Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Open Sesame Street: why public TV matters
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 17/10/2012
» As I was listening to the presidential debate back on Oct3, I knew Mitt Romney was going to have it bad when he pledged to cut federal funding for public broadcasting. Oh yes, fans of the cuddly creatures from Sesame Street and other shows on PBS, such as documentaries, are sure to start their hate parade. In fact, there is actually going to be one on Nov 3, called the Million Muppet March, when protesters will gather at the National Mall in Washington, DC, to defend PBS and Sesame Street.
Cracking over the papers
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 02/04/2013
» I would be strutting down Bangkok's crappy pavements in posh footwear and sipping expensive tea every day by now had I said yes to some things a few months ago. Namely, writing CVs, statements of purpose, essays and dissertations for graduate students.
Beauty in HD shows the beastly within
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 12/06/2013
» The lure of a full-HD film can be irresistible for a young adult in need of amusement, especially one home alone with an abundance of time on her hands. A friend has lent me a Blu-ray player this past weekend and having already watched every single movie (in its full, astounding, immaculately crystal-clear glory), there is nothing left for me, except for the contents in the Disney folder on the hard drive.
Daddy dearest
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 05/12/2013
» On an auspicious day like this, I'd really like to steer any thoughts away from politics because, honestly, it is starting to get exhausting trying to keep tabs on how Thaksin Shinawatra is scheming to get back to this country all the time. Let's shift our focus from politicians to _ yellow confetti please _ fathers. I've kept my observant media eye hyper-alert for all dad-related happenings around me lately and while some can be a downer, others are heart-warming.
Support the real cause
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 28/02/2014
» A protest of three months is nothing to throw confetti for, but what has festered around various spots in town is no doubt a curious wonder to witness — it will surely fuel stories of sorts that I will tell youngsters in the future.
The most tempting taro of all
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 30/10/2014
» It's official: being nosy is now an attribute Thai people have willingly added to their biodata. We even have a particular word to soften it. The crude Thai slang suak, meaning irritably meddling and snooping in the most repugnant manner, has been given a curse-free incarnation, so people can use the word more openly and flagrantly. To avoid sounding boorish, people now say puak, which still sounds like the original slang word, but actually means "taro".
You can always go Downton
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 15/01/2015
» On Monday, Joanne Froggatt of Downton Abbey fame won her first Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a series. I started to squeal, scream, cry and do a victory dance in my head as if I had just won the award myself. But because I was at work, I dutifully simmered down and continued with my enchanting office life.
It's political correctness gone mad
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 25/03/2015
» Last week, legendary American comedian Jay Leno appeared on NBC's Late Night With Seth Meyers and shared an example of how college kids (in the US) are painfully politically correct these days. He tells of a day when an intern asked him what he'd like for lunch. When he asked where the interns would be picking up their food, he answered they were "getting Mexican". To which, Leno replied, "I don't really like Mexican", and the intern instantly goes, "Whoa, that's kind of racist."
A culture of mindless excessiveness
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 06/08/2015
» Just a few weeks ago, I discovered Ik Junoon (Paint It Red), an infectiously catchy song that played in the 2011 Bollywood flick Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I've obviously been in a black hole of sorts to miss this instantly popular song and hit road trip movie, but it still wasn't the song that left the most lasting impression. Only when I actually looked at the YouTube screen as I was listening to the music was I blown away by the visuals that accompanied the ambient house music.
Losing (and rediscovering) my religion
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 04/04/2016
» In the recent wake of terrorist atrocities -- most infamously done in the name of religion -- I could not help but question my own line of faith that is Buddhism. Or perhaps "reconnect" would be a better way to put it, as a so-called modern day millennial who isn't a very avid temple-goer.