Get your 10 bucks out to pay to put your foot on Thai Land

Hope you've made plans for a pleasant Sunday.
Another month older and deeper...
This is the early edition of Fishwrap, beginning of the middle of the year 2024, June 1.
  

Gas prices are so high I went to the car dealership and test drove three cars just to run my errands.
  

I am a political prisoner!
-- Donald J. Trump (via email)
  

It's unclear how the 34-count conviction could affect the presidential race but, no matter what happens, Trump is still allowed to run for president.
-- Politifact (run by the Poynter Institute, Florida)

THAILAND ANALYSIS
20 years of errors can't be fixed easily
by Chartchai Parasuk PhD, freelance economist.
I have a strong feeling that piecemeal measures are what the economy is going to get from the government to combat Thailand's long-standing economic problems.
The problems have become too big and too complicated to be fixed. It is such a jumble, policymakers have no idea where to start.

Thailand passed the sustainable household debt threshold with 43.5% of debt/GDP 20 years ago, in 2004.
Where is the beef? I want my hamburger with a thick piece of juicy meat, not a plant-based meat substitute, theoretically correct organic bun, and IMF-approved dressing.
Thais deserve real economic measures to fix the economy once and for all, not whimsical measures like more loans to SMEs by state banks and on-again, off-again debt restructuring.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2802003/

THAILAND TOURISM
The new Tourist Minister says plans to soak every single foreiner 300 baht to enter the country is Coming Very Soon -- US$8.15, 11.15 loonies.
Sermsak told Thai media he is calling it Kha Yeap Pan Din, literally Fee For Stepping On Thai Soil -- better translation and much more polite: Landing Fee.
If you drive (as a majority of tourist do) or arrive by sea, the fee will be halved: 150 baht. The plan is, says Somsak, No Escape. Unless you have a Thai passport, you pay. babies included.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40038449

THAILAND OPINION ANALYSIS ASEAN
Lead Editorial [and best question of the day] of the Bangkok Post newspaper
Will justice be served?
The arrest of inmate Chaowalit "Sia Paeng Nanod" Thongduang has helped to boost the sagging image of Thai justice and our law enforcers.
The capture of the fugitive in Indonesia after seven months on the lam reminds society that our law enforcers can find those who attempt to flee justice -- when they sincerely try.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2803274/

Also editorial opinion
THAILAND DRUGS VAPING
Rise of the killer 'toys'
The recent growth of young nicotine addicts is so concerning that the World Health Organization has made "protecting children from tobacco industry interference" a theme of this year's No Tobacco Day.

Trump Joke Of The Day
Will the judge sentence him to White House arrest?

Good Grief. Suicide by being sucked into an airliner’s jet engine
Fatal Schiphol incident victim deliberately entered KLM E190 engine: investigators
Dutch investigators say that the so-far unidentified person killed by an Embraer 190 engine on a taxiway at Amsterdam Schiphol 'entered the powerplant deliberately.'
https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/fatal-schiphol-incident-victim-deliberately-entered-klm-e190-engine-investigators/158570.article

Oilers turn on the power

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice on power plays.
The teams will fly back to Texas for Game 6 --  Tuesday at 0700, aka Monday 2000 Ottawa time.
Decision at Sunrise
The winners will play Panthers or Rangers for the Cup, with Florida leading that series 3-2.

But Wait! That wasn't the only good news for Canada yesterday.
The B.C. pig-farmer serial killer Robert Pickton died as a result of a thrashing by other prisoners in his Quebec jail.
Correctional Service Canada assured the nation they are working frantically to identify and punish Pickton's assailants. A 51-year-old suspect is in custody and, allegedly, not remorseful.
With Video: https://t.ly/azD35

I'm also feeling really happy right now.
Cynthia Cardinal of Vancouver, sister of one of Pickton's scores of victims.

We're still not finished with the Great White North, source of the Feel Good Story of Today
Manitoba Farmer Gives Away Millions Of Potatoes To People In Need
Manitoba farmer Isaiah Hofer faced an unprecedented challenge this year when his potato harvest yielded an exceptional surplus. With nearly 100,000 bags of potatoes -- each weighing 100 pounds -- Hofer was left contemplating the unfortunate fate of letting millions of pounds of nutritious food go to waste.
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/5421/Manitoba-Farmer-Gives-Away-Millions-Of-Potatoes-To-People-In-Need

Not to be punny or snarky, but he also floated a plan for a pier to deliver aid that was a complete failure.

Good to know:
Joseph says: It's time for Gaza war to end, and anyhow Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7th.
Anyhow, details of this 3-piece 'Peace Plan': https://t.ly/l5ige

At the White House,
gridiron football Super Bowl champs were visiting, allowing Joseph a pure Michael Dukakis (inset) gaffe.

THAILAND TOURISM
If you're in Chiang Rai, or plan a visit, this park is worth a few hours.
So far, foreign tourists haven't found it, so the sooner the better. And there's an excellent, properly priced Thai/European restaurant. And electric cars to get around.
Singha Park Launches "Tea Infuse" -- ready-to-drink cold brew tea.

DINING TRAD
Long-time Thai 'street food' hits Malaysian food court.
Scads of people fly, drive or walk to Thailand to eat the unique khao-men-gai, chicken with rice.
The version in Malaysia sells for more than 10 Malaysian bucks, which is a massive ripoff by Bangkok and Thai standards. But anyhow, it seems the Malaysians love it, and for very good reason.
(The major but not only secret to Thai khao-man-gai is "boneless; you cannot choke on it. The second secret is the homemade sauce served alongside, phet or un-phet your choise. Third, the rice is cooked in broth from the chicken -- dee-lish.)
https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/food/40038386

Evacuation Logistics