Showing 1 - 10 of 52
A plaintive song for the taxman
Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/03/2026
» I've just got back from filing my income tax and must thank the staff at the branch of the Revenue Department for their helpfulness and efficiency. It must be a thankless job knowing that nearly everyone they deal with would probably rather be somewhere else.
Shoddy massages
Oped, Postbag, Published on 06/03/2026
» Re: "Thai massage industry set for overhaul", (BP, March 4). I'm looking forward to the day the Thais will finally upgrade and greatly improve the massage industry in this country. It is indeed in a dire state. I'm a fully qualified masseur with three diplomas from the world-renowned Wat Po school, two of them specialist courses. Very proud of it.
Hedgehoppers in search of good news
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/02/2026
» Being the very first day of February it would have been nice if there was some good news worth celebrating, but unfortunately nothing immediately springs to mind. Cheerful news is an increasingly rare commodity these days. It all seems to be gloom and doom and hardly portends a joyful 2026. It can get a bit wearying grappling with news reports featuring contradictions, cover-ups and cock-ups, often accompanied by half-truths, prevarications and porky pies. But this is the world we now live in.
No excuse for abuse
News, Editorial, Published on 08/11/2025
» The International Labour Organization estimated in 2021 that 27.6 million people were victims of forced labour, including sexual exploitation -- a global challenge that remains a serious concern for Thailand as well.
New words I probably won't be using
Roger Crutchley, Published on 31/08/2025
» The Cambridge Dictionary recently announced the inclusion of 6,000 new words mainly derived from their common usage in social media. I fear those words will simply be added to an already lengthy list of vocabulary I am totally unfamiliar with. As one observer noted "internet culture is changing the English language."
Court ruling rattles legal experts
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 17/03/2025
» A month has passed, but society is still debating the lawsuit against Pirongrong Ramasoota, a commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
Parlour games
Published on 02/09/2024
» Re: "Ex-PM urges BoT to up money supply", (BP, Aug 24) and "BoT says it's ready to collaborate", (Business, Aug 25).
When Bangkok bid for the Olympics
Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/07/2024
» It's been 100 years since the last Paris Olympics which was dramatically portrayed in the stirring 1981 film Chariots of Fire. I can still picture that opening scene with the British athletes running along the beach to the sounds of that Vangelis anthem. It's hard to believe that was made 43 years ago. If this year's Olympics are even half as exciting as the 1924 event it will be an achievement.
PM's visit to Mae Sai a positive sign
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 15/09/2023
» Today, PM and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin and other cabinet members will visit Chiang Rai province. One stop in the busy itinerary is Mae Sai Border Pass No.1 where they will discuss on how to boost border trade and how to fight against narcotics that flow through the porous border.
Fighting a silent killer
Tatat Bunnag, Published on 04/09/2023
» Those who've been following the news lately will probably have heard that political activist Chuwit Kamolvisit publicly disclosed that he has stage 3 liver cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. He also added that his doctors have given him only eight months to live.