This week, we turn the column over to Jared Diamond; scientist, anthropologist and award-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel. In an article published in Discover Magazine in 1997 (http://bit.ly/oMAKyu), he appears to have presciently foreseen the trials and tribulations of running a magazine out of the backwater that is Henderson Industrial Park. With only a few minor edits, it’s over to you Mr.

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Last week in parliament, MP Chuvit Kamolvisit showed a video of an illegal gambling den and accomplished several important things in the process. 1.) He interrupted Ministry of Interior Chalerm Yubamrung calls for a global lese majeste crusade for a full five seconds. 2.) The casino had to pack up and go. 3.) A few top cops actually got suspended.In India, that poor man had to stop eating for two full weeks before his government would promise to just look into his country’s rampant corruption.

Documents filed for trademark application in June suggest Singapore Airline’s new long haul budget carrier is likely to be called Scoot Airlines. That’s presumably scoot as in “To go suddenly and speedily; to hurry”, rather than “To squirt with water,” as they say in the southern US. (Viz. Flannery O’Connor’s “I wouldn’t scoot down no hog with no hose.”)Or is it perhaps short for scooter? Offering to ferry people around the region on the back of a two-wheeler might explain how they think they can keep costs down.

In a heartfelt farewell note pinned to the window of the now-shuttered Wheelock Place branch of Borders, staff expressed their sadness at the closure and gave thanks to their customers for their “support through this entire journey, and seeing us through to the end.” Sadly, they forgot to add a return address. Frustrated customers who’d turned up to sit on the window ledges for hours flicking through books they were never going to buy spend money, were left without a chance to have their voices heard. Until now.

Announcing Deal-a-day.gov.th, the newest group buying website from The Royal Thai Government to meet all your hip, trendy lifestyle needs.Aug 15: Thai army Bell Helicopter (model) with FREE airshipB650. You save B315 million!We’re not selling you one of those super dangerous Thai army helicopters. We value your business too much. We’re just selling you a 1:40 scale model, to safely play with in your garden, office or favorite soapy massage parlor. On the other hand, we are including a real, full-size airship.

The “mysterious grey fog” that descended upon Choa Chu Kang last week is being blamed on people burning incense paper for the Hungry Ghost Festival. Even the NEA was called in to confirm that no smoke plumes were visible by satellite. That’s two years running that CCK has been blanketed with a haze around this time of year. We guess those ghosts just like their food smoked…To judge by the overexcited headlines though, we’re all craving a bit more variety in our weather patterns.

So we’re playing China in our first group game in the World Cup soccer qualifying campaign. Aside from the mismatched size of the talent pool, initial concerns center on the fact that the match will be played in the southwestern city of Kunming. Now Kunming’s a lovely place, full of open spaces and cheery university students. Damn good noodles, too. But there’s one hitch: It’s 1,900m above sea level. That means a rather rarified atmosphere; and hard work for anyone not used to it.

My name is Pol. Col. Porn and I’m a new member of the Sweet Troupe. They call us sweet because we’re women. And women are sweet. Like after doing a flying armbar on your sorry ass, right after your teeth hit the pavement, I will murmur something mellifluous in your ear: “Sorry, I didn’t want to have to kick you in the balls.”There are two reasons why the Sweet Troupe was created: female rioters and female leaders. We’re meant to protect one and use our female psychology with the other—perhaps not in that order.

With 46 the number on everyone’s lips this week, we’ve been wondering about its broader significance. Is there anything more to 46 than merely being the dialing code you need to get through to Ikea’s Swedish headquarters when you want to complain that your meatballs are cold?Well, it’s also the atomic number of palladium (thanks Wikipedia!), but who cares about real-world metals anymore?