arithai12

Ouch. ok, I admit that I am not subscribing to the romantic idea that, 70 years after the fact, a mission of 9 officers from US and untold numbers of locals team together out of the blue to find this particular body. Since you seem very excited by this, perhaps you can offer an explanation of why they waited so long? And, to reiterate on my comment, what exactly is the "open communication with the families of the missing" in this case? Cynical that I am, this seems more like "here's an idea to spend that leftover budget so we show that we used all funds for this fiscal year".

ok, but what is "home"? this man died over 70 years ago. His children if any are probably dead too, and he would be a stranger to his grandchildren. Buried in some state cemetery, it's honorable but serves no practical purpose while the expense must be very considerable. Anyway, since they are here I wish them success.

I don't know if this is literally true. But it reminds me of Las Vegas, where you could get a fabulous hotel room and gorgeous buffets at a very low price. Their money came from the gambling anyway, and they sure were not losing. This case is slightly different, and cleverer, because the scheme is operated in a foreign country.

No it's not justified, bunnydrops already said that. The point is that many on this forum subscribe to the convenient narrative that all Ucrainians are innocent, peaceful, democratic people who were invaded for no reason, while all the Russians are a bad lot that must be punished in mass. In fact, most Ucrainians are innocent peaceful and would like to be democratic, and so are most Russians. There are violent, nationalist, corrupt, oligarchic people on both sides of the border. A truth that is conveniently ignored by most of the western press and that does not suit NATO very well. And I repeat for those who cannot read: the invasion is not justified.

You are right, it's a shame. But apparently the hotels are encouraged, not obliged, to refund or provide credit for that unnecessary 5th day stay & test.

Sorry, I don't want to interfere, but please get your facts right: it's not that those "Russians" decided to live there. Nothing "simple" about it. Fast rewind to Stalin (compared to which even Hitler would pale). He liked moving people around what was then a young Soviet Union. A million Russian Jews here, a million Kazakhi there, send a million to Yakutia and so on. He sent loads of ethnic Russians to Donbass, Ukraine. This was several generations ago. They didn't want to go, they had no choice. The current descendants have no fault: they were born there, their grand-parents and grand-grand were born there. A litte like US Americans today have no fault of their ancestors having seized immense territories from the Natives, or the Canadians or the Australians. I could go on about the sad state of affairs in that region but I think this is not the place as I don't want to be seen justifying the current war (which I do not condone in the least).

Then the assistant answers "I don't know", end of talk, what is the tease? I am lost... is this supposed to be funny in Scotland?

Great to hear, again, that the online 90days works. I wonder however what is the purpose. There's no proof that it is actually the intended person doing it - or that the intended person is indeed in Thailand. All the normal folks are tracked anyway by phone, credit card, internet activity, utility bills, and so on. The ones that want to stay under the radar won't be doing a truthful 90day anyway. So perhaps the 90d could be scrapped? Not that it matters to me, it costs me zero time at Promenada in CM. I suspect it's an excuse for them to look busy and justify extra staff.

The propeller was recovered right away, and it had already been tested anyway. Covid infections: in Europe the detection rate at peak of Omicron was about 20%. If, say, about 30 policemen and reporters were working on the case, which seems plausible, then 6 infections would be about the expected number.

I do it regularly, when close to others. And will continue to do so. Big deal. Also nice that I don't have to shave so often and can hide the wrinkles. If others prefer to go without, ok with me.

You attempt to drum up panic on every single covid-related thread. The number of deaths means exactly zilch if you don't mention -when was the patient diagnosed -their vaccination status including types of vaccines and dates -their age, physical condition and risk factors prior to infection Europe has reopened almost completely, yet countries with similar population as Thailand still have hundreds of deaths, not tens. Mostly unvaccinated. Which is their life choice, not a necessity. Why the hysteria?

If there was a call center for "sniffles and cough" in Chiang Mai, the lines would melt during the next two months. But hey, that's just natural air pollution no big deal.

Deaths occur mostly weeks after infection, so to claim that it's a new record has nothing to do with today's number of infections. Also, the number itself doesn't mean much if they don't say whether the deceased was/was not vaxxed, how/when, age, pre-conditions, etc. And number of detected infections, has little meaning if they don't tell us how many were the tests. Here's a prediction: double the tests and you will have a new record of infections.

Agreed, it's biting the folks in Russia. Already prices are spiking and for some private companies there's talk of reducing salaries. My comment was about the fact that Europeans will pay a price too, sanctions are not always so obviously one-sided. eg SWIFT payments are both ways. Personally, and I know many disagree, I find it's a shame that the average Ivan and Olga have to pay for the choices of their leadership... leadership which remains as rich as before. A lot of russians are against the turn that things have taken as much as any other person. To think that this will cause some kind of revolution? Maybe, not sure, certainly not right away.

Phuket full of russians... true. As I see, they don't seem especially worried. Tourists: their major expenses (flight, accomodation) were paid in advance. They also probably exchanged their money to dollars before flying, so I think they are largely ok. FLying back also no big deal, considering that most come from the Asian part of Russia. Long-term residents: either they earn their money here in Baht, or else they live from savings/investments which are probably outside Russia. The real hit is to those russian tourists who were planning to come later.

Apart from personal inclinations, largely understandable, I don't think it's your choice what gas powers your car or heats your home - it's the choice of the government of the country where you live. As for "pathetic 3% of GDP", in the glocal economy it's often very difficult to track down the source of each good we use. Everything is connected, so when a country decides to punish another with economic sanctions the effects can be in both directions. The idiotic EU policy to buy russian gas at spot price instead of contract, started well before the Ukraine troubles, already resulted in european people facing exorbitant energy bills this last winter... or advised to "hug each other" as in some country. I think some european politicians are only too happy about the possibility to blame everything on the russians, diverting close inspection of their own recent actions.

I read Laos was reopening, not sure which date. Singapore accepts tourists (if vaccinated) but with a number of tests. Philippines is further away, but depending on your interests... I would research which country is easier to obtain the TV you want.

After the Phuket guy and now this gentleman, note to self: be extremely polite to indian strangers I meet on the street.

Personally I would worry more about how many people have very little clue on how to drive and yet are on the road every day. 95% of the cases reported in Thailand are without symptoms or very light (MOPH). The majority of the population has anti-bodies, either from vaccination or from exposure. Of course people at risk (age, conditions, frail) should take good care of themselves, because it's still possible to die. I personally will continue wearing a mask and observing some precautions, I will consider a 4th vaxx in a few months, but I don't see the need for extensive testing, restrictions, hysteria.

Bad luck for your wife, but formally not wrong. There are articles in today's main media (I don't think they can be linked) that explain how the Gov't is encouraging hotels to refund the 5th day if possible, either with money or at least with credit, but does not want to enforce it.

Immigration does not grant visas. I think what you mean is that Immigration will not accept a visa if they have their reasons.

About your last statement, a visa is issued by an Embassy abroad (or consulate), but Immigration has the last say whether you are allowed in or not. They may have reasons for refusing entry that the Embassy does not know about. I'd say this is the same for every country.

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Nothing against legalizing MJ, however also cocaine and opium are "goddamn plants" and so are a lot of very potent poisons... maybe you want to choose another argument.????

It was my point too, people here are going on and on about the signing of a package but that cannot be the only action that landed in jail. Frankly, I have no clue whether the young girl has been framed or is someone who made some very bad choices. But the story as told by the mother has more holes than a colander.