Coss

As I get older, people are dropping like flies, but when there is a connection, even 2nd or third hand like this, I get sad. Not something I'd have ever admitted to when younger. But I guess with age, comes not only wisdom, but compassion.

Read https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/132562919/the-celebrities-that-have-had-the-biggest-losses-with-nfts an example: Logan Paul YouTube star Logan Paul owns the most discounted NFT in the world. He bought a Bumble Bee NFT for $1m, but it’s now only worth $15. The NFT has nearly dropped to zero, losing 99.9985% of its value since he purchased it in 2021.

The Caretaker Prime Minister has expressed his concerns about potential political protests this week. The demonstrations, which are expected to draw crowds from both pro and anti-government factions in front of the Parliament Complex, have stirred concerns about possible conflict. According to Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha requested officials to ensure the smooth management of the gatherings. His primary concern is to prevent any faction from breaching the law and to maintain peace, urging everything to proceed according to proper procedures. Addition, Thanakorn stressed that Gen Prayut wished to avoid escalating national tensions. Emphasizing that Thailand has been working hard to achieve stability over the past 8-9 years, the caretaker prime minister called for a peaceful political climate and progressive movement. Concerning the selection of the Prime Minister, which could possibly be extended to a third round, the spokesperson said the premier did not express specific concerns and believes the political processes will unfold as per the parliamentary mechanism. In case the leading party fails, the second or third-ranking parties will form the government. Moreover, Gen Prayut voiced concern over intimidation among some citizens. He said he was apprehensive that such situations could lead to further divisions within the nation and has ordered relevant agencies to monitor and manage the issue closely. Notably, he mentioned the case of a senator who was targeted online, highlighting how these issues often spread further on social media platforms and potentially lead to more disputes and conflicts. The prime minister has tasked the cabinet and related agencies with addressing these concerns promptly. https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/gen-prayut-expresses-concern-over-potential-protests-436227 and Thai Parliament Prevents Leader Of Party That Won Election From Being Renominated For Prime Minister https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2023/07/19/thai-parliament-pita-from-being-renominated-for-prime-minister/

What you don't know, is that once a person steps foot into, or onto, NZ and the locals accept you, you are a Kiwi. No choice, no argument. Just get on with it.

Yes, normally I run from the ones with coloured hair. But as I say, this one I have a lot of time for. She's NZ's Anthony Fauci.

I'll ask Siouxsie if that's where she got it. If I ever meet her.

I have a lot of time for - Dr Siouxsie Wiles, MNZM, is an award-winning microbiologist and science communicator at the University of Auckland. And the following is derived from an article from stuff.co.nz, linked to, at end. I like the pigeon thing. >>> Peter Hotez, refused to debate a prominent conspiracy theorist politician, US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who is well known, for spreading dis-information and conspiracy theories about vaccines, that are simply not true. Debates are a terrible forum for discussing important issues like vaccines, where persuasion and charm are more likely to sway an audience than facts. And that’s assuming it’s just facts that are being shared, and not mistruths and lies. It is like playing chess with a pigeon. The pigeon just knocks over the pieces, craps on the board, and struts around like it won. <<< https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/132538027/the-price-paid-for-standing-up-against-vaccine-misinformation ...in the USA thread because two the referenced folk are from the States and the mis-dis-bullshit-information thing, is not dead and flowed outwards from there. If in doubt Google/Bing/DuckDuck the term Nuremberg 2.0

Yes, I thought so too. Lotsa actor stars, well acted, plot so strong, it blew away at the beginning.

When I see this I wonder, why, in movies that the hero/heroine in a car, feels so threatened, by motorcyclists.

Not youtube but worth a look Not all heroes wear capes https://www.facebook.com/reel/805882707560415

And a view from the rest of the world: Yankees be careful what you wish for, you've already tasted this dish -

A tragic accident occurred midday yesterday in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, resulting in the death of a 61 year old fortune teller. En route to visit both her daughter and ailing mother in Bangkok, her motorbike taxi was struck by an 18-wheel truck whilst crossing between parallel lanes. According to the investigating officer, Chaiwat Tiphsotti, the accident happened on Asia Highway, in front of Wat Inkalaya, Kilometre 35, Ban Li sub-district, Bang Pa-In district. The deceased, known as Kanok-on, hailed from the Bang Pa-In market, close to the accident scene. Her scattered remains, along with a handbag and a bag of clothes, formed a grisly scene, found about 50 metres from the crash site. Nearby, the number plate 1กก1443 Honda Wave motorbike lay toppled... https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/road-deaths/bloody-accident-on-asia-highway-fortune-teller-killed _____ She didn't see that coming. Meanwhile I've bought lotto tickets with the numbers 1443 and 61 and 18 and 35 and 50.

The parliamentary session for the vote of Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister on July 13 became a platform for discussing amendments to Section 112 of the Criminal Code or Article 112 on the monarchy. The majority of opposition members were senators and MPs of the former ruling coalition. Many declare they are royalists. They specifically accused the Move Forward party of attempting to undermine and dismantle the monarchy by amending Article 112. At the end of the session, Pita could not get enough votes to reach 376 of the bicameral votes. The results of the vote came out with 324 approved, 182 disapproved, and 199 abstained. Only 13 junta-appointed senators out of 250 voted for Pita... https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2023/07/13/article-112-makes-pita-fail-to-get-enough-votes-to-become-pm/ _____ Yes we have no PM

You don't watch enough 'merican TV. Loud noise = get yer gun.

A man tried to sneak a gun into a nightclub in Pattaya and accidentally shot his own younger sister in her buttocks, causing her serious injury. The suspect was only identified as Mr. Jakkrapat and was immediately arrested by police after the incident. He was reported to be the older brother of 21-year-old Ms. Praeploy Phothong, a Thai national... https://thepattayanews.com/2023/07/12/man-tries-to-carry-gun-into-pattaya-nightclub-and-accidentally-shoots-his-own-sister-in-the-buttocks/ no photo of the buttocks unfortunately.

Confidential Informant 2023 Don't let Mel Gibson's inclusion on the cast list deter you from viewing this. He does OK as a 2nd string. Nicely washed with 80's or 70's noir. It's the travails of two Desert Storm soldiers who became cops on their return. Not the greatest of movies, but not formulaic either. Worth a watch. spoiler = lotsa american flags in shot.

Here... What have you been up to? Nice to see another familiar name.

Yes, about as helpful, as pointing out that the war in Ukraine, is becoming "Ukraine's War".

Continuing to post - the following, in order that my experience may help someone with a similar affliction: Before the operation to remove the Tumour, I was told that afterwards, I would likely be told, not to drive, for up to a year .... For someone who values his independence, this is bad news. So before the op, I started to concentrate on my driving - A/. to see if any effect from the Tumour was already evident. But B/. I found that about 1 in 5 other drivers, were shockingly poorly skilled, drifting all over the lanes, stopping anywhere, including the middle of the road, etc, etc. Effects on me = one hand sized blind-spot, in my lower right peripheral vision, about where the right elbow rest, would be, when I was seated and driving. So not much to worry about, but it was there. After the operation: I was very cautious, just walking and so on, then after 2 days I was "Up and at 'em" I felt quite good. My Doctor mate, says he sees a lot of similar brain operation patients, leap out of bed after the op, seemingly back to normal in a few days. I had a few light-headed periods, a couple of mild headaches of an hour, but all in all, the symptoms were consistent with a 6" incision in my scalp and a 2" hatch cut in the skull, now secured by titanium pins etc. Hello airport metal detector And the blind spot was gone. So it seems that having a grape sized tumour pressing on your occipital lobe, is consistent with a blind spot and removing the tumour, has removed the blind-spot. (In general, the occipital lobe deals with aspects of vision, including: distance, depth perception, colour determination, object recognition, movement, face recognition, memory information) Now the interesting part: So there I was expecting the Doctors to slap me with a "No-Drive" order or some such. The last interaction I had with them, they took one look at me and said "1 MRI to check our work and then off home with you". No mention of driving. So when I got home, I checked my discharge papers and couldn't find any reference to driving, anywhere. It's like they were avoiding talking about it. So I checked with my mate and asked him how such a prohibition, would be communicated to the patient. He hasn't been able to give me an answer. Talks around it. I think I've arrived at the answer. If the patient is obviously going to be impaired, they will get the physios and occupational health people in and they will do the "No Driving" bit. If the patient is fine, they don't say anything. Because if they say "fine for driving" the patient might well, have an accident and then say, "but the Doctor said it was OK". Conversely if they say "no driving" and patient can drive, then the patient might sue, or otherwise degrade the Doctor's professional reputation. And my mate, head of an ICU in one of Perth's hospitals, has avoided giving me an answer. So after a week at home, not driving, to keep the peace with my wife, I started tentatively driving short distances and now I'm back to normal. I'm still concentrating too much, on making sure I'm doing it right, but I found myself zipping around Auckland the last week with no issues, so I'm confident I'm OK. Phew.

So, in the tradition of management and beancounters everywhere, Gizmodo used Ai to write news stories. Read at link. Link = https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/300923987/a-tech-news-site-let-ai-write-a-story-it-was-a-disaster I don't worry, I predict, management and beancounters everywhere will be using Ai, wherever they can to save money and thereto get bonuses for themselves, for such money saving. Another two examples (if I haven't posted them already): "...ill spill causes delays..." it was an Oil Spill. "... Reality Coach fined for..." it was a real Estate Agent. Pity, I thought "Reality Coach" might be the latest iteration of "Influencer" and be an opportunity to get in on the ground floor. i.e. "Joe Smurgelheimer, Reality Coach, slamming people's faces against walls, since 2020..."

Found Cav's milliner.

"“The travelator was overhauled in 2015,” Kerati said. “They were regularly maintained. If there is a fault in the machinery or maintenance, the Hitachi company must be held responsible as the manufacturer.” This is not a well maintained and properly functioning travelator. This is, as we Non Thai, Non PR people say, "a knackered travelator". Coss Comment: the latest excuse - over the last days I've seen - "something fell on it from a height" - "Authorities claimed that the woman’s suitcase was missing two wheels" - "insisted the walkalator, rolled out in 1996, was maintained every day by a Thai operator and a Japanese firm that had made 20 such units installed at the airport." - and various other deflections.

Just across the ditch, same same here. It wasn't until I was 25 that I started wearing a shirt in Summer. We used salad oil and vinegar, slippery girls

Black Snow TV Series 2022 Very good, Murder whodunnit, set in the Sugar Cane fields of Australia. Touches on the early "Blackbirding" practises of the Sugar Cane industry. Notable for Travis Fimmel (Of Vikings fame), as the damaged detective. Should be prizes for this one.