tomazbodner

There's an idea for winning the next election - promise to remove the defamation laws.

You wouldn't, but I am sure you'll find millions of them if you look not too hard around you.

Could be, although if the plane is nose-diving, it would also likely exceed maximum speed it's built for, which could also (and generally does) lead to in-air break-up. Obviously the difference is whether the parts are found a few km from site (broke up while diving) or many km away (where break-up could be the reason for dive). If they could pull the nose up before hitting the ground, then elevators and wings had to be attached. And you can't control it without rudder either, it would go into spin, so to lift up, all bits of the plane would have to have been attached... if back broke off, then front would have been heavier and would dive even steeper... Excited to learn what happened.

If we ignore MCAS, in the regard of automation, Airbus is a clear winner, overriding the pilot, where on Boeing pilot has final say. Both take a lot of work off the pilots through automation and can address sticky situations. It's just about the mentality of the engineering teams where Europeans prefer automation, and Americans some manual controls.

That's a very different beast to B737 that the story is about.

MCAS is only on the 737 MAX series, while this was 737-800 NG. It's not easy to nose-dive a plane. Though there were cases with older 737s where rudder did a hard-over and sent plane into an uncontrolled roll. It would also be possible if neither of pilots noticed the bank until it rolled over; or stalled the plane. Or if there was an in-air break-up of the plane, which I guess would be quickly determined, if any of the parts are very far from the main site. Difficult to see from that video, but it seemed at least fuselage was in one piece. The blob on the screen isn't clear enough to show whether wings, elevators and rudder are attached. But modern planes just don't have parts, considered to be strongest part of the assembly, falling off. I'm really curious to learn what happened. Unfortunately, this will bring yet another black spot on the reputation of otherwise very popular and reliable Boeing 737 series. Certainly doesn't help after MAX fiasco.

Citi retail banking in Thailand and some other countries was sold to UOB, so soon you would be getting UOB card and their support center number. Hopefully that'll give you a better service.

Never had issue with Citi when calling them. Calls always answered within 20 seconds. But maybe because it's platinum card dedicated line...

Currently all my shipments from China (Lazada and AliExpress) are on hold in China due to lockdown for 2+ weeks already. Maybe something to keep in mind if you're looking for something that you need urgently.

Agree. Should account number to transfer to be sent to you in this forum or in a private message?

Hungry Jacks is Aussie version of Burger King because of their name dispute with some local company. So basically, it's Burger King, but has some of their own offerings. Like most, they have some local offerings which are not available in the rest of the World. Obviously BK doesn't have Mega Jack nor Country baguette, but instead of Mega Jack they have a Whopper.

Increasing speed limit.

Oh I thought that was "Soviet"... like Sovietski soyuz = World union.... I'm not Russian. Learned a bit in elementary school, that's all.

Maybe they'd need to pay airport fees and fuel charges in USD? The planes could be confiscated by the leasing companies the moment they land outside Russia. I am sure there are many reasons they would not wish to risk that. Although they could have some Russian built planes that aren't on lease... but do they have the range and seating capacity to evacuate so many tourists quickly? And even if they do, is Thailand even allowed to do business with them without getting sanctioned themselves? Tricky situation for all involved.

Funny. "Mir" means peace. It's even listed twice in the name of Russian dictator Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin... I guess when he goes to war, the name is just shortened to "Vlad"...

Could be. That flight I mentioned had 209 passengers on the way to Moscow.

Yesterday, Air Serbia plane en route to Moscow had to return to Belgrade after airline received bomb threat, so at least from Belgrade, flights to Moscow are still running. There are daily flights to Belgrade over Doha/Dubai. I can't see Serbia cutting ties with Russia. Likely Russians would not need a visa to Serbia. I'm not Serb, just saw that news this morning, so I wanted to add to previous messages about available flights. The reason is that this could drag on for a long time and even if extension of visa is on the table by Thailand, that's only a tiny part of the problem. The other one is how to pay for food and accommodation and other expenses. Maybe sustainable for a month or 2, but what if this goes on for a lot longer... On the other hand - if these are young Russian men with no will go get involved in this war - maybe it's better they stay here.

I'd pay that 1500 baht, assuming I stay there a while, it'll be nothing, when split among months of service.

Flew Aeroflot in the late 90's over Sheremetyevo and while that 24 hours stop-over was utterly boring with nothing to do, and the restaurant accepting that meal voucher among worst in the World, the entertainment provided by the staff at airport was legendary. One scene I can't forget was the guy at the arrival to transfer gate. The door was shut as many from fully loaded, 90+ minutes too early Boeing 777 reached the spot. With straight face, he would say that he's sorry but he's got no keys. Another man who was supposed to come with the keys went drinking last night and is totally drunk so nobody knows when he'd be coming. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow... He then fabricated a story full of stereotypes about Russians that was absolutely hilarious. But he said all that with such a straight face that after a while we weren't sure anymore whether he was joking or serious. After 20-30 minutes of show absolutely worth a stage performance, with large proportion of non-Russian passengers close to heart attack, he pulled the key out of his pocket, opened the door and said "Welcome to Russia!" Aeroflot, at least back then, despite flight attendants looking like very serious Maths teachers, provided excellent service in the air. On the way to Bangkok, we started descending without any announcement somewhere between Afghanistan and Iran... Figured out we've landed in Turkmenistan when armed security forces boarded the plane, pointing assault rifles at anyone who moved. Many thought plane's been hijacked, then we saw soldiers took someone off the plane on a stretcher. Only half an hour after taking off again, captain came on PA and said he's sad to announce that the passengers he was trying to save life of, has died on the way to hospital... A few years later, shortly after takeoff, I was asked if a very sick elderly Filipino gentleman could sit with me in the last row. He was having severe difficulties breathing and could not really speak. His elderly wife crying next to him... Remembering Aeroflot I've asked flight attendant whether we'd land to send him to hospital, and in front of him and his wife she said "We'll offload him in Bangkok". He struggled another 30-40 minutes before passing away. This happened on certain airline with hopping animal on the red tail, where on boarding a woman with a child in her arm, asking flight attendant to help her put bag up in the bin was told "that's not my job". Compared to that, Aeroflot certainly provided more humane service, although their flight attendants weren't smiling supermodels. Now obviously, that was 20+ years ago. No idea what their service would have been now.

It's an outdated idea to lower consumption? What Kritsada is recommending (free bus rides) is just an incentive in that direction, but it's the same direction. As would have been a ban on cars on the roads that have less than 4 people in them, for instance (I know, lousy idea in COVID times), or a Singapore-like tax on vehicles. Cleaning and servicing aircons so they use less power... how is that a bad idea? Not making unnecessary trips or use public transport when necessary resolves more than just high gas prices. I'd like to see Kritsada write all the proposals that will definitely have a positive effect. Come on, genius - let's hear them!

I don't believe you as this is total nonsense. So you're saying anyone who has a job in Russia to afford a couple of thousand dollars vacation in a cheap country like Thailand had to benefit from regime? What would it mean not to benefit from regime? Die of starvation? Having a job and getting income is to "benefit from corrupt regime"? So Thais who have saved up for a holiday in Bali (exotic destination!) must directly benefit from Prayuth's regime? I guess you also greatly benefited from your country's corrupt regime to be able to afford internet access to spread your gibberish. Had you not benefited from that regime, you'd have died of hunger, right? Total nonsense.

You're 3 weeks early!

This teacher is a perfect example why Thai education system is so messed up, and should, in my opinion, be sacked. The kid, on the other hand, deserves a better place to learn.

and get Indian wife...

Originally I did, but that was old news in this fast moving conflict. It was McDonald's, and after a full assault on them from NYC comptroller, Twitter brigade and shamed on LinkedIn (and probably others), McDonald's yesterday announced they are suspending all business in Russia. The other 2 that announced the same after similar attacks were Starbucks and Coca Cola. Pepsi, Unilever and Yum foods (owner of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, etc.) have taken a more selective approach where some products will be pulled, but locally produced products, mainly dairy and food products, will remain. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/08/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-coke-russia/index.html