Bombs in Tourist Paradise: Thailand (video)

Democracynow.org, 8-12-16; Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly

Standing, golden Buddha overlooks Thai town (Hatoriz/flickr.com)

Golden Mount at Wat Saket, Buddhist landmark, Bangkok, Thailand (Bugphai/flickr)

Bomb Blasts Hits Thailand as Nation Moves to Military Rule

Buddhist temple in verdant Roi-et Thailand (Sasin Tipchai/Bugphai/flickr.com)

Thailand (bangkokthailandairportmap)

(Headlines) A series of bomb blasts in Thailand have hit three of the country’s most popular tourist resorts, killing four people and wounding dozens, including Western tourists. There have been at least 11 explosions in total since Thursday. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which come days after the country voted to accept a military-backed charter in a referendum that cements their undemocratic power. Human Rights Watch has warned that Thailand is moving toward becoming a military dictatorship like neighboring and resource-rich but financially-impoverished Burma. Brad Adams, the group’s Asia director, said: "Instead of the long-promised return to democratic civilian rule, the new constitution facilitates unaccountable military power and a deepening dictatorship."

• 

  Kshama Sawant vs. Rebecca Traister on Clinton, Democratic Party & Possibility of a Female President

• 

  Michael Eric Dyson vs. Eddie Glaude on Race, Hillary Clinton and the Legacy of Obama’s Presidency

• 

  Jill Stein vs. Ben Jealous: Should Progressives Reject Hillary Clinton & Vote Green

Web Exclusives More

• 

  Part 2: Calls Grow for NY Gov Cuomo to Reform Parole Board That Denies Release of Eligible Prisoners

  Mujahid Farid, lead organizer with the group Release Aging People in Prison, says Gov. Cuomo has promised parole board reforms and should deliver immediately in light of a recent prisoner suicide.
• 

  Lee Fang on How Citizens United Opened Floodgates for Foreign Corporate Money in U.S. Elections

  We continue with Part 2 of our conversation with Lee Fang of The Intercept. His new series, "Foreign Influence," reveals how a company owned by Chinese nationals donated $1.3 million to Jeb Bush’s super PAC after receiving advice from a prominent Republican lawyer.

News of the Day

1. Report blasts Baltimore police force for racism, excessive force
2. Lynching progressive politician, Brazil's Dilma Rousseff
3. Hillary Clinton keeps having seizures (bloodclot injury)
4. May I see your papers? Checkpoints to violate drivers' rights
5. Report will fuel debate about closing Guantanamo prison
6. Former aide in text: Gov. Christie "flat out lied" about case
7. Black California serial killer (Grim Sleeper) sentenced to death
8. SoCal leader calls for a RAVE ban redux
9. Big business hypocrisy: DEA Keeps Marijuana as Schedule I Drug Along with Heroin 
10. Florida Police Officer Who Shot Librarian in Training Session Let His Police Dog Maul Bicyclist
11. The punk rock guide to Los Angeles clubs (laweekly.com)
12. Free Summer Concerts: Levitt Pavilion Pasadena (Quetzal)
    
13. Zodiac systems of Asian countries (chinahighlights.com)
14. Chinese Zodiac (chinahighlights.com)
15. JapanTown Los Angeles (Nisei Week, Aug. 13-21)
16. U.S. soldier on trial: hid evidence after teen girlfriend killed her own mother
17. WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange: Attacks Against Jill Stein Are "Going to Go Through the Roof"
18. "The Making of Donald Trump": David Cay Johnston on Trump’s Ties to the Mob [U.S. Mafia] and Drug Traffickers
19. Julian Assange: Leaked DNC Emails Show Democrats Waged "Propaganda" Campaign Against Sanders
20. CARTOONS: 30 Years of "Doonesbury" on Donald Trump: Cartoonist Garry Trudeau on the GOP’s "Natural Born Toon"

Simone Manuel leaned her head into her hands and cried when she recognized her historic achievement. With her victory in the 100-meter freestyle, she became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming (AP).

US's Simone Manuel, left, and Canada's Penny Oleksiak celebrate winning joint gold and setting new Olympic record in the women's 100-meter freestyle during swimming competitions, 2016 Summer Olympics, Aug. 11, 2016, Rio (AP).