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The government is reminding visitors planning to arrive on or after May 1 to submit information for the Thailand Digital Arrivals Card (TDAC) within three days of arrival in Thailand. It would be of service to forum members if anyone has gone through the process to report their experience.

From Pattaya News Pattaya’s Beach Road welcomed a brand spanking new addition to its landscape today, April 11, 2025, with the grand opening of a brand-new, full-size Tops supermarket at the front of Royal Garden Plaza. Operating 24 hours a day, this modern grocery store promises great convenience for residents, tourists, and late-night shoppers in one of the city’s busiest areas.

At least one boy got offed three times at Freshboy Thursday. Not uncommon for some to get offed twice on busy evenings.

From Bangkok Post Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has invited the public to join Songkran festivities on Silom and Khao San roads from April 12 to 14, while assuring safety measures will be in place across the capital. Mr Chadchart also said Khao San Road will be under enhanced surveillance with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). This includes facial recognition and crowd analysis through CCTV to assist in locating missing persons and lost items. Bang Rak district chief Pornpan Wattanasin said that Silom Road, from Sala Daeng to Nararom Intersection, will be closed daily from 1-9 pm for the Songkran celebrations during April 12–14. The closure extends from Rama IV Road to Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road. She said street vendors are prohibited from operating on the footpaths, warning them not to trust any claims to the contrary. Violators will face legal action under the 1992 Act on the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country. Deputy Bangkok governor Sanon Wangsrangboon added that the BMA has designated 196 locations where people can celebrate Songkran. Highlights include the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 at Sanam Luang and events at Iconsiam, Siam Center and Samyan Mitrtown. To ensure a safe and enjoyable festival, BMA has issued a "Five-No" policy: no oversized water guns, no alcohol, no revealing clothing, no talcum powder, and no water waste. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3000737/city-gets-set-for-holiday-festivities

I've read that opinion but I instinctively return it if someone wai's me. I find that Thais are very understanding and appreciate the gesture.

From Bangkok Post The 20-baht flat fare for all electric train lines will become effective from Sept 30, with Thai passengers required to register for the programme via the Tang Rat application, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. The policy will allow Thai citizens to travel across all train lines with a maximum fare of 20 baht per trip, regardless of how many lines are used. The flat fare scheme will be available only to Thai citizens, excluding foreign tourists and welfare cardholders, who must continue paying standard fares. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3000822/flat-train-fare-set-to-start-from-sept-30

Apologies. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/unwritten-rules-for-traveling-in-thailand

Between April 8 and 18, customers at Freshboy who don't buy drink for themselves must pay 1k off fee to take boy from bar. Those who buy drink pay standard 500 off fee.

From Conde Nast Traveler The author of this article, Pier Nirandara, began her career as Thailand’s youngest author of three bestselling novels. She is now a travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer based between Bangkok, Los Angeles, and Cape Town. By Pier Nirandara April 6, 2025 Voted one of your favorite countries in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, Thailand frequently tops travel lists as a country known for its culture of hospitality. Thanks to its tourism-friendly policies—and in part to runaway success of the third season HBO’s The White Lotus—the destination has never been more popular, and interest shows no signs of slowing down. But behind the smiling first impression lies a complex cultural code grounded in two core values: "graengjai," the instinct to avoid imposing on others, and “namjai,” a generous outpouring of the heart. “Jai” means heart, and heartfelt values accordingly permeate daily life, shaping everything from casual interactions with vendors to, potentially, deeper exchanges. I was born and raised in Thailand, and I attended an international school in Bangkok before moving abroad and eventually living across three continents. Navigating between cultures became second nature, and code-switching the norm. Sometimes, it takes leaving a place to see it with fresh eyes, and I’ve since written multiple guidebooks about Thailand, photographed its coastlines for conservation campaigns, and returned time and again for both work and wonder—feeling the pull home. Given its complex cultural tapestry, here’s what I think travelers should know when embarking on a journey through the Land of Smiles with awareness, sensitivity, and grace. Continues with photos at https://www.gayguides.com/forum/3-gay-thailand/?do=add

From Pattaya Mail Pattaya’s tourist police, in line with the directive from Commissioner, Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuek-Um, carried out a crackdown on criminal activities that could tarnish the city’s tourism image. This operation particularly targeted areas with high tourist footfall. The operation led to the arrest of two foreign tourists—a Chinese couple—caught filming inappropriate content on Pattaya South Road, on the sidewalk. The individuals, a man and a woman, admitted that they were photographers who enjoyed taking nude photos at various global tourist spots as part of their personal collection. They were unaware that their actions violated Thai law and apologized for damaging the image of Pattaya’s tourism. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/news/chinese-couple-arrested-for-filming-inappropriate-content-on-pattaya-sidewalk-in-violation-of-thai-laws-497117

Only when i breathe. 😉

Both @PeterRS and I have called attention to falling airline bookings and falling stock prices in the past few days. What a difference a day makes. Airline stocks can turn on a dime for several reasons that have caused Warren Buffett to avoid them as they make poor long-term investments. They're subject to fuel costs, the wealth effect, the movement of the S&P index and political crisis. In short, they can change on a dime. The only investors who make money on them are day traders who plan to own the stock for the day--or even just minutes--before selling.

And we're all better off it was so brief. But we shouldn't forget the architect of the fiasco: economist Peter Nazarro. He first made his appearance on the national stage during Trump's first term when he proved what a fool he was when he attacked Dr. Anthony Fucci, rejecting his efforts to combat Covid and persuading Trump that hydroxychloroqine was a surefire cure. It should have surprised no one that he had his sights set on China. As far back as 1979, while a student at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, began authoring books (The Coming China Wars, Death by China) on the dangers China posed to not just the region but the world. Even as far back as 2016, he was advocating for strong tariffs on China. And when Elon Musk called him a moron yesterday, you get the idea of just how over the edge this guy is.

Trump telegraphed his intention, well ahead of tariffs announcement. From CNBC Trump’s morning ‘buy’ call nets huge returns for those who listened At 9:37 a.m. ET, just minutes after the opening bell, Trump posted on Truth Social that “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” That post ended with the letters “DJT,” which is both the president’s initials and the ticker for Trump Media & Technology, the parent company of Truth Social that he holds a majority stake in. Theoretically, for anyone who bought into the market that minute on Trump’s urging, they netted a big return. Stocks shot up in a historic reversal in afternoon trading after Trump announced a walkback on some tariffs, a stark turn after the unveiling of his plan to tax imports last week torpedoed the market. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/09/trumps-morning-buy-call-nets-huge-returns-for-those-who-listened.html

From The BBC The compound has been linked to improved cognitive performance and reduced anxiety – but are you getting enough of it? You may not have heard of choline before, but studies show that it's crucial for our health, at various stages of life. Choline is neither a vitamin or a mineral – it's an organic compound that's vital to the healthy functioning of the human nervous system. Now there's emerging evidence that consuming more choline can have a wide range of powerful effects, from improving cognitive performance to protecting against neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. The nutrient also seems to play a significant role in human neurodevelopment. In one study, babies who whose mothers took choline supplements during pregnancy gave birth to infants with higher information processing speeds – a measure of healthy cognitive functioning. Scientists say that choline is a wonder-nutrient, but that it has been hugely overlooked. So, where does choline come from – and are you getting enough of it? Every cell in our body contains choline, says Xinyin Jiang, professor of health and nutrition sciences at Brooklyn College in New York, US. Choline is an "essential" nutrient, which means we need it for our health, but our bodies don't produce enough on their own. Instead, we need to get some of it from our diets. In this sense, it's similar to omega 3 fatty acids, although it's actually closely associated with B vitamins, says Emma Derbyshire, science writer and founder and CEO of the consultancy Nutritional Insight. Choline can be found mostly in animal-based foods, including beef, eggs, fish, chicken and milk, but it's also in peanuts, kidney beans, mushrooms and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli – although animal foods tend to contain more choline than plant-based sources. We need choline for numerous functions in our bodies, including liver function. Not having enough can cause a number of problems. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250408-choline-the-underappreciated-nutrient-thats-vital-for-our-brains

From CNBC President Donald Trump has dramatically reversed course, dropping his country-specific tariffs down to a universal 10% rate for all trade partners except China. China’s tariff rate will jump to 125%, effective immediately, the White House says. White House advisors claim the flip flop was always the strategy, suggesting that the past week of massive tariffs that triggered huge market losses was all for show. Beijing has reciprocal 84% tariff rate on U.S. goods, effective April 10. The EU approved retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. China issued new travel warnings for its citizens about visiting the United States. Trump’s job approval rating fell as most Americans said his tariff plan goes “too far.” https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/09/trump-tariffs-live-updates.html

Guy on the left checks all my visible boxes. Thanks, @Olddaddy 😎

If Max was performing in Bangkok, I believe he'd rapidly become Moonlight's hottest attraction. The total package is first class in every respect.

From Vox Could an inexpensive vaccine help stave off dementia? Anyone who has watched a loved one descend into the fog of dementia knows the tremendous toll that neurodegenerative diseases of aging can exact. Dementia currently afflicts over 55 million people worldwide; in the US, more than 6 million people — about 1 out of 10 of those 65 years or older — live with dementia. The economic cost of treating and the often uncompensated cost of caring for those sufferers is now more than $600 billion a year. As our population ages, that number will only grow, with one estimate projecting that the number of people with dementia will double by 2060. It is a fate that many of us will one day suffer — according to one recent study, adults over 55 have a nearly one in two chance of eventually developing dementia. But this week delivered one of the brightest spots in an otherwise dark field. According to a study that followed more than 280,000 people in Wales, older adults who received a vaccine against shingles were 20 percent less likely to develop dementia in the seven years that followed vaccination than those who did not receive the vaccine. This could be a big deal. There are very few, if any, treatments that can prevent or slow down dementia, beyond good lifestyle habits like getting enough sleep and exercise. The possibility that a known, inexpensive vaccine could offer real protection is enormously meaningful. We have good reason to be confident in the findings: While this study is perhaps the most prominent to show the protective effects of the shingles vaccine, other studies of the vaccine have come to similar conclusions. Continues at https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/407273/dementia-shingles-vaccine-alzheimers-virus-old-age?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

From AFP Thailand revokes visa of US academic charged with royal insult A US academic charged with breaking Thailand's strict royal defamation laws was granted bail on Wednesday, his lawyers said, but remains in custody pending an appeal to immigration authorities who earlier revoked his visa. Paul Chambers, who has spent over a decade teaching Southeast Asian politics at a Thai university, was arrested on Tuesday after reporting to police to answer a charge of lese-majeste. His case is a rare instance of a foreigner falling foul of strict laws which shield King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from any criticism and can lead to decades-long prison sentences. "The Appeal Court... issued an order granting bail for Paul," said a post on X from the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group (TLHR) representing Chambers. "Paul will remain in custody at Phitsanulok Provincial Prison until the result of the bail request from immigration police is known." His lawyer Wannaphat Jenroumjit earlier told AFP that immigration authorities had visited Chambers in detention and informed him his visa had been revoked. Wannaphat said Chambers was "not confident but remains hopeful" in the Thai justice system. The Thai military filed a complaint against Chambers this year over an article linked to a think-tank website which focuses on Southeast Asian politics. https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/international-relations/thailand-revokes-visa-of-us-academic-charged-with-royal-insult/ar-AA1CAEVD

From Khaosod English A Lithuanian man sits slumped outside the condominium room in Pattaya while emergency responders and Pattaya police provide first aid to his British friend who severely injured himself playing Russian roulette with a gun, late on April 8, 2025 PATTAYA — In a shocking incident late Monday night, a British national was rushed to hospital with severe injuries after shooting himself in what appears to be a solo game of Russian roulette at a condominium in Pattaya, Thailand. Pattaya City Police responded to reports of a foreigner with a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a condominium located in Soi Chaiyapruek 1, Soi 3, Nongprue, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province. Police identified the victim as Michael James, a 30-year-old British citizen. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found him unconscious and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the forehead in his 11th-floor apartment. Emergency responders performed CPR before urgently transporting him to a nearby hospital. Upon searching the room, investigators discovered nitrous oxide canisters (commonly known as “laughing gas”), balloons used for inhaling the gas, and a .38 caliber revolver with one spent casing, which were collected as evidence. A friend of the injured man, identified as 29-year-old Mr. Alichanovas from Lithuania who shared the apartment, told police that prior to the incident, Michael had consumed cannabis and inhaled laughing gas. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/04/09/british-tourists-russian-roulette-goes-wrong-in-pattaya/

From Pattaya News Bangkok, April 9, 2025 — Thailand’s Cabinet has greenlit two groundbreaking draft laws aimed at tackling the rising tide of cybercrime and bringing order to the digital asset sector, with both expected to take effect possibly even before the Songkran holidays this weekend. Announced by Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the Royal Decree on Measures to Prevent and Suppress Technology-Related Crimes and the Royal Decree on Digital Asset Business Operations are set to be published in the Royal Gazette soon. The first decree targets cybercrime head-on, addressing issues like online scams, fraud, and data breaches that have hurt Thai citizens and businesses. Under the new provisions, financial institutions, telecom operators, and digital platforms will share accountability for preventing such crimes. A key feature is the empowerment of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to oversee swift reimbursement for victims, bypassing lengthy court processes if the financial trail is clear. The law also cracks down on personal data violations, introducing penalties of up to five years in prison or fines reaching 5 million baht for those caught selling sensitive information without consent. To ensure urgency, the decree will take effect immediately upon publication, skipping the standard 30-day delay. Continues at https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/09/thailand-approves-new-laws-to-combat-cybercrime-and-regulate-digital-assets/

From Pattaya Mail Craft beers, which mean smaller breweries and expanding tastes, are spreading throughout the world. The latest addition, through the trade-name Beertique, is located on Pattaya’s breezy beach road in between the Tahitian Queen and Soi Post Office. Opened last month in a partnership by Pattaya businessman and investor Jessataporn Bunnag (Chang), the open frontage is proving a popular meeting ground for craft beer lovers. It’s familiar territory for Chang. “Over thirty years ago I opened Right Spot Bar at the very same location and before it became Hooters,” he says. “But the covid pandemic later closed Hooters, so we decided to expand Beertique in Pattaya with this great location facing the sea.” Apart from draught and bottled beers from across the globe, there’s a food menu with specialty pizzas and Thai or international choices. Chang acknowledges the customer base has changed dramatically over the years. “Right Spot mostly attracted British male vacationers on their own, but Beertique caters for today’s international travellers, often with families,” he says. “Beach Road with its neon signs is no longer a dark area after sundown and Beertique offers live music in the evenings from 8 pm.” https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-beertique-beer-garden-takes-over-hooters-site-496937

Trying to make mathematical sense of Trump's tariff formula left me scratching my head because it was so easy to get lost in the weeds. This morning I came across this CNN piece which makes what I believe is the best attempt to do something logical with a seemingly illogical process. ====== Breaking out whiteboard to explain Trump’s tariff math https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/08/politics/video/trump-tariff-math-digvid

Not since the days of Moonlight's Babe has one guy generated so much attention in a relatively short time than Max. By any measure, he's incredibly handsome, sexy and talented. I tip my cap to all of the above who shared their personal encounters.