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Thai poll lists arrogance as their #1 complaint about Farangs.
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Is Elon Draining the Swamp on Government Spending or Is He the Swamp?
Neither. He's Dr. Evil. -
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Australian Nurses Suspended Over Hate Speech Antisemitic Video as Investigation Unfolds
Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a shocking video surfaced, appearing to show them making antisemitic threats against Israeli patients and boasting about refusing to treat them. The man and woman, both employed at a Sydney hospital, are now the subject of a police investigation, New South Wales (NSW) officials confirmed. The video, which has been widely condemned, was shared on TikTok by Max Veifer, a content creator who identifies as Israeli. His account features interactions with people he meets on Chatruletka, an anonymous video-chat platform that randomly pairs users for conversations. The footage, reviewed by the BBC, appears to have been filmed inside a hospital. In the video, a man claiming to be a doctor initially compliments Mr. Veifer’s appearance, telling him, "You have beautiful eyes," before adding, "I'm sorry you're Israeli." He then makes a reference to sending Israelis to Jahannam, an Islamic concept comparable to hell. The video takes a darker turn when he gestures across his throat in a slitting motion. A woman later joins the conversation, telling Mr. Veifer that "one day" his "time will come" and that he will die. She also states that she refuses to treat Israeli patients, declaring, "I won't treat them, I will kill them." The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, strongly condemned the footage, calling it "sickening and shameful." Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he stated: "These antisemitic comments, driven by hate, have no place in our health system and no place anywhere in Australia." He further emphasized that "individuals found to have committed criminal antisemitic acts will face the full force of our laws." On Wednesday, NSW Police confirmed they believed they had identified those involved in the video. The health minister stated that both individuals had been immediately suspended and assured the public that they would never work in the NSW healthcare system again. This incident has sparked widespread outrage and intensified concerns about antisemitism in Australia. As authorities continue their investigation, the case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility healthcare professionals have to uphold ethical standards and provide care without discrimination. Based on a report by BBC News 2025-02-13 -
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All Aboard the Bare Necessities: Nude Cruise Opens Bookings for 2026
Vacation packing has never been simpler for those boarding the Big Nude Boat, a unique clothing-optional cruise that promises to take passengers back to "bare-dise." Operated by Bare Necessities, a company specializing in nudist travel experiences, this cruise sets sail aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl, a 2,300-passenger vessel. The latest voyage departed from Miami on February 3 for an 11-day adventure that included stops at Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay, as well as scenic destinations such as St. Lucia and St. Maarten. Bare Necessities has long been dedicated to promoting body confidence, stating that their mission is to "break down the barriers against social nudity and make clothing-optional vacationing a viable and acceptable option." Onboard, passengers can participate in a variety of activities, including a passenger talent show and LED parties. The ship itself boasts numerous entertainment options, including a bowling alley, a rock climbing wall, and an impressive selection of 16 dining options and 14 bars, one of which is a whisky lounge. However, there are a few guidelines that guests must follow. While nudity is permitted in most public areas while at sea or when anchored at a port where it is allowed, passengers must be clothed whenever the ship is docked, including on their private balconies, until an official announcement declares it is acceptable to disrobe once more. In dining rooms, clothing is always mandatory. Additionally, anyone choosing to go nude must always sit on a towel. Certain areas, such as pools and dance venues, are designated as no-photo zones, and behavior such as fondling or inappropriate touching is strictly prohibited. For those eager to join a future voyage, bookings are already open for the 2026 sailing. Set to depart from Miami on February 9, the 11-day roundtrip aboard the Norwegian Pearl will take guests to the ABC islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao—along with Jamaica and Great Stirrup Cay. Prices for the experience start at $2,000 (£1,600) per person. "Whether you’re a naturist veteran or new to nude recreation, this cruise provides an unmatched opportunity to embrace a clothes-free lifestyle in a fun, varied, and accepting environment," Bare Necessities stated. For travelers interested in alternative clothing-optional cruises, Castaways Travel offers similar experiences. Their Bliss Cruise includes sailings on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in both February and November 2026, as well as a voyage on Celebrity Silhouette in April 2026. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-02-13 -
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Trump Envoy Pauses Ukraine Peace Efforts to Engage European Allies
President Donald Trump's special envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has temporarily halted work on a proposed peace plan to engage in discussions with European allies. Kellogg intends to hold individual meetings with NATO members to gauge their perspectives on the peace process and understand what they are willing to contribute, as reported by The Telegraph. Kellogg’s discussions with NATO allies are aimed at easing concerns that major global powers could be sidelined in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. European nations have previously discussed their roles in shaping a resolution to the ongoing three-year war. Notably, the United Kingdom and France have explored the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine as part of the negotiations. The special envoy confirmed he would be engaging in talks with "prime ministers and presidents" from NATO countries and that elements of the proposed peace plan would be unveiled at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, scheduled for February 14-16. According to The Telegraph, one significant aspect of the plan involves continued U.S. support for Ukraine in exchange for access to Kyiv’s rare earth minerals—an agreement Trump has frequently discussed in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously expressed openness to negotiating a deal with Trump on these resources. Despite earlier reports suggesting Kellogg would present parts of the peace plan at the Munich conference, he has denied such claims. Instead, he stated that Trump himself would reveal the plan, though he did not specify a timeline, according to Radio Free Europe. Meanwhile, European allies who have engaged with Kellogg have reportedly been reassured that the U.S. remains committed to strengthening Ukraine ahead of potential negotiations with Russia. Trump previously asserted that he could bring an end to the Ukraine war "within 24 hours." His special envoy later clarified that the goal was to conclude the conflict within 100 days of Trump’s potential inauguration on January 20. As part of the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Friday and suggested that he might meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Washington next week. Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with Vice President JD Vance and Kellogg at the Munich Security Conference. Additionally, Bloomberg has reported that the peace plan may include freezing the conflict, leaving Russian-occupied territory in an uncertain status, and providing Ukraine with security guarantees. Based on a report by Newsweek 2025-02-13 -
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US Economic Perception vs. Reality: How Government Data Misled Voters
Before the 2024 presidential election, many Democrats were baffled by the disconnect between government economic data and the public’s overwhelmingly negative perception of the economy. Some believed misinformation was to blame, arguing that right-wing media had convinced voters that the country was in decline. But what if the real issue wasn’t perception, but rather the accuracy of the government’s economic indicators? What if the statistics used to showcase economic strength were fundamentally flawed, presenting an overly optimistic view of reality? Having spent years analyzing the intersection of public perception and economic data—first as comptroller of the currency and later as an adviser to financial institutions—I have grown increasingly skeptical of the numbers that Washington relies on. Many officials I’ve worked with believe in the infallibility of government statistics, treating them as hard facts. Yet my experiences outside of Washington have revealed something different: a widening gap between what the numbers say and what people are actually experiencing. Official statistics suggest low unemployment, steady wage growth, and overall economic expansion. But when traveling the country, I’ve seen something else—deteriorating cities, struggling communities, and even a homeless encampment right outside the Federal Reserve building. This disconnect has become more pronounced along partisan lines: Democrats, in general, seem more willing to trust government data, while Republicans rely more on their personal observations. For decades, federal agencies have relied on the same methodologies to report key economic indicators, rarely questioning whether these measurements truly reflect reality. To investigate, I assembled a team of researchers under the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity to take a deeper look. What we found was striking: for over 20 years, and especially in the months leading up to the election, public skepticism about the economy was more accurate than official statistics. Consider the most widely cited economic indicator—unemployment. The official U-3 unemployment rate suggests near-record lows, standing at just 4.2% in November 2024. But this figure is deeply misleading. It counts as “employed” millions of workers who are underemployed—those working only a few hours a week while seeking full-time jobs. It also excludes many people who have stopped job-hunting out of discouragement. Even worse, the measure ignores income levels, meaning that someone doing occasional gig work while living on the streets is still counted as employed. Adjusting for these factors, our research found that true unemployment—including underemployment and poverty wages—was actually 23.7%, meaning nearly one in four American workers was functionally unemployed. Wage statistics are similarly misleading. The government’s reported median wage of $61,900 is calculated using only full-time workers, excluding those in part-time or unstable jobs. When all workers are accounted for, the actual median wage falls to around $52,300—16% lower than the commonly cited figure. Inflation, another major election issue, also appears rosier in official data than in reality. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks prices for 80,000 goods and services, suggested that inflation had cooled by Election Day, with prices rising 4.1% in 2023. But the CPI tracks a broad range of goods, including luxury items that wealthier households purchase, which tend to have more stable prices. Lower- and middle-income Americans, however, spend a disproportionate share of their income on necessities—housing, groceries, healthcare—where prices have risen far more sharply. Our research found that for working-class households, the real cost of living has increased 35% more than the CPI suggests over the past two decades. In 2023 alone, while the CPI recorded a 4.1% increase in prices, our alternative measure showed a 9.4% rise in the cost of essential goods and services. When adjusted for this more accurate inflation measure, purchasing power at the median actually declined by 4.3% last year. Even GDP, often used as the gold standard for measuring economic growth, fails to tell the full story. While GDP has risen, much of this growth has benefited wealthier Americans, leaving many others behind. Since 2013, those with college degrees have seen notable gains, while Americans without high school diplomas have experienced stagnation. Geographic disparities have also widened, with cities like San Francisco and Boston thriving while places like Youngstown, Ohio, and Port Arthur, Texas, have fallen further behind. Taken together, these discrepancies reveal a troubling reality: the economic indicators that policymakers and media outlets rely on consistently obscure the hardships facing middle- and lower-income Americans. This isn’t to say that official statistics are without value, but they fail to capture the full picture. If policymakers in Washington are working from flawed data, their economic strategies will inevitably miss the mark. This should not be a partisan issue. Leaders from both parties would benefit from gaining a clearer, more accurate understanding of economic conditions at ground level. The alternative indicators my team has developed offer a pathway to more precise measurements, and the government should consider adopting similar methodologies to ensure that economic policy reflects reality. In a time when public trust in institutions is declining, it is essential that economic facts reflect the lived experiences of ordinary Americans. If we continue relying on misleading statistics, we will fail to address the real economic challenges facing the country. The question now is whether policymakers will recognize this gap and take steps to correct it. Based on a report by Politico 2025-02-13 -
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Sixth Form Colleges at Risk of Walkouts as Teachers Vote for Industrial Action Over Pay
Teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges across England are preparing for potential strike action after members of the NASUWT teaching union voted in favor of industrial action over a pay dispute. This decision could see students facing disruption as teachers push for a fairer pay increase. The dispute arises from the Government's announcement that school teachers across England would receive a fully-funded 5.5% pay rise from September 2024. However, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) has offered teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges a lower increase of 3.5% for the period between September 2024 and March, with the full 5.5% only being implemented from April. Meanwhile, their counterparts in academised sixth form colleges have been granted the full 5.5% pay rise from September 2024, putting teachers in non-academised institutions at a financial disadvantage. NASUWT general secretary Patrick Roach strongly criticized this disparity, stating: “Whilst we welcome the decision of sixth form college academy employers to pay in full a 5.5% pay award backdated to September 2024, it is simply unacceptable to expect teachers working in non-academy colleges to be paid less for doing the same job." He added, "NASUWT members across England are sending a clear message to their employers that they expect to be treated fairly and equally." According to Roach, all sixth form college employers have the financial flexibility to meet this demand, using existing funds, reserves, and additional funding allocations set to arrive in April. "There is simply no excuse and no justification for any teacher to be denied a fair and equitable pay award," he said. He further warned that industrial action could be avoided if college employers agreed to provide the full 5.5% backdated pay award. The move follows previous action taken by members of the National Education Union (NEU), who have already staged eight days of strikes in 32 non-academised sixth form colleges since November. The NEU recently suspended two further planned walkouts while consulting its members on a pay offer from the SFCA. The NASUWT began its ballot in January, calling on over 1,800 members across both academised and non-academised sixth form colleges to vote on potential action. In the 23 non-academised colleges where the vote took place, turnout reached 56%, surpassing the required threshold. The union has made it clear that unless non-academised sixth form colleges commit to backdating the full 5.5% award to September 2024, its members will take industrial action. However, once the backdated pay award is granted to teachers in sixth form college academies, NASUWT has confirmed that its dispute with those institutions will be considered resolved. As tensions rise and the potential for walkouts looms, the pressure is mounting on sixth form college employers to meet the demands of teachers and prevent further disruption to students' education. Based on a report by The Independent 2025-02-13
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