Showing 771 - 780 of 800
Having it both ways
News, Postbag, Published on 18/02/2016
» The Bangkok Post reported on Tuesday that monks demonstrating at Phutthamonthon have made two demands: Firstly, that Buddhism be declared the official state religion in the new constitution, and, secondly, that the prime minister should stop government agencies from interfering in matters relating to the monastic community.
Publicity never bad
News, Postbag, Published on 16/02/2016
» Thanks for your brave attempt at clarifying what bridge is and is not (Life, Feb 15). One of the unintended consequences of the saga is that the Pattaya bridge club, small by international standards, is now the most famous in the entire world, with several hundred newspaper and TV reports and tens of thousands of comments on blogsites talking about it. The tale has also made Jeremy Watson (the organiser) and myself (the founder, in 1994) the best-known bridge players throughout the five continents even though our standards sadly fall short of the brilliance usually required for notoriety.
Like a bat out of hell
Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 04/02/2016
» Life is full of surprises. Luckily, in my case, they are mostly pleasant. During my recent visit to Phitsanulok, which was my first to Noen Maprang, the province's recently revealed hidden gem, I was amazed time and time again.
Liberalise lease laws
News, Postbag, Published on 29/01/2016
» An argument often heard in Thailand is that to extend leases or grant ownership rights to foreigners would betray sensitivity to the history of colonisation in Southeast Asia. But Thailand has not been subject to colonisation and is seldom seen to be overly sensitive to its neighbours' problems or transgressions, unless they directly impact the kingdom.
Freed drug dealer tells of anguish
News, Manop Thip-Osod, Published on 26/10/2015
» 'Drugs took everything from me," said Sathaporn Srisa-ard, 48, a convicted dealer, fresh out of jail. On Oct 17, he breathed the air of freedom for the first time since his release from a jail term of 12 years and nine months. The sentence was commuted from 25 years on account of his good behaviour.
Melancholic, dissonant memories
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 23/10/2015
» Jakrawal Nilthamrong's Vanishing Point is a story of loss, death, alternative destinies and reminiscence of sadness. It floats a few inches above the ground, it connects, disconnects and reconnects lives and fates, sometimes in a dissonant manner, and even though you may scratch your head wondering what exactly is going on, the film's semi-experimental style and narrative rupture has a strange intoxication.
The call of the mild
Life, Published on 21/01/2015
» Last week there was a big parade. People danced and sang and ate special food, all right in the streets. They were celebrating something called "Thainess".
Documenting the eye of the storm
Life, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 21/01/2015
» When 46-year-old Nikolaus Freiherr von Nostitz, better known as Nick, sent emails to his contacts on Dec 20 seeking financial help, some thought it was a scam. Soliciting donations is uncharacteristic of the outspoken but humble Nostitz. For years, people could see that the German was a modest guy who roamed around Bangkok on his decade-old Kawasaki GTO motorcycle to cover the turbulent transformation of Thai politics, from both sides (or more) of the conflict.
As Sinatra would put it, 'doo-be-doo-be-doo'
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/10/2014
» Following last week's column concerning singers who hated their biggest hits, several readers rightly pointed out a major omission was that of 'Ol' Blue Eyes' himself, Frank Sinatra, and Strangers in the Night.
Postbag: High performance puzzling
News, Published on 12/10/2014
» Please forgive my lack of modesty. I get quite a smug feeling when I complete all three of the Bangkok Post crosswords at the weekend. The English-style cryptic on Saturdays is quite different to the American-style, two of which appear on Sunday. I think the description of "easy" for the smaller of the two Sunday offerings is flippant at best.