I know this is a rant but I just watched an interview with the usual white saviour type about her charities project to integrate AI into Sierra Leone's school system

In country without a working electricity grid, or widespread computer ownership

I'll stop now.

For context: Nepal is essentially bankrupt and the government raised alcohol duty - and I can't emphasise this enough, on the advice of the WHO - in order to balance its books

These NGOs are a cancer on the developing world

Who could have predicted that?

Had an interesting chat with Meta's AI - asked it why meta was jamming AI into all its products and it gave me four bullshit reasons (easier access for disabled people, like Zuckerberg cares). Number five was the real answer- to scrape even more user data

Yeah, it's a shameless company

It's a total swizz. At least Google is giving the option, I understood that MS was automatically 'upgrading' users and increasing the bill without asking. I really hope a Chinese open source tech outfit comes along and eats both their businesses

No doubt, the NGO sector will trumpet this arrest over the internet to drum up more funding while ignoring the role they played in sparking Cambodia's media crackdown in the first place

Finally got my hold of some of the good stuff

that looks a lot better than the offerings here in Katmandu

As you asked, I wrote my first story on the imminent insolvency of Taiwanese lifers in 2006 (it wasn't original even then) and one on the explosion of NTW$ NDFs in 2016.

What's different about this 'crisis'?

Taiwan lifers have been insolvent since the late 90s. Given that the regulators have helped the industry avoid disaster so far, is it possible the authors are missing some info?

I can say that now!

I will never forgive the guardians of Wat Phou for putting the sign saying the lingam is safely in a museum at the bottom of the hill by the final steps at the top of the hill. I may have said a swear word at that point

The light is beautiful here - Katmandu would be a great location for a painter

me too. I've no idea what's going on but it's been much worse than just after Covid. All local routes as well.

that makes total sense. Been thinking this trip would have been lovely by car. I can't believe how difficult it is to get between cities in Thailand which aren't Bangkok

that's interesting- thanks!

I. Just. Can't. Take. It. Any. More.

It's got so bad I actually want to hear Hotel California in one of these places

and cycling. Most of the tourist areas are flat but no one cycles

haha, and the added chance of sandstorm, lovely

Despite blocking every single US political reference on Blue Sky the app somehow thinks I want a failed US politician in my feed. Is there any escape from this tedious shite?

Sterling work by Chiang Mai's Hummus. People were queuing as I arrived and I can why. It's very good

It was a good pint, and Thong Lor is a pricey part of the city, so not expecting discounts. But 290 before tax is punchy. And becoming standard

'What is water?'

Yup, checked my bills - I spent less on dinner and beers in Chinatown Singapore than Thong Lor. happy for the Thais, assuming that everyone is getting a share, but crikey Bankok is a pricey city these days

Not one single like for 'Das Turd'? You're a tough crowd

Also reminds me of the German who used to leave an enormous log in the dunny evertime he visited. It similarity in the bowl to a surfacing U Boat led my boss to dub him,'Das Turd'

This place fruit/coconut and sugar syrup desert has been the culinary highlight of this trip. went back and ordered a second

Makes more sense for a band which plays anything but Elbow songs, surely?

also,why are screenshots so hard?