Thailand voters split over whether Prayut can last another year
Hi kids, it's 83 American degrees with a hint of a breeze in downtown Nong Bon Thailand as we begin the hump day of Wednesday, June 8.
Prayut has claimed he knows all that economics stuff. I've never heard of a dictatorship where this did not happen.
Prayut urges steady interest rates
But he is 'concerned' about all the inflation that's going on. aka Crisis by Design.
Thailand's CPI (consumer price index, headline inflation) has reached the highest point in 13 years and it's still going.
Core CPI, which excludes raw food and energy prices, rose 2.28% year-on-year in May, up from 2% in April.
Prayut vows measures to ease living costs
Said Prayut, nominal 'prime minister':
 "The Bank of Thailand and the Finance Ministry are believed to be closely monitoring inflation because the rates play an important role in Thailand's economic prospects.
 "The government pledges to roll out additional measures to reduce the cost of living for people within this month."
Poll shows Thailand's voters are split over whether Prayut can even survive another 10 months in office.
 The mostly believable National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll, taken early this month recorded these answers from the survey:
Yes, Definitely: 46%
No, definitely: 29%
Probably not: 25%
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2320990/
CORONAVIRUS CORRUPTION VIETNAM
Vietnamese police have arrested the government's minister of health and the mayor of Hanoi for promoting a Covid-19 test kit and pocketing US$170 million.
National Health Minister Ngoc Anh faces charges of "violating regulations on management and use of state assets, causing loss and waste".
Hanoi mayor Nguyen Thanh Long is under arrest for "abusing positions and powers while performing official duties".
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-health-minister-hanoi-city-chief-arrested-anti-corruption-drive-2732621
U.S.A. ECONOMY CLOSELY RELATED
HERE COMES STAGFLATION
 U.S. megastore Target puts it simply: Its Profit Will Drop Because It Has Too Much Stuff.
 Big retailers benefited over the past two years from the pandemic rush to buy patio furniture, laptops and home décor, as shoppers were buoyed by savings and government stimulus cheques.
 Now many of those same stores are grappling with a swift reversal of buying behaviour with consumers spending less on goods in favour of services and necessities such as food and fuel.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/target-warns-profit-will-drop-because-it-has-too-much-stuff-11654599664
NOTE: Target is the main U.S. retailer of Tomboy Chest Binder for Kids(tm) but did not release figures on sales of this product.
In Thailand, you can get them for 250 baht (US$7.40) at Lazada. Free shipping, too.
In the American language, these are 'Kids Binders  Trans-Missie' underwear.
Yesterday's fuel prices in California:
At this morning's exchange rate, this 81.5 baht per litre of gasoline (petrol). Diesel is higher.
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
The bad news on Covid-19 is in for Tuesday:
2,224 new, serious coronavirus cases, hospitalised
20 deaths by Covid
26,889 active cases
725 serious cases
4,824 recovered
Related, from the U.S.A.
Something else we can give credit to Covid-19, lockdowns, medical overseers and 'experts':
 Melatonin overdoses in kids increased 530% over the past decade.
 "The largest increase, a 38% jump, came in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, which the study's authors say was likely because more children were spending more time at home."
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/melatonin-overdoses-kids-increase-530-past-decade-parents-85212235
Taiwan has closed its borders to tourists for time being. Taiwan is fighting a sudden outbreak of Covid-19.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4559326
Agree or disagree?
ANALYSIS: The Lockdowns Were A Failure.
 An analysis of studies of the effects of lockdowns on Covid-19 mortality has just been released by a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University, and their conclusion is depressing.
 "Our study finds that lockdowns had little to no effect in reducing Covid-19 mortality," they wrote. "However, lockdowns during the initial phase of the Covid-19 pandemic have had devastating effects."
https://www.ocregister.com/2022/06/05/lockdowns-were-a-failure/
Two items from The Times of Israel recall several of the past Iranian attacks on Thailand, most of which were foiled.
Iranian terrorists and Hezbollah pick Thailand, for one thing because Israeli tourists like Thailand, a lot.
After Israeli warning, Thailand said to be on high alert for potential Iranian spies
Local Thai reports say police on lookout for Iran nationals, as Israel said to mull expanding travel warning amid fears of Tehran revenge plot
https://www.timesofisrael.com/amid-israeli-warning-thailand-reportedly-on-high-alert-over-potential-iranian-spies/
Probably related
In an unusual move, the National Security Council [of Israel] explicitly identified "Iranian terrorist operatives" as being the source of the threat to Israelis in Turkey and nearby countries.
Thai security forces said to have foiled Iranian attempts to attack Israelis
PHOTO: A large sign written in Hebrew at a Bangkok restaurant reads 'Travel agency and restaurant' in Hebrew.
 https://www.timesofisrael.com/thai-security-forces-said-to-have-foiled-iranian-attempt-to-attack-israelis/
NOTE: To hone these stories straighter, most-but-not-all of the foiling of Iranian and Hezbollah plots have been by Thailand's Special Branch, which keeps close relations with Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies.
THAILAND MALAYSIA PIES-IN-SKIES
This is an actual, real statement by Thailand's railway authority.
It's quite nice, except for the part that neither Malaysia nor Thailand has a high-speed railway.
Weirdly, the full story comes from Australia.
THAILAND BANGKOK FLOODS
Bangkok City Hall won approval to 'hire' imprisoned convicts to get down and clear sewers and drainage systems.
The dirty work will begin on Canada Day.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA, City Hall) will hire the Department of Corrections to unclog sewers, using prisoners with good behaviour records.
The discussions on the proposal were often heated and included debates about 'slave labour'.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2322150/
Eat This, Not That
Trader Joe's supermarket is 'discontinuing' these four popular items.
No reason... but a lot of the ingredients are straight outta China.
Grab what you can of what's left so you'll have at least a little bit longer with the products.
Cat Food, yep.
Dog Food, u-huh.
Red Refresh Herbal Teabags (hibiscus and lemongrass)
Dark Russet Potato Chips
https://www.eatthis.com/news-trader-joes-discontinuing-items-june-2022/
THAILAND ECONOMY INVESTMENT
Foreign investors still bullish on Thai bourse
Figures from last month show that the Stock Exchange of Thailand is once again the darling of foreign investors.
The SET collected 139 billion-with-a-"B" baht from foreign (only) buyers.
SET president Pakorn Peetathawatchai:
 Foreign investors believe the Thai economy will suffer less of an impact from any food shortages and the tourism industry should revive in the second half of this year.
PHOTO: Bull and bear mascots occupy a spot at the Stock Exchange of Thailand's Investory, aka Investment Discovery Museum, in Bangkok.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2321778/
SPORTS HOCKEY
For the eleventyfourth year in a row, no Canadian team will win la Coupe De Stan Lee.
Okay, whatever you say NOW, Hockey News. Talk about 20/20 hindsight.
The Warning Signs Were Evident for the Edmonton Oilers' Downfall
Let's face it. Connor McDavid imitated Alex (A-Rod) Rodriguez.
Once again, the Edmonton Oilers fell short. The warning signs were clearly there all season long, and now it's another wasted effort for a team with two of the world's top superstars.
https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-warning-signs-were-evident-for-the-edmonton-oilers-downfall
But the NFL is lit! Woke! Carolina Panthers just hired the NFL's first openly transgender cheerleader.
https://bityl.co/CZON
CHINA AGGRESSION 'GREY ZONE' BRINKMANSHIP
It's time to be alarmed, not just alert about People's Liberation Army Air Force's (PLAAF) overflights and interceptions.
Australia has revealed that on May 26, a Chinese J-16 fighter aircraft intercepted and closely harassed an Australian Air Force P-8 in obviously international airspace.
The PLAAF fighter ejected flares while alongside the P-8 and then carefully positioned itself to dispense chaff - thin aluminium foil strips - so they would be ingested by the P-8's engines.
This intercept suggests the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is now escalating its 'grey zone' aggression - perhaps in the hope/belief they will get another midair collision and massive world interest.
Grey-zone actions don't just happen. They are implemented in a carefully designed campaign plan controlled and ordered from the highest levels of the CCP.
PHOTO: A Chinese J-16 fighter jet, of the type involved in a "very dangerous" intercept of an RAAF P-8 over the South China Sea.
https://bityl.co/CZ4J
ProTip
If anyone tells you that inflation is a great opportunity to go vegan, whisper back "leftists are made of protein."
TECHNOLOGY
... well, not really 'technology', all Apple stuff.
Apple Pay Later:
 Apple now has a service to let users pay for a purchase in four installments over six weeks with no interest or fees.
The M2 chip:
 The company's newest semiconductor promises more processing power while using less energy than its predecessor, the M1.
New MacBooks:
 The new Pro promises faster processing and better battery life while the new Air is 25% smaller than its predecessor.
The newest Apple Watches will keep track of your sleep. Did you know that you want that?
Things you did not know you needed
Live updates on iPhone, iWatches and so on, on the status of your pizza order.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ios-16-lets-you-customize-your-iphone-lock-screen-more-than-ever-before/
The war in Ukraine is pushing countries that are short on food... into famine
U.S.A. DIGITAL MUSIC
Sales are in freefall bringing in only 4% of U.S. music industry revenues in 2021.
TAIWAN ANALYSIS
Global PC and smartphone sales face declining demand
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4561376
FEW ANIMALS WERE HARMED DURING COMPILATION OF THIS ALTHOUGH AN ENTIRE SECTION OF ORGANIC BROCCOLI WAS INTENTIONALLY THRASHED AND TRASHED
You're welcome, kids.
