impulse

ChinT is ubiquitous in China. As you stated, they're not an off brand at all. It wouldn't surprise me if they're the actual sub-manufacturer for some of the branded labels, too. Which are generally made in China anyway... Sometimes on the 4th shift, or the gray market. Bottom line, I'd buy a ChinT from a reputable store before I'd buy (for example) an ABB that seems priced too low from a local kiosk.

The first reason to get an immigration attorney is to decide whether the K-1 path is the best for his plans. (Does he want to get married in Thailand, or later in the USA?) Once she's declared an intent to get married, the simple 10 year multi entry tourist visa is off the table. And that may be the simplest and quickest way to get her to the USA to see if she even likes it there. I'm not claiming to be an expert. There's lawyers for that. I just know enough guys that have regrets over the way they went about it and complicated the process, some adding years.

Who sends a pretty girl a bouquet of dead flowers?

Good advice. It's really easy to delay or derail the process if you do things in the wrong order.

3 of my 4 siblings were double jabbed and boosted, yet got Omicron. I'm assuming Omicron because of timing and their minimal symptoms. Same with Pelosi and many others. Nobody's claiming that getting the disease offers 100% protection. But it's at least as good as getting the jab. And that's supported by the Pfizer documents that are coming out, only as a result of FOIA demands and court orders. Getting back to the OP, there may be 50K cases after Songkran. But doubtful. And it's possible that may actually expedite getting Thailand through with Covid so they can open up and start raking in that sweaty tourist cash. Fingers crossed that they're asymptomatic or mild cases. They're coming whether Songkran is cancelled or not. What isn't coming is tourists and their money.

It sounds like a lottery thing. They'll get hundreds of videos a day, resulting in a lot of fines. But it looks like they're only giving out 10K, once a day for 7 days. At least that's the way I read it... Heck, they may even post up the best videos on YouTube and monetize the 10K back and then some.

The authorities are still drawing paychecks.

Or just soil your pants.

Sukhumvit in BKK, between MBK and Emporium...

Would you chase a nutter with a knife? And just as importantly, do you think you'd catch them before she was fatally stabbed? She was running away with him chasing her. I doubt most of us could have even kept up.

It's all Kabuki Theater with no upside for Thailand to vote, either way. They did the smart thing.

They may not get you home free of charge, but get you back on an airplane they will, regardless of your ability or willingness to pay. It's then up to them to get the money from you. Many years ago, I was denied boarding in Chicago (to China) because of a change in visa rules. I had a very polite and extensive conversation with the gate agent supervisor who explained to me that not only was the airline responsible for repatriating you, they could be subject to fines in the neighborhood of tens of thousands of $USD. I appreciate the OP's heads-up that some existing rules were enforced in his recent case. It may not be definitive, and YMMV, but it's an excellent data point.

AA is chock full of atheists and agnostics. Many of whom are very successful.

A lot of them are waiting for the next 10,000 page dump of the Pfizer documents, which seem to be painting a much different picture than the one we've been spoon fed. For example, that natural immunity is as good or better than the jabs. Meaning that 80.2 million Americans don't need the jab because they've recovered and have immunity. They're not right wingers. They're following the science. Instead of the narrative.

Can you explain what you mean by that? Also may be helpful for a look into the future, whether marriage to your partner is in your plans?

Taking a survey and taking a jab are 2 different things. On April 6, the vaccination rate was 72.1% On March 6, it was 71.3%. That's 0.8% for the month. At that rate, it will take another 16 months to get to 85% fully vaccinated, but even that rate is decreasing. It'll asymptotically approach some number and it'll be less than 85% fully vaccinated. They can't wait another 16 months to open up to tourism.

Thailand will never get to 85% at the current trajectory. In that respect, it's a lot more similar to the USA than Aus. Edit: And I'd add that the USA and Thailand are similar to each other, and very different than Aus when it comes to strong arming compliance. I still contend that 30% won't take the jab voluntarily. They will if they're forced...

Whether it's 280 a day for a month or 100 a day for 6 months, it's gonna happen and destroying the economy isn't gonna help the total numbers now that pretty much everyone who wants the vaccine has access to it. The hospitals aren't at their limits. Flattening the curve is just dragging it out.

Help me out here. What part of England does that accent come from?

Wonder how this thread would be different if he stole vodka?

I beg to differ. In 2011, CNN was credible.

To put that into context, he left Fox right about the time smartphones became a thing... That's like a lifetime ago.

You need to get your picker checked. Yes, with an "I".

If you're in the BKK area, I'd suggest heading over to Pilot 111 to see their operation. Very nice people and excellent barramundi and snakehead fishing. They sure go through a lot of tilapia feeding them... Another great resource for fishing in Thailand is: http://www.john-tom.com/FishingInThailand/FlyFishingThailand.html Bangkok-Hooker-Fishing website seems to have gone missing, but it was a good resource, too.

Step 1: Install CCTV to catch the buggers who will inevitably show up to net all your fish. Make sure they're infrared capable in case they show up at night. Sounds like fun, but even here in the US, fish theft by seine net is a big problem if the pond isn't watched 24/7.