TallGuyJohninBKK

COVID spreading quickly in San Diego County Health department recommends caution as summer wave crests August 1, 2024 According to the latest public health update, San Diego County’s seven-day test positivity rate hit 20.5 percent last week, technically the second-highest number recorded since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and a sure sign that coronavirus is hitting the community hard this summer. San Diego County, it seems, is running a little hotter than the state and nation in this leading indicator of viral activity. The region’s latest test positivity results are one week more recent than comparable numbers for the state and nation. But looking back to two weeks ago, San Diego County’s rate was 19.3 percent, compared to the state rate of 13.8 percent and the nationwide rate of 14.3 percent. (more) https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/08/01/covid-spreading-quickly-in-san-diego-county/ COVID summer surge: CDC data shows cases ‘very high' in California July 31, 2024 A COVID summer surge has the virus hitting record levels in some areas. The virus is booming nationwide and especially high in the west coast. CDC wastewater data map shows COVID is "very high" and 19 states, including California, are currently considered "very high" zones. "I'm also hearing that everyone is getting it right now in the community," UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong said. (more) https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/covid-summer-surge/3609997/ Data shows severe COVID cases, deaths surging in Marin County August 3, 2024 MILL VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- COVID cases are back with a vengeance in Marin County this summer. Last month, the county saw its highest number of deaths from the disease in over a year. "What we're seeing right now, are higher rates than we're seeing last winter," said Marin County's Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis. (more) https://abc7news.com/post/severe-covid-cases-deaths-surging-marin-county/15135575/

CDC COVID update for August 2, 2024: COVID-19 "Most areas of the country are experiencing consistent increases in COVID-19 activity. COVID-19 test positivity, emergency department visits, and rates of COVID-19–associated hospitalizations remain elevated, particularly among adults 65+. Surges like this are known to occur throughout the year, including during the summer months." https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00 COVID-19 "As of July 30, 2024, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 35 states and territories, declining or likely declining in 2 states and territories, and are stable or uncertain in 7 states and territories." https://www.cdc.gov/forecast-outbreak-analytics/about/rt-estimates.html With the absence of any comprehensive COVID infection testing and reporting program in the U.S. and reduced reporting of COVID hospitalization data, public health officials increasingly have turned to wastewater monitoring of COVID viral content as a primary indicator of COVID activity and trends in the country, as follows: States with "very high" COVID wastewater levels: North Carolina Maryland Colorado Wyoming Delaware Dist. of Columbia Louisiana Arkansas Alaska California New Mexico Utah Washington Florida Texas Minnesota Hawaii Mississippi Missouri Kansas South Carolina Oregon Idaho "This map shows the median Wastewater Viral Activity Level of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) reported by wastewater treatment plants within each state or territory over the previous week. Wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick go to their doctor or hospital. It can also detect infections without symptoms. If you see increased Wastewater Viral Activity Levels of SARS-CoV-2, it might indicate that there is a higher risk of infection." https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-nationaltrend.html

Here's the charts from the latest UKHSA weekly COVID update for England as of Aug. 1: My text summary - weekly COVID new cases (not an especially reliable indicator these days) and weekly COVID deaths both increased since the last weekly report, with new weekly COVID deaths breaching the 200 mark for the first time since late February. The COVID testing positivity rate (7-day rolling average) declined very slightly since the last weekly report but remained high at 15.8%. There was no updated data for COVID new hospital admissions since the last weekly report. https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/ https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/topics/covid-19#deaths Weekly COVID deaths from the most recent weekly low in May: Weekly data for deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate in England Up to and including 19 July 2024 (some prior week figures also have been revised vs prior weekly reports): Date -- Amount 19 Jul 2024 -- 211 12 Jul 2024 -- 198 5 Jul 2024 -- 163 28 Jun 2024 -- 175 21 Jun 2024 -- 149 14 Jun 2024 -- 156 7 Jun 2024 -- 146 31 May 2024 -- 113 24 May 2024 -- 147 17 May 2024 -- 168 10 May 2024 -- 93 https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/ https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/ https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/topics/covid-19#testing

But remember, there's NO prostitution in Pattaya, so the authorities often remind us... So all of that 75% must be going on elsewhere!

I'd revise that slightly, as follows: 81% of Thailand's attraction are these "sexual services". 15% for the beaches, 3% for the [street] food and 1% the temples. 🙂

Well, it's been approved in India...but in doing some searching, I couldn't readily find much of any indication of to what extent it's actually been / being used there. The Washington University announcements seem pretty quiet on that point. Likewise, in doing some searching, I found Phase III trial data that mostly involved the India nasal vaccine impact in the blood work of humans against the original first COVID variant that arose in China... and nothing relating to the current crop of COVID virus variants. I also was unable to find any studies that compared the nasal vaccine's actual impact on preventing illness and blocking transmission in human populations vs other vaccines such as the mRNA ones in comparable human populations (as opposed to just measuring their respective bloodwork immunity indicators).

The broader ratings don't appear to be suffering at all... quite the contrary in fact: Olympics Bring Huge Audiences to NBCUniversal Over Opening Weekend Across all platforms, the first three days from Paris improve by almost 80 percent over the Tokyo Games three years ago. July 29, 2024 Through the first three full days of the games, NBCU is averaging 34.5 million viewers across all of its linear networks and digital platforms for its primary telecasts. The ratings figures include both what it calls “Paris Prime” — 2-5 p.m. ET in the United States, when a host of medal events air live — and the U.S. primetime telecasts. After drawing 28.6 million viewers for Friday’s opening ceremony, the weekend telecasts got even bigger: Saturday’s total audience was 32.4 million, and on Sunday — which featured the first day of competition for Simone Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team — 41.5 million people tuned in, according to custom fast national ratings from Nielsen (for linear broadcasts) and Adobe Analytics (for streaming and digital). https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2024-olympics-tv-ratings-opening-weekend-1235961393/

Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Score 28.6 Million Viewers for NBC Jul 27, 2024 The watery spectacle of Friday’s Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Games delivered 28.6 million viewers for NBCUniversal platforms, making it the most-watched kick off for a summer Olympics since London in 2012. ... The theatrical, four-hour ceremony that aired live on Friday afternoon in the U.S. came in 10 million viewers higher than NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Tokyo opening ceremony in 2021 and more than 2 million higher than Rio in 2016, according to NBCUniversal. https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/paris-olympics-ratings-opening-ceremonies-most-watched-2012-1236087865/

Krungsri (yellow color bank) ATM machines, as posted above, also allow for a maximum of 30K baht withdrawal per transaction -- assuming that the foreign bank card you're using also allows that size of withdrawal. A lot of U.S. debit cards have a default DAILY withdrawal limit of $500 USD or sometimes even less, which would be less than the maximum 30K baht per withdrawal amount allowed by the Krungsri and some other Thai bank ATMs. So the card holder needs to check with their home country bank on what limits it places on the amounts of ATM withdrawals. Sometimes the home country bank will allow the cardholder to increase their daily ATM withdrawal limit, but most won't as it's considered a security measure. Some will allow one-time requests to waive their daily limit that's typically valid for just 24 hours or so before reverting to the norm. Among U.S. card issuers, about the highest daily ATM withdrawal limits I've encountered have been around $1000 USD per day, which would more than cover a 30K baht Thai ATM withdrawal (which currently is running about $835+). But those kinds of cards are not common. On the fees issue, it's a two-sided proposition. On the Thai end, it's pretty much going to be the standard 220 baht ATM fee per withdrawal for foreign VISA and MC debit cards. Some home country banks or card issuers, like brokerages, will reimburse those foreign ATM fees, generally up to some $ limit per month. But most home country banks won't. Then on the home country card issuing entity end, most U.S. banks, CUs and other card issuers will pass along a VISA or MC foreign currency conversion fee, sometimes called a cross border transaction fee, and sometimes add their own added FCF amount in addition to the base card network fees. Those can range anywhere from 1% on all foreign ATM withdrawals or purchases, up to as much as 4%, depending on the card issuer. Obviously, if someone is going to use a home country (including U.S.) debit or credit card while traveling abroad to Thailand or elsewhere, it's in their interest to use debit or credit cards that have no FCF or as small a one as possible. BTW, regarding using foreign debit cards in Krungsri bank ATMs, you need to be careful to avoid their ATMs' on-screen offer of Dynamic Currency Conversion, which if accepted results in your transaction getting a 4-5% lower exchange rate than would otherwise be the case. The DCC offer that appears on their ATM screen when using foreign cards is couched in showing you your ATM withdrawal amount in the currency of your card issuing bank, instead of in Thai baht, which masquerades as some kind of convenience for foreign tourists/travelers. Unless you needlessly want to accept a 4-5% worse currency exchange rate set by the Thai bank on your ATM withdrawal than would otherwise be the case, always choose to DECLINE that on-screen DCC offer. And your ATM withdrawal will then be processed and converted at the normal USD-THB exchange rate as set by either the VISA or MC networks, depending on which brand of card is used.

There's a lot of work and research going on currently with the notion of nasal vaccines. But as the final paragraph of the above cited announcement seems to make clear, that new approach for vaccination remains some ways off from being ready as a proven solution for prime-time, real-world human use. “Mucosal vaccines are the future of vaccines for respiratory infections,” Boon said. “Historically, developing such vaccines has been challenging. There’s still so much we don’t know about the kind of immune response we need and how to elicit it. I think we’re going to see a lot of very exciting research in the next few years [emphasis added] that could lead to big improvements in vaccines for respiratory infections.” One of the questions that seems to often arise with the nasal vaccine approach is just what the duration of effectiveness might be for any any given human administration. And that doesn't seem to be a topic that's addressed at all in the above OP announcement. In other words, if there was a human version of a COVID or avian flu nasal vaccine, how often would it have to be re-administered in order to provide continuing / ongoing protection?

I've been here full-time since the mid-2000s....almost 20 years ago now... And I was really surprised, when at various points along the way, I heard stories from OLDER timers of the various U.S. places that had staked claims in Thailand in past years, only to later disappear... And then by the time I arrived, most folks of my era had never heard of those places ever having been in Thailand before a decade or two earlier.... The institutional memory, such as it is, often isn't very good. But also, you have to be careful... Sometimes, some Thai operator will copy the name of a business or brand (or close to it) in establishing a business here... even though it might have no official/formal relation to the namesake operation in the U.S. Do you know, if the Del Taco location you recall was in fact a legit extension of the U.S. chain?

No, they don't.... https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/newsguard/

NewsGuard is not the only credible source saying the same thing: Fans mistakenly claim performer’s testicle was shown during Olympics opening ceremony Jul 27, 2024 ... "However, while many were convinced that a testicle was on show for the millions watching around the world and pictures of the incident have gone viral on social media, the reality is that it was a simple wardrobe malfunction involving the performer’s tights. [emphasis added] A round hole in the black tights started out as testicle-shaped when Katerine began his song but as the performer unfroze and danced, it became clear that the split was becoming bigger. Later into the performance which then focused on a dance troupe who were floating along the River Seine, the camera cut back to Katerine’s background performers dancing to the music. By that time, the hole in the performer’s black tights had ripped across nearly the entire front part of their right thigh." https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/27/fans-mistakenly-claim-performers-testicle-seen-olympics-opening-ceremony-21310234/

Plus, when you've got your own private jet to flit about, why should any health issues ruin your fun: Thaksin in Chiang Mai again April 15 https://aseannow.com/topic/1324939-thaksin-in-chiang-mai-again/

I feel a large "snacks" package -- stuffed with Thai cash -- might be in the works.... Thailand jails Thaksin lawyers in "snack box" case June 25, 2008 BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Supreme Court jailed a lawyer and two legal advisers of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Wednesday after an apparent attempt to bribe court officials with $60,000 (30,400 pounds) hidden in a paper grocery bag. Pichit Chuenban and two associates representing Thaksin and his wife in a pending land-deal case were responsible for the 2 million baht left in the bag at the Supreme Court compound earlier this month, the court ruled. The bag was found on the day that Thaksin, ousted in a coup in 2006, and his wife were due to appear on charges of violating graft laws that prevent serving politicians and their spouses from striking deals with state agencies. (more) https://www.reuters.com/article/world/thailand-jails-thaksin-lawyers-in-snack-box-case-idUSBKK260867/

COVID-19 epidemic phase to pass mid-August: Taiwan CDC 07/30/2024 Taipei, July 30 (CNA) Although Taiwan is still in a COVID-19 epidemic phase, it is expected to pass by mid-August, said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at a press conference in Taipei on Tuesday. A total of 584 new domestic COVID-19 cases with severe complications were recorded between July 23-29, down from the previous week's 773. The number of deaths from COVID-19 also fell from 124 recorded the previous week to 90, the CDC said. CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said the number of patients seeking medical attention relating to COVID-19 last week was 56,000, 37 percent less than the previous week and the third consecutive week the number has fallen. (more) https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202407300021 Week Ending -- Severe COVID cases -- COVID Deaths June 17 -- 624 -- N/A June 24 -- 817 -- 40 July 1 -- 932 -- 64 July 8 -- 987 -- 99 July 15 -- 896 (revised) -- 104 July 22 -- 773 -- 124 July 29 -- 584 -- 90 Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations have fallen for three weeks, but the recent drop could be due to people staying at home amid last week’s typhoon, the CDC said ... Meanwhile, the 584 new local COVID-19 hospitalizations and 90 deaths reported last week were lower than the weekly numbers in the previous week, Lee said. Genome sequencing data of local infections in the past four weeks showed that the JN.1 and KP.3 subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 each accounted for 24 percent of the cases, while LB.1 was responsible for about 21 percent, she said. The weekly number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has fallen for three weeks, but last week’s drop could be because the typhoon caused the cancelation of many public events and people to stay home, so it might slightly rebound this week, Lo said. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/07/31/2003821560

What a bunch of right wing social media and later regular media claimed was shown in this photo apparently wasn't what was shown at all, per the following credible fact-checking source: One More Thing… No, an Olympics Opening Ceremony Dancer Did Not Expose His Privates NewsGuard "The Janet Jackson moment that wasn’t. What happened: Far-right sources on X are falsely claiming that a dancer who participated in a controversial drag queen skit during the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony exposed his testicles, either intentionally or unintentionally. ... A closer look: As evidence for the claim that a backup dancer exposed his testicles, far-right sources on social media pointed to a photo they said showed one of the dancers, who was dressed in minimal clothing, suffering from a wardrobe malfunction in which the dancer’s privates are exposed. (The performer appears to be French dancer Germain Louvet, who posted a photo of himself wearing the same outfit on Instagram three days after the ceremony, on July 29.) ... Actually: The dancer’s testicles were not exposed. Users appear to have misinterpreted upper thigh skin for his testicles coming loose and dropping out of his suit. A NewsGuard review of the video footage from the opening ceremony found that Louvet’s tights ripped, revealing his upper thigh, which some viewers mistakenly thought were his exposed privates." (more) https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/false-olympics-claims-terrorism-crime?open=false#§one-more-thing-no-an-olympics-opening-ceremony-dancer-did-not-expose-his-privates

the wife and I shared a couple of baskets of them here at Red Lobster... one complimentary, and then a 2nd one paid.... I don't think I'd ever had them in the U.S., so nothing to compare to... But, they were "biscuits," and we had no problem eating them... But not anything I'd personally go out of my way to grab....

There's also a regular, free shuttle bus service that runs from beneath the Udomsuk BTS station on the Sukhumvit Line out to the Mega Bangna mall...and back, of course. Pickup spot on the outbound side of Sukhumvit in front of the 7-11 shop there, if memory serves. Now with IHOP at Mega Bangna gone and the new IKEA store opened at Emsphere near Phrom Phong BTS, there's a whole lot fewer reasons for me to trek out to Mega Bangna lately...

Believe one of the OP linked articles says that hush puppies are NOT on the Thailand LJS menu... But Cheddar Bay Biscuits are on the Red Lobster Thailand menu... if your wallet is fat enough! 🙂

Taco Bell U.S. took it in the shorts lately courtesy of my preferred Mexican fast food alternative that I'd love to come here...but almost certainly won't... Del Taco. Taco Bell rival takes top spot for best fast food chain in US – and fans swear the number two choice is ‘a lie’ AMERICANS have voted on the top 10 best fast food chains, and a surprising taco spot was ranked number one. Jul 22 2024 The first place most people think of when you suggest getting drive-thru tacos is Taco Bell. It appears that USA Today readers would disagree after they voted Del Taco as the number one fast-food restaurant in the country. The outlet released a list of the top 10 best fast food chains in the country as voted on by readers. The popular Mexican restaurant only has 594 locations, mainly on the West Coast. (more) https://www.the-sun.com/money/11991448/del-taco-voted-best-fast-food-customers-disagree/

Yep, another goner to add to the western eateries list for Thailand: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2276071/aw-restaurant-chain-to-close It predated my arrival in Thailand by a few years, but I think (have been told that) the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and its long aftermath was a fatal blow to a lot of western eatery operations in Thailand in the ensuing years.... And then things began to recover finally in latter years, only to have COVID come along and deal another heavy blow to businesses that relied a lot on tourist / expat foreigners.

I think the RL chain has been having its financial problems in the U.S.... a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and location closures...and an impending sale coming out of bankruptcy. Red Lobster hits a Chapter 11 bankruptcy bump Jul 29, 2024 The company, in a recent court filing, showed that 228 total restaurants cannot make money with their current lease situations. With the 99 Red Lobsters already closed, that suggests that the company could shutter an additional 135 restaurants if landlords object to giving up their past rent claims. ... Red Lobster, as it learns which locations will close, does have a new buyer. The company has accepted a stalking horse bid from Fortress Credit Corp. No other bidder emerged for the company, and the bankruptcy court is expected to approve the deal. https://www.thestreet.com/restaurants/restaurant-chain-closing-more-locations-in-chapter-11-bankruptcy Here, the wife and I tried the QSNCC RL branch soon after it opened, and had a nice, pleasant (albeit expensive) dinner there. The service was really good by Thai standards, friendly, English-speaking and just attentive enough but not overbearing/annoying, and both the steak and the lobster entrees we had were good and up to U.S. standards. But it's not the kind of place that we, or I suspect most people, would go to on a regular/recurring basis... But who knows... The dinner bill for the wife and I: At least, LJS is a more economical seafood option.... and hopefully, keeps to their promise that they're NOT using crap, medicated, diseased farmed seafood from Thailand, Vietnam, China, etc.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Thailand's recent history seems to be littered with attempted western / U.S. restaurants and chains that opened and ultimately failed here... IHOP was one of those, which opened amid great fanfare at Siam Paragon and later Mega Bangna, and fell victim to the COVID downturn in tourism. Carl's Jr. had multiple locations and then closed up in the past year or so. Outback Steakhouse had a location that was open for many years and likewise died and disappeared during COVID. Same with a popular upscale Mexican place named The Mexican in the Nana area. Same with the Clinton St. Baking Co. diner from New York that opened and then closed in Siam Paragon. And those are just scratching the surface off the top of my head.... I'm wondering how long the two Red Lobster outlets (at QSNCC and more recently Emsphere) will survive considering their typical entrees (lobster and steak dishes) run in the $30+ neighborhood before service charge and VAT are added on. And meanwhile, Taco Bell Thailand, which is a very pale substandard imitation of the original version from the U.S., seems to be persevering and has gained a foothold here, probably aided by the fact that the worst of COVID has passed, tourism is returning, and the Thai franchise holder has multiple imported restaurant brands in its portfolio.

Jul 24, 2024 The American fast food seafood chain has finally arrived on Bangkok’s shores. Named for the pirate in “Treasure Island” and a mainstay in American fast food with more than 500 locations, and they’re serving up de la mer classics and fried chicken. Since this might be uncharted territory for a lot of Thai fans, we recommend a safe bet like the fish combo set (B189) which is Long John Silver’s version of crispy fish and chips. Their Bucket Shrimp (B179) is coated with a special signature seasoning while the Chicken and Shrimp combo (B179) adds fried chicken alongside some waffle fries. ... The Thai owners claim their seafood comes from sustainably sourced fish from the Alaskan ocean to the coast of New Zealand. (more) https://bk.asia-city.com/restaurants/news/long-john-silvers-docks-its-first-thai-branch-megabangna https://www.longjohnsilvers.co.th/ Also reported in the BKK Post a week prior via a corporate PR news release: Long John Silver’s Now Serving Thailand Long John Silver’s, the renowned American quality seafood restaurant chain, has just arrived in Bangkok at the retail paradise that is Mega Bangna. Long John Silver’s presents a veritable tasty bounty of glorious seafood from the finest sources, all cooked to perfection in Long John Silver’s secret recipe batter. The interior of its restaurant provides a warm ambiance, fun vibes and a great spot for social media-savvy photos … so ring the captain’s bell as loud as you want, and join in with all of the launch program fun! ... Long John Silver’s distinguishes itself by offering sustainably-caught fish of exceptional quality that is wild-caught and responsibly sourced from the cleanest, most sparklingly clear waters, from the pristine oceans of Alaska to the gentle waters off the coast of New Zealand. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2831497/long-john-silvers-now-serving-thailand Wonder who the master Thailand franchise holder is for this operation? Unfortunate that the OP article above doesn't say. But the articles say the managing director of LJS Thailand is a Supasiri Leelapornpinit, who has previously worked for True Corp. and CP, and posted on LinkedIn at one point re Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen opening in Thailand. There was a Popeyes branch that opened at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok back around 2011, and may have been a branch in Pattaya many years before that, but no indication those have any relation to the current LJS operation. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2831497/long-john-silvers-now-serving-thailand