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Money matters:
Graham Macdonald MBMG International Ltd.
This is not the first credit crisis and it won’t be the last, part 1
Everyone in the markets is buzzing about the potential
beneficence of some of the world’s big banks at creating a central fund to get
them out of the sub prime mess they are now in and which, in many cases, was
largely of their own making. This is not the first time it has been done.
Those of you who are regular readers of this column know I have a penchant for
history and cyclical finance. It was a century ago that almost exactly the same
happened in New York. A group of bankers had, after many days of haggling,
produced an agreement which promised to raise USD25 million (USD10 billion
today) to be used as loans for businesses in trouble.
The person who had pushed this deal through was none other than JP Morgan
himself. By doing so he had managed to put an end to the financial panic that
had gripped the markets at the end of October in 1907. This run on the markets
had almost ruined New York’s financial centres.
To understand the worry we need to look back a few years. In 1906, the Dow Jones
had doubled in just three years following a large bull market. However, gold, to
which most of the world’s currencies was pegged, did not manage to keep up with
this and so hard cash itself was difficult to come by. This credit squeeze may
sound familiar to today’s problems with property substituted for gold.
The troubles of a hundred years ago were very similar to those today. The
world’s greatest power, Great Britain, was trying to get over the cost of wars
(Sudan in the 1890s and South Africa in the 1900s). Staggeringly, the mother
ship of The Empire had almost run out of money. Comparisons could be drawn with
modern day USA, now carrying the highest amount of debt that history has ever
recorded, in the aftermath of the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also, the
great financial centre of the world (London) had coughed out millions in
insurance for the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906 (as opposed to the
tsunami of 2004) and there are even parallels in the Bank of England’s then
bailout of the collapsed stock exchange in Egypt requiring the collateral of
millions of Pounds of gold to shore up the whole financial system, as opposed to
today’s Northern Rock debacle.
So, the problems were already there but then they got dramatically worse and
involved the unregulated smaller finance houses that operated like commercial
banks. In mid-October there was a run on the Knickerbocker Trust. This was a
company which was trying to finance a bid to take over United Copper. In the end
it did not work out but people panicked and wanted to take their money out of
the Trust. This then snowballed into people wanting to withdraw money from other
trusts too. This was further exacerbated by the clientele of small banks in the
farming belt taking out ready money at harvest time - millions of dollars in
deposits disappeared from the financial system all at the same time - now that
really does strike a chord with the queues on the street corners outside
Northern Rock branches.
Obviously, help was needed but from where and how would it come? These days the
ECB, Bank of England and the Fed have been giving billions to the markets to
avert problems both great and small. A hundred years ago though, there was no
central banking system and people had to rely on individuals to set things
right.
JP Morgan stepped up to the plate. The wealthy, whether individuals or nations,
listened to him and had confidence in his recommendations. It was patently
obvious that he could not save everyone and he and his team had to decide who
could be rescued and who would be left to fend for themselves. He persuaded the
leaders of the major banks and trusts to put money into a war chest of over USD8
million. Once people heard about this, things within the banking system to calm
down. The problems hadn’t actually been solved but rather diverted away from the
banking system. In fact they shifted to the equity markets, causing the stock
exchange to promptly crash.
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
Bored with nothing to do? Try photography!
 One
of the quickest ways to get old is to retire and have nothing to do.
There is a limit to how many times you can sit on the beach, or play
golf. No matter how much of a beach fanatic you are, or an avid golfer,
there can certainly be too much of a good thing. This is why I ask you
to consider photography.
As one gets older, physical activity is important – just getting out of
the house or condo is an enjoyment in itself. This is where photography
is so good. Give yourself a small photo project and out you go and
illustrate it.
Photography is also an ideal pastime for our seniors, because it is
something that can be picked up and put down at will, it is not too
physically demanding, and modern cameras can assist in the areas where
age has taken some toll. And the end result is something that can give
you great joy, be that award winning sunsets or just pictures of the
grandchildren.
To play golf you need golf clubs. To play photography you need a camera.
Get one with autofocus (AF). There are many reasons for this, but since
sharp focus is necessary for a good final print, let the camera do it
for you, when sharpness in vision is something that becomes very
problematical as you get older. Provided you can point the camera in the
right direction, the camera will do the rest.
Most AF ones are a little more expensive, and work by moving the lens in
and out electronically to focus on the subject in the middle of the
viewfinder, just as if you were doing it yourself. They do this quickly
and accurately and will usually give an audible ‘beep’, or a green light
in the viewfinder to let you know the focus has been set. Do not be
afraid to try the new advanced cameras, they make life easier, so just
use them to your advantage.
Another problem often associated with aging is stiffening of the
fingers. Will this make it difficult to thread the film into the take-up
spool? Forget it! A digital camera does away with film and any of the
problems associated with it. Nothing could be simpler or more fool
proof.
Zoom lenses also save you having to go the distance. Is it just too much
of a hassle these days to walk up to distant objects to get close-up
details? Then a zoom lens will do it for you. With a zoom lens it is no
problem at all to get a close-up, a wide angle and a distant shot from
the same camera position. Maybe an autofocus digital compact camera with
an inbuilt zoom lens is just the camera for you. Just push a button to
make the zoom bring the subject closer or farther away.
As we get older, we are also more prone to the shakes. Today’s digital
cameras can even compensate for the tremor, with anti-shake technology.
This makes photography for seniors even easier.
Today’s camera manufacturers have taken the tears out of flash too. Most
new cameras have their own in-built flash which comes on when the light
levels are too low, will set their own flash power and give you
perfectly lit indoor night shots every time.
So there you have it, retirees. There are cameras available now which
can get you into photography! If you once had the ‘photographic eye’,
then that ability is still there. All you have to do is get the
equipment to let you use and enjoy it again. Look for suitable AF
digital compacts with built in zoom, anti-shake technology and auto
flash.
Pricewise you are looking at spending something over B. 10,000. There
are plenty of choices in the marketplace. Something from the major
brands such as Nikon, Canon, Olympus. A hint to the family around
birthday should suffice.
Modern Medicine:
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
Should you worry about being overweight?
Should you worry about being overweight? In a word – YES!
The western world currently has an epidemic of obesity, and guess what, the
Asian world is rapidly following. Thirty years ago, it was rare to see an
overweight Thai. Not any longer. What has happened?
Quite simply, our diets are far from healthy, and that includes both food
and drink, especially the kinds of drinks that come in dark green or brown
bottles. I am sure you know the types.
The problem here is the fact that being overweight puts a strain on the
cardiovascular system, which sends the blood pressure up. That in turn
affects all the organs and systems, and everything goes pear-shaped from
there on, as well as your body shape.
You are entering the world of Syndrome X. Unfortunately Syndrome X, which is
otherwise known as the Metabolic Syndrome, is a classic example of what we
medico’s call ‘co-morbidity’. This is the situation where one disease
process or ailment affects, or “X”aggerates, another disease process you may
have. In these situations, the combined effects can be life threatening. It
is also a syndrome possessed by around 40 percent of adults over 40.
Now there can be many occasions when you have more than one ailment at one
time. You can have a sore throat and a broken leg all at the same time, and
these conditions have no real bearing on each other. The broken leg will get
better and the sore throat ditto.
However, the combination of diabetes and obesity can be disaster waiting.
The combination of diabetes, smoking, obesity, hypertension and high
triglycerides (blood fats) is cardiac dynamite. Your conclusive heart attack
is a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. The risk factors stemming from all those
conditions become not a case of simple addition, but are multiplied.
The problem from your point of view is that most of these factors come on
very slowly, and become part of your daily living. You’ve smoked for years
and never had a smoker’s cough, so why stop now? Every time you get some
trousers made the waistband has to be that little larger. Your belt has been
let out two more holes over the past two years. Your doctor said you had a
“Little bit of blood pressure” three years ago, but you haven’t been back to
check, as you feel quite OK in yourself. Your ‘triglycerides’? “My what?”
Your blood sugar? “It was OK last time it was checked five years ago!”
The big problem is that the “Little bit of blood pressure”, even say
150/100, can produce a very dangerous situation when the person with that BP
has elevated blood sugar as well. Or smokes. It is the multiplication effect
again. Whereas you can (almost) ignore mild elevations like 150/100, if you
have nothing else wrong, ignoring it when there are other conditions
co-existing brings up that co-morbidity problem again. And the likelihood of
a cardiac calamity.
Likewise, a “little bit of extra weight” that we all excuse ourselves for
carrying, may (just ‘may’) be fine for someone with no other medical
conditions, but represents an enormous risk factor for someone with the
Metabolic Syndrome.
For those who like figures with their information, here are some chilling
ones. Between 87-100 percent of people with fatal coronary heart disease, or
a non-fatal heart attack had at least one of the following risk factors –
smoking, diabetes, increased blood fats and high blood pressure. Syndrome X,
or the Metabolic Syndrome, is characterized by having diabetes, increased
blood pressure, and raised blood fats. Can you now see the importance of
doing something about weight, blood fats and blood pressure? I for one would
not like to be sitting with a condition that gives me between 87-100 percent
chance of a cardiac problem.
So what is this week’s message? Quite simply, if you have diabetes, do
something about the other risk factors. Stop smoking and get your BP and
blood fats checked. If you don’t even know what your blood sugar level is,
then get a check-up and find about all of it!
In the meantime, take 100 mgm of aspirin each morning. It is
cardio-protective. I do!
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
I read somewhere that all Thai girls want is to get their hands in your pockets,
and once they have cleaned you out, that’s it. No money, No Honey as the T shirt
says. Is this really true? I have met a few nice girls every time I’ve come
over, and although I pay for everything when we’re out together, I think that’s
natural. I pay for everything back home when I take out a woman, so what’s the
difference?
Confused Charlie
Dear Confused Charlie,
The difference is you get more fun out of the relationship here, my Petal, or
that’s what I get told by my gentlemen friends. It is nice to see there are
still gentlemen in this world, and if you are paying, I’ll have a bottle of
Veuve Clicquot when we go to dinner. Of course you can have what you want as
well, I’m not stingy. Please let me know a week or so in advance, as I will have
to fit you in to my crowded appointment book, though with promises of Veuve
Clicquot you do go to the top of the waiting list.
Dear Hillary,
I have been reading your column and have enjoyed it very much. As I am going to
be over there in March for the first time I am writing. It seems that everyone I
ask (single men like myself) talk about being at the bars as the way to meet the
Thai girls (workers). I’m not a big drinker so will I offend if I do not drink a
lot or wish to leave to go see music, movies or see the country.
Bob
Dear Bob,
I can assure you that the ladies from the bars have not the slightest interest
in how much ‘you’ drink, only in how much ‘they’ drink, while you are paying of
course! This is because they receive a percentage of the cost of the ‘lady
drinks’, while they get nothing from the price of your drinks. This is how they
make money, as they are ‘working’ women, getting their monthly salaries plus
extras. It works like this, since you have not been here before, Petal. They
generally receive a small wage (or retainer), and then their lady drinks
percentage plus a percentage of the so-called ‘bar fine’ which is what the
punters (like you) pay for the honor and glory of taking one of the blushing
young ladies away from the bar to see music, movies or the country. Anything
else is a private arrangement between the lady and the customer, as you have to
realize that there is no prostitution in Thailand, because the government said
so. And in the statute books has said so since about 1966. While you are paying
for things, you will not offend; however, when the money runs dry, then it is a
different story.
Dear Hillary,
You are always saying that we should be looking for a mate anywhere away from
the bars, but what if we’re not looking for a mate for the rest of our lives?
I’m here for a couple of years at max, and I don’t need a wife dragging round
behind me all over the world, as I don’t know where my next assignment might be.
All I need is home comforts while I’m here in Thailand, so surely the bar is the
best place to find one? You have to agree.
Jerry
Dear Jerry,
So you are looking for a ‘comfort woman’, that’s fine, but, you have to
understand that your lady who will supply those home comforts also realizes that
this is a short term relationship with no real depth. That being the case, do
not expect anything better than purchased comforts, and there is no reason to be
‘true’ in such an arrangement. These girls are very skilful at separating men
from their money.
Dear Hillary,
Can nothing be done about the song taew drivers? For a tourist city they give
the place a bad name with their stand-over tactics and demands for fares much
greater than should be the case. No wonder the foreign tourists look for taxis,
but unless they have their wits about them they will again be quoted exorbitant
fares, rather than using the meters. Until our city fathers meet the song taew
monopoly head on and produce a real public transport system, this will always be
a third world tourist destination.
Public transport Pete
Dear Public Transport Pete,
Unfortunately you are quite correct, my Petal. The song taews which do not have
any fixed or marked destination will always be a turn-off for tourists, as the
majority of the drivers do not speak another language. Why would you expect them
to get on transport with unmarked destinations? Perhaps it is time for the TAT
to get involved and issue ‘tourist bus’ licenses for drivers who meet a minimum
standard in communication. Hillary has given up with the song taews, taxis and
tuk-tuks, and uses motorcycle taxis when possible. They appear to be a
friendlier bunch and will heed the “cha-cha” (slowly) instructions. You do have
to barter first, but that’s part of the fun of living in the ‘third world’.
Learn to Live to Learn: with Andrew Watson
Change Agents
Benazir Bhutto’s assassination was the latest in a tedious and
terrible line of pointless deaths, which punctuate a depressing
and seemingly inexorable decline in that part of the world. From
a distance, I am reminded of India’s violent history and the
assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Ghandi, and the Mahatma
before them; a dynasty of death propagating nothing but misery
for millions, condemning helpless populations to prolonged
periods of uncertainty, danger and further internecine violence.
So, you will tell me, the Bhuttos were by no means “clean”
historically, but that’s not the point. Here was an agent of
change swept from sight in the name of intransigence, or worse
still what might be termed, “remedialism”. Her untimely if
predictable death was an event of global significance, yet how
often around the world, on smaller scales, do agents of change
become victims? All too often, it would appear.
People, on the whole, as George Walker is eager to point out,
would “rather not change”. There are many quite complex and
variable reasons for this, but one of them stands out for me,
above the others. Change agents ask people to question their
fundamental assumptions and this can be intensely uncomfortable
for those on the receiving end. To propose to another that what
they hold to be true, might in fact be a lie, is almost by
definition a seditious concept and whilst such a proposal might
very well be rationally substantiated, it is difficult to make
any such claims without arousing deep emotions - whatever the
subject. I have found that examining allegiance to football
teams is a useful way to understand this point, one which might
enable us to learn more about ourselves as well as our own and
other cultures and the sometimes conflicting roles of emotion
and rational thought in creating a sense of cultural identity.
In the United Kingdom, there are value laden social assumptions
that an individual should support their ‘local’ team, although
rarely is there any debate as to what the term ‘local’ means.
Those who profess a love of a particular team who are either
particularly successful or are ‘not local’, are derided.
Attempting to explain that different criteria for supporting a
team other than ‘locality’ might exist can sometimes be like
speaking a different language. I might, for example, choose to
support a particular team on aesthetic grounds, ‘for the way
they play the game’. Or I might favour them for the colour of
their shirt, or for their ethical and political stance
(Barcelona’s ‘UNICEF’ sponsorship being a good example). All
criteria, if we truly believe the IBO maxim that “other people
with their differences can also be right” must be seen as of
equal value. But until an individual arrives at the stage where
they are able to re-examine and possibly change their deepest
held allegiances, the potential for wholesale change (for the
better) remains limited.
Bringing about what Thelin (1996) calls “a changed mentality” is
easier said than done. In the world of international education,
the IBO and United World College (UWC) mission statements ask
big questions, which might very well and sometimes necessarily
involve nothing less than the intellectual transformation of the
student and teacher, as individuals and groups re-evaluate their
position and their roles, rights and responsibilities to human
kind. Hayden & Thompson (1995) talk about “the degree to which
the individual steps out of a culture-bound process of thinking,
learning and viewing the world.” That is the scale of change
that is before change agents and resistance can be profound.
Attempting to replace ignorance with awareness can be a terribly
difficult task and there is no guarantee of success.
Hofstede (1997) points out that some nationalities, which score
highly on his scale of what he calls ‘uncertainty avoidance’
(the desire to avoid uncertainty) feel strongly that “what is
different, is dangerous” so organisations dominant in such
nationality groups can find change particularly problematic. On
the other hand, Hofstede also maintains that, “A sense of
identity provides the feeling of security from which one can
encounter other cultures with an open mind.” It can be strongly
argued that the 1994 UNESCO resolution which expects
international education to be built on values emphasizing global
interdependence overlooks the strength of many people’s
attachment to the country of their birth and drastically
underestimates what is required in order to change people’s ways
of thinking. Any such change needs to be politically led and the
dynamics of change need to be inspired, planned and sustainable,
or the rhetoric will sink back from whence it came.
What will power and sustain such an overwhelming change of
paradigm? Perhaps the answer is in communications technology,
the “third industrial revolution” as Sprouster (1984) calls it;
he then goes on to acknowledge the responsibility of leaders and
management in ‘engineering’ the future. Deborah Stephens & Gary
Heil in Maslow (1998) make the point that, “We speak the
language of this new frontier but we have yet to embrace its
meaning.” Or perhaps, its real potential. So many schools seem
to leap towards the IBO programmes blindly, without genuine
understanding, seeing it more as a branding and marketing
option, less a programme to fuel real change.
It appears that ‘international education’ might be just another
frontier of the twenty first century whose meaning and potential
is not quite understood. There are so many different kinds of
schools offering different strands and understandings of
international education, but no global mechanism for uniting
them towards either a common language or a common purpose.
George Walker (2002, in Quist, 2005) is in my view correct when
he asserts that the creation and maintenance of such a
mechanism, is the great challenge for the IBO. Yet for all its
great work, the scale of their undertaking is such that it feels
as if they are swimming alone in an ocean.
Next week: Swimming alone in an ocean
DOC ENGLISH Teaching your kids how to learn English:
Private tutors
Hi, welcome back. This week I want to
talk about private tutors. They come in all shapes and sizes and many
parents ask me what to look for in a private tutor, so here goes…
First of all, you need to ask yourself if your child really needs a
tutor. Are you just hiring one to impress the neighbours? Does your
child have enough free time to play and relax after school, to make
friends and chat with mum and dad in the evening? Is your child in
danger of being ‘over-schooled’?
Certainly children starting at a new school may benefit from a little
extra help from a tutor, especially if the school curriculum is
unfamiliar to them. A tutor may also be useful in the run up to an
important exam. Your child may benefit from English language tutoring if
they are not a fluent native speaker (or reader and writer). If your
child has special educational needs, or feedback from teachers indicates
that they are struggling at school, then again a tutor may be able to
help. Tutors can also help your child if you feel that they are not
being challenged enough in school. Tutoring can be short or long term,
but there should be clear objectives set and you should explain to your
child why they are receiving help from a tutor and what areas of
education the tutor will be helping them with.
Some schools provide extra help for children who (for various reasons)
are not able to meet the challenges of the mainstream classroom, and for
children who find the challenges not great enough (the ‘gifted and
talented’), so you should enquire at the school to find out what help is
already available in class before you engage a tutor. The school may
also be able to recommend a tutor. Some teachers and teaching assistants
often work after school carrying out private tutoring, so you should
make subtle enquires as to their availability.
Before you engage a tutor, think about in what areas of learning your
child really needs additional support. If they are having problems with
a particular subject area, such as Maths or Science, then you need a
specialist subject teacher. If your child is having problems learning
English, then obviously you need a trained English language teacher.
These days anyone can obtain a teaching certificate online, or even for
a few baht on the high street. Both methods I thoroughly disagree with.
Neither method will guarantee a prospective tutor (or teacher) has a
work permit in Thailand and neither will give you the experience or
right to teach a child (and charge for it). The minimum qualification
for teaching English in my opinion is a CELTA or CertTESOL. Both require
an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite for the course. The course
takes about 4 weeks (yes, only four weeks) and only a limited amount of
time is spent actually teaching. Most of a language teacher’s experience
and knowledge is actually gained ‘on the job’ after they complete their
Certificate. A TESOL or CELTA does not qualify a native English speaking
language teacher to teach at a Primary or Secondary School in their
native country. You need a BEd, or PGCE (or equivalent) in order to do
that. If you are employing an English tutor, check these qualifications
carefully and check they have a valid work permit. Ask to see a
prospective tutor’s personal and professional reference and ask them
basic questions to gauge their experience. Do they have a professional
attitude to teaching or is it just a holiday job? Do they have children
of their own, or experience working with children? What are they going
to teach your child and how will they assess your child’s needs?
I don’t necessarily feel that you need a native English speaker to teach
your child English, as long as they have proper certification and
relevant experience. There are many Thai teachers, Thai and Filipino
teaching assistants at my school for example who hold teaching
qualifications from their native countries, speak English fluently and
who have a great deal of knowledge experience and enthusiasm for working
with young children.
Once you have engaged a tutor, agree the ground rules. Find out if they
will supply text books, or if you will have to buy them yourself. Agree
how many hours they will spend with your child every week. Agree how
much notice you need to provide to cancel a session on either side, the
rate of pay, etc. You may find it easier to employ the tutor via a
language school so that they can deal with many of the formalities I
have mentioned above. However, that will mean that you will have to
travel to the language school on a regular basis and the cost may be
higher.
That’s all for this week. Next week we continue to look at personal
tutors. As always, if you have any queries about English education you
can mail me at: doceng [email protected]. Enjoy spending time with
your child.
Let’s go to the movies:
by Mark Gernpy
Now playing in Pattaya
Mist: US Horror – Opinions differ wildly on this film:
some love it, some hate it. I loved it, but it has an unremittingly
bleak and jaundiced view of mankind. Terrified townspeople are trapped
in a grocery store by a strange mist, and there are “things” lurking in
the mist. Rated R in the US for violence, terror, and gore. Mixed or
average reviews.
Charlie Wilson’s War: US Drama – Directed by Mike Nichols.
Starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It’s
about how an unlikely trio of influential and colorful characters
conspired to generate covert financial and weapons support for the
Afghan Mujahideen to defeat the Russians in the 1980s – and armed
America’s future enemies in the process. The film is snappy, amusing,
and ruefully ironic, with a startling performance by Hoffman – but after
yet another viewing, I find the tone all wrong. See if you don’t agree
that the point of view is conflicting and confusing. But entertaining,
yes, as long as it lasts; it’s just that for me everything evaporates
after I leave the theater. Rated R in the US for strong language,
nudity/sexual content. Generally favorable reviews.
Jumper: US Adventure/Sci-Fi – Boy, is this a bad movie! I mean,
really bad! I try very hard not to be negative, so here goes: If you
check all your brains at the door, you might enjoy the mindless action
without worrying about the truly stupid script. And for sure you will
enjoy the scenic places he “jumps” to. Generally negative reviews.
Kod (Handle Me With Care): Thai Romance/Drama – A three-armed man
from Lampang worries he might be considered a freak, and decides to
remove one of his two left arms, but his new girlfriend (likewise a
freak: she has huge boobs) likes him just the way he is. Some nice
scenery and photography, but I found it very slow and dull.
P.S. I Love You: US Comedy/Drama – Hilary Swank is miscast as the
romantic lead in this clichéd film about loss and love. Targets an older
female audience. Generally negative reviews.
Chocolate: Thai Action – A superior Thai action film that is
still a big hit in Thailand, with a new martial arts star, who is really
amazing, I have to admit. Within the conventions of a martial arts
movie, it’s quite inventive. If you’re going to see any Thai martial
arts film this year, make it this one – it’s got everything.
The Ghost and Master Boh: Thai Comedy – Your usual Thai low-class comedy
with the usual stable of comedians.
Death Note: L: Change the World: Japan Thriller – It’s mythic
storytelling of the best kind, and the character “L” who is the focus of
this movie is simply fascinating. Shown here only in a Thai-dubbed
version, with no English subtitles. It deserves better treatment, and to
be seen by a wider audience.
10,000 B.C.: US Adventure/Drama – This prehistoric epic follows a
young mammoth hunter’s journey through uncharted territory to secure the
future of his tribe. Good special effects.
Valentine: Thai Romance/Comedy – It’s your typical Thai low
comedy with several love stories. In one, a “tom” lesbian and a
transvestite switch bodies after a traffic accident, and get to like
their new bodies.
Soul’s Code: Thai Mystery/Thriller – Ghost thrills, Thai style.
Scheduled to open March 13
The Spiderwick Chronicles: US Adventure/Drama/Fantasy – A
broken family moves into an old house that has been in the family for
years, in hopes of “starting over.” Freddie Highmore plays two roles,
twin brothers Jarod and Simon, and does an impressive job at keeping the
two personalities distinct and different. Jarod, the protagonist of the
film, discovers a book written by his uncle depicting in explicit detail
the creatures of a “hidden world” all around us. He reads the book, and
in the process awakens an evil Ogre and a horde of goblins hell bent on
obtaining the knowledge hidden within the book to destroy mankind, and
creature-kind as well. An excellent and richly detailed family film.
Generally favorable reviews.
Rambo: US Action/Drama – Rambo has retired to northern Thailand,
running a longboat on the Salween River. On the nearby Thai-Burma
border, the world’s longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen
conflict, rages into its 60th year, and Rambo, despite himself, soon
becomes involved. Rated R in the US for strong graphic bloody violence,
sexual assaults, grisly images, and language. Mixed or average reviews.
The Water Horse: US/UK Adventure/Fantasy/Family – A young
Scottish boy finds an enchanted egg. Taking it home, he soon finds
himself face-to-face with an amazing creature: the mythical “water
horse” of Scottish lore. A fine family film that takes a classic tale
and infuses it with extra imagination, sly humor, heart, and inventive
special effects. Generally favorable reviews.
Fool’s Gold: US Adventure/Comedy – Reviewers say that there’s
little chemistry among the performers, humorless gags, and a predictable
storyline. Generally negative reviews.
Hate slow downloads?
Let download manager help you
It gets very frustrating when you come across some
interesting and useful downloads online and it takes just way too long
to download them. We always blame it on our poor internet connection
speed. Yes, we’ve all been there. And when you sit and wait for that
download bar indicator on your screen trying to fill it up with the tiny
boxes and suddenly the internet connection just cuts off. Aaah! What a
pain!
Wish you had a way to overcome this?
What you need is a download manager and there are a lot of them that are
doing a good job in solving download frustrations. One of most popular
and the one that I would recommend is FlashGet.
Unlike the default download feature on your system, with FlashGet, if
your internet decides to take a walk or you decide to shut down your
computer, the download is automatically paused and can be continued when
the connection returns or when the computer is switched back on. But
what’s more important is the way FlashGet can enhance the download speed
greatly. It can split the file being downloaded into multiple parts and
download each part simultaneously. So, if you’re downloading a 3 MB
file, the download manager can split the file into parts of 1 MB each
and download them in parallel, increasing the speed by up to 3 times!
FlashGet can also help you download multiple files at the same time and
you can easily manage the download list on a single interface.
So, let’s get started. First we shall download the latest version of
FlashGet from
http://www.flashget.com/en/download.htm. Of course, you will
have to bear the pain just “one-last-time” for this 4 MB download.
Patience is a virtue!
Installing the application is quick and easy. Just follow the
instructions provided.
If you happen to be a Mozilla FireFox fan, to use download manager you
also need to install an Extension called FlashGot. Get it easily from
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/220
Once the installation is done, you will notice a small white box with
FlashGet logo on the top-right corner of your screen. This box is called
the DropZone. Whenever you want to download something, all you have to
do is drag the download link into this box and it will start downloading
the file automatically.
If the DropZone is not what you like, get it out of your sight by
right-mouse clicking on it and unclick “Show DropZone”. Now to download
something: just right-mouse click on that link and select “Download with
FlashGet” for Internet Explorer users and “FlashGot Link” for FireFox
users.
Files are downloaded to the “Downloads” folder on your C Drive by
default. To change this, go to Tools>Default Download Properties
and
change “Save to:” to your preferred location.
Have fun downloading!
For more tips and tricks to enhance the way you use your computer, visit
www.mrtechsavvy.com.
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Just for Geeks
Google Earth is one of the greatest innovations so
far. And there's always more to it. Check out Google Mars -
www.google.com/mars |
Does the word computer seem like “100110110” to you?
Ask Mr. Tech Savvy for help. Or if you’d like to impress the ladies with
your computer skills, suggest a tip and find it featured here next week!
Go ahead, send them to
[email protected]
Till then… Tata ;-)
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