If more people have the ‘eye for the poetic’ and more discriminating in their art, perhaps they would NOT allow their ears to be seduced by loud red or yellow tunes; BOTH surprisingly had been accepted as popular good music by many . . . including several at New Mandala. Clowning by the way is a very high art form; not appreciated by ‘separatists’ ideologues like Chris Beale, I now discover.
@michael: that one was too easy because NtN would never have used the phrase, “On the overall”.
@chris beale: I would have written “raad na” and I always use an “r” sound when ordering, and the correct dish always lands on my table. I was completely stumped by the spellings “lad-na” and “lard-na” and would never, if I saw that on a menu, have associated it with this tasty veggie and noodle dish.
Like others here, I think it’s not a big deal. In fact, I figure that arguing over the “correct” way to transliterate Thai to English is probably the least productive use of time imaginable, unless you happen to be a university professor who specializes in transliteration, so I welcome all alternate spellings, even when I can’t figure out what Thai words they are intended to represent.
How can you trust the politician who had a linkage of a case that couldn’t explain clearly in the past? When compares with Anwar, the latter is better.
Is this from The Nation or Not the Nation or is it perfectly accurate reporting?
New trees recently planted at the Government House compound as part of a feng shui adjustment will be removed soon, a source from Government House said yesterday.
Thailand PM’s secretary general Korbsak Sabhavasu has ordered another renovation of the landscape. During the earlier renovation by the staff of Suan Nong Nooch in September, many trees, especially palms, were planted in front of the Thai Ku Fah and Santi Maitree buildings.
However, after the renovation the government received a lot of negative feedback, the source said, with some critics saying the result was “too dull”. Too many trees hid the elegance of the Thai Ku Fah Building from view.
The planned renovation will be undertaken on a weekend.
“It [the renovation] has nothing to do with a feng shui adjustment,” a key leader of the government said.
However, the source said Korbsak had ordered the renovation because a Democrat feng shui expert had concerns about the feng shui of the previous renovation.
That expert said that if the government did not pull down the tress or adjust the feng shui, the fortune of the government and the country would be at a low ebb.
The geomancy expert predicted that without the adjustment, the government would reach a “crisis point”.
This will be the third renovation for the current government. When Abhisit Vejjajiva became prime minister, his government cleaned up Government House and spruced up the grounds after its occupation by the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Suan Nong Nooch had failed in its bid for cleaning up Government House because its quoted price of Bt25 million was considered expensive.
After that, PM’s then secretary-general Niphon Promphan hired Bangkok Metropolitan Administra-tion (BMA) to do the work.
The September renovation was estimated to cost Bt5.8 million. However, the owner of Suan Nong Nooch offered to do it for free, saying the BMA’s work at Government House was “not good”.
“It’s likely that the owner of Suan Nong Nooch will have to pay for the removal of the plants,” the source said.
A further source added that the PAD would fix up the feng shui mess that they created in the first place.
@ Tench #40: I assure you it’s merely an issue of standards. I demand high, you accept relatively low. Your expectations are obviously more realistic, but they’re also a bit fatalistic. There are millions of teenagers in the fast food industry who are innately more qualified to teach than 95% of secondary / tertiary educators. The globe’s academic halls are a haven for those unique ‘authorities’; you know the sort. The experts who shun any vastly more rewarding – practical – application of their expertise; choosing instead to (selflessly) impart their (theoretical) genius to subsequent generations. Bless their cotton socks. They should be lauded rather than ridiculed!
And they almost certainly would be, if the latter reaction was not so evidently more appropriate. 95% of the “unappreciated” boffins require a Econ pre-101 S v D lecture. Or 3.
nb. “mummy and daddy” gratuitously allowed the Australian taxpayer to foot the bill for my grotesquely expensive undergraduate ‘education’; and then burst into laughter at the suggestion they pick up the tab for Juris Doctor postgrad silliness. As I didn’t have a spare 100k lying around at the time, I was forced to ignore the surprisingly aggressive UQ letters referencing unpaid tuition fees…with somewhat predictable results.
@ Michael #41. I’m not defending students who behave like the actor in the sketch…I’m merely explaining the behaviour. I – personally – have never once seen a competent or engaging instructor treated with abject disdain or disrespect; not even when saddled with ‘difficult’ students. I have seen dozens of frauds get frustrated when their hilarious expectations for undue respect are not met.
And I’m arguing that any reaction which mirrors the unacceptable violence in the sketch or even the subdued but equally unacceptable reaction of your colleague (who should have been dismissed after her salary was docked)…merely proves the point. It’s human nature to gradually test boundaries. I guarantee you that a student who behaves like the kid in the sketch…has been allowed to gradually ramp up their expressions of contempt / disrespect. In a way that (circularly) validates and perpetuates their contempt. And that’s really all I’m saying – their contempt at their lecturers’ incompetence is understandable. The behaviour isn’t justified. But their contempt is valid all the same. There’s always a substantial gap between valid sentiment and justified reaction – a fact lost on the majority of Westerners, yet appreciated by the majority of Thais.
Panlop is Jor Por Ror 7 so he was definitely a classmate of Chamlong and also a good friend, nothing much to say about that guy apart from he was and I believe still is, a very influential figure in the Army and that he used to live off Thaksin pocket for sometime.
MattB – 45,49
Well, why don’t you mention the name like, Sia (of Thairath fame), Kum Paka, M.L. Natakorn, Dr. Worajade (I might misspell his name), Suranan Vejjajiva et al. there’s so many other big names that were align with the red you know.
Thank you Geraldine for sending me your note. I’m sorry I did not post for such a long time. I’m excited to announce that Gordon is about to publish 3 books (should be out before the end of this year 2010). In fact, I’m driving to visit Gordon today (Oct 2) to assist in assembling photos and such for the books. I will refer Gordon to this website during my visit.
Sincerely,
Debbie
I don’t believe anybody thinks highly of your ‘aesthetic preferences and eye (surely you mean ear?) for the poetic’. If red and yellow offends you then perhaps you’d be better off blind (or is that deaf?). Perhaps you are senseless. Certainly, art has passed you by.
Michael #26 re. :
“I’ve never seen it spelt that way in an English-language menu, always ‘lad-na’ or ‘lard-na’.) Boh penyang do(k)!”
You’re becoming a dangerous Isaarn Issarra separatist !!
Here’s another one (Is it Not The Nation, or Not Not The Nation?) :
“Thais’ gross domestic happiness drop
Published on October 1, 2010
Thais’ gross domestic happiness (GDH) has slightly dropped with Bangkok residents being the least happy of all, according to a recent survey.
Out of possible 10, Bangkok’s GDH index stood at just 5.82.
On the overall, the GDH index has also fallen from 6.77 in July to 6.57 now.
Dr Noppadon Kannika, who heads the Assumption University’s Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation and Research (Anchor), revealed the survey’s results Friday.
The survey covered 5,096 people in 28 provinces across the country.
Noppadon said the happiest people, according to the latest survey, were residents on the North with their GDH index at 7.14.”
“News reports cited different numbers of RPG rockets missing, ranging from 30 to 39. Many other media reports missed referring to 8,000 5.56-mm rounds for M-16 assault rifles and a large number of 7.62-mm bullets for the M-60 machine-gun, which are also reported missing in Army documents,” Gen. Anupong is reported as stating that it was probably an inside job by military officials & some outsiders. “The depot is charged with storing of weapons, not the unit that uses them. The storage is supervised through contracted security, not through military command. We need to look into the matter thoroughly on how security can be handled effectively through private contracting.”
What kind of army is it that cannot handle the guarding of its own weapons stores? And how much do they spend on this ludicrous & apparently unsuccessful exercise? Further, how is it that they don’t even know whether it is 30 or 39 RPG rockets?
“Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said initial reports given to him suggested the weapons were stolen to be sold “to the outside”, and declined to give details when asked whether the buyers were in Cambodia.” ….(yawn)
Debbie – I met your father in Chiang Mai in 1977/78. Spent some wonderful hours listening to his stories. The most amazing man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. We lost contact over the years. Don’t know if he is still living in San Louis Obispo? Would love to be in contact with him again, could you please send him my e mail address.
Thanking you in anticipation.
In answer to both Nganadeeleg (#46) and Martino (#47), I actually meant “Nearly all” by that “All the wrong characters . . . .”. Jeez . . . I must have touched some raw nerves by my observation that “shady Thai characters do naturally gravitate towards the Thaksin-funded Red movement . . .”
And THAT (plus a long list of other things) COULD be why the Reds have a very serious IMAGE issue and certain clowns (borrowing from Chris Beale) giggle when ‘Reds’ and ‘democracy’ are spoken in the same breath.
Hey hey . . . I am flattered that you all think so highly of my aesthetic preferences and eye for the poetic. But I am just, humbly, very discriminating that is all . . . and color Red absolutely offends me by its vulgar overly strong tone (yellow does that to me too btw).
But don’t take my art critic seriously New Mandala. I kept telling you all “it is just me”.
jonny #39 – Why is it “a great deal less so now that Burger King have spoiled it.” ? An interesting discussion is an interesting discussion. BTW, I know of a farang English teacher who dropped one of her students’ mobiles into a bucket of water. It was during a class at a commercial English school. The admin took the Ratsinger Option, and moved her to another branch. I think she may also have had to replace the phone. The other teachers all cheered when they heard about what she’d done.
I think you’re muddled in your reasoning; yes, the standard of teaching, and indeed that of the courses, in Thai institutions is generally abysmal. But does that excuse the students’ rudeness in making and receiving calls on their mobiles during classes? I’m sure the students are not doing it as a protest. As far as I can see, if the courses (and assessment!) were upgraded to what is considered a normal standard in other countries, the students would be quite likely to complain. In my experience that has been the case.
Having experienced this sort of thing in classes where I have been at pains to foster discussion & argument, and where it has usually been similar to wading knee-deep in thick mud (with the exception of a few, often provincial, ‘bright’ students), & having been offended by mobiles ringing (and being answered!!!) during performances in places like the National Theatre & the Thailand Cultural Centre, I put it down to the obnoxious behaviour of the new bourgeoisie.
The Thai army hasnt changed. It remains a major player as it always has done. The interesting thing has been the sidelining of those old traditional groups generally in the administrative side of the military who can swing both ways, depending on how the wind blows, with officers seen as loyal who tend to also not be pen pushers.
What we see now is just positioning and manouver before the next round of engagment between the two currently engaged groups. This engagement could be via political means if the doves of the two sides cut a deal, and right now there is a push for this. However, both sides are also manouvering on the harder edges for a more conflict filled engagement if the the doves fail to cut a deal, but also there are elements on both sides who wont accept or dont want a deal anyway and who wont go quietly away if one is cut which excludes them.
Of course there are also other players currently sitting this one out and just looking on who could also get involved as things develop. The road is currently a rocky one with increasingly harder heads either calling or trying to call the shots.
As an interesting aside the announcement of visits to the Isaan and North come hot on the heels of the red trouble over donations that didnt get where they should, and is hence a well timed PR move. The new army commander or his advisers maybe are clearly not to be underestimated.
This may all be interesting for those outside of Thailand to watch but for those in the country things could get a little hot.
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Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
MattB – 13
Seduce by loud voice huh? May I ask what is your suggestion on solving this political crash?
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
If more people have the ‘eye for the poetic’ and more discriminating in their art, perhaps they would NOT allow their ears to be seduced by loud red or yellow tunes; BOTH surprisingly had been accepted as popular good music by many . . . including several at New Mandala. Clowning by the way is a very high art form; not appreciated by ‘separatists’ ideologues like Chris Beale, I now discover.
Sanitising Thai political history
Tarrin – 50
Wasn’t Panlop involved in the mosque massacre down south or was that another general?
Not Not the Nation
@michael: that one was too easy because NtN would never have used the phrase, “On the overall”.
@chris beale: I would have written “raad na” and I always use an “r” sound when ordering, and the correct dish always lands on my table. I was completely stumped by the spellings “lad-na” and “lard-na” and would never, if I saw that on a menu, have associated it with this tasty veggie and noodle dish.
Like others here, I think it’s not a big deal. In fact, I figure that arguing over the “correct” way to transliterate Thai to English is probably the least productive use of time imaginable, unless you happen to be a university professor who specializes in transliteration, so I welcome all alternate spellings, even when I can’t figure out what Thai words they are intended to represent.
Can Malaysia trust Najib?
How can you trust the politician who had a linkage of a case that couldn’t explain clearly in the past? When compares with Anwar, the latter is better.
Not Not the Nation
Is this from The Nation or Not the Nation or is it perfectly accurate reporting?
New trees recently planted at the Government House compound as part of a feng shui adjustment will be removed soon, a source from Government House said yesterday.
Thailand PM’s secretary general Korbsak Sabhavasu has ordered another renovation of the landscape. During the earlier renovation by the staff of Suan Nong Nooch in September, many trees, especially palms, were planted in front of the Thai Ku Fah and Santi Maitree buildings.
However, after the renovation the government received a lot of negative feedback, the source said, with some critics saying the result was “too dull”. Too many trees hid the elegance of the Thai Ku Fah Building from view.
The planned renovation will be undertaken on a weekend.
“It [the renovation] has nothing to do with a feng shui adjustment,” a key leader of the government said.
However, the source said Korbsak had ordered the renovation because a Democrat feng shui expert had concerns about the feng shui of the previous renovation.
That expert said that if the government did not pull down the tress or adjust the feng shui, the fortune of the government and the country would be at a low ebb.
The geomancy expert predicted that without the adjustment, the government would reach a “crisis point”.
This will be the third renovation for the current government. When Abhisit Vejjajiva became prime minister, his government cleaned up Government House and spruced up the grounds after its occupation by the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Suan Nong Nooch had failed in its bid for cleaning up Government House because its quoted price of Bt25 million was considered expensive.
After that, PM’s then secretary-general Niphon Promphan hired Bangkok Metropolitan Administra-tion (BMA) to do the work.
The September renovation was estimated to cost Bt5.8 million. However, the owner of Suan Nong Nooch offered to do it for free, saying the BMA’s work at Government House was “not good”.
“It’s likely that the owner of Suan Nong Nooch will have to pay for the removal of the plants,” the source said.
A further source added that the PAD would fix up the feng shui mess that they created in the first place.
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
@ Tench #40: I assure you it’s merely an issue of standards. I demand high, you accept relatively low. Your expectations are obviously more realistic, but they’re also a bit fatalistic. There are millions of teenagers in the fast food industry who are innately more qualified to teach than 95% of secondary / tertiary educators. The globe’s academic halls are a haven for those unique ‘authorities’; you know the sort. The experts who shun any vastly more rewarding – practical – application of their expertise; choosing instead to (selflessly) impart their (theoretical) genius to subsequent generations. Bless their cotton socks. They should be lauded rather than ridiculed!
And they almost certainly would be, if the latter reaction was not so evidently more appropriate. 95% of the “unappreciated” boffins require a Econ pre-101 S v D lecture. Or 3.
nb. “mummy and daddy” gratuitously allowed the Australian taxpayer to foot the bill for my grotesquely expensive undergraduate ‘education’; and then burst into laughter at the suggestion they pick up the tab for Juris Doctor postgrad silliness. As I didn’t have a spare 100k lying around at the time, I was forced to ignore the surprisingly aggressive UQ letters referencing unpaid tuition fees…with somewhat predictable results.
@ Michael #41. I’m not defending students who behave like the actor in the sketch…I’m merely explaining the behaviour. I – personally – have never once seen a competent or engaging instructor treated with abject disdain or disrespect; not even when saddled with ‘difficult’ students. I have seen dozens of frauds get frustrated when their hilarious expectations for undue respect are not met.
And I’m arguing that any reaction which mirrors the unacceptable violence in the sketch or even the subdued but equally unacceptable reaction of your colleague (who should have been dismissed after her salary was docked)…merely proves the point. It’s human nature to gradually test boundaries. I guarantee you that a student who behaves like the kid in the sketch…has been allowed to gradually ramp up their expressions of contempt / disrespect. In a way that (circularly) validates and perpetuates their contempt. And that’s really all I’m saying – their contempt at their lecturers’ incompetence is understandable. The behaviour isn’t justified. But their contempt is valid all the same. There’s always a substantial gap between valid sentiment and justified reaction – a fact lost on the majority of Westerners, yet appreciated by the majority of Thais.
Sanitising Thai political history
LesAbbey – 43
Panlop is Jor Por Ror 7 so he was definitely a classmate of Chamlong and also a good friend, nothing much to say about that guy apart from he was and I believe still is, a very influential figure in the Army and that he used to live off Thaksin pocket for sometime.
MattB – 45,49
Well, why don’t you mention the name like, Sia (of Thairath fame), Kum Paka, M.L. Natakorn, Dr. Worajade (I might misspell his name), Suranan Vejjajiva et al. there’s so many other big names that were align with the red you know.
From the archives: Gordon Young
Thank you Geraldine for sending me your note. I’m sorry I did not post for such a long time. I’m excited to announce that Gordon is about to publish 3 books (should be out before the end of this year 2010). In fact, I’m driving to visit Gordon today (Oct 2) to assist in assembling photos and such for the books. I will refer Gordon to this website during my visit.
Sincerely,
Debbie
Not Not the Nation
Vichai N,
I think I know who you’re parodying there and nobody deserves it more. What has happened to those poems in the Bangkok Post?
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
MattB
I don’t believe anybody thinks highly of your ‘aesthetic preferences and eye (surely you mean ear?) for the poetic’. If red and yellow offends you then perhaps you’d be better off blind (or is that deaf?). Perhaps you are senseless. Certainly, art has passed you by.
Not Not the Nation
Michael #26 re. :
“I’ve never seen it spelt that way in an English-language menu, always ‘lad-na’ or ‘lard-na’.) Boh penyang do(k)!”
You’re becoming a dangerous Isaarn Issarra separatist !!
Not Not the Nation
Here’s another one (Is it Not The Nation, or Not Not The Nation?) :
“Thais’ gross domestic happiness drop
Published on October 1, 2010
Thais’ gross domestic happiness (GDH) has slightly dropped with Bangkok residents being the least happy of all, according to a recent survey.
Out of possible 10, Bangkok’s GDH index stood at just 5.82.
On the overall, the GDH index has also fallen from 6.77 in July to 6.57 now.
Dr Noppadon Kannika, who heads the Assumption University’s Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation and Research (Anchor), revealed the survey’s results Friday.
The survey covered 5,096 people in 28 provinces across the country.
Noppadon said the happiest people, according to the latest survey, were residents on the North with their GDH index at 7.14.”
Answer: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Thais-gross-domestic-happiness-drop-30139165.html
Thailand’s hungry military – an update
In this article in Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/09/23/national/Military-officials-&039;involved&039;-30138552.html ,
“News reports cited different numbers of RPG rockets missing, ranging from 30 to 39. Many other media reports missed referring to 8,000 5.56-mm rounds for M-16 assault rifles and a large number of 7.62-mm bullets for the M-60 machine-gun, which are also reported missing in Army documents,” Gen. Anupong is reported as stating that it was probably an inside job by military officials & some outsiders. “The depot is charged with storing of weapons, not the unit that uses them. The storage is supervised through contracted security, not through military command. We need to look into the matter thoroughly on how security can be handled effectively through private contracting.”
What kind of army is it that cannot handle the guarding of its own weapons stores? And how much do they spend on this ludicrous & apparently unsuccessful exercise? Further, how is it that they don’t even know whether it is 30 or 39 RPG rockets?
“Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said initial reports given to him suggested the weapons were stolen to be sold “to the outside”, and declined to give details when asked whether the buyers were in Cambodia.” ….(yawn)
From the archives: Gordon Young
Debbie – I met your father in Chiang Mai in 1977/78. Spent some wonderful hours listening to his stories. The most amazing man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. We lost contact over the years. Don’t know if he is still living in San Louis Obispo? Would love to be in contact with him again, could you please send him my e mail address.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Sanitising Thai political history
In answer to both Nganadeeleg (#46) and Martino (#47), I actually meant “Nearly all” by that “All the wrong characters . . . .”. Jeez . . . I must have touched some raw nerves by my observation that “shady Thai characters do naturally gravitate towards the Thaksin-funded Red movement . . .”
And THAT (plus a long list of other things) COULD be why the Reds have a very serious IMAGE issue and certain clowns (borrowing from Chris Beale) giggle when ‘Reds’ and ‘democracy’ are spoken in the same breath.
Red art: Democracy Monument April 12 2010
Hey hey . . . I am flattered that you all think so highly of my aesthetic preferences and eye for the poetic. But I am just, humbly, very discriminating that is all . . . and color Red absolutely offends me by its vulgar overly strong tone (yellow does that to me too btw).
But don’t take my art critic seriously New Mandala. I kept telling you all “it is just me”.
Teaching tips – how to keep students engaged
jonny #39 – Why is it “a great deal less so now that Burger King have spoiled it.” ? An interesting discussion is an interesting discussion. BTW, I know of a farang English teacher who dropped one of her students’ mobiles into a bucket of water. It was during a class at a commercial English school. The admin took the Ratsinger Option, and moved her to another branch. I think she may also have had to replace the phone. The other teachers all cheered when they heard about what she’d done.
I think you’re muddled in your reasoning; yes, the standard of teaching, and indeed that of the courses, in Thai institutions is generally abysmal. But does that excuse the students’ rudeness in making and receiving calls on their mobiles during classes? I’m sure the students are not doing it as a protest. As far as I can see, if the courses (and assessment!) were upgraded to what is considered a normal standard in other countries, the students would be quite likely to complain. In my experience that has been the case.
Having experienced this sort of thing in classes where I have been at pains to foster discussion & argument, and where it has usually been similar to wading knee-deep in thick mud (with the exception of a few, often provincial, ‘bright’ students), & having been offended by mobiles ringing (and being answered!!!) during performances in places like the National Theatre & the Thailand Cultural Centre, I put it down to the obnoxious behaviour of the new bourgeoisie.
Not Not the Nation
Michael,
According to Wikipedia, if you are saying baw yang dawk you are right with Lard Na.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lard_na
If you are saying mai pen ra rawk, you should technically be calling it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rad_na
In any case, I agree with your overall assessment. It’s not a big deal.
General Prayut on his new job
The Thai army hasnt changed. It remains a major player as it always has done. The interesting thing has been the sidelining of those old traditional groups generally in the administrative side of the military who can swing both ways, depending on how the wind blows, with officers seen as loyal who tend to also not be pen pushers.
What we see now is just positioning and manouver before the next round of engagment between the two currently engaged groups. This engagement could be via political means if the doves of the two sides cut a deal, and right now there is a push for this. However, both sides are also manouvering on the harder edges for a more conflict filled engagement if the the doves fail to cut a deal, but also there are elements on both sides who wont accept or dont want a deal anyway and who wont go quietly away if one is cut which excludes them.
Of course there are also other players currently sitting this one out and just looking on who could also get involved as things develop. The road is currently a rocky one with increasingly harder heads either calling or trying to call the shots.
As an interesting aside the announcement of visits to the Isaan and North come hot on the heels of the red trouble over donations that didnt get where they should, and is hence a well timed PR move. The new army commander or his advisers maybe are clearly not to be underestimated.
This may all be interesting for those outside of Thailand to watch but for those in the country things could get a little hot.