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This is getting off to a bad start. Just checked on Thai Post website for the delivery of the passport renewal application and it indicates "failed to deliver/government office closed". Of course the Embassy is open because Memorial day was yesterday. Called Thai Post customer service twice and they do not know where my package is.

Today I mailed off my passport renewal application packet from CNX. A little bit of trivial information is that DHL is really not an option. I went to the local DHL office and was told "we only do international". I always wondered why the US Embassy suggested DHL as an option to mail in the renewal application. Now the waiting begins. Thai Post from CNX to BKK was only 47 Baht and the Thai Post employee did say it will arrive tomrorrow I have just over one year left on passport validity and have always renewed about a year before expiration.

He is now in the one place where "Free Palestine" literally has no meaning: Washington DC Jail. Idealistic people do not adapt well behind bars. Also, he just might get "loving" from a fellow inmate whether he wants or not. I just read a report that even after emptying his magazine on the couple he reloaded and shot them after they had fallen. Also, he flew from Chicago to DC to carry out this crime. Looks like a classic death penalty case to me.

At 1000 AM today my internet, voice and text message on the True network shutdown. It looks it was a complete network shutdown. I noticed a lot of people with the same problem. I treked to the local True Store at Maya Mall and as expected I heard "we have network problem and we will be back up in 1 to 2 hours". Do not know the reason for the complete shutdown. In the past I could at least make a phone call to True Customer service but this time everything was shut down. Anyone experiene the same and anyone know what caused the entire network to shut down

To me this looks like optics and little substance.

This might not affect anyone who is transfering from their US account to an overseas account. It could also depend on the IRS definition of Remittance: 1) Transfering money to another person 2) Transfering money to another country 3) Transfering money to another country to yourself 4) Transfering money to another country and to another person. I might have to call my CPA when I am back in So Cal. Also, has the $10,000 mandatory reporting rule been changed. Many immigrants use money transfer places (Westen Union or other versions fo the same) and often the amounts are way under 10K.

It will never be used as AF1. Any aircraft that is designatd as AF1 has specific requirements that the Qatari BBJ(Boeing Business Jet) does not meet. In order upgrade the Qatari BBJ will take a lot money and time. It's just optics and nothing substantial. Any AF! (B757 or B747) has to operate like a flying White House situation room. Also, AF1 has specific defensive counter measures that an ordinary B747 cannot be uprgaded to.

Ah, "Thai Airways" was painted on the exterior. But this could mean they were leased so possibly they are owned by a aircraft leasing companyb but in the end still on the books for Thai Airways.

Ah, the paint was peeling off of the aircraft. Which indicates they been out for a long time. Most airlines fly their unsued aircraft to a dry environment for long term storage. Quantas sent serverl of their unsed jumbos to Victiorville CA for long term storage. I got to BKK several times a year and have seen these aircarft parked in the same area near the Thai Airways hangars since 2023. So I guess that is 5 minutes?? I never said it was a "poor business decision". You did.

I was at BKK last week and on the tarmac I counted 10 Thai Airways Jumbo aircraft(ranging from B777-300ER and one A380) parked and all looked like they were corroding in the Bangkok weather which is often hot and humid. I wondered why not just sell these unused aircraft instead of letting them rot in the sun? The value of these aircarft had to be over a billion. I wonder if the 300+% profit is before of after these unused aircraft are factored in or not. I have been a pilot for over 30 years and one time I owned a light aircraft and parking an aircraft out in the open in hot and humid weather for extended time will cause damage that will be very expensive to rehab. Also, I was sad to see these beauties just parked and not flying.

I was just in BKK for the last few days. Unlike in the past I used to hear and see hordes of Chinese in the usual spots but this time it was hard to hear and see Chinese tourists. However I did see two groups of Indians at my hotel and they even had an Indian tour guide. So instead of trying to win the Chinese back why not just focus in on the Indians.

How would a tariff would work if a fim produced overseas is then streamed in the US? This is why I think Trump believes actual film is imported to the US. When I stream a movie in the US some are probably actually streamed from a server in another part of the world. No actual pyhsical product is actually moved across borders.

He said it to reporters yesterday. Do not know if he was serious or not.

The days of MGM or Warner Brothers solely producing and fimling moves in their studios in Southern Calfironia ended many years ago. Most movies are produced and financed by many domestic and international partners. Also, most movies and tv shows are shot digitally so does Donald Trump actually think large cannisters of film are shipped into the US? I wonder even if the US film industry supports this new tariff idea.

Start of the CA Governor campaign? This election I can't see anyone who can deny her. The only issue is will the big money donors give to her again after spending one billion dollars to lose the POTUS election.

is that flight everyday?

I doubt it. Took direct from LAX on United (connecting both in Hong Kong and Narita) and took the Thai Airways nonstop from BKK to LAX many times I did not think it made much of a difference. Took my last Thai Airways flight from BKK to ICN to LAX back in 2013. The portion from ICN to LAX was almost full but the part from BKK to ICN was about 50% empty. If Thai resumes direct flight to US I think it will be a money loser. Currently too much compettion from SE Asia to US. But we will see what the leaders at Thai will do. I do not believe Thai Airways has an aircraft that can fly nonstop from BKK to any US city. This would require Thai to have an A350-900 ULR or possibly a B787-9.

This duo has uploaded many videos about Thaialnd and SE Asia. This is their lattest where they went to the US. Cue the gasps and shocking music. This vidoe was actuallly not so dramatic and prettty good. I have been to some of the same places they went to and the place still looks pretty same.

Just on the Visa Exempt a nationwide policy that limits the number should be set, widely announced and conistently enforced. . I get that things are getting more consistent but that road is still long and wide. But I guess what I am looking for in Thailand is unrealistic. But reading about other peoples entry experience (good and bad) is always informative.

Wow. "Percieved negative input". Never heard of this phrase. Can you elaborate on this?

Ok. I get that the iO's are doing their jobs but just my experience on entering the country several times a year for the lat 7 years is that based upon the location and in some case based upon the specifi IO the range of "doing their jobs" seems to be very wide. If this is bashing or whining then so be it. I would not disagree with you esteemed opinon.

Answers are hard to come by in LOS. I learned this lesson a long time ago. I no longer ask any Thai person "Why?". I just accept what they say/do or not. When I used to ask Why it usually resulted in a negative outcome for me.

As a 50 year resident of CA just imagine if at least two of these negative things were resolved. It was golden back in the late 1980's and most of the 1990's. Both SF and LA survived two major earthquakes and thrived but now I have doubts. The state and the largest city both have large budget deficits. LA Mayor Bass recently announced over 1600 city employees will be layed off and a hiring freeze will be implemented except for Fire and Police. A city has to be in despersate situation to lay off employees. In the past a job wtih LA was like a lifetime gig.

It is related because it involved entering the country at an aiport and dealing with IO's. Consistency seems to be lacking when on enters at an airport in LOS.

I have heard that this was somekind of atmospheric event????? Also, has sabotage been ruled out? How did Tesla owners fare?