An Englander and an American travel writer walked into a huge unused train terminal
Good morning kids, and any grown people who might be eavesdropping. It's Thursday, the Ides of December.
And b-b-r-r-r this early morning the wind chill factor dipped below 20 out here in eastern Nong Bon. Thank good=ness for warm winter clothing and heavy comforters and warm women in the overnight bed.
New Year's Eve: It's all about the Covid
Thailand's ruling junta has not banned all New Year's Eve parties.
Not yet.
But starting last night in Bangkok, authorities right up to and including elected governor Chadchart Sittipunt said he has just two priorities for December 31.
Priority One: Everyone with a mask. Everyone, one metre or more from everyone else. Anyone who's feeling a tiny bit under the weather, even just a head cold, stay the Hell Away from all Bangkok countdowns, everywhere.
Effective immediately, there will be more vaccination sites, and everyone must carry their vaxxport and show it on demand. No one, literally no one without a booster shot will be allowed to attend any New Year's Eve party anywhere in Bangkok. Everyone must prove they've had one or several boosters.
Everyone intending to host a New Year's Eve party must apply and receive a permit from Bangkok City Hall - or get busted and arrested.
On Wednesday, there were 1,541 confirmed new Covid cases and 15 deaths.
Priority Two: Try to have some fun, anyway.
This year's 'Bangkok Countdown' will centre on Iconsiam, the giant mall on the riverbank.
Photo is from last December.
Two of Thailand's best-known resident travelers discuss the new, giant train terminus, formerly known as the Bang Sue Grand.
It is officially and unofficially Krung Thep Aphiwat, please memorize that. Richard Barrow [left] and the much better known Bangkok resident Steve Van Beek wandered through the empty station on Tuesday and totally agree on what's about to happen.
L-A-R-G-E photos at the tweet site:
COMMENT: Being lost and confused in a massive building where no one speaks your language sounds pretty exciting.
Steve Van Beek's newest book, The Latte River, has been out for 2-3 months in the Kindle edition. Hardcover and trade-paperback arriving soon.
And lest there be confusion: There is no doubt [as in "none"] that Steve Van Beek is the greatest writer on Thailand travel.
https://t.ly/1GWt
Pravit shrugs...
The most powerful man in Thailand's politics blurts out that, yes, Prayut is going to switch political parties. So what?
It has been the worst-kept secret in Thai politics that the alleged 'prime minister' Prayut Chan-o-cha ia going to abandon his old army buddy four-star General Pravit Wongwuwan, and attempt to move on.
Prayut is in Europe, specifically to discuss sustainability. And might speak of his own plans when he returns next week. [Example: Prayut never-ever has stood for election, so will he change that?]
 In the meantime...
The political party that Pravit established in 2018 to save, surround and protect Prayut, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP)
is going to lose him to a new and even more junta-loyal party, the Ruam Thai Sang Chart [United Thai Nation] Party.
There is also a groundswell of elected members of parliament -- 50 or more -- willing to resign or switch parties (like Prayut) and force a dissolution of the lower House for a snap election.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Thai-Enquirer-News-Summary-December-14-2022.pdf
Husband shoots his tech-savvy wife - dead.
The 27-year-old wife of Arnon Sutthikarn, 30 (centre, being arrested in photo) found out hubby was boffing and shagging women [plural].
Instead of confronting him or walking out, Jaranya set up her mobile phone to livestream the cheating bastard on Facebook Live.
Not so fast, Thailand
The World Bank warned yesterday that all those rosy economic predictions by Thailand's ruling junta need a slow-down.
Says the latest World Bank tea-leaves reading:
 The Thai economy is projected to recover faster than expected this year,
 but will face slower growth in 2023 because of global headwinds.
The World Bank calls its report on Thailand 'Thailand Economic Monitor: Fiscal Policy for a Resilient and Equitable Future'.
It says:
Growth was supported by stronger private consumption and services exports thanks to the nascent tourism recovery and strong pent-up demand after the relaxation of lockdown measures and travel restrictions.
Nascent:
Good word. This is Khaosan Road on Monday evening:
By coincidence
The Thai Enquirer online newspaper has published a longread report on the economy, headlined:
Thailand's 2023 economic growth story faces major headwinds
https://t.ly/mVdG
MYANMAR BURMA TATMADAW DICTATORS
Burmese lawyer and human rights expert San San Yi kidnapped and killed
San San Yi. San San Yi, 50, is believed to have died in PDF custody
San San Yi, one of the best known lawyers and human rights experts was stopped at a roadblock, abducted and killed, allegedly by members of a People's Defence Force {PDF} battalion.
The PDF are supposedly organised to work against the Tatmadaw army now in control of Myanmar.
San San Yi's abductors were from Kanbalu PDF Battalion 4, in the Sagaing region.
Witnesses and allies of San San Yi believe her abducters had traitorously defected to the Tatmadaw's northern region command. A total cover-up is under way.
San San Yi was a known political enemy of the Tatmadaw dictatorship, and was representing several anti-military prisoners in court.
https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/pdf-battalion-under-investigation-for-death-of-sagaing-lawyer
THIS. IS. CANADA.
SEGREGATION NOW, SEGREGATION TOMORROW, SEGREGATION FOREVER
This is an actual, real university, née 1948, Ryerson Institute of ‎History, Ottawa.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/successful-candidates-will-self-identify-as-black-canadian-professor-job-posting/
https://ottawacitizen.com/tag/ryerson-university/
Ryerson changes name to Toronto Metropolitan University after backlash
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/canada/ryerson-university-changes-name-to-toronto-metropolitan-university-after-backlash/wcm/e154ac9a-2136-4a55-bdf8-204c95279a11
GLOBAL WARMING
Major winter storm to hit Toronto with heavy snow and freezing rain.
 Here's when it's arriving
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/12/13/major-winter-storm-to-hit-toronto-with-heavy-snow-and-freezing-rain-heres-when-its-arriving.html
The Dots Might Connect Themselves.
The Coming War Over Biden Family Corruption.
Hunter: is he the centre of it all? Or is he the smartest man his father ever met?
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/the-coming-war-over-hunter-biden
Excerpt
Some Democrats disagree strongly with the aggressive strategy. After all, Hunter Biden is a former drunk and crackhead who made a huge amount of money through questionable business deals in which he sought to cash in on his father's name and influence. He then blew the money on booze, crack, and prostitutes, after which he sought new, and even shadier, ways to further cash in on his father's name and influence.
Correct. I have been deep inside both and I have watched the evolution.
The United States Military Dragged Itself into Politics.
Key point:
 "The American public see senior leadership who refuse to defend their own institution." And if they refuse to defend their own institution, how can they be trusted to defend their nation.
https://tinyurl.com/2dfu49a9
Hands up, everyone who knew that the United States had a well-known soccer writer!
His wife says the poor guy died of an aneurysm WHILE COVERING a World Cup match.
[ASSOCIATED PRESS: NEW YORK] Grant Wahl, 49, died of a ruptured blood vessel when he was stricken while covering a World Cup match last weekend, according to an autopsy of the well-known American soccer writer.
Wahl's wife, Doctor Céline Gounder:
 "Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium."
 That's the wall that surrounds the heart.
https://t.ly/mM_k
The art of Chinese cooking.
