watthong

Thank you all for the thoughtful consideration and many quite weighty aspects to consider that did not come to mind initially...So far all (well, "al-most") responses here are positive: helpful and kind for which I most appreciate and am thankful. Some are pragmatic of the scenario of making later changes in the will and I totally agree with that. (Also the aspect of "love relationship" that might be cause for scrutiny between two male family members in the eye of the law.) The consensus has been to go for the "Last will" route and the question why didn't I choose that. For a number of reasons. First I naively thought adoption on a local level would not be too complicated, so it seems I'm wrong on that. Second, my partner was worried that without something more legally binding (than a will) authorities would not let him take care the burial/funeral aftermath. Third, though unspoken between the two of us, but as a few commenters here have sensed, it's the emotional underpinning that adoption somehow would give us in the absence of a bona fide marriage. So "Last will" it will be...Again thank everybody for your advice and input. One additional question is whether it's better to use the services of a lawyer or it's not too hard to DIY (ie filling a form at the district office and having it witnessed/notarized etc.?). My main fear is that when the time comes my partner shows up at the bank to access my bank account, will in hand, and the bank manager says the paper is not legit/done right etc - I won't be there to put in my two cents.

I'm looking into a process regarding my Thai partner either giving him power of attorney or adopting him (as my adopted "son", he's 43, I'm 67). Simply put I just want him to be the (sole) heir to my worldly-stuff-on-Thai-soil when I (legally married then divorced from US marriage once, no children) kick the bucket. We went to the local district office in Bangkapi (Bangkok) and the requirements were 1) there's a minimum of 15 year age gap - the lady took out the calculator, punched in the numbers then nodded - and 2) document(s) from the US embassy since I'm a Yank. My understanding is that no it's not a background check ie police report or the like; but something of an affidavit/letter from the embassy saying that "it's ok" (the lady cited one of the qualifications as "being single/unmarried" - maybe she meant no other family members wanting to get in the way...) for this farang to adopt a Thai national. I'm not bringing him to the US or trying to get him any benefits derived from the US government (gay marriage is out of the question since it's not recognized here.) Basically I just want this process of inheritance to be carried out under the jurisdiction of Thailand. I would like to hear any forum members who have gone through such process and what's the lowdown on how to do this. Is there a name for this kind of letter/affidavit? I looked on the US embassy website and only "Child Adoption" is cited and that's a different ball of wax. And is the other alternative, power of attorney, any better (read simpler) ? Thank you much in advance for any advice/input.

Credit should also goes to this take no prisoner Brit reporter. She opened the floodgate. I don't think any American colleagues of hers would possess such cojones.

Also it appears that the 12 millions for the (still) young lady doesn't include the legal fees for Boies that the settlement will have to foot the bill for...(another few millions perhaps?)

I got 2 shots of Sinovac last June at Phayathai II, courtesy of the Thai government. Just prior to that I also had signed up (and paid) for 3 shots of Moderna at the local Princ hospital. [That was during the "heyday" of "how the heck can I get vaccinated with anything anywhere at any price?" I think we all remember that rather turbulent period too well...] Forward to last November the hospital announced the vaccines have arrived and started taking appointments. In January I took my 1st Moderna booster shot, and last Friday - 4 weeks later - I took the 2nd shot. [The "long" story was that Moderna stock came in as half-dose shots only and for full "boosting" effect I would need 2 shots 4 weeks apart - to make up for one full dose, as the story goes.] The same nurse administered both shots. She spoke English "readily" and gave me the "long" story above as explanation. I had issued with the "half-dose" angle - paying full price and getting half dose? - but did not raise objection not wanting to give the cheerful nurse a hard time, beside I felt relieved/grateful that the paid shots finally got into my arm and did not go wasted (the 3th shot is for my other half later this year, who got AZ and therefore only needs one half-dose booster shot, so it's all squared off.) The nurse did the injections expertly. Both times I did not feel a thing, neither was a trace of blood anywhere when later at home I took the band-aid off. Same reaction with both Moderna shots. Started to feel drowsy in the evening (Fri) and the next day (Saturday) suffering the full effect of having a bad flu. This morning (Sunday) waking up feeling rather "refreshed" and energized though a bit weak as if I had just recovered (from a bad flu.) Head cleared appetite returned and ready to go on full throttle so to speak. One "charming" final touch was when I asked the nurse will I - or she - need another booster shot 6 months from now? She answered, shaking her head, that "no, 6 months from now Covid will be...gone." It's rare to hear a Thai say "gone" in lieu of "finished."

Also let's not loose sight of the "minor" (pun intended) details when folks are foaming at the mouth while sitting on their high horse (who should be the one foaming at the mouth instead): the alleged crime was to have happened 3 times/occasions. One of which happened in Florida aka US soil therefore under the US jurisdiction, which declares 18 is the age of consent and human sex trafficking is illegal. In other words, you can bang anyone you want in Bangkok, Thailand but not in Bangor, Maine USA. Capisce?

She's American. Under American laws, 17 is under-age. Prostitution doesn't apply to minors because they haven't reached the age of consent. Get your record straight - or get educated if not too late (rhyme unintended.) And while you're at it look up "human sex trafficking," minors or otherwise.

One thing I've learned variant after variant, that any on-going argument with the anti-vax crowd is akin to watching the new Korean zombie series on Netflix, "All of Us Are Dead." The script's "logic" - for lack of a better word - is, as to be expected, totally twisted and branching out in all directions in order to fill out the whole season, and yet if you're not aware, you'll get sucked into it. Right now mandates are the only "strategy" - I say strategy because the tools, ie vaccines are readily available - to save ourselves, those of us who don't want to get infected and will do our best to protect ourselves and other human beings from this virus - for logic and reason have failed against the colluding forces of cynicism, politics, ignorance and the "my body, myself" school of thought - and I'm glad city and state authorities are slowly awakening themselves, however rudely, to that fact. It's kinda late but better than never.

1 baht-rant well deserves the title of this topic. Maybe the mod should move it to the "Culture Shock" forum?

At a time when we are still dealing with a variant-infested reality, whenever a vax-vs-unvax thread pops up on this forum, it tells me that things have been rather quiet and someone needs to stick their finger in and stir up the pot, in the progress pushing a button or two - or three. The vaccine dead horse will be propped up and beat back to death again, while the same old vitriolics, fanatic nonsense disguised in medico-politico-socio mis-info/mis-statistics /deflection and spin/ will hit the fan at a blizzard rate. Some folks seem to like the stench of dried old turd and keep going back for more. In the meantime, I side up with Macron "emmerdant" policies. We won't force vaccination on anyone, but private business, government premises (including hospital and school) reserve the rights to add "no-vaccination" to their "no shirts, no shoes, no admission/services" sign. In short, you want to reserve the freedom to not get vaccinated, we therefore reserve the right to not do business with you. No one is forced to do anything they don't want to. Vive la liberte'!

That's what I want! One on one service from an professional that takes time to do the job - and at a reasonable price as that. Could you tell the name of the optician and where the shop is? Thanks,

Thanks for the very detailed and helpful info, much appreciated (sorry couldn't get back sooner due to some family issue - folks visiting - that got me distracted throughout the holidays.) May I ask what kind of adds-on did you choose to arrive at the $130 price tag? Also what kind of pitfalls should I look out for when ordering with Zenni? btw which shop did you go to for the "re-alignment" (assuming you are in Bangkok)? I live in the outskirts and generally shops around here don't speak English...

A siren song that has launched a thousand ships out onto the high seas... Outside of farangland, ie away from the Sukkhumvit BTS line, working class (mall workers/small office staff, secretarial etc.) Thai hooked on espresso coffee (=cafesod) won't pay more than 40bht for one go, usually iced with tons of "milk" of all sorts (carnation, condensed) plus syrup added on. At 40 baht it is a treat, not every day occurrence and I'm talking Bangkok. If you can go lower to 30/35 (hot/cold) then you have a chance to turn it to a daily routine. My role model is still in business in and out of covid, a little take-out along Samsen road off Thewet pier (walking out from the pier then turn right on Samsen). Actually it ekes out a little corner from the main shop which makes the mini-taco crepes and is run by one grandma. Relying on a warworn little train that could espresso machine, the single spout type, her main expenses are on the (quality) beans and the (fresh) milk which she uses judiciously, the rest is all from cans. She's on a main, well-known road though on a quiet stretch ie without much competition, benefiting from the popularity of the family-run decade-old bakery and doesn't have to pay rent, materials/equipment bared down to the essentials. At 30 hot/ 35 cold with no fuss/splash she manages to lure away customers from the 7/11 around the corner of those who want the taste of the real thing. Compared to the labor/material intensive of the operation of a noodle stand that charges 40/50 baht a bowl, this granny barista easily achieves higher profit margin without breaking out a sweat. But as with any other brick and mortar business, always remember, location, location.

Thank you for the great tip, will look into that.

Glad to hear, if you don't mind, could you tell what to look out for when filling out the order (of course I would need to get the eye prescription first elsewhere...) btw is "varifocals" another name for progressive lens? If so 50 bucks for a pair is a grea deal (delivery to Thailand?) I remember paying close to 200 for one at Costco in the US last time I was there (5 years ago) - but worth it.

Yes I have heard of this site, but I always wonder how it goes... In my in-store experience, once the eye exam is done, the next step of making sure the frame/lens would fit or "aim" properly before putting in the order is always a rather elaborate procedure.

Recently I started to notice a new breed of chain stores selling eyeglasses inside malls, "Seven Days", "Own Days" etc.- looking rather yuppy and quite busy. I think some of them even claim connection to "made in Japan" or from Japan...I wonder anyone of this board have bought glasses from them and how was the experience, price vs product/services? Thank you much in advance.

There's a saying, "See the forest for the trees." Let me translate that for you...It means free yourself from the hysteria that has made you blabber this kind of mumbo-jumbo in the first place. My advice is calm down and google up some basic info. The fact that you professed looking for it on this forum makes me kind of wonder if that was your real motive.

This kind of post being allowed to stand and not taken down, makes one wonder what is the real function of folks whose job it is to "moderate" this forum. Maybe moderation has gone out the window, now that desperation (for readership) has begun to set in.

There's an old, but definitely not tired, saying "Give a fool enough rope, soon enough he'll end up hanging himself." Case in point.

Like a fast food outlet that proposes "new/improved" menu every week, the forum needs "fresh meat" to feed the hungry animals. Unfortunately the only meat left in the freezer is from the compartment labeled "to vax or not to vax" - inside is mostly rotting carcass and bones. So chew on, children. Sad.

Another new bottle for the stale old "to vax or not to vax" vine...actually beyond sale date vinegar by now. Sadly, this forum has begun to reek of this kind of odor of late.

Yet obviously quite a number still do (Life inside the asylum must be getting really borrrrhhhhinnngggg.) OP is "well"-known on this forum for his style of "writing."

That's still too risky - how about the fate of the progenies of your progeny? Actually we should wait not 3 -5 years, let's make that 3- 5 generations to be absolutely safe. Learning disabilities and a myriad of other defects might well finally show up and could still be traced back to covid vaccines, don't you think? To the anti-vaxxers: At this stage the numbers/statistics game played by your kind is only played among yourselves. Folks not affected by mass hysteria know real data when they see one - and they have seen enough. They also have enough of listening to voodoo science, to convoluted logic stemmed from the brains of the neurotic, the lunatic and the ignoramus; they also realize they have the innate compassion that compels them to protect not only themselves but also their fellow humankind. In short, they have dusted themselves off, gone to the nearest available vax centers, leaving the frogs to croaked their heart out in the pond.

If you think people can be left defenseless to covid, and eventually die from it, while vaccines ought to be held up for testing another 5-10 years, and to you that was a "reasonable demand by anti-vaxxers," then I think those shots of Moderna were completely wasted on you. If you had any self-respect, you should not have taken those shots.