MarcusAurelius

Im online too much. I have RSS feeds from about 50+ sites (politics, tech, science) plus half dozen Thai sites and another few random fun sites. I read politics on X as well. I use Grok without logging in also for information and now grokapedia This forum pretty much downhill yoy as fewer discussions about Thailand specifically. I might occasionally ask a question not about Thailand bc this is my only SM account. I have no social media other than this forum as it's just so toxic and boring. No yt, fb, insta, reddit. Once every few weeks TikTok lite to look at girlies. I forget the app is on my phone tbh. If I wasn't married I'd probably have more apps - specifically for shagging birds. Insta, dating apps Already seen enough AI visual slop to last a lifetime. Ooooh pretty pictures.. .🙄 Ooooh six seconds of stupid video 🤮

I've stopped trying to predict the direction of THB on news - even financial news. As for the election... what about any Thai election provides any level of certainty? Not just the last five, but the last ten, twenty five .. we've not had certainty and stability since Taksin and he was ironically coup-ed in 06. I guess Abahsit? Silparcha 90s?? Things get murky and militarized before that... but I digress. 😂

For me the only city worth living in is Bangkok. Pattaya had buzz years ago when I was single. I can see it for single men - you just need to dodge the Indians and Russians. I used to leave high season and that helped. Other than that it's pretty much like living in Malaysia imo

My weight is good at 65. I eat a reasonable amount of carbs ... perhaps small loaf of wheat bread per week and the rest is small helping of rice. I always ask for half rice at food court and eat about 70% of that. I eat lots of fresh, ripe fruit though a banana a day, 40b worth of both pineapple and papaya. Keep veggies on hand and make fresh salads. Eat local greens too I no longer eat much ice cream. The good stuff too expensive. Where I'm off the rails are the J&J Tivoli super pack. I go through at least one a week. I eat at food court, local market or wife's cooking. All Thai. I never eat pizza and burger or pasta 1x a month at home. I probably drink too much as well. Maximum: five beers, and 400-500ml whisky. Lately, I've drank less whisky, but on the red wine. So maybe 250ml week and 1.5L wine. I get lots of exercise. Stretching and try to hit 60k steps a week. I can run a few km on off over an hour or so HBP in check with simple meds. Anyone want to chance my age of demise? I'm hoping to hit 93 PS. My wife was getting heavy in her face, ankles, ass and stomach. After a few battles and a promised trip to Europe she's dropped about 2.5kg and I'm asking for one more so she'll be 40.5kg. She looks hot again even approaching 50...🥰

With Thai economy in downward spiral numerous calls from economic heads in Thailand for a weakening of THB. One article from Post which we cannot post here. Whether anyone will listen and how that might come about is anyone's guess. The election looks like it's going to be another mess which means the aftermath a mess which means limbo as far as the eye can see. One thing Thai Examiner mentioned was demand by Chinese mafia on THB has driven the currency higher. It's still very strong I think gaining 7% this year. As aside Anutin indirectly trashed the US trade agreement via killing the peace deal and that has all the serious minded Thai folks concerned, neigh panicked.

This is just a big dump in the toilet. You've stated nothing of any substance. It's just some weak overly opinionated bunch of nothing. As I stated - it really doesn't matter what you think about anything. What matters is reality and the truth both of which are apparently in limited supply between your ears. Russia won. It was only a matter of time unless the US committed troops. Europe has absolutely no warfare capacity whatsoever. It couldn't even commit money. So really STFU

Pathetic? Your username is literally fashioned from a CIA color revolution 555. That's how compromised your mental capacity is. The organization Black Lives Matter (BLM) is not about black lives. BLM is a Marxist organization disguised as a civil rights organization. Instead of improving race relations, BLM exploits racial tensions to collapse America from within and replace our constitutional republic with socialism/communism. BLM is the ultimate humanitarian hoax being perpetrated on unsuspecting Americans who still believe that BLM cares about black lives. https://drrichswier.com/2020/09/29/color-revolutions-are-not-about-color/

Wow, you are really thick. Your opinion of this geopolitical abortion matters not half a fuk. Russia is holding all the cards, it always had. This war of attrition would have been over years ago if not for the US taxpayer and his now indebted children. Russia will take the Crimea and ethnic Russian republics. If that doesn't suit corrupt Ukrainian ministers they will in short order take Kyiv. This is yet another glaring example of how ignorant and churlish this sub forum is. The whinging, whining and knashing of teeth, but in the end it's just surrender and capitulation. The nail in the coffin is perhaps the 100 million dollars stolen from effectively the US taxpayer cum Ukrainian citizenry. One individual fu ked off to where? You guessed it - Israel of course. So dry your manboy eyes, tighten your sphincter because the men are here to take control of the situation. It never was winnable, but you know so little about the world you were oblivious to that brutal, cold, hard reality. The world works entirely independently of all your silly little bird brains. Many of you once again like COVID, like the gaytriarchy, like the election wholly and entirely wrong. Another word for all of this is of course - delusional

Sounds like you've got nothing here. Cash flow from condos? After sale I'd just park half depending on your insurance situation and spend down the rest. You're just going to bring it back over again. I'm certainly no financial advisor but I'd warn about excess cash here for many reasons. As I get older I'll have more cash and assets here. I'd ideally want to have it all here when I go.. hopefully that's some time away. Im also of the suspicion it's going to become increasingly more onerous to move money if not already Thanks for your input

I'm not making any judgements I'm interested to compare what I've put away and how other expats see it. If you don't want to participate that's fine. <deleted> off with your attitude, assertions and annoying questions

I do, I used to love it, but only drink Jim Beam bc of price as I drink too much. About a year back I got sick of the sweetness and went back to scotch. Beam was a good value as well but alcohol mafia put the price up another b100. Naw... I highly recommend Grant's whisky at its price point 600/70cl. Only scotch whisky not polluted with grain spirits and other shi+ whisky. Another good reason to drink bourbon here is it's not polluted with grain spirits. Most scotch is entirely compromised these days. I think what is sold in Thailand they add even MORE grain spirits .... it doesn't even taste like scotch

Thanks. I'm actually interested in both. The bare minimum people hold and what they actually see as adequate. The information about Thai government potential requirement is news to me and I thank you for that. I'm on marriage extension Another issue is banks only insure to 1M and the interesting is lower than most countries these days. No incentive to keep money here and 3M sitting doing nothing is a lot of money for most retirees in Thailand I think there's a tipping point with enforcement and banking when the vast majority are heading for other countries tbh.

Thanks. Balance is similar to mine, but you've insurance. Hope you can hold onto it. Well done. Bangkok Hospital just smells like money burning to me... Can't put my finger on it.

Thanks You're not concerned about needing emergency medical care and transferring money over when you're laid out and unable ? Additionally, sometimes I understand the bank needs a phone call to release money to accounts.

Trump disasterous presidency goes down the toilet. the WORST ever POTUS. An absolute DISGRACE. How much longer does this clown have? Please keep comments respectful. Thanks. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-derangement-syndrome-real-and-its-driving-therapists-crazy

So, that's what? About 1M thb? Plus if not medical emergency and have a home back in the UK you can go back there for treatment yes? I was thinking like 1 to 1.25 wife really thought it should be 1.5M. I'm in pretty good health for 65 you just never know when you start getting older. It's really one thing I didn't consider. No matter how healthy you are you just don't know about cancer and other kind of random shi+

None of this is helpful to me are probably anyone else I'm just simply interested in what people hold for emergencies and as a monthly buffer. Thanks for your input though

Understood. I'm not asking people to volunteer anything more than just some super basic information. For free to report what they wish. We certainly don't need to know the banks of members. Would like to ask people not to just write nothing or some bull<deleted> like that.

Thanks. Very interesting. In the app is your home country Thailand? I'm guessing not. Would you happen to know if there Is there any problem with holding what you do as you do Your home country is Thailand? I wanted to know more about wise what forum would you suggest that I post to? Thank you

Why do you keep it in Wise? Do they pay interest? Do you suffer paranoia over Thai bank solvency?

Just want to thank everyone for contributing. It's not really about the monthly spend , but rather what's kept on hand specifically for health-care. I finally came to understand why health insurance is so expensive here and the answer was right in front of me. Hospitals are allowed by law to jack up our costs (not even limits). It stands to reason insurance companies have to cover that needless grift.

Your answer is above. Read the post. Read

Thank you for your input professor. Could you please point me to your books, academic papers and lectures on the topic I'm especially interested in your address to the EU Parliament Thank you

This is also important. The Ukraine has in fact lost so many men there is a M/F imbalance in the society similar to Russia post WW2 Per Grok: Overview of Casualties in the Russia-Ukraine WarEstimating the total number of lives lost (deaths only) in the Russia-Ukraine war as of November 21, 2025, is challenging due to the fog of war, restricted access to occupied areas, and deliberate underreporting by both sides. Official figures from Russia and Ukraine are considered unreliable by independent observers, as they serve propaganda purposes. More credible data comes from Western intelligence, UN verification, open-source investigations (e.g., BBC/Mediazona, UA Losses), and think tanks like the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). These sources emphasize that actual numbers are likely higher than verified totals, especially for military deaths in remote or contested zones.The war, which escalated with Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, has caused devastating human costs. Below, I break down estimates for military deaths (Russian and Ukrainian forces) and civilian deaths (primarily in Ukraine, as Russian civilian losses are minimal and not systematically reported). Total estimated deaths across all categories range from 500,000 to 700,000, with military losses dominating. This does not include the pre-2022 Donbas conflict (2014–2021), which added ~14,000 deaths.Key Caveats on EstimatesMilitary: Focus on killed in action (KIA); excludes wounded (which total 1–1.5 million across sides) or missing (tens of thousands). Civilian: UN-verified figures are conservative; they only include cases with evidence and exclude unaccessed areas like Mariupol. Trends in 2025: Casualties surged this year due to intensified Russian offensives (e.g., around Pokrovsk) and drone/missile strikes. Russia reports ~1,000 casualties/day; Ukraine ~500/day. Bias Consideration: Ukrainian sources inflate Russian losses; Russian sources downplay their own. Western/UN data balances this by cross-verifying via satellites, intercepts, and obituaries. Estimated Deaths by CategoryCategory Estimated Deaths Key Sources & Notes Russian Military 250,000–350,000 - CSIS (Aug 2025): ~250,000 KIA by May 2025, en route to 1M total casualties (KIA ~25–30%). - BBC/Mediazona (Nov 2025): 95,000+ confirmed (via obituaries/social media), extrapolated to 250,000–327,000 excluding DPR/LPR militias. - UK MoD/Euromaidan (May/Nov 2025): 160,000 casualties in first 4 months of 2025 alone; ~100,000 KIA in 2025. - Includes ~21,000–23,500 DPR/LPR fighters (BBC, 2025). Zelenskyy (Dec 2024) claimed 198,000, but 2025 escalations add ~50,000–150,000. Ukrainian Military 60,000–120,000 - Zelenskyy (Dec 2024): 43,000 KIA; no 2025 update, but analysts add 20,000–80,000 for intensified fighting. - CSIS (Jun 2025): 60,000–100,000 KIA within 400,000 total casualties. - UA Losses (Oct 2025): ~70,000 confirmed dead/missing; NYT/Lostarmour (Jan 2025): >100,000 KIA by Dec 2024, plus 2025 losses. - Lower than Russia's due to defensive posture and better training, but rising with conscription strains. Ukrainian Civilians 15,000–20,000+ - UN OHCHR (Nov 2025): 14,534 verified KIA since 2022; real toll "substantially higher" due to unverified cases in occupied areas. - 2025 surge: 12,062 casualties (Jan–Oct), exceeding 2024's full-year total; includes 733 children. - Peaks from Russian strikes (e.g., 26 killed in Ternopil, Nov 19, 2025; Reuters). - Excludes 8,000–10,000 from 2014–2021 Donbas phase. Russian civilian deaths: Negligible (100 from Ukrainian strikes). Total Lives Lost 500,000–700,000 Sum of above ranges. CSIS/NYT (Jun 2025): ~1.4M total casualties (both militaries), implying ~350,000–500,000 KIA. Excludes indirect deaths (e.g., ~100,000 from disrupted healthcare/cold winters). Broader Context and Human ImpactAsymmetry: Russia has suffered 3–5 times more military deaths due to "meat grinder" assaults (e.g., 27 KIA per sq km captured in 2024–2025; Economist). Ukraine's losses, while lower, strain its smaller population (~38M pre-war vs. Russia's 144M). 2025 Escalation: Russian advances (e.g., Pokrovsk) cost ~45,000 casualties in November alone (UK intel). Civilian deaths rose 27% YoY (UN), driven by drones (24% of casualties) and infrastructure strikes. Demographic Toll: Ukraine faces a "lost generation" (millions displaced, birth rates halved). Russia sees excess male deaths (~1.1% of fighting-age men), fueling recruitment from prisons and abroad. Verification Challenges: Open-source tools (e.g., drone footage, social media) confirm ~10–20% of totals; satellites track advances but not bodies. UN accesses only government-held areas. These figures underscore the war's brutality—far exceeding recent conflicts like Afghanistan (US: 2,400 KIA over 20 years). Peace negotiations (e.g., Trump admin's reported framework) could halt this, but as Putin stated on Nov 20, 2025, Russia seeks "unconditional" goals, showing no compromise. @tassagency_en For the latest, monitor UN OHCHR or CSIS updates, as numbers evolve weekly.

The war has been lost for years. It just drags on for the benefit of the grifters sucking American largesse out of the system. Eminent scholar John Mersheimer spoke to EU Parliament I'm Brussels, but of course you board members far more educated on the topic as indicated by lack of supporting evidence and ad hominem attacks and childish name calling It is conveniently in audio as I'm certain all the rabid anti Russian posters here averse to long and even short form reading https://www.theamericanconservative.com/mearsheimer-europes-bleak-future/ Moreover, the common wisdom here seems to be that Russia instagated the war. This is simply not true. Again, professor Mersheimer https://mearsheimer.substack.com/p/who-caused-the-ukraine-war The conventional wisdom in the West is that Vladimir Putin is responsible for causing the Ukraine war. The invasion aimed at conquering all of Ukraine and making it part of a greater Russia, so the argument goes. The alternative argument, which I identify with, and which is clearly the minority view in the West, is that the United States and its allies provoked the war. This is not to deny, of course, that Russia invaded Ukraine and started the war. But the principal cause of the conflict is the NATO decision to bring Ukraine into the alliance, which virtually all Russian leaders see as an existential threat that must be eliminated. NATO expansion, however, is part of a broader strategy that is designed to make Ukraine a Western bulwark on Russia’s border. Bringing Kyiv into the European Union (EU) and promoting a color revolution in Ukraine – turning it into pro-Western liberal democracy – are the other two prongs of the policy. Russia leaders fear all three prongs, but they fear NATO expansion the most. To deal with this threat, Russia launched a preventive war on 24 February 2022. Finally, some time ago Anthony Blinken acknowledged Us arms build up on Ukraine boarder which also really gave Russia no option other than to invade There seems to be an enormous amount of name calling and distraction on this thread and when I look at the sub forum itself it's full of the same cheap shots. The war was lost before it started, but that never stops the masters of war Enjoy your day gents