#7 Bangkok

• Some instructions can be a touch confusing. This sign in an Internet café in KL appeared to rule levitation as the only acceptable posture for gaining access to their computer suite.
• In 1700 India accounted for 24% of world output. Britain made up 3%. [Niall Ferguson, Empire.]
  
• Malaysia has an unusual system of rotating, elected monarchs. A merger of nine states originally formed the country, each with a royal family. Instead of picking one "supreme leader", it was decided that each Sultan would be get to be king for a period of 5 years on a rotating basis. The system continues today. Each monarch has a roman numeral following their name, signifying not the lineage of their Christian name in a line of monarchs (e.g. Henry V, or Henry VIII) but their place in the rotation system.

• Iraqi Banknotes featuring pictures of President Hussein are available for sale in Melaka, Malaysia. The seller of these notes reported a brisk trade at the turn of this year, in the days following his execution. Most customers were reported to be buying out of sympathy, and dislike of his American executors.
• Correction. New Zealand has 4m people, and 60m sheep, not 39m as posted earlier. Such is the country’s enthusiasm for sheep that, from this year forward, February 14th has become “National Sheep Day.” Minister John Anderson said that the day would be a “meat industry milestone.” Anderson did not mention if the choice of that particular date should be construed as having any greater significance.