bob2005

This mileage thing never seems clear to me. This seems different to what Cheshire Tom said a day or two ago.

Yes, I didn't post those extracts for some yank-bashing, but to correct the original one-sided BigD remarks. The second extract was from a Seattle based outfit, so... I like the 747 over the Airbuses I've been in.

Economist: In 1992, Europe and America agreed that Airbus's launch aid would be limited to one-third of development costs, while indirect aid to Boeing would be capped at 4% of its total revenues. But last year America tore up this bilateral deal and demanded an end to Airbus's launch aid, declaring that the 1992 agreement had required it to be phased out over time. One reason for this new tough stance was that Airbus had started to outsell Boeing and, worse, seemed to be successfully launching the A380 to end the age-old long-haul monopoly of Boeing's 747. Airbus has outspent Boeing both on research and development and on capital investment, making its production perhaps one-quarter more efficient than its rival's. Another reason, suspect some Europeans, is that America knew it was already breaking the bilateral deal. Direct financial support had been provided for the production of bits of Boeing's new 787 jet by the states of Washington and Kansas. Under the WTO's Subsidies and Countervailing Measures agreement, subsidies to a specific company or specific industry from a government or other public bodies are not allowed. Airbus's launch aid is surely in breach of this, and America would have a good case before the WTO. Yet the EU too could probably bring a strong case to the WTO. However, this would probably not be just against Boeing, but also against the American firm's Japanese business partners. The new Boeing 787 is being built with the heavy-industry divisions of Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and Fuji, in a consortium known as the Japanese Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC). According to an assessment by David Pritchard and Alan MacPherson of the State University of New York, Buffalo, JADC is being offered at least $1.5 billion in soft loans repayable only if the aircraft is a commercial success, like the launch aid enjoyed by Airbus. SEATTLE POST: The governments of the United States and Europe agreed yesterday to stop subsidizing The Boeing Co. and Airbus for the next three months while they try to resolve a decades-old dispute over billions in subsidies to the aircraft makers. A decision to defer pursuing complaints with the World Trade Organization while a settlement is negotiated was in sharp contrast to the campaign rhetoric in October, when President Bush challenged the 25-nation European Union before the world trade body and the EU threatened to retaliate. "We need open warfare on this issue like we need a hole in the head," said EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. The decision heads off the immediate threat of a court case after the United States filed a complaint at the WTO on Oct. 6, a month before the presidential election, saying European government loans to Airbus worth $15 billion amount to illegal subsidies under global trade rules. The EU countered, saying Boeing has benefited from unfair support worth as much as $23 billion -- including a multibillion-dollar agreement with the state of Washington.

Appreciate the explanations for Brits! Laddering can get some of the higher longterm rates, but of course if expenditure exceeds income the capital will reduce.

17th July 2006: Boeing admitted its flagship 787 Dreamliner had been hit by glitches. "We're a little over where we want to be at this time on weight, but ahead of where we were on previous programmes, so we're really focused on weight-efficient structure right now," Boeing chief Alan Mulally said. "Some partners are a little behind on the schedule but we're working with them on recovery plans to catch up," he added.

I paid 2 months deposit on the two places I leased.

VT is probably closer to Walking Street than Northshore. But both are albatrosses to me. Some of us just think buying a condo is full of unknowns and is foolish.

I lived on soi 5 for a year in 2003-4 before they re-started the Northshore development and it was a delelict hulk that looked like it had been left to the elements unprotected for 6 years since the 1997 financial meltdown. No way would I trust that structure. To ask 12 million for 114 sq meters, as linked above, on a soi far from Walking Street is lunacy. The next year, 2004-5, I rented a fantastic 97 sq meter top floor apartment on Pattaya South Road overlooking the bay with panoramic windows for 25,000 baht per month which is a 5% income on 6 million.

That will definitely blow any budget!

Do any of these Middle East airlines NOT serve booze? TIA.

Wish my aircon was charged this way! Cheers!

A fan that is turned by rising air, because the rising air is lighter (more expanded) than the air above it, then the fan sucks out even more air, sounds like Perpetual Motion, getting more energy than is put in. More likely the fan takes a tiny bit of energy out of the rising air and reduces the outflow slightly. A teaspoon of water is said to have much more 'fusion' energy than a person will use in his life.

I'm not sure what you think is wrong, what you say is that the Kw rating is what's used per hour, which some people might not realise so I spelt it out. Maybe we're both plastered, I know I am!

Usually 0.75 - 2 kilowatts per hour, which costs about 3.5 baht per Kw if you're getting it at the official non-rip-off price. So a night's sleep with air-con costs 30-40 baht.

You can get about 30 gm bags of Thai tobacco for 10 baht in the shop on Pattaya South road at the entrance to Day-Night hotel. Rolling papers and regular European baccy at Friendship supermarket about 200 yards further along Patt South road going away from the beach.

Re: whitespider's Eva " 2self service regime " What is that, kind Sir?

http://www.westeasttravel.com/user/default.asp will get you straight to the bangkok fares. Period applicable isn't shown but there's a phone number on the page.

Skype internet-to-land/mobile charges are higher than VoipBuster, VoipCheap etc, which have free calls to UK, Thailand, Australia etc. Well, free if you ignore the 10 euro/pounds charge for 3 (?) months.

It's up by Dolphin Roundabout so it's way further than the website says, 1 km to walking St, more like 3+

I got some trousers from them and they were definitely better than a thai tailor on Suk around soi 5. I think they even used the wool/cashmere cloth I wanted, the thai's substituted acrylic - I can tell from the cigarette burn-holes. About 3000 baht.

Bangkok Post classified travel section.

Those are deal-breakers.

It's said the Gilts market is the most accurate reflection of 'expert' opinion on future interest rates. I get the Thursday gilts from http://news.ft.com/markets/gilts (Friday is not as clear). Rates between now and maturity in 2011 are 4.71%. But they move around a lot and it seems nobody knows (there are no crystal balls).

Eneukman, I'm pretty confident you know more about this subject than I do, I read the info but it always seems to leave a few grey areas. I've found emails to the Non-residents Centre of the HM Customs and Excise people very helpful. Also I have a top accountant (I hope he is) to advise me, but he's expensive. My income is comfortable for this end of the world but it wouldn't be in England - fortunately I like living this end, England is no longer for me.

Extracts from the Non-Residents E-Book at TaxCafe: In order for an individual to avoid capital gains tax it is usually necessary to remain non-resident for five complete tax years. Any gains on assets disposed of during the period of non-residence will then escape UK capital gains tax completely. The rule only applies to assets held by the emigrant at the date of departure from the UK. Assets purchased during a tax year of non-residence, are not subject to UK capital gains tax, provided you are also non-resident during the tax year they are sold. The requirement for five complete years of non-residence does not come into play in these circumstances. Gains accruing on a disposal of assets in the tax year of departure are subject to capital gains tax even though the disposal may only occur after you have left the UK. This is an important trap to avoid. 6. How to Avoid UK Inheritance Tax The general rule is that an individual domiciled in the UK will be subject to inheritance tax on his or her worldwide assets. Non-UK domiciled individuals are only subject to UK inheritance tax on their UK assets. In order to lose your UK domicile you will need to build up evidence to show that you have abandoned your UK domicile of origin and have acquired a new domicile of choice. How to Lose Your UK Domicile You should take as many of the following steps as possible in order to show evidence of an intention to acquire a new domicile of choice: • Take up nationality in the new country. • Join clubs and other social organisations in the new country. • Dispose of UK investments. • Resign from clubs in the UK. • Close UK bank accounts. • Avoid subscriptions to British newspapers. • Dispose of all UK private residences. • Buy a new residence in the new country. • Make a will under the laws of the new country. • Build up a new circle of friends in the new country. • Avoid retaining directorships in the UK. • Exercise any vote in the new country. It should be noted that none of the above factors is in itself conclusive. However, Inland Revenue will look at all the factors that can be put in evidence to determine whether there is a settled intention to reside permanently in the new country. Obtaining a non-UK domicile of choice does not protect you completely from UK inheritance tax. You will still be liable to tax on your UK assets. If the value of these assets is less than the the nil rate band (currently £255,000 for tax year 2003/2004) it is probably not worth taking any further action, unless you expect your assets to rise significantly in value.