swissie

Most major banks have e-banking plus branches that you can show up in person. Would never deal with a financial institution where I can not show up in person. That seperates me from posters here, that are seeking advice, when their transaction has "dissappeared". I have nothing against folks that persue a frugal lifestyle in Thailand. But trying to save a little money by (mostly) important financial transfers, to me, it's saving at the wrong place. "Penny wise and Dollar foolish" comes to mind.

I diden't say that the US credit-rating will suffer in the short term. But investors will ask for higher yields as far as T-Bills/Bonds are concerned. Regardless what the FED will do. The Issue: American politics and the monetary "helmsmen" want the Dollar lower. Once international investors should suffer another 7% decline in the value of their US $ holdings against their home currency could initiate a new "Bretton Woods" agreement. The new currency consisting of a basket of Gold, the price of Wheat, the price of shell Eggs and the price of services of the prostitutes of Amsterdam. The new "world currency" = BUT STILL MEASURED IN US DOLLARS.😂 For better or for worse, the US dollar will remain the Sun of the monetary universe, other currencies (like planets) only orbiting around the sun. But then: Not long ago, the British Pound was the monetary "sun" of the world. The Swiss Franc the most stable currency for the last 180 years. But not enough in circulation to buy Greenland, not to speak of Canada.

It strikes me that most posts on this sub-forum are connected with some sort of "payment problems". But I am not surprised as long as everyone in the possession of a PC can implement a "international payment service". Operating from a boiler room. Receiving little or no support from the "Boiler Room" when something goes wrong. I recommend the old fashioned bank to bank transfers via your "home bank". If something goes wrong, you can show up in person, spewing fire and brimstone if necessary. It costs more than platform boiler room banks. But in the end: You get what you pay for. Once again.

As long as this tariff BS stays in place, future worldwide growth will be stifled. Resulting in a "lost decade", if not worse. Certainly a S&P P/E ratio of 26 will no more be sustainable. "Getting ugly in China"? Under these circumstances it won't be long before things get "ugly" in Europe and the US as well. Worldwide it will get "uglier". Warren Buffet wasn't a buyer recently, he was a seller. A "red flag" was just hoisted.

Ok, Donald get's part of future mining rights in the Ukraine. Lovely. Problem: It takes years of test drilling to find out where future mining will be commercially feasable. Next: According to "Glencore" it will easily take 10 years to start up a major mining operation and will cost so much, that even the biggest mining companies can not stem it alone. So, Donald will have to wait 15 years to reap the benefits of future Ukrainian exloitation. Just in time for his 93rd birthday. And this in a time, (after the power grid in the West has been successfully sabotaged), Putin can spend his future summer vacation in the south of France. Something that will not take 15 years, 2 months if he want's it, as currently we have no western armies left that could oppose such a plan.

I have a fundamental question concerning "caughing". As I understand it: By coughing, the lungs try to get rid of something that does not belong in the lungs. Right? But I know a zillion cigarette smokers that do not caugh. The lungs appearantly not seeing cigarette smoke as something that does not belong in a lung. This comment is in direct connection with the OP's problem, that even a slight increase in air pollution worsens his condition. While at the same time, plenty of cigarette smokers can stand the "burning season" up north without ill effets. AND: Why are the OP's lungs producing such excessive amounts of "mucus"? Why is just "regular coughing" not enough? Finally: Why the production of such incredible amounts of mucus? The "immune system" overreacting to something trivial?

Yes, these days it is. But not in 2011.

I too have consulted Dr. Google. I was amazed how many varieties of clubnails there were. (including pictures). As mentioned above, we all should patiently await "Sheryls" assessement. Otherwise we run the risk that contributors here will classify clubnails are harbingers of cancer, cholera and tropical yellow fever. I just hope that certain contributors here can await "Sheryls" assessement, avoiding endless and pointless speculations.

Zillions of "cabins" available in rural Thailand. For very little money. For internet access one may have to pay for. Internet is essential unless you want to die of boredom. Single Farangs are expected to marry a local beauty. If not, you remain a "foreighn object" renting a cheap "cabin". Personal experiance between 2011 to 2016 in rural Thailand. Think twice.

I am thrilled. Among all the "Gold Bugs", as a "Silver Bug" I felt so alone. So pleased that there is another "Silver Bug" in this forum. Silver is the metal on Steroyds. Crashing violently and soaring like an eagle. Resembling a ill temperet beautiful woman. Love it.

Of main importance according to Bessents "monetisation" of assets. - Quote: 3. Monetisation of U.S. government assets. Bessent recently said, in Trump's presence: "Within the next 12 months, we're going to monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet." What are these assets? a) Gold reserves. It is believed that a revaluation of U.S. reserves, something that has been done four times in the past, will greatly increase gold bullion's retail price. Share prices of gold mining, royalty, and streaming companies could be leveraged four-fold. (Exploration companies are a risky bet that can pay off big, but rarely do so) b) Land, and the mineral and other resources it holds. The Federal government owns vast tracts of mineral-rich land, located mostly in the western parts of the country. What does that mean? = Selling the "family silver" or taking it to the Bank as collateral.

General Advice: Everybody wait for "Sheryls" reply.

Same demographic free fall happening in Europe and Japan as well. All well below the "replacement rate" of 2. It's not only a Russian problem. Chinas former 1 child policy has come to haunt them. But Africa is taking up the slack: They are reproducing like rabbits. I find the political/economical/sociological/military "free fall" of Europe more worriesome.

Dear Simon, how long ago were those "lung-tests" that you mention? The symptoms you descibe are beyond a run of the mill "bronchitis". I too suffer from chronic bronchitis plus COPD for many years but what you decribe is simply "alarming". I mentioned before, that unlike so many old Farangs, you have job-options left. But all of this is of no use, if your health fails. Before you engage in any occupation "in the sticks", you should have your lungs examined anew. In Bangkok or Pattaya. Not possible in "the sticks" of Thailand, Myanmar or Cambodia. PS: It is not unusual that people that have devoted their live to helping other people in need end up pennyless in old age. Sadly.

As an alternative. The OP mentioned that he does not have 800'000 Bht for a long term visa.

As suggested before: Why not use a Visa Agent in Pattaya. One on every street corner. Between 20 to 30K Baht per year. Your bronchitis. In combination with COPD? What are the medics saying?

But still measured in form of currencies. Even in times of "crisies". Otherwise: The "intrinsic value" of Gold is: It's relatively rare, it's shiny and it's heavy. Gold can also be worn around the neck. Signalling: I am rich and you are not.

Hello Australians. Appearantly, Telstra has some "black list". For example phone calls from Australia to Switzerland (and vice versa) no more possible. Why not? What is going on?

So far, the only thing that works perfectly on "teams" is that a horde of people are thying to chat with me. I don't know these people. How did they get my skype/teams adress/my user ID ???????

And how is the "intrinsic value" measured? = In currencies. Gold in US$ may have increased by 20%. In most other "home currencies" only about 10%, as the $ tanked. Unless the US$ is ones home currency, sooner or later the Dollar denominated Gold will be converted back to ones home currency upon selling the Gold. At this point, at the latest, the Dollar/home currency exchange rate can make a big difference.

The final question: What do Facists think about things like: Old age pensions, Medicare/Medicaid, food stamps etc etc etc. Just in case they don't believe in such things, I recommend to us old geezers that we should not vote for Facists.

What exactly is a Facist. Tell me.

And the "increased manufactoring" will be sold to the Chinese? They can hardly wait to buy american goods, 15 years behind Chinese technology. AND: China has stopped exporting "rare earths". (90% of worlds supply). Does anyone realise what this means for the future "world economy"?

Thanks to our "lucky star" (the sun) every form of life is possible. The only "perpetuum mobile" possible, thanks to the sun. The concept: Be born, reproduce, eat hamburgers, pay taxes. To be repeated by your children. Even cave men coulden't derive any sense to it all. Until the first lighning struck, leaving the cave men in awe: The birth of religions. Promessing eternal life in a better place. If it wasen't for this "promess", most humans would probably prefer to go back to the trees, feasting on bananas.

You have tried everything, including Cyprus. At least you have several options left. As many other elderly Farangs have no options left. Consider yourself as "fortunate".