midlifecrisis

Amen.

Great point. We tourists are the least of the economic puzzle. It isn't doomed. It is the primary reserve currency but as Bigus says Trump would like an even weaker dollar to help American business, It also should help companies on US soil so it is an incentive to come back. Money printing is another issue. I listen to FED chairman Powell yesterday and he was asked about the strength of the dollar. His response was that FED policy is about the overall economy and the Treasury is responsible for currency policy. I understand his point but interest rates have some effect on currency I should think. Perhaps I can be enlightened on this area. I am good in some investment areas but far from an expert on monetary policy in global economics.

I can't imagine it can go on for too long. The cabin crews can't afford not to work and the airline can't afford to have their planes idle. I don't know the numbers but it seems simple arithmetic. Workers want X more EVA A. Flights revenue minus current cabin crew wages minus increase. B. Then revenue minus current cabin crew wages Then A minus B gives added cost and bump tickets a fraction to pay it. But that sets a precedent for all the other union workers, which is the real reason these things tend to drag on. And perhaps sets a precedent for the industry. It can become a feeding frenzy of got to get yours. It is why I prefer binding arbitration. Then it is on the arbiter. A neutral party (in theory).

That's the issue. Maybe AC. The one time I was there it was just over 48 to 1 and now I see it is over 51 to 1.

Seeing the USD hovering at just above 30 baht has me concerned. For the cost of my flight, lodging and two weeks overseas, I can get my kids, their spouses and myself tickets for a cruise somewhere.

I learned in the army....never volunteer!

Regarding your second paragraph... please no visuals. ?

if the USD drops below 30 I am not sure it is worth it.

not in those uniforms though please.

Currency is traded but what makes the USD unique is that it is a reserve currency the world trades with. That keeps it more stable. A wildly fluctuating USD isn't good for world business. A gradual decline here and there is not generally an issue except for folks like us. I am not an expert by any means on currencies and when I travel overseas I am at the mercy of the current rate. A global currency is one that is accepted for trade throughout the world. Some of the world's currencies are accepted for most international transactions. The most popular are the U.S. dollar, the euro, and the yen. Another name for a global currency is the reserve currency. Of these, the U.S. dollar is the most popular. As of the third quarter of 2018, it makes up nearly 62 percent of all known central bank foreign exchange reserves. That makes it the de facto global currency, even though it doesn't hold an official title. The next closest reserve currency is the euro. Nearly 21 percent of known central bank foreign currency reserves were in euros as of the third quarter of 2018. The chance of the euro becoming a world currency increases as the eurozone crisis fades. However, the crisis highlights the difficulties of ever using the euro as a world currency. https://www.thebalance.com/world-currency-3305931

I watched the first three episodes of "Chernobly" today and WOW! This is one of the best docudramas I have ever seen. A great cast. Great writing. "Chernobyl" fills in a lot of missing knowledge on the severity of the situation, their difficulties within a closed society, while undescoring the courage of many, many people. In my opinion it is a must see and thank those who recommended it as I was a bit hesitant to watch it initially.

Thanks!

The question is why is the baht so strong? or is ours (all of us) weak?

Reading classes? I am already there, sort of. I had both eyes done for cataracts. One eye is distance and the other near. They call it monovision. So at 68 I can sit here at the cpu or read a book without glasses. Driving = glasses for depth perception. CPU and reading is basically two dimensional. I did it for a number of years working. You adjust. I can watch TV with my right eye or at the movies but I wear glasses for those too. Might miss a nipple with my left eye.

Finally feeling better about getting old. I had baht and sold it here years ago. I wish I kept it but maybe with the new king the old money wouldn't be accepted. I will just have to be more frugal. No parties like I used to at FLB and Cherry Bar. Just quiet bar beer evenings and a couple trips to see naked dancers. Lots of ways to get laid there if you don't want a Mercedes and can settle for a VW. Still a decent ride.

I get a little bit from my bank for the trip to Pattaya and the rest when I hit town. Never at the airport.

Yes, one of the most lopsided matches I can recall but Thailand did qualify for group play and the game did need to be played. We will see how Thailand does against Sweden and Chile. I don't think she will advance.

I missed a lot of games back then due to military service. Cal was a true iron man. His dad was a great baseball man. I see Billy on TV from time to time. Dempsey was a hard nosed ball player. They all were back then. Senators miss Harper. I think this is part of what you are talking about.

Moving up here to the Portland Metro region I have left behind the Giants, A's, 49ers (the Raiders are always leaving so the Hell with them), the Warriors and the Sharks. For football and MLB you have to drive hours to Seattle. Hockey is in Vancouver, Canada. What we have here is the NBA and pro soccer, which is fairly popular. My Giants had a run but they now suck. They aren't much better than the Orioles and trending downward. I liked the Orioles of old when you had Palmer and Cuellar and McNally.... What a great team.

Women's soccer, at least at this level, is probably more popular in the USA than men's but I am not sure. I follow British soccer, not USA soccer. I think the ladies get more commercial endorsement money that do the guys. That is an indicator of that. as to whiiping their shirts off...not as exciting as one might wish.

It's USA - Thailand or was. Not sure if I should post the score....nah. Anyone can google it. I'm just surprised it isn't being discussed. Then again, Americans likely don't care and I won't speak for you ferriners.

a bit too paranoid for me.

lol I can picture more people snapping on airplanes and we have enough of that as it is.

All I know is that the guy next to the no cuts sign appears to have taken cuts.

fish, sausage or both?