Absolutely. Storytelling has always been about communication between humans, AI pushers overlook fundamental human need for connection with other humans. A story hits home because it comes from another human’s mind and we feel seen and part of a broader human experience

There is no moral line, only a realpolitik one. Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu cannot cross a government line that doesn’t exist. The realpolitik line will be crossed elsewhere and then cold calculation will force the government to act. The government is a moral void with no principles

The shift has been coming. Voters under 45 or so vote differently to their parents. It’s a changed landscape and if you don’t know what they’re thinking or what they care about, then you don’t know what’s happening. Now up to MSM if it also adjusts to this shift

Just quietly I think HCMC is the best city in South East Asia for those who appreciate good urbanism

But seriously, can we have these?

On here you are publishing to the world at large, in writing and permanently. So there is a larger reach than a private or small discussion, and the evidence of it is easily accessible. Think of it like letters to the editor published in a newspaper - that’s how it’s viewed legally

A reckoning is coming for decades of policies that tilted too far towards capital - the ALP can either hope to stay in govt by starting reforms to public services with profit-skimming middlemen & pro-capital tax arrangements, or keep the seat warm til local Trumpists ride resentment into govt

I suspect the less engaged in politics feel that something is now being done about climate change just by Labor’s targets, without looking into policies or whether they will be met. There has also been a politically effective campaign by Dutton to link migration to house prices - facts don’t matter

There are still a lot of people without access to air conditioning. I honestly don’t know how they are managing to sleep

We have the privilege of a well-airconned apartment and spend most of the day inside. Our paediatrician advised keeping the baby inside this month. If we do leave she has a battery fan on her stroller and a cooling pad that you can put refrigerated gel packs in - it does affect life a lot

Life does go on, but I’d say people are more conscious this year that this heat can be life or death. E.g. my gym trainer was late yesterday because he felt sick from the heat while riding in on his motorbike and stopped for an aircon and drink break at a 7-Eleven

Over a month of this so far. I don’t expect many people know what it’s like to wake up to a humid “feels like” temperature of 41° at 7:30am like we did in Bangkok this morning, let alone week after week with no respite