Etaoin Shrdlu

Trump is just jealous that Harris is able to read.

One would think that as the Democrat candidate, it is now her campaign to run as she sees fit. If she wants changes to the debate format and dates, it's her right to request them. Same for Trump. In the end, both candidates have to agree.

Trump is the real master debater.

Once upon a time, I was involved with Republicans Abroad here in Thailand. That was before the Republican Party became the Cult of Trump and lost all reason and sensibility. I am not a leftist looney. NYP is yellow journalism and not credible no matter one's political persuasion. I wouldn't cite the NYP if trying to prove a point. WSJ's reporting is ok, its editorial board is Rupert Murdoch propaganda. NYT was better when it was the Gray Lady and America's newspaper of record. It has lost its way and seems to see everything through an LGBTQ+ lens. At least the crossword puzzle is still ok. WaPo is sinking and might not be around much longer in its present state in spite of Bezos's billions. Less of a cultural agenda than the NYT, but focused more on DC and less on the world and business. Yes, a liberal bias. While the NYT and WaPo may have a liberal bias, at least there is an effort to check facts and not knowingly print outright falsehoods. This is also true of the WSJ's reportage (not so much the editorial board). I don't think that's the case with NYP, at least not to the same extent. There's no money to be made occupying the empty center, as most readers are only out for their daily partisan fix. Whether right or left, the media is fanning the flames. Bottom line: I can read the NYT, WaPo and WSJ and filter out the inherent bias and for the most part believe that at least a certain amount of fact-checking has taken place. I can't read the NYP and keep a straight face. Fox News is for those who would read the NYP if they were able to read.

NYP is sensationalist tabloid territory. If that's all that the conservative establishment can offer up in terms of journalistic quality, then that is pretty damning by itself.

So your level of sophistication is the NYP?

My concern would be that the TRD would limit the exemption to the amount that could be shown as having been remitted to a Thai bank by the SSA, which would be net of the Part B deduction. Or perhaps from a US account that is used only for receiving SSA benefits. Replacing the deduction with other funds may entail co-mingling SSA benefits with funds from other (potentially taxable) sources. But I admit this issue isn't clear.

NYP is the WSJ Editorial Board for dummies. Both Rupert Murdoch mouthpieces.

And when your doctor tells you that you're getting too old for so much wine, women and song, give up singing!

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Quantity has a quality all its own. -Joseph Stalin.

Remove intruders.

Given the types of laws this mob wants to enact, I think I might prefer them chasing their tails on fools' errands like this.

If one is only paying the base Part B amount of $174 per month, then the payment isn't so bad and even with penalties is manageable. If one is paying one of the higher premiums for Part B due to income, then it becomes more of an issue. It makes the penalty for not enrolling seem minor. There's also the issue of wanting to maximize SS income remitted to Thailand due to the exemption from Thai taxation. SSA wants to deduct Part B premiums from SS benefits, therefore reducing tax-exempt income.

Yes, I don't think there is really a solution for an unplanned move back that does not entail a potential uninsured period if you've not enrolled in Part B. As you point out, repatriating in April could mean that you don't have any coverage until February 1st of the following year, assuming that you enroll in Part B in January. I am contemplating enrolling in Part B next year during the open enrollment period as I may be spending extended periods in the US in the future.

I looked into this some years back and I think you're correct about the enrollment period. The only way for most expatriates who did not sign up at age 65 is to enroll during the general enrollment period of January to March each year. But my understanding is that coverage for Part B obtained during the general enrollment period starts the first of the month after the month in which you enrolled.

Yes, likely a non-resident owner who would wish to rely upon an agent to take care of all admin, including collecting rents. I don't believe it is worth making a fuss about the lock being changed, although I do think it likely that the owner was contractually and legally obliged to notify you in advance. An exception would be if there were an imminent threat of injury or damage to the premises or property in it. I would suggest that even when dealing through an agent that the owner be provided with a means to contact the tenant and vice versa. If not phone and email, perhaps a LINE or other social media chat group that includes the owner, agent and tenant. As far as your previous rental payments to the agent are concerned, payments to an agent are typically considered as payment to the principal, even here in Thailand. As long as you can document that you paid the agent, it is unlikely that the owner can legally pursue you for past payments.

1) What does your lease agreement say about the owner giving notice to enter the premises? Do you know whether the owner had your phone number and email address while you were away? 2) Why was the lease drawn up so that you pay the agent, assuming that this is indeed the case? I think it is customary for the tenant to pay the owner directly unless the owner is not resident in Thailand and has no Thai bank account. How do you know that the person with whom you are now dealing is actually the owner and that what they say about the agent is in fact the truth?

Alien books, also called police books, are red and are issued to foreigners with permanent residency. Tabien baan books are either yellow (for foreigners on temporary permission to stay) or blue (for foreigners with permanent residency and Thais).

The last two times I've gotten an IDP for visits to the US, I wasn't asked for the red alien book, only the blue tabien baan and pink card along with my Thai DL and passport. In fact, two years ago the DLT at Bang Chak waved off my red book and copy and specifically asked for the pink card instead. And yes, I needed an IDP for my visit to the US because I drove in Vermont, one of the states that requires an IDP even when the original non-US license is in English. Don't want to potentially void the insurance on the rental car.

My understanding is that depositors would have legal recourse to Citibank N.A.'s balance sheet as there is no local limited liability entity to prevent them. Depositors may have to pursue claims in the US, however. I would be happy to be corrected if there is a mechanism that would prevent such recourse. Yes, Citibank Thailand is not part of Citibank N.A.'s domestic banking system and it does come under BoT regulations. It is the structure, not the services provided, that determine its status as a branch.

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UOB Thailand purchased Citibank's consumer portfolio in Thailand and shifted it over to UOB Thailand. Citibank's Thailand branch did not give up its banking license and continues to provide corporate banking services here. It simply got out of the consumer banking segment. For those who care about such things, Citibank's operation here in Thailand is a branch of the US company and not a locally incorporated subsidiary or public limited liability company. As such, it enjoys the S&P financial strength rating of the parent company, in this case Citibank N.A., which has an S&P rating of "A+". This is higher than the Thai government's S&P rating of "BBB+". Depositors who had accounts with Citibank's Thailand branch actually had better security than the deposit guarantees provided by the Thai government, at least to the extent that S&P ratings may be relied upon.

Social Security benefits are exempt from Thai taxation under the US-Thai tax treaty for US citizens. You can have your SS payments transferred directly to your Thai bank account without creating a Thai tax liability if you're American. In order to maximize income that isn't taxable by Thailand, it may make sense to pay US taxes from other sources and not have US taxes deducted from Social Security payments each month. I am not sure if Medicare Part B can be paid from other sources or whether is must be deducted from SS payments, but if it could be paid by something other than SS deductions, that would also help maximize income exempt from Thai taxation.

I don't think it is any problem paying with cash when getting a new Rabbit Card from BTS, but in addition to ID, they will want a phone number. At least they did when I had to get a new card some years ago when my old card expired. No problem topping up with cash, either. Don't know about MRT or ARL.