John Drake

With a goal of being a full member seven months from now, in August.

No, BRICS was formed to replace democratic governance worldwide with authoritarian/dictatorships.

I agree that the attack on TSMC is stupid beyond belief. But I'm not so sure that the other end of the argument, backing away from Taiwan, is such a bad idea. The opposition KMT is in a coalition that controls the legislature and most local governments. Only the executive is in the hands of the DPP. And the KMT wants a Hong Kong style solution (one country; two systems) to the current conflict with the PRC. Going down the same path as Hong Kong would likely soon result in complete control by the PRC. In those circumstances who would want to pour investment, American weapons, and other support into a KMT-ruled Taiwan if it runs the risk of being turned over to the PRC in a few years?

They've already applied to join.

Already grow rice in Louisiana and tropical fruit in Florida and California.

It could be good for us. China does this sort of thing all the time. They use tariffs and import inspection slow-downs to get their way with countries such as Australia, South Korea, and Japan. And I remember the government apologizing for the nation a few years ago when a Thai immigration officer slapped a Chinese tourist. China takes care of its people and its interests. Why shouldn't the US do the same?

Like most things Trump, its effect is unpredictable.

Possibly. No, maybe even likely. But I still like to see it, because it ought to scare the bejabbers out of the Thais who have been quietly undermining US interests through things such as openly inviting Chinese companies to set up in Thailand to evade US sanctions and restrictions.

Maybe people have awakened in DC and aren't waiting for another Pearl Harbor this time.

It's not enough that they just don't agree. They will need to make a commitment, according to the posting: We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency,

You're spluttering.

It's joining BRICS. And Trump has just proclaimed any intent on the part of BRICS to weaken the US dollar a hostile action that will result in 100 percent tariffs and/or exclusion from exporting into the US.

Thailand is joining BRICS, isn't it?

hah, hah, hah. Thailand has an irreplaceable trade surplus with the US. It's not a friend, it's a Chinese colony. The Philippines is a US friend.

Try the little link that says Show More and you'll get this; "We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy.

I think Thaksin's job just got a little bit harder. 100 percent US tariffs incoming.

Oh, no. Maybe joining BRICS was such a good idea after all.

I think I know who did it. https://tech.caltech.edu/img/2024/nov12/hannibal.png

Authorities are giving the test to the wrong people. It's the native British who need to be tested to see whether they are worthy and able to live in the same nation as the migrants.

The second time this has happened. The first was in 1961. https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/filling-void-memories-lost-friends-still-vivid-ludingtons

I think that's when the nukes are launched.

Alibaba out today with a new AI called Qwen. Slower than all the others, including DeepSeek. Trained content also cuts off at October 2023 like DS. And looks exactly like ChatGPT.

The country desperately needs RFKjr and a new attitude towards public health and health care. What now exists isn't working. Too many people fat, eating terrible foods pumped up with additives the rest of the civilized world refuses to allow, policy dictated by Big Pharma. And it's not just the Democrats who are owned by pharma companies that are uniting against him, it's Republicans, too, especially National Review type Republicans. Republicans have a chance to reorder a new political coalition that can win for decades. It'll not happen if new members of that coalition are immediately sabotaged by the likes of McConnell, Cornyn, Susan Collins, and Murkowski. They aren't interested in changing anything.

DeepSeek will tell you that its answers are generalist in nature, and it cannot provide specialist level sourcing. It also informs you that it has only been trained through content available as of October 2023. So, it's more than a year behind all the others, which provide content updates almost until the very day you ask the question. I would pay money for Grok.

Yes. ChatGPT was just as thorough. Grok was even better.