Yes, midweek already and actually past midweek for those of us off Thursday for the 4-day holiday. Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately Bulldog Edition.
TYPHOON DANAS Third biggest typhoon in Tainan city history
TAINAN, TAIWAN: Winds blew out front and back windows of our bureau. Our youngest correspondent won 8 stitches and a scar from flying glass. Two people died, a huge improvement over the biggest and second-biggest storms. Those hurricanes happened before global warming. Taipei Times report (excellent)
A statue of the protection deity Nezha, The Third Prince, was blown off its pedestal. Quick read and PHOTOs
It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone. -- Andy Rooney
Stay informed about ongoing civil unrest. Risk to tourists is generally low. -- U.S. government advice to citizens travelling to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui.
Exercise a high level of caution. -- Gouvernement du Canada, aussi.
USA FLOODS Texas has lost 100 precious livs in the flash floods, and that toll will rise. No matter how horrible the unpredictable disaster, response of twisted reptilian ghouls is clockwork. It's Trump's fault for cutting all that USAID help.
The rollout of the Tiew Thai Khon La Krung campaign, or Thailand Travel Co-pay scheme, last week has proved to be unmitigated disaster, with no resolution in sight. This embarrassing episode reflects not only gross incompetence, but entrenched political pettiness among policy-makers. It is supposedly an enhanced version of the 'We Travel Together' campaign under the Prayut dictatorship, to boost Covid-hit tourism. Under the latest scheme, the government would cover up to 50% of hotel room rates during the low season.
ASEAN BURMA
Myanmar's 'my way' vs ASEAN norms By Kavi Chongkittavorn, one of Thailand's top experts on regional affairs, political and otherwise. Since the 2021 coup, public services have deteriorated and alienated potential voters. The dictators of Nay Pyi Taw insist they will hold a national election within a year. Without ASEAN endorsement, that could deepen Myanmar's isolation and further deepen its fragmentation.
'Weird' because curbs on every other illicit drug has led to a monopoly. Even date drugs and Rohypnol have been monopolised by a super-corrupt police lady. Meth, heroin, opium, even imported 'nightclub drugs' are monopolised. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin rejected claims that the reclassification of cannabis will benefit Big Business. PHOTO: Bangkok pro-pot group demonstrates against new 'medical marijuana' rules.
TRADE TARIFFS
Japan and South Korea have worked out deals with America 25 percent tariffs. Thailand has not. But the Donald announced a new deadline for (quote) negotiations (unquote). Detailed report
In my view, the conditions we have proposed are very favourable and should satisfy America. -- Pichai Chunhavajira, minister of finance. That is Pichai's view. The racist Nazi disagrees. He signed and dispatched letters to 14 countries including Thailand -- what he called "uncooperative".
Thailand's last-ditch proposal on trade and tariffs: We now offer zero tariffs on U.S. imports. Well... that is... on some of them. About 20 percent of all Thai exports last year went to America, so it's kind of a big deal.
Top Three Thai exports to America Computers and chips, teleprinters and telephones, rubber products. Top Three Thai imports from America crude oil, machinery and parts, chemicals.
USA CRIME PAEDOS
America's deeply corrupt Department of 'Justice' and hopelessly wanking FBI agree: We ain't got nuffin' on Epstein at all. Why are you asking? In fact... they have a huge amount but they don't want to be embarrassed about it.
Why AI sucks. (Dwarkesh) Because it doesn't learn. The LLMs are trained -- because AI is 'artificial'... Because the LLMs are trained once, and then left to slowly rot until they are replaced.
The 'truckload' of Epstein files grudgingly released by the NY FBI (when they were given no option) didn't really have anything on Epstein, to include the Epstein list Bondi subsequently confirmed was 'on her desk'. This outrageous effrontery by the FBI insults the intelligence of every average (99.7 IQ) American.
The 'truckload' of Epstein files grudgingly released by the NY FBI (when they were given no option) didn't really have anything on Epstein, to include the Epstein list Bondi subsequently confirmed was 'on her desk'. This outrageous effrontery by the FBI insults the intelligence of every average (99.7 IQ) American.