ChouDoufu

2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

If people are detained and questioned on the basis of colour, that is, without doubt, rooted in prejudice and bigotry. 

bigotry:  intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.

 

prejudice: 1.  preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

                 2. dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior deriving from unfounded opinions.

 

f members of any group known statistically to engage in crime

at a higher percentage that the norm are questioned when found in an

area known to be inhabited by said group engaging in criminal activity,

then the questioning is certainly reasonable.  this scenario is based

on reason and actual experience.

 

i assume any detentions were for those found to have drugs/weapons

in possession, or not to have valid identification......NOT on the basis

of color, as only 30 were detained (out of how many questioned?) at

15 dens of iniquity.

 

 

 

 

9 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Racial profiling is bigotry. 

 

It is rooted in hate and prejudice. 

not really.  potentially, but not necessarily.

 

in this case, it appears to be sensible

policing/profiling based on historical

trends in criminal activity by ethnicity

and/or nationality.

 

were any of these "tourists" picked up while

visiting temples?  bungee jumping?

parasailing?  riding elephants on a jungle trek?

 

no.  i didn't think so.

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

I don’t see a problem in that. 

 

I do see a problem on racial profiling being the basis for such actions. 

why? 

 

let's say some ethnicities/nationalities have a deserved reputation

for lawlessness, that an oversized proportion of "tourists" from said

ethnicity/nationality are involved in crime.

 

doesn't it make sense to target members of those groups, allegedly here

on tourist visas, but doing no tourism?

 

the police targeted them in 15 areas where they, the criminal element

of those groups, is known to congregate.

 

i sorta kinda doubt they bothered anyone doing actual tourism activities.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

...The basis on why people are detained does matter. 

 

Basing it on colour is bigotry. 

 

Me, I like police action based on evidence, not prejudice. 

 

in the normal course of policing,  officials will request 

valid identification.  in the case of fur'ners, will ask to see

passports with valid visas.

 

those not carrying passports (or copies) will be detained until

they can furnish proof of legal stay.

 

 

5 hours ago, darrendsd said:

People can and do have more than 1 bank account

would surely be better to have one account solely for

the 3-month seasoning.

would be a shame if using only one account, to accidently

withdraw a few hundred baht too much from the atm,

the week before renewal and balance drops to 799,957

do i got this right?

 

they proved ownership of the tickets because

they found fingerprints from the guy that

allegedly stole 'em?

 

m'kay.

most of my cash is invested in the us.  only have

living expenses and the required 800k here in thailand.

 

thailand taxes interest at 15%, dividends at 10%,

capital gains at 0%.  i can apply for a refund of

the above, or i may be able to deduct them from

us tax owed on my irs form - which will offset

the us tax on any gains in thailand.

 

the empire will tax all my income regardless of

source.   the lovely mr trump has increased the

standard deduction for single filers to $12K,

and increased the bracket for 0% long-term

capital gains to $38K.  so first $50K can be

tax-free.  (plus $100K or so of foreign earned

income if working)

 

800k (us$25K) is small beans.  i just hate that i

gotta leave it in the bank at 1% while they lend

it out at 28%.

 

did i mention i no have work permit?  no desire

to spend a day at the main branch of b-bank

being told i cannot send money out of thailand.

 

for the 8 months not being seasoned, i can do

any of the following online, in my underpants:

 

1.  fixed account at 1.25%  and get about 6500 baht.  ($200)

2.  play thai stock market, maybe earn 5%....40k baht.  ($1250)

3.  buy some foreign mutuals, perhaps 10%...80k baht.  ($2500)

 

as to b'bank accounts.  work permits are requested, but if you

have an o-visa, they will open fixed/savings/mutual accounts

if you have a condo title (rental contract not enough), a bank

recommendation via SWIFT, or "the letter from the embassy."

the residence certificate available from immigration is not

acceptable.  b'bank's bualuang securities subsidiary is less

strict. 

 

not aware of these "holding fees".  b'bank charges 0.15% sales

charge on their mutuals with the buy/sell spread on the NAV.

there are fees charged by the company (wellington, fidelity, etc)

managing the fund, listed in the prospectus.

bualuang charges a direct 0.15% commission on buy and sell.

 

3 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

....and than you won't be buddered at all with moving money out of thailand.....

this is for the 800k baht for the retirement visa/extension.

 

it gots to sit in the bank for mimimum 3 months every year.

so with transfers back and forth and a couple weeks safety,

4 months of the year.  every year.

it's already here.  if i moves it out, i gots to moves it back.

every year.

 

which is ueber hassle without work permit.

did i mention no work permit?

 

3 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

....and this way you also save yourself reporting to the US tax system, cause as a US citizen you must declare all your income all over the world. 

teach me.  how can i avoid reporting to the us tax system

by putting money in us accounts and receiving capital gains

and dividends in us accounts?

 

as to commissions.....bualuang charges 0.15% to buy or sell.

unless my maffs is wrong, buy and then sell 800k will cost a

total of 2400 baht....about 75 bucks.....just about as much as

the transfer fees to move cash in and out.

 

which would be a pain anyways.  not having a work permit,

i'd have to waste a day trying to have the bank swift money

out of thailand.

 

btw, got the single mutual fund holding account set up with

online banking at bangkok bank.  was successfully able to

buy a new fund online.  they have a couple dozen foreign

investment funds available, so no need to buy thai stocks.

trying so hard to avoid the annual hassle of moving US$20K

out of thailand each year without a work permit.

 

a few more % in cambodia?  not sure i trust their banks any

more than i do the ones here.  having to make two trips

every year plus purchase two visas and use up two passport

pages doesn't sound worthwhile.

 

as situation now stands, i have online accounts at bangkok

bank and at baluang securities.  i can sit here in my

underwear, without leaving the apartment, and can buy &

sell individual thai stocks plus a small number of thai

etf's, and a selection of mutual funds, mostly thai, but

with a dozen or so foreign equity baskets.  i can move

the cash around between broker account, fixed account,

a couple savings accounts and mutual fund account

with no paperwork and no office visits.

 

early november, put the 800K into stocks - bought

50K each of 15 stocks plus 50K of a set50 etf.

so far doing much, much better than a simple

fixed account.  set50 is up 4% in 60 days.  some

stocks up, some down.  TMB up 17% yay!

In fact, according to Khao Sod English, even though Lt. Gen. Natthathorn Prohsunthorn the commander of the Thai Immigration police has announced the existence of the new visa....

 

That being said, Lt. Gen. Natthathorn Prohsunthorn says it can be applied for at any provincial immigration office or, if you are in Bangkok, at the Chang Wattana Immigration office and that, if you are interested, to “just go ahead and submit the application”.

 

 

this fellow in the video 'splains gotta have 3 million

baht in a thai account for one full year prior to the

application, with no income option.

 

 

 

better option would have been drink a few,

drive pickup into the shop.  claim brake

failure.  sorry, sorry.  500 baht fine.

an "outsider" could only be a politician who used to be a soldier.

applied for and received auto and motorcycle licenses

today at the (mochit) department of land transport.

 

in the land transport compound gate, about 250meters

on the right side, building #4 (thai numeral).

 

wow!  so easy! so efficient!  if only the DMV in

virginia was like this!  no translator needed.

 

arrived at 9:15.  no line at info desk to register. 

5-minute wait for the c-desk to turn in documents.

10- minute wait for the gang to be called in for physical tests.

**easy tests, can repeat until pass if you have problems.  only

person with troubles was moto-taxi dude renewing his license.

repeatedly failed the brake light test****

one hour spend watching videos (half w/o subtitles)

another 5-minute wait at c-desk to get licenses issued.

 

both licenses issued, total fee 310 baht.

out the door at 11:10

 

 

went to bkk bank silom today.  will NOT open accounts

(non-O retired) without work permit or condo/house deed

or SWIFT recommendation letter, or the letter from the

embassy.  the certificate of residence issued by immigration

(for driving license) was NOT accepted.

 

already have 3 accounts with bkk bank, they finally

accepted a 2-year old "eligible to marry" affidavit

notarized by the embassy.

 

opened a new fixed account to replace the old one

opened with tourist visa that could not be accessed

online.  also opened ONE investment account to

hold mutual funds (and purchased three).  both accounts

now registered thru online banking.

 

and news from the fixed account front.  new policy

is minimum term is now 6 months.  no more 1- or

3-month deposits.  now get zero interest if using

fixed account for 800k seasoning.  6 month rate is

1.25%, regular savings rate is 0.50%.

19 hours ago, Sig said:

Is passing around blind corners and over blind rises in the road some kind of exciting pastime joy for these idiots!?

 

....slowing and pulling a bit to the side JUST BEFORE A BLIND CORNER!

standard procedure in asia.  it's a kind of neo-zen metaphysical driving philosophy.

ask not whether another vehicle could be coming around the corner.

there exists nothing there NOW.

 

those slowing and pulling over before blind corners?  non-adherents

considering what the future may bring.

 

9 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

Yes,because what international trading partners crave more than anything is a military junta government rather than a pesky democracy.....

mr xi might prefer a strong, stable government

with useful articles.   "4" is traditionally for the

chinese an inauspicious number, but exceptions

can be made.

2 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

I'm sure that if there is no election in November 2018, as he officially announced during his US visit, there will be some not so pleasant response from some parties at the other side of the big puddle which will not be favourable for the Thai economy.

perhaps these parties are not as important anymore.

there are new friends at the other end of the new

medium-high speed rail line to provide support.

old news......launch vehicle already on the pad...

 

5-4-3-2---------------------

 

 

yes, virginia, the locals WILL be able to afford tickets!

if china were building this project, end of 2018 to 2021

would be miraculous.  thailand doing it, with sections

apportioned via brown-velope lottery?

 

china recently completed a 350-km section of dual-track

high speed rail, the entire western side of hainan island. 

true high speed running at 250-300 km/h.

 

construction took just under three years to build through

a relatively lightly populated area with unlimited government

financial and legal support.

 

heavily subsidized tickets for a 100-km section will

cost about 28 rmb (2nd class)....or about 140 baht.....

about the same price as an express bus.  the full run from

haikou in the north to sanya in the south....about 400 baht.

 

we can post links right?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3335235/It-s-RAIL-treat-China-s-new-circular-high-speed-track-passes-rolling-farms-sandy-beaches-scenic-rivers-tropical-island.html

hong kong can take weeks or more....if you do it yourself.

 

established agents have the requisite "guanxi" to get it

done in 2-3 days.

 

the thorntree (lonely planet) forums have a sticky at the

top of the china section with the latest info on visas,

recommended agents, time and document requirements,

 

might be possible for you to get a new tourist

visa in hong kong.

 

forever bright agency has good reputation.

you would do that because of the hassle of trying to

send money OUT of thailand without a work permit.

 

the "letter from the embassy" is the notarized document

from your embassy stating that your passport is

indeed your passport, with which those without

work permits may open bank accounts.

 

i shall return to bkk bank silom in a couple weeks with

a residence certificate, see if that will suffice.  in that

case could open 3-4 mutual fund accounts, each with

the minimum 500 baht balance.....after confirming

can move funds in/out of each account once open.

satisfied with the service.  fast/easy account setup.

easy link to bangkok bank accounts, low trading commissions.

trading is limited, mostly to thai stock exchange.

not much in the way of etf's or mutual funds.

 

i'm trying this out over 8 months, see if we can do

better than 1% fixed account for the 800K before

it has to go back for seasoning.

 

other option would be the limited selection of mutual

funds (invesco, wellington, fidellity) from bangkok bank.

problem there is you need to open a new account

for each mutual fund, which means another trip to

silom with many paperworks and "the letter from the

embassy" each time to exchange/buy new funds.

3 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

"Japan has recommended Thailand construct the first 380-kilometre section of the 672km Thai-Japanese high-speed train route,"

 

Japan politely excusing themselves for the first section?

means they recommend thailand as a country begin construction.

thai workers under japanese management.

 

be happy in your work!