Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Delicate art of being nasty and nice
Roger Crutchley, Published on 31/03/2024
» One word we have been subjected to almost on a daily basis recently is "diplomacy" as politicians grapple with the world's woes without much success. A dictionary definition of diplomacy is "tact or skill in dealing with people". Unfortunately it is more complex than that as the world is in such a mess. Perhaps Ambrose Bierce was nearer the mark in his Devil's Dictionary when he described diplomacy as "the patriotic art of lying for one's country".
Making Asean more relevant to youth
Oped, Lee Yoong Yoong, Published on 31/08/2023
» International Youth Day is celebrated annually in August. Growing up as a young person in Singapore in the 1980-90s, I was more in tune with the arts, music, and literature of American and British influences than I was with local and regional popular culture. I was also more familiar with Western-based landmarks, for example the Eiffel Tower, than I was with those in Southeast Asia, such as Borobudur Temple. That was how oblivious I was of the region I was living in.
When it twigged Thailand was different
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 17/04/2022
» For the third year running we have experienced muted Songkran celebrations, and I for one won't complain if it remains that way for a while. Of course there have been a few naughty tourists who have broken the water-throwing protocols, but maybe the heat got to them.
It's always 'bath' time in Thailand
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 07/03/2021
» Flying in to a very quiet Suvarnabhumi recently I noticed the official ticket for the airport taxi still informs us of an additional "50 bath" (sic) you will be required to pay the driver at the end of the journey. The "bath" has been there since the ticket was introduced six years ago, so you can forgive what few tourists there are these days for believing they will be dealing in "baths" during their stay.
Back to dark ages
Oped, Postbag, Published on 26/11/2020
» Re: "Legal threats need rethink", (Editorial, Nov 25).
Desperate times for the old normal
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/07/2020
» Every now and again a buzzword or phrase appears which you know is not going away in a hurry, although you wish it would. One such expression which we have become accustomed to in recent times is "new normal". Admittedly it sounded quite trendy and even clever when it first emerged, but it has been so overused it is already something of a cliche.
Enjoying a cuppa with Harold the milkman
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/05/2019
» When I was a teenager in the late 1950s/early 60s, we had a milkman called Harold whose son Gordon Neate was a professional footballer with our hometown team Reading who played in the Third Division. Every Saturday morning, on his rounds, Harold was invited into our kitchen for a cup of tea and he would relate all the behind-the-scenes gossip about the club.
A tangled web
News, Published on 27/03/2019
» According the Bangkok Post's unofficial poll results, the new election rules worked well as planned, i.e. preventing Pheu Thai's lopsided win.
Set up trust for Boars
News, Postbag, Published on 16/07/2018
» The Thai cave survivors are children whose entire life lies ahead of them.