Good evening,

In an act which can by no means be described as immature, intemperate and risibly predictable, the sleazy and repressive Abhisit regime has decided to recall the Thai ambassador to Cambodia, on the basis that the appointing of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor is an act of political interference and ainterference in the Thai judicial system (by revealing what most people think about the quality of the judicial process that led to the prosecution in the first place). Khun Abhisit himself is reported to be holding his breath until he is sick and thtamp and thtamp on the floor until he gets what he wants – and why not? It has got him everything he wanted in the past.

Meanwhile, elsewhere among the Diddymen, this: “A DNA test of the new US fragrant rice strain known as Jazzmen shows it is developed from a Chinese strain and is inferior to Thai Hom Mali fragrant rice when cooked, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut says.” Chinese eh? Possibly Communist therefore and a spy.

And the third? This from never terribly bright Assistant Editor of the Bangkok Post Sanitsuda Ekachai: At a time when Thailand cannot escape erratic weather patterns and natural disaster threats from global warming, our nation's priorities are pretty clear. We must preserve what little is left of our healthy environment. At the same time, we must nurture the degraded natural environment back to health to ensure that the majority have enough to eat.

When climate change keeps breeding new diseases, we also need to protect our biodiversity as a source of medicinal ingredients that will save the lives of millions.

Yet, under the Asean Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), our government is going to do just the opposite. Instead of ensuring that the majority, ordinary people have control over their local natural resources, the government will serve our precious natural resources to a handful of rich foreign investors on a silver platter.” So what is the justification for this apocalyptic outbreak of fear and loathing? A proposed measure to increase economic integration among ASEAN partners.

Whatever happened to meritocracy? Eh? Oh.

As advertised yesterday, more of my book reviews have appeared at Bookideas. They are those of Lavinia by Ursula K Le Guin, Mefisto by John Banville and We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.

Back tomorrow at some stage.

Remember, remember …