News and Views - August 2008 Thailand at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - 21:32, August 8, 2008 Microsoft expands software accessibility for Thai consumers Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 now available at 3,250 baht for students and home users in Thailand - Thaipr, August 4, 2008 [Hard to see how this is a realistic price considering the typical Thai salary and when pirated full versions are available everywhere for 100 baht.] Microsoft (Thailand) Limited is encouraging more Thai consumers - specifically home users and students - to enjoy the genuine Microsoft user experience, by making the Home and Student edition of the Microsoft Office 2007 package available in Thailand at a reduced price of 3,250 baht - approximately 40% lower than that of the original price... Following this success, Microsoft is now offering the product at a permanently discounted rate to home users and students in Thailand who are seeking basic computer functionality from core Microsoft Office programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel Microsoft Office PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office OneNote... Students from Thailand clinch title of "World Champs" in official Microsoft Office competition - INO News, August 3, 2008 Certiport today announced Chawanat Nakasan, 16, from from Thailand and Penporn Koanantakool, 20, also from Thailand as this year's World Champions for Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel(R), respectively, at the 2008 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft(R) Office... Taxi for Thaksin? City are rocked as Thai supremo considers his future - Daily Mail, August 5, 2008 ...And sources close to the situation revealed last night that two anonymous parties have been approached as Thaksin has investigated ways of selling the club he bought for £80million last summer or bringing in fresh investors. ...Furthermore, it is believed that Thaksin's cash-flow problems were such last season that he twice had to borrow substantial amounts of money from former owner John Wardle in order to pay the wages. ...Last night a Manchester City spokesman said: 'It is not true to say that Dr Thaksin Shinawatra is trying to sell Manchester City, nor that he is looking for a buyer. Since he bought the club a number of potential investors from his wide network of business associates have spoken to Dr Thaksin about investing in the club. These discussions have been nothing more than exploratory.' Conviction for Thaksin could mean FA sanctions - Crain's Manchester Business, August 4, 2008 The FA Premier League would reassess Thaksin Shinawatra's suitability to own Manchester City Football Club if he is convicted of a criminal offence in Thailand... Chaovarat vows to break drug patent to make cheap drug - The Nation, August 6, 2008 Newly-appointed Public Health Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul vowed Thursday to break patent of expensive drug to allow the poor to have access to life-saving medicine at fair prices... US twist to Thaksin court case - Asia Times, August 2, 2008 ...Thailand's new Thaksin-aligned government, led by prime minister Samak Sundaravej, announced earlier this year that the remaining portion of the 2004 Thai Ex-Im Bank loan would be handed over to Myanmar's generals, despite the political controversy surrounding the loan. The bottom line however is that Thaksin and his family are not the only ones feeling the legal heat. While the US State Department looked on, the US Ex-Im Bank wrote checks that effectively extended badly needed satellite services into Myanmar - and in apparent violation of the sanctions Washington has long imposed against the military regime. Now Myanmar's junta is likely using US-funded wireless broadband technology to perpetuate its repressive policies and harassment of pro-democracy groups. Not only does the oversight represent a shameful stain on US government accountability, it also sets back the broader cause of promoting human rights and democracy in military-run Myanmar. (Source: Bangkok Bank document) 100-200% of credit line held from foreigners? - August 8, 2008 A reader explains: I was surprised by this requirement for non-Thais who apply for a credit card at Bangkok Bank. A bank officer explained (and this is a direct quote): "Many foreigners do not pay their credit card bills and we have trouble following them. So we have a new policy." If your work permit is over three years old (working at least 3 years at the same place) they hold 100% of your credit line from your bank account. If it is less that three years, they hold 200% of your credit amount from your bank account. If a foreigner has a Ministry of Foreign affairs card (meaning they are employed by a foreign embassy), this requirement is waived. I have no doubt that Thailand remains a catchall for deadbeat foreigners, but this requirement is annoying for someone who has had a bank account in good standing with Bangkok Bank for nearly 20 years... We are not sure how new this policy is as others have reported similar things in the past. In any event, banks like KTC and Kasikorn give out credit cards to foreigners very easily. Thai plan threatens Mekong - Radio Australia, August 7, 2008 The Thai government has revived controversial plans to divert water from tributaries of the Mekong river to help agricultural production in the drought affected north east of the kingdom... Thai general conferred Singapore's highest military award - Channel NewsAsia, August 7, 2008 President S R Nathan has conferred the Distinguished Service Order (Military) or Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentara) on the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, General Boonsrang Niumpradit, at the Istana... THAILAND: Sustainable approach to tackle coastal erosion - IRIN, August 7, 2008 [Thanks to Chris for pointing this out.] ...However, more than 3,000 rai (483 hectares) of mangrove forests have been lost to the sea over the past 30 years. Panya, a former village head and one of 127 families who own seaside land, said most of their plots had washed away... Thailand's first bio-solar house - August 9, 2008 Here and here Thanks to Nils for pointing this out. US, Thailand: A conflicted alliance - Asia Times, August 8, 2008 ...Thai government insiders also contended that Bush failed after heavy foreign ministry lobbying to arrange a meeting with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was in residence at his seaside palace in Hua Hin, about 200 kilometers south of Bangkok. Government sources say that's because Hua Hin's airport lacks the runway facilities to accommodate Bush's jet. The 80-year-old and highly respected monarch notably did not opt to travel to Bangkok to greet Bush... Renowned Thai artist takes on property developers - AFP, August 11,2008 ...He has even opened his home up as a museum, school and meeting place for fellow artists to share his passion for the kingdom's creative history. Bangkok developers, however, rarely think twice about cultural heritage when they throw up skyscrapers, and now a 32-storey condominium is threatening to dwarf Chakrabhand's house of cultural treasures in the up-and-coming Ekkamai area. But like a growing number of individuals, Chakrabhand is determined to fight the rampant development that many say is threatening the city's character... Keep Up - Modern Thai Architecture 1967-1987 - August 4, 2008 This is an incredibly odd, but interesting trend to document--the proliferation of modernist, 60's-era concrete structures in Thailand. This elaborate and detailed exhibit shows the history of buildings such as the Indra Hotel, Suan Amporn Pavilion, and the Science Museum. Ironically, one of the most interesting structures--the pavilion over the Samsen train station--was torn down to make way for the Hopewell line which was never built. "Keeping Up - Modern Thai Architecture 1967-1987" is at the TCDC on the 6th floor of the Emporium (on the movie theater level). Closed Mondays. Zayed fell on face while doing stunt in Bangkok - Sindh Today, August 18, 2008 Zayed Khan, who’s currently into performing his own stunts, had an accident when he jumped out of a high-rise building in Bangkok while shooting for ‘Blue’. The fall went wrong and Zayed’s forehead hit the windshield of a car... Asylum tales Killer Scot fled to Thailand to avoid trial for murdering partner - Press and Journal, August 20, 2008 ...He is understood to be the first Scot to be extradited from Thailand... Glitter tour continues; paedophile back in Bangkok - Bangkok Post, August 21, 2008 Attorney-General says extradition from Cambodia, Britain possible - TNA, August 20, 2008 ...the extradition treaty between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia came into force on May 6, 1998 so it is possible to request Cambodia to send Mr. Vatana back to Thailand and serve his jail sentence... Thaksin, wife apply for asylum - Former PM calls PPP factions, urges unity - Bangkok Post, August 21, 2008 Hello-o!? The magic words are not 'hello' - Bangkok Post, August, 2008 ...The Office of the National Culture Commission has been asked to launch a campaign to promote the use of "Sawasdee" instead of "Hello" among Thais, particularly when answering the phone... Color footage of Bangkok in the 1930s - YouTube, August 21, 2088 Krasin writes: It's a travel documentary on Bangkok shot probably in late 1930's. This is extremely rare because the video is in color. New website: Save Thaksin.com - August 22, 2008 Software anti-piracy hotline doubles reward - Call 02 7116193 to report pirated software using and get Bt500,000 - The Nation, August 21, 2008 Arbuckle Brothers Coffee card, Number 91, 1889 The Lost Girls - August, 2008 A reader points out: Hey, something new: About 2/3 down the page... Someone (3 American girls on a world tour, that is) actually praises Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok cabbies for a change (but thinks the Skytrain is a "monorail", Thai 7-Elevens don't have Slurpees and Big Gulps, and the waiing Ronald McDonald is "praying").  Referring to the king as a "royal highness" instead of His Majesty is a widespread error and may be forgiven (by me; not necessarily by the lese majeste law!) Also interesting the part about the Gem District (not scam)... Gary Glitter tricked onto flight back home - Times, August, 2008 [More than one reader pointed out that this article is the very definition of a face-saving story. When the real story is about how British and Thai authorities were embarrassed by the Gary Glitter situation, the solution is to release a timeline claiming it was all part of a plan and Glitter was the one who was tricked instead.] ...By 7pm Glitter was in seat 11B, a glass of champagne beside him and happily unaware that he had fallen into a trap. He planned to stay in a luxury hotel in Wanchai and used the phone on his arm rest to summon a friend to collect him at the airport. But Thai Police informed Hong Kong Immigration that he was coming and they agreed on a plan. He was arrested on arrival. By 1pm today Gary Glitter was back in Bangkok and, this time, Thai Airways brought the deportation papers they needed - issued by the Hong Kong police... Medical tourism is great -- for those who can afford it - Alternet, August 21, 2008 ...According to a recent Deloitte report, Thailand, the world's leading medical tourism hub, saw 1.2 million medical tourists from around the world in 2006. On average, medical procedures in Thailand cost a mere 30 percent of American prices. India, another destination that sees more than 400,000 medical tourists each year, charges just an average of just 20 percent as much as the U.S. Thousands of Americans also flock to Mexico and South America every year for cosmetic and dental surgery, where procedures cost anywhere from 75 to 50 percent less than they do in the U.S... Medical emergency teams thwarted by dense Bangkok traffic - IRINnews, August 21, 2008 ...Bangkok Province has the highest rate of accidents and the highest death toll - 46,647 accidents and 652 deaths in 2007 - of any province in the country... The World's Richest Royals - Forbes, August 20, 2008 ...At the top of our list is Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose $35 billion estimated net worth is up sevenfold as a result of increased transparency of his Crown Property Holdings. He takes the top spot from the only other Asian monarch on the list, the Sultan of Brunei, worth $20 billion, one of only two rulers worth less than they were last year... And the story from the print version of the magazine: The Top 15 Wealthiest Royals Also from the print version: The Crowning Fortune ...Last year FORBES ASIA valued it at a conservative $5 billion. Other estimates have put it at $8 billion. But this year--using an exhaustive academic study of the monarchy's investment arm, the Crown Property Bureau--FORBES ASIA now values the fortune at $35 billion. ...But bureau adviser Aviruth says simply: "The utmost aim [of the bureau is] to uphold the royal prestige and kindness of the monarchy. We feel that … we should … disclose certain information for the benefit of the public." Thailand rebuffs Forbes' claims about king's wealth - AFP, August 23, 2008 ..."Forbes has included land and other assets belonging to the Crown Property Bureau, which is not in His Majesty's personal net worth," it said... Thailand seeks Japan's help to build first nuclear power plants - Bloomberg, August 22, 2008 Thailand has asked Japan to help build its first nuclear power plants as Southeast Asia's second- biggest economy seeks to reduce reliance on gas, oil and coal... Thai SCB bank in dilemma of Thaksin money release bid - Reuters, August 24, 2008 Thai Siam Commercial Bank said it would seek a board decision over a government request to release 12 billion baht ($353 million) from frozen accounts of the family of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra... The frozen Shinawatra accounts - August 15, 2008 The totals in the Shinawatra accounts left in Thailand have been spoken of often, but it is interesting to contemplate the mind-boggling amounts broken down by various banks. The "major" accounts are 18,100,000,000 baht at Bangkok Bank 2,100,000,000 baht at the Bank of Ayudhya 39,600,000,000 baht at Siam Commercial Bank 1,400,000,000 baht at Thanachart Bank 500,000,000 baht at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives 15,700,000,000 baht at the Government Savings Bank 10,000,000,000 baht at the Islamic Bank of Thailand 2,700,000,000 baht at the Securities and Land Depository Centre (Source TNA/MCOT) Puea Thai party in talks on new home - Bangkok Post, August 23, 2008 ...Sakda Khongphet, a PPP MP for Roi Et, said Puea Thai was ready to enter the political race as the Election Commission had already endorsed the party. He said all factions of the PPP, including veteran politician Newin Chidchob's faction, would move to Puea Thai if the PPP was dissolved. ''Mr Thaksin earlier told me the PPP would not survive. However, we are not worried as some phuyai [senior figures] in our party have already prepared the Puea Thai as a new home. ''Those who see the abbreviations or the logo of the new party will understand that it is Mr Thaksin's party. Thor means Thaksin and Phor means Potjaman [Mr Thaksin's wife],'' said Mr Sakda... Keeping watch over the 'megafishes' - CNN, August, 2008 And the Megafishes Project Blog 'Zero tolerance' in Glasgow's bid to stamp out prostitution - Scotsman, August, 2008 ...Senior council officials and police said they were adopting a zero tolerance approach to buying sex to stop Glasgow becoming "the Bangkok of the north"... Bangkok's road signs are misleading, to say the least - Bangkok Post, August 25, 2008 No leads on Thailand disappearance - BBC News, August, 2008 ...A roadie and former winner of TV quiz show The Weakest Link, Mr Hall had been on his third trip to Thailand when he was last seen after the island's world-famous Full Moon Party... In pictures: Full Moon Party (Photo: BBC/Getty Images) Angry Reaction to Samak’s 'Suu Kyi is a Tool' Remark - The Irrawaddy, August 26, 2008 Burmese opposition politicians and some political observers and commentators have strongly rejected Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s description of Aung San Suu Kyi as a “political tool” of the West... Mother describes Laos lizard attack - Radio Australia, August 2008 The mother of an Australian man who was lost for eleven days in a jungle in Laos says her son has described being chased by giant lizards... Procedure to build your own airstrip in Thailand - Thai Flying Club, August, 2008 Enforced disappearances a blight on Thailand - The Nation, August 30, 2008 ...The latest and most blatant case of an enforced disappearance in Thailand occurred in February of this year in Khon Kaen, the gateway to the Indochina region. Kamol Laosophaphant, a well-to-do family man, disappeared from a police station in Khon Kaen as a result of his strong campaign against corruption within his community. Kamol knew it was dangerous to challenge the authorities and the alleged corruption in the province. Before his disappearance, he made repeated calls from the police station to confirm his location. The line was cut while he was making his final call to his family. His family hasn't heard from him since. Kamol's wife is afraid to leave her home out of concern for her safety... Introduction of Rugby into Thailand - Daily Mirror, August, 2008 Thai circus - Cartoon by Sacrava, August, 2008 THAILAND: Jasmine submarine cable challenges CAT - AsiaMedia, August 26, 2008 JasTel Network's general manager says submarine cable will "result in cheaper Internet connection fees and drive the growth of data communication services" Driving a crushed pickup - August, 2008 Graham writes: ...still drivable and seen going down the highway at about 100kph. (Photo: Graham) (Photo: Graham) Bush 'way cool' at Thai AIDS ward - Honolulu Advertiser, August 9, 2008 President Bush arrived in Bangkok's largest slum Thursday morning seven minutes early and in a black armored stretch Cadillac. Protected by a 40-car motorcade, some 200 Thai police officers, the U.S. Secret Service and its rooftop military snipers, the presidential limo parked in a closed-off white tent pitched near the end of a slum street... 100000 bags of Thai rice arrive in Negros; prices fall - Inquirer.net, August 9, 2008 Prices of commercial rice in Negros Occidental were expected to fall to their lowest levels in months with the arrival of 100000 bags of Thai rice... Thailand revives worship of the Rice Goddess - EARTHtimes, August 10, 2008 Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country, has revived ceremonial worship of the Rice Goddess to commemorate the queen's upcoming birthday and boost the morale of the country's 3.7 million rice-farming families... Retail hacking ring charged for stealing and distributing credit and debit card numbers from major U.S. retailers - Market Watch, August 5, 2008 ...The San Diego charges allege that Yastremskiy, Suvorov, Chiu, Wang, Delpiero, Pavolvich, Burak and Storchak operated an international stolen credit and debit card distribution ring with operations from Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines and Thailand... British pensioner awaited his own murder armed with a tazer - andrew-drummond.com, August 12, 2008 British pensioner killed in Thailand predicted his own death - Telegraph, August 12, 2008 Photo-book about technological improvisation in Thailand - BoingBoing, August 11, 2008 Thai slave laborers freed in El Monte become US citizens - Los Angeles Times, August, 2008 ...Buppha Chaemchoi, 37, said she was shocked to arrive in El Monte and realize that she would sleep crammed in one bedroom on the floor with nine others. The windows had been boarded up, she said, allowing virtually no sunlight. Her captors told her that if she tried to escape, brutal U.S. police would shave her head and stamp her scalp with marks of disgrace, she said. "It made me worry and want to stay inside and just wait for my three-year contract to end," Chaemchoi said... Vatana in hiding ahead of court verdict, but still pulling strings - Bangkok Post, August 7, 2008 ..."For many nights, Mr Vatana joined parties with Cambodian leaders to celebrate their recent election victory. Other times, he was seen side by side with Cambodian leaders at the Venetian Resort in Macau," said a source. Though "missing" in Thailand, Mr Vatana can still wield influence from afar. He gave advice to the government on who should get what posts in the recent cabinet reshuffle... [Further down is a funny recounting of the disgruntled Isan Pattana faction's confrontation with Samak after the reshuffle.] Mr Samak finally agreed to see them and after seating them at a table, lost no time bemoaning the countless obstacles he faced in drawing up the latest cabinet line-up. But he was cut short by the irate faction members, who reminded him they were there to talk about their problem, not to listen to his moaning... Mr Santi cut in by suggesting the MPs should have called and discussed their problem with him. Again, the group's response was a loud whack on the table. The angry MPs recited Mr Santi's phone number and said they called him hundreds of times, but he did not pick up the phone. "You people don't know anything about sincerity, do you?" said one Isan Pattana member... THAILAND: A model for emergency medical response - AlertNet, August 5,2008 ...A key finding, according to hospital officials, was that while most patients were medical emergencies not traumatic injuries – some 80 percent of the trauma injuries were from motorcycle accidents and 90 percent of in-hospital mortalities were from such injuries... (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Left to right: Uncover very confidential documents about Prasat Preah Vihear Temple from 1962 to 2008 and Prasat Preah Vihear Temple: A time bomb from the colonist era Books - August 8, 2008 (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Left to right: Who gets, who loses from the escalation fight over the Prasat Preah Vihear Temple and Prasat Preah Vihear. Why? Where is it from? (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Left to right: Thaksin will definitely come back, Thaksin Shinawatra - Knows how to think, knows how to do, and Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra - A life like a novel (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Left to right: The kingdom’s guard dog [book about Sondhi], Barack Obama [translation of Obama's book, Dreams from My Father], Talk to Sondhi about everything, and Bible for surviving economic crisis - Tycoon Thanin Chiavaranont’s ‘treasure trove on land’ strategy 29 condemned Nigerians in Thailand, Afghanistan get reprieve - This Day, August 3, 2008 Reprieve has come for twenty-nine Nigerians, condemned to death in Thailand and Afghanistan for drug-related offences, as they have had their sentences commuted to prison terms... Thailand sends first cyclist to Olympics in more than 40 years - Channel NewsAsia, August 1, 2008 ...24-year-old Chanpeng Nonthasin has been chosen to go to the Games after the International Cycling Union gave Thailand one berth for a female cyclist... Fishing for criminals at the checkpoint - How the Pisces programme keeps our borders secure - Bangkok Post, August 4, 2008 ... A small camera standing at each immigration counter is a component of the system. While a passenger waits in front of the immigration desk and is asked to look at the camera, the process begins. The traveller's picture is taken and the information on the passport is ''grilled,'' the term used by immigration officers for scanning. This information is linked with the two main servers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. These servers then link their data with that from the Immigration Bureau head office at Suan Phlu, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the Foreign Ministry and other government agencies. The immigration official will then know how many times the traveller has entered and left Thailand,whether the person's appearance has changed and, most importantly, whether they are wanted for any reason... PAD "alert day" - August 1, 2008 Today (Friday, August 1) the PAD is trying reinvigorate its protest against the government. They have announced a special "alert day" to indicate they will not accept the government amending the constitution. Many groups of protesters from around the country are reportedly joining the crowd including large groups from the south and Pitsonalok. Meanwhile, newspapers are full of news from a fortuneteller who says the country will either have a coup or dissolution of parliament on August 9. Fortunetellers typically come out of the woodwork to make opportunistic predictions during times of turmoil and these are duly reported on the front pages of newspapers. Thailand to host world's first symposium on fireflies - Bangkok Post, August 1, 2008 Murder in Bangkok - Bangkok Post, August 1, 2008 On July 24 at about 5.30pm, I witnessed an event in Bangkok that has left me shaken. It has changed the way I view Thailand... Thailand Special: sex transplants, elephants, and the Grand Palace - GMA, July 31, 2008 ...Mhel is just one of the thousand homosexuals lured by the promise of a “normal" life in the “Sex Change Capital of the World"… Bangkok, Thailand!... "White elephant - Bangkok" From an undated postcard Matichon reporter shot dead at home - Bangkok Post, August 3, 2008 ...''He became extra careful recently due to a conflict with some local politicians over his reports. He told me to always change my routes when heading home,'' Mrs Pornpimol said. She said her husband had told Region 8 Police Bureau chief Thani Tawitsri of his concerns. Pol Lt-Gen Thani said police suspected the murder was related to news reports written by the victim, which caused conflicts with a high-ranking government officer in the district... Rare deer to be released back into the wild - Bangkok Post, August 3, 2008 After disappearing from the forest in Uthai Thani more than three decades ago, the Eld's Deer will return to the Thungyai-Huay Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuaries in the central province next week. The National Resources and Environment Ministry has scheduled the release of 77 of the deer, called Lamang in Thai, into the World Heritage site in Uthai Thani province on Friday in a ceremony to be presided over by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej... Thailand: Weinsteins recreate old Shanghai in Bangkok - Sin Chew Jit Poh, August 2, 2008 A large neon red sign in cursive script and a painting of a buxom woman wearing a blue bra advertise "The Great World Casino." Nearby, a rice shop displays wooden buckets of grain under a canvas awning... Somali pirates hijack Thai cargo ship, watchdog seeks UN help - Nasdaq, August 14, 2008 A Thai cargo ship has been hijacked off the Somali coast, a maritime watchdog said Thursday as it called on the U.N. and coalition forces to halt pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden... The passing of Yodrak Salakjai - August 15, 2008 Chang Liu writes: So I noticed there's not much information on 2bangkok.com about popular Thai culture, yet this past week was a momentous one in the life of the average Thai, more specifically the working-class Thai, who as you know loves the melancholic charm of "look-toong" (Thai country music, for want of a better term). This momentous event, which doesn't seem to have been mentioned much in other English-language Thai media, is the passing away of Yodrak Salakjai (Thai script: ยอดรัก สลักใจ), perhaps the greatest star of look-toong music, on August 9, of cancer. The headline means: "Look-toong world saddened by Yodrak's passing away". The article's a bit long, but there are interesting photos at the very end. Also here. (Photo: A reader) Abu Dhabi night works - August, 2008 A reader notes: I've been working the past year here in Abu Dhabi, which has probably the most ambitious development plans of any place in the world for the next 20 or so years.  Here is a photo of some of the construction work being undertaken on Reem Island. It is just a very small portion of what is in store here for the next two decades. This is where our money goes when we fill the fuel tanks of our vehicles in Thailand! Hoax: Thailand’s time zone to change? - Whatismatt, August, 2008 Empty streets - bkktimes, August, 2008 This site has some interesting views of empty Bangkok streets. Family of Calgary man killed in Thailand says Ottawa stalling them - Canadian Press, August, 2008 ...There were nearly 300 pages, but almost all of them were blacked out, with entire pages omitted and emails censored. The few lines that escaped the black marker suggested that someone - likely an embassy official - expressed concern that they were getting more information from the media than their own sources on the case... 1930s fashions - August, 2008 Left and below: The source of these photos indicates they are the daughters of King Chulalongkorn photographed in the 1930s. MPA unearths DVD burner lab in Bangkok army camp - Business of Cinema, August, 2008 ...Five members from the 11th Infantry Regiment of the King's Guard were arrested on 9 August during a police raid, dealing a major blow to pirate syndicates in Bangkok and neighbouring Nonthaburi and Pathumthani provinces... Cockroach king reigns as pest-killers discuss climate change - AFP, August, 2008 Silence golden for Tata? - The Nation, August 16, 2008 ...Five years ago, superstar Amita "Tata" Young had to apologise to the public just because she said: "I love this man and he loves me too." Her candid revelation that she was seeing Thai tennis ace Paradorn Srichaphan sparked a controversy. She came under attack, as critics said she was not following the modest practices of the average Thai woman. She was in the spotlight simply because of her openness and her "un-Thai" behaviour. Fast-forward to the year 2008, and things have come full circle: the public cannot stand the possibility of missing the latest developments in her relationship with her fiance Prem Busarakamwong. As rumours began to spread over the past few months that Prem was seeing someone else and that the two were no longer wearing engagement rings, Tata was followed and the public wanted her to speak her heart out. She's likely feeling puzzled - once slammed for her openness, her silence now is not appreciated... Bar girl and the expat: a killing foretold - Guardian, August 17, 2008 ...But the bitter consensus was also that after all the publicity had died down Beeston's wife would be granted bail and freed. 'She's got the money, and with money cases just get dropped,' said Herrington. Then the conversation turned to the future and who was 'next for the bullet'. They agree they know the identity of the marked man. He lives about 20 miles away and is having some major problems with his Thai wife. 'Yep,' they chorus, 'for sure.' Where an older man can think he is debonair - Guardian, August 17, 2008 ...'Where else can an old man go to bed with a beautiful 20-year-old girl?' one elderly Brit asked me with a gleam in his wrinkled eyes. 'Do they love it? Why not?' he laughed. 'I pay them enough...' Fireball over the Gulf of Thailand - August 16, 2008 Craig writes: Dropping you a line to alert you to a possible breaking story that might not make the mainstream media. You seem to be the best source for unusual news stories in Thailand in English. Last night a huge ufo streaked across the sky and was seen to disappear with a huge white flash, possibly into the sea, north east of the Gulf. It occurred around 9:45pm [August 16, 2008]. Witnessed from Koh Tao facing the north eastern sky, it moved slowly and produced a very large white flash on hitting the sea (we think). No waves were recorded here on Koh Tao as a to result. Possibly a meteor, although the white flash is not consistent. It is also possible it went over the horizon although it appeared to land in the gulf. I am unsure if the party revelers on Koh Phanghan would have seen this event, or noticed it for that matter, although it was witnessed by hundreds on Koh Tao from the main beach. A few people are intrigued here as thai navy and underwater observation and retrieval ships are here as well. Maybe only a coincidence. Drop us a response if you hear anything from your sources. We so far have no reputable sources covering this intriguing story and we are hoping you can find some information... Not Just Thaksin: Other Famous Thais Who Have Fled (Part 1) - Thaiblogs, August 18, 2008 Surge unlikely - The Nation, August 18, 2008 ...Marine Meteorological Centre chief Wattana Kanbua says the possibility of storm surge in Bangkok is less than 10 per cent... Earlier: Monster storm to hit Bangkok - AsiaOne, August 15, 2008 ...Mr Smith Dhammasaroj, chief of the National Disaster Warning Centre, told a seminar yesterday that if a storm was to gather, it would sweep through at a speed of 118kmph. That would cause waves of 2.2m to 4.5m high and result in the worst storm to hit Bangkok in 50 years... CAT "fasibility" - August 16, 2008 Terry writes: This ad was in this morning's Bangkok Post. I thought you might enjoy it. I particularly liked the "Stepping Forward Fasibility" bit. Since "fasibility" has yet to be defined perhaps we could invent a suitable meaning: Fasibility: the ability to hamper the development of a nation's communications system by decades of bureaucratic incompetence (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Fallen Bo tree - August, 2008 Bo tree that has fallen on a wooden house on Surasak Road. (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) Individual switches for fluorescent lights - August, 2008 If you look closely, you can see individual pull switches for each fluorescent light in an office in the Jewelry Trade Center.