Red Phoenix

I only have 2 personal Thai bank-accounts, both with Kasikorn Bank. The regular Savings Account with a debit-card for daily transactions, and the Fixed Deposit Account where I keep my +800.000,- Thb to meet the financial requirement for the annual 1-year extension of stay based on my Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement. >> But I want to open a Thai bank-account with another major Thai Bank, in case of any problems with the Kasikorn accounts. Unfortunately the closest BangkokBank, Siam Commercial Bank and KrungSri Bank branches are +40 km from where I live, otherwise I would have already opened an account there. Any suggestions or caveats to opening an account with other Thai banks, there is a KrungThai branche and a GSB (Governments Savings Bank) relatively close to where I live.

~ One of the scientists that has been exploring this field for decades is biologist Rupert Sheldrake. You might be interested in checking out Chapter 4 - Is Matter Unconscious? of his 2012 book 'The Science Delusion' (updated in 2020) > see attached PDF. Here the intro paragraph of that chapter: The central doctrine of materialism is that matter is the only reality. Therefore consciousness ought not to exist. Materialism’s biggest problem is that consciousness does exist. You are conscious now. The main opposing theory, dualism, accepts the reality of consciousness, but has no convincing explanation for its interaction with the body and the brain. Dualist-materialist arguments have gone on for centuries. In this chapter I suggest how we can move forwards from this sterile opposition. But no matter what evidence he provides from the experiments he conducted, 'mainstream science' rejects it as it goes against their dogmatic "scientish" belief systems... The Science Delusion ( PDFDrive ).pdf

~ Yes, and GM to you too!

~ A Friendly Warning from the Red Phoenix: Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery on the Day of the Lord Or Fire and Brimstone will be Your Destiny...

It also depends whether the Imm Office of the province where you are residing. does provide the option of a 1-year extension of stay for reason of a Thai dependant child. So best to enquire at your local Imm Offices whether they provide that option. Also and in contrast with a 1-year extension of stay for reason of Marriage to a Thai national, the 400.000 THB only need to be on your personal Thai bank-account at moment of application, with no seasoning requirement. An option therefore is to lend the required amount for a short time, and you could even enquire at your local Imm Office whether it needs to be on your personal Thai bank-account during the under consideration period or whether it is just at moment of application.

They appear as images (or should I say graphical Gestalts) at my end, but they might camouflage as 'conscious texts' on Sunmaster's PC.

~Naaah, It's a Tippasaurus - the even more verbose version of the dreaded Thesaurus... = = = No offence meant Tippa, just poking some harmless fun (but with an underlying message)...

Thesaurus Rex...

A recent peer-reviewed study of public covid data in six northern European countries (prof Norman FENTON being on of the several authors) has discovered that the pre-existing seasonal nature of coronaviruses had more impact on reported covid ‘case’ and ‘death’ numbers than any of the government public health interventions – including vaccinations, lockdowns, masks and travel restrictions. The scientific study was published in the peer-reviewed, Journal of Clinical Medicine. > https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/2/334#B104-jcm-13-00334

You can buy Skype phone-credit, which allows you to make cheap calls to non-Skype users. Or as KannikaP suggested, install WhatsApp for free on your mobile, which allows you to call, message and video-chat any other WhatsApp users worldwide for free (your current phone-number will be your WhatsApp number).

Be aware that when you fly to Thailand VisaExempt (without a Visa), that the airline might refuse you boarding unless you can show evidence of an onward flight reservation from Thailand to an international destination on a date PRIOR to the 30-days Permission to stay you will be stamped in by Thai border-immigration on arrival. The easiest way to meet that requirement for such onward flight reservation, is to book a fully legit reservation from a service provider like onwardticket.com . It costs only 16 US $ and is normally delivered within minutes in your e-mail box on payment by credit-card. It is a genuine flight-reservation but the service-provider will automatically cancel it 48 to 72 hours after issuance, so it's a matter of making that onward-flight booking the evening before or morning of your flight departure date from Brussels. = = = As drJack54 mentioned in his earlier response. If you plan to stay less than 60 days in Thailand, you also have the very easy option to apply for a 30-day extension of stay of your VisaExempt Permission to stay at any Thai provincial Immigration Office. Those 30 days are added to the expiry date of your original Permission to Stay, so there is no need to wait till last days to do it, and at most Imm Offices you can do it from 14 days before your Permission to stay expires. = = = If you did plan to make a trip to Laos before your Permission to stay expires, there is no need to apply for such 30-day extension in Thailand. On your return from Laos and re-entering Thailand Visa Exempt, you will be once again provided with a 30-day Permission, this time by Thai landborder Immigration. = = = Enjy your stay in LoS!

> Game - Seth - Match

~ When you entered Thailand with a stil valid 1-year Multiple Entry Non Imm O Visa, you will be stamped in by border-immigration with a Permission to stay for 90 days. It would be difficult to 'loose track' on that one, as the expiry date of that Permission to stay is stamped in your Passport. And at the end of the 90 days you have 2 options: - Apply in the final days of that 90-day Permission to stay at your local Imm Office for a 60-day extension of stay for visiting your wife (requirements are addressed in previous posts in this thread); - Exit Thailand latest on last day of that Permission to stay, and either returning when the 1-year ME Non Imm O Visa has not expired and is still valid, which will provide you once again with a 90-days Permission to stay; - Apply for a NEW 1-year MultipleEntry Non Imm O Visa, when he old one has expired (the Thai consulate in Savannakhet being one of the easiest ways to get hold of such NEW Visa - note that they now require proof of +400.000,- THB on a personal Thai bank-account as part of the application requirements. Failing to do so, they will only provide you with a 90-day Single Entry Non Imm O Visa.

~ Your post reminded me of this saying by Lao Tze - "the way that can be spoken is not the true way" That quote can be explained in many ways, but instead of trying to put its meaning in my owns word (or rather how I interpret it), I consulted the Brainly website, and the answer that came up addressed it in a far more eloquent way than what I would have written. > The meaning of this phrase is that the true nature of things cannot be fully captured or explained through words or language. It suggests that there is a deeper, more profound reality that lies beyond our ability to understand or express it through language. It highlights the limitations of human understanding and language and encourages us to seek a deeper understanding of the world beyond what we can see or hear. This phrase is also interpreted as a reminder that language and concepts can only point to the true reality, they cannot capture it. It is a reminder that words and concepts are limited and that the world is full of mystery, and that it's important to avoid becoming too attached to ideas, concepts or words as they can limit one's understanding of the true reality. It suggests that true understanding comes from intuition and direct experience rather than through language or concepts. = = = Why this quote? Because all religions / teachings are by definition an imperfect way of trying to convey in words/writing what cannot be expressed in language. And so when choosing which Path (if any) to follow on your individual journey towards Truth, it is only natural that you will be attracted to that religion / teaching which is most aligned with you current level of consciousness. For Tippa that's Seth, for Sunmaster it are the Hindu yogi's, sages and masters. For me it's Gurdjieff and the Sufi sages. Let me be clear > Imo there is no wrong or right Path, but it is the path that helps you on your journey which is the right one for you. And the closer you get to the Truth (or actual Reality as Tippa would say), the more you will recognize and appreciate the unspoken same undercurrent in all of these spiritual approaches. Which finally brings me to the point that I wanted to make, that there is indeed - as Seth channeled - a tendency in Western seekers to search for truth 'far from home'. With 'home' meaning their own cultural background. Every religion / teaching did emerge within a specific setting, i.e. the cultural traditions of the people they wanted to reach at that time using text/language fit and adapted for that specific setting in order to convey a glimpse of the Truth that cannot be expressed in words. It is useful to remember that there is a rich Western esoteric tradition that is actually more fit to our cultural background than the 'exotic' Eastern religions and teachings that were established for people from a different age, time and tradition. And this is no critique of Seekers that have chosen a non-Western teaching that coincides with their current spiritual needs, as I wrote higher: you have to be opportunistic on your journey and opt for that which helps you further. A touch of humor always helps, so here one of my favorite cartoons...

??? I - and with me most people - can think of several other factors contributing to the outbreak of the civil war. Slavery was surely a main factor, but attributing the outbreak 100% to slavery is obviously an incorrect Black-or-White (no pun intended) point-of-view. So yes I claim that that there are also other factors that contributed to the outbreak of the conflict. Would that make me in your twisted world-view a 'card carrying racist'? FYI > I asked ChatGPT and it came up with 6 intertwined factors: > The American Civil War, which took place from 1861 to 1865, was primarily caused by several key factors: 1. Slavery: The deep-rooted controversy over the institution of slavery in the United States was a major catalyst for the war. The stark differences between the Northern and Southern states on the issue of slavery, including the moral, economic, and political implications, played a significant role in the conflict. 2. State's Rights vs. Federal Authority: The struggle between state sovereignty and federal authority was another crucial factor leading to the war. Southern states believed in the concept of states' rights, arguing that they had the right to determine their own laws and policies, including those regarding slavery. On the other hand, the federal government aimed to maintain its authority and uphold the United States Constitution. 3. Sectionalism: Over time, economic, cultural, and social differences between the Northern and Southern states intensified, leading to heightened sectionalism. The North was primarily industrialized, while the South relied heavily on agriculture, particularly cotton plantations dependent on slave labor. These sectional differences further exacerbated tensions between the regions. 4. Political Factors: The political landscape during this period also contributed to the outbreak of war. The election of Abraham Lincoln as the President of the United States in 1860, representing the anti-slavery Republican Party, triggered deep concerns among Southerners, leading to their subsequent secession from the Union. 5. Economic Disparities: Economic factors, such as trade policies, tariffs, and control over resources, also played a role. The South, heavily reliant on cotton exports, feared that their economic interests would be undermined by the North's industrial dominance and perceived protectionist policies. It is essential to note that these factors intersected and intertwined, creating complex dynamics that eventually led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

~ Some (not all) Immigration Offices do accept joint bank-accounts, but when using such joint account for the 1-year extension of stay application, then the amount on the joint bank-account needs to be doubled (i.e. +1.600.000,- THB instead of 800.000,- THB for a retirement extension). So if the Imm Office would accept 'double' of the temporary dip on the Joint bank-account that would solve the problem. Hence it might be worth for the OP when visiting his local Imm Office to discuss the problem of having accidentally dipped under the required amount and possible solutions to address it, that he brings the Pass-books of all his Thai bank-accounts, and also that joint-account one.

Thanks for the caveat - if indeed she can only apply for the dependant status from a Non Imm O Visa status, that would mean both the husband and the wife would have to apply for a new Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, meaning that both would have to meet the financial requirement for such application (i.e. 800K on a personal Thai bank-account with foreign origins proven at moment of application). Fingers crossed that the OP has a sensible Imm Office, willing to provide workable solutions to deal with that couple-of-hours glitch or that he can make use of an Agent to fix the situation.

In case the local Immigration Office is adamant about the 800K on your husband's personal bank-account and unwilling to consider any alternatives, and you do not find an agent that could fix the issue with Immigration, that's still not the end of the world. In that case it would just be a matter that both of you do a quick border-run in course of this month prior to the expiry of both your Permissions to stay, and return VisaExempt providing both of you with a 30-day Permission to stay. And then when having at least 15 days left on that Permission to stay, apply for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement for your husband and a dependant 90-day Visa for you on your husband's one. There is no seasoning requirement for the funds, when applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa. And at the end of those 90 days you can then apply for 1-year extensions and you would be in same situation as before this unfortunate short dip on the 800K funds. The only difference being that your next 1-year extension of stay dates would be approx 3-4 months after your current ones. Note 1: Do discuss the above solution with your local Immigration Office if they are unwilling to provide or accept an easier solution. Note 2: In case you currently have Re-Entry Permits for your Permissions to stay, you would have to wait till last day of your Permission to stay to do the border-run as otherwise border-immigration will 'honor' your Re-Entry Permit and you would be in same situation as you currently are. Re-entering Thailand when your Permission to stay has expired or you only have a couple of days left, will often lead to border-immigration asking you whether you want it 'honored' or whether you want to get a NEW 30-day VisaExempt Permission to stay. Note 3: To avoid a repeat of accidentally dipping under the 800K tresshold, you could before applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa, open a Fixed Deposit account at your bank and transfer the +800.000 THB to that account.

~ It's indeed good advice to 'get a life' and not wasting your time getting into arguments with anonymous woke idiots on the Internet. And it's true that ignoring them does work with these foot-soldiers/parrots of the Woke movement. But it becomes a different matter when large corporations or government institutions are doing the woke bidding. E.g. the social media giants deciding what information is accepted on their sites based on woke criteria. Or organizations hiring/promoting people in leadership positions not only based on merit/qualifications but also whether the candidate 'ticks the right woke boxes' to meet the organization's social credit score. Or government institutions and mainstream-media pushing the accepted narrative. In those cases you might want to simply ignore the nonsense, but it will affect you whether you want it or not. And that's the main reason the woke mindset pervading society cannot be ignored, but should be actively dismissed.

~ Let's hope that we did reach Peak Wokeness in 2023, and that the nonsense will gradually fade away in 2024. But I am not very optimistic on this matter as the woke mentality has been deeply ingrained and for sure we haven't seen the end of it yet. But voting with your wallet, by not supporting woke organizations and refraining from using their products/services can make a difference as the Bud Light saga shows. And organizations that hire/promote on DIE criteria instead of merit/qualifications will have to learn it the hard way. It will take one or more internal crises and drastic measures/overhauls before they change their ways. Also on country-level, it looks that people have had enough as the election of Argentina's new President Millei shows. I do not agree with all his policies but his blunt anti-woke stance is more than refreshing in the Politically Correct climate.

~ Thanks for your response, Sunmaster. Succinct as always. But may I suggest to read the short article/opinion piece, as it not also makes the case against this 'wokeness' BS, but also mentions some options and opportunities to counter and cancel the so-called woke “mind virus” that’s plaguing the US and - luckily to a lesser degree - also other countries. Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/2024-the-year-to-cancel-wokeness-in-america-5554997

~ Rather > Go woke and go broke.

I came across this great opinion piece written by James Gorrie on "Wokeness" and how to get rid of it. In the article he makes some hard-hitting points, e.g. about the distortion of language, where Wokish words now almost mean the opposite of what they used to. "A big part of the woke movement’s success lies in its Orwellian distortion of language so that commonly understood meanings of words are inverted to mean the opposite. For example, words such as “tolerance” really mean intolerance of competing ideas and values, and “inclusion” found in the common woke phrase “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” or DEI, really means excluding traditional ideas, values, and beliefs." This post is a good opening shot to trigger the discussion about the Woke phenomenon, that you currently see all around you. And fortunately more and more people are waking up to that dystopian world-view and don't want to have anything to do with it. The Bud Light story and the latest Disney movie-bummers being some examples of 'Enough is Enough'... = = = 2024: The Year to Cancel ‘Wokeness’ in America Stop doing business with people who hate you and your traditional values. Source: https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/2024-the-year-to-cancel-wokeness-in-america-5554997 Commentary When it comes to spending their money and supporting their values, many Americans are now wide awake, and most don’t like what they see. “Peak Wokeness,” a term that may or may not be new (it is to me), is now pervasive in our lives and dominates our culture. Undoubtedly, it would like to do the same with our private thoughts and our closely held traditional values and beliefs. It just about does. Wokeness Is Orwellian – and Everywhere The woke crowd in America is loud, proud, and ... Stalinesque. It’s literally forcing communism down our collective throats. Worse, these greatly misguided and extremely intolerant people are seemingly everywhere—from your coffee shop and your bank and your 401k investments to the shows you pay to watch on your smart television. They’re in the boardrooms of corporate America; they run our schools, colleges, and universities that celebrate transgenderism and make indentured servants of their graduates­, and are in Human Resources departments to ensure that no independent thought or idea is expressed in the workplace. A big part of the woke movement’s success lies in its Orwellian distortion of language so that commonly understood meanings of words are inverted to mean the opposite. For example, words such as “tolerance” really mean intolerance of competing ideas and values, and “inclusion” found in the common woke phrase “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” or DEI, really means excluding traditional ideas, values, and beliefs.

Try inserting the HDMi cable in your laptop when both devices are running. That works for me as, as I get a similar No HDMi signal message when I start up the laptop with the HDMi cable already plugged in.

~ A very sensible post/response by @Sunmaster going against the tide from the wave of nonsense disguised as humor currently flooding this thread...