What is the filthiest thing ever said on commercial television in North America? (Any language?)
Hello World. Today is the third (but not the last) TGIF of February, 2022, February 18.
Friday's Bangkok media Editorial du Jour addresses the Big Issue: changing the name of "Bangkok" to "Krung Thep". We will call it,
A storm in city teacup
Wednesday's latest decision by the Office of the Royal Society (ORST) to update the name and official spelling of the capital city has created a storm in a teacup.
There has been nothing like it since 1939, when the fascist, pro-Japan dictator Pibulsonggram changed the name of Siam to "Thailand", or "Prathet Thai" in the Thai language.
Testing hobbles tourism recovery. Gee, ya think?
Travel sector among last to improve, says economist
PHOTO: It is extremely tentative but highly influential voices are starting to talk about Thailand's junta, and its's not going to end well.
Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University is old enough to remember when reporters, editors and columnists had respect for the media, and now they don't, and he asks,
"Where have the media reformers gone?"
He writes:
After two decades marked by two military coups in 2006 and 2014, Thailand is supposed to be a "reformed" country by now.
While all kinds of reforms were promised with each military takeover - from political parties, parliament and constitution to the bureaucracy, military and police - none has taken place.
In fact, pledged reforms have gone in the opposite direction in the past.
...
Two decades ago, a media reform movement had flourished. Media reformers from civil society comprising academics and journalists stood up to a newly elected politician, a brash and flamboyant leader of a new party called Thai Rak Thai who galloped into town like a cocky cowboy as if he could do anything and knew more than anyone else.
His name was Thaksin Shinawatra.
Nowhere is this reaction and restoration of old power and interests more evident than in Thailand's media industry.
PHOTO: FLASHBACK: Even in 2017, three years after Prayut's coup killed all Thai freedom, members of the press held placards opposing a media bill ahead of the National Reform Steering Assembly debate as they submit a petition to NRSA deputy chairman Alongkorn Ponlaboot demanding the draft law be dropped.
Government 'needs to lift all Covid curbs'
Firms call for easier entry for tourists
A loose coalition of tourism-industry companies has made the first demand in three years for the ruling military junta to drop all "emergency lockdown" restrictions. Immediately.
The Thai Hotel Association and a loose collection of tourism business operators have demanded that Thailand's ruling junta scrap the three-year-old "emergency lockdown decree" and end all restrictions on international tourists within two weeks.
Or else.
Meanwhile, on the ground and in hospital waiting rooms...
Thailand suffered 17,349 new cases and 21 more coronavirus deaths.
Thailand has more "medical experts" than grains of sand, but they have been collectively and individually worthless during the two-year epidemic of Chinese coronavirus.
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
New infections keep on coming
Cases 'to drop in weeks'
Correct me here, but I think it was just a mere 104 weeks ago the the entire teams of Thailand's medical experts said exactly that.
And now... The Centre for Medical Genomics at Ramathibodi Hospital expects the number of Covid-19 infections to start dropping towards the end of this month.
Dr Wasun Chantratita, head of the centre, said the current surge in Covid-19 cases in Thailand, especially Bangkok, is expected to involve the Omicron BA.2 subvariant which is more transmissible than the BA.1 subvariant.
And we belive this person because...??
Thursday's totals of Chinese coronavirus in Thailand included 17,349 new cases of the disease, and 22 deaths.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265295/
Omicron hits Nakhon Si Thammarat province in the South
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265619/
The Department of No Shit, Sherlock reported Thursday that
Test & Go 'can be a hassle'
PHOTO: Outlook is gloomy. High-rise buildings at Lat Phrao intersection in Bangkok are barely visible, as are a park and buildings in the background that were shrouded in fog and smog on another cloudy and rainy day in the capital on Thursday.
Thailand Pass - Phase 2
Prayut orders Thailand Pass to be improved
Well, the total failure of Thailand Pass Part I could not have been more laughable.
After cancelling the tourist scheme altogethe, the alleged 'prime minister' of Thailand has told subordinates to do it again, only this time, better.
"Tourists are essential," he said.
The failure ot the ridiculous rules, regulations and constant changes of Thailand Pass are absolutely not the fault of the junta or the 'Prayut government.'
Now, months too late, the system is being improved to make it more convenient for tourists, visitors and businessmen.
Thailand Pass I was so terrible that foreign hackers have used its website to spoof and plant fake email.
The semi-useless Tourism Authority of Thailand is rolling out plans to target both the international and domestic markets despite a tepid start.
https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/pm-prayut-orders-thailand-pass-to-be-improved-says-tourists-are-essential
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2265555/
NOTE: Any time a dictator tells you, in public, what you shouldn't do, listen carefully because it's an explanation of exactly how he intends to abridge your rights. And claim he's, you know, just following the laws. Which he wrote three years ago.
HORROR CRIME
Teen killed grandma over money
[Have you ever noticed that during the rule of a dictator, the media always turns to crime? True.]
A 17-year-old in Tak province in the north of Thailand 'couldn't take it any more'. So she killed the old lady.
There is much more to this sad story but here's the upshot:
The young woman (unidentifed because of child-protection laws) had lived with grandma Somsri Mamkrathok, 62, all her life.
She felt that 62-year-old Somsri was overbearing and a super control freak.
She attacked Grandma, strangled her and then found a cord which she looped over her granny's head and then pulled it tight around the old lady's neck until she stopped moving.
The teen-ager then phoned her 25-year-old boyfriend Pathiphon Chantharamonthon and suggested he get rid of Grandma's body. Which he did.
The two of them then went to the bank and withdrew/stole Grandmother Somsri's 100,000 baht (3,950 loonies).
It took police several minutes to identify, track, arrest and begin interrogating the killers.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265703/girl-17-charged-with-strangling-her-grandmother-dumping-her-body
An internet genius noted on Thursday (without mentioning Prayut's name) that "The biggest challenge authoritarians face is finding innocuous labels for unspeakable things."
That was literally at the same moment that Prayut was comparing himself in parliament to Phra Ram, the indestructible hero of the Ramakien, Thailand's version of the Ramayama. Phra Ram led the Monkey King Hanuman and his tribes of apes against the evil Thotsakan to rescue his kidnapped wife.
Ramakien and Ramayana are complicated stories but they also are simple: Good conquers evil. Prayut's claim to be The Good is typical of the final days of every dictator who ever lived.
Of course Prayut meant no disrespect by references to the Monkey King and teams of warrior monkeys. No disrespect at all.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/1660640/
In brief:
Prayut moves to fresh and flimsy speeches, instead of merely sucking less. He tries to yeet and fails, totally.
This occurs during the last days of ever dictator every known in the 7,000 years of written history.
Oh, by the way...
Did you get your invitation for the big party on March 19 to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary Of Two Weeks To Flatten The Curve?
Prayut really loves Saudi Arabia.
How much does Saudi Arabia love Prayut? Or Thailand?
Prayut's new bff Saudi Arabia sent a short message on Thursday:
"This is going to hurt"
Riyadh has tightened friendhip with Russia and (yes!) Iran. And they're trying to make the price of oil rise to $150 a barrel.
Prayut's pretend-friendship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud turns out to be completely worthless./
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/16/oil-could-vault-as-high-as-150-a-barrel-veteran-analyst-warns.html
The filthiest thing ever said on North American TV:
"Ward, don't you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night?
U.S.A. Hmong policeman in deep, deep, doo-doo
The Hmong police officer who stood by while fellow policeman Derek Chauvin put his knee on th neck of George Floyd and helped to kill him is on trial in Minneapolis for his lack of actions.
On Thursday the prosecutor trying to jail Tou Thao asked him directly why he didn't interfere as Chauvin manhandled and stomped Floyd's neck.
Well, said Thao, "I think I would trust a 19-year veteran to figure it out."
Thao is charged with 'deprivation of rights under color of law'.
But of course Chauvin kept it up, even after Floyd died, and now Tou Thao faces years in prison for failing his duty to step in.
Even when bystanders told Thai directly that Chauvin was killing Floyd, Thao twiddled his thumbs and did nothing.
PHOTO: Tou Thao pretended to be "controlling the crowd" as three fellow officers worked over the dying George Floyd. That's his story and he plans to stick by it.
PHOTO 2: Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao is pictured in a courtroom sketch testifying at his trial in the death of George Floyd.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/16/us/george-floyd-federal-civil-rights-trial-wednesday/index.html
THAILAND WEATHER
Conditions across the country are normal for mid-Feruary.
The map's red area in the Deep South stands for "very heavy ran and thunderstorms". The yellow, as far to the north as Hua Hin and Cha-Am means rain, sometimes heavy.
Latest forecast, in English:
https://tmd.go.th/en/index.php
All dictators show fear and 'toughness' just before they collapse.
Here is a lesson for Thailand that is still unlearned and unwelcome:
Florida Leads in Liberty - and in Tourism.
The slogan that's needed:
No matter your politics you'll love Thailand.
https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/jeff-reynolds/2022/02/15/liberals-and-conservatives-agree-florida-leads-in-liberty-and-in-tourism-n1559546
Beijing smiles...
One of the greatest under-reported new stories of our day is the growing production of Chinese-sponsored drugs like Fentanyl, Oxycontin and so on.
When the addiction tolls arrive, they will be massive. If they can do it to the Seattle mass transit, they can do it in Bangkok. Or anywhere, really.
Related:
Seattle's Transit System 'Unusable' due to Toxic Fentanyl, Meth Smoke.
https://saraacarter.com/seattles-transit-system-unusable-due-to-toxic-fentanyl-meth-smoke/
You mean, like Thailand?
America Is Approaching Financial Doomsday.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/02/america_is_approaching_financial_doomsday.html
Arizona lawmakers move to return to paper ballots, hand counts.
Paper ballots are hack-proof. It's time to bring them back.
WWPD*?
As Oil Nears $100, Saudis Snub U.S., Stick to Russian Pact Amid Ukraine Crisis.
On Wednesday, Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 1.1% to $94.26 a barrel. It has surged over 20% this year.
As the Joe Biden stickers literally point out, "I did that!"
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-oil-nears-100-saudis-snub-u-s-stick-to-russian-pact-amid-ukraine-crisis-11645015415
*What will Prayut do?
Do not trust movies named 'Munich'. Or any of the symps in them.
Sure, trash Churchill so long as you still have freedom of speech.
But these jerks trust CHAMBERLAIN!
[Conclusion: Watch 'Mr. Jones' instead. Its quite factual.]
https://www.commentary.org/articles/meir-soloveichik/munich-chamberlain-netflix-history/
Just askin'...
Can anyone from or near Canada confirm the number of people arresterd on charges of secession, separatism, treason, assassination or similar?
I just read a filthy-mouthed lying cheater that the number is the same as in the U.S.A. But that's un-possible, right?
==
For the next Trivia Night at your pub:
In 1970, to deal with those damned Pepsis and their violence, Justin Trudeau's daddy Pierre was the last Canadian prime minister to invoke the War Measures Act of 1914.
Pierre's wife's son Justin has a new toy, the Emergencies Act of 1988.
HONK HONK
CANADA PARLIAMENT TRUDEAU HECKLE
Because MPs could not find any stones in Ottawa?
Parliament Jeers Cottage-Bound Prime Minister Trudeau During Speech About "Emergencies Act".
When Trudeau explained he was implementing the "Emergencies Act" for the safety of Canadians, he was booed loudly. When he said he was demonstrating exemplary leadership, there were laughter and jeers.
VIDEO:
TECHNOLOGY
A Canadian hacker, Gary Bowser, earned 40 months of free room and board in a U.S. dungeon for his membership in the notorious Nintendo modding group Team-Xecuter.
The group offered hardware and software mods that allowed people to install and play games – including pirated copies – on various consoles such as the popular Nintendo Switch.
https://torrentfreak.com/team-xecuters-gary-bowser-pleads-guilty-to-criminal-charges-211101/
The Top Three of the Top Ten of online pirated movies during the past week:
The King's Man
House of Gucci
Eternals
Much more at https://bityl.co/AylE
Netflix has intensified and widened its attacks on VPNs. You used to buy a VPN service because it was so easy to log onto Netflix.
Not any longer.
https://bityl.co/AylW
The Global Warming Report: Science screws up. Again.
And this time, at least, the scientists admit it.
It Turns Out That Ethanol Is Worse For the Climate Than Gasoline.
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-corn-based-ethanol-worse-climate-than-gasoline-study-finds-2022-02-14/
The new leftist campaign circles the tired old boycott threats, and it is somewhat clever. And also craven.
Instead of going after China, they're going after the in-betweens who take China's cash and then defend Beijing.
'We've all banded together': Students launch bipartisan protest against George Washington University's China investments.
A bipartisan protest on Tuesday "urged" (great word) George Washington University to divest its endowment from companies that are complicit in China's human rights abuses. (Such as Hollywood, Coca Cola, the Olympics, etc.)
Tuesday's event was organized by the GW Uighur Divestment Committee.
[NOTE: Universities around the world including Thailand are shamelessly in Beijing's pockets.]
https://www.campusreform.org/article?id=19022
They are trying to refer to the U.S.A. but they actually mean "Thailand".
America's Ruling Regime Doesn't Fear Disinformation. It Fears Truth.
The Chinese Communist Party allows girls to play hockey? Yech!!
Canada wins gold in women' hockey, 3-2 against U.S.A.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/hockey/olympics-womens-hockey-gold-medal-game-1.6353378
FLASHBACK HONK HONK
Canadian man who dressed himself and entire family including servile under-age children in rented pretend-Indian Halloween costumes and told Indian reporters to bugger off about protesting Indian truck drivers claims he has moral authority to call Canadian truck drivers 'seditious' and 'secessionist' even though not one of them is.
FROM THE PAST
Trudeau voices support (i.e. "lies") for farmers in India who blocked major highways to New Delhi for more than a year in 2021, saying at the time: "Canada will always be there to defend the right of peaceful protest."
