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From CNN Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips announced Thursday that he is running for president, kicking off a long-shot Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden. “I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country, but it’s not about the past. This is an election about the future. I will not sit still, I will not be quiet in the face of numbers that are so clearly saying that we’re going to be facing an emergency next November,” Phillips told CBS News in a clip posted online. Phillips is expected to formally announce his campaign Friday in Concord, where he’ll file to run in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary. The three-term congressman, who recently left his House Democratic leadership position in the face of intraparty frustration over his calls for a Biden alternative, has argued that the president would be a weak general election candidate due to his age and low approval ratings. Still, Phillips’ campaign launch comes as Democrats are seeking to unify around Biden, fend off spoiler independent candidates and lay out the administration’s accomplishments to voters. Biden allies have described talk of Phillips running as a distraction that would only serve to highlight the president’s weak points. Phillips attempted to reach out to Biden in August, but the president was unavailable, according to a source. Instead, Phillips spoke to White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, who “heard him out,” the source said, but conveyed that the “president is the right person to win in 2024 and finish the job.” Phillips told CNN that he tried to reach out to Biden “as a courtesy to advise him of my intentions, which at that time were to call for a new generation of candidates to compete for the nomination.” He said the call with Zients was “brief but friendly.”

Everything reported on Twitter is gospel truth. Just ask owner Elon Musk. 🫢

I’ve received report from reliable source that bars and entertainment venues will be closed on Sunday, October 29, in connection with end of Buddhist Lent.

From Pattaya News Thai investors are set to launch five new airlines, pouring in a minimum of 3.85 billion baht. These carriers are poised to commence operations in 2024, aiming to tap into Thailand’s burgeoning aviation market, projected to be worth 320 billion baht next year. According to the Nation Thailand report, Really Cool Airlines, P80 Air, Pattaya Airways, Siam Seaplane, and Landarch Airlines have all received an Air Operating Licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). To commence commercial flights, however, they still have to wait for the CAAT’s approval of their Air Operator Certificates (AOC). One of the the above five Thai-owned carriers, Really Cool Airlines, expects to receive the AOC in January 2024, which will allow them to start operating the flights as early as in the second quarter. Patee Sarasin, CEO of Really Cool Airlines, emphasized that during the first two years, Really Cool Airlines will focus on Asian routes, particularly to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai, operating four Airbus A330-300 aircraft. With an initial crew of 130, they will initially offer chartered flights from March to May before transitioning to regular flights and expanding to European markets. “We would not compete with Thai Airways International on their regular routes but would focus on flights to secondary cities, which would also help further promote Thailand’s tourism industry,” Mr. Patee said. On another note, P80 Air, a subsidiary of Thoresen Thai Agencies Pcl, projects getting its AOC in 8-9 months and commencing commercial operations in the last quarter of the next year. In its initial two years, P80 Air will focus on secondary Chinese cities, operating four Boeing B737-800 NG aircraft. Pattaya Airways is also eyeing a launch in the final quarter of 2024, aiming to operate on both domestic routes within Thailand and across ASEAN destinations. The airline will start with cargo delivery using an ATR72 aircraft for the first three years and later add more planes to meet rising demand from e-commerce companies. Meanwhile, Siam Seaplane is considering adding amphibian planes (Cessna Caravan 208 model) to its fleet to cater to high-end customers visiting seaside resorts and ports in Thailand. Their debut route will connect to Ko Lipe in Satun province, significantly shortening travel time to the island. Lastly, Landarch Airlines intends to operate short chartered flights between major cities in southern provinces, beginning in April 2024, with its hub in Hat Yai, Songkhla province. They plan to acquire five Cessna C208 B, 12-seater aircraft in the first five years and expand the fleet to 15 planes, serving destinations in other provinces.

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, the director said. The next lunar eclipse viewable from Thailand will be a total eclipse on the night of September 7, 2025.

From Thai PBS World Thailand will bid to host World Pride in 2028, to reflect the country’s acceptance of and open mindedness regarding LGBT+ issues. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke quoted Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin as saying that his government will fully support the bid and, if the country is selected, he would allocate budget for the hosting of the event. The event would also help boost the economy and tourism, Srettha said. The 2024 World Pride event will be held in Australia. In 2025 it will be in the US and the Netherlands in 2026. Srettha was speaking during a meeting in which participants discussed marriage equality and a proposal to allow transgender people to be covered by the country’s universal health coverage. Chai said a draft marriage equality law will be put on the Cabinet agenda next Tuesday, and Parliament is expected to consider it in early December. There should, however, be a roadmap for the process, which must include opinions from all sides, he said.

Although body builders do not attract me, guys with muscular development in proportion to their body type certainly do. You can find them in many bars and massage shops. Some for everyone here in Bkk.

Although I gave up saunas years ago, I hear relatively good reports on Sauna Mania. Short walk from Silom.

But they are quickly replaced by thousands who cross over Mexico border daily. Despite horrible gun deaths, migrants from Central and South America find US much safer than remaining home. Despite what GOP claims, they empower the economy as they are absorbed into workforce.

Worse, monkey never received a tip (well, other than in the biblical sense of course).

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 is in the U.S. Army Reserve out of Saco. He recently reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, and made threats to shoot the National Guard base in Saco, according to state police, who said he spent two weeks at a mental health facility this summer. https://www.sunjournal.com/2023/10/25/multiple-victims-reported-following-shootings-in-lewiston/

From The Thaiger A shocking incident involving a man who was sexually assaulted by a monkey in his hotel room in Cambodia has come to light. The victim, a tourist from the UK, had reportedly forgotten to close his hotel room window, leading to the unexpected sexual assault by a long-tailed macaque. The disturbing sexual assault was reported on Twitter. The victim had travelled from England to Cambodia for a holiday with his friends. On the night of the incident, exhausted, he fell into a deep sleep, neglecting to secure his hotel room window. His friends were greeted by a horrifying sight: a monkey had snuck into the room while he was asleep and was sexually assaulting him in the most unsettling way imaginable by pulling down his trousers and performing oral sex. The friends were stunned by the unimaginable event but tried their best to help their distressed comrade. They ventured outside the room and began calling the monkey from the window, careful not to frighten it as they feared it might bite their friend. https://thethaiger.com/news/world/uk-tourist-sexually-assaulted-by-monkey-in-cambodian-hotel-room-viral-incident-stuns-millions

In that case, treat yourself to a sandwich. 🙂

Right here. You cite three—and only three—parties involved in the conflict. if there are other parties, why don’t you identify them. ”Until something can be done about the US/srael/Iran conflict, is there even the remotest chance of peace?” You place the responsibility solely on those three.

At least you’re not a conspiracy theorist. 😊

No one can understand what you don’t say.

This is a direct quote from you: ”Until something can be done about the US/srael/Iran conflict, is there even the remotest chance of peace?” How in hell did I misrepresent what you said. You only mentioned three nations. I didn’t make that up, Peter. You can’t have it both ways. I put no words in your mouth that you didn’t utter. Maybe you were thinking something else but I can’t read your mind.

Your mistake is believing that it’s just a problem existing among Iran, US and Israel. Iran is a world-wide exporter of terrorism. It’s everybody’s problem.

Duplicate post (see below)

Yes, and despite all that when your homeland is again threatened (as it was twice in the 20th century), you know who’ll be first on the speed dial.

Unfortunately, there is no peaceful means, either. Hamas doesn’t desire peace. It’s avowed reason for existence is to remove the Israeli state from the map by means of attacks like we witness a few weeks ago. World leaders have, for decades, attempted to mediate a peace in the region without success. You can’t force peace on terrorists.

The die is cast now and Israel has no realistic alternative to destroying Hamas which is dedicated to Israel’s eradication. If the UK or any other nation with the means to resist was threatened in similar manner, it would respond in kind. The matter is now one of how tactics will be employed.

From Pattaya Mail PATTAYA, Thailand – In the early hours of October 23, a potentially tragic incident took a heartening turn when the Pattaya Sea Rescue and Community Safety Unit responded to a distress call from worried tourists. The call reported a person attempting suicide by walking into the sea at Pattaya Beach, near the Pattaya Police Station. Onlookers, mostly tourists, witnessed the distressing scene as a young woman, identified as 24-year-old Rattanaporn, entered the sea, emotionally distraught. Acting swiftly, a courageous local teenager, 17-year-old Parit Yunkrathok, jumped into the water and heroically brought her back to safety. Following the rescue, local sea rescue teams and volunteer medical teams arrived, finding Rattanaporn emotionally shaken but physically unharmed. Police officers and community volunteers joined forces to provide initial psychological support to the distressed woman, who revealed that her actions Further investigation unveiled that Parit, the young hero, had earlier noticed the distressed woman while hanging out with friends on the beach. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he swiftly entered the water, successfully rescuing her. After bringing her back to shore, Parit promptly called for assistance from local authorities. Responding police officers helped calm Rattanaporn and suggested a heartfelt conversation with her boyfriend, who was invited to the scene to resolve their relationship issues. The incident concluded without harm or complications, thanks to Parit’s bravery and the quick response from local authorities in de-escalating the situation.

From the Nation The Cabinet on Tuesday resolved to keep the New Year holidays at four but shifted the compensatory day forward to December 29. PM’s secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej told reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting that the extra day granted in the upcoming break was being moved forward from Tuesday, January 2, 2024, to Friday, December 29, 2023. January 2 was initially planned as an extra day off to make up for December 31, which falls on a Sunday. Usually, the compensatory day off is granted after the actual holiday, Meanwhile, holidays at the end of 2024 will be extended to five days, starting from Saturday, December 28 to Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Prommin said the Cabinet has left it to the Bank of Thailand to decide whether December 30, 2024, should be announced as an extra bank holiday or not.

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 to small town in Thailand, get accepted by their people, learn the language, train Muay Thai for a year and half, fight in a tournament, win the tournament, return to the USA and join the UFC, stay in shape & go undefeated in your weight class, retire and do an interview saying this comment was the reason you fought so hard.” The comment caught the attention of former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij, who tagged Buakaw and also Muay Thai film star Tony Jaa, saying, “I'm sure these two gentlemen will be happy to help.” Buakaw was quick to get back to the American teen: “Hello, I am Buakaw! Both myself and the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand extend a warm welcome and are prepared to assist you during your stay in Thailand. I will send you a direct message to discuss this further." Reed’s post has also drawn support from fellow influencers like Kush Papi, a Chicago-based comedian with two million followers on Instagram. He commented, “I’ll pay for the Thailand ticket.” Just in case Kush Papi doesn’t come up with the money, Harrington has launched a GoFundMe page titled “Trip to Thailand for me and my dad”. The page had racked up total donations of US$7,679 as of press time on Tuesday.