ericbj

What about lacking cement? Could be low cement-to-water ratio, maybe from adding too much water to reduce vibration needed? I recall having read somewhere a mention of non-adherance of concrete to reinforcing bars. Potential causes?

"He stresses the significance of correct reinforcement patterns, advocating for rebar stirrups at strategic points like the base and top of columns on every level." Perhaps something is lost in translation from the Thai, but "stirrups at strategic points" makes it sound as if they do not space them very closely ! [Stirrup translates as étrier in French which is what goes across a pillar (or beam) to link two main rebars where the pillar's large section requires additional main rebars between those near the four corners. The corner main rebars are linked to one another by a cadre, or frame] My understanding (I am not a structural engineer, so perhaps someone who is can comment on this) is that good seismic resistance calls for linking the reinforcing bars of supporting pillars with those of the beams they support. So they become just a single structural item. This is obviously labour-intensive and means the reinforced concrete must be cast in situ. Of course the design of the Audit Department building did not make use of beams but instead counted upon its self-supporting floors to lock the pillars in place.

UNKNOWN EFFECTS OF TRUMP TARIFFS Dependent upon currently quoted tariff rates, and on the extent they remain as they are, we are likely to see changes in global trading patterns with the USA, influenced by the different rates imposed on different countries. Many U.S. companies moved their factories from China to Vietnam or Cambodia to avoid tariffs on Chinese goods (and at the same time employ a cheaper workforce than present-day Chinese labour). Now they may need to move again. The question is: whither? To the U.S.? Would they be able to produce in the U.S. at a cost of less than the c.i.f. price from South-East Asia plus import duty? Very uncertain. Remember the cost of building and equipping a factory in the U.S. needs to be included in the calculations. (Let's ignore that a major recession would result in vacant industrial premises etc. But also most likely diminished market demand for the product to be produced) This is where consideration of lower tariffs imposed on other ASEAN countries, and local taxes, and availability of any technical skills needed by the work-force, come into consideration. Lower tariffs rates are: Singapore 10% Philippines 17% Malaysia 24% Thailand 36% Trump is bringing about a regionalisation of world trade. The U.S. will no longer be the global hegemon but will still be a major player on the world scene. Trump's modus operandi is bizarre in the extreme, does not conform with the norms we have known in recent times, and is likely producing results that he himself never foresaw. The result is chaos. But a consequence of this may be to break the mould of thought that developed our world to what it has become, only to stagnate and leave us with defunct and often corrupt institutions, that could only fail. Failure of the old is a necessity to make way for the new. The seeds of failure were sown at Bretton Woods, but began to sprout with Nixon's "temporary" removal of gold-backing to the dollar. And the dollar has been taking the U.S.A. down ever since. Trump is accelerating the decline of the outworn. Hard times ahead. But new horizons can usher in better prospects for the generations to come. So long as we do not descend to firing off nuclear weapons. An ever present threat when playing at brinkmanship.

An interesting article on the Greek Debt Crisis : https://econreview.studentorg.berkeley.edu/a-tale-of-two-countries-a-history-of-the-greek-debt-crisis/ But do not see much mention of the forced privatisation of Greek national assets.

I am wondering to what extent these U.S. import tariffs will impact U.S. exports of imported goods. Let me explain. I recently purchased a very nice Trek bicycle delivered from the U.S. but manufactured in Cambodia. Would the 47% tariff be applied to such a purchase when delivered to the U.S. prior to export from there? Or would the goods be held in bonded warehouse until exported? Or the tax reimbursed to the importer upon export? One can understand Trump's desire to relocate manufacturing and jobs to the United States. But his analysis is erroneous of why they were dis-located from the U.S. in the first place. It was in the interests of major financial interests, abetted by the U.S. government. And initially welcomed by many U.S. consumers who saw a reduction of prices without realising the ultimate price to be paid by the working man and woman. There was an interesting interview by CBC News of Joseph Stiglitz on this question about a fortnight ago. Can be found on YouTube. Exporting countries will cease selling to U.S. markets if they cannot make a profit. Which is perhaps the unstated intention. Either tariffs will be paid by the consumer, or they will have to buy from American manufacturers, assuming their factories are capable of producing the goods, likely at higher cost. Another economist, whose name escapes me for the moment, said (in an interview also published recently on YouTube) that many countries, notably developing nations, borrow dollars from US sources to finance their development. These loans must be repaid in US dollars, both capital repayments and interest. To have these dollars there must be an imbalance of trade with the U.S.in favour of the borrowing country. Otherwise they will likely have to default on their loans. If they cannot repay their loans, what action will the U.S. government take? Write off the debts? Or seize the country's assets? (Look at what the E.U. and its French, German and Finnish banksters did to Greece) Many of Trump's long-term goals may be valid, but his approach seems to be that of a "bull in a china shop"; creating resistance at every step. We are entering uncharted waters.

Many thanks for that info. Shall endeavour to act on it. Did take the bankbook to the bank and we spoke with both a cashier and the bank branch manager. Latter is a friend of my Thai friend, both born and educated in Thailand of Burmese (Karen) parents. Unfortunately my friend is frequently very occupied with work and other activities, and also sometimes away, so can only call upon her from time to time.

Early March I visited the local Tax Office to request a TIN. Some difficulty communicating as no one spoke more than a few words of English; although this was resolved to some extent by their translation software. However I was told that as I had neither employment in Thailand nor a business here I do not need to pay income tax. And therefore do not require a TIN. I replied that as a retired person on a long-stay visa who remits cash from abroad to my Thai bank account as and when needed, my understanding is that I must declare the total remitted since it is substantially in excess of 60K baht. I showed my bank account passbook to prove the transfers made over the past year. Much time passed without my request for a TIN being granted, before finally being asked to return another day. On Thursday 13 March, I secured the assistance of a Thai friend who is a professional interpreter to accompany me to town on a second visit to the Tax Office. This time it was possible to prevail upon them to issue me with a TIN. They also gave me a Personal Income Tax Form #91 to complete. As this was in Thai it was incomprehensible to me, but I managed to obtain an English language version from the Tax Office web-site. Although not difficult to complete (once one understands what is required after careful study of the downloaded documentation) it took me several days of study and more than one fudged attempt before the Form was successfully filled in. Upon filling in the details -- total remittances less (195K + 60K) baht -- I realised that my taxable income was well within the tax-free band of up to 150K. So decided to claim back 2.6K baht of withholding tax on interest received on term-deposits. For this I would need to submit, together with my Form #91 and its Exemptions Appendix, a Withholding Tax Certificate issued by the Bank. Unfortunately, I was told by the Bank that they do not issue such certificates; that one must complete them oneself by visiting a web-site whose URL they provided: https://www.rd.go.th And this despite the Tax Office's documentation stating "The payer is also required to issue you with a withholding tax certificate similar to this form below: [image of form] "If the payer refused to issue a withholding certificate, the payer is subject to a criminal penalty." I have no idea whom the web-site belongs to, nor what it concerns, as it is in Thai. But it does not appear to belong to my Bank. Today, 31 March, I visited the Tax Office in town, once again accompanied by my Thai friend, with Income Tax Form + Exemptions Appendix + my bank book with the deposit account entries. They refused to accept the papers submitted saying that I am not eligible to pay tax because I am not employed in Thailand and have no business here. And they added that as a foreigner I am not entitled to claim reimbursement of Withholding Tax. Of course I have nothing in writing to prove that the forms were submitted but rejected. Nor of the grounds for rejection. Maybe I should try an online submission as there are still a few days left for that. (I have been discouraged from attempting doing it on-line by the difficulty experienced in the past when completing French Revenue Declarations on-line, as opposed to the paper version)

Might be of interest: https://www.verisk.com/blog/earthquakes-in-thailand-is-bangkok-at-risk/ Living for years in a designated moderate seismic zone, the Pyrenean region (where France and Spain are said to approach one another by about 1 cm per year), and involved in re-building a couple of partially collapsed ruins, I gave some attention to local building requirements, plus recommendations for improving seismic resistance of reinforced concrete. The following remarks apply to house-building, but not to skyscrapers: All newly built masonry walls in such a zone are required to have vertical steel-reinforced 'chaînages' [quoins] at all corners and horizontal steel-reinforced 'chaînages' at each floor level. With horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars meeting, but smaller in diameter and much less densely placed than for true pillars and beams. For better earthquake-resistance concrete beams are not simply placed on, or cast on, their supporting pillars. The reinforcing bars of the different elements are fully tied together using angled pieces of bar, where each side of the angle has a length of 40x the bar's diameter. Obviously a lot of extra work is required to increase seismic resistance of a structure. See also: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_p-232_september2024.pdf

I paid into the ponzi scheme for the most part voluntarily, while abroad. The principle was good, but the calculations were faulty. The real villains of the piece, however, have been politicians who play Russian roulette with taxpayers' money and national economies. For instance by reducing interest rates to rock-bottom and devaluing the currency through various forms of 'money-printing'. And they get away with it because the public is deluded by mass-media in the hands the financial elites. Democracy in name but not substance.

Cheerful wee fella you are. Maybe you realise your lifestyle condemns you to an early demise. But looking on the positive side, some have to pay for the long-haulers such as myself.

There is a gross misconception that by increasing credit by lowering interest rates you will increase consumption and therefore boost the economy. Yes, it can work in the short term to bolster the CONSUMPTIVE economy. A mirage. The resultant inflation gives the spin-doctors the satisfaction of claiming a rise in GDP (which is not corrected for inflation) Unless credit is channelled into greatly stimulating the PRODUCTIVE economy, all you do is kick the can down the road and end up with an even worse indebtedness. Live for today and pay tomorrow!

Not too late to buy gold.

What are varicose veins? For those who imagine the only concern is aesthetic: They are veins that are not transporting adequate quantities of blood back to the heart. Because the valves in the two deep veins in each leg are not closing correctly. This in turn can be because the bore of these veins has become enlarged beyond the norm of about 5 mm. This can result in arterial hypotension (low blood pressure). If the heart receives inadequate blood, the consequences can be serious. [According to a medical researcher, Dr Micozzi, writing several years ago, more U.S. citizens die from hypotension than hypertension. The reason he gives is that patients on drugs for hypertension return to their doctor for a renewed prescription and some doctors issue the prescription without checking whether the patient's blood pressure has fallen to normal.] The venous system is designed to leak a certain proportion of its blood plasma to the lymphatic system, which bathes the body's cells, bringing them needed nutrients and carrying away their metabolic waste products. The blood plasma is leaked out through capillaries of a bore too small to accept cellular matter, such as red and white blood cells. When blood tends to stagnate in the veins it can exert excess pressure in the lower legs and feet, causing excess leakage of blood plasma and lymphoedema. Lymphoedema manifests itself as swollen feet and ankles, and if it persists for too long it can give rise to cripplingly painful venous ulcers, which are very difficult to heal and can persist for years. Despite their name, these ulcers weep principally lymph, sometimes mixed with blood. Treating the deep veins, using silicone stents, may be the more effective way to deal with varicose ulcers, if things have deteriorated to this stage. Killing off the superficial veins by sclerotherapy is cheaper than surgical stripping, but requires more visits over a longer period; since it deliberately causes blood clotting, and must therefore by done little by little. Not all the clotted blood can be removed, but as much as possible is sucked out later with a hypodermic syringe.

Also found: https://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/2332-acupuncture-for-macular-degeneration-improves-vision

Have known of this site for some years, but just revisited it and found this: https://healingtheeye.com/PDF/reversing_armd.pdf

Amalgam fillings should be replaced. But only by a dentist experienced in the procedures and precautions. Otherwise can make things worse. Far worse. Have x-rays done AFTER the operation to ensure all traces of amalgam have been removed. Tiny amounts are said to also cause problems. Appearance of amalgam fillings is meaningless. Mercury gasses out and accumulates in the body. The body can to some degree detox itself of heavy metals but this is very slow and varies from person to person. Had mine done by the Grace Dental Clinic in Chiang Mai in 2006, on recommendation of the Pakua Clinic, Tao Garden. Replacement fillings are still with me. I believe non-amalgam fillings are of more than one kind. Check it out. According to recent hair analysis my current mercury level (as per what is being excreted in the hair) is extremely low.

This post caught my attention because of macular degeneration and the potential link to copper deficiency. Macular degeneration began in my case nearly twenty years ago after being poisoned. Of course this could be due to having then attained the age of 60. However aging and poisoning (general weakening of immune system and digestive capacities) are, to my mind, linked. Severe copper (and selenium) deficiencies were revealed by a recent spectroscopic analysis of my hair: which also showed excessive levels of aluminium and arsenic. Despite my, occasionally, taking a copper supplent (and sometimes eating Brazil nuts). A web-search for a link between copper deficiency and heavy metals has not produced much evidence. So far only this, from a research paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1408159/full "Many of these functions … are crucially dependent on copper including mitochondrial respiration, antioxidant defense, iron metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis and vascular function" … "Copper imbalance can act twofold, firstly in excess as a cell stressor that can induce cuproptosis …, and in deficiency in the loss of function of critical cuproenzymes that affect respiration and normal neuronal functioning." … "In this regard the most notable risk factors seem to be related with contamination of food or water sources with plant and algal toxins, and also HEAVY METALS …, all of which either enhance protein aggregation or interact with copper or cuproproteins in a detrimental manner." … "A recent review that included over 258 studies has identified ß-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), formaldehyde, mercury, manganese and zinc as key contributors to ALS [amyotrophic lateral sclerosis] risk in descending order of association …. Other studies indicate herbicides and pesticides that include paraquat, permethrin and glyphosate as being associated risk factors." Note that manganese and zinc are both essential for human health. It is when they are regularly in excess that they depress copper levels. Also perhaps pertinent to copper deficiency https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/copper-deficiency#symptoms "Copper is integral to the body's processing of iron. Iron is necessary for red blood cell production. Thus, this can have widespread effects, such as: Anemia: Low red blood cell counts that do not improve with iron supplementation. Frequent infections: This is due to low white blood cell counts (neutropenia)." In the recent past blood analysis has shown me deficient in both red and white blood cells. But recently I was informed that my red blood cell count is normal. [Although I am sceptical of official "norms", which tend to be adjusted to reflect the most recent population averages, where overall health of western populations is declining]

He is unqualified only on the criteria of the pharmaceutical industry, which are determined by profitability, not effectiveness to heal (nor to prevent harm). In the interests of public health one must hope that the industry's deep pockets will not decide the issue.

Excellent suggestions in your post. But here are several things to avoid in so far as possible (shall not go into details which can be found by web-search): Fluoride: Causes calcification of the pineal gland. Sodium fluoride is added to some municipal water supplies, found in many toothpastes, etc. If you are a habitual tea-drinker you probably get more than enough of the natural calcium fluoride, which, in parts of India where it is in excess, can cause skeletal deformation. Aluminium: A slowly accumulative brain poison Generally harmless in its natural forms, tightly bound to silicon. Found widely in commercial flours and bakery products of all kinds as well as such things as non-dairy creamer. And leaches out of aluminium cooking utensils (I cannot forget the pock-marked surfaces of my mother's aluminium saucepans). An additive in vaccines. Mercury: Another brain poison. Evaporates out of amalgam dental fillings. Concentrates in the largest species of carnivorous fish (tuna, shark, etc.) as an end-result of centuries of coal-burning. Released from broken fluorescent lighting. Another additive in vaccines, although recently banned from children's vaccines.

Ask yourself why this room gets so hot. Yes, I understand there is a lack of ventilation, but that does not of itself cause heating, but rather an inability to dissipate heat that is provided most likely by the sun. If there are outside walls facing east or west they will receive sunshine morning and afternoon if there is nothing to provide shade. If there is an outside wall facing south it will receive sunshine throughout the middle of the day, but to a lesser extent mid-year, depending upon the amount of overhang of the roof. I reduced heating of a south facing wall by hanging reflective aluminium-foil insulation over the lower part (not shaded by roof overhang); and over that put some of the green shade-netting designed to protect plants. Not beautiful, but it works and has lasted quite a few years. Now in need of replacement.

Thank you for letting me know. I was treated by the other hospital I mentioned, and it seems they did a good job of correcting the inadequate flow of blood, up the two deep veins in each leg to the heart; as witnessed by an ultrasound scan done at the Bangkok Hospital. My two existing ulcers healed over immediately after the application of silicone stents to reduced their (in places) diameter from an excessive 10 mm to a normal 5 mm. However my lack of any great knowledge on the subject caused me to question the Hospital's desire to remove the many superficial veins in my legs. My understanding (such as it is) is that blood plasma is deliberately leaked from the veins to the lymphatic system through very fine capillaries, too narrow to admit the entry of particles such as red and white blood cells. When the blood in the veins is not flowing correctly back to the heart, its increased weight at the bottom of the legs can cause excessive leakage of blood-plasma into the lymphatic system thus giving rise to swelling [lymphoedema], leading potentially to extremely painful ulcers. These so-called venous ulcers weep not venous blood but lymph. I had lymphoedema for maybe ten years during the hot dry season in Thailand before the first appearance of ulcers (in mid-summer in the south of France). My thrice-repeated query "Will the continued removal of these veins [some had already been removed] impact upon the supply of blood-plasma to the lymphatic system?" met with these responses: 1. Avoidance, by speaking of an unrelated matter; 2. "We must remove many veins"; and 3. "We must remove all the veins." Since my question remained essentially unanswered, I was disconcerted, and sought advice at the Bangkok Hospital. The vein surgeon I saw there told me all the veins in my feet had already been removed, and that no further removal of veins in the legs was necessary. This enabled me to speak firmly to my doctor at the other hospital that I wished no further removal of veins. For information, the method adopted of removing the superficial veins [which I assume exist for a purpose, just as do the appendix, the tonsils, etc.] was to inject some chemical into them that causes them to gum up and die. This can only be done in stages over a prolonged period because of the formation of blood clots. Blood containing only some of the clots thus generated are subsequently sucked out using a hypodermic syringe. The lymphatic system is a vital part of the anatomy, until recently largely neglected by the medical profession. The lymph carries nutrients to the body's cells and carries away their metabolic waste products. On its way to the liver the lymph passes through a series of lymph nodes that do a partial detoxification, the better to protect the liver which effects the final detox. I suspect that many doctors, once they have acquired their professional qualifications, have neither the time nor the inclination to devote themselves to the findings of the latest medical research. I recall how back in the late '70s I took to task a doctor, a friend of the family, about his profession's lack of interest in therapies other than pharmaceuticals, surgery, and radiation. His reply was that when he studied medicine, pre-war, most of the remedies used were natural ones, but now their information came from the pharmaceutical companies.

As regards a request to the SCB to transfer 50K baht out of the country : It could be sent (1) to a personal named account in another country, or (2) to a company's account in another country if an invoice for the exact amount could be provided. Unfortunately, neither of these conditions could be met as the money was intended for a brokerage-type account for investment. And the intended-recipient company required that the money come from the Thai bank account that was designated to be linked to the investment account they provide. As this intended transfer was not for myself, the money could therefore not be routed through my UK bank account. The only possibility, the SCB said, was to apply to The Bank of Thailand for exemption from the rule.

Found this: https://www.easyayurveda.com/2017/02/03/red-chilli-capsicum-annuum-bell-pepper/

Cayenne pepper and paprika are said to derive from the same plant, capsicum annum, but have very different characteristics, at least as regards taste. The former being much spicier. Which may, or may not, reflect in medicinal properties. Ayurvedic medicine makes much use of spices and prescribes how, and when, in what combinations, and for whom different substances should (and should not) be used. Maybe worth investigating. Before attempting a cure or any chronic condition, attention needs to be given to detoxing the emunctory organs. Otherwise things may be made worse.

As mentioned in my earlier post, the assets were sold in 2024. Are you saying that it is the capital gain since the date of acquisition some years earlier that is regarded as assessable income? Or the capital gain since the 31st December 2023?