Permission to boff in Bali confirmed
SOCCER WORLD CUP QATAR
The other semi-final between France and Morocco will decide who plays against Messi (right) and the Argentines on Sunday.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/61047823
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus back with a slam
The number of hospital beds available exclusively to Covid-19 patients has leapt from 5%to 8.5%, nationwide.
The deputy chief of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said yesterday that 'many' hospitals are reopening their Covid-19 wards as a fresh outbreak of the Rona has hit Thailand hard.
Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of Chulalongkorn University's Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, posted on Facebook yesterday that long-acting anti-bodies (LAAB) treatments such as Evushield should be administered to people who are vulnerable to Covid-19 infection, such as those with chronic kidney disease, cancer and organ transplant patients.
There were 287 diagnosed, new cases of Covid on Tuesday.
Oh, the 20-year plan? Oh, we're ditching it.
Thailand junta's 'government' announces completely new 25-year master development plan.
NOTE: There's a pretty good chance that the junta's token 'prime minister Prayut' won't be around in 2047, when he'll be 93.
Yesterday, he dispatched his deputy spokesperson lady Rachada Dhnadirek to announce the new plan. She said:
The weekly government meeting approved a number of draft policies and strategies to serve as development frameworks for higher education, science, research, and innovation between 2023 and 2027.
They would aim to promote drastic change that would help Thailand become a developed country by 2037.
https://www.bangkokpost.com://
Anutin stays mum on political plans; so does Prayut
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul has downplayed a recent opinion survey that suggested he stands a good chance of becoming the next prime minister, saying voters will have the final say in the coming general election.
He made the remarks yesterday after
being asked by reporters about the results of the latest junta-supported Super Poll released on Sunday, which showed Anutin was the most favoured candidate.
==
Prayut is in Belgium for the week, presumably enjoying mussels in Brussels.
The junta's token 'prime minister' is mulling his political future in Thailand but seems likely to announce half a dozen important moves when he returns.
It is likely he will leap political parties, dissolve the lower House of Representatives and call a snap election,
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2458885/
State Railway needs a amall dollop of extra cash
The State Railways of Thailand said yesterday it's working flat-out on develping the high-speed rail system, but the project needs a bit more money.
The "bit more money" is 300 billion-with-a-"B" baht - around US$8.7 billion, or 12 billion loonies.
An SRT source said the blueprint of the 356-kilometre section of the second phase of the project, from Korat to the border province of Nong Khai, has already been finished.
The cash request will go to the SRT board for consideration during January-February next year - and then will be handed to the junta's government for approval.
This is the plan - always subject to change.
Superb!
This is better than any World Cup goal, ever.
Bangkok media (which is to say all Thai media) signaled yesterday that the ruling junta's alleged "government" was ready to dissolve parliament - which is to say call a snap election.
The generally respected National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll) was quickly on the case.
Token 'prime minister' Prayut Chan-o-cha and Friends are working on a rollout, next week or so, of economic relief measures to be called "New Year's gifts" to the people.
At Parliament House in Bangkok members of parliament are right now considering which
party will give them the best chance of
winning in the next election.
"It is only a matter of time before Gen Prayut dissolves the Lower House" - the necessary first step to setting an election date.
Prayut is in Brussels for an EU-ASEAN meet, which gives him time to ponder whether he should switch political parties - from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) which was set up in 2018 specifically to support him - to the new Ruam Thai Sang Chart [United Thai Nation Party] headed by the hardest of hard-core junta-Prayut supporters.
ASEAN INDONESIA
Boffing in Bali - Perfectly Okay
Resort island legalizes Sex Holidays by all foreigners
A new Indonesia law outlaws all sex outside the legal marriage of one man and one woman. But c'mon man, why else would anyone visit Bali except for a dirty weekend? Anyhow...
THEREFORE
The governor of Bali announced yesterday, right in public, that the resort police will never, ever enforce the Bali Bonk Blue Law on foreigners.
Bali tourists won't be charged under sex ban law
The 'reform' of Indonesia's Criminal Code also bans criticism of the president - just like Thailand's lese majeste.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63948740
Unpleasant Visitors
Record 18 PLA bombers enter Taiwan's air defence zone in latest 'practice run.'
["PLA" is People's Liberation Army]
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3203175/record-18-chinese-bombers-enter-taiwans-air-defence-zone-latest-blockade-or-attack-practice-run
VIDEO:
China suspends beer, liquor, beverage imports from Taiwan
https://focustaiwan.tw/cross-strait/202212100005
In Part 5 of The Twitter Files: mployees From Commie Countries Thought Censoring Trump Was a Bad Idea.
Well, they know firat-hand what happens next.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/megan-fox/2022/12/12/twitter-files-part-5-tweeps-from-commie-countries-didnt-think-censoring-trump-was-a-good-idea-n1652924
WEEKEND READ
A topic I've never seen, emphasised.
Famous Indigenous Artists in Canada
https://uniteforchange.com/en/blog/indigenous/canadian-artists/
USA RESPECT MARRIAGE
Biden invites drag queen 'Marti G. Cummings' to a White House bill signing.
The bill is the Respect for Marriage Act at the White House, which enshrines same-sex marriage protections into U.S. federal law.
Marti was so overwhelmed with respect that she posted her latest video of much nudity for everyone to see.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ci5QUk6DAXA/
Quite k3w1, but what if you don't respect it, which U.S. federal three-letter agency will track you down and place you in which Big House?
Why is is always North Carolina?
A 14-year-old girl has been denied a kidney transplant operation by the Duke University children’s hospital because she hasn’t been vaccinated for COVID-19.
Yulia Hicks suffers from a rare degenerative kidney condition known as Senior Loken Syndrome, which requires a transplant, according to reports.
Though she is not vaccinated against Covid, she has had the coronavirus, so the parents argue she’s protected by natural immunities.
https://slaynews.com/news/14-year-old-girl-denied-kidney-transplant-unvaccinated/
TECHNOLOGY
ABANDONED: The Human Cost of Neurotechnology Failure [Nature.com]
“When the makers of electronic implants abandon their projects, people who rely on the devices have everything to lose.”
https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-022-03810-5/index.html
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE. It's easier to cheat than to do the work.
Stanford University president under investigation for scientific research misconduct. [Collegefix.com]
Four neurobiology papers co-authored by the president, a prominent neurobiologist, are now under review for alleged scientific misconduct regarding altered images and other errors in several scientific journals.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/stanford-president-under-investigation-for-scientific-misconduct/
THERE IS EVIDENCE...
that this is Crisis By Design.
This is Technology, right?
It would be a bit of an understatement to say lash extensions are having a moment right now.
The eyelash extension market was valued at $1.36 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $2.31 billion by 2028.
It's pretty scary stuff. Read on.
https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/12/lash-extensions-can-cause-serious-eye-issues-experts-share-advice-17918729/
10 Beauty Salons in Bangkok to Get Perfect Eyelashes ...
Excerpt:
Another top-quality beauty salon that specializes in natural-looking eyelashes with a unique technique acquired from professionals in Taiwan, one of the top countries in the world for eyelash extensions. You can pick from 3 different styles of Classic, Volume, and Hybrid.
https://www.siam2nite.com/en/magazine/lifestyle/item/1280-beauty-salons-in-bangkok-to-get-perfect-eyelash-extention
TECHNOLOGY CRYPTO EXCHANGE FTX
U.S. authorities issued a warrant against Sam Bankman-Fried because of his fraudulent FTX. Within hours, the Bahamas arrested him.
Now The Bahamas intends to extradite him to the USA.
Just asking'... but if "U.S. authorities" were so efficient that they issued specific charges and an arrest warrant, why didn't U.S. authorities arrest the outrageou bum?
https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/12/12/ftx-founder-sam-bankman-fried-arrested-bahamas-says/
Fun Fact
And they are "fearful" Sam's coming legal fees will wipe them out.
ASEAN MYANMAR HUMAN RIGHTS
East Asian expert analyst homes in on a singular problem in this week's Oped:
Humanitarian peril on western border
While Thailand's political machinery and personnel are now gearing up for a possible upcoming election, there is a humanitarian crisis in waiting on the western border.
Politicians have so far turned a blind eye.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2459075/
TECHNOLOGY
The 'social' app that China told every citizen and every tourist-visitor they must install a use has been deactivated. By China. [bbc.com]
After three years the tracking app designed to find and lock down possible Covid sufferers is offline and gone.
It's the latest sign that the Chinese Communist Party is abandoning its hopeless 'Zero-Covid' policy.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63941512
TECHNOLOGY
ABANDONED: The Human Cost of Neurotechnology Failure [Nature.com]
“When the makers of electronic implants abandon their projects, people who rely on the devices have everything to lose.”
https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-022-03810-5/index.html
FOLLOW THE SCIENCE It's easier to cheat than to do the work.
Stanford University president under investigation for scientific research misconduct. [Collegefix.com]
Four neurobiology papers co-authored by the president, a prominent neurobiologist, are now under review for alleged scientific misconduct regarding altered images and other errors in several scientific journals.
https://www.thecollegefix.com/stanford-president-under-investigation-for-scientific-misconduct/
Yes, very scientific.
Have we not seen this movie several times already?
TECHNOLOGY EV VIETNAM
Made In Vietnam EVs
Vietnamese kajillionaire Pham Nhat Vuong has put his two main EV [electric vehicles] SUVs on show at two major auto exhibitions in New York and El Lay.
Response is positive [ConsumerReports.org]
There are no plans yet revealed about assembly or sales in Thailand. Yet.
If you buy a Vinfast Model 7 or 9, you can buy a battery at the same time - for US$14,800 to $18,500.
A battery to make the automobile actually go, pushes the cost of a Vinfast to about $30,000 (stripped) or $45,000 loaded - betweem about 1 million to 1.3 million baht in real money.
VinFast batteries come with a lifetime guarantee.
But batteries might also be available by monthly subscription - $169 or $219.
The current Vinfast schedule is to begin mass production and showroom sales within about 18 months -- about mid-2024
PHOTO
The cheaper Vinfast VF-7 being ogled below is a small SUV, similar to a Mazda CX-5.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/vinfast-introduces-new-smaller-ev-models-at-la-auto-show-a9628616819/
Limeys love their pubs more than their children.
Confirmed!
