Hi Cristina. I think people with money have had the knowledge to stash their cash abroad - offshore accounts etc, for many many years so I'm not sure I agree that globalisation has had much of an effect.
Perhaps the reverse in some ways. Nowadays, within Europe at least, the tax authorities actually communicate with each other, unlike in the past, so it is more difficult to avoid paying tax or hide assets.
It's not funny but it is something that appears very easy to do for people with enough money to pay for creative accountants.
As an ex tax inspector I've seen many examples of people trying to do this whilst declaring themselves bankrupt or insolvent. Sometimes they get away with it, sometimes they don't.
It's a game, and often (unless the courts decide to make an example of you despite your wealth) the more money you have, the more chance you have of getting away with it.
I think my impatience with queuing started when I moved to Spain. The banks are the worst, but the supermarkets are a close second.
People are always jumping the queue with just one item aren't they, I don't mind sometimes but when you've been waiting for half an hour already it's annoying.
Don't like Dia Elley, I prefer Mercadona or El Corte Ingles if I'm feeling extravagant.
Hate is a very strong word isn't it? We seem to use it indiscriminately from childhood so it always sounds very childish to my ears when people say "I hate..."
I do say it though about many things, going to the dentist, queuing, the bottom falling out of a flimsy grocery bag in the middle of the road and on a more serious note, cruelty or selfishness, but I would never say I hate an individual or group of individuals.....dislike or not love anymore yes, but not hate.
Age and experience rather than wisdom are synonymous.
Wisdom should come with age, but truth be told, there are many young people wise beyond their years, due perhaps to experiences that they shouldn't have had as they were growing up. There are also older people who haven't learnt a jot from their life experiences.
Having said that, I have learnt a lot from my grandparents who were indeed wise.
As others have already said, wisdom is about learning valuable lessons from life.
Nina, I teach English to foreign students around the world - mainly business English and you are correct when you say there are fundamental grammatical errors made by native speakers as well as learners of English.
For me, communicative English is the key. Most students have been taught endless grammar in school/university by non native speakers so by the time I meet them, if they are not complete beginners, they often have more knowledge of grammar rules than native speakers, but they cannot hold a simple conversation.
I also believe teaching cultural awareness is important and I incorporate it in my lessons when I can. I can teach business people how to write a good email or make a presentation in English for example, but they also have to be taught what is culturally acceptable language.
Jokes and satire do not often translate well and can cause offence as has been seen on many a occasion here and on the International Forum.
I do find it sad though when a language disappears or fades away.
I've been asked to do a summer term here from June to August and I doubt very much whether I could do the winter term from September too - that's just too long here and away from my beloved Spain!
I'm definitely not a newbie, but I'm driven away many times for long periods. I get tired of the rudeness and inability on the part of some people to argue/debate rationally without getting abusive or feeling hard done by because somebody disagrees with them.
I also never really feel part of the CS world, but I'm not upset or offended by this because CS is not a constant in my life and those of you who do appear to be great friends and DO indulge in chit chat (though again that doesn't bother me unless a really good thread is sinking because of it) are nice to me when I appear.
You are fortunate Riya because you are popular and well liked here, perhaps that's because you never really rock the boat despite the fact that many of your threads are thought provoking and likely to end up with arguments given the different personalities here.
That's a skill in some ways, but it could also be viewed by some as lighting a fire then sitting on the fence and watching the fire blaze in order to avoid animosity or flack.
I'm speaking generally not personally Riya.
Do you mind if I speak honestly? I think you are a very nice, loving and genuine person, but perhaps a little naive at times - however you are also very young so that's ok!
I know what you mean, I've been in similar situations where younger friends seem not to discriminate but I DO feel older in these situations nowadays. It is great though when younger people are your friends simply because you are you and age isn't a barrier. I see that more in Spain than in the UK where I feel there is much more age discrimination.
I won't cut my hair short because I've always had long hair and I like it this way but there are people who think at a certain age women should go for the short look.
Like your sister who probably thinks you dress too young for your age - who decides when we should cut our hair or start dressing like our grandmothers? It's nonsense isn't it?
There are ways to dress in a fashionable way without looking as though we are trying to emulate our daughters.
But you still didn't answer my question - do you look at male profile pics and think what an old fart?????
I know what you mean, I've been in similar situations where younger friends seem not to discriminate but I DO feel older in these situations nowadays. It is great though when younger people are your friends simply because you are you and age isn't a barrier. I see that more in Spain than in the UK where I feel there is much more age discrimination.
I won't cut my hair short because I've always had long hair and I like it this way but there are people who think at a certain age women should go for the short look.
Like your sister who probably thinks you dress too young for your age - who decides when we should cut our hair or start dressing like our grandmothers? It's nonsense isn't it?
There are ways to dress in a fashionable way without looking as though we are trying to emulate our daughters.
But you still didn't answer my question - do you look at male profiles and think what an old fart?????
Thanks for the responses, but nobody has said they too look at people the same age or thereabouts and think like I do..... does nobody else think "jeeze don't they look old?"
I can't believe it's just me!
I do agree though that we are are as old as we feel and I've also met many older people who are vibrant and beautiful.
An English teacher wrote these words on the whiteboard: "woman without her man is nothing". The teacher then asked the students to punctuate the words correctly.
The men wrote: "Woman, without her man, is nothing."
The women wrote: "Woman! Without her, man is nothing."
I look at profile pics of men my age or a little older and nine times out of ten I think - jeeze he looks so old.
Now not to blow my own trumpet, most people don't believe my age when I tell them and I've inherited great genes from my mum who looks at least 10 years younger than her true age.
The big but though is do we ever really see ourselves as our real age or do we still imagine we are in our first flush of youth?
This is for the middle-aged folk amongst us so all you young people are welcome to give your views but until you age a little you may not be able to truly empathise .
Middle-aged - I dislike that expression and it brings to mind a class I had some time ago where we were discussing the very same along with other age expressions. I asked my students what age they perceived as middle-aged and they all said around 35. I was amazed and had expected them to say 50 or thereabouts. I then woke up and realised that in Russia where the death rate age is much lower, 35 is actually a realistic definition of middle-age.
Jan1305 Forum Posts (5,319)
RE: What do you think about judgment proof?
Does that mean I shouldn't declare my earnings abroad and get away with not paying any tax?