Fat is a type of crazy

Jomtiem is nice at the moment. It is low season though. Nice summery atmosphere. People out and about. Beaches nice to walk on but sadly cannot swim. Happy place to be. This foreigner has been treated really well thanks. Phuket is ok. Many different parts to it. Do you mean middle of Patong or on a lovely beach in the east or somewhere in Phuket town. Have a nice day.

Thanks for the reply. 4 exclamation marks only. Disappointed. I have voted left and right for what it's worth. I don't want to get into the Israeli Palestinian issue in detail but it is a good example of what I mean. Let us say: What Hamas did was wrong in every way. The Israeli response can be justified in part - but has often has had too many civilian casualties and too much damage. Most young protestors you talk of are sending the message that the treatment of Palestinians over time is not fair. There are some protesting on the Israeli side. Point is both have some valid points. Per 100 pro Palestinian protestors: A few have had banners that supported Hamas rather than Palestinians - a fair few of those probably by mistake in the early days. Some have been a bit violent and disruptive - same as they did in protests for decades. Not justifying it but not that amazing or new. Some don't fully understand the history to make a fair judgement. Probably applies to most with an opinion including myself. Some can't see the irony e.g. Gays for Palestinians when in reverse gays are not tolerated one bit. Fair point. The right wing media - and even commentators I admire like Bill Maher - can cherry pick what they see to make the pro Palestinian protestors look silly, absurd and wrong. Some likely are all that. But many are not. Many students probably don't particularly even identify as left wing. There were similar protests over decades. It's nothing new and not a sign of a push to some extreme left wing future.

The far left is mainly the students you talk about - they were the same when I was at Uni back in the 80's. Young people are idealistic. They believe in the goodness of people and that they can work together for a common cause. As they get older they tend to be normalised and move to the centre. Life does that. Now though thanks to social media and the gotcha right wing media their voice is magnified - whereas before they could develop their ideas in student newspapers without much reach beyond that - except for major issues like Green issues or say Vietnam in the 60's and 70's - now they are seen by the right as some major threat to their way of life. But the far right wing is much more normalised throughout the Republican party - different demographics - in a way it was not before. That's what makes the right more dangerous with the dumbest silliest leader of all time being Donald.

So can we agree that that test is very easy for normal people and it is embarrassing for anyone without actual issues - let alone a presidential nominee - to see it as a noteworthy achievement. I personally would be really surprised if Biden has issues that would hinder his ability to do a test like that. I think you can be befuddled and a bit slow, especially under pressure, without having actual serious cognitive issues such as would stop you passing that test. I think if any of us had to do what he has to do it would be hard to go for a long period without mucking something up. But being president should have a very high bar to pass in terms of mental acuity and communication skills so I concur it is time for Biden to pass the baton.

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Suppose it depends on which party you think represents the elite - for an awful long time it was the Republicans in terms of wealth and keeping the rich rich with low taxes - didn't Trump's business itself use undocumented workers - I would imagine he would have some good photo ops of sending people back in dramatic fashion but the availability of cheap labour would continue to keep the rich republicans happy.

I think they need to be upfront. If they want to have paid contributor's give them a moniker like the Moderators have - 'Paid Contributor' or 'Employee'. Then the readers can decide to read or not.

For what it's worth I think Biden could easily do a cognitive test. I think it's his communication skills that are weakening rather than his ability to think as good as most people though age may be taking a bit of a toll a bit. But he needs to be better than average as he is president. He could certainly do the one Trump did where you have to pick pictures and identify if it's a giraffe or an elephant or remember five words. Trump still talks about acing that test. What an embarrassment.

I think that stat is a bit misleading. Sure there are a super rich few who own a lot of stocks but there are a lot of Americans with 401K's who have benefited. And aren't Republicans the party of hard work and benefiting yourselves by investing and taking risks. And what would Trump do about this but further limit regulations on big business so they can do what they like at the expense of the small guy and reduce taxes.

Saying over 183 days outside Australia means you are a non-resident is false. It is your written words that were incorrect. If you wish to qualify it - each time you make the statement - by saying my opinion is that many expats in Thailand will not pass the factor tests and will not be in Australia over 183 days and this will mean they are nonresident then go for it.

I thought I was being a bit pedantic to keep pointing out the flaw in logic but it seems you still don't get it. As others said - over 183 in Australia - no worries - resident - under 183 but over 45 - see if you can pass factor tests.

Now it makes sense.

I am simply taking it from the words you have written on a few occasions. 1 You can only be inside or outside of Australia. 2 Let us say you are in Australia for 100 days and outside for 265 days. 3 Your first test says - in your words - if you are outside of Australia for 183 days or more you are a non resident. You don't say to look at other tests - simply you are a non resident. In this example you are outside for 265 so are a non-resident. 4 Your second test says if you are inside between 45 and 183 days - outside more than 183 days - you have to meet certain tests to be a resident. Based on test 2 you are inside for 100 days and let us say you can pass those tests so you are a resident. If you are talking about non consecutive days or separate periods within a year then you need to note that. If you reply it is appreciated if you please don't repeat the same words - address the specific potential contradiction.

There is still a small window of opportunity for Joe to see reality and drop out with a successful legacy becoming the respected elder statesman of the party under a new leader. He's got to listen to those outside his inner circle.

That was one of our Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's winners. People derided him at the time - maybe you - but think what it's worth now. Not that into modern art but I think Pollock is the exception where it's not style or spin over substance.

A new candidate shall emerge. Unless they have similar difficulties communicating the Democrats should win as Trump is that toxic to so many. New highs on stockmarket. Economy going so well. Not hard to sell and a new candidate can talk about changes to deal with the bad things - inflation and the border. Not convinced Kamala is the best bet but she isn't Trump.

Well some of us are interested in cereal. I am.

I remember in the 80's when it seemed crafty. It had a lot of residue in the bottom of the bottle but that's gone now. At least they have kept the 375 ml bottles unlike others. Love the stout once in a while.

Come on...I hear you but Jerry's no bot. I like my cereal .. rather talk about than the latest drunk getting arrested or whatever

If I moved to Thailand I would like to bring good quality cereal, chocolate wine and beer. I brought over 20 blocks of chocolate on this trip - 85 per cent good stuff. Chocolate is something I shall not go without nor pay over double than in Australia.

The large Shredded wheat is excellent but pretty expensive in Australia and probably here. They put them in a big box but it's mostly air per kilo. 220 baht for 360 grams. Mini wheats are the same thing but better value in theory but they add sugar which makes them unpalatable for me. Especially the frosted ones. Terrible. In Thailand after weeks of buffets at hotels as I am a tourist I went to the supermarket at Central in Pattaya and they had Coles wheat biscuits from Australia for around 240 baht which is expensive as compared to Australia - double the price or more - but you get over a kilogram. No sugar but a little bit of salt. Bought a kilo of My Choice german muesli too which wasn't too expensive and a kilo of oats from Makro. Then add some papaya or something. Most cereals in Thailand in most stores are of course sweet crap. Even corn flakes can have a fair bit of sugar. I don't mind sugar as such but I think when added to cereal it's unpleasant.

Only read page 1 so not sure where you are but taxis are pretty cheap in most places. Don't look for excuses. 2 tonne of metal with you behind it after a gut full of beers isn't a pretty thought.

Sounds worse. Now you're driving drunk and probably have much worse reflexes than 30 years ago. Give it up man. Have some respect for yourself and people on the road.

My point is that the way you have worded it is over 183 days out of Australia is a non-resident full stop but then you say between 45 and 183 days in Australia can still be a resident. That's a contradiction. But I get the gist of what you are saying and if one day it happens..

I don't know about this - and this might be obvious - but my only comment would be that the bank and government would have their separate criteria to be classified as non-resident and one may not influence the other . So it sounds a bit rough though if the bank says you can't be treated as a non-resident and get the lower tax on interest while the government says you are a non-resident meaning higher tax on all income as no withholding on the interest.