Fat is a type of crazy

They introduced a scheme that has some elements of fairness initially with a carrot and a stick. The stick got bigger as it was harder and harder to avoid the extra tax while the cost of the private insurance you are somewhat forced into, goes up and up, in the past well above inflation. The carrot got smaller too as the benefit of the rebate is chipped away going down and down. Not fair but there it is.

Exactly. That too. One trick had been for years, as part of that, they didn't increase the income cut off limits meaning as people's income went up bit by bit people went over the limit, or went to a higher tier, that were forced to get health insurance or cop the tax. The one sweetener was the rebate you got on the cost of the insurance. But they had a further nasty trick too, brought in by Abbott I think, where that rebate percentage is decreasing a bit each year as well. So initially you got 30 per cent off if your income was lower than the lowest tier but that has now decreased in 2023 to 24.6. Same for higher incomes. Thanks Tony.

Fair point. The problem is that they have that rule in Australia where if you are over 30 and you don't get health insurance the premiums go up by 2 per cent each year. I haven't look that much into it but as far as I can tell if I stopped, then wanted to start later at say 60, I have to pay the going rate plus say 30 x 2 = 60 per cent extra. When you are over 60 you are most likely to need it most. The other thing is I have an old plan that is a bit better than the latest ones in terms of coverage and price so if starting a fresh they are a fair bit more expensive too..

One example. Friend was in Patong. Caught Dengue. Got quite sick. Covermore were fantastic. They can't reject most proper claims. Haven't seen them denied except on here and other media and normally the reasons make some sense. Don't see how talking about successful claims is narcissistic. I am trying to work out the best way to keep health insurance in Australia but be covered in Thailand. Credit card insurance should do the trick for initial 2 or 3 month trips. Some say it's useless but mine is identical to the paid for ones. Still have to pay in Australia though if both here and there.

My google search found this. He is a christian after all. Later in John 7: 37-39 Jesus once again speaks of living water, saying, “'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. ' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

No. It would be too much of a salty taste as far as I'm concerned. I knew it as yeast extract but apparently it is more specifically brewer's yeast extract - a left over from the beer brewing process.

Pineapple on pizza is one of those things that sound bad but if done nicely the combination with ham once in a blue moon is nice. In Australia we put beetroot on hamburgers which seems strange to some too but is a nice combination.

A lot of Australians feel a bit 'Been there done that' with Bali and Phuket and go elsewhere. Me too as a tourist. Apparently Japan is the popular place for Australians which I can understand as it is really different. Suppose for Americans being so far away makes it seem a bit exotic still but also an awful long way to go so closer places may be better.

Not sure but it was apparently manufactured in Thailand according to Google. Might be easier than the other option - hopefully others know.

Delete. Was going to recommend Astrazeneca approved in Australia but apparently not in United States.

Not easy to do nothing like may have been in the case in the olden days. It is clear in the computer age if there is an errant worker or boss not pulling their weight. There is a good work life balance though. Working from home helps.

To be happy and carefree like these two

Why not. Sounds like he was a long time public servant in Australia if his partner can get it after he goes. Likely didn't retire early. Worked a hard days work. The question was asked. Good for him.

Fight the Power Public Enemy Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant s- to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother f- him and John Wayne 'Cause I'm Black and I'm proud I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check People say this sort of look back in history is a recent thing Ha Ha Two others: Meat is murder The Smiths No you don't The Sweet

Popping up all over the site

You make some good points ... but... the woman travelling 600 miles example is a concern in my opinion. James Carville, Democrat commentator, said something similar on Bill Maher. When he said that I appreciated the sentiment, and there is likely some truth to it, but it amazes me how relaxed and almost naive some Democrats can be about the immigration issue. Of course, the example was chosen to tug on heart strings, rather than being about a single man or something. But he seemed to be basically saying that if you are willing to go on a long walk, and pass some basic checks, that's enough evidence that you are the right person for the United States and in you come. No need to prove you are an actual objective refugee, e.g. under real persecution, rather than simply being unhappy with aspects of your life. Immigration may be good for the economy as a whole in the long term - but it can be best for the wealthy who get cheap labour, rather than the average joe who has more competition for say jobs and housing, less wage growth, crowded built up cities when they build large apartment blocks to deal with the influx, huge initial costs to local government bodies etc. You may say statistics don't bear this out - wage growth has been good for example - but the key point is this issue could easily lose the democrats the election. Trumps appalling rhetoric is simply reflecting the general feeling of unhappiness amongst a wide swathe of voters about the amount of immigrants at the southern border. Wake up Democrats. Concerns about immigration on quality of life is reasonable, and well meaning examples of mothers and kids isn't going to cut it, to win over the electorate. Concerns are not simply due to racism - which may play a part - but an honest, common sense, fair concern about the implications of not securing the border.

It seems like a decent size city where you can do what you want but not too big like Bangkok. Food. Sport. Entertainment. If you need a bit of culture or a big show that's not available can go to Bangkok down the road.

Could do worse than have a nice room, maybe larger one in an older building as many of the new ones seem tiny, nice outlook hopefully away from traffic , gym sauna and pool for laps, walk along the beach, nice food that can come to your door, massage, good shopping nearby, opportunities for fun, nice enough beaches, Koh Chang, Bangkok, not far, could be good. Will likely go in 2024 and give it a whirl ... go to Phuket if the heat, pollution, traffic, dodgy types, make it not fun.

Teenage years start at 13 of course. It is not simply about being forced into prostitution - underage girls may on occasion be enticed by the dollars but do not have the maturity and sense to make such decisions, thus the laws to take action against predators and their go betweens, regardless of what might appear to be consent from the person. Stating the obvious but sometimes it appears some posters, not saying you, see it otherwise.

He likely does amongst the older ones. No 1 Traditionally lower paid jobs pay fairly well in Australia. No 2 you get older people who retired in other roles and feel like keeping active but don't want to think too much and so get a similar type of job. Two guys I know left the public service, got bored, one working at Bunnings hardware store one looking to be a truck driver, but plenty of money at home from superannuation etc. No 3 many older people bought property cheap, often in the inner suburbs when it wasn't trendy, and are now sitting on a goldmine.

Probably been said once or 100 times in the last 177 pages but it is unbelievable that they announce it and with 10 days till 2024 still haven't made it clear what it is to be and how people will be affected.

Thai girls are different to western girls. Many of them. Maybe he likes them and finds that area has what he wants in other ways and he is wondering if nice girls are available which they likely are. I am thinking of retiring around that area and not due to financial constraints or due to ladies of the night.

If you a nice guy with a friendly disposition and a smile to match, and have a half decent income not for handouts but to support a family, then I doubt you'll have a problem in your 30's finding the type of girl you want in Thailand.

That was me until covid when I made a comment from time to time.

Some of the posts are moving from what I thought was an attempt at humour to silly racism. I have known a lot of nice Russians so there. They can come across a bit grim in Thailand sometimes, at odds with the culture of the thai smile, but every countries people have faults. It's a small world after all.