xenophon

Yes unfortunately that is correct. Religion is at the core of tribalism. Makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. Using fairy tales and fantasies to justify slaughter.

After those positive futures, the market continued to fall, just as the pessimists had predicted! Admittedly, it seems more due to fears of inflation becoming entrenched in the economy than middle east tribal wars. For example, the oil price did not take off. However, the neighbors from hell are part of the background noise if thankfully not yet a central factor for the market.

Cutting through the pseudo-history and pooling of ignorance, US stock futures today are up (not down as predicted by most). Are the institutional big spenders (who, after all, really do run the world) betting that responses, if any, will be measured and/or delayed. Hopefully the neighbors from hell may not succeed in involving the rest of us in their absurd tribal wars after all.

Israel says 'go fetch' and the dumb ol' US of A lumbers into another quagmire. Unfortunately, it might drag a lot of us in with it.

Like most, I am not interested in a pissing competition between posters. I thank 4MyEgo and encourage him to persist in his efforts to clarify this important and worrisome issue for some. Have a question: Are there any real (not hearsay or anecdotal) examples yet of an expat being quizzed by the authorities about the tax status of his/her pension since the new tax announcement? If so, what happened in this case?

I agree with you. However these emails do make me nervous. I have had a 20 year Elite Superiority Extension for a few years now., am happy with it and see no need to change. I hope that I can continue to simply use that. What do you think?

How dare they imply that sex as an industry is condoned and that the locals speak English in a funny way!!! Insufferable!! On the other hand, if you are looking for racism and demeaning women, you could do a lot worse than watching a group of Indians

Finding the tabloid driven controversy a bit of a laugh and a yawn. Highlight of the ashes: the ridiculous long room fiasco. You have gotta love the waxwork figures come to life that are the MCC members. Straight out of central casting or Monty Python's Upper Class Twits. We need more from those old self-entitled farts, completely unaware of their self parody. And all this occurring against the backdrop of a major report condemning elitism and lack of diversity in cricket!! Wonderful stuff!

Only just heard about dear Ubon Joe's passing. RIP - good friend and thanks for so much help to me and others

THB1 mill = 50k pa or 4160 pm over 20 yrs (or 21 yrs in my case). No annual expenses or stupid bureaucratic rituals and inquisition required as in marriage and O visas. If traveling a lot as I do - super convenient, whisked through airport, immigration, customs, etc, coming and going. Visit immigration every 5 years to renew. Agree 90 day reporting a vestigial hangover but can be done by their staff or online. My concern is that the recently reported Chinese crims are going to stuff it up for everybody.

make and model? Or just red

Never again. Having said that they were great about 8 years ago when, if you booked early enough, you could get a very cheap business class fare and no organizational problems. Obviously, if an airline plummets dramatically in 8 years it is time to have a good look at the management.

Don't care what people think of him. Good on you Chuwit. Keep at it

True. And speaking even broken Thai enables a connection and will save you thousands

Been surprised over the decades how so many Thais, despite the lies that go with the trade, are not into the classic prostitute profile - "hard faced, cold hearted, money only bitch" stereotype (think 'Russian'). After about 3 times, many develop a genuine, tolerably mercantile, affection for the customer. Always a nice surprise. Had regular pleasant exchanges of sex, money and lies, usually at unconventional, unpredictable hours, e.g. afternoon, very very late, or even morning: 'can i come see you?' 'Ok but mi ha loi baht na' "OK, me downstair". Very nice.

Great day for Rolex, Cartier, etc.

Looking forward to the enquiry (conducted by the navy I presume). Can hear the slamming of protectors on asses

Yes, second that!

Insufficient and/or missing evidence coming up?

Well it is reassuring to know that the process is being overseen by the Samui police. The autopsy should reveal nothing untoward. All that blood around the room is quite normal, of course. Should not affect tourism unduly and the integrity of investigations in that region is well known. What could possibly go wrong?.

A$ already has started to benefit a little. Although it is called a commodity based currency, it is surprising how often it does not simply follow rising commodity prices, especially against major currents such as 'flight to safety' to the ¥ and USD. The baht should be falling like a rock but is not. Has BOT released its gremlins again?

"I am almost at my super fund maturity age and have no clue on what to do with the money." Get it into an Industrial Super fund while you make up your mind! (I promised that I would stop advising people about super after the last person ignored it and watched his funds shrink in a fund like yours.) However .... Regarding which fund, you can research this at Industrial Super's site or go to sites like superratings. Google: which is the best performing super fund? I am with Unisuper who have been pretty good for me, but obviously there are many to choose from and I am not pushing that fund. If you are investing very long (years), go for high growth even though at the moment they are down and will go down a bit further. They will come back faster than you can change. If you want to be more cautious go for Conservative Balanced or Conservative. Most Industry funds will help you transfer funds to them for no charge. Whatever you do get your money out or the private sector funds. They will rob you blind.

Bit more planning than the normal local rampager.

55555555555555555 Police chief says family can have complete faith in "scrupulously fair RTP"

Very impressed Simon. Thanks for your very informative posts. What a pity about Luang Prabang. I have been going there every year for 20 years and was angling to live there. So still angling I guess Best wishes to you and good luck