2 hours ago, JKfarang said:

I started traveling and looking for a place to retire outside the US beginning in the mid-2000s.  Was encouraged to try Thailand by a close friend and spent a month here, once a year, beginning in 2006.  Visited many areas of Thailand from north to south east to west and always spent several days in BKK each trip.  But I became concerned about living in a country with such a difficult language to learn (for me anyway).

 

So in 2010, I decided to try PI; primarily because getting by with English would be much easier.  Basically did the same thing as in Thailand.  Once a year, 4 weeks each trip and traveling to many parts of the country.  Each year I couldn’t get out of Manila fast enough; can’t stand the place.  Other parts of the country were nice but getting there can be a pain in the a$$ (it’s an island country and most domestic air travel required a trip thru Manila).  Didn’t care for the food and mild food poisoning at least once per trip.  Rented cars and stayed in hotels that were much worse than advertised.  Poverty is widespread and begging common even by some well dressed children.  And their religious practices were more than I could deal with on a long term basis.

 

My last trip as a tourist in 2013 I decided to spend 2 weeks in PI then 2 weeks in Thailand.  One of the best decisions I ever made.  I’ll never forget walking into a shopping mall in Hua Hin wondering where were the security guards at each entrance to pat my back looking for a pistol tucked into my belt (common practice in PI).  Later that year I retired from my job in the States, moved to Thailand and have been living here ever since.

 

I have never been patted down in the Philippines by security guards. 

1997?

If he is so "Godly". Why does he need glasses. You would think that a guy that doesn't even Poop. Would have perfect eyesight.

21 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

And they did so with a Government in the midst of changing leaders, the sitting PM essentially neutered in all respects of political power.

 

Those in the UK who profess a fear of the UK joining a fictitious 'EU Army', need to wake up to the reality of the UK military being a handy 'foreign legion' for the US.

 

Find out who authorised the capture of the Iranian tanker at such a critical time and why they did so before sharpening sabres for war. 

Pompeo on Iran’s capture of British-flagged tanker: Up to ‘United Kingdom to take care of their ships’

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There are credible claims in court documents of Trump committing far worse crimes and yet still his base support him.

 

 

Yes. Because the other side is hated more by them. What part of that don't you get?

38 minutes ago, nauseus said:

It may amaze you to learn that there have been US/UK cooperative military operations for decades. You will not be able to convince me that allowing the EU direct what is left of our armed forces could ever be a good idea, so don't waste your time.  

Well, the UK, just started receiving brand new F-35 5th generation aircraft from the U.S... Will have to try them out somewhere.

49 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

How on earth would anyone know if he stayed at his girlfriends or her parents house?

 

Government Spies

It's just amazing that a full time retired person that the government has loads of data on, needs to keep the government informed of their whereabouts constantly. But, a tourist whom the government really knows nothing about, is free to go wherever and whenever they want.  

Yes, I know hotels and guest houses are suppose to report for you. But, that is not always true. Plus, there is no penalty to the tourist if they don't. 

 Sounds a little backward.

17 hours ago, anon7854 said:

To be honest I find finger printing abusive. I mainly go to Thailand 2 times / year on vacation but now will have to reconsider. I avoid countries that take an interest in my fingerprints like plague ( China , US).  I come to invest and spend money in your country and you are already seeing me as a criminal?  The "prevent trouble makers" is hilarious. It will not prevent anything , it's just dumb. Giving my fingerprints away for some foreign entity where I have absolutely no guarantee on the use would give them too much power. I'm wondering what the GDPR laws are saying on this matter?

 

So will anyone  who enters Thailand need to have their fingerprints scanned ? Are then any exceptions to this (like diplomatic staff, kids etc) or there are no exceptions? Do we fingerprint Thai citizen visiting Europe?

Going to be pretty hard to avoid it, if you travel.

8 hours ago, jany123 said:

 

 Sanctions in the form of trade embargo’s, is what I replied, as outlined below, in the post that you quoted me as having made

(your name is on it, because I lifted it straight from your response to my post.... my words, quoted by you, but obviously not read and understood by you)

Would it be easy ?... no

would it succeed?... arguably not

would it be right? ... arguably yes

the real purpose?.... international condemnation of the trump and US foreign policy

the result?... quantifiable damage to America’s reputation.

That is not my quote. You need to stop changing peoples quotes. Against forum rules. 

40 minutes ago, jany123 said:

Right there, you just described an international bully vs a geopolitical leader. You may be calling a spade a spade, but... the US shouldn’t be using its spade to shovel Shiite.

 

and... there is a big difference between honoring, for honors sake (willingly) vs being compelled to honor (forced)

 

sanctions that the world, should it decide its in the best interest of all, putting aside regional rivalries, to thwart the efforts of a would be autocrat, whose government is unwilling or unable to control him, might include reducing sales of metals and other materials to wage war, as well as defying US sanctions on others. Think South Africa and the end of apartheid.

 

 

 

I don't care one way or another. It was just suggested that the rest of the world should have sanctions against the United States. 

 I asked,  how that would be done. What would you sanction? 

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

About 25% of everything that the USA exports.

 

The world is relying less and less on the USD especially as the USA doesn't have enough USD to pay off the rest of the world without printing more funny money.

 

http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/countries-by-national-debt/

 

1.  Japan (National Debt: ¥1,028 trillion ($9.087 trillion USD))
2.  Greece (National Debt: €332.6 billion ($379 billion US))
3.  Portugal (National Debt: €232 billion ($264 billion US))
4.  Italy (National Debt: €2.17 trillion ($2.48 trillion US))
5.  Bhutan (National Debt: $2.33 billion (USD))
6.  Cyprus (National Debt: €18.95 billion ($21.64 billion USD))
7.  Belgium (National Debt: €399.5 billion ($456.18 billion USD))
8.  United States of America (National Debt: $19.23 trillion (USD))
9.  Spain (National Debt: €1.09 trillion ($1.24 USD))
10. Singapore (National Debt: $350 billion ($254 billion US))

 

Of the world's major economic powers, the United States has the highest national debt at 108.02% of its GDP. China, the world's second-largest economy and home to the world's largest population (1,415,045,928), has a national debt ratio of just 51.21% of its GDP. 

What's your point?

16 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Do you actually believe that because the USD is the foremost reserve currency, that fact somehow precludes other countries from imposing sanctions? Could you share with us your understanding of how that works? And could you drop a line to the Chinese about that?

Even the Chinese have to have USD to trade on the oil market.

Just what sanctions do you suggest the world put on the U.S.? 

 Each country has the right to conduct business with whomever they wish, they also have the right to stop conducting business with other countries. When the US imposes sanctions on a country they are using their tremendous economic power to punish countries with whom they have problems. For example, when the US imposes sanctions on North Korea they are stopping North Korea’s ability to conduct business through US banks and businesses. When the US imposes sanctions on a country they also will stop doing business with any other country that does business with the sanctioned country. Again, every country has the right to do business with whomever they choose. However, the US has such substantial influence in the world economy that when they impose sanctions on a country it is in the best interest of other countries to honor those sanctions as well because if not they don’t they will lose access to American banking, businesses and trade. As well as access to other countries economies because they are not honoring the US sanctions.

  Be careful what you wish for.

16 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Does this mean I have to report a Thai person is stying in my apartment?

What about a dual citizen? Should you ask which passport they entered the country on? This could get real sticky?

11 hours ago, billd766 said:

Actually they did by proxy with the UK which is why the UK now has a problem with Iran.

 

It is now time for the USA to get sanctioned and the rest of the world to ignore US sanctions.

Since the world economy runs on USD. What sanctions are you thinking of imposing on the United States? 

3 hours ago, jany123 said:

However, It might be (correctly) argued that the United States has a responsibility to protect third parties from negative responses that their ill conceived, and internationally condemned actions created in the first place.... 

 

Y’all own it because yall broke it... so y’all should fix it (pay for it)... then y’all should go home

Really? The U.S. didn't seize any Iranian Oil tanker.

3 hours ago, jany123 said:

Not really... the US wants to maintain economic dominance of the region, whilst Germany wants to improve economic ties with their neighbors. The troops are little more than symbolic, and related to existing treaties, with an ever increasing percentage of Germans (above 40%) wanting the US troops and its regional influence gone, so they can get on with business without foreign interference.... American interference... so they don’t really want it both ways, that’s just the trumps spin.

 

similarly, the US wants economic dominance in Asia... ergo a trade war with China.

 

similarly, the US wants economic dominance in Latin America... ergo the latest about giving a truck full of money to Guido in Venezuela, which would fund a civil war.

 

similarly... well... it’s all about the Benjamins... and the schoolyard bully who steals lunch money from weaker players.

Then why doesn't Germany, that has 1000's of U.S. troops stationed there. Demand that they leave? Pretty sure you don't know what you are talking about.

4 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

A coalition of 35 allies fought on the American side.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_the_Gulf_War

They were led by the United States but fought on each others side. They   fought Iraq in the Gulf War from 1990–1991.

17 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

As said earlier the trust is gone,  imo any other president would of gotten some support. And any other president wouldn't have engineered the U.S. into this situation in the first place..

Glad you feel that way. It's not U.S. ships the Iranians are seizing. I for one feel the U.S. Navy should stay out of it. Not the United States job to insure safe seas for the rest of the world.

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

Correct payments are all local, but the transfer request is wired Internationally.

Correct.

On 7/13/2019 at 1:01 PM, Tanoshi said:

The problem and simple solution you refer to is due to the third world Thai bank processing procedures of International transfers into the Country.

 

Regardless of the method used to make a transfer the SWIFT code for the relevant bank must be included.

Individual branches don't have a SWIFT code, that's reserved for the HQ, so subsequently all foreign transfers go to the HQ of the bank in question, before being transferred to your local account.

 

It's the inability of most banks HQ's to forward the source of the transfer to your local branch, therefore only the transfer from their HQ to your local account is recorded. A 'local transfer' coding.

 

The information required to satisfy TI's requirements must therefore come from the HQ's database where the foreign transfer information is held.

This can be in the form of 'credit receipts' or request of statement of 'International Transfers'.

 

No money is actually transferred to Thailand. It is money that is already here. 

McDonalds.