Fat is a type of crazy

He might have not woken up to the fact that he is no longer seen as an exciting changemaker, or even as an amusing eccentric, but is now seen as a toxic anti semite bore.

Took action on a humanitarian crisis in South Sudan that followed the split with Sudan . This was a high profile interaction that made a difference. Has been involved in climate change efforts. His wife gets involved with such issues too. Fair to be cynical at times and call it virtue signalling by the beautiful people, see the hypocrisy in talking climate change and taking private jets, at the same time you can acknowledge that imperfect efforts can achieve good things. Can't watch George Clooney act - doesn't do it for me. Sting's solo career 99 per cent sucked. U2 after 1983 was a bit pretentious in my opinion. They have all made a difference in this world for the better though. George Clooney's warning on South Sudan | CNN

Emotions can be relevant. Can't imagine living in a society where idiots can walk the streets and look tough with any gun let alone assault style weapons. Kids insecure - seeing so may deaths in big cities - more deaths from small guns but the threat of what an assault weapon can do, and knowing so many are out there, would do your head in a bit I think.

But what is the problem even if people do have mixed motives. No one is perfect. I have rolled my eyes at the likes of George Clooney, Sting, and Bono as they have flounced around doing good but the fact is - they have done good. The soccer players may have got caught up in the moment to do good - made the news - got people to think about stuff - put FIFA and the Qatari government on the back foot - what's not to like. The example of extremely wealthy soccer players, on the highest of high profile stages, doesn't do justice to the other 99.9 per cent of protesters and activists who don't get a dollar or kudos, and just annoy both those who they are fighting against, and the cynical section of the public who don't believe in their sincerity. I am not sure if they believe in sincerity at all.

Let us say that our aim as humans is to feel good. It's not hard to believe that some feel good when helping others - working for a charity, fighting for someone's rights, etc. Others feel good visiting a lady and taking some drugs and indulging their desires. Some feel good doing both and some feel good doing neither. One way to avoid cynicism is to say that we all selfish in a sense, in that we all want to feel good, but for some that 'selfishness' leads them to help others and fight for their rights because that is what hits' their spot. That s what is important to them. It is arrogant to decide what others are feeling and thinking and to second guess their motives. Do you really think the majority of activists are pretending, or virtue signalling, or is just that they are built differently than you, brought up with different belief systems, feel good doing different things.

There is a significant downside on the privacy issue but there is a big upside for tax offices to collect the taxes from criminals, those working for cash on a smaller scale, wealthy with tax schemes, to pay for hospitals, provide services, etc. In reality I pay full tax on my wages and investments but know many do not. It irks me. Also a significant saving in resources dealing in cash. I prefer using card and do so nearly all the time. There is smart legislation in some countries to protect privacy and limit use for special circumstances - the issue is if we could trust governments to implement it fairly. In many countries there are likely to be reasonable checks and balances in place. In others clearly not.

There are more audits overall and I would imagine there would be lots of short simple audits for wage earners, small businesses and such, and fewer but more complex and detailed audits on high income earners, large corporations etc. Working stiffs have little to fear if they have wages and maybe a rental property or some shares. Whether the big earners are Republicans or Democrats, more targeted audits with highly skilled well paid auditors seems to make sense based on the tax gap referred to previously. Both parties have lobbyists on the side lines who would love a weak IRS so kudos to Joe for doing something.

One of the first things Republicans want to do post election apparently, as has been discussed, is find ways to stop or stymie the increase in IRS funding. Classic example of lining the pockets of their rich friends while selling it, along with right wing media, as government overreach and beneficial to the hoi polloi. The hoi polloi Republicans would no doubt benefit from more funds in government coffers for spending, but they will probably fully concur with IRS cuts based on what they are told, but there it is.

Could be an upside of communication in social media, higher levels of education and awareness, and wealth and free time. Sounds a bit silly but I did some quizzes where you learn the countries of the world, capital cities, etc. It's amazing how that alone made me listen more closely when there's trouble in Burkina Faso or climate change is affecting Kiribati. To the point, 50 years ago women in Qatar or in Thailand or a Sri Lankan worker seemed exotic to some - like a different type of person. Seemed like their poverty or subjugation was part of the natural order of things. Now people can see humans a bit more clearly and bit by bit know it's all a scam to keep the rich and powerful rich and powerful. Doesn't mean there's no hypocrisy and false motives in all of us, or that we have to pretend that people aren't annoying and we all love each other, but it could be a step in the right direction.

If you look at the particulars of this situation it is a bit dire. I don't mind others enjoying their favourite sport. But it's a bit hard to ignore that almost certainly FIFA picked Qatar due to bribes, that people were treated abominably when building the infrastructure, and that the human rights in general in Qatar is extremely poor. Look at the workers from south Asia as one example. If you see the video of workers living in terrible conditions in 50 degree heat, stuck like sardines in a room, no showers so they bathe with a bucket and water from the one or two toilets available for many men, it makes it all a bit real. That doesn't include the actual work where many have perished in the heat and unsafe work conditions. This is a rich country that could have and should have done so much better. The way to see if something is too politically correct or woke, or that activists are overdoing it, is to put yourself in the shoes of the people concerned and see if it is a triviality or an indulgence to feel you are being treated badly.

I find it a bit hard to believe that that could happen in a bricks and mortar store in London. In Australia there would be consumer laws that make such gouging illegal. At minimum they would need big signs clearly showing their fees. It would be like buying a chocolate bar from a shop and they charged your credit card 300 pounds and they say, well that's how much it is, no returns.

It may be obvious to note it is not ideal to ban, and should be used sparingly, but life isn't black and white and hard decisions have to be made. It would be nice if everyone could hear everyone and come to sensible conclusions or at least conclusions that don't result in harm to others. But that doesn't seem to happen in some situations. Sometimes it is about decency too. Rather than watch from the sidelines ask yourself what you would do as decision maker, running a private communication business, about Alex Jones or about Donald Trump fresh from January 6.

Mark Twain For someone who posts more often than anyone in the Asean Now universe it is a bit rich criticising others for taking things too seriously, or noting they should be a fun carefree guy like you, travelling around Thailand. Comparing to other events is a bit fruitless too. Pol Pot was in fact terrible - it does show though that giving power to one man can lead to terrible things. January 6 in my opinion, was objectively a very significant and serious event, and taking decisive steps to make sure it does not happen again seems smart. Especially since the person who made it happen has not resiled from it. Banning him back in 2020 made sense. It took courage to stand up to a dangerous fool. Don't care if they bring him back as I see him mainly as a spent force.

That appears to be your go to defence. That January 6 and BLM protests are the same - both apparently egged on and influenced by senior politicians on both sides. How did Trump influence and make January 6 happen? How did Biden influence individual protesters, who went overboard often separate to BLM protests, to do what they did? Not the same. Not comparable.

I haven't totally kept us with this thrilling debate but you are comparing I think the election in the United States, that has stringent guidelines and standards, and that has huge international implications, with a twitter poll. One verifiable and one not. Different standards of care and visibility of what is going on. Twitter itself raises concerns about such results. Therefore a different response can be appropriate.

Well done Owl. The farms looking good at the moment I must say. I wondered about Odysseus - hope all is well.

No doubt he has a significant base. I think the election fraud nonsense, the investigations that people can see do have some merit, the Murdoch turnaround, and boredom with the old and the rise of new hopefuls, are taking a toll. Could be wrong. I think the left, centre, and the part of the right that doesn't like Trump, which add up to a lot these days, are generally intolerant not of individuals for being who they are, but those who make statements that can seem illogical, not backed by evidence, and or that parrot right wing media talking points. Some will say it's the same problem with the left and centre - facts and evidence are facts and evidence.

I think you underestimate the disdain, almost boredom, people across different political persuasions have for Trump and his lies - the election showed that. There can be a new Twitter. His treatment of staff won't sit well with many - including the staff. Clearly that $8 blue tick was a ridiculous farce. Sometimes all publicity is not good publicity.

I hear you but imagine you owned a communication device and someone was communicating to a mass of people saying what were clear lies about election fraud and how everyone needs to meet and do something about it. You had warned the person about telling lies, and tried to find solutions e.g. putting warning labels that this has not been verified. Didn't work. Twitter is not owned by the government. I think they had to right to say three strikes get lost. I don't care if he comes back but I think Twitter has the right to set the rules and they could include taking into account whether lies by certain parties could destabilise the nation.

If Musk paid $1 for Truth Social I think that would be a step too far for many Twitter users. Benefitting someone who attempted to overturn democratic elections and giving them a bigger mouthpiece. I don't mind him having access to Twitter but there was a fairly compelling argument the other way around January 6 2020.

Soccer never caught my imagination. Having it in Qatar certainly takes away from the image of it being the people's game. The president said today words to the effect of 'I feel Qatari. I feel Arab. I feel gay. I feel disabled etc' - that was bizarre. Comparing being bullied for having red hair to the treatment of minorities in Qatar. Then basically saying that criticism of Qatar is ripe coming from Europeans, based on their history, which is straight out of the authoritarian playbook i.e. no one is perfect so no one can judge. First game is at 3am Australia time so won't be something I have to consider.

Thank you for coming and thank your mother for the rabbits. Apparently that came from the depression in Australia when food was scarce and rabbits were cheap or free if you caught them

I call BS on that. So what organisation employed a significant number of workers not on their merits? What category were they that gave the business merit to hire them when they were not the best - women, certain ethnicities? I thought you had not worked for a while too when woke wasn't a thing.

I think he’s being ridiculous. Let’s put staff in 2 categories. The highly skilful and therefore highly marketable who will have other tech companies happy to make a counter offer, including say, some time working at home, which makes staff happy and can often increase productivity, those staff can leave. The second category who may be the more run of the mill employees, less skilful and marketable, they’ll stay. Outcome - you lose the best and keep the rest. Smart.

From my experience the rates within the train station area are often the best or close to the best - you might get a tiny bit better somewhere in Bangkok but those ones are clearly competitive. No problem changing it all in one go from my experience. As others have said take a few steps into the airport area and the rate goes from competitive to terrible.