migrant

Not only does learning the language make life easier, it also makes ot more fun IMHO

My favorite Thanksgiving cut

A little seasonal video

Ouch!!

Took the wife to Yellowstone in June when we were in the states. All walkways, and paths, clearly defined, and fenced.

As mentioned, idiot

Happy hour in Alabama

A redneck is driving a back road in Alabama when he sees a pickup parked alongside the road with a grill next to it. A sign says "Chicken Breasts and Beer."

"Lord Almighty!" He exclaims. "My three favorite things!"

I think I know another country that can use this

An oldie I finally dug up. Saint Jack with Ben Gazzara as a Singapore brothel owner. Great flick, great actor

Usually some guy in a squad would have one, but he'd leave it at the fire base. That's where I heard her, when the NVA were all around us for over a month and we had stay put and be resupplied by air. (Too dangerous even to try to send in a convoy.)

 

One day I went over to HQ Company and saw some guys with a TV watching 'I Love Lucy' on AFVN. Somehow they'd managed to scrounge a TV and had a weather balloon up with a long wire as an antenna. A few days later I was on perimeter day guard, when I heard a single shot. I looked around and saw the balloon slowly deflating and sinking to the ground. I guess somebody got pissed off and decided to end the entertainment.

I could imagine doing this if "I love Lucy" was on

Glad he came out ahead

There is nothing wrong with not paying income taxes by taking as many legal deductions as possible.

 

What is wrong is demeaning the poor who don't pay any income taxes because they are actually poor.

 

 

“Three tax experts hired by the Times said the size of the deduction and tax rules governing wealthy filers could have allowed Trump to legally pay no federal income taxes for 18 years.â€

 

LINK

The late Learned Hand, supreme court justice said "Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes." As a certified public accountant, I like that.

and something else "undignified".

Ogres on soi cowboy?

Marco Polo series, second season on netflix

I'd rather use this pokemon game

I used to have a cross cultural book on Thailand, written by an American sociologist and his Thai wife ... just one of my many books that were borrowed and never returned. However, I remember the authors used a series of concentric circles to explain Thai behaviour. At the center were your family, close friends, and all who had power or influence over you (e.g. your boss or supervisors). With these people you had to be very polite and attentive. In the next ring were acquaintances and those at work who ranked lower than you. You'd still be polite, but not as much as with those of the inner circle. The outermost ring - the largest one - contained everyone else. You might be polite to them if you felt like it, but it wasn't really necessary, since they were strangers and you'd never seen them again. It was safe to be rude to them.

 

This analysis seems reasonably accurate to me. e.g. As a university lecturer I was automatically in the inner circle on campus, but outside of the university among strangers I was just another Farang. The way Thais treated me was noticeably different.

Probably can amend the book with a circle far from the others labeled Farang

I may be old but I'll never grow up!

Had some time so looked through this thread. Y'all are some sick bastards, keep up the good work!!

As others mentioned I think it is all relative, and depends on what you want. I'm from the US, various places, but before the move here, 14 years in southern California. We live in Bang Saphan and bought some beachfront property (Thai wife). There is no way we could afford beachfront anywhere in the states that we would want to live.

I like Thai food, but also variety and so usually I have a Thai lunch, and cook my own western dinner. Thai food very cheap down here but to buy a decent steak you pay more than you would for a comparable one in the states. Most western food I find more expensive (makes sense!). I can cook pretty good so staples I can use local ingredients and spend the extra on beef.

Other household supplies I find cheaper here, but sometimes the quality, or quantity, negate the savings.

Utilities we find cheaper. We don't need a/c 24/7 usually just at night.

Basic groceries tend to be cheaper, and items such as chicken, pork and seafood cheaper than the states.

Haven't gotten medical insurance yet, but looked into it. If gotten before age 60 it seemed good, and cheaper, perhaps as I get closer (soon) I may sign up.

All told my standard of living is cheaper than the states, and my wife's very much so (since she "goes Thai" in everything).

Not big bar people, but a night out considerably cheaper.

Bought a Toyota here, comparable to the state prices.

I'd say, except for foreign travel, we live very comfortable on 70,000 baht per month. Could do on less without too much sacrifice.

I do like expensive (for here) items such as cigars, and books, so that can be a budget blower if your not careful.

Spent many a relaxing evening at GB watching the scene on the street back in my single days. Always found the staff, and manager, to be pretty mellow. Even had the manager buy me a drink once!

Hi Migrant, USA is one of the only countries that tax on global income, others don;t

Thanks! I waited too long to move i guess!!

OK I don't know UK, or Australian taxes, but do know US taxes and, since both countries have a lot of similarities, perhaps the tax code is one.

The US taxes citizens on world wide income and, through a mostly world wide tax treaty, gives a credit for taxes paid to other countries.

If the UK tax system is similar then the tax collector is correct.

If the situation was reversed we would file the back US taxes, get the credit for taxes paid, and any difference would be owed. I believe the UK tax system is higher than US so some dollars may be owed, but perhaps not a huge amount.

It would be best for him to talk to an accountant

BTW I am a semi retired CPA (chartered accountant on your side of the pond) and have dealt with this before.

The tax man threats sound similar to US tax threats. They want to get your attention, and tax returns filed, but until complete they don;t know the amounts.

In the states we can get transcripts of what was reported to the tax man, perhaps your friend can get those, and file from them.

Good Luck!