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Hopefully I won’t be coming back to the USA anytime soon:

Flew out of BKK in Jan and came back in Feb. My route was BKK-SIN-LAX. RT-PCR test in CNX 24 hours before flight and my CDC Vax card were the only documents i presented at Check In at the Singapore Airlines counter.

What is the difference Proxy a War and an actual War? Not much. NATO and it's members are supplying weapons to Ukraine and the Russia has invaded Ukraine. Russia, as reported by a major US Newspaper, is recruiting Syrians to fight in Ukraine. Apparently Syrians are more experience in urban combat. NATO and it's leaders are essentially playing the classic game of "Chicken". No NATO forces will engage in Combat in Ukraine but our weapons will? How long will this go on? Until the Russian Army along with Chechens and Syrians kill and destroy most of Ukraine? History is not kind to any leader who exudes fear. NATO and it's esteemed leader, Jens Stoltenberg, exudes fear every time he speaks about Ukraine. Joe Biden just looks confused. Why would anyone backdown when my enemy exudes fear? Putin will carryon with his "special operations". It appears Putin does fear anything at this point. This makes him the most dangerous opponent one can face. What US Senator Lindsey Graham said about Putin in public was inappropriate but might be a way to end this. Graham said "Putin mut be taken out". Of course the Russian Embassy in Washington had a meltdown on Twitter(of course Twitter is no longer is available in Mother Russia). A long time ago I was a soldier and the last person who actually wants to go to war is a soldier. But if a soldier of any generation has to go to war he or she wants to do it for a just cause. I believe confronting a dictator and his military forces who are killing civilians after invading a sovereign country is a just cause.

Some airlines will allow one to change the date without cost. In terms of PCR test costs, Thailand is reasonable (I have paid 2800 Baht for same day results). In Los Angeles PCR tests with next day results can vary from $150 to $175.

Try telling that to airline check-in staff. I was in line at BKK and I was flying Singapore Airlines. At the time(it has now changed) Singapore required a PCR test within 48 hours of departure. I was very glad I took a PCR test and not an Antigen test. The guy in front of me had an Antigen test result and he was turned away and told to get a PCR test(how the heck does one do that in under 2 hours).

Gone down? No. Will go higher oil is now at $110. Planning? Always but even now most international flight destination still maintain the 72, 48 or even a 24 hour PCR test to board flights. The US requires a 24 hour before flight PCR test.

Unless you have an International Flight the next day.

Same for Philosophy majors. This is why Starbucks will always have plenty of applicants.

NATO is not much better. The world is in a very sad state.

Watching Jens Stoltenberg, NATO-NO ACTION TALK ONLY director, speak on TV makes me think he needs to step aside. In essence Jens said the invasion of Ukraine by Russia is not NATO's business. He is right on that point. Then where is the UN? In the mid 1990's the UN got involved in Yugoslavia. It is time for the blue helmets to mount a convoy into Ukraine from Poland and see if Vladimir is crazy enough to attack a UN Convoy? Last time I checked attacking civilian targets by military forces is a war crime. If Slovodan Milosevic was war criminal then what is Vladimir Putiin?

I just got back from a month back in Los Angeles. Going to Topps, Rimping, Big C, 7-11 and even Amazon Coffee was a pleasure. Everything I need and want is much cheaper in LOS. For comparison I had lunch at Chick Fil ($12) and one of my favorites(Chipotle) and lunch was $13. I went out for breakfast in LA and two pancakes, two eggs, bacon and coffee was $14. In terms of day to day items those us who can live in LOS are lucky.

No such thing as a "Lie Detector". The proper term is Polygraph. I've had several in order to obtain US Government Security Clearances. The examiner only asks Yes or No answer questions. When the subject answers the examiner notes any changes to the measurement indicators(Blood Pressure, Pulse etc). In the end the conclusions can be: 1) Deceptive 2) Not Deceptive 3) inconclusive.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Arab Emirates has suspended its visa-free regime with Ukraine that allowed Ukrainian citizens to stay in the country for up to 30 days without the need for a visa. I guess the Emirati's won't be signing up? Maybe the UAE doesn't want Ukranian refugees or they don't want to make Vlad mad. Now I can cancel my next trip to Dubai. Of course I haven't been to Dubai in over a decade.

How to you get int the Mall at 0800? I was there Monday and it looked like things were starting at 1100. I need to wait one more month for my booster because I have 2x Pfizer and the young ladies at the desk were very polite and considerate and asked me to come back next month.

A) If you actually can make it into Ukraine then you are pretty much "At Your Own Risk". Doubt the Urkainian Goverment will ask if you medical insurance? Even if you have insurance "War Zone" exclusion will probably apply B) One would have to fly themselves to Poland, Hungary, or Romania and then find ground transportation to the Ukraine border C) if one actually can get into Ukraine and then get into combat does anyone really believe NATO(it actually stands for NO ACTION TALK ONLY) will medically evacuate you??? The ideal type of foreign fighters to assist Ukraine would be PMC;s (Private Military Companies). I have worked in the past for a couple of these organizations and believe some are probably ramping up right now? Yes, Blackwater has rebranded several times and are still in business. Keep in mind names like Dyn Corp, Constellis and see if certain foreign forces in Ukraine who are well equipped with western weapons(AR-15's etc) and equipment (Armored Vehicles) are observed to be operating.

I came in last week on Thai Pass. RT-PCR test swab was at 0730 on a Monday. Got the results back on Monday night. Flight to BKK departed on Wednesday at 1300. Got checked in and arrived in BKK on Friday. Everything was within the 72 hour window.

I flew from BKK to CNX last week. I presented my Vax card at checkin. Checked in my bag and got my boarding pass. Upon landing at CNX got my checked bag and walked to my taxi. That is all.

Why not? I am an American and we are importing 200,000+ barrels of Russian per day. Oil just topped $100 per barrel. Oil was under $50 per barrel about a year ago. Completely block Russia from SWIFT? Never going to happen. Why? Then how will countries pay Russia for all the oil and natural gas. America cannot tell any country what it can import or export anymore. Thailand should to what is in their best interest.

Got the same email. I got my Thai Pass approved last month. Gmail flagged it as spam. DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY AND CONDUCT A VIRUS SCAN ON YOUR DEVICE.

This is true but always check if the transit country has a Covid 19 test policy. Some transit countries may not accept an Anti-gen test. In 2021 Singapore required an RT-PCR test within 48 hours of departure just to transit

I think this is part of the reason why they charge 2800 Baht. Also, prepay at the time of booking. Two options for prepayment: 1) Bank Transfer 2) Pay directly at a TTB Bank. At first it looked to be difficult but I went to a local TTB Branch and paid in cash. I have been to Cmmedclinic for RT-PCR and they came through.

I got back in about a week ago. I have an OA and the OA insurance was adequate for Visa and Thai Pass requirements.

There was a movie in 1999 called Brokedown Palace where two American females are arrested for drug smuggling in Thailand. The plot of the movie is similar to what happened to this young lady. A negotiated settlement can be achieved but it will be expensive.

E-Visa did not when I applied in mid-January. Best thing is to combine them into a single document. Then upload it.

Progress but some countries like S. Korea sends out email reminders for all Foreigners who have visas. S. Korea has been doing this for years.