Question: Is Sunday the first, or the last day of the week?
As already stated: Welcome! Please obey our few but necessary rules:
1) Opine and/or bloviate.
2) Do not run with sharp objects.
3) Don't piss in our pool.
4) Do not jostle others in the Sunday coffee line at Ka So.
5) Be kind to one another.
6) Yes, and have a wonderful Sunday!
The U.S. Embassy in Thailand, without an ambassador for 528 days (and counting), tried its best to mark U.S.A. Independence Day at a little do for Thai elite at the Bangkok Athene Hotel.
Drinks were served and a toast was offered.
From left: Army Colonel Pimpisa Jitkaewtae, wife of Royal Thai Army commander General Narongphan Jitkaewtae; Gen Narongphan himself; U.S. Charge d’Affaires Michael Heath; Thailand's deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs Don Pramudwinai; deputy speaker of parliament Suchart Tancharoen; Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, president of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) and president of the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT).
Thought Of The Day
America is a country with citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote.
THAILAND POLITICS
The Sunday front of Thailand's only remaining English-language broadsheet newspaper attempted a middle-ground analysis of the country's political situation.
It chose to focus on the junta's attempt to fence in protesters and demonstrators at seven scattered Bangkok locations.
The lede:
The designation of seven protest sites by City Hall has been met with a cautious welcome from academics, politicians and protest leaders who agreed it should not stop rallies spilling to other parts of the capital.
Rally organisers must notify the district office 24 hours ahead of time so that officials can facilitate the gathering and the maintain safety of demonstrators.
As a benefit to tourism, visitors to the capital will not feel unnerved with the protests taking place in the designated areas.
But then
Piyarat "Toto" Chongthep, leader of the We Volunteer (WeVo) anti-junta group:
Designation of the rally sites was unnecessary given the principle that people should be free to organise a protest on every square inch of public space in the country.
Some of the desig-ated sites were too small and suggested that large grounds such as Sanam Luang or the Lumpini Park should be allowed access to protesters.
Thatchapong Kaedam, a core leader of the youth-led Ratsadorn group, maintained rallying at designated sites does not bode well for political leverage.
"No public parks in Bangkok should be off-limits to protesters."
THAILAND TOURISM
One week ago, the junta kindly suggested that all Thai media should publish or broadcast a story saying that 10 million foreign tourists would enter Thailand by New Year's Eve.
Today, the junta requested that number be reduced.
9 million international arrivals likely by year's end: Prayut 'upbeat'
Still a tough, difficult climb ahead
[BLOOMBERG]
One year after the fanciful 'reopening' of the Phuket Sandbox tourism, Thailand has removed many of the last travel restrictions.
But the long road to recovery ahead will put the once-vibrant tourism industry's resilience to the test.
https://t.co/B3v4MXG3YN
THAILAND ECONOMY SINGHA
Oh, you like Bia Singha? Great, but you need mo' money, pal.
Boon Rawd Trading Company has started with new, increased prices for Leo beer, a lager.
It's inflation and the rising costs in the prices of production, energy and fuel.
Boon Rawd CEO Phurit Bhirombhakdi: "Leo is our last beer brand to implement a price increase, with other brands having already announced increases earlier in the year." (He means Singha.)
https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/major-thai-brewer-announces-increase-in-beer-prices/
Related
ZOMG How have non-alcoholic beers gotten so good?
Short answer: Science Marches On.
https://www.popsci.com/health/what-is-non-alcoholic-beer/
THAILAND POLITICS
A newspaper analyst figures, his words, that the current Pheu Thai polical party, you know, the red-shirt heirs of Thaksin and Yingluck, the analyst writes that Pheu Thai sees a red tide in Thailand, and Pheu Thai plans to ride that red tide, back into power.
Well, it's a theory. He writes:
With the next elections just months away, we have to admit that Pheu Thai, with its audacious campaign targeting a landslide victory, now ranks as the strongest in the land.
The opposition bloc leader is eyeing a decisive victory that will enable it to scramble the efforts of the military-installed Senate in deciding who gets to be prime minister.
PHOTO:¨Nattawut Saikuar, director of the Pheu Thai Family project, addressed supporters in Si Sa Ket province last month.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2338228/
And another 'Section 112' victim heads for punishment, for defaming Thai royalty. Including up to 15 years of prison.
I haven't seen, and in any case would not be allowed to show her depiction of King Rama X, but I'm taken with her self-portrait.
NOTE: 90,000 baht in real money can buy 3,263 loonies or 2,531 U.S. dollars.
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
Rise in severe COVID-19 cases after easing of restrictions
The sub-committee of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has expressed concern over a spike in lung infections among COVID-19 patients.
The former Miss Thailand Universe and current assistant spokeslady for the CCSA Doctor Apisamai Srirangsan said the number of lung infection patients requiring ventilators is up.
She said that lung infections increased from 598 on June 17th to 684 cases yesterday and those requiring ventilators rose from 288 last week to 292 yesterday.
She said (honest; true) She said that the fatality rate remains stable.
Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-sees-rise-in-severe-covid-19-cases-after-easing-of-restrictions/
THAIS IN TEXAS
Despite its harsh, expensive 'energy policies', the U.S. Biden administration was completely, totally unable to stop Banpu of Thailand from buying and beginning new operations on natural gas and midstream assets in the Barnett shale field in Texas.
And brag about it.
https://www.banpu.com/news/banpu-completes-the-acquisition-of-barnett-shale-early-to-benefit-from-gas-price-increase-in-winter-steering-expansion-of-natural-gas-portfolio-in-the-u-s-emphasizing-its-strategy-for-energy-su/
I never have claimed authority on the semi-aquatic rats but this is an excellent 13-minute documentary on Castor canadensis, the beaver
BURMA MYANMAR CHINA ASEAN
[THE ASSOCIATED PRESS]
China's top diplomat visits Myanmar amid opposition protest
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Myanmar for a meeting in Bagan with counterparts from the host country, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
They are due to talk about the Mekong (Lancang in Chinese) but the real winner is already certain.
Myanmar said that hosting the meeting proves that the Tatmadaw dictatorship is the real deal - legitimate.
Tatmadaw spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told a news conference in the capital Nay Pyi Taw that the attendance of the foreign ministers at the meeting was an obvious recognition of Myanmar's sovereignty and its government.
Ironically, it was China that set up the Countries of the Mekong Delta, a potential source of regional tensions due to an increasing number of hydroelectric projects that are altering the flow and raising concerns of ecological damage.
China has built 10 dams along the upper stretch of the Mekong. So far.
PHOTO: Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (centre) greets Cambodian Foreign Minister and ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar Prak Sokhonn, left. (Photo provided by Tatmadaw)
https://news.yahoo.com/chinas-top-diplomat-visits-myanmar-132030355.html
SUNDAY LONGREADS
By Matt Ridley
The case for the lab-leak theory
https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/06/27/the-case-for-the-lab-leak-theory/
Islam and the making of the West
During Europe's Dark Ages, the Arab world kept the candle of civilisation burning.
Europe's emergence from the Middle Ages was in no small measure spurred on by the intellectual and scientific breakthroughs of the Arab world, particularly in the 9th and 10th centuries.
https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/04/17/islam-and-the-making-of-the-west/
The entire nation of Canada (pop. 38.24 million) has ground to a halt.
Sriracha in short supply, as maker is suspending production. What to do?
Huy Fong Foods said it's scaling back production due to a shortage of chilies. To keep your summer spicy, here are alternatives to the hot sauce
IMPORTANT: The U.S. Huy Fong Foods company uses only jalapeño 'chillies' to make its alleged so-called Sriracha sauce. It does NOT use Si Racha chillies and does NOT have any contact of any kind with Si Racha province, town - or sauce makers.
PHOTO: This is what North Americans think is 'Sriracha sauce'.
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2022/07/01/sriracha-in-short-supply-as-maker-is-suspending-production-what-to-do.html
Interesting and discouraging that this Canadian alleged so-called "food reporter" doesn't even mention actual, real, authentic Si Racha sauce from Si Racha, made with actual Si Racha 'chillies'.
CORONAVIRUS WUHAN LAB FINANCING
Funny how little coverage this story received in the North American and world media and science papers.
And Doctor 'Don Tony' Fauci was unavailable for comment. He said a year ago on CNN (where else) that he personally signed the cheques for the 'necessary' U.S. funding of 'gain-of-function' research, especially on bats. But then, so did the European Union.
It's a key point in the search for the origin of SARS Cov-2 novel coronavirus.
NO MORE US FUNDS FOR WUHAN LAB:
The U.S. Congress' House Appropriations Committee approved a provision barring any U.S. funds from being used to support China's Wuhan lab.
https://justthenews.com/government/congress/defunding-wuhan-congress-quietly-bans-federal-funds-labs-china-russia-and-iran?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
TRIVIA
In addition to bat-pox research and gain of function, Wuhan is also the site of construction of the Chinese submarine to be sold to Thailand.
U.S. bans funding of Wuhan Lab
The United States Congress has decided it no longer wants to take the risk of funding medical research at labs controlled by Beijing or other American adversaries.
With little fanfare and in bipartisan fashion, House appropriators quietly amended the 2023 federal budget for health and science agencies on Thursday to ban any funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which U.S. intelligence fears may have been the origin point for the coronavirus pandemic, and other labs like it.
What it says
"None of the funds made available by this Act may be made available to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or any other laboratory located in a country determined by the Secretary of State to be a foreign adversary, including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran," reads the amendment approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
Full Text (PDF): https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2022-07/HoueAppropsAmendments6-30-22.pdf
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP00/20220630/114968/HMKP-117-AP00-20220630-SD007.pdf
CORONAVIRUS
Well... yes! Where else could it possibly have come from?
North Korea suggests balloons flown from South brought Covid-19
The DPRK issued an 'emergency instruction':
Vigilantly deal with alien things coming by wind and other climate phenomena and balloons.
PHOTO: North Korean defectors release balloons carrying leaflets condemning North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his government.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/01/north-korea-blames-covid-laden-balloons-sent-from-south-for-virus-outbreak
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jul/1/north-korea-suggests-balloons-flown-from-south-bro/
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
Hey! Give us another week, okay?
Thailand's junta agency to decide next Friday on Covid-19 endemic status
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) will meet on July 8 to revise plans to declare Covid-19 endemic, as patients with severe symptoms are likely to rise.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017257
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2337998/
Take it off! Take it off!
Unmasking 101
Thailand's nationwide mask mandate has been lifted in anticipation of downgrading Covid-19 to an endemic, which came into effect Friday.
The biggest question you may have right now as we're going through this transitional period, heading back to the old normal, is probably when and where you can unmask.
However, if you think you can free your face from any coverings and leave your mask at home, you should read the following first. Here's what you need to know before you mask (or unmask).
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2337753/
America's Paper of Record: Democrats Argue That Clarence Thomas Should Only Have 3/5 of a Vote.
There are people who want to fact-check sarcasm. Be sure to send them your thoughts and prayers.
GLOBAL WARMING
'Climate Activists' Slash SUV Tyres in New York City, Brag That Other U.S. Cities Will be Hit Next
We are rapidly expanding across the United States and are in touch with people in major cities across the U.S.A.
It's a practice that started in the U.K. These Proud Boys call themselves 'The Tyre Extinguishers'. And they have a Website!
Much more at:
https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/07/climate-activists-slash-suv-tires-in-nyc-say-other-u-s-cities-will-be-hit-next/
Malaysian tourists surge into Songkhla as entry restrictions lifted
Malaysian tourists surged across the border into Songkhla province of Thailand as Thailand lifted most 20-month-old entry restrictions on July 1.
The border crossing had been averaging 1,000-1,500 arrivals per day before Friday.
https://www.nationthailand.com/thai-destination/40017266
Some 5,000 tourists crossed from Malaysia to Thailand via the Sadao checkpoint on Friday, as border traffic surged fivefold after the Thailand Pass system was scrapped.
Khaosan cannabis retailers instructed to register at district office
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017210
Oh, c'mon man! Find me ONE American doctor who prescribed oxy, fentanyl, Vicodin, Percocet "in good faith". Just one. Bet you can't.
A Unanimous U.S. Supreme Court Lifts The Fear Of Prosecution For Physicians Prescribing Pain Medication In Good Faith.
MEAN GIRLS GONE WILD
I always knew that Hillary was a racist (and worse in many ways), but I hadn't directly considered just what a filthy racist she is.
And btw, she's a liar who did not "go to school with" Clarence Thomas. They were in different classes of different years.
And btw, Justice Thomas did not overturn Roe v Wade, the Court vote was 6-3. But let's get that black man with the GAWDAM NERVE to force a white female into marriage, right?
And btw, no woman has died because of, or since, Roe v Wade was overturned. Not one.
And btw it's mildly amusing that Bill Clinton, who we know for sure screwed Hillary that one time, liked black chicks and was known as 'America's first Black president'.
Would Hillary's defence claim that racism is inherent in leftism?
White CNN Host Asks
"Why Have You Never Seen Clarence Thomas at an NBA Game?"
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2022/07/01/white-cnn-host-why-have-you-never-seen-clarence-thomas-at-an-nba-game-n1609673
Related
POT, KETTLE:
Hillary calls Clarence Thomas a "Person of Grievance."
What's her point?
TECHNOLOGY
QUESTION: Why is the U.S.A. government or any government even involved in such an issue?
Internet on the go: FCC greenlights Starlink service on moving cars, boats and planes.
https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/internet-on-the-go-fcc-greenlights-starlink-service-on-moving-cars-boats-and-planes/
We may be underestimating how many cold, giant planets are habitable.
[And none of them have a global warming problem?}
https://www.popsci.com/science/super-earths-liquid-water/
U.S.A. ARMY RECRUIT
The U.S. Army has run short of soldiers and is having horrible problems trying to recruit more, so effective immediately, U.S. Army recruits will NOT require a high school diploma or a GED (equivalent).
Naturally, there's a catch.
But NO! This is not the same as McNamara's decision to enlist 100,000 known dummies, which led to the My Lai massacre and numerous other Effups.
https://sofrep.com/news/army-drops-requirement-for-high-school-diploma-or-ged-but-theres-a-catch/?utm_source=jeeng
Microsoft and Big Bucks Media Inc strong-armed Viu of Hong Kong and TrueVisions of Thailand into yet another anti-piracy scheme - this one to track, find and destroy illegal pirate streaming sites.
The five-year-old Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE - geddit?) will pay individual snitches and police who help the programme.
Netflix and Walt Disney Company are members.
Despite the deniability ACE name, it is actually the US Motion Picture Association. It wants people to pay the MPA directly to watch video online.
This new anti-piracy attempt is an outgrowth to the old Business Software Alliance, led by Microsoft.BSA's alleged aim was to shut down A) software piracy shops in South, Southast and East Asia and B} companies using pirated softare instead of shelling out huge (relative) amounts of cash-money to the copyright holders of items like Windows, QuickBooks, Wolfenstein, etc, etc.
Microsoft and BSA paartners paid bounties to police, made themselves astoundingly unpopular and failed spectacularly to end software piracy.
..."By growing ACE's footprint throughout the APAC region, we are building new relationships with local law enforcement authorities and other key partners in our ongoing effort to shut down piracy operations around the world," said Charles Rivkin, chairman of ACE and the Motion Picture Association.
..."“Online piracy poses a grave threat to Thailand's economy, creative economy, and to our reputation abroad," said Sompan Charumilinda, executive vice chairman of True Visions.
[Who knew True Visions had a reputation abroad?]
Just kidding!
