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From Washington Post Boeing agreed on Sunday to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud the government in a case linked to crashes of its 737 Max jets in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed 346 people — a stunning turn for the aerospace giant after the Justice Department determined that Boeing failed to live up to terms of a 2021 deal to avoid prosecution. Prosecutors alleged that two Boeing pilots concealed key information from the Federal Aviation Administration about a new automated control system on the Max. The system was implicated in both crashes, causing uncontrollable dives. By agreeing to plead guilty to the single felony count just before a midnight deadline Sunday, the company will avoid going to trial in the high-profile case. The Justice Department filed documents related to the deal in federal court in Texas late Sunday night, setting up a planned hearing where family members — who have criticized the pending agreement — will be permitted to speak out. The court subsequently must decide whether to accept the plea agreement. Boeing had already agreed to $2.5 billion in penalties and payouts in 2021. As part of the new deal, the company will pay an additional $487.2 million in penalties, agree to oversight by an independent monitor, spend at least $455 million to strengthen compliance and safety programs and be placed on supervised probation for roughly three years, according to a Justice Department official.

If it does it will be close. Although all structural work appears comple, fitting out interior should be a challenge. They may be able to do soft open with some rooms and facilities yet to be finished.

Ho ho. I don’t even attempt four hands. 🙂

Photo taken today of view of new Dusit Thani taken from perspective of elevated walkway above Silom MRT station entrance. I believe much of space on ground level will be landscaped and terraced.

I was in need of some printed docs today but proprietor of above shop had problem with printer and directed me diagonally across Soi Saladeang to another print shop staffed by three young men who were able to quickly accommodate me.

No, our contribution is increasing employment opportunities.

From The Nation Bangkok-Vientiane train service will start on July 19 The inaugural train service between Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (Bang Sue) in Bangkok and Vientiane (Khamsavath) will start on July 19, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said on Sunday. The first train to the Lao capital will depart Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station at 8.30pm on July 19, with Deputy Minister of Transport Surapong Piyachote presiding over the launch and joining the journey. Train No. 133 will cover the distance in around 11 hours. The journey will include customs clearance at Nong Khai Station and the destination. The service route for the Bangkok–Vientiane train will utilise the Northeastern Railway line, branching off from the Northern Railway line at Ban Phachi Junction Station. The train will pass through Saraburi province, Chira Road Junction Station in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Khon Kaen province, Udon Thani province, and Nong Khai province before crossing the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge to Thanalaeng Station and terminating at Vientiane Station, the SRT said.

I’ve posted several articles about the declining birth rate and its implications on the country. You’ll find another published today in The Thaiger below. How it exactly plays out is uncertain but one thing is becoming abundantly clear: citizens from the neighboring ASEAN countries will be called on to supply even greater labor going forward. ========== Thailand’s population crisis, described as an “invisible time bomb,” requires urgent government intervention, according to Varawut Silpa-archa, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS). Varawut stated the following during a forum on national strategies hosted by the National Press Council of Thailand on Thursday, July 4. “Environmental issues are visible, but this [population crisis] is an invisible time bomb. If it is not addressed, it will certainly cause problems within the next 10 years.” Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-faces-invisible-time-bomb-population-crisis

They all have LINE and wouldn’t expect any problem finding those willing to travel.

How to disable predictive texts on iPhone, IPad Open the Settings app. Tap General > Keyboard. Toggle Predictive off. Turn off predictive text in Android 1. Open the Settings menu on your phone or tablet and select Languages & Input. 2. Tap Virtual keyboard under Keyboard and input methods. 3. Select Android Keyboard.

That’s the best news I’ve had all week! lol

The bars and massage shops have been quiet in Silom for past week or so but anyplace with big screen TV’s we’re doing huge business with football fans. Big winner was Shenanigans on Surawong with every seat taken and spectators gathered on the periphery. And first time I’ve seen all the seats taken at Pink Panther outside bar that has giant screen. Only place still not doing much of anything is new music bar opposite Foodland.

Nothing at all to do with racism. Biden would trump you in a debate, hands down. 😄

Olddaddy is practicing for next debate. 🙂

From Thai PBS World Two teenaged students were killed and another seriously injured in a brawl between two rival groups in front of a housing estate in Bangkok’s Bang Na district Saturday night. Seven teenagers, including the injured, are being questioned by police. The two deceased, identified as “Kittisak”, 16 and “Noppanai”, 15, were students at Rung Rueang Uppatham School. Kittisak died after being struck on the head with a 3kg rock, while Noppanai was stabbed to death. The rock and a knife, with a six-inch blade, were found at the scene. A third student, 16-year-old “Phayu”, was also stabbed and was rushed to Bang Phil Hospital for emergency treatment. His condition is described as stable. Prior to the fight, Bang Na police said that Kittisak was riding a motorbike, with his girlfriend and Noppanai as pillion passengers, when they came across seven rival students, one identified as “Panupong”, 14. The two groups allegedly traded verbal abuse before the fatal physical altercation began. Bang Na police say all those taken in for questioning have been charged with assault resulting to the deaths of two people. Police were told that, before the fatal brawl last night, Kittisak and Noppanai damaged a motorcycle belonging to one of their rivals, for which their parents have agreed a compensation payment of 2,000 baht for the damage.

What’s connection, in your mind, between visa and racism?

The cliche “you can take the boy out of Thailand (fee free to substitute any country) but you can’t take Thailand out of the boy” seems to apply here. Observe Thai—or ASEAN generally—boys gather to eat, drink or just hang out. They are very affectionate with one another and enjoy themselves immensely. Some may succeed in emigrating to another county by various means but they will forever be drawn emotionally to their homeland. As we follow this thread from the beginning, I’m again reminded of something I believe Floridarob mentioned in a post a while back about the difference between love and sex, and the importance of not equating the two. in my 22 years of visiting Thailand, I’ve come to know quite a few guys outside the bars and massage shops. I truly enjoy their friendship and envy their relationships with their peers. That has granted me insight into the boundaries of these associations as they pertain to me. I know I can’t take Thailand home with me but I also know that I’ll be returning as long as I’m able.

From AP Thai fire fighters attempt to control fire at Chinatown in Bangkok late Saturday. The nighttime blaze began in a row of shophouses behind a hotel, but was difficult to put out because they were accessible only by a narrow alley. No deaths were reported. Sakchai Lalit - staff, ASSOCIATED PRESS The Bangkok Post is reporting that the blaze was in the Yaowarat Rd. Area. Elderly residents were rescued by aerial devices. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2824573/big-fire-gutted-chinatown

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Media rumors that the pound would suffer a setback following the UK poll proved to be unfounded. In the past, Labour victories have been accompanied by a fall in the value of the British currency on fears that the party could not be trusted with the nation’s coffers. However, the July 4 election produced such a huge win for the Labour opposition, amid a collapse without precedent of the Conservative vote, that currency dealers and commentators have taken the view that firm government with a huge majority will benefit the country. The pound is holding steady at around 46.68 to the Thai baht. The other British expat preoccupation, the frozen state pension, is also a no-change scenario. At any rate for now. No major political party committed itself to reform in its manifesto. Although research from pension pressure groups suggests that Labour MPs are more inclined to favor reform than their Conservative peers, nothing is known of the views of huge swathes of Labour members of parliament in the new intake. Along with Brits resident in many countries, those in Thailand do not receive the annual rise in state pensions operating for those resident in the UK, the EU and some other states. The unjustness has been frequently debated and referred to the European human rights court. However, a change to benefit 500,000 British pensioners living in affected countries abroad would require Parliamentary assent for a change in the law. Given the state of British finances and urgent domestic matters, such as the crisis in the health service, pensioners abroad are not likely to be a priority.

From CNN It was an attack that sent shockwaves through a country long considered a pioneer in LGBTQ rights. In the early hours of May 6, four lesbian women were set on fire in Argentina. Only one of them survived. It happened at a boarding house in the Barracas neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where Pamela Fabiana Cobas, Mercedes Roxana Figueroa, Andrea Amarante and Sofía Castro Riglo were sharing a room. Witnesses say a man broke in and threw an incendiary device that set the women on fire. Pamela died soon after. Her partner Roxana died days later of organ failure. Andrea died on May 12 in a hospital. Andrea’s partner Sofía was the sole survivor. She spent weeks recovering in hospital and is alive today only because Andrea threw herself on top of her to shield her from the flames, Sofia’s attorney Gabriela Conder told CNN. “Her partner saved her,” Conder said. Local LGBTQ rights advocates condemned the attack as a hate crime and lesbicide, saying the women were targeted because of their sexual identity. Police have arrested a 62-year-old man who lived in the building but, according to Conder, aren’t currently treating the incident as a hate crime as they say the motive is still unclear. Andrea’s partner Sofía was the sole survivor. She spent weeks recovering in hospital and is alive today only because Andrea threw herself on top of her to shield her from the flames, Sofia’s attorney Gabriela Conder told CNN. “Her partner saved her,” Conder said. Local LGBTQ rights advocates condemned the attack as a hate crime and lesbicide, saying the women were targeted because of their sexual identity. Police have arrested a 62-year-old man who lived in the building but, according to Conder, aren’t currently treating the incident as a hate crime as they say the motive is still unclear. For Argentina’s LGBTQ groups – many of whom are planning to commemorate the four women with a rally this weekend – the attack represents an extreme manifestation of what they consider a growing wave of hostility against them. Those they blame most for this rising intolerance are the people in power. Chief among them, they say, is the country’s new far-right leader Javier Milei. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/06/americas/argentina-lgbtq-milei-fire-deaths-intl-latam/index.htmlU

From CNN They are young and passionate about protecting Cambodia’s rich and ecologically fragile environment. Their peaceful green campaigns have been championed by climate activist Greta Thunberg and in 2015, they successfully fought against a plan for a hydroelectric dam they claim would have damaged a pristine rainforest valley. But this week, the Southeast Asian nation sentenced 10 activists from the group Mother Nature Cambodia to up to six years in prison each on charges of conspiring against the state. The government says the group encourages social unrest, but to their supporters, the ruling is just the latest in a pattern of attacks on climate activists in the wider region. “We demand that our friends in Mother Nature Cambodia, and all political prisoners, be released immediately,” said Fridays for Future, the youth-led global climate strike movement founded by Thunberg, in a statement. Exiled opposition leader Mu Sochua said the group had tried to highlight environmental issues that “threaten Cambodia’s fragile environment” and claimed, “they would be heroes in any free country.” “Their convictions only show how Cambodian courts are simply being used as weapons (by the state) to halt any kind of public discussion,” Mu Sochua told CNN. “The sentences are a disaster for environmentalism in Cambodia and for people everywhere, who care about the future of our planet.” Continues with photos at https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/06/asia/mother-nature-cambodia-climate-youth-activists-intl-hnk/index.html

Agree it’s always wise to read the travel advisories. In Panama, US state department lists two remote areas to avoid. But don’t worry about going out and about in Thailand. Biggest thing you have to fear is airfare.

Panama is a very popular destination for US expats because of its lower cost of living, climate and proximity to US mainland in the need of advanced health care.

My experience in Saphan Kwai is that T&B or gay are accurate descriptions.

Predictive text is AI’s way of reminding us that it never sleeps.