• OPINION

  22 New Rules of (Not) Clubbing

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 26/06/2020

  » Have you seen the draft list of 22 measures said to be applied to night-time entertainment venues once they are allowed to reopen? It will be submitted to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today, ahead of the fifth phase of Covid-19 curb-easing. While some of the measures are to be expected, a few rules have raised eyebrows as they don't sound conducive to reopening. Worse still, it seems that the person who suggested these new regulations has never put foot into a nightspot before.

• OPINION

  Get out of students' hair

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 27/11/2020

  » Earlier this week, the debate over student hairstyle rules returned after Veera Khaengkasikarn, deputy permanent-secretary for education, uttered perhaps the most perplexing statement ever said in 2020 during an interview in Tham Throng Throng Kab Jomquan on Thairath TV.

• OPINION

  How to Name Your Car Like You're One of the 0.1%

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 19/02/2021

  » The 0.1% of Thais (not 1% 'cause Thailand has the highest wealth inequality in the world, you see) may rejoice at the recent news that soon you can pay an extra fee to give your vehicle a real name on a licence plate instead of the two-alphabets-and-numerals combo the 99.9% are familiar with. The new rules will allow a combination of more than two alphabets, vowels, tone marks and numbers in a vehicle registration plate for a personal car with no more than seven seats. In short, you can name your car after you or give it a person's name. For example, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha can name his "ประยุทธ์ 2 กรุงเทพมหานคร (Prayut 2 Bangkok)" to commemorate his second term. The plan is expected to be implemented around the middle of this year and you can bid for such a plate with starting price of B1 million. Money raised this way will be spent to improve road safety.

• OPINION

  Covid-19 Terminology

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 10/04/2020

  » Are you a covidiot or a covidient? You can probably guess the meaning of both portmanteaus. The former is used to describe people who disregard social distancing and other rules regarding the Covid-19 pandemic that have been put in place while the latter is the opposite and comprises of "Covid-19" and "obedient". Hope you're all the latter.

• OPINION

  Bloody Thai fairy tales to celebrate Halloween

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 29/10/2021

  » Halloween is about to be upon us and there's no better time to tell horror stories to get you into a spooky mood. And we don't have to look far for horror stories to send a chill down your spine. A few fairy tales from Thai childhood can do the bloody trick. Here are two local fairy tales that, in hindsight, are way too bloody and depressing for children.

• OPINION

  Easing Up

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 01/10/2021

  » Today marks the reopening of 10 more business venues in 29 dark red provinces as restrictions against Covid-19 have been further eased. I know you're going out today (it's TGIF after payday, after all) and here are a few highlighted measures to know before you head out.

• OPINION

  Getting Food at Bangkok Malls in 2021

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 06/08/2021

  » On Sunday, the Centre of Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced 29 provinces as dark red zones, up from the previous 13, along with strict measures to control the spread. Bangkok is, of course, a dark red zone and most of the prohibitions and temporary closures of certain venues are understandable. One prohibition, in particular, at the time of going to print has left me (and many others) scratching their heads.

• OPINION

  Hairy situation

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 10/07/2020

  » Schools are back in session and so is the debate over the student hairstyle. A new batch of pictures of students whose hair got cut or shaved poorly against their will, as a form of punishment, by their teachers has been recently circulated online. We're probably getting another set once the next hair inspection day comes. Last Friday, student activists submitted a petition to the Ministry of Education asking for clarity over the hairstyle rule. You see, the ministry has already allowed students to wear their hair long so long as it's neat and complies with other conditions. However, a few schools still take it upon themselves to cut students' hair that they deem "inappropriate".

• LIFE

  Covid versus the city

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 12/06/2020

  » Kanyanat "Pop" Pornchanthong is the editor at Trawell Thailand (fb.com/Trawellthailand), a social enterprise that aims to encourage people to play an active role in the development of their communities through online content, workshops, events and projects.

• OPINION

  (Un)masking 101

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 01/07/2022

  » The mask mandate has been lifted in anticipation of downgrading Covid-19 to an endemic, which comes into effect today. The biggest question you may have right now as we're going through this transitional period, heading back to the old normal, is probably when and where you can unmask. However, if you think you can free your face from any coverings and leave your mask at home, you should read the following first. Here's what you need to know before you mask (or unmask).

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