mfd101

1 hour ago, Mike Teavee said:

I read that article differently in that the paragraph... 

“We’re not into full negotiating mode and we will have to see what the UK aspires to, but noting that work rights and movement of people in the UK has been a big part of the European Union debate, I would be surprised if complete liberalisation around migration and labour rights was on their agenda,” .

 

Suggests more that he cannot see the UK offering free movement than Australia "Poo-Pooing" it. 

 

 

 

Reads to me like a delicate (for an Aussie) way of poopooing the idea. What's in it for Oz?

Either way, it's hard to see it happening.

Basically a British idea being pushed by Brits fearful of having noone to trade with post-Brexit: "Oh, what about those you know ex-colonies of ours? the ones that still speak English? Haven't seen much of them for over 40 years but I'm sure they'll be grateful to be able to trade with us again, you know?"

Several comments: (1) As SoalBundy suggests, GDP (as measured!) increases after a major disaster as rebuilding takes place. This was the experience of the NZ economy in the 2 years following the Christchurch earthquake in 2009 or thereabouts. The point is that 'GDP' measures activity (eg drugs trafficking), not useful outputs. The notion that GDP will 'suffer' as a result of the fires is misguided (2) There is consensus in Oz, except of course with the Greens, that this particular inferno, with multiple separate fires joining up, is a result of buildup of ground materials over years as State governments, hounded by Greens & the usual State government incompetence, have failed to do the cold weather backburns (rubbish clearance) that are necessary in the Oz climate if major fires are to be avoided (3) Some 190 people have so far been arrested and charged with lighting fires (mostly deliberately, all male, some from sheer stupidity) in total fire-ban weather (4) People have criticized the Federal government for slowness to act, but the Feds are hamstrung in doing much until State governments ask for assistance, rural firefighting being a State & Territory function. Calling out the ADF is a complex process, surrounded by legal & constitutional safeguards, and again requiring State government request. In the case of NSW, the State government continues for reasons unknown (at least by me) to refuse federal assistance (5) A major problem for many years has been the steady emptying-out of rural Oz as young people leave for the Big Smoke. Eucalypt forest fires need to be controlled very quickly before they move along and become uncontrollable. This requires people with relevant experience living not too far away. Such people are now increasingly rare.

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

100,000 quid is pretty expensive !!

Nothing cheap about lexus 

Over 15 years net salary for most Thais.....at least!! 

 

 

Most Thais make as little as 150 to 300 Baht a day.

 

But even here in Chiang Rai, I see Mercedes and BMWs almost every day.  Doubt they are part of the Big 5 Richest Families in Thailand.

 

So, there is a huge gap in income inequality here, one of the highest in the world.

 

Second only to Russia, where Putin and his Oligarch cronies are robbing the Russian people blind.

 

Literally.  Most Russians believe only Putin can fix the corruption.

????????????????????????????

Batista's Cuba. I dream of 1958.

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

What nonsense, saying maybe an attempt on his life, when he was in a knocking shop at the time of the shooting.

It was a warning to him, keep your mouth shut.

Knock! Knock! Who dere?

15 hours ago, CGW said:

Why what difference will that make?

Probably no practical difference, but symbolism is important in politics and in national life. To ban all Songkran water activities nationwide would be a sign of everyone - people & government - actually getting serious for once.

Reminds me of some other countries too ...

Did my 90-day reporting at Kap Choeng (Surin) this morning. They didn't want to see the TM47 form I had beautifully filled out. Sob! sob!

Modern computing beginning to penetrate the remotest provinces ...

On 12/26/2019 at 5:02 AM, rabang said:

How many foreigners are there in Thailand? I found a figure of about 2.5 million or less than 4 percent. Most come from poorer neighbouring countries or China anyway. Some Western countries may have 10 percent or more and these people have access to welfare and low paying jobs too. Not comparable.

30% of Australians were born in other countries. Higher even than Canada (around 27%) and far higher than Usofa (around 21%).

Jim's report suggests quite a lot that is good about Germany, and an awful lot that is awful about the UK.

Just now, Bundooman said:

They could start by demanding that China releases the billions of tons of water from upstream of the Mekong.

And you would expect this to be a practical solution (ie will achieve a positive outcome)?

It may be of course that China is suffering drought in the relevant parts of its SW provinces ...

So, if the top 2/3 of the country is suffering long-term & continuing drought, what actually doable solutions would people on this site like to suggest to the government of this fair land?

13 hours ago, MyTHaiMyKe said:

People not only use plastic bags for groceries, but for garbage. What are we supposed to put our garbage in when we throw it out? There will be garbage everywhere on the streets now blowing around. What about paper bags? What about plastic bottles? What about the food at stands, that is all put in bags? Another Thai brilliant idea without thinking about the consequences.

The Western world seems to have managed the transition quite well, some years ago ...

5 hours ago, neeray said:

 

 

Can't figure out "up from down" on the economy but sure know how to load and point a gun.

I doubt most of them would know one weapons system from another. Put them up against a real army - whether of modern or of guerrilla type - and you'ld soon know whether they can fight or not.

I have however encountered men-in-black up in the Dong Rak mountains on the Cambodian border and they certainly look mean enough. If looks could kill ...

According to today's 'Oz', thousands of tourists in & around Lake's Entrance are now trapped (except no doubt by costly boat & helicopter - guess who pays), having ignored warnings 2 days ago to leave.

There is no end to human stupidity.

Gay for Pay is a major industry in Thailand, even in the army. When my partner was a conscript at army HQ in BKK in 2010-2011, the sergeant would come around his platoon most evenings seeking volunteers for outside same-sex jobs that night (tops only). The boys who went were a mix of gay & straight ... Army pay & food was so unbelievably awful that it wasn't difficult to get volunteers.

My boy looked after the colonel's dog during the day and climbed over the fence at night ...

36 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 The deductible applies to all costs, in and outpatient. So if you take a 300K deductible neither inpatient nor outpatient would be paid until you had first yourself paid 300K.

 

If is is only a 400/40 K policy and you take a deductible that large you are virtually uninsured.

 

People should take large deductibles only if they have ready cash in the amount of that deductible that they can put aside purely for medical costs (and replenish as used). Or have other insurance.

 

I am much afraid that before long someone with a high deductible mandatory insurance will end up unable to pay a hospital bill and if that happens could lead to Imm disallowing policies with deductibles....to the detriment of many.

 

 

Yes, clearly one has to calculate carefully the premium saving vs whatever one could afford in the event of a major claim. Easy to get it wrong, and the whole point of insurance is playing it safe.

There's a lot of competition these days of course. When there's a job opening you have to get in quick before it closes again.

18 minutes ago, traveller101 said:

Yes - 19000 cost of total package

Sounds interesting. For me (and I hadn't really thought it through thoroughly - early days for me: not due for renewal till Oct20), with useful exclusions/deductibles (and that depends on how much I can pick'nchoose),  a health insurance package could become interesting. I also have accident insurance currently, which needs to be squeezed in to the picture somewhere ...

Anyway, it's in my diary for next time I'm in BKK. Planning for Songkran.

38 minutes ago, traveller101 said:

Keeping all those scenarios in mind, I most likely will sign up to the "Standard extra" policy of Pacific Cross in June 2020 which is approved but is not listed on the longstay.tgai.org website using the max. deductible (300000) to avail the 50% discount reducing the cost to around 19000 baht for a 64 year old. This plan of action will buy time to gain some more clarity where the government is heading to address the current issues widely speculated in this Forum.

Yes, a sensible approach. How do the silly outpatient costs go with the 50% max. deductible approach? Do they come down too? by 50%?

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to issue an announcement to increase the strictness level in monitoring ASFV.

 

The minister signed the order on October 31, and it came into effect on December 19.

Safety first! Clearly in good hands.

Re Medicare cover: Yes, no coverage o/s, but I've only just run out of cover WITHIN Oz after 4 years away (with only 1 short visit of a few days in that time). If I were to live in Oz again, Medicare cover would be reestablished after (I think) 6 months.

I've also just run out of 'Resident for Tax Purposes' status, which means instead of getting around $1K refund from the ATO for 18/19 financial year, I now owe them $6400 by March. Oh well, there goes the new iMac my b/f was going to buy me for Xmas ...

Re travel insurance helping to cover the gap: I had good experience of American Express travel insurance in Oz (can't remember their subsidiary name). Every year for about 10 years I paid AUD500 for total travel cover at all times in Oz (so every time I poked my nose outside my property in Canberra, even - say - driving to & from work, I was covered at a level I had chosen) . It also covered o/s travel.

I never had a claim until 2013 or 14 when I was living in BKK while we waited for my b/f's residency in Oz to come thru. Had a health incident which involved multiple tests & 1 night in private hospital in BKK. Cost was, from memory, around AUD5K. We were heading to Oz shortly after so I claimed once there. The company queried it & asked to see the docos of my hospitalization, which I had. All OK & they coughed up.