Monday Mystery: Will Nancy dare to venture into East Taiwan?
August 1, 2022
Good morning all and welcome to the nearly world-famous Daily Fishwrap, carefully hand-crafted inside our World Headquarters in East Nong Bon.
It's my (sad?) duty to inform you that as of this morning, we are in Month Number 30 of Lockdown and Masksup.
Pelosi's trip to Taiwan literally up in the air
The totally vaccinated, completely boostered Joseph Biden has Covid. Again. Goes into isolation.
Scientists already have a name for this: A Rebound Case After Paxlovid. Fauci had the same thing. And it's getting more common.
https://www.aol.com/news/more-people-report-paxlovid-rebounds-221306431.html
It's somewhat mandatory to recall that Joseph Biden was the leading politician who informed his country and the world that if you got shot with vaccines there was (literally) no way you could be infected by the SARS Cov-2 WuFlu.
Also in U.S. politics, and China
House speaker Nancy Pelosi, second in line to be U.S. president should anything happen to Biden, started a mysteriously secretive trip to Asia.
No word yet if she'll visit Taiwan. Or cancel.
China started live-fire naval exercises just in case she goes to Taiwan.
https://tinyurl.com/49phzwnk
Pelosi's itinerary as of this morning:
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia. Possibly, Taiwan
News Items from Taiwan
Former US House speaker Newt Gingrich urges Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan
Gingrich says doing so would prove American commitment to Taiwan is bipartisan
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4611636
U.S. military preparations 'under way' in Taiwan for Nancy Pelosi
Possible visit to Taiwan by U.S. House speaker is upsetting China
U.S. media reported last night that
IF
Pelosi goes to Taiwan, she "will fly on a military aircraft to Taipei.
Pelosi's "small congressional delegation" includes Representative Gregory Meeks, a leading American critic against the Chinese genocide of Uighurs and other human rights violations in eastern Xinjiang province.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4611545
RIP
Steady Eddie
Fidel Ramos, the whip-smart ex-president and former military commander of the Philippines, has died. He was 94.
Ramos' family said the general had 'complications from Covid-19'.
Excellent summary obit at
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220731-former-philippine-president-fidel-steady-eddie-ramos-dies-1
Maria Ressa's Rappler (correctly) called Ramos
The president who guarded democracy, broke monopolies, made peace
Also RIP
 Bill Russell, Celtics legend and NBA trailblazer, dead at 88.
https://nypost.com/2022/07/31/bill-russell-celtics-legend-and-nba-trailblazer-dead-at-88/
THAILAND POLITICS
Junta goes to war with parliament over F-35s
A Lower House committee is attempting to disappoint Prayut and the Royal Thai Air Force.
The committee's deputy chair, Yuttapong Charasathien, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Maha Sarakham, says there is no way that parliament will approve the purchase of two F-35A fighters for 7.38 billion-with-a-"b" baht in real money - about US$200 million, 257 million loonies.
PHOTO: This is true, if exaggerated. It's exactly what Prayut promised after the coup of May, 2014.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018171
This is about all you'll need to stand out at the next Pub Quiz this week.
The Bank of Thailand said an interest rate hike is 'highly likely.
The central bank's Monetary Policy Committee will meet next week - August 10.
Don Nakornthab, senior director for financial stability, said on the bank's YouTube channel:
"The interest-rate direction will be up. It's a very high chance, but by how much, that is up to the committee.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2357266/
NOTE: Thailand's key borrowing rate was set at a record low of 0.5% in May of 2020, and hasn't changed since.
Covid just sits there and laughs at doctors and "experts" and all of us.
In the 24 hours of Sunday, Rona
infected 1,664 more people, now in hospital
killed 26 more people
As of this morning there are 23,161 active cases of Wuflu, of 925 are serious.
But on Sunday, 2,800 Covid victims recovered enough climb out of their hospital beds and go home.
THAILAND MONKEYPOX
Curious approach: Forget the virus, it's all about the stigma.
And promiscuous gay men. Even so, here's your authorised narrative:
 Monkeypox has not so far been labelled a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and can infect anyone. The group currently most affected is men who have sex with men and have skin-to-skin contact.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/lgbtq-community-confronts-excruciating-monkeypox-and-its-stigma/
THAILAND TOURISM
The 737 aircraft landed during a very heavy rainstorm, but at least there were no know injuries.
Chiang Rai airport closed the facility until Wednesday, at least.
Richard hits the nail on the head.
These unique buffalo races take place during a surrounding festival, and draw large, partisan crowds.
Move over, Orient Express
The most luxurious railway car in world history is under construction in Thailand.
But you will have to wait a year to book passage.
The car was designed and built by engineers at eastern Bangkok's King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL).
For starters, it has eight "super luxury" seats, which are equivalent to first-class seats on aircraft, and 17 "luxury" seats, which resemble business class.
And of course 5G 'smart information system' supplied by Huawei.
Of course.
The Bickering Litigious Housewives of English Soccer
[REUTERS]
LONDON: A British judge on Friday effectively branded Rebekah Vardy (left, below) wife of footballer Jamie - a liar as she rejected her "Wagatha Christie" libel suit against Coleen Rooney, following a trial that lifted the lid on celebrity, and soccer, skullduggery.
High Court Judge Karen Steyn found that allegations made by Rooney against Vardy were "substantially true", and that Vardy was "substantially engaged" in the release of damaging stories to The Sun newspaper by her agent.
Vardy's husband Jamie plays for Thai-owned Leicester City, while Rooney is the wife of former Manchester United star and England captain Wayne. The 12-day trial in May laid bare tabloid double-dealing and the lives of the rich and famous.
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61719250
[Monday Morning Joke]
A PRIEST WAS BEING HONORED
A Priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish. A leading local politician and member of the church was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little talk at the dinner. However, he was delayed, so the Priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.
"I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie his way out of it. He had stolen money from his parents; embezzled from his employer; had an affair with his boss’s wife; had sex with his boss’s 17 year old daughter on numerous occasions, taken illegal drugs; had several homosexual affairs; was arrested several times for public nudity and gave VD to his sister in-law.
"I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things. But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."
Just as the Priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk: "I'll never forget the first day our parish Priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first person to go to him for confession." [h/t Ace]
Thailand agencies predicted the future - perfectly
[If only they would do the lottery numbers!]
China's uncontrolled Long March 5B rocket crashes down over the Indian Ocean
Which is exactly where the Thai Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency and its Space Technology Research Center under Gistda predicted, two days earlier.
So, cool beans for Thailand's nerdy Spacies n'est-ce pas?
Now, what to do with this steel helmet and reinforced titanium umbrella I had, Just In Case?
https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/30/23285239/china-uncontrolled-rocket-crashes-down-indian-ocean-long-march-5b-borneo
WORLD ECONOMY
Today is the 110th birthday anniversary of Milton Friedman, the greatest support of free markets since Adam Smith.
 What made Milton Friedman unique not only was his grasp of economics, but also his ability to simply explain complex ideas.
Mister we could use some men like Milton Friedman again.
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/07/31/remembering-the-great-economist-and-champion-of-liberty-milton-friedman/
SPORTS HOCKEY
Looking at the NHL's Cap-Crunched Teams - teams currently sit in a tough salary situation.
Montreal
The Canadiens are against the cap ceiling with only a few hundred thousand to spare. The lone RFA to sign is newly acquired Kirby Dach.
https://thehockeynews.com/news/looking-at-the-nhls-cap-crunched-teams
One of my minor obsessions that I've been preaching for decades. It does not get more unscientific than "Use Before..."
 Food Expiration Dates Aren't Based on Science.
 Here's What You Can Do Instead.
https://www.sciencealert.com/food-expiration-dates-aren-t-based-on-science-here-s-what-you-can-do-instead
AMERICANS ABROAD RUSSIA PRISONER
TECHNOLOGY
With five months left in the year.
SpaceX has broken the launch record it set in 2021. (Space.com)
https://www.space.com/spacex-second-launch-attempt-starlink-group-3-2
Washington Hacked Again
With the Usual Response
Hackers from three hostile foreign countries dived easily into the most secret records of the U.S. federal courts, but it's secret.
The intrusions began more than two years ago, early 2020, but that's secret and you're not allowed to know it.
The breach of "startling breadth and scope" is being investigated by the useless and politically controlled U.S. Department of Justice, so all information has to be secret from all U.S. citizens. Early revelations at:
https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/29/23283942/us-justice-department-federal-courts-data-breach-solar-winds
New Samsung feature will hide your pictures from the Repair Guy
The coming Galaxy S21 phones will have a 'Repair Mode' feature to squirrel away 'those pictures' and information, and save you from being another Hunter Biden.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/07/samsungs-repair-mode-lets-technicians-look-at-your-phone-not-your-data/
This American citizen imprisoned overseas deserves just as much attention as Brittney Griner. Or more?
Ciham Ali Abdu.
Ciham Ali is a U.S.-born citizen from Los Angeles. She was only a 15-year-old high school student at the time of her arrest by Eritrea in 2012.
 The president of Eritrea doesn't like her father.
https://www.based-politics.com/2022/07/21/this-american-citizen-imprisoned-overseas-deserves-just-as-much-attention-as-brittney-griner/
TSMC has completed primary construction of their new 5nm fab (chip factory) in Arizona. (Tom's Hardware)
It will take about 18 months to fit out the building with services and equipment before production begins in early 2024.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/tsmc-fab-21-arizona
The all-new Dell XPS 13 Plus sucks. (The Verge)
They tried to combine the worst features of the MacBook Air and the trackbar models of the MacBook Pro, and succeeded too well. And then they added a battery-draining OLED display.
https://www.theverge.com/23284276/dell-xps-13-plus-intel-2022-review
One of the infinitesimally tiny reasons to ever go to Montreal is the food. Best yellow split-pea soup I ever have eaten, and I have eaten a lot.
Well this takes me back... but when you get the chance, buy and eat Montreal bagels. And slather then with Montreal Smoked Meat. I am not kidding.
And don't think that you will be excused for maple syrup and French Toast: I'm watching you and keeping a list!
https://jewishunpacked.com/the-secret-jewish-history-of-montreal-bagels-and-where-to-eat-them/
