todlad

Let me take a guess, blind guess. Arrivals area … he could have just arrived … oh look, there’s his passport … do you think he’s really Australian with a name like that? Pshaw! These Thais, can’t even get that right.

Lisa is a very popular young lady and in these days of online and other influencers, she is followed by millions, young and old alike. Example, we recently got a dog and when we started discussing a name for, our eight year old instantly said it should be Lisa!! Our dog is called Lisa. Remember when Lisa, not our dog, said she liked a dish from a small food stall near Buriram railway station? They had three hour queues for a while after that. Personally, I don’t like that orange juice. There is a sinister twist to this. Because Lisa is an internal star, she works with many organizations and brands, one of which was a whisky company. The sinister aspect is that a very shady Thai government spokesman warned children of the potential consequences of being seen to endorse such a product in any way … he was warning children. Like it or not, we have to look after our kids! Otherwise, Lisa and BlackPink are very popular in our household!

Let me get this straight: if the driver was making an illegal turn, we should smash into him? On the other hand, if you were driving the CRV, don't you think you should be aware of the actions of the car in front of you and even anticipate at least some of what they are about to do? Old cheap car? No air bags? Deaths could have been avoided? What drives you to write such things?

Sockets! As we planned our house build, we looked around all sorts of houses ... extension cables, hanging wires everywhere. We put in at least twice as many sockets as anyone else, including some square pin sockets from the UK. That was a good decision. Later, I replaced some of the sockets to include USB chargers. Another good decision. We had some work done in the bedroom and I don't know how they did it but they managed to kill the USB sockets on my side of the bed.

No, it's not like that. I explained to someone on Facebook how my Thai family works. Practical job to do? Father in law does it. If father in law not available, mother in law does it. If mother in law not around, Mrs T does it. At that point, it's my turn, right? Nope! They find a man to do it!! Is that the lazy man's charter? Of course, it could be but I find it frustrating!

Good to see Burma Bill's contribution. My beef with big rip off idea is that I would like better service for my bigger contribution. Pie in the sky, do you think?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the two tier pricing policy in Thailand is divisive but the cost differentials at the places I visit are relatively small and, in many cases, the cashier treats me as Thai equivalent when I am with my Thai family. As for this, though, forget it. If it happens, there may be nothing we can do but watch out for influencers with a vested interest. There are companies that I refuse to patronise when I feel their behaviour does not match my ethical or business compass. On the other hand, when we stayed overnight in Bangkok a few weeks ago we were faced with dual pricing at the hotel. Mrs T called them and made the booking and the staff were very helpful and understanding over their dual pricing policy and she got Thai rates. Covid-19 has hit the world very hard but in the same way that this chap wants me to help him out, there was no one around to help those of us whose incomes dropped massively in 2020 and even into 2021.

This is their policy. Clearly and openly stated months ago. They have done it for strategic, pragmatic reasons. They don't have to vote for or against the war simply because you don't like it.

What is it like to feel so superior? Like many keyboard warriors here, you have doubtless always felt that everyone was wrong but you. Sure in the knowledge that your knowledge is scientifically stellar. And the sheeple who live in Thailand ... Two things: Most of us have come through the pandemic unscathed. Many of us because we followed best practice. Some of us genetically predisposed. Others in spite of themselves. For all of your cockiness and snarky remarks, this is a developing country in many respects and many people are afraid of COVID and they are right to be. Just give them some respect...

They already can.

Even Fauci flip flipped on masks. You are right and I have read one of his emails on the matter in which he poo pooed them. Fauci did suggest a double layer of the masks most of us wear. I saw a demo of a man. Who wore 8 masks at a time that, he said, guarantees that the beggars can't get in! But masks are not all born equal: some much better than others. Fauci changed his mind on the matter and even admitted being wrong at some stage. In terms of who gets COVID, your suggestion that it's only unhealthy people is palpably wrong.

I do agree with the point, when in Rome. However, there is science that justifies wearing masks: they do cut risks. In the same way we should was with soap, use sanitisers ...

Be rational. I have worn masks as long as anyone and I have hated every second of doing so. I have always known that the virus can get through the kind of masks that I wear. But they did not. I have not been infected. Look after your hands is the main motto most of the time. I am waiting for the full all clear since I believe it is the best way to behave. There are situations here, now, where people don't wear masks. In public, I mean. Things are easing. All of these blustery foreigners on here are just wild. They are never right but they go their own way, as we know. You mention the US and I mentioned the UK earlier: they are not shining examples, are they, let's be fair.

Thank you. Please note, I said (I was speaking from memory) that surface transmission was possible. You gave your response, thank you. Your conclusions are not right. Yes, they say that transmission from some surfaces is low but they go on to say that, even so, they cannot rule out that in some cases, given their context, were not from a surface rather than the air. They also talk about the volume of a surface deposit since a large deposit is more dangerous, I am sure you agree, than a small one. I am not negating everything you say and I accept that some studies have concluded that surface contamination in some cases are essentially inert. Contamination rates very low but not proven to be zero. Nevertheless, throughout the pandemic I have kept my hands sanitised at all times and kept them away from as many public surfaces as possible.

You should take and post photos of your evidence. I have never been in a public building that doesn't have sprays and/or gel available. Soap, towels, well, yes, that is a different story.

I would like you to quote your sources since I believe you are wrong. Moreover, the virus can live outside a body for. Several days.

See what I mean? Snide, uncalled for. Educate yourself before you say such things.

There are dozens of really immature, Thai bashing, expert bashing, replies here. I saw the start of a video online the other day made by a Caucasian with an English accent. Scruffy looking but loud and confident. He laughingly asked why people in Thailand STILL check their temperature in 7/11 and STILL wear masks and Still use the gel on their hands. Of course, he wasn't worthy of recognition so I switched him off. My response, to anyone like him, though, is UK, quarter of a million dead and long COVID taking its toll plus 4th covid wave under way. Thailand, after all the nastiness and Thai bashing at the start of the pandemic, around 32,000 dead, similar size population: tragic but ... Grow up, gents.

Arrived last night. Filled in the form and presented it. Passport duly stamped but she returned the entire TM6 to me, unstamped. Of course, i was in a hurry to leave and didn't notice I'd got the whole form back until later so couldn't question it.

Understood. I did start by saying I supported your comment and my other remarks were directed at the Thai bashers, too.

I support your comments ... Thai bashing is always a la mode here and every now and again it is justified. then again, so is Brit bashing, Yank bashing blah blah blah. In this case, I suggest two things for the weak of mind: 1 go and read or listen to what the Doctor actually said and don't forget to take into account the context 2 take a look at the doctor's publications and research history: it seems to me that the Thai bashers have no idea of any of it. I took a look at his record and his credentials seem sound to me. He is an internationally peer reviewed researcher and author of many years' standing. Read his papers, attend his lectures, discuss these matters with him and then come back and make your snarky comments

While it might be true that some of the schemes these people are using, there are a few things that need to be said. Edward Snowden made the point about the people who are NOT on the Pandora list. He also suggested why they are not on the list. The likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are all absent. The reason they are absent is because they do not need to hide their wealth because they have deals in place that ensures they pay just 0.1% or 0.45% tax on their incomes. Agree with such an outcome or not, it is a valid observation. ABC, Australia, put together a really good programme on this subject and it is well worth watching: https://youtu.be/4kPLpZN3I3A One of their main points is that these schemes lead to unfairness: no one knows who is doing these deals and no one knows what they are doing with their assets ... apart from our knowledge via the Panama and Pandora Papers that is. They then explain that it is not unusual for these people to buy properties as part of their portfolios, they tend to pay top whack, ergo prices in general suffer from price pressure and they increase: that, they say, squeezes out the locals who, at the margin, can no longer afford to buy that property. The average man in the street cannot be a member of one of these kinds of clubs that we are talking about here: they cannot avoid tax like they do, they cannot hide their assets like they do. In the UK, the famous tax dodger Jacob Rees Mogg typifies the attitude of the people here: last week he said the Britain is already taxed to the limit. Well, not you Rees Mogg, since your wealth is parked, tax free, in the Cayman Islands. These are some of the issues at stake here. However, ICIJ promise lot more revelations to come. but, as I said to a friend of mine last night, re the ABC film, The good guys in that film quite clearly stated that nothing much has happened post the Panama Papers Cack Yourself for a Fortnight Event! The same here, I suspect, some people are currently worried to death over these revelations ... but the fear will pass and the energy of law enforcement fades.

Is it a rumour or is it a story that several very well known and high ranking people have been diverting vaccines to provide vaccine services for a fee. The word is that these services are expensive, are carried out in North East Thailand and, since I got to know about them, this seems to be something of concern to hoi polloi. Oh and riff raff like you and me. Even if this story is unfounded, it really is quite clear that vaccination plans are very malleable here and vaccine hijackings are commonplace.

And don't forget the vaccines sidelined for private vaccination parties. You know the ones ... Very well connected people with their plan to cash in as they help well heeled worthies to jump all queues.

Good point yet it's not that long since they were forecasting a rate of 27 to the GBP.