The Beer Bar

From National Public Radio Here and Now podcast There were more than 3,000 data breaches in the U.S. alone last year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd talks with Joseph Cox, investigative journalist at 404 Media, about how easy it is to hack a password these days. Listen to podcast at https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/11/password-manager-data

From Bangkok Post Two Chinese passengers have been arrested and charged for stealing cash from other travellers on a flight from Macao to Bangkok. The two men, identified only as Han, 54, and Wang, 46, were detained after Air Macau flight NX996 landed at Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday, according to Pol Col Seksan Thiraruangrit of the Tourist Police Bureau. Pol Col Seksan said a passenger saw Mr Wang searching a backpack of another traveller, named only as Trang, placed in the overhead bin and stealing a plastic bag containing Thai baht. Other passengers also noticed Mr Wang and Mr Han leaving their seats to look for bags belonging to others. Police asked …

An article in today's Guardian newspaper suggests that the days of airline boarding passes may be over in about 3 years. The International Civil Aviation Organization is working on plans for a major shake up in air travel with the introduction of a "digital travel incentive." The changes would mean the end of boarding passes and checking in for flights. Instead, when booking a flight, the information will be downloaded on our phones and updated if necessary. This will be then be linked to our passport details also on the phone. Together these will be called "journey passes". Valérie Viale, the director of product management at Amadeus, the travel technology company, …

A lot of you guys are much more well traveled than me. I've been to some different countries & cities across America but nothing too unusual. What are the most unusual or obscure places you've been, in time & place, where you've found an encounter? Sexual, fell in love, found nightlife...a bar, a club, something more salacious. Somewhere in the cut where you wouldnt expect or where not everyone will find themselves, or before things were more acceptable. Just sitting at home today & letting my mind wander a little bit, sorry I dont have any stories of my own to share for this one, but thats why im curious...

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 clos…

Sorry guys, not the size you think the title means. There was a programme on tv last night about the construction of the Merdeka Tower 118 in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia proudly tells everyone that this is the second tallest building in the world at 678.9 meters above ground. Yet, in my view, it is nowhere near that! Opened in 2024, it boasts a spire of 160.7 meters. True, some people can go up into it to access a small observation deck. But take away that spire and the height of the building is actually only 515 meters. The top habitable floor is 485 meters up. The Shanghai Tower which has no spire is 632 meters high and has 10 floors of habitable space more than the Me…

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.…

From The BBC A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for an American academic under Thailand's lese-majeste law that forbids insulting the monarchy. The army filed a complaint against Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in central Thailand, under lese-majeste and computer crime laws, according to his legal representation. Mr Chambers and his lawyer are due to report to police on Tuesday, where charges are expected to be filed. Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, advocacy lead for the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Centre representing Mr Chambers, told the BBC he did not know the reason for the complaint. If convicted, Mr Cham…

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 tha…

NOTE -- What struck me about the following article is what information it omitted. None of the unstable buildings are identified. Information about hotels and apartment buildings would be a major consideration in public awareness. From The Thaiger The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning announced the results of building inspections following a recent earthquake. Some 55 buildings have been deemed severely damaged and are prohibited from use. Meanwhile, 6,487 buildings remain operational, and 361 have moderate damage. Yesterday, April 7, the Building Damage Inspection Centre, in collaboration with various engineering bodies …

We are traveling in Europe, and using VPN set for Los Angeles. Yet sometimes some websites we use recognize that we're in Europe, and have left us a note blocking us, including the Los Angeles Times and WOW Presents (which hosts RuPaul's Drag Race). Even when we're signed up in the same city, I notice that some days those website let us have access, and sometimes they don't. Do some websites have the ability to "see through" VPN, and is there a way to get around that?

I read recently that a number of factors have negatively affected the price of coffee - meaning your morning cuppa is going to cost more, perhaps even considerably more. As a convert to Nespresso machines (yes, I know: the coffee is not quite as tasty as that freshly ground but it is much more convenient for me), I noticed in January that my favourite flavour had risen by around 12%. Seeing thereafter that the price of wholesale arabica beans has doubled in a year and that ground roast coffee in the USA was at an all-time high, I decided to buy more now. Droughts and weather-related factors in Brazil have seen a drop in exports of 11.3%. In Vietnam a drop of 39.…

NOTE — The article does not specify whether the power banks are banned in checked baggage only which is common with many international carriers. The illustration on Thai FB page appears to Indicate that they’re banned in cabin, also. From Pattaya News Thai Airways announced a ban on charging power banks during flights to enhance passenger safety. The new regulation will take effect starting March 15th, 2025. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, Thai Airways stated, “Thai Airways Implements Power Bank Regulations for Passenger Safety. Following incidents of in-flight fires on international airlines, suspected to be linked to power bank u…

NOTE -- If there's any good news on airfare front it may be that lower ticket prices maybe in the offing. From CNBC Airlines are expected to cut 2025 outlooks when they report earnings starting this week. Wall Street analysts have slashed their price targets for U.S. airlines and downgraded ratings as concerns about travel demand grow. Consumers had been willing to pay for travel and experiences over goods despite years of inflation, but the industry has seen a stark turn in sentiment. Continues at https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/airlines-expected-to-cut-2025-outlooks-as-travel-deman…

Young men gather for first day of military draft selection in Nongprue district of Chon Buri. (photo credit TMN Cable, Pattaya)

It's getting harder for reasonable people outside the USA to have any other than aggressive feelings against the recently elected President. Near Thailand, the cutting the USAID budget has affected hundreds of Myanmar reporters camped out on the border with Thailand on whom the world has depended for months if not years for news of what has been happening re the ghastly civil war in that country. USAID paid their salaries. This started weeks before the present earthquake. Now no more. Worse, The Guardian today has informed us that Trump and his cohorts have made "Sweeping HIV Research and Grant Cuts." This will "decimate" progress on elimiating the pandemic. Let's no…

From The Nation Bangkok is known for its vibrant street food scene, but if you’re looking for affordable, delicious and clean dining in an air-conditioned setting, Pier 21 Food Court at the Terminal 21 shopping mall is the ultimate spot. Bangkok is known for its vibrant street food scene, but if you’re looking for affordable, delicious and clean dining in an air-conditioned setting, Pier 21 Food Court at the Terminal 21 shopping mall is the ultimate spot. Located on the fifth floor of Terminal 21, near the vibrant Asok-Sukhumvit intersection, this food court offers a vast selection of Thai and international dishes at unbeatabl…

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 Tha…

From The Thaiger Tourists in Thailand’s popular northern getaway Pai woke up to an unexpected jolt after a mild earthquake struck the area early this morning, April 5—part of a cluster of tremors shaking nearby Myanmar. At around 6am, a 2.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was minor, it added to a series of seismic events recorded in the region over a nine-hour span. According to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), “a total of eight earthquakes were recorded in Myanmar from midnight Friday to 9am Saturday.” The …

From Pattaya News Chatchawan Prommoratham, Acting President of the Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor), announced a major upgrade to the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), commonly known as Mo Chit 2, to improve convenience, speed, and safety for passengers. The renovation is part of efforts to modernize the public transport system and support seamless connectivity. Just in time for the upcoming Songkran holiday—Thailand’s biggest annual travel period—the company has completed renovations to the passenger ticketing areas. A total of 107 new ticket counters are now in service: 38 on the first floor and 69 on the third floor of the terminal. These cou…

Yes, I know! What has one of the most popular disco numbers of the 1980s to do with Gay Icons? I wonder how many are aware that this song comes from a Broadway musical? "Chess", with lyrics by the chess-loving Tim Rice who in the 1970s had made himself a nice fortune as the lyricist for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Evita" and then later for Disney with lyrics for Elton John’s “The Lion King” and other shows, was one of Tim Rice’s pet projects and very dear to his heart. I saw the musical in its first month in London in 1986. To write the music, Rice commuted to Sweden to discuss it with the ABBA boys, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson. They liked th…

From Bangkok Post Multiple human skeletons have been found at the construction site of a commuter rail station in Bangkok, and experts say they may be linked to a mass execution about 250 years ago. The discovery was made recently by a team doing survey work at the site of the Siriraj Station on the MRT Orange Line, which runs from Bang Khun Non to the Thailand Cultural Centre. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand said the find is now being investigated under the supervision of Fine Arts Department officials. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2995977/old-bones-at-mrt-station-site-hint-at-ancient-executions

From The Star BANGKOK: Apple has confirmed it will unlock its cell broadcast system in Thailand, enabling the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to send emergency alerts directly to 50 million mobile phone users, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has announced. The move comes as part of a broader effort to enhance the nation's disaster warning capabilities. Trairat Viriyasirikul (pic), acting secretary-general and deputy secretary-general of the NBTC, revealed that Apple has responded positively to the DDPM’s request, pledging to complete the system activation within five days. SMS alerts will follo…

From Pattaya News By Adam Judd Bangkok, March 31, 2025 – Test results from 28 steel samples recovered from the wreckage of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district have revealed that two failed to meet required standards, according to Nonthichai Likitaporn, director of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI)’s Standards Division 1. The findings mark a turning point in the ongoing investigation into the collapse, which occurred on March 28 following a powerful earthquake centered in Mandalay, Myanmar, approximately 392 kilometers from Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province. The 33-storey SAO building, still under c…

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 rep…