The Beer Bar

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/07/europe/ukraine-military-chief-assistant-grenade-death-intl/index.html "...Major Gennadiy Chastyakov, who served as the assistant to Valery Zaluzhny, had received a gift box from a colleague for his birthday on Monday that contained several “Western model” grenades, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on Telegram. Chastyakov’s 13-year-old son then picked up one of the grenades and started turning the ring, Klymenko wrote. As Chastyakov took the grenade from him, the ring was pulled out and the weapon detonated...".

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/celebrities/24648918/evan-ellingson-dead-child-star-home-san-bernardino/ "Former actor Evan Ellingson has died at 35. The actor, who appeared in numerous television shows and films including 24, CSI: Miami, and My Sister's Keeper, died at his home in San Bernardino, California... Evan's father, Michael, shared with the outlet that his son had been struggling with drugs in the past. The star seemed to be "better of late," but his sudden death is a complete shock to the grieving family. Evan's brother, Austin, also died of a drug overdose in 2008, according to IMDB...". Very sad.

This strikes me not just a concern for Thailand but for all countries. From Thai Enquirer By Arun Saronchai The potential of platforms like TikTok to shape the perceptions and opinions of young people has become a pressing concern for nations across the globe. Thailand, with its unique geopolitical position and societal values, is not immune to these influences. It becomes imperative, then, to consider how we, as a nation, must approach the regulation of such platforms to safeguard our youth from external narratives that could skew their understanding of complex international issues. The controversy surrounding TikTok in the United States over alle…

From CNN The Robot Building pictured in 2022, shortly before the tower's exterior was stripped as part of ongoing renovations. For almost four decades, its cartoonish eyes gazed out placidly over Sathorn, a commercial district in downtown Bangkok. Now, with its facade stripped back to a concrete frame amid major renovations, the tower affectionately known as the “Robot Building” is barely recognizable, save for its characteristically blocky silhouette. The building’s owners, the Thai arm of Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB), say the refurbishment will make its headquarters more energy-efficient and employee-friendly. While the company would not shar…

From Thai PBS World Given the huge difference between penalties for abuse of methamphetamine and for selling the drug, the government’s plan to classify people convicted of possessing more than five methamphetamine tablets as drug traders is a big deal. “We have set this cap based on academic findings by relevant authorities,” Public Health Ministry acting permanent secretary Dr Kittisak Agsornwong said recently. The five-pill classification was deemed reasonable by relevant agencies – including the Medical Services Department, Mental Health Department, Food and Drug Administration, Medical Sciences Department, Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), …

They were my teenage idols, groups whose shelf lives were usually brief. They shone like bright stars only to die as younger ones rose in their place. The Hollies, Marmalade, Herman's Hermits, Cream, The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, The Monkees, Procul Harem . . . the list is long. Many of the songs remain on my favourites list. Setting The Beatles aside, my all-time favourite album remains Procul Harem's Grand Hotel, an amazing collection of fantastic songs with the earthy vocals of Gary Brooker. Some, of course, have lasted the course. Who would have thought that The Beatles would today be launching their final single even though two passed away decades ago. Or th…

Quite by chance I came across this rather fascinating short film highlighting the difference between the ease with which homosexuals mixed in London in the 1930s compared to the much stricter climate that existed in the 1950s. It was made by London Weekend Television in 1981 and inevitably considers homosexual men as of that time. The video explains why views on homosexuals changed as the works of sexologists like Freud slowly began to seep outside academia after the Second World War. The word "homosexual" became much better known, along with such terms as inverts and perversion. Very quickly the public would become obsessed with the idea of dangerous effeminate homo…

We have all heard that the leaning of the Leaning Tower of Pisa was stabilised back in 2008 when the publlic was told it would remain 'static' for another 200 years. This year marks the 850th year of the laying of its foundation stone. But Italy has several other mediaeval towers, notably the 14 in San Gimignano south of Florence of which the tallest is 54 metres. Now there is another that has got the authorities worried about the rate of decline. Situated in the heart of Bologna in the Piazza di Porta Ravegnana are two tall towers, the 12th century 48 metre-high Garisenda Tower and its neighbour the 97 metre Asinelli Tower. As I saw on a visit 4 years ago they are m…

Boeing was no doubt thrilled that it would get the contract to build the replacement for the US President's Air Force 1 747-200 aircraft. Well, actually, it's two aircraft, one the mirror image of the other. The new ones will be modified versions of the last of the 747 line - the 800 series with the additional extension to the upper deck. Normally with military projects, the Air Force would be charged on a cost basis plus an agreed profit margin. Thanks to Donald Trump's intervention (I suppose we can at least thank him for one positive decision), he objected to the extimated cost of $4 billion per plane. As a result Boeing agreed to reduce the price to that from the…

I’m the first to admit that I have only the most vague understanding of cryptocurrencies, and no desire whatsoever to own any, but I was reminded of what Carlie Munger (Warren Buffett’s business partner) opined last year: “Sometimes I call it crypto ‘crappo,’ sometimes I call it ‘crypto s---.’ It’s just ridiculous that anybody would buy this stuff,” Munger, 99, told CNBC’s Becky Quick during a livestream of the event, adding: “It’s totally absolutely crazy, stupid gambling.” From Cryptonews.com Thailand’s second-largest bank, Kasikorn Bank, widely known as K-Bank, has acquired a 97% stake in the parent company of the established Satang crypto exchange. …

From VN Express Thailand's Ministry of Labor has issued a ministerial order setting new fees for inspections and work permits for foreign workers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Accordingly, the visa fee was reduced from 2,000 baht (US$55.56) to 500 baht and the fee for applying for a temporary stay, from 1,900 baht to 500 baht. The order will take effect for four years starting from Nov. 10, 2023. It is applied to foreign workers from the four countries who enter Thailand to work based on an employment contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in connection with the recruitment of workers.

Yes, "lists" is correct. Not content with just a list of the ten best places to visit, Lonely Planey outdoes its competitors with five separate lists. The Best Travel 2024 list has no less than five different categories - Countries, Regions, Cities, Sustainable Travel and Best Value. Results are in many cases surprising. Best Country is Mongolia. Now I wonder if that country is even included in any other list! Best Region is Western Balkans Trans Dinarica Cycling Route. Well, and what if I don't fancy cycling? You'll probably prefer #5, Southern Thailand. Best City is Nairobi. Huh? Not for gay travellers. it ain't. Homosexuality can be punished by between 5…

From The Nation Lufthansa has announced it will resume direct flights to Thailand with the world's largest passenger plane on Sunday. Lufthansa has announced it will resume direct flights to Thailand with the world's largest passenger plane on Sunday. The decision to deploy the Airbus A380 on the Bangkok-Munich route from October 29 came in response to tremendous demand, particularly during the winter high season, said the German flag carrier’s regional manager Anlee Do. Nicknamed Superjumbo, the A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jetliner with a capacity of 509 passengers. The standard cabin layout features eight seats in …

From The Nation Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visit to New York to attend the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly was successful in fostering relationships and increasing trade and investment with other countries, Prime Minister's Office spokesperson Chai Watcharong said. Srettha met with several foreign leaders, made five speeches and met with leaders of major corporations, including Tesla, Google, Microsoft, Citibank, JP Morgan, and Estee Lauder. These companies showed interest in investing more in Thailand, Chai said. Srettha expressed confidence that several foreign investors will invest at least US$5 billion each in Thai…

The Bangkok Post is reporting that bars in the nation’s busiest tourist centers will receive permission to remain open until 4a.m., beginning with the New Year period.

Although details are incomplete, 22 persons have died in a mass shooting in the US state of Maine. Although both political parties can be expected to condemn the killings, no gun control legislation will emerge. From the Lewiston Sun Journal LEWISTON — At least 22 people were killed in multiple shootings Wednesday night in Lewiston, Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson confirmed. That number could rise, he said. Maine State Police are searching for Robert Card, 40, in connection with the two shootings at Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille. Card, who lives in Bowdoin, is a trained firearms instructor who police believe i…

From The Nation Murata, a supplier of components to Apple, has invested 2.4 billion baht to create a new production base in Thailand for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), which it believes will create over 2,000 jobs. Murata Electronics Thailand Co Ltd, a key electronic components supplier of Apple, said last week that the new manufacturing facility at the World Industrial Estate Co Ltd in Lamphun province would open on November 25. This new factory will manufacture MLCC, which are flagship products for Murata. These components enhance the stability of various mobile devices such as smartphones, computer servers, data sensors, automobiles, a…

The Bangkok Post is reporting that the United States had given The Thai Police Marine Division a dozen fast patrol boats to aid in drug interdiction efforts on the Mekong River.

From The Nation Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat blamed unfair distribution of power and wealth for the decline of liberal democracy worldwide. He said “democratic backsliding” is happening in Thailand as well as other countries, even those with “the most advanced institutionalised democracies”. Pita was giving a lecture in English on “Moving Forward: Thailand, Asean & Beyond” given at Harvard University in the US on Thursday. “Democracy is under siege,” he told a packed auditorium at his alma mater. He pointed to survey results by Freedom House, which found that 48% of the world lived in a free societ…

From The Guardian 24 October The pope has accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop whose diocese has been rocked by reports of a gay orgy involving a male sex worker in a priest’s apartment, as well as previous violent incidents involving his clergy. The Vatican did not give a reason why Grzegorz Kaszak was resigning as head of the diocese of Sosnowiec, in south-western Poland. At 59, he is several years shy of the normal retirement age of 75. But his diocese has been in the spotlight after one of his priests was placed under criminal investigation for having allegedly organised an orgy at his apartment in Dąbrowa Górnicza involving a male sex worker. Po…

From Thai PBS World People in Thailand will have an opportunity to witness a partial lunar eclipse this Sunday (October 29), which also marks the end of Buddhist Lent, said a director of Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). Suparerk Karuehanon, director of the Astronomical Academic Service and Communication Centre, said the eclipse will begin at 1.01am and last for just over an hour. He said a lunar eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, causing the Moon darken. Those in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, as well as in North and South America, will also be able to see the eclipse,…

From the Nation Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek may have just landed the biggest challenge of his storied career so far – from a 13-year-old American boy. Reed Harrington, a 7th grader who lives in the US, recently posted an Instagram message promising to follow the advice of the most-liked comment if he reached his milestone of followers. “Okay. When I hit 200,000 followers, I do whatever the top comment said on the video and post it," the teenager said in a September 29 video posted from his reed_harrington23 account. The top comment, which broke the Instagram record with over 2.57 million likes, came from user fiven9nekid: “Fly…

from Thai PBS World Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his cabinet will watch the popular Thai movie “Supparer” (the Undertaker) tomorrow (Wednesday). The film has grossed at least Bt400 million at the box office to date. Joining him will be Paetongtarn Shinawatra, deputy chairwoman of the “national soft power panel”. Srettha and the cabinet have block-booked the 7.45pm showing of the film at the Cineplex in the Siam Paragon shopping complex. Directed by Thiti Srinuan, the film tells the story of a young man from Isan, who works as an undertaker and has a romantic relationship with a woman called Bai Kao, but their love story ends in tragedy.

From the Nation Retired government officer Phairoj Kullavanijaya spends most of his days working on his fruit farm in Chachoengsao in south-central Thailand – an area most consider to be generally safe. But the 68-year-old feels more at ease with his 9mm pistol at his side. “I’ve always been interested in guns. It’s natural that a man would want to own a gun for protection,” said Mr Phairoj, who used to work in the Ministry of Commerce. He bought the firearm after retiring in 2010 through a scheme that allows government employees to buy guns at a discounted rate, although he said he has never fired his weapon outside a shooting range.…