune article: "The tangle of Omicron spawns—with or without a new parent variant—could make for a rough fall and winter, Ray said. His advice? Continue to mask and get your booster. And remember that the pandemic isn’t over. “There are people who predicted COVID would be over by Easter of last year,” he said."

As far as Thai TV presenters wearing face masks are concerned, I'd presume it's a worthwhile attempt on the government and MoPH's part to set a good mask wearing general example for the general public. After all.... "People are advised to put on masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places."

Yes... 4 months after your last prior shot seems to be the current general rule for timing. I got my 5th COVID vaccine shot earlier this month at a private hospital, after getting #s 3 and 4 at Bang Sue.

You always have to present your passport when getting a vaccination either from the government or a private hospital, AFAIK. But I've never had any of them specifically check the status of my visa or extension of stay, AFAIK.

I don't see you posting any credible scientific or medical or news source to back up what you're claiming, including how often things go one way or the other. And "generally" less severe meaning what....half of the time, 60%, 70%? Meaning there still remains some likelihood of things going the other way, as my posted news source above documents with real-life past episodes involving Ebola and others. From the above cited USA Today news report: ""The statement that 'in the history of virology, there has never, ever, been a viral mutation that resulted in a virus that was more lethal' appears to be quite untrue," Timothy Sheahan, virologist and assistant professor for the Gillings School of Global Public Health of the University of North Carolina, told USA TODAY."

Interesting report... Several things about its findings... 1. They made findings as to the amounts of titanium dioxide in SOME types of masks, moreso in the reuseable cloth/woven varieties than the single use disposable styles. 2. They made no findings as to whether or how much ofthat compound is released and inhaled from those particular masks when worn. From the report: "Face mask have an important role in the measures against the COVID-19 pandemic1. So far, no data are available that indicate that the possible risk associated with the presence of TiO2 particles in face masks outweighs the benefits of wearing face masks as protection measure. That is why we do not call for people to stop wearing face masks. However, the warning of Palmeiri et al.5 for the possible future consequences caused by a poorly regulated use of nanotechnology in textiles should be extended to face masks where TiO2 particles are applied conventionally, as a white colorant or as a matting agent, or to assure durability reducing polymer breakdown by ultraviolet light3,4." AND "No assumptions were made about the likelihood of the release of TiO2 particles itself, since direct measurement of release and inhalation uptake when face masks are worn could not be assessed." Also, their study seems to have involved 12 randomly selected types of masks obtained in the EU.... none of which were certified by the U.S. NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) -- which typically certifies the top-line N95 type facemasks.

There have been more than 6.5 million official COVID deaths worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic. And multiple studies estimate the true number at anywhere from 18-20 million. The largest share of those deaths occurred early in the pandemic prior to vaccines becoming available and then during the Delta variant wave. So there's many millions of people who would prove you wrong -- if they weren't dead already.

The alternative of doing nothing clearly would have been far worse. And there's no credible source that suggests otherwise.

COVID-19 vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives in 1 year Jun 24, 2022 "COVID vaccines reduced the potential global death toll during the pandemic by almost two-thirds in their first year, saving an estimated 19.8 million lives, according to a mathematical modeling study yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases." https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/06/covid-19-vaccines-saved-estimated-20-million-lives-1-year AND Half a million in Thailand saved by Covid vaccine Thai researcher believes that the government’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign has saved over 490,000 lives over the last two years. https://aseannow.com/topic/1266704-half-a-million-in-thailand-saved-by-covid-vaccine/

Nope, last recent update from the government here was projecting sometime into 2023.

COVID: EU warns 'completely new' strains possible this winter Amid concerns about a new wave of infections this fall and winter, the European Commission urged member-states to start rolling out COVID booster shots as soon as possible. ... "The urging comes after the EU's medicines agency approved vaccines from Moderna and BioNTech-Pfizer that have been updated to tackle the omicron subvariant." ... "The measures include prioritizing adapted booster shots for higher-risk population groups, as well as trying to close coverage vaccination gaps for those who have not yet received a full dose or first booster — particularly among children who are now eligible for the jab. Countries have also been urged to maintain vaccination capacities by either reactivating vaccination centers or having general practitioners administer jabs." https://www.dw.com/en/covid-eu-warns-completely-new-strains-possible-this-winter/a-63006769

I believe some people have claimed here before, I believe without any credible proof, that virus mutations always become less virulent with time. From what I've read, there's little to no scientific evidence that that's always the case... may be sometimes... may not be other times. IMHO, best to stay up-to-date with COVID vaccinations and follow basic, common sense health precautions against COVID -- unless someone wants to end up being a COVID guinea pig for whatever variant comes next. Fact check: Yes, viruses can mutate to become more deadly The claim: Viruses never mutate to become more lethal ... " Experts say viral mutation is a complex calculus but there are several instances where viruses have evolved into more lethal strains." "Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that viruses never mutate to become more lethal. Ebola, the West Nile virus and the Spanish flu from the 1918 pandemic are all examples of viruses that became more lethal after mutating, experts say." https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/14/fact-check-viruses-can-mutate-become-more-deadly/7839167002/

The various government declared "pandemic" declarations of COVID may be ending in various places by various agencies. And yes, treatments are getting better and Omicron has generally been milder. But that doesn't mean COVID the virus and disease is over and done, because it's not and there's no sign it's going to vanish off the health landscape any time soon. It may be just a matter of waiting for the next wave or a next variant of the virus that causes a different kind or level of health problems. COVID: EU warns 'completely new' strains possible this winter Amid concerns about a new wave of infections this fall and winter, the European Commission urged member-states to start rolling out COVID booster shots as soon as possible. https://www.dw.com/en/covid-eu-warns-completely-new-strains-possible-this-winter/a-63006769 Is a Fall COVID-19 Surge Coming to the U.S.? "The combination of waning COVID-19 immunity and colder weather on the horizon that will see more people heading indoors could send infections right back up, with the trend reversing as soon as next month. “We are expecting a rise,” says Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. “The rise will be in reported cases. There'll be a rise in hospitalization and mortality but not as high proportionally to the rise in cases simply because many of us – the majority of Americans right now – have been either infected or vaccinated or both, so we have some immunity.” https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2022-09-02/is-a-fall-covid-19-surge-coming-to-the-u-s

Variously.... --to keep people from dying of COVID. --to keep people from ending up sick in the hospital from COVID. --to as much as possible prevent people from spreading COVID to others, who then end up dying or getting sick from COVID. --to prevent people from being unable to work post-COVID infections because they have long COVID symptoms like shortness of breath, inability to concentrate, "brain fog," etc etc. --to prevent COVID from prematurely killing off huge numbers of elderly people living in nursing homes and community care facilities. etc etc....

The earlier versions of COVID (original and Delta) definitely weren't anywhere close to being the same as colds or flus, as attested to by the millions who died from COVID in the earlier going. But even now, Omicron isn't the same either, even for those who get off with only light symptoms during the active infection period. Long COVID symptoms continue to afflict a share of those even during the Omicron period. "In a pre-print paper, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers from the City University of New York sampled over 3,000 US adults between June 30 and July 2, 2022, during the Omicron BA.5 surge. They found that 17.3 percent of respondents had experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection." ... "Most worryingly, some 21.5 percent of the respondents who caught COVID-19 reported experiencing long-COVID symptoms at least four weeks after their infection. This included symptoms like fatigue, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, and the much-dreaded "brain fog." https://www.iflscience.com/a-spike-of-a-dreaded-covid-19-side-effect-may-have-hit-the-us-this-summer-65382

I was out before the noon lunch break yesterday, and that was with an extra hour of delay having to get a paid bank statement demanded by a fussy IO... In the last three years, I've always finished getting my extension and re-entry permit prior to the noon lunch break. I'm good for that. But I don't begrudge others who choose to handle their business in a different way. Just share what works for me, and why.