ericbj

Are "risks of accidents, domestic violence, and negative impacts on youth" greater from drinking wine than other alcoholic beverages ? I doubt it. And a decent red wine, drunk in moderation with a meal, has been shown to be beneficial to health. A decent Australian red wine can be purchased for about 500 baht a bottle.

Amongst other things they spoke of how gold may perform in a crisis - as it has performed in previous crises, i.e. down, then up.

You need to research the matter you write about before giving a opinion. I am not going to do your research for you, as your prejudices will likely cause you to reject the findings out of hand. But anyway, here is something to look at: https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4425

Dr. Vinay Prasad, the new FDA vaccine chief is against mRNA. He reports that everyone vaccinated with genetic materials is getting higher troponin levels than normal, with the inference being that all have been injured in their hearts. The first two prospective cohort studies, where blood cardiac troponin level was measured before and after receiving mRNA injections, demonstrated unacceptably high rates of troponin elevation, indicating predictable heart damage. Heart cells do not replicate. Once they are killed, they are lost forever. The more cells that die, the more likely the person is to have clinical Myocarditis to one degree or another.

Not sure if this interview might lend perspective to investing in the current unusual state of the markets:

You obviously never studied the odds of dying from a Covid shot. You are not the only one still alive. But if you are really determined to risk killing yourself, rest assured there are methods that offer better odds. With Russian roulette, for example, you have an approximately one-in-six chance of doing yourself in.

Never put all your eggs in one basket. In "normal times" the recommendation was usually about 5% of asset value in gold. Many in current abnormal times say 30 to 40%. Gold is not just another commodity. It is money. It is one of only two tier-one assets, the other being the US dollar, which is not money, it is a fiat currency. The dollar is falling in value, which explains some part of the rise of the dollar price of gold. The other being gold demand, so far mostly from central banks and financial institutions. Gold will slip back a bit from time to time but is on an upward trend. Do not buy 'paper-gold', do not invest in gold ETFs, do not invest in gold exploration companies, buy gold mining shares or royalty or streaming shares for leverage in a gold bull market (works the other way when the gold price falls). Store your bullion, allocated and ideally segregated with a vaulting company in a trusted jurisdiction other than your country of origin or of domicile. All markets are cyclic. So look at the cycles. In theory we should be in a commodities bull market, but it is being hit by economic turmoil. Gold can survive a recession, where most commodities will fail. Remember gold bullion pays no dividends; it costs to store and insure it. Look upon it as a form of insurance, rather than profits (although the current circumstances are exceptional).

Annual increments are linked to the estimated average annual increase in salaries, i.e. are less than the U.K.'s official annual c.p.i. inflation rate. They are not payable when residing outside the U.K. and certain countries with which the U.K. government has reciprocal social security agreements (notably the E.U., the U.S. and Turkey; and, in S.E. Asia, the Philippines). Disadvantages for the U.K. Exchequer of its retired nationals living abroad: Their FX sales of GBP for a foreign currency tend to devalue the British currency in the same manner that foreign imports do. Those with larger pensions or savings and making larger overseas investments, whether in real estate or other, will obviously have a greater impact. Those of my generation will recall that we once had foreign exchange controls where no more than £50 could be taken out of the sterling area. With the global economy in increasing turmoil and governments under pressure, such things might reappear. Let's hope not! Advantages for the U.K. Exchequer of its retired nationals living abroad: The government incurs no health-care costs, which tend to increase disproportionately once people have passed retirement age. Moreover, health costs are not incurred during a temporary return to the U.K. of a British citizen no longer considered a U.K. resident. (This advantage would be less in the case of those whose means would have enabled them to forego N.H.S. services) Savings on certain other costs may also need to be considered. The number of DWP pensioners living abroad in countries where the annual increment is not payable: 453,000 www.dailyrecord.co.uk www.retirementline.co.uk One question the government's budget office needs to ask itself is: What additional costs might have to be met if some of those living abroad for years on "frozen" pensions are eventually forced by inflation to return permanently to Britain in order to meet their basic living expenses. Perhaps a scheme is being put in place to accommodate their homecoming? Some hope! In view of the largesse expended on illegal immigrants, many of whom are clearly not refugees by any normal definition, plus ramping up plans to engage the Russian Federation on the Ukrainian battlefield, it seems there is surprisingly little shortage of funds available.

Perhaps there are some who disapprove of Covid "vaccines" who try to impede those eagerly rushing for a jab, but I have yet to meet them. On the other hand there seems to have been no shortage of those in positions of influence who sought to make it very difficult to avoid being injected with the Covid spike-protein. They had their reasons, which were not always as declared. They were quite successful at suppressing the evidence of the professionally qualified who did not share their tendentious opinions. Thankfully the gag on scientific evidence is slowly lifting and the general public is gaining access to broader information, sometimes within channels that previously censored it. [E.g. watch Zuckerberg's recent interview regarding government pressure by the previous administration to suppress so-called "anti-vaxxer" information]

Some people are "pushy" FOR vaccination. Nothing wrong with that if choosing for themselves and not others. Independent statistical evidence seems to suggest the Covid vaccines are not very effective at doing what vaccines are supposed to do. But on the other hand they do catastrophic harm to only a very small percentage of the vaccinated. Before you make your choice, you may wish to get an idea of what it can be like to be amongst that very small percentage: https://followthesilenced.com/download-film/

It looks a bit as if you are saying the Japanese imperialists and the German nazis were not ruthless enough. The reason they lost?

Thank you for that link: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2025/05/19/thai-revenue-planning-new-decree-making-remitted-foreign-funds-within-one-year-tax-free-for-residents/ It seems that these TWO rules are henceforth to apply to tax-residents of Thailand, irrespective of nationality: 1. Income that is foreign-earned before 2024, but remitted to Thailand during or after 2024, is non-imposable; and 2. Income that is foreign-earned and is remitted to Thailand during the year it is earned or the following year is non-imposable. IMPOSABLE FOREIGN-EARNED INCOME is therefore that which is earned after 2023 and is remitted to Thailand in the second or later year after it was earned.

Eye-witnesses have gone public in producing evidence. Without that there would be no news (i.e.public knowledge) of these accusations, or of anything else for that matter. And no incentive for officialdom to take interest; but rather to sweep the matter under the carpet. There should now be an official investigation. Followed, if the evidence warrants it, by prosecutions. If the accepted behaviour of British forces is to be determined by the behaviour of their opponents, this brings into question the reason they are there in the first place. Perhaps nothing to do with human rights? But perhaps the economic interests of vested interests?

More or less all substances with medicinal properties have side effects if taken either in excessive doses or on a permanent basis. E.g. aspirin, paracetamol, etc. In the malaria-infested jungles of New Guinea one was given chloroquin ("Nivaquin") to be taken once a week, indefinitely. One knew there were side-effects; although not in those days, as is now known, that it can cause blindness. After a while I desisted from taking it regularly and instead took an overdose when infrequently laid low with a bout of malaria. Treating Covid19 with it should be an occasional thing. In fact when infected with Covid I knocked it on the head in three days with very dilute chlorine dioxide solution. Maybe the vile taste drove it out of me. 🙂 As to ivermectin, the dose prescribed by the officialdom-denigrated FLCCC, is 1.5 mg per fortnight. Tricky to take when one is supplied with 6 mg tablets. Covid requires very much less than what has been used to save huge numbers of people from river blindness. Table salt can kill if taken in excess. And there are plenty of similar examples.

Gold for security. Silver for speculation. Stocks for investment when the overall market is going up (not wobbling), and also when the market is crashing if you know how and where to place your money. And take a small punt on bitcoin if you wish; and each time the price doubles, sell half. Other cryptos very risky. And do not forget to hold some cash. About ten years ago I put, by value, 50% into gold and 50% into silver, but then sold out of silver because of high storage and insurance costs. The prices of both p.m.s were going more or less sideways for several years from the time I bought in. (A bad moment to invest) Am currently paying almost the same fees for storage of a small value of silver as for twelve times that value of gold. Silver is a tight market, so potentially can soar very high as it has done in the past; usually after a steep rise in gold prices. It is much in demand by high-tech industries and comes mostly as a by-product from the mining of other metals. The industrial DEMAND could fall in the event of recession, yet SUPPLY from copper, zinc and lead mines could fall during a recession. Large and unknown quantities of silver are held by poorer Indian families. In the past when confronted by hard times and a high silver price they dumped much silver on the market, making considerable gains for themselves, but pulling the price down considerably. Normally, the value of investments in "pure-play" p.m. mining companies rise far faster than the rise in the value of the metal itself, since overheads do not rise as fast as the price increase of the metal. This time has been an exception, possibly because most of the buying has been done by central banks which buy metal but not mining shares. When western investors catch gold-fever, this situation may change. But be aware that when gold prices are on a downward trend, mining shares fall much further. When purchasing bullion it is advisable to store only a small amount at home. Do not make the mistake that some Thais made in the past. They had it stored with the bullion dealer they bought it from. Some bullion dealers went bankrupt during the Asian economic crisis of 1997, and all the gold was taken by their creditors as it was not "allocated" in the name of the purchaser. Reliable bullion dealers arrange allocated and commonly also "segregated" storage with a specialist bullion vaulting company that has regular independent audits of their holdings. It is also recommended to hold any substantial amount of bullion outside your country of origin or of domicile. Governments turn maverick in difficult times.

I follow the science and therefore have not and shall not take these so-called experimental "vaccines" and their spike-proteins (self-replicating in the case of the mRNA varieties). The last vaccine I took was for tetanus a good few years ago after being stabbed in the face by the antlers of a semi-wild deer in a German forest. Yes, Covid19 is very unpleasant, but short lived (in my experience) if you know how to deal simply and effectively with viruses. The means are legion. So why does the majority remain uninformed? The problems with not taking the vaccine are the restrictions placed upon one by the autocrats. Moreover, the latter gloss over the dangers of spike-protein shedding.

Might be of interest to some: Whole-body vibration for functional constipation: a single-centre, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22966839/

Linseed (and I believe chia seed also) can facilitate bowel transit by producing with water a mucilaginous substance. But because they absorb a substantial amount of liquid in doing this, it is best to soak them in water overnight before adding to breakfast cereal or whatever. They have the additional advantage of being highly nutritious. The liver, concerning which medical research has so far discovered about four hundred different functions, is heavily involved in digestion. So weak digestion MAY be caused by a weak liver. One of its important tasks is to produce bile to digest fats and oils, the bile being stored in the gall-bladder and released when required. (A weak liver is often also associated with a poor circulation of blood, notably in the extremities. And as if that were not enough - according to a godfather of mine many years ago - a distended colon risks choking veins coming from the left leg, potentially leading to left-leg thrombosis). A simple and sometimes effective method of detoxing the liver and gall-bladder is to wear a castor oil compress over the liver for several nights in succession. Fresh papaya and pineapple contain digestive enzymes that help digest proteins. Proteolytic enzymes can also be purchased as a supplement, if you have a deep pocket. In the New Guinea bush in the '60s I was familiar with the fact that tough meat could be tenderized by wrapping it awhile in pawpaw [papaya].

Some useful suggestions given above, the following may duplicate or complement: Exercise (those aging or in sedentary occupations often don't get enough). Walking, cycling, swimming. Standing on a "vibrating plate" can also help, especially in the rainy season. Salty soup seems to help hydration of the colon. Lack of hydration of the colon can be caused by excessive tea or coffee consumption due to diuretic effect, as well as lack of fluid intake. Natural fruits and vegetables for soluble fibre. Also in oats. While insoluble fibre in some whole grains can help, it can damage the intestinal lining which is one cell thick. Avoid industrialised, highly processed foods, which contain chemicals to inhibit bacteria and fungi: damage the gut microbiome. Restore gut microbiome preferably with live (not pasteurised) fermented foods. Failing that, with high-count, very expensive probiotics. Not the stuff peddled in pharmacies. Avoid milk from North European breeds, the norm for dairy cattle, as it contains indigestible casein type A1. All other milk and milk products alright, including from Guernseys (but not Jerseys), nanny-goats, ewes, mares, buffaloes, humans, etc. Hard cows' cheeses seem particularly constipating. 'Fitné' herbal tea sachets from Thai supermarkets. Indian curries. For occasional use, take 'Colosan', a mixture of magnesium oxides (non-assimilable, so useless for Mg deficiency). Gave some to a Burmese doctor friend and it cured him of inguinal hernia in several days. Cure anxiety. Use a traditional Thai squat loo, not the western type promoted by Thomas Crapper & Son. Abdominal muscles help to expel turds [faeces].

His problem seems to be the replacement of method with impulsive madness. Maybe someone could send him a copy of 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu? "To win without fighting is the greatest victory." "When you are strong, appear weak." "The greatest battle is that which does not need to be fought." I.e. don't deliberately provoke everyone, including your allies. Show humility. Seek common ground. Prior to last year's election, a Kremlin spokesman [Peskov?] was asked what the Russian government thought of Trump. The reply was something like "We are sympathetic to many of his pronouncements. But Trump is a wild card." Colonel MacGregor who was a military advisor to Trump during his first term, is now critical of him - and of previous administrations going back at least as far as the Cold War - for "lack of strategic thinking". Which includes undertaking wars with no clear political aim beyond "crushing the enemy". Henry Kissinger, in his time, expressed similar opinions, criticizing the demonization of Putin in lieu of strategic thinking. He was doubtlessly well aware of the work of Halford Mackinder, and the need to maintain U.S. dominance, thanks to maritime power, by not pushing Russia and China together.

No simple answer to that question, especially in present very volatile conditions. But certain sectors of the market tend to do well for a while while others do badly. Then that sector goes down and another comes up. So you have to be on your toes. However, Trump, with his desire to make the U.S. self-sufficient in vital raw materials hitherto imported (mainly from China - think rare earths, antimony, etc.) while itself possessing them under its soil, is causing a succession of U.S. companies' shares to suddenly shoot up in value. The problem is to know - in advance of the knowledge becoming public - which companies will benefit. If you want to make wapping gains in short order. If you have a deeper pocket than mine, Jim Rickards has an investment advisory subscription where he uses AI to trace sudden surges in a company's shares due to insider trading. Insiders have knowledge of forthcoming deals before they become public. The service is called "Rickards' Insider Intel". Not to be confused with his "Strategic Intelligence". Much cheaper, but good value. Otherwise, for longer term gains, see what sectors are likely to benefit. E.g. Trump will likely oblige Europe to buy more U.S. natural gas. If so, it will be a boon for gas-tanker shipping companies. If interested, Bonner Private Research's paying version of its free newsletter can suggest which ones to buy.

Mike Maloney's video tends to confirm the increasing importance of gold and the likelihood of a radical change in the payment system for international trade: Very clear explanation of a complex situation. He mentions the as-yet non-existant Mar-a-Largo Accord.

Thanks for the feedback. I can see that you have knowledge of that market, something that I lack. I believe one needs to have at least some degree of knowledge of a sector one is investing in, especially in difficult times. My impression is that quite a few AI companies are not doing too well at present, so one would need to know to avoid them. If I were going to invest in that area it might have to do with energy for the new data-centres. Personally am more into stuff I can understand fairly easily, like metals and minerals, and energy. Commodities as a whole have had a pretty rotten time in recent years, but probably have quite a future. But WHEN depends upon when manufacturing surges again. So am heavily (relative to my resources!) into gold which is real money (a "tier-one asset", the only one apart from the now-dodgy U.S. Treasuries). And also silver, much more volatile and unpredictable, but underpriced in view of its high industrial demand and limited availability. Moreover, unlike gold, it gets used up, as not economically recyclable. Hold some bullion and some stocks, mainly royalty companies like Franco-Nevada and Wheaton. Copper very good potential, but economic lift-off needed to realise it.

I agree that most "experts" are salesmen either for an investment letter of dubious quality, or to push up demand for stocks they are invested in or paid to promote; or both. I tend to go for contrarian opinions, because those people are going against the grain and have likely done some homework. And because what is currently unpopular because of some temporary setback (nothing fundamentally serious - could be something cyclical) stands a better chance of rising in value later. Take uranium for instance. Fortunes made. Then boom! Nobody wants it. Green politics against it. Now they are needing it more and more and saying it is ecological because no CO2 emissions (at least not from 'burning' it). Here are a few names to look out for, if interested: Doug Casey of International Man Bill Bonner Jim Rickards Happy hunting !

Stock and bond markets, foreign exchange rates, and inflation are a particular concern to those of us living on a "nest-egg", whether pension and/or other sources of income. The financial media are mentioning an as-yet hypothetical development they refer to as 'The Mar-a-Largo Accord'. A term coined by Dr Stephen Miran, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors to the President, in "A User's Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System". Bloomberg Law: "The Mar-a-Largo Chatter is Getting Wall Street's Attention." Forbes: "Why the Mar-a-Largo Accord Would Matter To You." The Financial Times: "What a Mar-a-Largo Accord Could Look Like." What actually comes out of this remains to be seen. What one can say for sure is that Trump & Team are seeking to turn around the growing, decades-long trade deficit and to restructure and drastically reduce an unsustainable debt. How are they hoping to do this? 1. By devaluing the dollar (while persuading major trading partners not to follow suit, which would negate the effect. The tariffs are there as a persuasive threat to gaining acceptance of this). It would make U.S. exports more competitive and foreign imports less so. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is a former hedge-fund manager whose thinking helped George Soros and others generate billions of dollars profit by crashing the GBP and the Japanese yen. Just before his appointment to his present position he said in an interview with Ted Seides "We're in the midst of a Bretton Woods realignment …I'd like to be part of it, either on the inside or the out." And "The tariff gun will always be loaded and on the table but rarely discharged." 2. Restructuring of the U.S. government's debt, to free up capital. For brevity's sake, let it pass. 3. Monetisation of U.S. government assets. Bessent recently said, in Trump's presence: "Within the next 12 months, we're going to monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet." What are these assets? a) Gold reserves. It is believed that a revaluation of U.S. reserves, something that has been done four times in the past, will greatly increase gold bullion's retail price. Share prices of gold mining, royalty, and streaming companies could be leveraged four-fold. (Exploration companies are a risky bet that can pay off big, but rarely do so) b) Land, and the mineral and other resources it holds. The Federal government owns vast tracts of mineral-rich land, located mostly in the western parts of the country. Executive Order 14196 has created a Sovereign Wealth Fund, in anticipation of having national wealth to invest and manage. Sovereign wealth funds already exist in a number of countries, such as the Irish Republic, to manage and grow the tax revenues from the many transnational companies headquartered there, and Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, mainly to invest oil revenues. Retirees may draw their own conclusions from the foregoing as to any moves they may need to make. Or make their own enquiries. The Internet is a useful resource.