Dumb and dumber

"Mercury ... is in a corner perfectly aligned with my star. Mercury is no good, so if it's not good, I am going to request not to speak. I'll just wait until next year to talk".

So quoth Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sunday, explaining to journalists why he wouldn't answer their questions. I keep on coming back to this, but I can well imagine what Francis Wheen might make of this.

Dubya obviously felt sufficiently threatened in the Village Idiot Of The World Stage stakes, because while on a visit to China he managed to try exiting a press conference through a locked door. Not only that, but he pulled a face that took the whole episode into the realm of high farce. It's OK, George - I think your status is safe.