swissie

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".

I agree, it's a nice state. Friendly "down to earth people". But to declare it as a "cultural-hub" is a slight exageration.

Fondly, I remember my many visits to West Virginia. I was overwhelmed by "culture". On every street corner operas, museums featuring Egyptian Mummies to paintings of the Renaissance. Everybody playing the fiddle, doing Vivaldy etc etc...Quoting Shakespeare at the gas station. Was impressed by their willingness to keep their livestyle closely connected to history. As many houses have little indoor plumming, but a cosy "outhouse". Was looking for a monument, celebrating Dolly Partons cultural achievements. Much to my dissapointment, I was told that Dolly Parton comes from Tenessee. PS: Much pun intended. To be consumed with "a grain of salt".

Come on guys, this 1960ties Indian guru-stuff is gone. Better focus on modern day Guru's. 50% of US voters have voted for a modern day Guru.

The US Economy is based on consumption. Anyone, disclosing to the US consumers, that they will be able to buy "less things" for their Dollars will not be re-elected. Worse: He will be lynched.

Trumps fury, reaching certain limits. International markets reacting violently to Donalds "wrecking-ball" vendetta against the rest of the world. If nothing else, his billionaire-buddies will talk to him like a Dutch-Uncle, as they don't like to lose a small part of their billions. Donald will not work against the interest of his billionaire-buddies. This could put a floor under the recent market-low's. The billionaires-put-option, so to speak. Donald wants to be worshipped and applauded. The very fact, that someday, his only worshippers left would be a bunch of West Virginia red-neck hillbillies must be Donalds nightmare. So, not to worry, the "right people" will set him straight. His billionaire-buddies will not allow for more damage.

To fire Powell would only make sense, if he could replace him with someone that will "knock down" interest rates. Donald repeatetly said he wants interest rates and the Dollar lower. Result: Increased money supply plus tariffs would kick off another round of increased inflation. Market reaction would be a selloff of US treasuries, thus actually raising interest rates. Donald would find nobody within the financial community that would implement something like that. He would have to replace Powell by a "Economy-Ignorant", mirrororing his own lack of Macro-Economic comprehention. Robert Kennedy jr comes to mind or someone else that mentally resides in economic la-la land.

First of all, Gold tends to compensate for Dollar weakness mid-longer term. But I am glad you posted above charts. It shows, that the recent bull run of Gold was not as beneficial for "non Dollar currency holders". (Price of US$/Gold not showing). Bankers, outside of the US are trying to explain to their customer why Gold has "only" appreciated by 10% recently. They are also trying to explain to their customes that their US High-Tech shares have declined 10% plus 10% currency loss. Non US investors have to take into account that precious metals, oil and US shares/threasuries are traded in US Dollars. In other words, if you buy anything denominated in US Dollars, you buy the US Dollar simultainiously. That's all I want to say concerning the international investment community. No more, no less.

Have you tried to switch form Skype" to "Teams"? I did. Easy at first: Just transfer your Skype adresses to Teams. I did. Next day they were gone and had to repeat the process. But with the transferred adresses I can only send written messages, No audio or video communication possible. (Yes, I clicked "allowed" for those sevices). A smorgasboard of options, that nobody needs. Clearly designed to collect more data. By clicking through all those options can make a person dizzy, granted that he only wants to audio/video communicate with someone. Digitalised overkill that nobody needs or wants. I can only hope that the "wizards of digitalisation" will repair the system that finally will enable users to communicate by way of audio/video again. PS: Someone receiving "remedy options" in English may be blessed. Remedy options in other languages read like they were written by an 8 year old. Chat GTP could do better.

Oh no, not again. Tabloid Newspapers celebrating the price of Gold. Let's look at the situation in detail: - Most physical buyers of Gold reside in India/China. They have stopped buying as the price is too high. - Central Banks have reduced their buying as the price is too high. Currently private investors buying Gold ETF's, supporting the price. Otherwise nothing would support the price. All precious metals are traded in US Dollars. With a declining US Dollar how have your Gold holdings fared in your "home currency"? To be sure: To buy precious metals also means to buy the US Dollar. Making you not only a Gold Investor but also a "currency speculator"- Like it or not. As long as your "home currency" is not the US Dollar.

Be advised, it depends only on 1 person. Not God nor the Pope in Rome. The economical faith of the world is in the hands of a New Jersey born real estate guy. You may get your Bull Market, but only if Donald allowes for it. The largest companies are US companies, very true. Operating internationally, no urge to "come home". But women have always told us that "size doesen't matter". This may also apply to companies. Size not automatically assuring sucess.

Nobody in his right mind would doubt that the US is a rich country. But to focus merely on "government dept" is not the whole picture. Even if every new born baby owes "the government" over 100'000 $ upon birth. There is also "corporate dept" and especially "private dept". As far as private dept is concerned, Americans are world champions. Their homes and cars belong to the bank. Their crdit cards maxed-out. Their retirement stock investment "leaveraged". Upon losing their jobs, after 3 months, personal financial "armageddon" hits. The "low income crowd" even navigating from month to month. All this not for all, but for many. Way too many. Could it be that is was not "productivity gains" but a gigantic credit bubble that made "The West Great"? Time to deflate the baloon?