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Money matters

Snap Shots

Modern Medicine

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Learn to Live to Learn

Doc English, the Language Doctor

Let’s go to the movies

tech tips with Mr.Tech Savvy


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…

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



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