1FinickyOne

distorted yes, context was plain - - it also mentioned expats only eating 20 baht pad Thai - how long ago was that? Obviously someone was doing a hatchet job - I have no idea why -

Vas is das humor? I didn't hear no humor... I only listened for a minute - or less... I did see a YouTube clip - though I only watched a minute of it - that claimed 82% of expats here were indigent - and miserable and near living on the street... it was just one unfair incorrect thing after another.. I can't imagine why anyone would put such stuff out...

you seem pretty familiar - I just watched a minute or two and can't understand why anyone would watch this??

Isn't it almost all of them? If I remember correctly - years ago they discovered that over 90% of congress outperforms the S&P 500....

I always thought mental illness was assumed.

Have you tried a different path? Meditation might bring you to a different level of peace and enjoyment... I am not knowledgable or very experienced with it - - but I did take a Mindfulness class many many years ago and I am trending back towards that as I get bored with some of the things I used to enjoy - I do some walking meditation

I have heard that about some people who brag about their golf accomplishments...

Whoop-dee-do for my Subaru - Do you understand there are many countries in the Americas? It is not only states?

I have not used Western Union for decades - - but surely in these days, they will have a record of who sent and who dcvd the money... ps - I do remember sending money via Western Union and being required to give my name and other identifying information.

If you are earning money and there are taxes due, then it probably doesn't matter how it is remitted. You might want to find out what the consequences are before you commit a crime of not declaring income that is legally due to be reported. If need be, consult an accountant...

oh no - I was ok before but now I'm depressed

So, are you saying that there is someplace where these things don't happen? Or, since they are nearly inevitable for most people, then thankfully you live in Thailand where it will be easier to deal with?

I don't study this but I think it has not been linked to gold or silver in many many years - I remember when coins had silver in them [silver dollars] and paper money said 'silver certificate' on top. And I don't necessarily agree that gold has particular value - the greatest value is that it is used in adornment, jewelry. I think there is some element of it having a hardness factor, but like printed money, there is a societal agreement that it holds value. [as does btw lately] he 1944 Bretton Woods system made the US dollar the world’s reserve currency backed by gold at $35/ounce, but decades of American monetary expansion led to foreign governments redeeming dollars for undervalued gold, forcing Nixon to completely sever the dollar-gold link in 1971. Since 1971, gold has functioned primarily as an investment and store of value rather than currency,

That is correct - for me, it has no practical value - - however, I would have said that about a smart phone many years ago and recently a QR code which now has a very nice convenience factor for me, for a few things - so, I am open to things that can make life easier, or make money for me - they recently came out with ETF's for XRP - and at $3+ I can see that as more likely to double than BTC - - - not for any intrinsic reasons... just as an investment and everything has the potential to boom or crash - - that's the world you live in - I live in my own bubble - I talk to the trees and shrubs in the garden.

Yes, there are ETF's for BTC, Ethereal and now XRP - you can buy them on Schwab in the same way as you might buy IBM - and when you sell, there will be profit or loss to be calculated for taxes - Dallas Taxes - plenty of places to speculate - 'There is no sanity clause'

Sure, you can't see it or touch it - - it can't move but you can lose it all if you forget your password - right? But just like money, it only has any value because some people agree it has value - same as Euros, pesos, dollars, old baseball cards and pet rocks.

They get paid for it - it's their job - to see which way the wind blows - next important election is next year...

I use just one account - they have copy machines and it doesn't take very long to copy a bank book. They told me, depending on the country, it can be a lot of work to open a new account...

It's not the heat - it's the humanity

Unclear...

24 hours on planes and in waiting rooms and ten second re-entry - thanks for the info, but I don't think I will need it...

No idea what that is?? My last trip back was in 2012 and I doubt there will be another return...

In 2012 I turned 62 - and started receiving SS payments - I returned through DC and walked right through immigration as if it wasn't there - that was my last time back - - I assume at this age, if I went back, they should/would have medical staff waiting...

So, are you saying that there are agents who can promise the moon and the stars - and it is true? Sign me up - I want the moon and stars... I'm ready.

I have no idea - I guess you can discard any phone that you can afford to throwaway?? I love my smartphone but only use it for the simplest of tasks - but it is wonderful to know that if I am out, my family can contact me if they need me... I get lots of messages, I can take pictures or check stock futures - I don't watch anything on it or stare at it - - but it's quite a handy tool - I play music from it while driving in the car - - Spotify - - absolutely anything I want to hear - - if I wanted to do that when I was younger, I had to buy the album and make cassette tapes... it takes me 5 minutes to slide and make a wonderful playlist - - what a world...