Showing 1 - 6 of 6
The scourge of fake news
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 09/07/2018
» Last week before the 12 boys and their football coach trapped in Tham Luang cave had been located, dubious online news sources proclaimed they had been found, prompting cheers on Facebook -- only to be dismissed minutes later. The next day, the cycle repeated. Later in the week, there was even "news" of a body being found, believed to be one of the boys. It spread and was later snuffed, since it simply wasn't true.
Chronic
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/08/2017
» The medical profession is held in high regard. Being a doctor, for many, means good pay, an honourable career and a life of comfort.
Quick financial fix
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 02/05/2016
» Inside an air-conditioned room, a man with a grim face sat behind a tall counter with a metal barrier separating him from incoming clients. Suddenly, someone approaches him with a piece of jewellery in hand. After inspecting the item, the man names his price. After a negotiation, a contract is then signed as a promise for the client to pay back his loan plus interest and reclaim the item. Then, the client walks out with a handful of cash. The entire process lasts only a few minutes.
The cost of companionship
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 18/04/2016
» All pet owners would agree that some of the most difficult times in their lives come when their pets get sick. Those who can afford it will have a choice of taking them to private animal hospitals and veterinary clinics where services and treatment can be provided readily, in a pleasant environment, at a high cost. But pet owners who cannot afford the hefty bills must seek help from public clinics and hospitals, and the experience is not so different from public hospitals for people: long queues and hours of waiting in a not-always pleasant atmosphere.
Happy and gay
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 23/12/2014
» A year is coming to a close, and it has been quite a good one for the LGBT community worldwide, so to speak. More countries and states are starting to legalise same-sex marriage — a sign of more acceptance and understanding from the public. Though that list still has yet to include Thailand, the movements by Thai gender activists are ongoing, and we wait for the day everyone can stand proudly and equally next to one another regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Flawed, but with a message
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/11/2014
» The new Thai film 1448 Love Among Us is a male-directed film about a lesbian couple. The movie poster contains the tagline "A girl-on-girl relationship is something men would never understand". The story is reminiscent a female-made American TV movie If These Walls Could Talk 2, whose first part, titled 1961, starred Vanessa Redgrave and Marian Seldes. It should be noted that If These Walls Could Talk 2 never advertised itself as a story certain groups of people would never get.