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Money matters:
Graham Macdonald MBMG International Ltd.
Why people are worried, part 3
Up till about ten years ago, the sub prime market was
basically the domain of home-equity lines which were used by borrowers to manage
debt and by loans on mobile homes or the like. However, after rates did not go
up after 2001, the lending institutions were in a position where they could
offer a borrower who had even a dubious credit rating an adjustable-rate
mortgage with introductory rates that were thought to be reasonable. Old bankers
tell tales that potential clients were being offered ridiculously low mortgages
to start off. However, many were totally unaware that this only lasted for a
couple of years before going up to a much higher band - sometimes as much as
three percent more than a creditworthy customer would get. People did not
comprehend how much they would be affected by an increase once the Fed put rates
back to normal levels.
This is where the slippery slope began. What with potential property buyers on
one side, and major financial institutions on the other, both parties wanted
more and more sub primes. The market went from over USD160 in 2001 to nearly
four times that for last year.
To begin with there were not many problems. This meant that the credit ratings
for the bonds supported by the mortgages were not really troubled. This gave a
false picture of the situation and so the normal standards that were in place
began to slip. Last year nearly fifty percent of all sub prime loans were given
to people who did not have to fully account for the money they earned which
meant it was easy for them to be less than truthful about how good their credit
was.
The reason that things were not picked up as quickly as they could have been
were that the price of housing was going up so quickly that people who were
defaulting were easily able to re-finance the property they had originally taken
the loan out on in the first place. This finished last year when the cost of
property stopped going up. This then made the identifying of those who could not
repay their mortgages a lot easier to spot.
On both sides of the Atlantic, if a major lending institution gets into trouble
the central bank asks people who have deposits and savings accounts not to panic
and keep their faith with the bank/credit union/building society they are with.
The problem is that in certain parts of the world and certainly in North America
these are no longer the major lenders. After the S&L crisis of twenty odd years
ago, the government ordered that the main banks, etc., keep more capital to
guard against those loans that were regarded as not safe. To circumvent this
problem lenders gradually exploited the situation by selling off their loan
books via the likes of Wall Street and ultimately on to a third party (or a
number of third parties as the same loan could be broken down or ‘sliced and
diced’ into different segments).
As soon as these loans could not be re-paid by the borrower problems arose. For
example, New Century Financial, which was the second largest sub prime lender in
the USA last year, started to suffer when this happened. However, as they did
not have any forms of safeguard in place they were up that well known creek when
Wall Street told it to buy back some of the poor performing loans. So it had to
ask for Chapter 11 around Easter. This was one of the first major signs that the
sub prime was not in the healthy position that people thought it was.
Business damaged as well
Individual borrowers were not the only people who were in trouble.
Five years ago, Yellow Pages became available and it was sold to the Carlyle
Group and other interested parties for US$7,000,000,000 of which over
US$5,500,000 was borrowed. This was not seen as a problem because the company
has a good cash flow that could be used to pay off the loan. However, the buyers
then borrowed nearly another US$1 billion in order to pay a dividend to Carlyle
and the other investors. They then took out another US$250 dividend so that the
private-equity buyers had got almost all their money back (in cash terms it had
cost just a net $250,000,000 to buy a $ 7,000,000,000 company).
By 2006, there were loads of large leveraged buy-outs. Very lenient credit
markets allowed private-equity companies to achieve big deals and award
themselves even bigger dividends.
Exactly the same was happening as with the sub prime situation in that the
lenders started to ease up on borrowing standards. Certain financial
institutions were doing deals on debt for businesses that did not even have a
good cash flow. The most famous one was Chrysler but there were many more. In
the middle of this year the investors started to worry. What this means is now a
lot of the banks are in the situation where they have promised to lend hundreds
of millions of US dollars. They thought they could then sell this debt on but
now find that there is no-one prepared to buy it.
The stark reality of this is that when Morgan Stanley and other Wall Street
acolytes recently released their latest results, they each showed losses of
hundreds of millions of dollars on credit transactions but the lion’s share of
these were deals that they had agreed to do but had been left holding the baby -
transactions that they basically couldn’t get out of.
To be continued…
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The above data and research was compiled from sources
believed to be reliable. However, neither MBMG International Ltd nor its
officers can accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the above
article nor bear any responsibility for any losses achieved as a result of any
actions taken or not taken as a consequence of reading the above article. For
more information please contact Graham Macdonald on
[email protected]@mbmg-international.com.com
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Snap Shots: by Harry Flashman
Digital tips
This week I thought it time to return to basics, and though it is
slanted towards the digital users, much of this still relates to general
photographic principles, irrespective as to whether you shoot on film or
digitally. It is still the old formula of light through lens and falling
on sensitized material.
 My
favorite noodle lady
Let’s begin with the very basic first principle of holding the camera
steady. It is very easy in the excitement of it all, to move the camera
while depressing the shutter. You will get an image, but it will be
‘soft’ and if you try and blow it up you will be disappointed. You are
even more likely to get a soft image if you hold the camera in one hand
while holding up one - two - three fingers on the other hand. However,
there is a digital advancement just becoming available, and that is an
anti-camera shake mode. With some cameras, the anti-shake is in the
lens, whilst with others it is in the camera body. Either way, this is a
worthwhile factor to look for, especially as you get older.
Another tip is to find out how to turn the auto-flash off! Today’s
digitals will add flash if a cloud passes between you and the sun, but
many great shots are lost by this. Practice using ‘natural’ light,
particularly that cold early morning light, or the warm sunlight late in
the afternoon. Remember too, that neon lights look best without using
flash in the camera.
When taking portraits, the expressions on the faces of the sitters make
or break the final image. Forget about saying “Cheese” and let the
sitter relax while you shoot as many images as you can. With digital you
do not have to develop the lot. You can look though them all and delete
those you don’t want very easily. You will also get a more natural photo
as well.
The next item is for any camera user, and incidentally, any painter.
Remember the Rule of Thirds. Do not position the subject slap bang in
the middle of the picture, but one third the way from either the left or
the right and one third from the top or bottom of the print. This goes
for horizons as well. Never leave the horizon in the center, but
position it to either give more sky, or more land, depending upon which
is the more interesting.
Recently I mentioned WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) - always
look carefully through the viewfinder or intensely scrutinize the LCD
screen to make sure verticals are vertical and people are not growing
antlers out of their ears, or standing in a dump. There is a preview
button available, so learn how to use it so that WYSIWIG is what you
actually wanted.
One of the main reasons a photo can ‘fail’ is because the photographer
was too far away from the subject. “Walk several meters closer” has been
my catch-cry for many years. Make the subject the hero and fill the
frame. Be daring and walk in really close. Remember that digital
photography allows you to experiment at “no cost” (well not for D&P at
least).
I have been mentioning shooting as many frames as you like (or can). You
will need a massive media card in your digital for this. I have seen
some cameras sold with an 8 MB card, which will allow you half a dozen
shots and that’s about all, unless you are on the least resolution mode.
Get a 1 GB or 2 GB card!
I mentioned resolution - shoot on the highest resolution the camera
allows, even though it means you eat up more of the card. If you want to
get some half decent prints which might need selective enlargement, you
will be pleased that you shot on high resolution. And remember you
cannot really judge how sharp a photo is from the LCD.
Finally, with Auto-Focus, learn to allow the camera to take up the focus
on the subject, and then use ‘focus lock’ so that you can compose the
shot, remembering the Rule of Thirds while you do it.
Modern Medicine:
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
Drug interactions and dangerous liaisons
Now that I have got your attention, there are (have been)
plenty of dangerous liaisons in the world, and we’ve probably all had one
(or two). Correct? However, the liaisons I want to discuss today are the
interactions between various drugs and how to avoid a fairly explosive
situation in the way some drugs can interact with you. This is a topic I
discuss almost annually, as unfortunately in the hospital we do see the
problems that these liaisons can produce. Still one of the biggest problem
areas in the pharmaceutical world.
Let us start with easily come-by drugs that are taken almost daily. What is
the commonest drug taken by human beings in the western world? Hands up all
of you who said alcohol. Yes, our old friend ethanol, AKA booze, is really a
drug. It is a depressant, it dilates arteries and does all kinds of neat
things to the body, the liver (and the brain). One of the big problems
though, is that alcohol can heighten the effects of other drugs. In other
words, it is not a simple 1+1 additive effect – the combination multiplies
the effects of both the alcohol and the other drug too. For example, the
anti-anxiety drug Valium (which I used to call the “Health Food of the
Nation” in my younger and more cynical days practicing in Australia) plus
alcohol make a very nasty cocktail. This combination produces “space” travel
without having to go to Cape Canaveral. A most dangerous way to be bombed
out of your brain.
Simple cough medicines are another group of drugs that do not combine well
with alcohol. A couple of beers and a shot of something for your cough can
combine to produce a lethal combination. Lethal in the fact that the
interaction can make you fall asleep at the wheel.
Let’s imagine that you have now found out that you have high blood pressure
and have gone on a type of medication called Beta Blockers. They do work
well at reducing blood pressure. They also stop trembling hands, and many
people take them for this – even concert pianists. There are some drawbacks,
though. One it can exacerbate asthma, and two, it can make Willy the Wonder
Wand not work like it used to. A dangerous way to draw a halt to dangerous
liaisons!
Some of you will be on medication to reduce your blood sugar, a condition we
sometimes called NIDDM (Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus). You may
also get indigestion. There is a particularly nasty interaction between
certain sugar reducers and some antacids, which can make you go into a
hypoglycaemic coma. Again, not the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
Now here’s one for all the people who have had a stroke, or a heart attack
or a deep vein thrombosis and have been put on a blood thinner, such as
warfarin (also known as “rat poison”). Got a headache today? Taken a common
old aspirin for it? You have just set the scene for a hemorrhage, as the
effects of these two are again multiplied.
When researching this article, I went to a drug interaction website which
informed me “Please wait while we are loading our database of more than
5,000 drugs and herbals and 11,500 potential interactions. Caution: not all
drug interactions are known or reported in the literature, and new drug
interactions are continually being reported. This information is provided
only for your education and for you to discuss with your personal healthcare
provider.” 11,500 potential interactions! Think about it.
So just what is the message I am putting across this week? Well, it is
simple. Whilst it is great that you can just wander into a pharmacy in
Thailand and buy all the cheap drugs you want and self-medicate with
whatever you think you need, there can be a downside to all this. And it can
be a big downside. Letting your doctor prescribe is much safer than doing it
yourself. After all, the doctor has been trained to look for the dangerous
liaisons!
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary.
Having read Nok’s letter two weeks ago, it is understandable she appears to have
a low impression of farangs. When holidaying in Thailand I am amazed at the
number farangs I get talking to in bars, restaurants etc that claim to be more
than comfortable in the money department. I listen to their ‘extraordinary’ life
stories and the fabulous wealth they claim to have accumulated. Unfortunately
Nok does not have benefit I have of being English and therefore can see straight
through them. Usually because they don’t have a good enough memory to be a liar
and end up contradicting themselves! I agree Hillary with all the advice you
gave Nok but would like to add the following. Not all farangs are the same,
anymore than all Thai’s are the same. I have a Thai friend but am not wealthy,
do not live in a big house in the country, do not drive a Rolls Royce, etc. When
I first met my friend and we started to enjoy each other’s company I told them
the truth. I do what I can to on my average income and I am appreciated because
he understands I have to make sacrifices in my life to do so. I cannot afford to
buy him a car or condo, but the money I send each month supplements his income
and makes life a little more comfortable for him and his parents, something I
find quite humbling. All I have to offer is myself. I’m glad in one way I’m not
rich because it can only be me he is interested in and not any vast amount of
money on offer.
Nok, we farangs, be straight or gay, are not all dreamers or Cheap Charlies.
Westerners may have more money than a lot of Thais but most of us are normal
everyday folk, despite what they may tell you. Follow Hillary’s advice and try
for different employment. There is, I’m sure, an honest and genuine farang out
there for you if that’s what you want, but like Hillary I doubt you will find
him on the bar scene. I wish you all the luck and happiness in your life,
whichever direction it goes.
Simon from England
Dear Simon from England,
Thank you for your very well balanced letter for Nok, and I hope that between
both our answers, the young lady does indeed find the man of her dreams (or even
the lady of her dreams, since you have been so forthright, my Petal). You are
also correct that when you point out that when you are not rich (and not
claiming to be), then the attraction is something more spiritual than financial,
and as such, less likely to fall apart when the money box is empty. Having said
all that, I am still hopeful that my knight in shining armor is on the horizon.
His tardiness being from the fact that he is dragging several chests of gold
bullion to shower on me, plus the rose petals of course!
Dear Hillary,
I want to ask you about elephants. I thought that it was against the law for
elephants to be in town, complete with their touts in tow, “selling” the
elephant’s food to unsuspecting tourists. What people don’t seem to know is that
elephants are dangerous beasts and killings by elephants are very common. Why
isn’t the law enforced? It is a good one, for the protection of tourists, and
yet it is broken every day. Surely the police could catch and fine these touts
so that the elephants can be returned to the wild where they belong? Have you
any statistics on the dangers Hillary, that might convince people to run away
when they see an elephant approaching and have nothing to do with the beggars?
Jumbo
Dear Jumbo,
The elephant situation is not as cut and dried as you would make out. Less than
half of the around 3000 elephant population in Thailand is made up of “wild”
elephants. The wild elephants are also suffering as the ‘natural’ environment
becomes less as forests are felled and resorts and factories spring up, all
places that do not favor the elephant. It is also not possible to just return
domesticated elephants to the wild. Just the same as you cannot return
domesticated birds or domesticated monkeys to what was their natural habitat.
Certainly there is legislation. ‘No City Elephant’ has been the policy of
Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and the police since 1992, and has been
published. Unfortunately, elephants cannot read. However, there are also laws
relating to children riding motorcycles, wearing of motorcycle helmets, drink
driving and running red lights. Anyone who has been in Thailand for more than
five minutes will know that these laws are not vigorously pursued either.
While I agree that there are killings by elephants, these are not “common” as
you have claimed. With 400 people killed in road accidents over this festive
season, this perhaps puts a slightly different slant on dangerous elephant
attacks, of which there were none reported in the same period.
There are human beggars on the street outside my office complete with small
children, which I find more objectionable than having mahouts (not ‘touts’,
Petal) with elephants wanting 20 baht for a bunch of bananas, which does bring
joy to the tourists.
Let’s tackle major problems first, Jumbo.
Learn to Live to Learn: with Andrew Watson
Can transformational leadership be learned?
Can something like transformational leadership be
learned? Malpass (1994, in Shaw, 2000) maintains that, “Many
Heads and boards, it seems, have forgotten, or indeed have never
learnt, the basic principles of good school management.” The UK
National Education Assessment Centre (NEAC) goes to considerable
lengths in breaking down leadership into a curriculum, telling
us how Headteachers achieve excellence by transformational
leadership; “Transformational leadership is about creating
energy and involvement and setting an inspiring personal example
– being an outstanding teacher and professional as well as the
‘lead learner’ (Hay McBer, 2000)”. However, there is no
universal definition of what an inspiring personal example might
entail, especially in the multicultural global environment of
international schools. In this respect, leaders must, in many
ways, be “all things to all people”.
Zaleznik (1977, in Blandford & Shaw, 2001) suggests that
managers define themselves by their roles in the organisation
and leaders are great communicators who inspire. Zaleznik’s
manager is consistent with the concept of transactional
leadership as articulated by Bass (1985) through Burns (1978)
and could be aligned with Morrison’s (1998) suggestion that
“Leadership is less about status and position in a hierarchy
than the possession of essential competencies, skills and
expertise.” Similarly, Stoll & Fink (1996, in Law & Glover,
2000) distinguish between the technocrat manager and the
humanist leader. There seems to be some confluence on the subtle
but important differences between management and leadership and
some acknowledgement that both managerial and leadership skills
are essential for effective leadership. As Handy and Aitken
(1986, in Law & Glover, 2000) argue, “those who are most
effective are those able to combine both elements of freedom and
authority”.
With no local government to answer to (although a Board may
appear in the guise) leaders in international school settings
can enjoy considerable organisational autonomy. This creates
polarised potential for both imaginative entrepreneurialism and
muddied, visionless thinking. An established and rigid national
system can provide structural strength, (Shaw, 2000) but
rigidity translated into the international schools environment
can produce false dependency on a system of limited strength and
can stifle initiative. The pervading sense of leadership
requiring a positive, flexible, mental attitude pervades.
Conflict management provides a further example. Conflict is
often regarded as contextual instead of an everyday thing. “All
life is conflict” (Davies, 2004). According to Walker (2004),
“The relationship between the Board and the Head will always be
tense, but it should be one of creative tension.” Adopting this
attitude requires refined political skills but moreover, it is a
choice in the mind of the protagonists, which requires vision
and bravery. Choosing a positive mental approach to conflict
resolution is consistent with Fisher & Ury’s (1981) concept of a
win-win situation and reflects the notion of positive conflict
(Davies, 2004) as a necessary way in which “social progress
occurs and challenges are made to injustice.”
Leadership of international schools can be variously described
as like driving at high speed on an uncertain surface, like
being the conductor of the orchestra, or as Huberman (1992, in
Blandford & Shaw, 2000) suggests, like being the leader of a
jazz band, “constantly improvising within the bounds of implicit
understandings, even rituals, among its members”. To expand the
analogy, at the heart of jazz there is intimate knowledge of the
rudiments of music and years of learning chord structures,
scales, risk taking, exploring and experimenting. Together, they
allow a virtuoso freedom of interpretation. So it is with
educational leadership.
Are leaders born or are they made? According to legend,
Wellington pronounced that “The Battle of Waterloo was won on
the playing field of Eton,” (Oral tradition, 1856) suggesting
that experience and education combined can result in effective
leadership. It seems fair to say that knowledge can be regarded
as that which is formally ‘taught’ and ‘learned’ in whatever
style or medium and that which is lived through the senses.
Murgatroyd & Gray (1984, in Law & Glover, 2000) describe
personal qualities, which enable and encourage others to follow.
Handy (1993) alludes to power relationships in what might be
termed a structural communication context, “Power is only
effective if the relationship between leader and follower is
understood.” Greenfield (1991, in Shaw, 2001) maintains that,
“School Principals rely much more extensively upon leadership
than do their administrative counterparts in other settings,”
(Wellington might disagree!) which could be said to be due to
operational differences.
School leaders interact with an incredibly varied range of
interest groups. Further, it can be argued that leading larger
international schools requires commensurate knowledge and skills
and attitudes, on the basis that the greater the diversity, the
more complex and the greater the number of situations that will
arise.
Mintzberg (1973, in Morrison, 1998) says managers need to fulfil
interpersonal roles, informational roles and decisional roles.
Greenfield (1991) defines leadership role demands slightly
differently as involving managerial, instructional, political,
social, moral, knowledge and skills. In the quest for the
elusive, the essential elements of leadership are variously
referred to as attributes, traits, leadership qualities,
abilities, competencies and behaviours. Fullan & Hargreaves
(1992) promote the idea of “interactive professionalism”. Adair
(1983, in Law & Glover, 2000) cites five “leadership
characteristics”, Shackleton (1914) lists ten “Leadership
strategies” and Brighouse (1991) identifies three kinds of
school leader and lists seven “characteristic traits” of
leadership. The UK National Education Assessment Centre lists
“personal characteristics”, which according to consultants Hay
McBer (2000) refers to “how the person does the job”.
I propose that these lists are all putting forward the same kind
of views in terms that differ only slightly and which invariably
stress innovation, initiative, imaginative, intelligence,
integrity and inspiration. For example, Adair speaks of a leader
needing to ‘Build Teamwork’ whereas Shackleton speaks of the
need to “Continually restate the importance of the team
identity”. Brighouse writes of the “ability to celebrate others
and blame themselves,” and the NEAC speaks simply of
‘Teamworking”.
What appears to be beyond doubt is that effective leadership
requires multi skilled, knowledgeable and flexible attitudes at
all levels, which echoes the chaos and complexity theory
espoused amongst others, by Morrison (1998). Following on from
the idea that leaders need to reflect global reality, reject
insularity and prepare students for life outside schools, it
seems logical to expect that leaders should have significant
knowledge and experience of life outside education. How
prevalent these kinds of leaders are, is open to question.
Next week: The day the wall came down
Doc English, the Language Doctor:
Teaching Vocabulary
This week we look at ways to teach your
child new vocabulary. Children (and adults) have a limited capacity for
learning new words. Our brains can generally only absorb a few new words
at a time, but how we are taught the new words and how we learn them can
make a real difference.
Some people are better than others at memorizing new words and have more
strategies for remembering new words. Other people (and I include myself
in this category) can only learn a few new words at a time and the words
will have to be repeated many times or they will be lost. When I hear a
new Thai word I have to write it down and repeat it several items before
I can remember it. I also need to associate it with a situation, action
or another word with a similar sound.
Different people have different ‘learning styles’, or ‘ways of
learning’. If you want to find out what your learning style is, you
could try this little test http://www.ldpride.net/learning_style.html
Some learners will only remember a new word if it is shown to them and
they can actually see it, possibly with an accompanying picture to
signify meaning (visual learners). Perhaps they may also find it useful
to write the word down many times and they are good at recognizing words
by their shape. Other learners need to hear how the word is spoken and
speak it themselves, repeating it several times (auditory learners).
Other children need to ‘touch’ the word or play around and rearrange the
letters (kinesthetic learners). For the younger kinesthetic learner, it
may be helpful for them to play with ABC blocks, rearranging them with
their hands to form the new words. They may also benefit from making the
word in plasticene, or from touching and feeling an object that
represents the new word.
Using Word Books
Perhaps your child can make a ‘Word Book’ (rather
like a simple dictionary) and write down new words in the book, in
alphabetical order. Having a book to fall back on if they forget
provides your child with a little more security and helps maintain
confidence levels. They can include a picture to illustrate each new
word they learn.
Putting words Into Categories
Sometimes it’s easier to remember words if they
share characteristics or meaning. Putting words into categories is a
useful way for children (or adults) to remember new vocabulary: try this
exercise:
1. On a piece of paper, make two huge overlapping circles, rather like a
Venn Diagram:
2. Draw labels for each circle. Label the First Circle ‘Kitchen’ and the
second ‘Living Room’.
3. Next, cut these words out and see if you can put them into the right
category. Some of these things could be found both in the Kitchen and
the Living room, in which case they will go in the middle. Some of the
things don’t belong anywhere, in which case you can put them outside of
the circle. There are a few blank spaces for you to fill in words of
your own choosing.
| TV |
Toy |
|
| Plates |
Cooker |
|
| |
Light |
Sofa |
| Table |
Chair |
Sink |
| Toilet |
|
Fork |
| |
Computer |
Bed |
| |
Bath |
|
4. Carry out the exercise together and discuss where words should go.
Let children decide where they want to put things. As long as they can
justify their decision, then that’s fine. This exercise is useful as it
helps children categorise and remember names of common household items,
but it’s also useful because they learn how to discuss preferences and
argue their case!
Sadly, that’s all we have time for this week. Remember, you can send
your questions or suggestions to me via email at
[email protected]. Don’t forget to find out which learning
style you and your child have, there are many tests on the internet to
help you find out!
Let’s go to the movies:
by Mark Gernpy
Now playing in Pattaya
Enchanted: US Animated/Comedy – A smart re-imagining of
your basic fairy tales, featuring witty dialogue, sharp animation, and a
star turn by Amy Adams. It’s a full-blown musical that switches between
Disney’s cartoon universe and the “real” world with cleverness and
grace, reminding one of Mary Poppins. The opening 12 minutes, which are
delightfully animated in vintage hand-drawn style, set the tone of
loving send-up by packing in as many of the old Disney clichés as
possible. Generally favorable reviews.
Suay Sink Krating Zab: Thai Comedy/Action – Two friends live in
the Bangkok underworld jungle passing their time in small-time criminal
activity till an old girlfriend of one of them shows up and causes both
of them to fall in love.
The Flock: US Crime/Thriller – The story of a hyper-vigilant
federal agent (Richard Gere) in charge of a thousand sex offenders, who,
while training his young female replacement (Claire Danes), must track
down a missing girl whom he is convinced is connected to a paroled sex
offender he’s investigating.
Cloverfield: US Action/Sci-Fi/Thriller – I was caught up by this
gripping monster attack on New York City. It’s told from the point of
view of a small group of people with a video camera recording it as it
happens. This film, Blair-witch-like, supposedly shows all that remains
of their jittery, hand-held footage.
Funny thing about the title, it was just a codeword for the movie during
its planning and filming, and the word simply came from the name of the
boulevard in Santa Monica, California, where the offices of the
production company, Bad Robot, were located. That’s all there is to it –
it was just a temporary name, but they all got used to it and they
decided to keep it.
See it if you are one of those who adore shaky hand-held camera work and
fast editing in a Hollywood monster movie, believing that the jittering
adds immediacy and believability. Don’t see it if you’re made nauseous
by this same jittering, or are made dizzy by extra-fast editing. But it
does have some spooky, exciting thrills. Mixed or average reviews. (See
page 34 for a full review of this movie)
Hitman 47: US Action/Thriller – Based on a video game, it’s
simply one meaningless violent encounter after another, with an
incoherent plot and inane dialogue. Rated R in the US for strong bloody
violence, language, and some sexuality/nudity. Generally negative
reviews.
Mum Deaw: Thai Comedy – A mostly gentle, sweet, and sentimental
story – but with a touch of date-rape. Unmarried Mum, played by Thai
superstar Mum Jokmok, leaves his relaxed life in the village of
Yasothorn to head for Bangkok where he moves into a relative’s vacant
house. On the first day a young boy shows up and says, “Hi, I’m Deaw,
and I’m your future son.” He explains that, in the universe postulated
in this film, if Mum does not make love to Deaw’s future mother very
soon, Deaw will be born instead as a puppy to the dog next door.
Depending on your tastes, you will find this either nicely sentimental,
or excessively maudlin. Currently the top film in Thailand.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem: US Action/Horror/Sci-Fi – I found
this to be an exciting, hyperactive, and confusing gore fest, with an
excess of bodily fluids – blood from the humans and translucent slime
from the non-humans. Pretty mindless, with truly banal dialogue, and
filmed for the most part in murky darkness, making it difficult to know
who is killing whom. Rated R in the US for violence, gore, and language.
Generally negative reviews.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets: US Action/Adventure – No
longer the top film in the US, but still doing phenomenal business
there, world-wide, and here in Thailand. There are sure to be more in
the series. I thought it a lot of fun, though it’s a given that the
movie is absolutely preposterous and utterly implausible. With Nicolas
Cage, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris, and Diane
Kruger. If you liked the first film, you will enjoy this one, also.
Millions have. Mixed or average reviews.
Scheduled to open Thu. Jan. 30
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: US
Thriller/Drama – with Johnny Depp in the Stephen Sondheim musical,
directed by Tim Burton. Almost here (I hope), this film has garnered a
host of “bests” in award listings already this year, and is a strong
contender for some Oscars. “What you will see is as dark as the grave.
What you will hear is some of the finest stage music of the past 40
years. Mr. Burton’s film adaptation of Mr. Sondheim’s musical is as dark
and terrifying as any motion picture in recent memory. Indeed, ‘Sweeney’
is as much a horror film as a musical.” New York Times.
Rated R in the US for graphic bloody violence. Reviews: Universal
acclaim.
Amy Adams stars as
Princess Giselle in Walt Disney’s “Enchanted.”
What ELSE you could do
with Google.com
Searching online is fun, when you know you’re going to
get what you’re looking for in seconds. Most of us trust and use Google
for almost everything online. You may not know that Google offers you
even more than just plain searching. Try these tricks and I’m sure you
will enjoy Google even more!
Google: Your World Clock
Google can help you find the time of any location
around the world. All you have to do is type “location time” into
the search box and you’ll get the exact current time of that location.
For example, type “Lisbon time” and you should get the current
time in Lisbon, Portugal.
Google: Your Quick Currency Converter
Type “2.99 USD in THB” and you would get the value of $2.99
in Thai Baht currency. Don’t know the code for that currency? Just type
“2.99 US money in Thai money”. That would fix it. Neat!
Google: Your Calculator
Even when you cannot find the calculator on your desk, Google
can help you. Do a quick calculation, right there in the same search
box. Type “1234+5678” and you should get “6912”. Go ahead, try something
more complex.
Google: Your Weather Forecaster
Just like time, type location and “weather” and
Google will give you a 4-days weather forecast of that location.
For more Google tricks, log on to www.mrtechsavvy.com
The word computer seem like “100110110” to you? Ask Mr. Tech Savvy for
help. Or if you impress the ladies with your computer skills, suggest a
tip and find it featured here next week!
Go ahead, send them to mrtechsavvy@ pattayamail.com.
Till then… Tata ;-)
Just for Geeks
Think you’re fast at typing? Check your speed at
www.keybr.com |
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