swissie

Very true and very frightening. Even university folks increasingly worship the "Evangelist TV Propaganda Machinery". Religious Fundamentalism in the Heartland of the US is rampant. To the point, that non "Bible Thumbers" have restricted career opportunites. Having to take intellectual refuge on the east/west coast of the US.

Why Are Readers Here...So...Interested in...God-Related Topics??? Because we can't understand that we are here only to reproduce. Nothing else. No panic. Flowers and goldhamsters also don't know why they are here, except for reproduction. To instill some sort of sense, the most advanced monkey had to invent Gods and religions. The rest of all living things can do fine without Gods and Religions.

I was hoping that this thread will go on vigorously. But it can't, unless somebody can define to me and the rest of humanity what "a soul" is. WHAT IS "A SOUL"?

Plus the mushrooming "financial industry" outside of traditional banking/brokerage. Not subjet to any governemental control/legislation. Flabergasting amounts floating around. All of them highly leveraged.

The birthplace of all the thousands of "Gods" is in the human brain. So is the "Soul". = Soul: Extreme conciousness, residing in the human brain. Nowhere else. - 2 weeks ago, my goldhamster died. Where has his "soul" found a new home?

Not the first time I feel this way. Walker88 to me is the ONE poster that enriches this forum with "deep thought". Well thought out and well written. The above text should be distributed at every university to Biology and Psychology students.

She visits the daughters 1 month a year. Always glad to return back to Europe. She claims, that after over 20 years in Europe, Thailand is for her just a tourist destination and if it wasn't for the daughters, she would have very little reason to visit Thailand again. A compromise may take effect: I might stay in Thailand for 3 months a year (Winter). The kids will have to pay for the best (temporary) health insurance for me. Otherwise I won't go as my health is getting "fragile".

Only 1 granddaughter. A 6 year old rascal. Her parents and I set up some "Education Account" for her. I discovered, that my monthly contributions only amout to about 30%. The rest comes from the parents. Over time, I must have become the "poor European relative".

Not the first time I recognise you as a "serious investor", doing his homework. Your contributions are welcome and of importance. Of the many indicators, Dr. Copper can serve as an simplified indicator of things to come. In spite of all the overwhelmingly positive fundamentals and the promess of global "electrification", Copper fails to surpass recent highs. Rather heading south. I like Dr. Copper as a simplified indicator of future economic activity. Currently Dr. Copper indicates: "Yawn".

Looking back, it's the only good thing I did over the last 70 years. Not saving the world, but making a difference for 2 young peoples lives.

The UK is an extreme example of "Heat or Eat" for a large part of the population. A harbinger for the rest of the "western world".

I try to keep this short and to the point: Upon marriage, I promised my Thai wife that I will pay for all educatinal expenses concerning my 2 stepdaughters. Regardless how our marriage would go. I was very well aware in what poverty my wife grew up and I diden't want that this pattern repeats with regard to the stepdaughters. Over the years it cost me a pretty penny. The result: They both made a stellar career in banking, investing their money wisely, becoming "rich". Upon new year, I received a message from the stepdaughters. Stating, that without my financial help they could not have advanced to "affluence" in Thailand. Offering me free and unlimited lodging in any of their 8 real estate holdings plus paying for my private health insurance in Thailand. Only problem is, that my Thai wife is not willing to return to Thailand on a permanent basis under any circumstances. End of story, I guess. The point: In spite of a long list of "negative Thai stories", sometimes it can turn out quite well, granted that a 2 year "grace period" before marriage is adhered to and the Thai lady and their offspring never show any sighns of "floosiness" during that time. "Floosie"? Google is your friend.

It depends what Home Country is your Home Country. Some Home Countries are cutting down on old age benefits, especially for those that live outside of the Home Country. Avoiding surprises, one must read the news from the Home Country.

Plenty of major purchases in rural Thailand still by cash. Even real estate. But we live in "Modern times". Such cash transactions are filmed with smart phone. The buyer clearly states that he has paid xxx amount to the seller. In turn, the seller confirms that he has received xxx amount from the buyer. Of course, RE transactions will still have to be recorded at the land office.

There are many economical factors that will shape 2024. But the ONE major event that will shape the word (the world economy) will happen in November. If a certain republican candidate should win the presidential election, we will wake up to a new world. The ramifications that this would have would not only affect investors, but every living person on this globe. The ultimate game changer, dwarfing all other factors.

Commercial RE in the US is the "soft underbelly" within the RE universe.

Not only that. They will overtake all the glorious German Auto Makers. They missed the train. Same with Solar-Panels. No more European manufacturers. All made in China. The list is long for products no more "Made in Europe".

The recipie to create poverty/homelessness is as follows: - With legislation, make sure that the rich are getting richer. - With legislation and economic policies, make sure that the factor "labor" becomes cheaper all the time. Therefore: If one has only "labor" to offer with no "Capital", one can only lose in this game. Conclusion: The only true "Growth-Industry" in the West will be "poverty".

Going into the new year, a few thoughts are going thru my head. It seems to me, all the possible good news are already incorporated in US stock prices. = (A "soft landing" very likely, interest rates very likely coming down, the assumption that a certain candidate will not be elected president, increasing geo-political tensions "don't matter much"). So I wonder what unknown good news can come into play to further "feed the bull"? Will buy some "insurance" in form of out of the money S&P puts. Just in case if even one of the "pillars" that have upheld/driven the recent bull market starts to show some cracks.

Every Gold Mine will eventually become a mere hole in the ground. But to have a gold nugget in your hands is magic. Everything will eventually turn to dust, but knowing that Gold, Silver and Diamonds will outlast us has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Gold represents something "that lasts forever". Very appealing to people, that live in a world where "nothing lasts forever" is a blunt and sobering fact. PS: Upon marriage, we exchange golden rings. So "it may last forever". With a divorce rate of 50%, clearly Gold has limitations to it's magic. But as a store of monetary value Gold will still be around after all the marriages have failed and future generations will not know what a US$ or a Swiss Franc once were.

Upon my demise, my remaining assets will go to a foundation called "Support your local hookers".

Physical ETF's is a good way to go. But precious metals must be stored in vaults. That too costs money. This storage cost is usually priced into the price of the ETF. Softly, spread out over time. Let's face it: Unless stored on your property, storage costs money. Even the stocks one holds with a broker or a bank costs a certain amount of money annually. Althoug negligeable in most cases. It remains. Carrying charges DO matter as far as commodities are concerned. US Natural Gas as an extreme example: Within weeks total carrying charges can shoot up to over 100% just to shrink down to 20% within a few weeks.

I started investing in commodities in 1973. I made and lost a lot of money in commodities. Plenty of short term trading going on. BUT HOW ABOUT LONG TERM INVESTING IN COMMODITIES? Here is the problem: To store commodities costs money. This is called the "carrying charge". This is why normally futures prices reflect this. More distant contracts are more expensive than nearby contracts (contago situation). Producing constant "roll-over" costs. What does that mean in Dollars and Cents? Here a few current "Carrying Charges", per year and in US$: - US Indicies 7%. Gold 7%. Copper 6%. Corn 20%. Natural Gas 20%. For example. This makes long term investing in commodities so problematic. REMEDY? Yes. One can buy Stocks of "Commodity Producers" and collect dividends. OR: Fill your garage with 20 Barrells of crude oil and park your car outside of your garage. Risking that your wife and neighbors will not understand the concept. Ahhhhh. The plight of commodity investors.

Quote;"All the economic forecasts are that Asian countries GDP will outstrip those in the West plus Chinese shares are very cheap right now, that will certainly change at some point". Let's focus in on China. China is confronted with some internal (temporary) problems. = A growth rate of less than 5% seems to alarm "investment advisors". (Most developped Economies in the West can only dream of such growth rates). Let's apply the "measuring stick" in form of the P/E Ratio. US = around 21. China = around 8. China is cheap! China will not stop being the economical powerhouse of the world. Food for thaught.

High Dividends come in 2 ways. Traditionally, Utilities, Beer brewers and other very basic industries with not much "upward potential" come to mind. Might as well buy their bonds. Have looked at other "high yield " stocks. Have found out that 1/3rd of them can not maintain their dividends if an economic downturn should occur. - Dividends can be cut. As fast as your "honey" tells you:"I dont love you anymore".