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ChrisKC

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Posts posted by ChrisKC

  1. If people here think the Thai authorities are fudging or manipulating or lying about (all) the figures, which accounts do you choose to believe or not?

     

    Me. I read them every day like everyone else.

     

    I don't know whether they are true or not and I doubt anyone else does.

     

    Do they have two filing cabinets - one for the truth and one for public consumption?

     

    So I think to myself - I don't know and I am certainly very unlikely ever to know.

     

    Therefore I will try not to be so affected by it all!

     

     

    • Thanks 1
  2. Members on this forum take issue with the principle not the money plus, when considering the forever brouhaha about re-energising the tourist trade, the message presented is far from encouraging. 

     

    The spirit of goodwill at this time from Thai officialdom - where is it? 

     

    Anyway, it isn't dual pricing, it is  either free for Thais or a fee for foreigners. The only saving grace is the fee itself is little to worry about. 

    • Like 1
  3. I don't know whether or not I agree with any of this.

     

    If you were an Immigrant like in many other countries that Members on this forum are comparing with, then I see no reason why the "easing" of rules here about actually owning land could be made absolute.

     

    But the one thing you cannot be in Thailand is an Immigrant. We (mostly) as foreigners, maybe considered as residents but in reality we are on annual extensions of stay, so in order for a potential ownership scenario with no strings attached; that would involve a major shift in Immigration policy.

     

    I can understand in some ways why Government policy persists with "Thainess:" It is an identity thing that most countries in the world cannot enjoy as they have either been colonised or were Colonisers themselves. I know that has consequences that are not internationally favourable but that is their position.

     

    I cannot see a major move towards 100% ownership of land as people would like. It matters not to me either way

     

    We will hear in due course what this "easing" will actually mean.

     

  4. 22 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

    Well I have learnt the hard way........whatever the wife says, nod, smile and convey the impression that you agree wholeheartedly with her.......

    Yes, point taken but my issue is with whether what is going on is legal or not, or simply Supplier cheating Customer. It is a "Manager" apparently, who seems to have made up his own rule, not the ticket seller.

     

    In any event, I won't be part of it either way. My wife can make her own decision. Tickets are only B50 but B2000 for winning when the prize is 4000 is not my vision of fairness and justice!

  5. Recently, my wife bought some non-government lottery tickets online from a friend.

     

    When choosing some numbers and paying for them, her friend called back and said if any of THOSE number win, you can only have half the prize: a win-lose situation.

     

    The reason THOSE numbers are special is because they are "lucky".  I can remember only one which was "29". It didn't win!

     

    Isn't this superstition a little over the top? And is it in reality, cheating the customer?

  6. 2 hours ago, pseudorabies said:

    I would definitely classify Major Depressive DIsorder  (MDD) or what you are calling "clinical depression" as a disease in the same way that cancer, parkinson's, Alzheimers, Type 2 Diabetes and heart failure are diseases.  It's a pathological breakdown of normal physiological processes with distinct changes in the organs involved.  In MDD significant changes are usually seen in the brains of those affected, notably in the hippocampus in the form of dendritic pruning and overall shrinkage. Also overactivity of pathways originating from the amygdala (along with underactivity from the hippocampus) is usually noted.  It's a really nasty disease that those who haven't had it have trouble relating to.

     

    I agree about the GABA-A agonists like valium.  And alcohol.  With alcohol you would feel good for about 15 minutes and then it's a trip to hell.  It might be that the OP's MD was more concerned about the anxiety aspects than the depressed mood.

     

    OP - I'd use this opportunity to look into low-dose ketamine and new drugs with the same mechanism of action.  It's reported to work very well and immediately in depression.  Maybe others can chime in on whether ketamine is authorized for any use in Thailand or if similar drugs are available.  Best of luck and never forget that life will get better.

    Thank you for the details.

     

    My first sentence about "depression" is intended to point out that being depressed (in a depressed mood) can, and often is, a state of mind due to personal circumstances and is not remotely a medical or "clinical" condition. Feeling depressed about 'something' can be overcome with time, the circumstances improving and support from others, therefore not requiring medical intervention.

     

    The term "clinical depression" is a collective definition that simply excludes situations mentioned above.

     

    When I studied this in College, many patients were in Mental Hospitals and even Asylums (that don't exist in England anymore) that I actually visited and saw patients whose cases were exacerbated by possible wrong diagnosis and were effectively given up on by the mainstream medical profession.

     

    And yes, though not from personal experience, I can vouch that for a permanent-type depression, the world is a bad place for those so afflicted.

    • Like 1
  7. 5 minutes ago, smylee52 said:

     

     Seriously ? Have you tried to sell a house in Thailand ? Listings last for years . You can't compare the hot Western markets to the plodding real estate market in Thailand .  

     

    The people who build make big profits in a good market but resellers are not so fortunate unless you take the risk of buying off-plan .

     

    No conditions necessary . Allow proper foreign home ownership and give the economy a shot in the arm .

    My comment refers to the current and long time law, not current circumstances - that could change!

     

    In any case, I am not suggesting that one sells and buys in very short time. The amount of potential profit is worth waiting for and beats any other way of making substantial income from doing very little.

  8. Am I right that some people think the law about land ownership for foreigners is a bureaucratic one? I don"t think so. It is about the abuse there (could) would be in buying property simply to sell it on to another foreigner at a substantially higher price. This is arising from the property prices in the West being very much greater than in Thailand. One sells their property in USA for example,  at the going rate, say $500,000. This capital will allow two similar Thai properties to be purchased and sold on with a profit of say, $100,000, to two other foreigners who will still get something better than an equivalent price back home.

     

    This scenario artificially creates a rise in property prices that begins to exclude Thai people

     

    I am in favour of land ownership in Thailand but with conditions that prevent the above.

  9. My announcement would be this:

     

    As an experiment, Immigration has decided to abandon 90 day reporting during the covid crisis. When this proves successful, we will abandon 90 day reporting until further notice.

    We will do this during covid times to facilitate social distancing and for unnecessary travel to and from Immigration Offices country-wide.

     

    Our reasons:

    Online reporting is not reliable enough for many foreigners.

    After considering the benefits to Immigration of current practices we conclude the following:

     

    We are collecting much paperwork that is filed, never seeing the light of day again.

    We genuinely want our foreign "residents" to feel welcome here and to reduce some aspects of bureaucracy.

     

    It has been, and likely to continue for some time for the Covid-19 pandemic to be a considerable burden on Government, businesses and all of the people.

     

    We hope this concession will meet with your approval.

     

     

     

    • Thanks 1
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  10. He is doing what I used to do in my Excel spreadsheet with my "what if" function.

     

    If I sell 1,000 I will make B2,000, but what if I sell 10,000? One key press - I will make B20,000 - wow! But what if I sell 50000? OMG - I am going to be rich!

     

    I am neither optimistic or pessimistic - I am realistic: I am not sure. I have a plan that I will adjust according to what actually happens.

    • Like 1
  11. 1 hour ago, ivor bigun said:

    It really must be terrible to be depressed ,i know i was really bad many many years ago when my first wife asked if we should try again .

    sorry just trying to lighten it  up ,it must be really bad especially if you have no family here or back home .

    i do hope you find some relief,

    Depression in itself is not a disease. Diagnosed 'clinical depression' is a mental disorder and requires medical attention.

    • Like 1
  12. Only today, there are reports of 194 new infections in Thailand and I fear that any statement declaring being in control is probably not realistic.

    And surely, it must be true that to encourage travel in non-social distancing buses and trains can only lead to further outbreaks.

     

    it is a shame that Songkran cannot be celebrated according to tradition for another year but what is more important than doing all it takes to keep the people safe?

     

    • Like 2
  13. The "best" coffee is in the beholders eye but tell me of a coffee shop that makes coffee in other than a dedicated coffee machine.

     

    In my life I have drunk instant coffee, from a French press and drip coffee and nothing compares with a proper coffee machine that I have now been using for 4 years, comparing very well with  bought coffee from any decent coffee shop. I use only coffee beans and grind as required.

     

    I bought a Di Longhi Vintage from Homepro. My friends, visitors and we love the coffee I make. And when its worn out I will buy another one.

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