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I’ve posted before about successfully using my US insurance to get reimbursed for emergency room visit to Bangkok Christian Hospital in 2022. Nothing illegal about it. It’s a benefit of the policy. He makes it very clear towards end of video that it only covers emergencies and not a substitute for standard health insurance.

I’ll have my lawyer call your lawyer to work out pre-nup.

There’s so much to be considered. Could we agree to an open marriage (we both get to screw around with other guys). Would our parents approve. Who’ll wash the dishes. Are you rich. 🙂

Do you believe in long engagements?

Would love to but the men I like are already married.....to women.🙂

From The Nation With an outbreak of the potentially fatal Zika virus now Bangkok, residents were on Wednesday warned by a leading virologist to protect themselves against mosquito bites. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, posted on his Facebook wall that many cases of the mosquito-borne infection of Zika virus have been detected in Bangkok and even in temples. The doctor did not give the exact figures of Zika cases in the capital but he did write that the infection could be fatal for some people. It can also cause birth defects. He posted that the Zika virus’ symptoms were similar to those of Dengue but the condition would be less severe. In addition to being transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus during pregnancy, Zika can be passed on through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation. Symptoms for those who do experience them usually appear within 3-7 days of being infected and can include fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes (conjunctivitis), headache, muscle pain and fatigue.

From National Public Radio Hong Kong's LGBTQ community is cautiously optimistic that the government will legalize same-sex marriage following landmark rulings in favor of granting gay and lesbian couples more rights. Hong Kong's civil liberties have been in decline since China's government imposed a national security law there. That law followed large-scale and sometimes violent anti-government protests in 2019. But the rights of LGBTQ people seem to have been left alone for the most part. And this year, Hong Kong's courts made several key rulings in favor of granting gay and lesbian couples more rights. This is sparking hopes that the city will join a growing number of places in Asia with legalized same-sex marriage. Cindy Sui sent us this report from Hong Kong. Click on link to 5-minute podcast: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/26/1221725599/recent-rulings-have-sparked-hopes-that-hong-kong-will-soon-legalize-same-sex-mar

While we applaud declining interest rates we must also accept their economic realities. There's a correlation between the interest rate of our home currency with its corresponding value to the baht, as can be observed in the charts below. And if the trend continues--as most economists believe it will--the baht will continue to strength barring an unforeseen crisis in confidence. The exchange rate also influences the price we pay for international airline tickets and the hotel rates in Thailand, as can be seen in the daily (if not hourly) fluctuations on any of the booking sites. Since carriers collude on essentially fixing airfares, there's not much the consumer can do but shop for the occasional seasonal dips. When it comes to hotel rates, however, there's much greater competition. It's not all bad news. The cost of goods and services in our home countries should likewise be retreating although that is often hard to discern at the checkout counter.

Entertaining video from one of Clinton's better cabinet selections. And he makes some solid points. One of the carriers he mentioned (Southwest) was recently fined $140 million by the government for its disastrous handling an episode a year ago. There's ample blame to go around. Somehow I don't automatically extrapolate the scenario to gogo bars or massage shops in Thailand. Unlike air passengers who--for a variety of reasons--have a compelling need to fly, customers in entertainment venues do not. They can use the apps as many have suggested, or try to get lucky the old fashioned way: cruising the conventional bars or dance clubs, or looking for street trade (yes, it still exits). Gogo bars and massage shops don't have a monopoly on sex akin to the airlines' grip on flying.

Eight Jey Spa guys were kind enough to make themselves available for holiday work today. You only get one guess as to who's Vinapu's choice would be if he was hard-pressed to choose just one.

Haven't done this in a while so please forgive my indulgence. From CNN A 12-year-old stray dog found roaming in an English village turned out to have been missing for several years – until an animal rescue and the community that fed her helped bring her to safety. Volunteer nonprofit Lost Dog Recovery UK South said in a Facebook post someone told them in November about a small black dog running in the road near Crawley Down, a village in West Sussex, England. “They stopped the traffic, let the dog disappear into the woodland and knew not to follow and just returned ASAP to leave food,” the organization said in a social media post on December 11. On December 9, the volunteers left a trap for the dog along with a tempting meal: a warm roast chicken topped with paté. “We knew our little stray was picky and we had worked out what she liked,” the nonprofit said. She wandered over to the trap that night. “Looking over her shoulder a lot, and taking it nice and slowly, she made her way inside the trap, finally treading on the footplate and triggering the door,” the Facebook post read. Through her microchip, they discovered the dog’s name is Rose and that she went missing in March 2017 within 24 hours of being adopted. Rose’s initial owners were contacted, but they had relocated, their circumstances had changed and they could no longer care for her, according to Lost Dog Recovery UK South. In an update on December 18, the nonprofit said Rose was receiving care at Last Chance Animal Rescue in Edenbridge, a town in Kent, England. The organization also noted they have received many rehoming inquiries for Rose and said those interested in welcoming Rose to their home should contact Last Chance Animal Rescue.

From VN Express Chinese influencer Wang Ziyu is facing the possibility of deportation and a lifelong ban from Thailand after making disparaging comments about Bangkok’s Nana red light district. Operating the 2.68-million-follower account "Thailand 77Seven" on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, Wang uploaded a video of herself in Nana district on Dec. 5, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Captured around midnight, the video shows her describing the area as "unsafe" and frequented by "sleazy" visitors. She thus advises women to steer clear of the area. The Thai police, viewing her remarks as harmful to Thailand’s image as a tourist destination, called her in for questioning. Authorities discovered during this process that Wang was also allegedly engaged in online sales within Thailand without a work permit, violating her tourist visa conditions, according to CNN. Despite her removing the video and offering a public apology in English, Thai, and Chinese, Thai officials are moving forward with legal proceedings. Wang could face a fine up to 10,000 yuan (USS$1,400), a possible deportation and ban from ever returning to Thailand. The incident has sparked varied reactions among Chinese social media users. Some defend Wang’s freedom of expression, while others accuse her of damaging Thailand’s reputation for personal gain.

From Agence France-Presse Shan State, Myanmar – An 18-year-old recruit in one of Myanmar’s pro-democracy fighting units prepares to launch a drone strike on junta troops, driven by anger and her mother’s call for revolution. Moe Moe is one of hundreds of women training, living and fighting alongside men in the “People’s Defence Forces”, upending gender norms in the mostly Buddhist country. She grew up during a rare period of democracy in Myanmar and, after the military ended it with a 2021 coup, joined one of the dozens of PDF units that formed to end the junta’s rule. Moe Moe initially worked with a group organising protests against the military but, after months of the junta’s’ deadly crackdown, decided to become a fighter. “I can’t stand the military’s injustice,” she said after carrying out the drone strike in Shan state, which neighbours the more populous Mandalay region. “They killed innocent civilians. The main reason I joined was because of my anger.” Moe Moe, wearing the group’s camouflage fatigues and its red peacock badge stitched onto her arm, said she had friends in the Mandalay PDF who invited her to fight with them. “I was born in Mandalay, I’m a Mandalay girl. So, I joined Mandalay PDF,” she said. Continues with photos https://www.thaipbsworld.com/im-a-mandalay-girl-teenage-soldier-fights-on-myanmars-front-lines/T

From Thai PBS World Seven boats sink in Gulf and Andaman Sea in four days, eight people still missing Six tour boats and a fishing vessel have sunk in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea in the past four days. Two passengers, a skipper and five crew are still missing. The “Sawan Tour” dive boat, carrying 16 tourists, mostly foreigners, on a diving trip near Mu Ko Surin National Park in the Andaman Sea, off Phang-nga province, sank on December 23rd. 16 tourists were rescued and two are missing. The third fleet of the Royal Thai Navy sent a plane to join the search, while vessels boats were dispatched to look for the two missing tourists. The searches continued yesterday, but without success. Yesterday, a speed boat, “Bandaya 19”, carrying over 73 tourists, capsized near Bubu Island, to the east of Adang Island off Satun province. All of the passengers and four crew members were rescued. According to the Royal Thai Navy, the speed boat’s hull was fractured by strong waves, as it was heading toward Lanta Island in Krabi province, allowing water to enter quickly. All passengers and crew were told to abandon the strickenvessel and were rescued by the navy. On the same day, a fishing boat, “Sirawit Namchoke”, capsized in rough seas off Chang Island in Trat province. The skipper and his five crew went missing. A sea search was mounted, but was eventually suspended due to strong winds and rough seas. Officials of the Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi-Phi National Park are flying red flags on beaches in Ao Nang sub-district in Krabi and on several islands to warn tourists not to swim in the sea. Tour boat operators were also told to exercise extreme caution and to have adequate life vests on board if they are taking tourists on island trips. Two cruise ships, carrying more than 5,000 passengers, have reportedly cancelled plans to bring them ashore on Samui Island due to the rough seas, but ferry services between the mainland and the island continue to operate as usual, but were told reduce their loaded weight for safety reasons. In Pattaya, marine officials have banned small vessels and speed boats from taking passengers to and from Lan Island. Only large vessels with sufficient life vests are allowed to set sail for the tourist island.

In love and war, never say never.

Sounds like you found the perfect elf to celebrate naughty but age-appropriate yuletide activities. And a merry Festivus to all!

Received this greeting today from a shop that has many attractive offerings but they’re rarely discounted. Nevertheless I believe they may tweak your interest.🙂

We agree to disagree on this one.

It is 🐶 He gets my vote.

From Thai PBS World One construction worker was fatally injured when a steel sheet fell and struck him on the head at the construction site of the Purple Line’s Wongwian Yai station in Bangkok on Sunday morning. The victim, whose identity had not been released at press time, was rushed to Taksin hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. After the accident, which occurred at about 7.50am, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, the owner of the project, instructed Unique Engineering and Construction, the project’sbuilder, to suspend subcontractor operations for seven days, pending the outcome of an accident investigation. The MRT also ordered the project’s builder to remind all its subcontractors to comply strictly with safety procedures on construction sites, especially the mandatory wearing of safety helmets by everyone on the site and the display of warning signs. ================= From The Nation Safety concerns force suspension of MRT Pink service Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit ordered a temporary suspension of all services on the MRT Pink Line as of noon on Sunday. This decision was made after discussions with key stakeholders, namely the Department of Rail Transport (DRT), Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), and Northern Bangkok Monorail Company Limited (NBM). The aim of the suspension is to prioritise passenger safety after a conductor rail at the Samakkhi Station dislodged and fell on the road at about 4.45am.Though nobody was injured, the falling rail hit power lines in the vicinity of the market near the Royal Irrigation Department. Services should resume on Monday for 23 stations, starting from Chaeng Wattana to Minburi. However, the seven MRT stations from Nonthaburi Civic Centre to Pak Kret Bypass will be temporarily closed for seven days, so the DRT can conduct an inspection.

From Pattaya Mail A passenger boat carrying 29 people, mostly Russian tourists, capsized off the coast of Pattaya on the evening of December 23, sparking a massive rescue operation by authorities and marine teams. The boat, a catamaran named “Sea Breeze”, was on its way back from Koh Larn Island when it tilted dangerously in the rough sea. The passengers, 26 Russians and two Thais, along with the boat’s captain, were thrown into the water. Six of them suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital on the island. The incident occurred around 6 p.m., after the boat’s driver, Captain Somphot Pomthong, 56, alerted the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya City Rescue Radio about the emergency. Within minutes, several rescue boats, police, and medical personnel arrived at the scene. According to the survivors, the boat started to lean to one side shortly after leaving the island. They said they felt strong waves and water rushing into the boat. The crew members quickly handed out life jackets and instructed the passengers to stay calm. Some nearby boats also came to their aid and helped them board. Captain Somphot said he suspected that the boat’s tilt was caused by a detached catamaran, which is a type of boat with two parallel hulls. He said one of the hulls broke off, causing the boat to lose balance. He said he tried to steer the boat to the shore, but it was too late. He praised the rescue teams for their swift and professional response. The authorities said they were investigating the cause of the incident and the condition of the boat, which had a maximum capacity of 45 passengers. They said they would also check the boat’s registration and safety standards. They said they were relieved that there were no serious injuries or deaths, thanks to the efforts of the rescue teams and the cooperation of the passengers. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/29-souls-survive-catamaran-near-disaster-off-pattaya-448509

No, cogent arguments and the rules of logic. But I well appreciate why that challenges your reasoning.

From Thai PBS World Former Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is the most favoured politician, among respondents to NIDA poll, to become prime minister, while the Move Forward party was the most popular. Pita received 39.40% of the respondents’ votes, followed by 22.35% for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, 5.75% for Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 2.40% for Pirapan Salirathavibhagaof the United Thai Nation party, 1.70% for Anutin Charnvirakul of Bhumjaithai and 1.65% for Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of Thai Sang Thai party. Pita favoured because respondents believe he has leadership qualities, vision, a good personality, is accessible and represents the new generation, according to NIDA Poll. The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) gauged the opinions of 2,000 people aged 18 over and with various educational levels, occupations and incomes, by means of telephone interviews between December 13th and 18th. Paetongtarn is liked by the respondents because she also represents the new generation and because they like the Pheu Thai party, while Pirapan is liked because he is seen as being capable, honest and respectable. Anutin is seen by respondents as being straightforward, for reaching out to the people and for the previous achievements of the Bhumjaithai party. Regarding the respondents’ favourite parties, Move Forward came first with 44.05% of the votes, followed by 24.05% for Pheu Thai, 3.60% for the Democrats, 3.20% for United Thai Nation, 1.75% for Bhumjaithai, 1.45% for Palang Pracharath and 1.85% for the remaining parties. 16.10% say they don’t currently have a favourite party.

Please don't overthink "Merry Christmas" wishes. I often do the same out of spirit of the season with no intent whatsoever to offend. If we think "Merry Christmas" has mean intentions we'll soon start to question if "have a nice day" is indeed a snarky comment. I take this opportunity to wish that everyone experiences the joys of the season.

An alternative way of saying the same thing is that the studies you cite are unable to demonstrate that it does provide protection. But hands washing may be effective in reducing the incidence of infection. Neither conclusion can be "proven" because you can't prove a negative. The same rules of logic apply. Masks then do provide some level of protection but it may or may not be significant--and significant of course is a very subjective number.. For example, if we assume that masks only provided 22% protection than I'll take my chances and wear the mask. This is why people go to Vegas: they don't always win but some do. Also the rationale many late-stage cancer patients take the newest drug knowing that not all will have successful outcomes. I agree with both conclusions. Newer aircraft, and older aircraft retrofitted with high-efficiency HEPA air filtration systems do exchange air at fairly rapid intervals and do a good job of cleansing it but only IF those systems are rigorously maintained and filters changed on schedule. The same principle applies to ventilation systems on cruise ships. But other studies have demonstrated that the vast majority of school rooms have inadequate HVAC systems relative to air filtration. Given these realities, it's only prudent to wear masks even if they don't provide full protection. The incidence of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships was well established long before Covid came on the scene. It's spread mainly through surface contact as Floridrob states above (and he's probably spent more time on such vessels than anyone here). When Covid arrived, it likewise spread very efficiently on cruise ships via multiple vectors of transmission. I believe that many posters here have provided evidence that boils down to this: we can prevent the spread of the virus if both human behavior and both active and passive systems perform at peak efficiency. But vaccination offers the single best form of protection IF humans are in compliance.