General Reports

[QUOTE=Allover;2445974]Which is precisely why I have no problem calling this the Chinese Virus or Wuhan Virus. It's about the origin. Bill Maher said it best in the link below.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfDwc2G2_8[/URL][/QUOTE]Yeah, Bill Maher has apparently had enough of the Left's Political Correctness and phony wok sensitivities. Just give me the facts he states. It is the Wuhan Virus because it comes from Wuhan. Duh! And while we are on the subject check out his "fake News" video.

[URL]https://youtu.be/UcvIQJ-QurQ[/URL].

Interesting! The point being we should all be getting fed up with this "panic porn" "fake news" regardless of which side of the political spectrum we hail from. It is really dumb and dangerous. What the fuck has happened to the 4th estate? Trump is not a justifiable excuse for their dropping long held journalistic standards. The ends do not justify the means except in totalitarian regimes.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2445982]Yeah, Bill Maher has apparently had enough of the Left's Political Correctness and phony wok sensitivities. Just give me the facts he states. It is the Wuhan Virus because it comes from Wuhan. Duh! And while we are on the subject check out his "fake News" video.

[URL]https://youtu.be/UcvIQJ-QurQ[/URL].

Interesting! The point being we should all be getting fed up with this "panic porn" "fake news" regardless of which side of the political spectrum we hail from. It is really dumb and dangerous. What the fuck has happened to the 4th estate? Trump is not a justifiable excuse for their dropping long held journalistic standards. The ends do not justify the means except in totalitarian regimes.[/QUOTE]Is there anyone who still believes these complete country shut downs were a good move?

[URL]https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2020/04/23/antibody-testing-proves-weve-been-had-n2567516[/URL]

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2445982]Yeah, Bill Maher has apparently had enough of the Left's Political Correctness and phony wok sensitivities. Just give me the facts he states. It is the Wuhan Virus because it comes from Wuhan. Duh! And while we are on the subject check out his "fake News" video.

[URL]https://youtu.be/UcvIQJ-QurQ[/URL].

Interesting! The point being we should all be getting fed up with this "panic porn" "fake news" regardless of which side of the political spectrum we hail from. It is really dumb and dangerous. What the fuck has happened to the 4th estate? Trump is not a justifiable excuse for their dropping long held journalistic standards. The ends do not justify the means except in totalitarian regimes.[/QUOTE]Bill Maher is an unfunny comedian, who gets off for attacking Trump et al. The video you linked is just him rambling. He has no part in fighting Covid19, which is its name. Cut down on the Sinophobia as it does not belong here. If you want people to vote for Biden or whoever, post where rhat belongs, not here.

Here is Michael O'Leary of Ryanair, saying air lines will be up and running again in July and there wil be the mother of all price wars in hotels, air tickets etc. O'Leary's opinion is valuable. Maher is a sad and ignorant clown. [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtccxnEmfeM[/URL].

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2445483]Smoothy you dog! Your China experiences sound great. I was fortunate to visit ChangPing in 2011 and Big Swingin Dave showed me around and made sure I was set up good in the various high end KTV's where otherwise I might not have ventured and stuck to the saunas instead. All I can say now is: It was an amazing side trip. So many hot Chinese girls & overflowing Flower Streets. Heaven Above! 555. I wish I could go back in time and do it again and again, but you can't. I have never been anywhere like it or even close to it before or since.

Now I really like Macau because that is where you can still do top quality Chinese girls in the better saunas (at unfortunately astronomical prices), oh well nothing is perfect, but Macau never held a candle to ChangPing in it's former glory days. And then one day the Chinese Communist Government said enough / no more and ChangPing was all over in a heartbeat. Moral of the story: appreciate what you have because everything can change overnight. I really dig tall, thin, light skin Chinese girls. They are very different from Thai girls in body and personality. I have no idea if the Macau saunas will ever reopen after Wuhan. If they are over too, that's it for China and all its satellites and colonies as far as I am concerned. I will never go back. HKG was already on my avoid list for the last 5 years and forget about Shanghai.[/QUOTE]I also had Big Dave as a guide the times I got to visit CP before the big crackdown. It was a mans paradise on earth in those days!!

[QUOTE=Allover;2445974]Which is precisely why I have no problem calling this the Chinese Virus or Wuhan Virus.[/QUOTE]A descriptive adjective is supposed to give meaning to the noun it precedes. Describing a corona virus as Chinese is misleading. It suggests it has a unique Chinese characteristic whatever that might mean, it does not. To date science has identified hundreds of corona viruses so why not be accurate and call it a coronavirus or use the acronym Covid-19.

Let's be real about what this is about and how it started. It originated at a Trump briefing and is being used as a deflection to his accepted disastrous response to dealing with the virus in the US. It's simple China bashing no more no less and appeals to his xenophobic base.

But hey stop, it's allover, Covid-19 is no longer a problem, a simple injection of Dettol with maybe a splash or two of bleach thrown in and you are good to go.

I hate the grotesque xenophobic caricatures which consist in caricaturing and accusing countries and their people. I know that some journalists or editorialists make it their business.

At this stage there is no certainty. And all directions must be investigated.

Nevertheless I hope that to say that the virus comes from Wuhan in China and that perhaps it appeared following faults or errors is not regarded as sinophobic. It is hoped that the whole world can learn from its mistakes. How to do it if we hide them ? Fortunately we are in a globalized world where speech is destined to be free in all nations or we go directly to the world that George Orwell described in 1984 (unless we are already there ? ).

I think it is not a service to the people of China and to the world to hide the truth. There is a huge desire for free speech in China and it should be encouraged. I remind that the first doctor in China who launched the coronavirus alert and who died from it, Li Wenliang, was first imprisoned by the Chinese authorities for "spreading rumors". He is now considered a national hero in China.

[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2446112]I hate the grotesque xenophobic caricatures which consist in caricaturing and accusing countries and their people. I know that some journalists or editorialists make it their business.

At this stage there is no certainty. And all directions must be investigated.

Nevertheless I hope that to say that the virus comes from Wuhan in China and that perhaps it appeared following faults or errors is not regarded as sinophobic. It is hoped that the whole world can learn from its mistakes. How to do it if we hide them ? Fortunately we are in a globalized world where speech is destined to be free in all nations or we go directly to the world that George Orwell described in 1984 (unless we are already there ? ).

I think it is not a service to the people of China and to the world to hide the truth. There is a huge desire for free speech in China and it should be encouraged. I remind that the first doctor in China who launched the coronavirus alert and who died from it, Li Wenliang, was first imprisoned by the Chinese authorities for "spreading rumors". He is now considered a national hero in China.[/QUOTE]China is not to blame for the languid and downright criminal responses in Europe and the USA. Stop blaming others, like you are a child.

George Orwell, mr 1984, was a government informant, part of thew 1984 system. A nasty, nasty, little man.

I thought the Ryanair link was good as it showed one major company intends to be around for a few more rounds and that air and hotel price wars on the way, which is good for mongers. However, regarding this site's focus, I don't know if the old days can come back. Much older folk will remember Burgos St in Singapore, which was like Sodom and Gomorah on steroids. Some have mentioned wild places in the PR China, which are now gone.

I figure a lot has to with how the various authorities want to move post lock down. If it was up to me, I would want women as they spend the money and we see that increasingly in Thailand and Pattaya. Guys just spend money on beer and broads.

But it is not my call. I figure the more adventurous and horny Chinese, Indians and Koreans will still want their weasels greased and the market will be thee for them. Maybe a smaller, more discreet and more expensive scene, where the only losers would be Cheap Charlies and the women we pay to love? Cash will be king and I am cash rich, so suggestions post Covid19 please.

[QUOTE=Gargano19;2445860]I was taking a walk around Sukhumvit last evening around 6 pm, and everything seems normal. [/QUOTE][B]Everything[/B] seems normal? Either you lack perception or you walked along a different Sukhumvit road than I did.

Sure, it's not 100% deserted, there are people, there are cars, there's even an occasional freelancer, but normal it is not, by any measure.

The Stones are at it again. May not exactly belong in the Thai Forum, but what else is there to do on a Saturday morning during the lockdown day xx.

[URL]https://twitter.com/i/status/1253350430341554177[/URL]

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=239&v=LNNPNweSbp8&feature=emb_title[/URL]

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2446006]Bill Maher is an unfunny comedian, who gets off for attacking Trump et al. The video you linked is just him rambling. He has no part in fighting Covid19, which is its name. Cut down on the Sinophobia as it does not belong here. If you want people to vote for Biden or whoever, post where rhat belongs, not here.[/QUOTE]You obviously lack a sense of humour. Maybe you thought Trumps sarcasm about injecting disinfectant funny.

Bill Maher did an excellent interview last night.

[URL]https://www.yahoo.com/news/bill-maher-believes-people-want-063943156.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=Franciscass;2446072]A descriptive adjective is supposed to give meaning to the noun it precedes. Describing a corona virus as Chinese is misleading. It suggests it has a unique Chinese characteristic whatever that might mean, it does not. To date science has identified hundreds of corona viruses so why not be accurate and call it a coronavirus or use the acronym Covid-19.[/QUOTE]If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.

[QUOTE=Franciscass;2446072]A descriptive adjective is supposed to give meaning to the noun it precedes. Describing a corona virus as Chinese is misleading. It suggests it has a unique Chinese characteristic whatever that might mean, it does not. To date science has identified hundreds of corona viruses so why not be accurate and call it a coronavirus or use the acronym Covid-19. It's simple China bashing no more no less .[/QUOTE]Lighten up Franciscass.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN-aXzpQUdw[/URL]

Was this Hong Kong bashing?

Hong Kong Flu 1968.

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_flu[/URL]

Was this Spain bashing?

Spanish Flu 1918.

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu[/URL]

Was this Asian bashing?

Asian Flu 1957.

[URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957%E2%80%9358_influenza_pandemic[/URL]

Here's the link to that Maher video again. You may have missed it. Maher actually got it right. If had started in Milan, it would be called the Milan virus or the Italy virus. I have no doubt.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEfDwc2G2_8[/URL]

[QUOTE=*****man;2446165]If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.[/QUOTE]The Chinese Communist Party is, and has been, engaged in trying to write any "history" from their point of view. In other words, lie about what really happened. The CCP is not just trying to "spin" the whole Wuhan Virus narrative, they want it to go away in the worse way. The fastest and easiest way is to engage in "fake news" and social media to flood the West's internet channels with garbage to confuse the public. To a certain extent, they are getting away with it, because the liberal media is complicit in doing anything it can to end Trump's Presidency. If Obama was still President, the media would be groveling at his feet and never say that the emperor had no clothes. People who are really free and can think for themselves can and do know what bullshit is.

What is most surprising is the African, European and SE Asian "awakening" to the fact that the CCP is not their buddy after all. The fact that the CCP is willing to throw the entire world under the bus so to speak, has brought on the realization that like good vampires, the CCP will drain the economic life blood out of any country. The Belt and Road foreign policy is the prime vehicle in getting the rest of the world under their control. It is cheaper and monetarily more rewarding than trying to build a modern army or navy. One reason the CCP cancelled their last two aircraft carriers that were going to cost them billions of dollars to build and run every year.

The concept of "President For Life" is going to prove a difficult achievement for Putin and Xi. Watch the movie "Death of Stalin" for a humorous take on that concept!

[QUOTE=*****man;2446165]If you feel that strongly about it you'd better campaign against the expression Spanish flu. Chinese virus just means a virus that originated in China. Do we really want to accept the authority of the Chinese Communist party to tell us what we can and can't say? They made a fuss about the perfectly reasonable expression Wuhan virus because they want to cover up their responsibility for it.[/QUOTE]The Spanish flu did not start in Spain.

[QUOTE=GDreams;2446154]You obviously lack a sense of humour. Maybe you thought Trumps sarcasm about injecting disinfectant funny.

Bill Maher did an excellent interview last night.[/QUOTE]Yes, only you ave a sense of humour. I am not interested in anything an uninformed pretend comic has to say. I do not need that bigot Maher to make me form an opinion on Trump or anyone else.

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2446115] I don't know if the old days can come back[/QUOTE]No vaccine, no treatment. As long as there is none, we will have to stay at home or accept to live with covid-19. The solution to closing the world's borders and confining people will soon reach its limits. The economy is everywhere in free fall. Governments will therefore have to arbitrate. For the moment I feel them hesitate LOL.

Thailand has an open economy. This means that it depends for a lot on the international circuit. However, we will have to choose between covid-19 and the economy. The economy could do much more terrible damage. Tourism is 20% of the GDP in Thailand. There is almost no social safety net in Thailand. The queues for the soup kitchen are getting longer. The social uproar if this government does not relax the confinement rules could reappear, the Thais have already shown that they could easily take to the streets (and not only in Thailand for that matter).

On the other hand I understood that there are not that many cases in Thailand.

The sub-region (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam.) seems relatively spared, the virus does not seem to like the heat, the sun and the humidity I heard.

The short-term solution could be to wear masks, respect social distances and confine people at risk to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Pending treatment. And re-circulate ASAP the money. Is there another solution?

In my opinion the question is not "if the old days can come back" but WHEN it will come back.

--------------------------------------------------

P.S.: "Country of 69 million inhabitants, with a GDP of 504 billion USD, Thailand is the second economy of Southeast Asia.

Thailand's macroeconomic fundamentals are solid. The country experienced sustained economic growth until 2018 (+ 4. 2% but it faltered in 2019 (+ 2. 4%) and the country will enter into recession in 2020 (-5. 3% Its export-oriented economy (50% of GDP) is well integrated into global value chains with an industrial base with regional scope, large solid and internationalized companies, constant tourist attractiveness (20% of GDP) but hard affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The particularly high current account surplus (28 billion USD or 6% of GDP) contributed to the appreciation of the baht.

Indicators and situation.
French government finance.
Updated 04/15/2020 ".