OPINION

Scans? What scans?

My wife arrived from Taiwan yesterday at Suvarnabhumi airport at the same time as thousands of mainland Chinese with faces all covered with masks -- but to her surprise she could not find any health stations to scan arriving passengers for fever and other health concerns, especially with the coronavirus blowing freely around Asia.

Taiwan's airports have fully equipped stations everywhere -- Hong Kong exactly the same. Why Thailand does not follow these same conditions is indeed a total surprise.

Viral greetings

With the threat of the Wuhan coronavirus hanging over us, what would be an appropriate greeting for the current Chinese New Year?

Little children traditionally greet their elders with a couplet pronounced (approximately) "Goong-shee fah-tsai, hoong-bao nah-lai." ("Congratulations, may you get rich. Bring out (my) red envelope." The red envelope contains a gift of money.

With the advent of the Wuhan coronavirus, the emphasis might shift to something like this: "Goong-shee fah-tsai, bing-doo bye-bye." ("Congratulations, may you get rich. Bye-bye, virus.")

While little children will lament the loss of the red envelope, they should be taught that they can't enjoy the money in it if they're dead.

Have a cool Year of the Rat, people.

Bye bye BBC

Re: "A slur on Trump," (PostBag, Jan 25).

I enjoyed reading Alex Bamford's letter about BBC bias. There can be no doubt about the BBC's anti-Brexit bias, but any bias in the latest general election was more debatable.

What is apparent is the BBC's total arrogance towards other broadcasters and online media. Prime Minister Boris Johnson did a great number of interviews during that election on the radio, with the ITV, Sky and online, but declined to do one with the BBC's Andrew Neil. Mr Neil then ridiculously ranted against Mr Johnson's absence to a posed empty chair.

Here in Thailand, I gave up watching the BBC a long time ago in favour of Sky, Al Jazeera and Russia Today. The BBC is basking in past glories, blissfully unaware that the world moved on years ago. It is now not the only show in town; there are better and more popular free alternatives.

Time to evacuate

Once again my yearly letter bemoans the filthy toxic pollution in North Thailand. The only difference is that it is only January when it is usually March. Currently, in Pai, the PM2.5 reading is 135. Looks like the arsonists are trying to outdo last year when 800 was reached to be the most polluted place on earth. It seems everyone other than the authorities can see these massive red flames on the mountains at night. All 100% man-made unlike those in Australia. So like the thousands in Australia who were evacuated, I will also evacuate myself to some clean air fit for human survival.