BANGKOK, Thailand -- A China-Thailand military air force exercise recently deployed Chinese and Swedish warplanes above this Southeast Asian nation but below their friendly warplanes, Chinese criminals, cheap goods, e-commerce and investment are annoying the close relations between Thailand and China.

Even with Chinese boots in the sky during the Aug. 18 to Aug. 29 Falcon Strike 2024, the U.S. expects its non-NATO treaty alliance with Thailand will remain secure if regional tensions between Washington and Beijing increase.

Bangkok tries for balanced relations with both superpowers, and neutrality when Washington and Beijing sink into confrontations.

For Falcon Strike, "the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent some of its main combat aircraft to Thailand," China's Global Times reported.

The joint air force training exercise, seventh in its annual series, is using refurbished U.S.-built Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base as its headquarters.

The U.S. Air Force launched bombing raids from the northeast base in the 1960s and 1970s during the Vietnam War.

On September 21 (international Peace day), we are hosting a Third Space at Old First Presbyterian Church
1101 Bryden Road 43205
7 pm
Discussion and jam session.
Speakers will include two Presbyterians Mary Grace B. (Chair of commission on Justice) and Ricky N. (Muskingum College), who are planning a November trip to Palestine and Muna Al Aseer, one of our board members.

Most of us believe in fair pay for honest work. So why aren’t low-wage workers better paid?

After 30 years of research, I can tell you it’s not because employers don’t have the cash. It’s because profitable corporations spend that money on their stock prices and CEOs instead.

Lowe’s, for example, spent $43 billion buying back its own stock over the past five years. With that sum, the chain could’ve given each of its 285,000 employees a $30,000 bonus every year. Instead, half of Lowe’s workers make less than $33,000. Meanwhile, CEO Marvin Ellison raked in $18 million in 2023.

The company also plowed nearly five times as much cash into buybacks as it invested in long-term capital expenditures like store improvements and technology upgrades over the past five years.

Lowe’s ranks as an extreme example, but pumping up CEO pay at the expense of workers and long-term investment is actually the norm among America’s leading low-wage corporations.

With assassination by pagers and electronic devices occurring in Lebanon, the weaponization of things electronic, the world has entered into a sphere of activity where there is no refuge, no safety, no security, and no privacy.   

This weaponization, the booby trapping of, the hacking of all things electronic can make phones, laptops, computers, television and radios vulnerable to being blown up. 

It affects all modes of communication, transportation, utilities, all local and state law enforcement, all national defense installations, including nuclear sites, the entire infrastructure of modern life. Nothing is protected and nothing is safe.  Everything electronic is a weapon.

First they came for the Descendents: I’d voted against Trump. Then they came for Taylor Swift: I still am voting against Trump.

Saturday, 9-14-2024….I took the Number 1, a 62 dollar 31 day bus pass dropped me off in front of North Market.

I walked down into Kemba. I saw punks of all ages excited about Columbus’ 2024 liveage.

The Descendents took the stage at Kemba Live.

Descendents’ singer, Milo Aukerman yelled O-H…Kemba Live responded I-O—-Milo Aukerman announced Descendent’s haven’t played Columbus since Staches.

I looked up Descendents at Staches. I found online…Descendents played Staches every year from 1985-1987. I didn’t know how far Descendents went back. The legendary New Alliace/SST/Epitaph/Fat Wreck band launched into “Feel This,” “Hope,” and one of my favorite Descendent’s songs, “Silly Girl.”

I saw a punk in orbit riding shoulders, and hands towards the stage in a trajectory of my left vantage. I looked at our surroundings. A buff kid in a tank-top sung along. Kemba’s entire audience were elated in company of punk legends.