Gaccha

This afternoon, Zipmex secured an extension of creditor protection in the Supreme Court of Singapore until April 2023.

 

Interestingly, according to the press reports, the judge has required that any takeover must be agreed by 21st December. This is presumably the press reporter not grasping the intricacies of the judge's ruling. Presumably, the judge was referring to the current takeover offering only. 

 

V Ventures has laid an offer on the table to buy Zipmex, but Zipmex's ability to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory should not be underestimated. So although any rational person would have grabbed this offer, the rather notoriously stubborn marketing director refused to sign onto it placing the whole deal in peril. The judge has given her a chance to rethink her behaviour.

 

If there is to be a deal, it should happen in around 2 weeks. 

Kanye's position reminds me of the rather rare but real political position of eco-fascists: "sure Hitler did some bad things like build highways, but he also did some good things like cut the human population"

 

His comments on the Tim Pool show a day or so ago relate to the typical anti-semitic accusation of "clannishness". Or as Kanye puts it: "They. Who is 'they'?". This is more familiar territory for us as Thai-Chinese are also accused of this. 

 

The issue of clannishness-- favouring your group in dealings-- is rather clear in Bangkok with many Chinese clan trade associations in every other district.

 

In fact, it's a human norm with one extraordinary exception. Probably owing to ruthless banning of cousin marriages by the Catholic church, and other similar measures, Europeans over centuries became exceptionally open to outsiders (the academic consensus shows they display high trust levels to outsiders).

 

The endless American and European displays of self-flagellation on the altar of racism and other oikaphobic theatricality show just how averse to clannish, closed tendencies Europeans feel. The error is attacking Jews for a normal human trait. It's worldwide... except Europe.

 

Because the conversion has become near-taboo, only halfwits like Kanye are engaging in it, and are failing to grasp the issue correctly. Europeans are WEIRD: Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic.

 

They are very odd. But they dominate the World so much, their ways of thinking are taken as the norm. This will change. A less liberal, less open, less tolerant World is approaching. The key to prosperous survival is to surround yourself with WEIRDs. 

I’m keen to double-check with anyone here who has actually ‘disposed’ (i.e. sold up) of an ETF held in the UK as a non-resident. I am confident but one final cheap check is handy. 

 

I want to check the tax ramifications in the UK and Thailand.

 

For the UK:

 

[1]

(These screenshots are from HMRC or from PWC)

 

I am almost certain that a person non-resident (as defined in law) when they dispose of an ETF (as defined in law) are not subject to Capital Gains Tax and are not under any legal obligation to report to the HMRC. (Note that this contrasts with property, which is subject to CGT even if non-resident.)

 

[2]

 

Broadly speaking, a non-resident is somebody not resident for at least 5 tax years (less than this could be a ‘temporary non-resident’ and potentially subject to tax).

 

[3] [4]

 

 

As for Thailand:

 

The CGT is not payable so long as the sums are not remitted to Thailand that year.

 

[5]

 

This all surprises me because I can see little advantage for UK citizens in tax avoidance strategies besides secrecy unless they are covert tax evasion strategies. 

The high-end Samsung phones (and no doubt many others), such as the S20, have a huge range of accessibility features to improve the visual, hearing or touch experience. Take a look at Accessibility under Settings.

 

There are also lots of Apps to download to assist you. 

 

And then there are many devices you can attach to improve your experience. 

 

You need to very precisely specify your physical limitations and then anyone with a high skillset for smartphones (i.e. anyone under 50 years old) can set your phone up properly for you. 

 

You will not believe how many features there are to assist you. 

22 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

if you drive  without a license they'll deduct two points from your inexistent license. The epitome of Thai logic.

In England, driving without a licence incurs a 6 point penalty. 

 

Panel and rear panel function description

(I) Power switch key:

After pressing the power switch for about 10 seconds, the machine will enter the normal working state.

(2) Power working indicator light.

(3) Karaoke smart adjustment knob (effective when the microphone is plugged in and the wireless microphone is turned on), which can be used with the OK menu key.

(4) Digital audio input selection key

 Press this key for the first time, when "HDMII" is displayed, the HDMI input interface is working. *Press this button for the second time, when "HDMI2" is displayed, the HDMI2 input interface is working.

*Press this button for the third time, when "HDMI3" is displayed, the HDMI3 input interface is working.

*Press this key for the fourth time, when "ARCIN" is displayed, the ARC playback input interface is in working state. *Press this key for the fifth time, when "COAXIAL" is displayed, the coaxial input interface is in working state.

*Press this key for the sixth time, when "OPTICAL" is displayed, the optical fiber input interface is in working state.

(5) Karaoke menu selection key: (valid when the microphone is plugged in)

*When pressing the button for the first time to display "OK VOL", adjust the smart knob to select the volume of the microphone.

*When pressing the second time to display "OK TRE", adjust the smart knob to select the microphone treble effect.

*When pressing the third time to display "OK BASS", adjust the smart knob to select the microphone bass effect.

*When pressing the fourth time to display "OK ECHO", adjust the smart knob to select the depth of microphone reverberation.

*When pressing the fifth time to display "OK DEL", adjust the smart knob to select the microphone reverberation delay time.

(6) Input selection key:

*Press this button repeatedly to get the audio input function status you need. Including: 7.1 channel input, AUX/TV.

DVD/CD, USB/SD, Bluetooth. Note: For Bluetooth use, select the input state as Bluetooth, and the Bluetooth receiver starts to work at this time, use your mobile audio device with Bluetooth audio transmission (such as: mobile phone or tablet computer) to scan the nearby Bluetooth devices, and find the device name ( Bluetooth Amp), please connect, then play the audio on your mobile device to enjoy high-definition music on this system. This system supports remote control of mobile devices for up and down song selection, pause, and playback operations. The remote control operation keys are used in combination with the corresponding keys of USB/SD. When you choose another audio input method, the system Bluetooth device will automatically enter the dormant state, and the next time you use it, please re-pair the code to connect to play.

(7) Microphone 1 input: Microphone input jack.

(8) Mic 2 input: *Mic 2 input jack.

(9) Function display window: display various function states of the machine

(10) U disk socket:

* Insert the U disk with MP3 songs into this USB port, select the input to USB/SD state, and the system will start playing automatically. (This system supports lossless audio format).

(11) Volume menu key (press this key in sequence: FL/Front Left, FR/Front Right, SW/Subwoofer, CEN/Center,

FSL/Front Ring Left, FSR/Front Ring Right, BSL/Rear Ring Left, BSR/Rear Ring Right) * Press this button to adjust the volume of each group of channels according to your needs. When the dB of one of the channels is displayed, adjust the smart adjustment button to increase or decrease the volume of the channel. In case of 2.1 channel, only the volume of main channel and subwoofer can be selected. For 5.1 channels, you can choose main channel, center channel, front surround left, and front surround right. For 7.1 channels, increase the volume of the rear surround left and rear surround right channels to a total of eight channels.

 

 

Panel and rear panel function description

(12) Tone selection key:

* Press this key for the first time, when "TRE --" is displayed, adjust the smart adjustment button to increase or decrease the treble of the main channel

Sound effect (total ±14dB).

*Press this button for the second time, when "BASS--" is displayed, adjust the smart adjustment button to increase or decrease the bass effect of the main channel (total ±14dB).

(13) Play and pause button: *Press this button to pause when playing USB, SD card and Bluetooth, and press it again to play music.

(14) Intelligent adjustment button: * Adjust this button to increase or decrease the volume of each channel (the volume of the eight channels is increased or decreased at the same time when this function is used normally, if you want

To change other settings, it needs to be used in conjunction with the volume menu key and the tone key). _(15) Infrared remote control receiving window (16) Optical input jack:

* Use a dedicated optical fiber signal cable to connect to the optical output jack of the DVD player or audio equipment, and support Dolby Digital5.1 /DTS5.1/PCM2.1/LPCM5.1 and other formats. (17) Coaxial input jack:

* Use a dedicated coaxial signal cable to connect to the coaxial audio output jack of DVD or CD players, etc., and support Dolby Digital5.1/DTS5.1/PCM2.1/LPCM5.1 and other formats.

(18) HDMI-I input jack, support audio and video formats, please refer to the "Technical Parameters" description:

*Use a dedicated HDMI digital high-definition cable to connect to the HDMI digital output jack of the TV set-top box or other audio and video. (19) HDMI-2 input jack, support audio and video formats, please refer to the "Technical Parameters" description: * Use a dedicated HDMI digital high-definition cable to connect to the HDMI digital output jack of a TV set-top box or other audio and video.

(20) HDMI-3 input jack, support audio and video formats, please refer to the "Technical Parameters" description:

*Use a dedicated HDMI digital high-definition cable to connect to the HDMI digital output jack of the TV set-top box or other audio and video. (21) HDMI output jack:

* Use a dedicated HDMI digital high-definition cable to connect to the HDMI digital input jack of the high-definition TV. If your TV has ARC function, just select the signal input mode of this system to ARC IN, and the audio of the TV program you are watching will pass through

Through this connection, it will be sent back to the system for playback. * When the system is in standby, before standby, you can choose to input one of the HDMI1-3 audio, and the video is output to the TV at the same time for sound and picture playback (note: most TVs do not support DTS, AC-3 audio formats, this Please adjust the audio source format to PCM, so that the TV will have sound playback). When the system is working normally, it will automatically shut down

This audio output is disabled so as not to affect the listening effect of the system.

(twenty two)

Digital audio decoding to analog audio output jack Optical, coaxial, HDMI digital audio signals for system connections (supported audio formats: AC-3, DTS, PCM),

*

After selected by the system input and decoded by the original crystal audio processing chip, it outputs 7.1-channel analog audio, which can be connected to other sound amplification equipment. Some functions of digital decoding can be controlled by remote control, and the volume is not controlled. This function is equivalent to a high-end professional

(23) UHF wireless A/B telephone receiver antenna.

(24) CD/DVD audio input interface: * Connect the left and right channel audio output of CD or DVD player to this interface.

(25) AUX audio input interface: * Connect the left and right channel audio output of AUX or TV to this interface.

(26) 7.1 rear surround left and right channel input jacks, connected to the corresponding audio output of Blu-ray DVD.

3

I'm using the Canadian-Israeli VirX, available in Boots and on Lazada, designed specifically against Covid's vulnerabilities.

 

There is logic to its claims of how it works, but the academic papers are far from convincing so far. But with little else to choose from, I spray it up my nose prior to high-contact events. 

 

Anecdotally, I've now been in rooms on numerous occasions, for several hours, with people who later found they had COVID, and I've not yet ever had COVID (in as much as I've never had symptoms and never come out positive in weekly ATK tests).

 

But who knows if it works... It is wearisome but given the failures to stop cold infections not entirely surprising.

I'm a fanatical book reader. Bangkok is paradise for bookreaders.

 

Unlike the West, Thailand has a 'relaxed' approach to copyright. The Library Genesis website with over 2 million books is allowed in Thailand.

 

Additionally, every university library has several copy shops which will print out any book on request within a day or two. If you are keen on some 300 page book, then you're looking at a measly 200 baht hit. (Pro-tip: e-mail the PDF to them in your bespoke format to ensure a perfect product, and saving you a visit)

 

In addition, there are so many cafés with comfy chairs. But even better, there are no alcohol restrictions in the café, ensuring you get past that slow Chapter 4 with a Whiskey Sour.

On 11/13/2022 at 8:55 AM, lujanit said:

 I haven’t traveled on the BTS for some years.

After your response I went to re-check the map.

 

The map showed I was very right, but my experience on ThaiVisa is it is better to allow members to crash into their own mistakes than to point out their error.

 

Anyway, enjoy.

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

beats the hassle of walking around the shops. 

Something I remember from the The Times a few years back:

 

Men's anxiety levels out shopping with their wives are greater than soldiers under fire in Vietnam.

 

Anything that can be done to reduce men's stress is social justice! Lazada should be given a medal! 

43 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

convicted by civil court already, and it just waits for them to one day return / show up.

That's in some ways worse, because a debt of 200 pounds could accumulate into 5,000 pounds with all the endless court costs, processing charges, fees etc. 

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Do they refund whatever you used to purchase the item?

Yes 

36 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Ordered an SMP Bicycle Saddle... (not cheap) and rubber phone case arrived. 

Contacted Seller - no response. 

You didn't follow the procedure.

 

You should have instantly initiated a wrong item refund process. The seller has several days to respond and then if they require you return the item then do that, and so on.

 

Was the seller you picked a flagship store or a 90%+ rated store? A store with dodgy methods won't have customers for long. 

12 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

What if you are guilty of the rape ?

Then you should serve your time. 

There's a life lesson here. Always stay and defend yourself. Rape charges are often on the fairly flimsy evidence of false accusations, but if you flee and they hold it in your absence, you are screwed.

On 10/26/2022 at 11:29 AM, JAS21 said:

BBB+ reasonably safe.

It's worth pointing out that BBB+ is designated as near junk bond status. Certainly not something I'd characterize as 'reasonably safe', although a lot turns on the meaning of 'reasonable'. At that level of risk, then equity is likely more appropriate. Generally, laymen investing in bonds are deeply risk averse. 

The only goverment place still offering free vaccinations for walk-ins (as far as I know) in Bangkok is the Bang Rak Medical Center (sic), near BTS Saint Louis.

A perfect example here. A 1 baht weight of gold from Aurora on Lazada right now.

 

 

That's a 3%~ price uplift.

This is interesting to compare with the simple, tiny 0.5g gold "flake" giftcards that Aurora etc sell on Lazada.

 

These gift prizes don't vary much so it's interesting to see the rip-off margin.

Thanks!

 

That's 15.244 grams. Very handy to know. 

The research papers indicate very poor results for all the anti-cold, nasal sprays you can find in Boots and so on.

 

The only genuinely innovative spray designed against COVID is the expensive, Canadian-Israeli VirX (Enovid, Sanotize), which is sold in Boots and online.

 

...But its research data has similar problems to this Thai "innovation". although at least it sounds less like cargo cult pagan ritual magic and more like something scientically founded.  

 

Obviously, all these academic papers can be found online if you're struggling to get to sleep. 

 

I've used VirX since it arrived in Thailand and so far so good. But obviously they need far more research even if their foundational hypothesis is sound.