Fat is a type of crazy

11 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Which guests? Name names. Rogan said his guests were experts.

 

Ask 10 doctors re covid. You get different views. 

 

The vaccines are fairly useless for fit under 40yos btw. Thats common knowledge.

A scientist: Dr Robert Malone. You'll say he invented MRNA technology blah blah blah

Others: Alex Jones As appalling a person as can be. 

I agree he seems a reasonable interviewer and should be allowed to have his say. I get sick though of people having what seem like silly opinions on a range of topics including covid, and having guests of a similar ilk, so I am happy to give him a miss. 

If you interview someone and know it is likely to lead to people not taking a life saving vaccine I think you have to think long and hard  about whether you should give them air time. People have likely died due to following him and his guests. Sad fact. 

CNN does give a particular opinion and view point that is biased towards democrat. Biased yes. Telling truth and fact checking. Yes. I'll believe CNN, and recognise a bit of bias,  before a guest on his show with dodgy theories. 

16 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Our youth these days, if there is ever another war, the enemy trench will only have to start shouting names and they will all burst into tears and run away crying. I truly believe that our generation (growing up in the 60's - 80's) are the last great generation, can't see anything in the last 40 years worth a fig. Even my own kids think life owes them a living, God help their kids.

 

 

I find it funny to think of Generation X as the last great generation. We are normally thought of as kind of in between, nothing much, generation...between Boomers and those growing up online. 

I was at uni in the mid eighties and believe me there was heaps of wokeness and self indulgence. Lots of protests. Some valid some maybe not. I can remember some self identified feminists shouting 'Off Off Off' at a comedian who walked off stage. I thought he was funny if not a bit crass but he was cancelled.

Think of some of the music of the early 80's. The Smiths, the Cure, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, all my favourites, and all a bit thoughtful but a bit self indulgent and morose. Then there was the New Romantic stuff that was fun but self indulgent too. 

The young are always a bit morally black and white and a bit indulgent. These days the young have a megaphone through social media, and the traditional  media happy to fan the flames, when most people aren't into that stuff at all. 

I think we have to remember too that we felt stuff more strongly at 20 than 50 and I imagine having social media for some would amplify shyness, social awkwardness, separateness and love sickness. 

I must say most young people I meet seem decent enough. If anything a  bit more reserved in general. Maybe harder working.

10 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

I knew there were a lot of pension aged guys working at Bunnings but not sure what arrangement they have them on. Sub contracting or something to get around legalities / liabilities? not sure

I think they would be normal employees. You can't hire someone as a subcontractor if the person does the  same thing each day with the same business. There's a tool you can use called employee versus contractor on the ATO site that can tell you if you can be a contractor. I have a friend where the payer wants to pay him as a contractor tradesman but can't as all jobs are for him and the boss wears the risk. 

Not sure there is that much risk for the employer. If they get sick due to elderly issues they can only use their sick leave unless it's deemed to be a workplace injury I think. 

Can you imagine the uproar in Australia if they said those of a certain age cannot work.. Bunnings Hardware stores famously hire a lot of older guys who are handy with  their tools 

As others have said check if it's legal. Then she could have meetings with the other staff, as if they all refuse the pay cut, what is the company going to do. If the reality is the company is going bad then she just needs to look for a new job. It seems the Thai economy is not going that badly so hopefully she can find another job. She could keep that job in the meantime and if there's no other jobs then she might have to cop it. 

I just think there is a line between being a cup half full rather than a cup half empty person, which might be good, as against trying to be positive each day which just sounds tiring. 

You may get a short term benefit, e.g. job interview or lifting a weight, but in the long term it is the effort and comprehension that is important. Then you turn up to an interview or lift a weight and are confident because you have reason to be .. not because you are pushing your mind in a positive direction for a moment or two. 

46 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Just checked mate it is actually Colonial First State. Did you withdraw any funds while you were overseas? I wonder if it's difficult to join with another super fund and let them do the transfer etc? I am guessing probably not. And then at a later date either withdraw from them or roll it over or have a look at my options. That's the next step don't have a clue what to do with my super re investing it or doing a draw down once I am eligible to receive it and I am guessing getting any advice in this area from CFS would be a joke

If you google changing super funds in Australia it looks like it is pretty straight forward. I think the Government have made it easier so you can put it all in one fund. If you pick one and then look at their site or give them a call I'm sure they'll be happy to assist. 
 

I am still working in Australia. I need to work it out too in terms of getting it out. I know that if you wait till 60, assuming you are a resident, the tax is much better if you take it as an income stream. Given Colonial First State is big and supposedly respectable you might get lucky to find someone good to help with that sort of stuff before you go elsewhere. 

I think Colonial Mutual and Colonial First State are related. I had a terrible experience with the latter's non superannuation share fund in the early 2000's. I note Colonial First State has terrible reviews on the Product Review site. But maybe they are not totally the same thing. This site is a good comparison of superannuation performance in Australia comparing fees and returns:

YourSuper comparison tool | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

I have found the industry super funds to do good e.g. Australian Super. 

3 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

 

5% to 10% worse at airport exchanges.

 

Not sure about other airports but Suvarnabhumi has good rates downstairs at 5 or 6 booths as you enter the train area. 

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Yes, I'm not worried about the exchange rate, but more about trying to book on Agoda while in NZ, and my Thailand-issued card 'says no can do'. - I'd be screwed; no cash, and my embassy won't help me.

When I go to Thailand I prebook most of my accommodation. Actually you did remind me that when I have booked in Thailand sometimes  the Australian bank wants to check I am me, by sending me a text, and I didn't have my Australian phone. Agoda wont mind but you might have to check with your Thai bank about whether they'll ask for extra security even if you let them know you are travelling. Sometimes though what they tell you and what happens may be two different things. 

2 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Well, I'm planning to use my card mostly just for hotel bookings (Agoda, etc.), anyway, perhaps to book trips, too. Still pondering whether I should take half or only a third in cash. Strange thing is, that some hotels, even if you book with card, still want cash on arrival. - Pre-Covid, I used to do all my bookings well before travelling, but that's not an option anymore.

Agoda and other big sites you can of course just pay in Thai Baht as though you were in Thailand. Exchange rate should be OK. No fees. 

If your card has a fee for overseas purchases and use of overseas ATM'S then cash might be better. In Australia there are cards that have no points but offer a good no fee service. If Thailand has the same that would be good.

If wanting NZ dollar to be bought with Thai Baht the best exchange rate might be at a money exchange in Thailand. In Australia the main money change companies have bad rates. NZ may be the same.

2 hours ago, Tippaporn said:

Will the government provide safe rooms on the battlefield, too?

You are linking being gay with some sort of modern affectation. I suppose there is a line between accepting people for who they are while not indulging individual preferences at the expense of running of the army as a whole. I think you can say 'Jack is gay. It's what he is. He's fighting for America and risking his life the same as you. Now get on with it'. Something like that.  

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That's not the issue. Used to be the military had a large pool of rough men to use as cannon fodder, but now society has degenerated IMO to the point that the average youth just couldn't cut it in the military.

Not a problem when only a small number of men are required for an all volunteer highly mechanised military, but will be a problem if things get so bad conscription is imposed, IMO.

 

BTW, when I was in the military I never ever felt that the government had my back. They certainly didn't give a <deleted> when I left as there were too many little tyrants to tolerate, despite having spent many thousands of $ to train me.

Treated us like <deleted> while in and not interested when we left.

In a sense you are making my case. It's not about mollycoddling you on the one hand, or ignoring you on the other, but just accepting and defending the basics of who you are and, in your case, looking to make you a better and stronger man and soldier. 

If you can get the Derek and Clive stuff they did it's pretty funny. 

10 hours ago, TropicalGuy said:

Border closure protects & does not limit those already inside those borders. Japan had no internal travel restrictions. Australia had National border shutdown  ( very good); then State border shutdown ( less good); then City border shutdown (nasty) ; then Local & Suburb shutdown ( nightmare) . 
But Aus did “ better” than Japan by keeping a few more very old alive a few years longer? At that tyrannical high cost.No they did not “do better” awful worst measures for democratic nation…….

I lived in the most locked down city in the world being Melbourne. Had it not been for a few bad eggs and a stuff up with hotel quarantine the lockdowns would have been much less. The state government is still popular in the polls so no problem with democracy. It was a different feeling pre vaccines and during their roll out. People wanted action. There was so much government support which meant many were the same or better off though some business did suffer badly. I will agree there was some cruel stupid measures keeping families and loved ones apart internationally and interstate. 

5 minutes ago, seedy said:

So ... guilty without a Trial ?

The "Club" does nothing illegal, the members of that club may well commit crimes.

This can be proven, and sentences handed down, with a trial - but judge or judge and jury.

You have heard the term "Innocent before proven Guilty have you ?"

You actually trust the "Gov't" when they enact such legislation ?

It is said that the people get the Gov't they deserve - and if people in WA agree with this then so be it.

Idiots.

My 2 cents is that given Australia has a strong, if not imperfect democracy, if enough feel the same as you the laws can be changed.

With these groups there's a line between a point of view e.g. anti immigration, and straight out racism and intimidation of certain groups, and then say fund raising for what the Australian government considers nefarious activities. The line may be difficult but I think there is a line. 

19 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

would love to know the definition of that... one other frequent poster defined it as offering her the fantastic opportunity to pick fruit... and he was surprised that she was disappointed in him and chose to dump him and work at Makro... 

 

the somewhat implies that even you don't think you are giving her a good life... 

The reason I said a somewhat good life is that we have been separated due to covid. Besides getting some pocket money making some Baisee for the local temple she hasn't worked for close to two years. She used to work at a bank. The Baisee are the things below e.g. blue on left and small ones on right. She also does some flower arrangements.