Fat is a type of crazy

I hear it can be a tad polluted.

I don't believe he has dementia. Watch recent speeches and the press conference and interviews - he clearly understands what he is saying and often gives good insightful answers even if a bit garbled from time to time. No teleprompter. Ask yourself if you could do the much better under pressure dealing with complex issues. He was shielded a bit but he was less bad in the past. The debate was really bad and aging is likely the reason and clearly he is not up to being president of The United States for 4 more years. Please stop exaggerating though this narrative that he has had some sort of serious long term dementia that is only now coming to the surface. Dementia is not a word that should be used unless you know what you are talking about e.g. doctor. I don't quite get your 9 11 point .

Need to do better than that. Critical thinking requires evidence of your claim. Not - I watch Fox News and crime seems to be bad.

I intend to spend time in Australia and Thailand so for me this seems to make things much easier with no more need to worry about the forms and money in the bank and all that.

Your comment was about Kamala's comments though as a comparison to what Vance said - suggesting that it's same same . My point is it's not. I can't find that quote as being made by or about Biden on google too. In 50 years they'll be unacceptable or silly or off the cuff stuff - Biden's had lot's of those. But normally not consequential like denying election results based on nothing. Hopefully soon it will be Trump versus someone else and Biden can leave a hero who kicked Trump out in 2020.

I don't buy that. Harris's criticism was about some specific bussing policy between schools that Biden did not support to her satisfaction decades before. A fairly obscure criticism. Vance clearly articulated why he thought Trump was inappropriate in a way most sensible people concur with - but like many others he was dumbfounded by Trump's ongoing popularity with the masses so had a choice - stick to his morals or drop his beliefs and join the fold. A pathetic decision. Trump had a chance to make a sensible concise speech to attract new people to the fold at the convention. Instead he made 93 minute speech that had his own supporters bored to tears. Who does that? Weird.

If long boring narcissistic speeches made one insane then maybe he's insane. Longest acceptance speech ever apparently.

Funny. It was more probably unwelcome advice being that some older posters might think that a 47 year old poster might be a bit young to be seemingly hanging around here so much. The other post was wishing someone well. But I thought - as a non prolific poster - no one cares so delete.

Delete

Delete

I didn't for long thank you for suggesting though.

It's the way they present it .. Fox News on steroids.. happy for Australian politics even if it is a bit boring. But to me watching that stuff is even more boring. But to each his own.

But when you watch the convention. The way they talk. Are you kind of embarrassed. So corny. So dumb. Maybe I am seeing it as an Australian where any pretension or indulgence in politics is not much tolerated.

2 or 3 months at a time is enough for now. Saves me the $60 and forms to fill out to Canberra.

OK the negative nellies have had their say. I for one will be happy to be able to come for 2 months with no worries from Australia.

You were clearly wrong about the bright line test in the way you wrote it. For some the proposed new rules for the 45 day situation will be better. Same as I said in the previous post. That is all I have to say thanks for reading this.

Problem is what most Democrats want is an utter disaster and that wasn't it. But enough mistakes not to be one bit reassuring. The status quo which is sadly good for Republicans.

It's almost like you are finally admitting that you got it a bit wrong regarding the bright line test. Good job. But yes there is no surprise that if you out of Thailand for years if the authorities bother to look at you they'll likely say you are a non-resident. Under old rules or proposed new rules. The old and new rules have different advantages in finding ways to remain a resident - e.g. the 45 day situation - so in some ways no big difference or the new rules could be better for some people.

But as has been said many times being outside 183 days does not automatically make you a non-resident so they couldn't rely on immigration records alone. Because the proposed bright line test is hard and fast in one direction - to say you are a resident for 183 days in Australia not necessarily a non-resident for 183 days out of Australia.

Note though that non-residents are taxed on their Australian based income in Australia including the age pension. The Double Tax Agreement will stop double taxing e.g. take into account credits for tax paid in the other country - but Australia would in theory want you to lodge and potentially pay some tax if they are aware you are a non-resident and getting the pension being a form of income. Here is an example from ATO Community: https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s0000002ngF/p00172380

Posted this before from The Onion. For those who can be bothered a message from The Buddha: When I think back to my time on earth, I have few regrets. The path I took, the simple life of a monk, allowed me to achieve the highest state of enlightenment. As one who renounced worldly attachments, I was free to lead a contemplative existence and to then share my wisdom with others. That said, I have to admit that if I were to do it all over again, I would probably choose to have at least a few possessions. Not too many, of course. Maybe 10 possessions—20, tops. To be sure, desiring earthly possessions only binds one to this life, and all beings must free themselves from the shackles of materialism to reach nirvana. That’s why, if I were to have a few belongings, I’d limit them to just some essentials: a fan, perhaps, to cool myself with, or a candle, so I could continue my study of ancient texts when the sun goes down. It’s not as if owning a candle would’ve halted my spiritual awakening. How could it? It’s just a candle, right? I’ve always said that it is not objects themselves but our unwavering devotion to them that stands in the way of karmic progress and, ultimately, true awakening. With that in mind, I can’t help but wonder if it really would’ve been such a big deal if I’d had a pen or two to write with—not coveting pens or obsessing over them or anything like that, just having a reliable writing implement that’s great for copying down spiritual insights. If I lost the pen, I’d be absolutely fine with that, but there’s nothing about being liberated from the stranglehold of temporal attachment that says I shouldn’t be able to make a mark on a piece of paper. And come to think of it, a canteen would’ve been a huge help. I probably would’ve attained perfect enlightenment sooner—a lot sooner—if I hadn’t had to stop meditating beneath the Bodhi tree and walk to the river Niranjana every single time I got thirsty. I understand, perhaps better than anyone, how vital meditation is to finding the freedom that awaits us at the end of the eightfold path. And you know what would’ve made meditating a hell of a lot easier? A tent. Nothing big or ornate, just a humble cloth shelter to help keep the rain and wind off my body. It’s not as though a tent would’ve stopped me from teaching my disciples to forsake earthly things. I would just say, “Dispossess yourself of all things, except a tent. And maybe a blanket.” Pillows, an obvious worldly luxury, would be forbidden. Oh, you know what else would’ve been great? A tea kettle. I would have killed for a tea kettle. A sweater or a jacket really wouldn’t have been the end of the world either, and there’s also a lot to be said for a decent pair of shoes. And what harm would there have been in having, say, a flute? It’d be nice to unwind with some music at the end of a long day of rigorous reflection. Again, I’m talking about very modest possessions here. Nothing you couldn’t easily fit in a satchel, which, yes, would’ve been nifty as well. How about a little carving of a monkey? Honestly, I think it would’ve been fun to have had that to look at from time to time—a wooden one, nothing carved from precious stones or anything. I can’t imagine not being able to break free from the eternal cycle of death and rebirth because of a tiny monkey figurine, can you? If I’m being completely honest, it’s not just the lack of possessions I regret. I also probably spent way too much of my time on earth meditating. Just sitting there on the hard ground doing nothing but pondering the infinite day after day when there are so many wonderful things to see and do in the world. I could’ve meditated just once a week and probably been perfectly fine. What a waste. I lived 80 years, and frankly, I blew it. I should have just tried to enjoy myself. Seriously, why suffer?

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I am saying on the Republican side Trump has pretty much total control over his party and what he represents is ..no need to go through that. On the Democrat side there are more of a range of voices .. you mentioned 3 politicians - a tiny few - who have opinions some of which are often normal and some a bit more out there. I don't know all that they are about but like AOC - she's smart - even if I don't agree with everything she wants. I don't have a problem with politicians having an opinion on the Palestinian issue. It's not simple. In any case they don't have control of the agenda for the Democrats.

Anyone with half a brain knows both candidates are terrible now. Good Jon Stewart summary on the youtube. Loyalty be damned. Biden needs to be loyal to the Democratic party and pass the baton.

Last time I was there I did have my fill after a week and a bit and found Khao Lak a more pleasant relaxing option and much better bang for your buck to be fair.