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Money matters:
Graham Macdonald
MBMG International Ltd.
Nominated for the Lorenzo Natali Prize
“Expect the Unexpected”
10 tips to keep your money safe in 2010
Everyone has had a tough time in the last two years except,
of course, the “H1N1 for me - pay me my bonus now” bankers!
We have seen unprecedented changes at a global level - global stock market
falling sharply and strong bounce backs from the lows, along with the demise and
restructuring of major US and European banks. There have been street and airport
protests in Thailand, along with even more changes of Government… and so it
goes.
All of this craziness affects you personally - but what can we do about it? As
2010 approaches, the team at MBMG has formulated 10 tips for financial stability
in uncertain times.
Expect the
unexpected - your world has changed
1) Build up you cash
The so-called ‘new normal’ doesn’t feel very normal at all. What used to be safe
before is no indicator of the future. With unemployment rising throughout the
world, many of us who thought that our jobs were safe should prepare for a
change, just in case. Be aware of your employment rights, and factor that into
your financial planning. If you are only entitled to one month’s notice and/or
severance from your current employer, be smart and start now to build your cash
reserves just in case.
2) Understand the industry in which you work
Many industries now face a different paradigm - more than ever before employees
should try to understand what has changed for the sector that they work in, and
the company that they work for. Working in a declining (the polite word is
‘sunset’) industry will not get better by copying the ostrich and sticking your
head in the sand. Those who re-train now, and go looking for new opportunities,
will move themselves to the front of new growth industries such as energy
re-cycling, clean technology, alternative energy (bio gas, biomass etc).
3) How safe is your bank?
For a long time people trusted banks - all banks! But look at what has happened
to them all around the world - more than 200 have gone broke since mid-2008. Now
the banks don’t even trust each other and won’t lend to each other. That is why
small businesses are still finding it so hard to borrow money at reasonable
rates, why governments are still looking at further stimulus packages for
economies next year.
So in 2010, why not look again at the bank that holds your money - how safe is
it? How well run is it? How well protected legally is it? Thailand is more
fortunate than most countries. The banking sector, generally, is in better shape
than many other places. International banks in Thailand include the likes of
HSBC and Standard Chartered, arguably the biggest and best run foreign banks in
the world. But beyond that...take care.
4) Choose financial and banking products carefully
Picking the right banking partner is only part of the challenge. You also need
to choose the right financial and banking products. As many Singaporean bank
clients discovered when holding structured bank deposits promoted by a number of
Singaporean banks and underwritten by Lehman Brothers, many investors were wiped
out when Lehman Brothers failed. Our advice - most investors should avoid nearly
all structured products and investments. This is particularly so where the
security of your capital is predicated on the survival of a particular bank or
other institution where there is often no, or inadequate, investor protection.
5) Make sure that you have enough credit
Right now ‘free cash’ is king. Avoid borrowing unless you really have to. But if
you know you will need to borrow make sure you do it early. Let’s face it...
when you really need the money, the banks won’t lend it to you. So join the
counterintuitive movement and secure credit lines when you don’t need them. That
way if the time comes and you need something to back you up in a hurry, you
don’t have to go and beg when you are at your most disadvantaged. Borrowers
should also explore the options available from the alternative banking sector.
Also, don’t rely on debt unless you have to, as debt will get more difficult to
service if either asset values fall next year or interest rates start to rise.
6) Interest rates that are ‘too good to be true’ generally are
Be sure that your returns on cash are obtained without compromising security or
liquidity. Certain money funds invest in short dated bills and bonds from major
governments, but pay higher deposit rates than bank deposits. Be very careful
here...investors should look at alternative deposits.
7) Diversify and watch your investment portfolio!
In an uncertain environment diversification is accepted to be the best answer -
we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Stock Exchange of Thailand Index (SET) below
300 points, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJIA) below 5000 or gold
above $2000 per ounce. The best way to capture opportunities and avoid risk is
not to pick individual stocks, but to diversify across investment asset classes.
8) Look for opportunities
The Chinese word for “crisis” (we are told again and again) consists of the
characters for “danger” and “opportunity.” Sir John Templeton, international
investor and mutual fund pioneer said, “When the markets in the various asset
classes are at their lowest, the opportunities are greatest.” The trick is to be
ready and poised for opportunities.
9) Be aware of currencies
This volatility will extend to currency markets too - the baht may well
strengthen longer term against the main western currencies but there could well
be periods of volatility and weakness - trying to exploit these movements is a
challenge and opportunity for everyone.
10) Be ‘truly aware’ and open minded
All too often our decisions are shaped by our experiences of the past. Normally,
this is not bad advice. But this is the ‘New Normal’. It’s time to try to see
and accept things as they truly are, not try to fit them into an old and
redundant paradigm and expect trends of the past to be a precursor of the
future. Stay sharp, be agile in your thinking and prepared to accept change for
what it truly is...change.
A new paradigm and a new year... time for a new mind set! Wishing all of you a
Happy & Prosperous New Year.
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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]
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Snap Shots: by Harry Flashman
DOF
A little technical this week, but once you have mastered the technique,
DOF is totally under your control. What is DOF? Quite simply, it is
Depth Of Field, and mastery of DOF really is the second rule of
photography in my opinion. The first rule is to walk several meters
closer to the subject!
 Taken
at f4
The term DOF refers to an optical one and depends solely on the lens
being used and the aperture selected. Altering the shutter speed, does
not change the Depth of Field in any way at all.
Depth of Field really refers to the zone of “sharpness” (or being in
acceptable focus) from foreground items to background items in any
photograph. This is different from what the eye sees, as the eye can
instantly focus on near and far objects, giving the impression that
everything in your field of vision is in sharp focus. The camera,
however, gives you a slice of the distance.
The first concept to remember is “1/3rd forwards and 2/3rds back.” Again
this is a law of optical physics, but means that the DOF, from
foreground to background in your photograph can be measured, and from
the sharpest focus point in the photo, extends towards you by one third
and extends away backwards from the focus point by two thirds.
 Taken
at f16
For those of you with SLR’s, especially the older manual focus SLR’s,
you will even find a series of marks on the focussing ring of the lens
to indicate the Depth of Field that is possible with that lens.
You see, for each focal length of lens, the DOF possible is altered by
the Aperture. The rule here is simple - the higher the Aperture number,
the greater the DOF and the lower the Aperture number, the shorter the
DOF. In simple terms, for any given lens, you get greater front to back
sharpness with f22 and you get very short front to back sharpness at f4.
For example, using a 24 mm focal length lens focussed on an object 2
meters away - if you select f22, the DOF runs from just over 0.5 meter
to 5 meters (4.5 meters total), but if you select f11 it only runs from
1 m to 4 m (3 m total) and if you choose f5.6 the Depth of Field is only
from 1.5 m to 3 m (1.5 m total).
On the other hand, using a longer 135 mm focal length lens focussed at
the same point 2 meters away, you get the following Depths of Field - at
f22 it runs from 1.9 m to 2.2 m (0.3 m) and at f5.6 it is 1.95 m to 2.1
m (a total of 0.15 m).
Analysis of all these initially confusing numbers gives you now complete
mastery of DOF in any of your photographs. Simply put another way - the
higher the Aperture number (aim for f22), the greater the DOF; the
smaller the Aperture number (aim for f4) the smaller the DOF; plus the
longer the lens (135 mm and up), the shorter the DOF, the shorter the
lens (35 mm and smaller), the longer the DOF (just remember the
‘opposites’ - the longer gives shorter).
Now to apply this formula - when shooting a landscape for example, where
you want great detail from the foreground, right the way through to the
mountains five kilometers away, then use a short lens (24 mm is ideal)
set at f22 and focussed on a point about 2 km away.
On the other hand, when shooting a portrait where you only want to have
the eyes and mouth in sharp focus you would use a longer lens (and here
the 135 is ideal) and a smaller Aperture number of around f5.6 to f4 and
focus directly on the eyes to give that ultra short Depth of Field
required.
Master it this weekend, and just remember that these optical laws hold
good for all cameras, be they film or digital.
Take great pictures in 2010.
Modern Medicine:
by Dr. Iain Corness, Consultant
Just in case you doubted the value of check-ups
Some very real case histories this week. And each one with a
happy ending.
A dear old friend decided to take advantage of the cut-price check-ups the
hospital was offering. Being in his 80’s and a very active 80’s, I might
add, he decided to have an exercise stress test in his list of items to be
checked. This was an ‘extra’ item, as his blood tests were all in the normal
range. Weight, blood pressure and EKG were also in the normal range. He felt
fine in himself.
He thought he did pretty well on the treadmill until he found that they had
to stop the test prematurely, as his heart muscle was showing early signs of
distress. The heart muscle was starving for oxygenated blood.
The next step was to go to a coronary angiogram. This is where the doctor
can introduce a very small cardiac catheter via the artery in the groin into
the coronary arteries surrounding, and feeding, the heart. While looking at
the imaging screen, the doctor can squirt some radio-opaque dye into the
coronary vessels and directly see if there are any blockages to the passage
of the dye. He had one major blockage. About a 90 percent blockage. He was a
heart attack waiting to happen.
The correction of these kinds of blockages is to insert a metal tube (called
a stent, which looks like the spring inside a retractable biro pen) into the
blocked artery, done under radiological vision. Generally, a small balloon
is inserted first to dilate the blocked area and then the stent is put into
place. More dye is injected to make sure the blockage has been cleared and
the catheter is withdrawn. A cautionary few hours in hospital for
observation is next, and provided there is no leakage at the injection site,
the patient is discharged. No longer a walking time bomb!
The next case was very similar, but this was a younger man who was obviously
overweight, but he played golf three times a week and had no apparent
problems. He enjoyed his golf, and the beers at the 19th hole. Just like his
overweight golfing mates.
This chap’s blood tests were not so good, and his diabetic tendency was now
more than just a tendency. Despite the fact that he was not having chest
pains, he decided to have the 64-Slice CT of the coronary arteries carried
out. This is a special non-invasive radiological test and can show blockages
in the coronary arteries.
The 64-Slice CT showed the likelihood of three blockages. This chap was a
sure-fire candidate for a heart attack. From there it was off to the cardiac
catheter lab and the angiogram confirmed the CT. Three stents later he could
return to the golf course, but with urgent recommendations to get his weight
down and get his blood sugar and cholesterol under control. If he does all
that, he will have many rounds of good golf in the future. But he does need
to look after himself a little better.
The third case history was a senior citizen who noticed she was having
memory problems. At her age, approaching 70, this was just put down as
having ‘senior moments’, but the problem was becoming noticeable to others.
The hospital has a screening package to evaluate this type of problem which
includes an MRI, bloods and psychological testing. These tests showed that
there was a significant problem, but also that the vitamin B12 level was too
low. As people get older, the absorption of B12 can become impaired, and in
turn affects cerebral function. Within days of receiving injections of B12
she was feeling better and functioning better. When the B12 is finally
topped up to where it should be, that improvement will be maintained.
Another happy ending.
And finally, one chap had the whole gamut of tests done, and everything was
normal. “That was a waste of money,” he said. I disagree. How much money is
a clean bill of health worth?
Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
I married my Thai fiancée after a year of engagement. She is a professional lady
and we have always done everything in a proper fashion. My wife is 15 years
younger than me and this gives us a problem. When we go out, many foreigners
assume that my wife must be, or have been, a bar girl even though she in no way
acts like one. She has no tattoos or wears sexy dresses or even smokes. I
realize that as high as 85 percent of all Thai-foreigner marriages are between
bar girls and “sex tourists”, but this is not so for other 15 percent of
Thai-foreigner marriages. Please tell your readers that not all Thai-foreigner
marriages are between bar girls and “sex tourists”, and stop making false
assumptions.
James
Dear James,
Now you’ve got all that off your chest, do you feel a little better, Petal?
However, I think you have made a few false assumptions yourself too. Where did
you get that figure of 85 percent of Thai-foreigner marriages are between bar
girls and what you call “sex tourists”? Let me assure you that “sex tourists” do
not come to Thailand to get married. That is why they are sex tourists - they
want the fun in bed without the fun filling out forms at the local Ampur office.
Honestly, James, 85 percent of Thai foreigner marriages are between people such
as yourself and your wife. The foreigners who “look down” on you are the
foreigners who are not in the marriage market, just the bar meat market. Ignore
them, my Petal.
Dear Hillary,
I must tell you about a ceremony I attended at Wat Doi Noi a few weeks ago
(which is the wat housing Khru Bah Noi, the young monk who is making diesel fuel
from recycled ingredients which I have told you about before). It was where in
48 hours they picked cotton, weaved it and dyed it to make into new robes for
the abbot and the monks.
I took two English ladies with me and attended a ceremony where a wooden boat
was built along with two giant figures who are known as the ‘ever hungry
ghosts’. People put the names of loved ones who are deceased, along with some
food into the boat and then Khru Bah Noi began chanting while the boat and
ghosts were set alight. An amazing thing then happened, as the flames were
consuming the boat and ghosts, a really strong wind howled around Wat Doi Noi,
bringing branches of trees down. All this as Khru Bah Noi was chanting to the
rhythm of a big drum and the boat and ghosts were burning. Then when they had
burnt and the chanting stopped it became very still, it was like magic. It had
to be seen to be believed. I hope your readers might appreciate a little of the
‘other side’ of living in Thailand.
Delboy
Dear Delboy,
So nice to hear from you again, with more exploits of Khru Bah Noi. I am sorry I
had to edit your letter, but I think the message has remained. So often my
readers call for help because they really have not found out what life in
Thailand really can give. You have found it, and obviously enjoy it. It really
can be “amazing Thailand” if you look. Unfortunately, the experiences you have
had are not readily found in beer bars! All the best for 2010.
Dear Hillary,
Advice needed urgently, Hillary my Petal! There I was at a new bar and met this
vision of loveliness. She speaks very little English but seems like a very
genuine person. She comes from Buriram, and that’s about all I managed to find
out after about four hours and several “lady drinks”. The biggest problem was
only that she doesn’t speak much English, but we got by OK. By the end of the
night I was pretty drunk and lent her 5000 baht. What should I do? Should I keep
going, or should I give up now before I get in too deep?
Nelson
Dear Nelson,
You’ve got the telescope to the blind eye. Haven’t you! After four hours of lady
drinks you give this “vision of loveliness” 5,000 baht. How were you
communicating with your vision? It wasn’t English, according to you, so I
presume it must have been in Braille. Or was it just in mathematics? You
certainly did come down in the last shower. That is 5,000 baht you will never
see again. But look at it this way - there is a very grateful buffalo up there
in Buriram, thinking about you. And by the way, I am not your Petal, Petal!
Dear Hillary,
Sorry to go back to the Vitamin V subject again, but while previous letters have
all been full of taking it till it drops off, kind of riding the horse till it
can’t go no further, has anyone done any study on just how much can you take?
This is a serious subject, so a serious answer please.
Victor
Dear Victor,
Hillary give a serious answer? Just who do you think I am, Petal. This is a
column for the lovelorn, not a kiss and tell in the pharmacy.
Happy New Year everyone,
from Hillary!
Let’s go to the movies:
by Mark Gernpy
Now playing in
Pattaya
The Treasure Hunter / Ci Ling: Taiwan, Romance/ Sci-Fi – A
story about time-traveling lovers who end up in Genghis Khan’s Mongolia
to search for an ancient treasure. With pop star-turned-actor Jay
Chou. Early reviews are not too encouraging.
Did You Hear About the Morgans?:
US, Comedy/ Drama/ Romance – Starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker,
Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen. Grant and Parker play an estranged New
York couple who have the great misfortune to witness a murder. Becoming
the immediate targets of a hit man, they’re whisked into the witness
protection program and sent to Wyoming, a place populated by rodeo
cowboys and bears. Nothing much happens for the next 90 minutes.
Generally unfavorable reviews, such as “Painful to watch.”
As It Happens: Thai, Drama/
Romance – Another Thai romantic drama which takes place in far-off
places.
32 Tan-Wah: Thai, Comedy/
Romance – Yet another Thai “rom/com.” This one takes place on the 32nd
of December.
Sherlock Holmes: US/ UK/
Australia, Action/ Crime/ Thriller – A new take on the Holmes canon.
I’d say, once you get over the shock of seeing Sherlock played as an
action figure, it isn’t all that bad. A bit of the old Holmes shows
through. Robert Downey Jr. plays Holmes and Jude Law his stalwart
partner Watson. There are a lot of chases through London, the dirt and
squalor of which is beautifully recreated, and a lot of fighting, and
just a bit of ratiocination. I found some of the music – country jigs
and such - terribly irritating. All in all, an enjoyable action flick.
Mixed or average reviews.
The Storm Warriors: Hong
Kong, Action/ Fantasy – A martial arts film by the twins Oxide Pang Chun
and Danny Pang. It’s the first Chinese film to extensively use
bluescreen, and do they make the most of it! Shot entirely in three
studios in Bangkok, and really a special effects movie. Such as an army
of flying creatures that reminded me of the flying monkeys in The Wizard
of Oz; they’re defeated by being first changed into what looks like
obsidian, and then smashed into slivers. Very effective. As is the
terrific makeup. So, yes, the style is truly great; the substance
questionable. Presented in a Thai-dubbed version only, with no English
subtitles. But I loved the visuals, and the fantasy.
October Sonata: Thai, Drama/
Romance – Set against a backdrop of the October 1973 democracy
demonstrations.
Avatar: US, Action/
Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – From director James Cameron, a major
achievement in storytelling, and a technological breakthrough. It’s
about a band of humans pitted in battle against a distant planet’s
indigenous population, and weaves many myths into the story’s fabric.
This is a film of universal appeal that just about everyone who ever
goes to the movies will see. At all locations in Pattaya there’s a 2D
version, which is in English and Na’vi dialog, with English and Thai
subtitles as needed. Big C also has a Thai-dubbed 2D version, no
English subtitles. The only cinema to show it in 3D is at Pattaya
Beach, and unaccountable the 3D version does not have English subtitles
for the Na’vi language, only Thai, while the 2D version has English
subtitles in a special font and style.
Reviews: Universal acclaim. The
film delivers on all counts. Highly recommended; not to be missed.
Paranormal Activity: US,
Horror/ Mystery/ Thriller – After moving into a suburban home, a couple
becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence, as the
house makes no secret of the fact it is not pleased with its new
tenants. Opinions are all over the lot on this one, but most give it
thumbs up. Rated R in the US for language. Generally favorable
reviews. At Major Cineplex only.
Pai in Love: Thai, Romance/
Comedy – Thai ensemble romantic comedy of a number of short films
centered about a group of friends who all happen to take a winter
vacation to the same place – Pai, northern Thailand’s hippie retreat.
Somehow, in that small province, they all find the true meaning of
love. Not terribly compelling, it could most charitably be
characterized as your usual sub-adequate, substandard Thai comedy/
romance. Pattaya Beach only.
Yam Yasothon 2 / Hello Yasothorn
2: Thai, Comedy – Thai down-country comedy with popular comedian Mum
Jokmok and the usual TV comedians, engaged in rustic humor. In Isan
dialect, with Central Thai and English subtitles.
Ninja Assassin: US/ Germany,
Action/ Crime/ Thriller – A blood-soaked combination of physical stunts
and digital trickery, featuring the shyly expressive Korean pop star
Rain. Not recommended, unless you’re easily delighted by ultraviolence
for its own sake. Rated R in the US for strong bloody stylized violence
throughout, and language. 18+ in Thailand. Generally unfavorable
reviews. At Major Cineplex only.
2012: US/ Canada, Action/
Drama/ Thriller – The end of (almost) the whole world, as only Director
Roland Emmerich can show it, and very well done indeed. The director’s
had lots of practice. Mixed or average reviews.
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