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Where are all the old timers? Some nights they can be found on the terrace at G's. Other evenings on the stools at Midnight.

Beginning to sound like formula for creating strong passwords. Perhaps less frequent classifications should be in lower case.

What are the actual numbers and goods that Thailand applies to US imports?

From VN Express The Sathorn Unique Tower, a 49-story building abandoned for decades in Thailand's Bangkok, recently went viral on social media after miraculously surviving a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar that shook Southeast Asia. However, the Sathorn Unique Tower, located in Bangkok's Sathon District and abandoned for more than 30 years, remained standing, surprising many. On social media, numerous users shared images of the building, questioning how such an abandoned structure could withstand the powerful earthquake. Originally conceived in the 1990s as a luxury residential and office complex, the tower was designed to be a 49-story high-rise offering stunning views of the Chao Phraya River. However, as construction neared its midpoint, the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997, devastating the Thai economy, The Telegraph reported. Many real estate projects, including the tower, were abandoned due to a lack of funding. With its incomplete state and eerie, skeletal appearance, the building was dubbed as the "Ghost Tower," with the eerie allure making it an ideal destination for daredevil tourists. A tourist shared on Travelfreak that he paid 200 baht (US$5.84) to a security guard to gain access for 15 minutes. https://www.msn.com/en-xl/lifestyle/other/49-storey-ghost-tower-in-bangkok-goes-viral-after-surviving-powerful-earthquake/ar-AA1CbeNQ

From Pattaya New Tattoo enthusiasts and top artists from around the world are gearing up for the highly anticipated Pattaya International Tattoo Convention 2025, taking place on April 5th-6th on Pattaya Beach in front of Pattaya Klang from 10 AM to 10 PM daily. The two-day event will feature live tattooing competitions, music performances, and artistic showcases. The convention will highlight a wide range of tattoo styles, including minimal, realistic portrait, old school, Japanese, and geometric mandala designs. Competitions will be held in various categories, from junior artists working on small pieces to open-class professionals creating large-scale tattoos. Notably, hand poke and bamboo tattooing—a traditional method—will also be featured. Throughout the event, attendees can enjoy live music during scheduled breaks, adding to the festival atmosphere. The final competitions will determine the best tattoos of the day and the prestigious Best of the Show awards in both black & grey and color categories. The event will conclude with unique contests, including the Sexy Lady Tattoo and Coolest Guys categories. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/04/pattaya-international-tattoo-convention-2025-set-to-showcase-global-tattoo-artistry/

TIT. If you don't rig a bid when you get the chance you're deemed unfit for office. Vietnam not much different. Only real difference is that in VN they take it more seriously and rigger actually loses job and gets jail time. Example from today VN Express: A former chairman of An Giang Province was sentenced to jail on Wednesday for taking a US$300,000 bribe and allowing a company tomine sand illegally. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court awarded Nguyen Thanh Binh a sentence of eight and a half years. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/crime/province-leader-jailed-for-taking-300-000-bribe-to-let-company-mine-sand-illegally-4869367.html

I count myself among JJ's satisfied customers. Keep our eye out for his pal, Ole. I usually schedule him for a 9pm session and he's always proven very "productive."

From Khaosod English KANCHANABURI — CCTV footage captured the moment a sedan struck a French tourist while he was using a pedestrian crossing, sending him flying and resulting in his death. Local residents point out that accidents occur frequently in the area due to excessive speeding. Officials investigating the incident in downtown Kanchanaburi reviewed video footage from security cameras near JJ Market, which showed that at 10:50 p.m. on April 2, the tourist was crossing the road at a zebra crossing when he was violently hit. The footage shows the man initially stopping at the median strip while looking at passing vehicles. As he stepped onto the road to cross to the opposite side, the tourist appeared startled and attempted to run away when he saw a black sedan approaching at high speed. He couldn’t escape in time and was thrown to the roadside upon impact. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/04/03/french-tourist-killed-in-pedestrian-crossing-accident-in-kanchanaburi/

From Pattaya News Justice Minister Orders Probe into Collapse Bangkok, April 2nd, 2025 — Justice Minister Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong announced that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has officially investigated the collapse of a new 33-story State Audit Office (SAO) building during Myanmar’s powerful earthquake on March 28th. While emergency rescue efforts were the priority, authorities are now focused on determining the cause of the collapse, as it was the only high-rise in Thailand to fail. DSI’s preliminary investigation centers on allegations that a foreign-owned company used Thai nominees to control construction contracts, a violation of Thai law. The company in question, with a registered capital exceeding 100 million baht, is linked to over ten similar firms sharing the same Thai directors and business addresses. Officials are also investigating whether substandard materials or bid-rigging contributed to the disaster. Continues at https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/02/thai-justice-minister-orders-probe-into-collapsed-33-story-government-building/

Thailand, which imposes a 72% tariff rate on goods imported from the US, today announced its strategy in response to Trump's imposition of a 36% rate on Thailand: cut tariffs on US goods and purchase more US imports. This begs the question: why didn't both parties choose to negotiate this well before instead of waiting for push to come to shove? Extracted from Pattaya News In response, Commerce Ministry Permanent Secretary Wutthikrai Leeveeraphan held an early morning press conference, outlining Thailand’s strategy to mitigate the impact. The government is preparing aggressive trade negotiations and considering measures such as reducing import taxes on U.S. goods and increasing purchases from the U.S. to balance trade. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/03/u-s-president-imposes-10-percent-base-tariff-thailand-hit-with-36-percent-rate-in-trade-crackdown/

From CNN (From left) Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun.'Sunset Boulevard/Corbis Historical/Getty Images Val Kilmer, a movie star who throughout his career proved he was up for any task, from playing a cocky naval pilot to wearing the Batman suit, died on Tuesday, according to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, who released a statement to the New York Times and the Associated Press. He was 65. The cause of death was pneumonia, Mercedes Kilmer told the media outlets. Kilmer had recovered from a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required tracheotomy surgery that altered his voice. In recent years, Kilmer largely stepped away from acting, but made a brief return to the craft in “Top Gun: Maverick,” the sequel to the original film that launched him and that cast into superstardom. The sequel, which released in 2022 after a two-year delay, deftly blended Kilmer’s off-screen health issues into the film’s story, with his Tom “Iceman” Kazansky, the smug but cool rival to Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, ultimately succumbing to an ailment in the film. As one of Kilmer’s last film roles, it concluded one of the most interesting — and bankable — careers in Hollywood history. https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/entertainment/val-kilmer-death/index.html

From CNBC United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S. carrier that already has the most Asia service. In the expansion, United is using a tactic that’s unusual in its network: Its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations. The Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, service is set to begin on Oct. 26. On Oct. 25, United plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week. The carrier has aggressively been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending. Bangkok, in particular, “is in even more demand now given the popularity of ‘White Lotus,’” Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network and global alliances, said of the HBO show. He said the carrier isn’t planning on cutting any international routes for its upcoming winter schedule. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/02/united-airlines-thailand-vietnam-adelaide-australia-flights.html

#3 Goodboy #4 Freshboy

From The Nation As the countdown continues to what Donald Trump has dubbed "America's Liberation Day" on 2 April, Thai officials are scrambling to assess the potential impact of the new US president's threatened tariff regime. A key White House document from Trump's first term, recently revealed by the Wall Street Journal, suggests Thailand could be particularly vulnerable to retaliatory measures. The document, titled "The United States Reciprocal Trade Act: Estimated Job & Trade Deficit Effects", identifies Thailand as having "non-reciprocal tax policies" that place it firmly in the US crosshairs. According to Dr. Supavud Saicheua, chairman of Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Council, Trump's team may use this blueprint to determine specific tariffs on Thai goods, the Wall Street Journal reports. Thailand currently ranks as America's 12th largest trade deficit partner, with the US experiencing a $US 19.3 billion shortfall in 2018. American exports to Thailand totalled $US 12.6 billion against imports of $US 31.9 billion – a ratio of 1:2.5, according to the White House analysis reviewed by WSJ researchers. The assessment is particularly critical of what it deems unfair taxation practices. One striking example cited by the Journal is green tea, which Thailand taxes at 90% when imported from the US, while American tariffs on Thai tea stand at just 3%. The document classifies Thailand among countries with "non-reciprocal tax policies", noting that Thailand imposes higher customs duties than the US on 2,881 product categories – representing 55% of all traded goods. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40048258

From The Thaiger The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to introduce 20 second-hand Japanese KiHa diesel trains for suburban passenger services. A systems test is set for June, before the refurbishment of the KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 trains, with six trains expected to be operational by the end of the year. SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala mentioned that these diesel trains were donated by JR EAST from Japan. While JR West and JR Hokkaido have previously donated train carriages to Thailand on five occasions since 1997, this marks the first donation from JR EAST. Modifications will be made to the trains’ undercarriages to fit Thailand’s 1-metre standard gauge rail tracks. Following these adjustments, the trains will be sent to Laem Chabang station to have their cabs refitted. Subsequently, the trains will be transported to Makkasan for refurbishment. This process includes a comprehensive inspection covering all components such as the undercarriage, power and transmission systems, and brakes, followed by final engine maintenance, which is anticipated to take about 60 days. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/thailand-to-refurbish-japanese-diesel-trains-for-suburban-services

NOTE -- It would seem that the best strategy to achieve its goal would be to stop doing things that make it more complicated for tourists to visit. =========== From The Thaiger In the wake of the recent earthquake, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has called a crucial meeting with government officials and private sector leaders to tackle the impact on the country’s tourism industry. The primary focus? Restoring both domestic and international tourist confidence while ensuring the continued safety of visitors. The meeting, chaired by Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong, brought together a wide array of stakeholders, including representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Tourist Police, the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the Thai Hotels Association, and various tourism associations. The main goal was to assess the repercussions of the March 28 earthquake and develop strategies to safeguard Thailand’s reputation as a safe and attractive tourist destination. A key proposal to emerge from the discussions was adopting a “single command” communication strategy. This initiative aims to streamline and unify messaging across all channels, ensuring that consistent and clear information reaches locals and tourists. ===============

Bad news is always an equal opportunity event.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The Cabinet has agreed changers to some categories of the Long Term Residence (LTR) visa which offers indefinite stays and multiple entries for 10 (actually 5×2) years. The Board of Investment, which hosts the LTR introduced in 2022, had recommended reducing some of the enrolment requirements for rich individuals in order to make the program more popular. Wealthy global citizens no longer need to prove an annual income of at least US$80,000 a year, though they must demonstrate worldwide assets of at least US$1 million and must invest in Thailand at least US$500,000. Separately, the companies sponsoring remote workers now require annual revenue reduced from US$150 million to US$50 million. If the digital nomads work in Thailand with Thai customers, they still require a work permit. There is a wealthy pensioner category for those aged over 50, but the minimum annual income of US$80,000 has been left untouched by the Cabinet. Rich expats wishing to retire in Thailand are sometimes attracted to the LTR as it offers exemption from any income tax from cash transferred to Thailand, avoids the need to report their address every three months and avoids re-registration with immigration on an annual basis. However, there is an audit after five years. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/changes-to-thailands-10-year-visa-dont-impact-on-most-expats-487174

I believe Pulse Clinic on Silom offers IV but probably any hospital will, also.

From CNN Democratic-backed candidate Susan Crawford will win Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, CNN projects, maintaining the liberal majority on the court in a key battleground state less than three months into President Donald Trump’s second term. Crawford, a liberal circuit court judge in Dane County, will beat the conservative candidate Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County judge who received Trump’s backing in the final stretch of the campaign. The race was officially nonpartisan, but Crawford’s victory will be seen as a bright spot for Democrats in Wisconsin and nationwide as voters handed the president’s preferred candidate a defeat in the first major political test of the second Trump era. Crawford and her Democratic allies also worked to turn the election into a referendum on Trump ally Elon Musk, who poured millions of his personal fortune into the race. It quickly became the most expensive judicial contest in US history. Musk and groups affiliated with him spent more than $19 million in the state, including funding field operations and television advertisements. Crawford tied the tech billionaire directly to Schimel in her appearances, at times referencing Musk at “my opponent.” Democratic groups ran television ads linking the Tesla CEO to Schimel. In all, the candidates and outside groups spent more than $90 million — shattering spending records set just two years ago, when a liberal judge captured an open seat and flipped control of the court. Continues at https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-election/index.html

From The Nation China Railway No 10 and its 13 government contracts worth 7.2B China Railway No. 10 Engineering Group, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned enterprise, has come under intense scrutiny from government authorities and faced public criticism after winning the bid for the construction of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building, valued at over 2.1 billion baht. The company was part of the ITD-CREC joint venture alongside Italian-Thai Development. However, before construction was completed, the building collapsed entirely following an earthquake on March 28, 2068. The disaster left hundreds of workers trapped under the rubble, resulting in numerous fatalities, injuries, and missing persons. Currently, China Railway No. 10 (Thailand) is under investigation by a fact-finding committee appointed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as well as a separate investigative committee under the Ministry of Interior, established by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The investigations have been given a strict seven-day deadline, meaning the findings are expected to be revealed by next week. An interesting point is that China Railway Number 10 operates using a business model as a "joint venture" with other private companies. It started by purchasing tender documents for various government projects, but did not submit bids or proposals directly. Instead, it struck deals with well-capitalized Thai private companies to form joint ventures that would submit bids on their behalf. Since its establishment in 2018, China Railway Number 10 has participated in government projects through joint ventures, initially bidding on medium-sized projects worth around 100 million baht and later moving on to larger projects worth 300 to 500 million baht. It eventually ventured into major government concession projects valued at around 1 billion baht. From an analysis of government procurement data from the fiscal year 2019 (starting October 2018) to the fiscal year 2025 (starting October 2024), China Railway Number 10 has participated in joint ventures and secured at least 13 government contracts. The most well-known project is the construction of the new State Audit Office (SAO) building and its associated structures. According to contract No. 021/2564, dated November 23, 2020, the ITD-CREC joint venture—comprising Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Co., Ltd.—was awarded the project for 2.136 billion baht. The remaining 12 projects are detailed as follows: Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/business/corporate/40048188

I think he's the vice president now.

Thank you for making my case. And I proudly say this an overweight person.

My car was manufactured at a Honda plant in the US. Why would Trump want to screw with that but he does. He plans to apply tariffs to any materials imported in their manufacture. And he plans to do the same to GM, Chrysler and Ford plants. If you believe tariffs (in any direction) are beneficial to the nation that applies them, we will never agree. One of the commodities protected the longest by US tariffs is sugar. And it costs taxpayers about twice as much as it does elsewhere.

Smiles posted a farewell message well before Covid, saying that he'd no longer be posting. Never met him but miss his posts.