Hi Patrick, we have a block for the reviews below the “featured stories” block. I have just adjusted it to list the most recent 15 reviews (instead of 10 as before). We agree that these reviews are a key feature of the site and one of the advantages of the new template is that we can highlight them in an accessible way.
“It doesn’t matter that thaksin was elected, what matters was that he never respected the electorate in exactly the same way as his opponents.”
Here’s the central problem. If elections don’t matter, then representative democracy can’t exist and the fall back position is support of unelected, unrepresentative powers who also think elections don’t matter.
Further, by saying that elections don’t matter, the implication is that voters don’t matter. If they don’t matter, who does? And if you find one or an institution that matters, how are they to be retrained from autocratic behaviour?
Of course undemocratic regimes can always try to work out other ways of representation. Yet it remains an undemocratic regime and the other means of representation are chosen by the regime and stay at its whim and fancy.
I have to agree with a lot of the other posters: I’m not keen on the poo-brown background colour at all. Red might be appropriate for NM? Anything but yellow – or poo-brown.
Also, I can’t find the “Craig’s Reviews” anywhere. For an academic blog on mainland SEA / Thai Studies I think reviews of significant academic works in the field should be prominently displayed on the homepage.
Panels that scroll or flash from one subject to another have evolved because of their ability to distract readers’ attention. They are advertising tools that have no place on web pages that are meant to inform.
Nile is part of GlobalResearch.ca.
Many leading personalities of GlobalResearch are closely related to the Perdana Global Foundation headed by Dr. Mahatir
I concur with Longway that in big sense, Thaksin did in fact murder Thailand’s nascent democracy.
Thaksin was on his way towards eviscerating constitutional checks and institutions that would impede his march towards a tyrannical one-party rule. Thaksin was a convicted election cheat . . . hence the main reason his former Thai Rak Thai Party was outlawed along with 110 party executives. Thaksin disdain for constitutional proprieties (rule of law) was evident in his orchestration of the extra-judicial police killing rampage during his infamous war on drugs.
If everything was banned because if would upset people, we better start burning our libraries right now. I bet that almost all royalists that are calling the book “biased” never read the book themselves. It is like with Rushdie’s Satanic Verses: Almost all Muslims have an opinion, almost none of them took the time to read it.
The opinion about “the King Never Smiles” is mostly based on “hear say”. It is not the task of a bureaucrat to determine if it is okay for someone to form an opinion about a publication.
There is no denial possible that Thailand is ruled by kleptomaniacs which links to the palace, but even the absurd wealth of the Royal family is off limits for comments. even the promise that people who would get convicted for Lese Majeste offenses would immediately pardoned is not being kept. More information about the Thai royals are needed. Although the law says otherwise, the Thai monarchy is in practice an absolute monarchy and the family is above the law.
I tend to read through an RSS aggregator so I’ve only just seen the new colour scheme. Yikes! What happened there? Perhaps you/your designer might like to have a look at http://kuler.adobe.com for some ideas on more appropriate colour combinations. Otherwise, great content as always.
[…] and the social dogma of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
[…] of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
Charlesfrith , managed to hear out Nilebowie podcast & am impressed that he has a crash on Mahathir just like most malaysians in the past but now the print + TV media he used to control is up against the free-flow on the Internet & his credibility has been reeling from never ending exposures of his modus operandi during his reign & he’s still pulling the strings , so much so , Abdullah Badawi had to step down & Najib Razak has to toe his line , too. Tis’ Nilebowie’s either in the payroll of BN or he’s has not done his homework . He’s clearly out of touch with the people on the ground to promote BN or he’s generally or his focus now’s on the Syrian manuscript .
To keep the comments and suggestions coming is easier said than done, Nich. I despaired after having been thwarted three times last night, and again this morning by “You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down”. Damned if I know how.
Can’t help thinking if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The cynic would think is this a so called efficiency drive? The affliction Simon referred to above I would have thought is postmodern and universal gone viral already what with this globalisation lark. Fourth time lucky?!
Charles Firth, just heard the Nile Bowie’s interview. I think there is more evidence for a Yeti or Sasquatch than what Nile is saying.
But support Nile’s right to say what he wants. I’ll be interested to know how he supports himself? I doubt anyone (other than the Barisan Nasional) would be interested in his analysis.
We are, as some have noted, continuing to roll out a range of changes to NM. Colours change, layouts change: all part of a new testing regimen. Any and all suggestions for improvement are being taken on board. Behind the scenes the new NM is running on a very different computer system: it’s faster, more robust, and all the rest. Over time we hope that these changes will lead to a much better user experience. Please keep the comments and suggestions coming.
You know, it’s too bad that you had blocked me on Facebook before I could answer your comments, and say that I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that Malaysia needs to discard its race-based perspective on everything, particularly Malay/Muslim supremacy if we are to truly transform into an actual nation. In fact, and if you hadn’t assumed that no one but you thinks the same way, I’d have said that some of us are working towards that end, but in our own ways – no one is more frustrated than people who work close to the corridors of power who are trying to both change the country as well as prevent more damage.
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New Mandala site upgrade
Hi Patrick, we have a block for the reviews below the “featured stories” block. I have just adjusted it to list the most recent 15 reviews (instead of 10 as before). We agree that these reviews are a key feature of the site and one of the advantages of the new template is that we can highlight them in an accessible way.
Thaksin and the palace
“It doesn’t matter that thaksin was elected, what matters was that he never respected the electorate in exactly the same way as his opponents.”
Here’s the central problem. If elections don’t matter, then representative democracy can’t exist and the fall back position is support of unelected, unrepresentative powers who also think elections don’t matter.
Further, by saying that elections don’t matter, the implication is that voters don’t matter. If they don’t matter, who does? And if you find one or an institution that matters, how are they to be retrained from autocratic behaviour?
Of course undemocratic regimes can always try to work out other ways of representation. Yet it remains an undemocratic regime and the other means of representation are chosen by the regime and stay at its whim and fancy.
New Mandala site upgrade
I have to agree with a lot of the other posters: I’m not keen on the poo-brown background colour at all. Red might be appropriate for NM? Anything but yellow – or poo-brown.
Also, I can’t find the “Craig’s Reviews” anywhere. For an academic blog on mainland SEA / Thai Studies I think reviews of significant academic works in the field should be prominently displayed on the homepage.
New Mandala site upgrade
Panels that scroll or flash from one subject to another have evolved because of their ability to distract readers’ attention. They are advertising tools that have no place on web pages that are meant to inform.
International community take note – regime change looms in Malaysia
Nile is part of GlobalResearch.ca.
Many leading personalities of GlobalResearch are closely related to the Perdana Global Foundation headed by Dr. Mahatir
Thaksin and the palace
I concur with Longway that in big sense, Thaksin did in fact murder Thailand’s nascent democracy.
Thaksin was on his way towards eviscerating constitutional checks and institutions that would impede his march towards a tyrannical one-party rule. Thaksin was a convicted election cheat . . . hence the main reason his former Thai Rak Thai Party was outlawed along with 110 party executives. Thaksin disdain for constitutional proprieties (rule of law) was evident in his orchestration of the extra-judicial police killing rampage during his infamous war on drugs.
New Mandala site upgrade
Bad colour.
Previous banner and “Random Pictures” were interesting and though provoking.
The King Never Smiles?
If everything was banned because if would upset people, we better start burning our libraries right now. I bet that almost all royalists that are calling the book “biased” never read the book themselves. It is like with Rushdie’s Satanic Verses: Almost all Muslims have an opinion, almost none of them took the time to read it.
The opinion about “the King Never Smiles” is mostly based on “hear say”. It is not the task of a bureaucrat to determine if it is okay for someone to form an opinion about a publication.
There is no denial possible that Thailand is ruled by kleptomaniacs which links to the palace, but even the absurd wealth of the Royal family is off limits for comments. even the promise that people who would get convicted for Lese Majeste offenses would immediately pardoned is not being kept. More information about the Thai royals are needed. Although the law says otherwise, the Thai monarchy is in practice an absolute monarchy and the family is above the law.
New Mandala site upgrade
I tend to read through an RSS aggregator so I’ve only just seen the new colour scheme. Yikes! What happened there? Perhaps you/your designer might like to have a look at http://kuler.adobe.com for some ideas on more appropriate colour combinations. Otherwise, great content as always.
Two’s company …
Very interesting piece of trivia, cheers.
From Village Scouts to Cyber Scouts
[…] and the social dogma of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
From Village Scouts to Cyber Scouts
[…] of loyalty – both off- and online. The term ‘Cyber Scout’ reflects some historical parallels to the ‘Village Scouts’ of the 1970s, which were set up for almost the same reasons in order to battle a perceived communist […]
International community take note – regime change looms in Malaysia
Charlesfrith , managed to hear out Nilebowie podcast & am impressed that he has a crash on Mahathir just like most malaysians in the past but now the print + TV media he used to control is up against the free-flow on the Internet & his credibility has been reeling from never ending exposures of his modus operandi during his reign & he’s still pulling the strings , so much so , Abdullah Badawi had to step down & Najib Razak has to toe his line , too. Tis’ Nilebowie’s either in the payroll of BN or he’s has not done his homework . He’s clearly out of touch with the people on the ground to promote BN or he’s generally or his focus now’s on the Syrian manuscript .
Burma Studies 2012
In case anyone’s wondering.
Tsp. seems to mean township and not teaspoon.
R.Ab. more apparent as a roundabout I guess.
New Mandala site upgrade
To keep the comments and suggestions coming is easier said than done, Nich. I despaired after having been thwarted three times last night, and again this morning by “You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down”. Damned if I know how.
Can’t help thinking if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The cynic would think is this a so called efficiency drive? The affliction Simon referred to above I would have thought is postmodern and universal gone viral already what with this globalisation lark. Fourth time lucky?!
International community take note – regime change looms in Malaysia
Charles Firth,
I’ve just heard the podcast again. If you take his analysis seriously, I’ll have to wonder about taking you seriously.
International community take note – regime change looms in Malaysia
Charles Firth, just heard the Nile Bowie’s interview. I think there is more evidence for a Yeti or Sasquatch than what Nile is saying.
But support Nile’s right to say what he wants. I’ll be interested to know how he supports himself? I doubt anyone (other than the Barisan Nasional) would be interested in his analysis.
New Mandala site upgrade
Thanks everyone,
We are, as some have noted, continuing to roll out a range of changes to NM. Colours change, layouts change: all part of a new testing regimen. Any and all suggestions for improvement are being taken on board. Behind the scenes the new NM is running on a very different computer system: it’s faster, more robust, and all the rest. Over time we hope that these changes will lead to a much better user experience. Please keep the comments and suggestions coming.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
Malaysia – a simple institutional analysis
Haha, you didn’t block me. Facebook was being naughty. My apologies.
Malaysia – a simple institutional analysis
You know, it’s too bad that you had blocked me on Facebook before I could answer your comments, and say that I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that Malaysia needs to discard its race-based perspective on everything, particularly Malay/Muslim supremacy if we are to truly transform into an actual nation. In fact, and if you hadn’t assumed that no one but you thinks the same way, I’d have said that some of us are working towards that end, but in our own ways – no one is more frustrated than people who work close to the corridors of power who are trying to both change the country as well as prevent more damage.