Thai star earns feature role in U.S. Number One phenom show
Thaksin will be free on Sunday, at least for a while.
Coming soon: Clampdown on Cannabis, Part II -- AP News.com https://t.ly/z94Q-
There was excitement a couple of years ago when Thailand and its military dictatorship legalised marijuana.
But now? The current government, along with the allegedly 'progressive' opposition Move Foward Party, are looking to bring Thailand's Weed Revolution to a halt.
A new anti-marijuana programme will probably begin with a Nationwide Crackdown On Recreational Use of cannabis.
 Legal cannabis has fueled Thailand's tourism and farming trades and spawned thousands of neon-green shops.
 But it's facing public backlash over perceptions that under-regulation has made the drug available to kids and caused crime.
https://apnews.com/article/thailand-medical-marijuana-ban-2a0f6b29185e6703e80cba1127853028
Blackpink and White Lotus
Cast and crew of the phenomenally popular show are already in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok to begin video-ing Season 3
But there's a new cast member this year, straight out of Buri Ram and using her latest official name on the credits -- Lalisa Manobal.
It's still secret what the Blackpink leader's role will be. https://shorturl.at/egyCI
Short memory, called out
Everything is going swimmingly: Rare human case of bubonic plague in Oregon confirmed.
Small amounts of schadenfreude here; larger amounts of irony. There is a vaccine and inoculation that actually prevents plague.
 Reality is that a full outbreak of bubonic or other plague probably XXX maybe never will happen, but why do people and the so-called 'scientific experts' take any chance?
https://www.sciencealert.com/rare-human-case-of-bubonic-plague-in-oregon-confirmed-by-authorities
USA SPORTS CRIME
America's newspaper of record: https://t.ly/pi7Ac
 San Franciscans loot slightly more than usual following Super Bowl loss.
PAKISTAN POLITICS
All the deadweight Pakistani politicians who are not Imran Khan agree to gang up on him, and make a coalition government.
Two of Pakistan's major political parties -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) -- say they will form a coalition government because of last week's inconclusive elections.
https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-khans-rivals-agree-to-form-coalition/a-68250274
USA POLITICS
This man, 12 years ago, was close to becoming president of the United States.
And, as an American senator, this is his priority over any spending/bill of his own country.
https://x.com/SenatorRomney/status/1757216286906499539?s=20
Then... there's The New York Times, with its current outlook of the November 5 U.S. election. Which seems quite... trollish.
VOX POPULI, VOX DEI https://t.ly/q1fc8:
 Majority [of American adults] rate Biden's mind poorly but say Kamala Harris is not the answer.
SPORTS TAYTAY SUPER BOWL
That's enough of that! What the entire world wants to know is, What in the blue blazes of heck did TayTay's best kissable boyfriend Trav scream at his coach Andy Reid after he bumped into him? On purpose? In the Super Bowl ferheaven'ssake"?
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/andy-reid-reveals-travis-kelce-133000339.html
The American CBS-TV network made a bundle https://shorturl.at/fiwW0
Super Bowl draws largest audience since Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969
It's all Science
Here's why Covid-19 isn't seasonal. So far.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/why-covid-not-seasonal
Just some suggestions that Facebook staffers and volunteers have noticed this week.
Cooks might want to try this, or just hustle along to this small (and tight), Bangkok mid-city Muslim community and try it out.
The community features silk weaving, considered the backbone of Jim Thompson silk, as Baan Krua is the original supplier of the silk brand.
 However, another reason to explore this historically rich community is to savour the food heritage that has been passed down through the generations.
 There is the exclusive curry 'Kaeng Som Khmer', a culinary tradition.
Tour guide Supichar "Tim" Wongyutitham, provided some history.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/unveiling-baan-kruas-rich-heritage-through-its-signature-dish/
And visitors (Skytrain is close) can learn how to cook the dish. And eat it of course.
POLITICS THAILAND
Background: Huh? Why? How?
 Come Sunday and Thaksin is going to walk free. https://t.ly/aVPz5
PHOTO shows Old Squarehead flanked by littlest daughter Ung Ing (Panthongtae) and her husband.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2741314/
Of course, because the punishment is the process
Rally against Thaksin's release, warning of bigger protests
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2740694/
[He shrugs]
THAIPBS ANALYSIS PREDICTION
Fishwrap newsmen and women are not putting any money on this reading of the tea leaves... but you never know.
Why the  release of Thaksin could be a tipping point for Thai politics
 The expected release of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra next week is set to inject more heat into the simmering powerplay between conservative elites and the ex-PM, analysts say.
 The former prime minister is expected to be freed on bail even if he is hit with a fresh charge of lese majeste under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. The Office of the Attorney-General is considering whether to indict Thaksin for allegedly defaming the monarchy with comments he made in South Korea in November 2009.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/why-release-of-thaksin-could-be-a-tipping-point-for-thai-politics/
From/and/for the perpetually snowbound
Trudeau-and-Canada's ridiculous housing ban for foreigners.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/canadas-ridiculous-housing-ban-for-foreigners
Nature and Nurture in the NFL
 Interesting opinion/thought
Granted, I'm probably about the 50 millionth biggest National Football League fan in the country (the NFL is popular), but even I've noticed a few things with the help of my friend Charles Norman.
https://www.takimag.com/article/nature-and-nurture-in-the-nfl/
It appears that Scientifically Trained Experts know approximately SFA about earthquakes.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/earthquakes-map-hazard-risks
Chuck has cancer. Will he abdicate?
Reminder: It's in his family's blood -- Eddie the Eighth.
Best guesses: https://t.ly/K8Rra
