Go-o-o-o-d Morning Thailand and the world. This is the Wednesday (early) edition of Fishwrap, straight outta Nong Bon. Â Â
A new study by Harvard University Experts purports to show that 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't happy.
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We have elected leaders. Last year they proved, as never before, that although they often appear to be narcissistic gasbags, they are somehow capable, when confronted with a serious problem, of making it worse. Â --David Barry (full sourcing below)
THAILAND ECONOMY National 'economic plan' must be shortened The 9-year military dictatorship of army genearal Prayut that put the Thai economy in serious trouble, wrote a '20-Year National Strategy Plan' to try to get out of the hole they dug for the country. The new government under Pheu Thai Party prime minister and finance minister Srettha Thavisin just said No. Twenty years is far too long for much a plan, and it's past time to tell voters and the country just what's going on, economically speaking. "Even five years is already too outdated," said Srettha as he chaired his firat meeting of the National Strategy Committee (photo).
SIAM PARAGON MALL TEENAGE SHOOTER UPDATE The parents of the mentally challenged 14-year-old who shot up the classy Siam Paragon mall and killed two three women last year agree to lock the kid up for a while at a mental hospital.  PHOTO: One (1) Bangkok policeman rushed the teen mall shooter and took him down -- but after he killed three people.
A spokespersonman at the Office of the Attorney General said everyone involved -- parents and doctors included -- agree the kid is insane or in layman's language totally off his rocker. Using his homemade handgun, the boy killed three women -- a Chinese tourist, a Bangkok Thai shopper and a Burmese shop worker. He wounded four others. Khao Sod (Fresh News) report in English https://t.ly/inUAe  DON'T LOOK BACK (Look Ahead) OPINION What to watch out for in Thailand in 2024  (Khao Sod newspaper reporter/columnist Pravit Rojanaphruk is well-respected within the media and political circles.) The return of Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the estranged son of HM the King. While this writer, like all in Thailand, is constrained by the draconian royal defamation law, which in effect makes truly critical assessment of the monarchy impossible without the risk of spending up to 15 years in prison, it is safe to say some Thais were delighted to see a down-to-earth (albeit estranged) member of the royal family who is accessible. https://shorturl.at/cqAN3
Directly related but for some unstated reason reported separately. CEOs voice concerns for 2024. Head honchos from key sectors highlight the biggest challenges and risks in the year ahead. The Thai economic outlook in 2024 is unclear (it says here), with a fluctuating range of domestic and geopolitical factors that could influence it. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2716631/
The news cycle being what it is (shambolic, often misinformed, frequently lying) it takes someone like the region's best and best-informed political analyst to inform truthfully. Kavi Chongkittavorn:  The singular most important event of 2023 in Thailand was the Thai hostage crisis  8 Thai hostages must not be forgotten  They are still held by Hamas inside Gaza.  In modern Thai history, this is the first time such a huge number of Thai citizens have been abducted. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2716491/
If Elvis was 'the king" which he was, does that make Ms. Swift a queen?
There is nothing to discuss; it's a Flat Fact that Crutchley is the Ne Plus Ultra of Sunday columnists. But Former Bangkok Post columnist David Barry has committed his annual news roundup of last year and notes in passing that America is clearly under existential threat. First of all, there is pickleball. Read on  There was also Artificial Intelligence, or AI. What is AI? To put it in simple layperson terms, it is a computer thing that laypersons cannot possibly understand. (Other examples are "bitcoin" and "algorithm.")  AI does provide some unambiguous benefits to humanity. It enables college students to produce grammatically correct essays about books they have not personally read. But according to some experts -- and if we can't believe some experts, who can we believe? -- there is a possibility that AI will wipe out all human life. This is what computer professionals call a "bug." Longread Column: https://www.adn.com/opinions/national-opinions/2023/12/31/dave-barrys-2023-year-in-review-yes-the-situation-is-hopeless/
