[Thaipocrisy: United States deny meddling in Thailand political affairs]

19 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

If the Wiki Leaks diplomatic cables related to Thailand illustrated anything it was more about observation, analysis of intel and events which would inform positions and responses.

 

I don't remember reading any cables about meddling in anything? I did not read all the cables.

 

https://search.wikileaks.org/plusd/?qproject[]=ps&qproject[]=cc&qproject[]=fp&qproject[]=ee&qproject[]=cg&q=Thailand#result

Thx for Wiki link.  I took a quick look.  Sorting the data shows the most recent articles as 2010.

[Will Thailand’s Long Term Resident Visa work for you?]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

The 50k Thb is the fee for the entire 10 year visa, nothing more to be paid. Of course you need health insurance but your home health insurance does meet the requirements  much like Tri-care for those Vets from the US. 

 

Folks, there are no extra fees needed unless you want a work permit and then that's 3k a year.

The health insurance requirement was 10 months left on policy in the early days (in case that has changed).  The easy alternative was demonstrating $100K USD in some financial institution over a few years.  So you don't/didn't really need insurance.  BTW you don't need any money in a TH bank if you qualify under Wealthy Pensioner with $80k/year income.

[ASEAN NOW columnist Rooster wins NE Thailand Scrabble Championships]

Go Rooster!!!

[PM2.5 Readings Still High In Some Spots In North; Situation Eases In General]

Good to have a slightly southern wind.

[NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Thursday 2 February 2023]

[Americans, Chinese snap up Thai 'talent visas,' official says]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

applied... but how many were granted???

I have not seen a BOI LTR count.  Best guess is a few hundred.  As a new program, it rolled out with fits and restarts.  I know 2 two people with "wealthy pensioner" status from the first day or two.  A more recent applicant has had a difficult time getting the system to work and phone calls answered.  They seem very busy with something - not sure what.

[Is living in Thailand better health-wise than elsewhere?]

It is interesting to see so may posts about Air Pollution.  I agree.  According to some experts speaking at Foreign Correspondents Club, the mortality associated with AQI is comparable to smoking.  I choose not to smoke, but I do love Thailand...

[Thailand makes its role of fighting climate change clear to world community]

Thanks for the link.  Unfortunately the Timeout site is suspect to me.  One of the interesting links: https://www.nestpick.com/2050-climate-change-city-index/ is also suspect.  Lots of data, but TBD accuracy

[Reopening Thailand for MICE]

The acronym 'MICE' stands for 'Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions'. MICE is used to refer to a particular type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together for some particular purpose.

[Surat Thani COVID closures?]

22 hours ago, delgarcon said:

I can't speak Thai, but maybe someone could translate the directive of the Surat Thani governor

Here is the image translation from Google.....

Surat Thani Province summarizes urgent measures to prevent covid-19 Order 16/2554, Song 4 Jan 64, temporarily closed - Chicken fighting, fighting fish, fighting, cattle, coach, un-known, boxing stadium, Uri 1, spigot cage unt killed or pitch of a similar nature and practice cockfighting deadline - off (e. - Prof. John. holiday break 10:00 to 19:00 hrs. - Restaurant Lounge. (More than half of the normal service, there is a preventive measure) temporarily closed 5-18 Jan. Suratthani (Online teaching) Open until 9:00 PM - Shopping mall, Movie theater, Amphitheater, Food court, Community Mall, Exhibition center, Convention center, Exhibition venue or similar opening 5 times normal - Convenience Store Supermarket (open until 9:00 p.m. - Health establishment, traditional massage, Thai massage, health massage, herbal steam spa, snooker / billiards table (herbal steam can be used for 1 person per time), open until 24.00 - Entertainment places, pubs, bars, karaoke (Do not drink liquor and alcoholic beverages) Liquor and alcoholic beverages in the shop, restaurants / beverage shops of all types on C, filtering, registration - All vehicles passing through the screening point. (Inbound side of the province) 10, ask for cooperation 30 or delay walking, spreading legs, Bakht province / work from home

[Surat Thani COVID closures?]

If anyone sees the Contact Tracing timeline for the new "family of 7", please post a link.

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

#2 is the Onnut Dump - a frequent contributor to pollution
#1 is ?  Just somebody lighting up for 20 minutes or so.

 

I wonder how many of these places burn at night??  I guess we will know more when night numbers start to spike again 

 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

Onnut Dump wishing residents to the West a good morning ????

 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

I know one source of pollution right now.  Onnut Garbage dump is burning.  Sorry about those to the West


 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

On 4/28/2020 at 8:31 AM, MaxYakov said:

Cannot rely on the weather maps. Best current wind and rain info is taken personally, outside IMHO.

Thanks Max.  This is the second comment I have seen questioning wind direction and it caused me to learn something new.  I turns out that the Ventusky wind map last update was 12PM UTC (or 1AM BKK time).  I think they only update 4x/day.  This could make the readings off a little or a lot depending on wind changes.  I think Ventusky and AirVisual (pollution map) use similar models b/c they usually show same airflow patterns.



 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

redundant

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

Another "special day" today leaving us to wonder why all the air pollution in BKK.  AFIK, it is all "self created" likely from factories starting up and burning.  (#MyTheory)
Air flow is shows that outside of BKK - on all sides - air is good.  Sad that we do this.






 

 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

6 hours ago, Yom said:

Interesting question.

I think there might be several causes? Depends amongst other things how high the power plant chimneys might be, the wind speed, the exact wind direction at a given date etc.

Or, the stuff they were burning. Or, one day they were burning from 8 to 5, the next day?

Only some thoughts. A professional might give you a better answer?

But, what do you think?

 

 

The wind direction and speed for yesterday and today is virtually the same.  Pollution levels all over BKK were significantly higher yesterday than today.  A pollution hot spot is shown in red near the Phra Nakhon Tai Power Plant.  I think that plant was the difference in air quality.  Otherwise, the wind off the ocean was pretty good for both days with little evidence of transboundary pollution. 

I did read up on combined cycle power plants, and this plant in particular.  Phra Nakhon Tha (AKA South BKK Power Plant) is a dual fuel design burning natural gas and diesel.  Either fuel can be a large contributor to PM2.5 (the dominant factor in yesterday's high readings).  I think they brought more generators online yesterday because other sources of power were offline ... or perhaps switched fuel sources one day to the next ... or a combination.

I don't think it was a bad meter in that location.  I have 2 meters.  Both read significantly higher yesterday than today.  Also Air Visual numbers (shown above) are not perfect, but do generally represent fair readings in the areas shown.  My meters confirm those readings and the government stations.

*Not a professional.  Multiple heads are better than one.

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

21 hours ago, Yom said:

It's not so difficult to find?

https://www.egat.co.th/en/information/power-plants-and-dams?view=article&id=40

'The South Bangkok project was originally a thermal power plant

fueled with bunker oil. Later when natural gas was discovered in

the Gulf of Thailand, the modification was made for the power plant

to be combined cycle using natural gas instead of bunker oil.'

 

You should be glad you're not living near Lampang or Tak.

These are lignite fired power plants (Mae Moh/Mae Sot).

Another quality than natural gas...

                  ***********************

 

' winds blowing North? '

At this moment they seem to blow constantly from East with 3 - 4 mph

in 10, 100 and 250 m above ground level.

 

Thanks Khun Yom for your comments.  No worries about correcting me.  Probably we both know that the South Power Plant is located next to the red 155 AQI reading from yesterday.

 

Today the airflow shows the same (from the South) and AQI is much better~60.  Sometimes it is so simple as emissions from a power plant - maybe this is one of those times, maybe not.  Something is amiss.  Why do you think the reading was so high in that area yesterday, but not today?

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

This looks interesting.  Can anybody guess where the South Bangkok Power Plant is located?????????????



Show of hands, who thinks it is a good idea to light a coal plant from South with winds blowing North?


 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

Not my favorite April morning.  Seems like slow wind speed and burning is cause.  Thai friend says farmers think rainy season is starting so they burn rice stubble. I'm no expert on this, but with all the rain around BKK yesterday, it must have been the outskirts.  FIRMS doesn't show a lot of fires.

 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

Thanks for your replies regarding residential garbage burning.

Once this Covid mess has settled, I hope we all get a historic perspective about the shutdown impact on local air pollution.  Air has been so much better than before.  But weather patterns have changed also.  Constituent pollution level differences would be interesting (NO2/diesel, heavy metals/ewaste, etc .

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

On 3/19/2020 at 10:47 AM, MayPutThai said:

The point is, the Millions of house waste burner behind the house. They burn everything. So, how the Thai did over century. But the modern Thai burn even all the plastic and other <deleted>. This, on low Temperature produces a very good cocktail of very poison and cancer-generous gas like Dioxin (Seveso). 

Can you (or anyone) confirm that it is common for residential homes in BKK to burn everything outside?  I can see about 20-30 Thai homes from my condo in Onnut.  I have never seen any burning.  But sometimes in the morning I smell smoke. 

Thanks for sharing this perspective. 

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

On 3/2/2020 at 11:35 AM, ExpatOilWorker said:

It seems to lack temperature and humidity measurements which at times can be handy.

Looks like a Chinese knockoff of a chine product. Maybe best avoided.

Good point about missing Temp and Humidity (included on Sndway unit).

If somebody does get one, please post your comments.  I felt that Sndway was risky until it arrived and the numbers matched with other meters (mine, and friends).  IMO, if you can get just PM2.5 for THB 664 that could be a good value.  I had to take my meter into the shower to see a RH spike - sane people don't do that. ????

[Bangkok Air Pollution 2020]

14 hours ago, Yom said:

 PM2.5-monitors...

FYI about PM2.5 meters.  The Sndway meter is popular and accurate (at least with my tests).

Here is a less expensive unit that looks to be the same: https://bit.ly/3aFjHqm  Two friends ordered these a few weeks ago and both orders got cancelled b/c of Covid.