STARGAZER

On 1/26/2021 at 7:40 PM, Esco said:

Good stuff, well done. 

How about a quick X virus mutation analysis management system leveraging big data and connecting hospitals all across Asia starting with Thailand and China? 

On 1/27/2021 at 6:00 AM, code_slayer_bkk said:

You know .  I thought about the first stage of such a solution . the problem is that there is no vaccinations here yet that are defined in the private hospitals . China data would be very hard to get though .

Plus, there needs to be an "attitude" change here about sharing data between hospital data between disparate and independent hospital groups

@Esco........One of my neighbors growing up, Sheldon Dorenfest was a true pioneer of digitalizing, creating software solutions and creating data banks for the US Hospital System starting in 1976. He "cashed out" in 2003 and than funded the HIMSS foundation when he was in early 60's.......got bored and was heavily courted by Chinese Govt to digitalize their health system and in 2004 moved (well started spending 50% of his time there) to Shanghai and formed the Dorenfest China Healthcare Group. An amazing guy. Last time I saw him was in 2017 and we had dinner together in Bangkok. Never seen anybody so vibrant and energetic in their 80's....now what the group has done since than, I dunno, but I know in 2017 the Chinese govt had basically given him access to every hospital record in China....at same time I had a mate in AI medical software solutions who was working on a app and wearable device that would predict diabetic needs prior to the event. Guy foamed at the idea that Sheldon might be able to connect him to all China data for diabetics...

http://www.dorenfest.com/ASP/chinadefault.asp

https://foundation.himss.org/Dorenfest

anybody but the Cheeseheads!

4 hours ago, Golfingboy said:

 

Let’s not forget Dad and the club pro getting young ladies drunk and banging them in the Winnebago, in the golf course parking lot. Just wow

I watched Part 1 and thought the family friend Navy Course Club Pro  who relayed the story was "worried" Tiger would be offended when he saw his Dad getting "outed" publicly even though his philanering ways were well known previously. And than I watched a second time and I picked up another message from the family friend. I think we are going to find out in part 2, no it is more. I think we will find out in part 2 Tiger actually lost his virginity in that Winebago as a deluded "right of passage" hosted by Dad and his mate. 

On 1/10/2021 at 4:19 PM, Golfingboy said:

Anxious for the next 2 Sunday nights......long awaited special is airing in 2 parts in HBO. Hope it’s good and doesn’t pull any punches 

 

Part 1 far exceeded my expectations. Loved the HS girl freinds home videos really showing another side of the younger Tiger. And, I always assumed Mom Tida a typical passive agressive Thai and had no idea she morphed into a full blown in your face, in your face kind of Tiger Mom after some years in So. California. (and the term Tiger Mom has nothing do do with her son's name.)

Really looking forward to part 2. 

A couple of recommendations for red lovers--- not wallet breaking snob wines, but great quality and fantastic value for money if one appreciates wine. In a restaurant in Thailand (if could be found) I would expect to pay around 1500 - 2000 baht a bottle and 50% of that at retail. (again if could be found)

USA

Born to Run Cabernet - The Bieler Family a well know name in industry, and have vineyards in France, Italy, and USA. 

What makes this Cab Sauv interesting is it is made from grapes from both California and Washington State. I am not sure how many varietals anywhere in world use grapes from different regions.

ITALY

ROSSOBASTARDO - The literal translation into English is RED BASTARD so a little "fun" in this wine. Whilst full bodied, it makes no claim as a true varietal and uses a blend of 4 grape varieties. It is what it is, doesn't even have a DOC. The vineyard itself produces some world class wines and there is some interesting standards around the Red Bastard that do seperate if from a table wine and whilst just my opinion I think value for money it is one of best bottles out there. 

2 hours ago, Esco said:

I don't know, nor care. 

Pretty sure they don't consider any farang expats to be migrant workers 🙂

 

Absolutely you are not. You are on a "professional" work visa which is totally different than a migrant worker visa. 

Just now, Esco said:

I have zero interest in taking a look mate KSR wasn't made for me back then nor is it now. 

Last time I was there I walked through a small soi with lots of small bars and customers on plastic stools. I still saw the same in the video in the parts I bothered watching. 

Just different lipstick on the same pig. 

I have been the KSR exactly 3 times in my 27 years of living in Asia. Not my cup of tea!

Just now, Thai Spice said:

One more thing...

You saw the changes that happened in Pattaya in the last 20 y ? 

Huge malls, HiSo hotels etc ....

Do you think those things target the sexpat ? No, they target the new clientele. Being they Chinese or Indians.

But the 60+ sexpat will sooner or later be relegated in a small corner. And pricing will be a part of this strategy. 

Look at the the clubbing and nightscene in BKK, they are all doing pretty. Without farangs.

Check out this guy's channel.

https://www.youtube.com/c/BangkokLoveTo

Or ask to @code_slayer_bkk

 

I would venture to say Bali has changed even more!

And the big clubs are not doing well in BKG....they might have a good 6 hr run on Fri/Sat night, but sorry the landlord is charging rent 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and the staff gets paid 24 hours a day.

Quite a few very popular places on Soi 11 have closed there doors for good in past few weeks.

3 hours ago, Esco said:

What's so new about it other than the clientele? 

Maybe a band or 2 playing Thai music now but the soi itself still looks pretty much the same to me. 

Huge changes have been made if you go have a look. But that said and done I believe it will be even more attractive to tourists once they return, and still plenty of places that will be priced to accomondate the back packer crowd.

12 hours ago, tommy dee said:

hope not to have offended anyone with that news article .  what got me first was no medical insrance..  family said he didnt need it as he was diabetic but had it under control.  the 6 floor "fall"  obviously did him huge damage,    FWIW we are seeing more suicides, thai and non thai, of late.  many many more than usual

+22% suicides in Thailand YOY, highest in Asia. That is more than alarming but what is even more worrisome is the global number will probably grow to higher than that in 2021 as the world has not even begun to feel the bottom of the fall out from Covid. Not even close. 

On 10/22/2020 at 2:41 PM, dcfc2007 said:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2006367/china-says-will-maintain-ban-on-outbound-tours-due-to-virus-risk

China has a ban on outbound tourists. So how then were the tourists able to leave to China. It doesn't add up, as many have said, these 'tourists' were most likely Chinese government officials. 

They have banned outbound tour groups, not FIT travelers. Even in normal times outbound FIT International Travel is very restricted in China and only available to those with big dosh.

On 10/15/2020 at 4:21 AM, Glasseye said:

It is one of those teams that over 40 years later you still remember every one of the players. Not many teams in our lifetime like that.

Indeed. Same with the Oakland A's of the era. 72 Series was a great one.

As a Chicago kid I think 71 or 72 was my first ever plane ride. Dad took us to Cinncinati for first Cub/Red Series at Riverfront. What a POS stadium it was. 

10 minutes ago, Thai Spice said:

Half build by the Chinese, half by the Honkies. A mix of bridge, tunnel and artificial islands.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong–Zhuhai–Macau_Bridge

But there are several longer ones on the mainland.

 

Also without question there is a long term economic benefit of the Zhuhai Bridge.  Call me a skeptic but I see no real positive economic benefit to Thailand by connecting Hua Hin and Pattaya by bridge. Hi speed ferry didn't even work out and that is 1/zillionth the cost. Than again, a bridge project could line some pockets in the hierarchy so never say never.

The Chinese are scaling back on their foreign infrastructure funding, hence the delays in the Thailand hi speed train rail network. And when they are funding it is soley with intent of a default on the loan and assumption of ownership of foreign infrastructure, and just like there is no economic beneift to Thailand on a Pattaya-Hua Hin Bridge there would be no benefit to the Chinese should they become defacto owners on a bond default.

On 9/2/2020 at 8:07 PM, JPK said:

Cant wait to get back over,  for all the shite cowboy gets from people I think it's brilliant. My condos only 5 minutes walk/stagger from there so easy for me heading home.

Did you visit any of the Massage shops on Soi 23 while you were in that area? Usually some good looking girls working in them.

We live in same neighborhood. Also like to get home. Got on a plane for a 5 day trip to HK almost 6 months ago and I am still here. Who would of thunk it.

RIP Phil. Thoughts are with Puang and lil Thomas.

@Thai Spice.....where am I?

fab work fab 103 and team! 

On 5/14/2020 at 9:05 AM, Aqualung said:

Thailand for some reason seems to have gotten off lightly regarding the covid situation. If I thought for one moment the figures re deaths and infections were true I would be there as soon as affordable flights were available. 

Unfortunately.. I have my doubts and will sit this situation out and see what pans out. 

As far as the actual hospitalised C19 cases, indeed Thailand has fared well. But the economic fallout will be massive with huge societal knock on effects. 

Strap In 

Wow., nice pictures..not the TJ i recall. Left alot of brain cells in and around that town in the 80's!

Sucks being here in HK now. Not worried about the virus, but the vibe, energy and commerce have just been sucked completely out of the place over last 6 months!

15 hours ago, Yessongs said:

Yeah, like a lot of you, just stunned at this and watching all of the tributes last night pour in. Saw him one time only in 2010 here against The Warriors. What a joke!  He just " torched" them every way possible. It was unbelievable, especially seeing him on TV, then see him play in person. I believe that was Stephen Currys 1st year with the team. He just looked like he was playing "street ball" and nothing they could do to stop him. Unbelievable.

I think for most of us, we can all remember a few things in our life when something like this happens we all remember where we were....

1. 1962....When John Kennedy was assasinated, living in Los Angeles, teacher tells us all to put up our chairs and go home as he was killed. I was 9 years old. 

2.  2009...Michael Jackson dies, was at work and this guy walks over to the office and asks me if I heard the news yet about him.

3. 2020....Yesterday was at the gym, wifey calls me, says "Do you know this guy "Ko..Beee Blyant"? Said it came on her cell phone from the news in Thailand??   Do not carry my cell phone around, so 2 minutes later, guys start walking up to me and telling me this news.........Geez.....RIP to the Black Mamba.

 

Only 4 years old at the time, JFK assasination is one of my first real memories....of course didn't understand the gravity of what was going on, but can shut my eyes and see it like it was yesterday, Walter Cronkite coming on the news to advise the country JFK was dead. We were at my grandparents and they had one of the rare, rare color TV's at the time....remember that piss yellow tile wall at the hospital reporters were reporting from....didn't have a clue as to why all the adults in the room at Grandma's house were crying, but they were...

JFK Jr dying was also a monumental, unforgettable where was I at the time. At home with the wife......that one was even bigger shock, amplified by fact his sister in law who was also on the plane that went down was in my "HK Circle"...outer perimeter, but in it and on first name basis. Was a shocker.

Another unforgettable moment....when Magic Johnson made his HIV retirement announcement....

Kobe, for whatever reason.....no doubt right up there. 

will be coming home for a few days and landing at the Suvarnabhumi a few minutes b4 midnight on 31rst. Not looking forward to driving down the #9 towards central BKG during what might be the worst hour of the 7 day period! Fingers crossed!