swissie

Why would I block my best friend? We divorced for "technical reasons". Besides, it's her money at stake, not mine. I would hate to see her money dissappear in some bottomless pit in Thailand.

I volunteer. As a clearly non native english speaker, I must automatically be a "bottom feeder" here. Suits me, love it. Although I might try to re-enter here as John Wayne or Winston Churchill at some point in the future. Boosting my popularity dramatically.

Rumor has it, that occasionally brown envelopes are in short supply. Never mind. In Europe we do the same. now using crypto currency.

Let's just suppose: Only a handful of select people know your e-mail adress. You do not participate in any other "social-media" forum, except this one. But, every time after logging in here, the next day you get a message in your e-mail inbox from some Thai Lady by way of "tinder". Not even for "browsing" purposes have you ever been on "tinder". Given the above description, are you possibly starting to wonder by wich internet pathway the "Tinder-Ladies" have gained access to your e-mail adress ??? A humble question only.

Actually, my post adresses the unwritten Thai law, that family members MUST support other family members. My "Ex" is from the old school. = By not supporting family members brings automatically "bad Karma". I realise that in a country where there is practically no Social-Security System in place, internal family support is the only Social Security System available. It's a 2 sided sword: It can do a lot of good, but it can also put entire families in dire straits. I have seen it happen both ways. If the latter happens, it was always due to unrealistic expectations. Failures are usually explained in 2 ways: - We have not done enough "merit" at the temple or some "ghosts" were sabotaging the whole thing from the very beginning. TIT.

Now THAT makes sense. I will suggest it to her.

When I used to live in the sticks, I went thru the "Business-Plan" thing with quite a number of Thais. Too many numbers and figures only confused them and gave them a headache. Their "Business-Plan" remained the same: If somebody makes money with something, it must automatically be worth getting into it as well. - Case in point: I recommended to my neighboring pig farmers to increase the size of their operation when prices are low and everybody is getting out and reverse procedure when prices are high and everybody wants to get back in. Only 1 taker, he did increasingly well. His success was attributed to his obvious good connections to some well meaning ghosts.

One of my step-daughters suffers from a serious illness: "Start-Up" fever. She works for a Thai Bank, selling various additional Insurance to account holders. Making about 30K/month. She keeps pestering my "ex" to finance her a "start-up". The usual suspects: Nail salon, hair salon, a take away featuring only french fries and croissants, a condo in Pattaya to rent out etc etc etc. I keep telling them, that one only sees the few successful start- up's, nobody talks about the majority that never got off the ground. I am holding against it and always recommend "you qualify for a decent government job and live happily ever after". I am just afraid that after my demise, my "ex" will cave in an fork over the money. Her likely ending up on welfare as a result. Foreseeing this, I have already ordered a large coffin for myself. So I can easily turn over in my grave.

I hope the son gives him a good thrashing.

Has he done similar investments in women before or is this "a first"?

Recent rally fuelled by hopes that "a soft landing" will take place. Globally. Recent data show that this may not happen. To "kock-out" a persistent inflation it takes at least "a mild" recession. The central banks know this. There is room on the downside, but not much. If the "downside" gets too heavy, the central banks will open the monetary floodgates once more.

Have 17 different Thai Bank Accounts. And keep your (main) liquid assests in your home country.

I am quite sure that "long-term Farangs" have nothing much to worry about. Not so for "newcomers".............

Let's face it: Long overdue. Increse will come. But for long term residents some "grandfathering" rule will be granted to long term residents. Otherwise this will easily turn into an "international diplomatic incident", making headlines all over the world. But: New residents will have to pay more for the right to stay long-term in Thailand. Just a matter of time.

My youth in Europe was "dull". But I always suspected there must be some "men's paradise" somewhere. EUREKA ! Some 20 years ago I found it. In Pattaya.

The only thing that can be said with certainty at this point is: One is subjected to the war propaganda from both sides. Those "news" can not be veryfied independently. So whatever one wants to believe, it's "take your pick". (Serious news agencies point that out). Not surprisingly, westen news sources are biased in favour of the Ukraine. Western "war correspondants" prefer to report 200 km's away from the frontline and taking their clues from Ukrainian Facebook posters. I remain: The longer this war goes on, the more the odds are stacked against the Ukraine.

There are a few other countries where one can "stash their plunder": The state of Delaware in the US, the British Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands, Panama etc etc. The list is not complete. Mythologie Switzerland: Today, if I want to deposit 10'000 CHF on my Swiss bank account in cash, my bank wants to know exactly where the money came from. Wire transfers are also monitored. If I wanted to "hide" money, my choice would certainly not be Switzerland these days.

What about the majority of wars that were won by the party that had more weapons and personnel?

20 years from now, in the US, the names will mainly be of spanish origin.

There is the political Neutrality. Economic and Moral Neutrality does not exist. Nowhere. We all take sides. But if 2 countries have decided to bang each others head in, a neutral country is allowed to sell weapons to both parties. Otherwise the feuding countries will find ways to get their weaponery from "non-neutral-countries". Generally, I believe the world needs more "chickens" rather than more "war heroes". I personnally am glad that I am part of the neutral chicken crowd in the middle of a world that worships war heros more than neutral bystanders. Once again.

Shortly after the US Treasury sold an equal amount of Treasury Bills/Bonds. US and foreighn investors bought them eagerly.

Quote: "Take a country like Switserland,too chicken to support either side". This is called "Neutrality". Imagine every country practicing "neutrality". Neutral countries not attacking other neutral countries. The only pathway to world peace. Not going to happen.

Flash news. The Ukraine sends more "fresh-fighters" to the front. New law in Russia will allow for 700'000 more Russian "fresh-fighters". Who will have more "fresh-fighters" on the battlefield?

Afghanistan: Mountainous terrain, favoring guerilla warfare. Not the guerillas, but the US-"stinger" ground to air missiles defeated the Russians. Not to be compared with the Ukranian terrain, favoring conventional warfare. What Russian Assets can be seized, have been seized already. Even the 11ent "sanction-package" has no major effect on the Russian economy. Russian exports heve already been re-directed to other parts of the world.

There is hope. You kept a sense of humor. You believe in reincarnation. Hmmmm. As far as I interpret the christian gospel, in paradise alcohol and sex drugs and rock n' roll are not part of the daily curriculum. Be careful what you ask for. Given that, I myself would reject any sort of reincarnation. I would rather apply for eternal death, eternal sleep, eternal nothingness. I was in this state before I was born and I liked it for billions of years.