seven

Ahh, I knew. Good thing I was late.

RandiUno2: I read a piece in NYT last week which was completely wrong. Turns out that one of the (swedish) co-authors is a right wing loonie who's been mocking our state epidemiologist in social media calling him a retard. These tweets are of course deleted now. So much for unbiased journalism. Our black eye is that we share the same opinion about facemasks like your president and his followers. The difference is that over here we don't see it as an oppression or an interference to our "freedom", we simply don't believe they help.Spain and France is a brilliant example of that right now. You wont see any facemasks out in the public here. Its true that we prefer to listen to out health departments advices rather than be told what to do, and I'm so grateful not having lockdowns imposed on us. This is only because we have a left-wing government in power now. If the conservatives/rightwing would have been in power , we'd have lockdowns like the rest of the world. They said so themselves. This doesn't mean we don't have any rules and they everyone listens. Yesterday our government recalled the opening of big nightclubs (which in my opinion was a huge mistake to allow). Last weekends footage showed how bad this re-opening was. Drunk people packed wall to wall. Thankfully it only lasted 1 week. I follow the news with sadness seeing how numbers are on the rise basically everywhere, not least the US. I hope we can turn this around together. We have to.

Apple’s Shifting Supply Chain Creates Boomtowns in Rural Vietnam https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/apple-shifting-supply-chain-creates-210000612.html Not long ago Vietnam’s Bac Giang province was one of the nation’s poorest regions, known for producing rice, lychees and poultry dubbed “running chicken.” That was before the global tech supply chain shifted its way. The boom in Bac Giang highlights how the shift in the world’s supply chains is touching regions previously left behind. Vietnam’s ability to attract more sophisticated manufacturing is accelerating with rising Chinese labor costs, the U.S.-China trade war and logistics vulnerabilities amid the epidemic, which the nation’s Communist leaders have so far successfully curtailed.

5. Almost a paperboys ass. The others are too feminine/passable.

Simples really. Hit em where it hurts, money and power: https://www.yahoo.com/news/sweden-bans-huawei-zte-gear-073554809.html Sweden bans Huawei, ZTE from upcoming 5G networks STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden on Tuesday banned on security grounds the use of telecom equipment from China's Huawei and ZTE <000063.SZ> in its 5G network ahead of a spectrum auction scheduled for next month, joining other European nations that have restricted the role of Chinese suppliers. he Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) said https://www.pts.se/en/news/press-releases/2020/four-companies-approved-for-participation-in-the-3.5-ghz-and-2.3-ghz-auctions the setting of the licence conditions followed assessments by the Swedish Armed Forces and security service, which called China "one of the biggest threats against Sweden". European governments have been tightening controls on Chinese companies building 5G networks, following diplomatic pressure from Washington, which alleges Huawei equipment could be used by Beijing for spying. Huawei has repeatedly denied being a national security risk. The United Kingdom in July ordered Huawei equipment to be purged completely from Britain's 5G network by 2027, becoming one of the first European countries to do so. Huawei and ZTE did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision by Sweden, home to Ericsson <ERICb.ST>, one of Europe's leading telecoms equipment suppliers. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately comment. PTS said companies taking part in the auction must remove Huawei and ZTE gear from existing central functions by Jan. 1, 2025. The regulator defined central functions as equipment used to build the radio access, transmission and core networks as well as the service and maintenance of the network. PTS said the licence conditions were aimed at addressing the assessments by the armed forces and security service. Many operators have already proven that when they rip and replace Chinese equipment, it doesn't have a negative impact on their capital spending," said industry consultant John Strand. The 5G spectrum auction was originally planned for early 2020, but last year PTS said it would delay the auction due to a security review. PTS announced in April this year that the auction would begin in November.

That is changing in Europe at least. People don't want the cheap junk made in china after they fucked over the world with covid-19. Maybe you guys do , but not over here. You bought the Huawei 5G, right? You say this like its a good thing.

Fair enough, but don't kid yourself locals are lining up outside the US embassy these days, or pre corona. Absolutely not, theres no such place. Nationalism is never pretty. I used to like your country, but that was long ago and before you elected one of the biggest knob in history for president. I really feel sorry for you guys. Lets hope you can avoid a civil war though.

Fuck, transmission is rocketing in Europe. Italy, Austria, Germany, France, everywhere except here. And they are hardcore face maskers, and the winter is coming up.

I see some thais speculate in a curfew in Bkk coming up.

Good for you, QG. I'm sure this will be a nice getaway in boring January.

lance buddy, unless you're a trumper, you really think you should praise the US right now? Seriously? The whole world is astonished how fucked up the US is now. John Kerry Is Mad as Hell The former senator, presidential nominee, and Secretary of State on the “nincompoop” in the White House, the decimation of America’s reputation abroad, and what needs to be done to restore it https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/john-kerry-interview-donald-trump-foreign-policy-international-standing-1073973/ Kerry is so riled up over Trump’s incompetence that he can barely articulate himself. “He is a totally insensitive, unaware, unhinged, brawling nincompoop who has no governor for his brain, and who lies and lies and lies because he creates his own reality,” Kerry says. He paused for a good 12 seconds before arriving at “brawling nincompoop.” Kerry is a firm believer in America’s role as the leader of the free world, which includes a responsibility to put forth a dependable image to the international community. He’s been watching President Trump trample over that image for nearly four years now — trashing allies, hobnobbing with autocrats, and callously discarding key multilateral agreements. He’s had enough. Trump is an “ignorant boor who doesn’t do his homework,” Kerry continues, now in a groove. “He is narcissistic to the point of distraction, easily manipulatable, and completely untrustworthy.” A few minutes later, his attention turns to the climate crisis, where Trump is “a one-man lying wrecking crew, walking around destroying relationships, years of effort, and people’s belief in science and in American values.” “You put all that together and you’ve got a doozy of a presidency to present to the world,” Kerry says with equal parts dismay and disgust. America’s image to the rest of the world hasn’t always been so flattering, especially this century. The 2003 invasion of Iraq precipitated a prolonged series of failures throughout the Middle East, leading to a decline in international favorability. According to the Pew Research Center, confidence in America’s president to do the right thing plummeted from 2003 to 2008. But it skyrocketed throughout President Obama’s time in office, as did a commitment to multilateralism which Trump promptly abandoned. Confidence once again plummeted before all-but-bottoming out in response to America’s failure to control the coronavirus. A Pew study released in September found that among 13 of America’s key allies, trust in Trump was only at 16 percent, while favorability toward the U.S. was less than half of what it was four years ago.

Even I would walk that!

My thoughts exactly. Can you imagine the sizes! Dios mio! I'll find em. Just need to brush up my espanol. Honestly, we don't go to Patts for the beaches, do we? I go for 2 reasons, seeing my friends is the other reason. Thanks for the info on Cuba, muchas gracias, QG.

This might be an option, always wanted to go there especially when Castro was in charge and capitalism yet to poison the nation. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/cuba-relaxes-coronavirus-restrictions-7-190110788.html Cuba relaxes coronavirus restrictions 7 months into pandemic HAVANA (AP) — Cuba relaxed coronavirus restrictions Monday in hopes of boosting its economy, allowing shops and government offices to reopen and welcoming locals and tourists at airports across the island except in Havana. Face masks and social distancing remain mandatory, although authorities will no longer isolate those who have been in contact with suspected cases as the island returns to a semblance of normality.

You’re not missing anything, unless you like to torture yourself. Better go for a dodgy massage, bbg

You , bbg and dixon really should go. I went to the xcite location once with you , daveduke and a few ladymen. It was almost better than a Bob Dylan gig. The obligatory fight between drunk thai men in the mud was great entertainment as it had been raining earlier. Go for it.

'Ghost island' Phuket hunkers down in tourist-free Thailand https://www.yahoo.com/news/ghost-island-phuket-hunkers-down-033704394.html Thailand's decision to concentrate on beating the virus has dealt a brutal blow to the economy, which is expected to contract 7-9 percent this year Phuket's go-go dancers sit playing on their phones in empty bars lining deserted streets as the Thai tourist island reels from the ravages of the pandemic with little sign of any recovery soon. Swimming pools are empty, chairs are stacked high in deserted restaurants and normally packed beaches are so quiet they are even seeing rare species of sea turtle arriving to nest. Last year, more than nine million tourists visited Phuket, the kingdom's second most popular destination after Bangkok. Today, nearly all the island's 3,000 hotels are closed and the main town of Patong has become a "ghost town", says local tycoon Preechawut Keesin, who owns five nightclubs and around 600 hotel rooms. 'Worse than tsunami' - In normal times, 80 percent of the island's profits come from tourism, a sector that employs more than 300,000 people. Tens of thousands of those who have lost their jobs have returned to their home provinces. Life is hard for those sticking it out. Some have accepted huge pay cuts, while others have little choice but to join the long lines at the food distribution centres or scrape together an income where they can. Bar owner Orathai Sidel says she used to make 100,000 baht ($3,200) a month in high season. With her business a victim of the pandemic, she now sells desserts from a streetside cart, making just $3 a day to try to cover her children's school fees. "We're just fighting to survive," says fellow street vendor Poi, fired in June from the restaurant where she used to work. Phuket has been due to welcome Thailand's first foreign tourists since April in a cautious experiment by the kingdom, but their arrival keeps being pushed back. And the two-week compulsory quarantine and high price tag -- several thousand dollars a person -- will mean this is a niche market. "We will have to focus on developing local customers and individual travellers rather than mass tourism," says Preechawut Keesin. Before the pandemic, domestic holidaymakers only made up 30 percent of visitors to Phuket, prompting the local tourism industry to rethink its business model. "We don't expect a return to normal for three years," forecasts Kongsak Khoopongsakorn. "The situation is much worse than after the tsunami in 2004."

Yes, this topic never ends well, so let's not. :)

https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/berlin-says-thailands-king-cannot-reign-from-german-soil/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/germany-warns-thai-king-not-133218996.html

So many things to say on this subject( #3) , lance. Germany Says Thai Cannot Rule From There. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-thailand-protests-idUKKBN26T1P0 Berlin Says Thailand’s King Cannot Reign From German Soil. The warning from the German foreign minister comes as the Thai monarchy faces down increasing calls for reform. https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/berlin-says-thailands-king-cannot-reign-from-german-soil/ Foreign Minister Heiko Maas: “We have made it clear that politics concerning Thailand should not be conducted from German soil,” Maas told the Bundestag. “If there are guests in our country that conduct their state business from our soil we would always want to act to counteract that.” ******* spends the majority of his time at a retreat in the Bavarian alps, and only returns to Thailand for brief visits. Same here, and believe me I do.

Sad sad sad. - A young woman arrested in the street for not wearing mask outdoors https://www.liveleak.com/view?t=szf0D_1602228934

Excellent. I think Brazils numbers are only preceded by India and you guys. But an amazon brasilian shemale is tempting, and I think they were masks over there too.

Sweden Claims Its High Coronavirus Death Toll Is Down to Mild Flu Seasons in Recent Years. Could've been the flu? Sweden Claims Its High Coronavirus Death Toll Is Down to Mild Flu Seasons in Recent Years https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-sweden-norway-death-toll-mild-flu-season-1532201 Anders Tegnell, Sweden's state epidemiologist, told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, according to a translation by The Local, that a new report showed "a strong connection between a low excess mortality rate from the flu and high excess mortality from COVID-19, and vice versa." He said: "What people are now seeing is that countries which have a rather low death rate from flu over the past two to three years have a very high excess mortality from COVID-19, while those that have had a high flu death rate, like Norway, over the past two winters, have a low COVID death rate."

For what its worth; https://www.newsweek.com/coronavirus-sweden-new-cases-rise-restrictions-extended-1536718 "Coronavirus restrictions in Sweden, which never issued a nationwide lockdown but implemented safety measures to mitigate the spread of infection, are expected to be in place for at least another year. The director general of Sweden's public health agency, Johan Carlson, noted: "We can expect that measures against the spread of corona will remain for some time, we're talking about at least another year," in an interview Sunday with Sweden's Sveriges Television (SVT). "The measures that are being taken in Europe are not sustainable, we're trying to find a level that is steady and that keeps the spread down. We can't get rid of it, but we can keep it down at a reasonable level," Carlson said."

Of course they are not. We all know that. Yes, as a matter of fact our authorities had to recall 12 CODs yesterday , which were initially filed as death by covid-19 months ago. I have a bad feeling there haven't been many more than 12 autopsies in total during these holiday summer months as all healthcare other than covid-19 care have been basically been standing still since March. The grey area is understandably huge regarding reported death cases, but its a shame they slapped the covid-19 sticker on right away. There will be many many more retractions should they be able to carry out any at all. Looks like the healthcare all over Europe will be busy with more pressing tasks.