Tuesday, March 11, 2008
doping to enhance academic performance?
Brain Enhancement Is Wrong, Right?@NY timesIn a recent commentary in the journal Nature, two Cambridge University researchers reported that about a dozen of their colleagues had admitted to regular use of prescription drugs like Adderall, a stimulant, and Provigil, which promotes wakefulness, to improve their academic performance. The former is approved to treat attention deficit disorder, the
NZ Coach Grants
SPARC invests $600,000 into NZ’s top coaches@SPARCMany of the Coach Performance Enhancement Grants (CPEG) recipients were part time coaches with regular jobs who had to give up their personal time to coach athletes. Balancing both roles can be pretty challenging, so these grants allow us to purchase more of a coach’s time (off employers) which ultimately gives their athletes more chance of
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Is 'The Nation' still truly independent?
'The Nation' has given itself a makeover. It is now more akin to the UK 'Financial Times'. The new layout is good but......
Yesterday Lydia gave us a gooey description of her relationship with the Shinwatras. Today's front page gives us a run down of Charoen Siriwattanapakadi with certain details missing that TN would once have let the public know about.
It looks to me that the Nation now has a case of 'greng jai' due to all its new sponsors and market, and has given up some of its journalistic integrity and exposure of corruption. That means only Prachatai is left.
Are my fears justified?
Yesterday Lydia gave us a gooey description of her relationship with the Shinwatras. Today's front page gives us a run down of Charoen Siriwattanapakadi with certain details missing that TN would once have let the public know about.
It looks to me that the Nation now has a case of 'greng jai' due to all its new sponsors and market, and has given up some of its journalistic integrity and exposure of corruption. That means only Prachatai is left.
Are my fears justified?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
What is Chamlong thinking?
This was a piece I wrote a while back and I never got around to posting it. As Pundit has pointed out some highly critical articles on the PAD lately, I thought this article was worth throwing into the mix:
I've long singled out Chamlong Srimuang as one of my favoured Thai politicians. Chamlong has a history of taking unusual and often brave stances on issues when his peers have simply chosen to jump ship and/or switch sides. For example, he was a key leader in the protests of 1992 against the military dictatorship of Gen Suchinda, even going as far as a public hunger strike. Chamlong of course, received a reprimand from His Majesty The King for his outspokenness against Suchinda and his power ploys.
Srimuang has a military background but unlike most veterans he has chosen to remain aloof from most military politics and instead focus on his religious group, the Santi Asoke affiliated "Dharma army". The group - labelled as 'strange' or even 'cult like' by some - are representative of Srimuang's values, including his celibacy and his vegetarian diet. In my opinion, Chamlong's religious stance is not cause for concern but, conversely, is actually what makes him better than most other politicos. It enables him to take a tougher stance on corruption and cronyism.
But I must confess, I'm getting concerned. When Chamlong first entered the anti-Thaksin group known as the PAD, (People's Alliance for Democracy) it was an excellent move. At that time the leader Sonthi Lithimongkul had provided funding and important contacts to facilitate the group's activism but supporters were only too aware of some of Sonthi's shortcomings, such as the fact that a far from squeaky clean businessman was protesting against another businessman's dodgy deals.
Cynics had suggested that Sonthi's ego would not allow another leader to share power or media time and that this would limit PAD clout. All that changed when Srimuang stepped forward to become joint leader and announced ( in reference to his former partnership with Thaksin) "Thaksin was my mistake". A politician admitting his mistake? Another reason why this man is different.
But my doubts surfaced after the 2006 coup, when Chamlong accepted a position on the Constitution Drafting Committee for the junta. At the time it seemed that perhaps Chamlong and PAD leaders were looking to protect the interests of Bangkokians in the new constitution, but when PAD personnel including Chamlong slowly lost their voice over time, it did not bode well.
And now things are looking even bleaker. The PAD have announced their plans for possible protests at the return of Thaksin Shiniwatra to Thailand this week, and, sitting at the front row of a PAD press conference was none other than the general himself.
Why is this a bad thing? Simple, it's a tactical calamity. While there can be no doubt that the PPP have already raced to subvert justice and ensure a clean return for Thaksin - who will no doubt renege on his promise to interfere in politics - for the PAD to launch protests now would be suicide and simply play into the hands of their opponents. PPP members will play it up as "undemocratic" and "not helpful to reconciliation". Neutrals or undecideds will view it as trouble causing and, most importantly, the protests will attract far fewer activists than last time. When the PAD last hit the streets, many were indignated by the S[h]in Corp sale by Thaksin. This time the only interest is in seeing what happens after he returns. The PAD will receive far less funding, support and interest than last time and as such it will be seen as far less of a democratic movement and more like one of those infamous "invisible hands" we so often hear politicians talk about.
And this is where Chamlong becomes important. The general is held in high regard by many Bangkokians as integral and reasonably honest and open in his movements. For Chamlong to play along with what promises to be mutated and possibly self defeating protests by the PAD will lead many to question his motives. It will be suggested that he has lost his influence or integrity that won him popular support in the first place, and the PAD will go down with him.
It may be that justice will be subverted, it was grossly twisted for MP Pracha Prasopdee to threaten to "drive PAD members out of the country" in the knowledge that such a move would be unconstitutional, but the fact is that now is not the right time for the PAD to hit the streets again. I hope Chamlong realises this and finds another way to speak for PAD members.
I've long singled out Chamlong Srimuang as one of my favoured Thai politicians. Chamlong has a history of taking unusual and often brave stances on issues when his peers have simply chosen to jump ship and/or switch sides. For example, he was a key leader in the protests of 1992 against the military dictatorship of Gen Suchinda, even going as far as a public hunger strike. Chamlong of course, received a reprimand from His Majesty The King for his outspokenness against Suchinda and his power ploys.
Srimuang has a military background but unlike most veterans he has chosen to remain aloof from most military politics and instead focus on his religious group, the Santi Asoke affiliated "Dharma army". The group - labelled as 'strange' or even 'cult like' by some - are representative of Srimuang's values, including his celibacy and his vegetarian diet. In my opinion, Chamlong's religious stance is not cause for concern but, conversely, is actually what makes him better than most other politicos. It enables him to take a tougher stance on corruption and cronyism.
But I must confess, I'm getting concerned. When Chamlong first entered the anti-Thaksin group known as the PAD, (People's Alliance for Democracy) it was an excellent move. At that time the leader Sonthi Lithimongkul had provided funding and important contacts to facilitate the group's activism but supporters were only too aware of some of Sonthi's shortcomings, such as the fact that a far from squeaky clean businessman was protesting against another businessman's dodgy deals.
Cynics had suggested that Sonthi's ego would not allow another leader to share power or media time and that this would limit PAD clout. All that changed when Srimuang stepped forward to become joint leader and announced ( in reference to his former partnership with Thaksin) "Thaksin was my mistake". A politician admitting his mistake? Another reason why this man is different.
But my doubts surfaced after the 2006 coup, when Chamlong accepted a position on the Constitution Drafting Committee for the junta. At the time it seemed that perhaps Chamlong and PAD leaders were looking to protect the interests of Bangkokians in the new constitution, but when PAD personnel including Chamlong slowly lost their voice over time, it did not bode well.
And now things are looking even bleaker. The PAD have announced their plans for possible protests at the return of Thaksin Shiniwatra to Thailand this week, and, sitting at the front row of a PAD press conference was none other than the general himself.
Why is this a bad thing? Simple, it's a tactical calamity. While there can be no doubt that the PPP have already raced to subvert justice and ensure a clean return for Thaksin - who will no doubt renege on his promise to interfere in politics - for the PAD to launch protests now would be suicide and simply play into the hands of their opponents. PPP members will play it up as "undemocratic" and "not helpful to reconciliation". Neutrals or undecideds will view it as trouble causing and, most importantly, the protests will attract far fewer activists than last time. When the PAD last hit the streets, many were indignated by the S[h]in Corp sale by Thaksin. This time the only interest is in seeing what happens after he returns. The PAD will receive far less funding, support and interest than last time and as such it will be seen as far less of a democratic movement and more like one of those infamous "invisible hands" we so often hear politicians talk about.
And this is where Chamlong becomes important. The general is held in high regard by many Bangkokians as integral and reasonably honest and open in his movements. For Chamlong to play along with what promises to be mutated and possibly self defeating protests by the PAD will lead many to question his motives. It will be suggested that he has lost his influence or integrity that won him popular support in the first place, and the PAD will go down with him.
It may be that justice will be subverted, it was grossly twisted for MP Pracha Prasopdee to threaten to "drive PAD members out of the country" in the knowledge that such a move would be unconstitutional, but the fact is that now is not the right time for the PAD to hit the streets again. I hope Chamlong realises this and finds another way to speak for PAD members.
Who is the mysterious man?
Hat tip to Piset from TN blogs.
Note for non residents: the depth of a Thai wai is realtive to your status and the staus of the person you wai to, so a wai this deep is indicative of someone greatly superior to you.
This man should not have been waiing Thaksin, he should have been upholding justice and neutrality and - in reality - arresting him.
Welcome to Thailand!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
More attacks on free media by PPP
Hi5 is a networking program just like facebook and it's very popular with Thai people. Indeed, K. Abhisit Vejajaiva is on hi5 and has a very large number of "friends".
There does not seem to be a whole of threat coming from the site but today this article in the Bangkok Post tells us that the site may be shut down.
You got that clearly? The site that is popular with hundreds of thousands of Thais may be blocked because of one monk allegedly using it to find sex. It would be funny if it wasn't 21st century Thailand.
Shame on you Jakrapob. The same Jakrapob who told The Nation after the coup: "I cannot breathe the air of dictatorship, I cannot coexist with the junta". And silly old me actually believed him, since he always comes across as intense and sincere.
But mow it seems Jakrapob is following in the footsteps of Sittichai, the MICT and all other oppressors of media freedom. Already responsible for shutting down one radio show, Jakrapob now seems intent on imposing PPP muscle on a network popular with teenagers and young voters.
The reality is that PPP resent the internet. Despite their alleged pre election activities, PPP know the net is widely used by non PPP voters and remains beyond their control.
There does not seem to be a whole of threat coming from the site but today this article in the Bangkok Post tells us that the site may be shut down.
The Prime Minister’s Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair has ordered the
Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) ministry to keep a close watch
on the use of social networking site www.hi5.com after it emerged a Buddhist
monk had been using the site to woo women.
"I am upset by this," he said. "Any sort of misdeed caused by monks results in the deterioration of Buddhism."
Mr Jakrapob has already consulted with ICT ministry officials to lay down
possible measures to ensure that something like this does not recur."We are still determining the pros and cons of blocking the site altogether," he said.
A new cyberlaw passed last year would require court permission to block the
site, although the government has broken this law hundreds of times, and several
thousands of websites are blocked without court order or explanation.
You got that clearly? The site that is popular with hundreds of thousands of Thais may be blocked because of one monk allegedly using it to find sex. It would be funny if it wasn't 21st century Thailand.
Shame on you Jakrapob. The same Jakrapob who told The Nation after the coup: "I cannot breathe the air of dictatorship, I cannot coexist with the junta". And silly old me actually believed him, since he always comes across as intense and sincere.
But mow it seems Jakrapob is following in the footsteps of Sittichai, the MICT and all other oppressors of media freedom. Already responsible for shutting down one radio show, Jakrapob now seems intent on imposing PPP muscle on a network popular with teenagers and young voters.
The reality is that PPP resent the internet. Despite their alleged pre election activities, PPP know the net is widely used by non PPP voters and remains beyond their control.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
This is a copy of a message I posted on a facebook group. The group is called "I think our new Prime Minister should go back to the kitchen". The group is full of Thai students who speak English very well i.e. middle and upper class Thais.
I'm not just talking about Samak. He is, after all, a democratically elected leader (though that is a worry in itself). I'm talking about this cycle we are stuck in of coup, corrupt government, another coup, another corrupt government and so on.
Why do Thai people tolerate this? Some foreigners seem to think Thai people don't care, but I don't think that's true for most Thais.
For certain, the likes of Samak are elected by Thailand's rural people. These people may be less aware of corruption issues and simply prefer the type of politician who speaks in a down to earth, Thai village style.
But it's easy to see that here on Facebook we have a lot of Thai students who are studying abroad or at a good university or school in Thailand. We're talking middle or upper class here. So these are people that give a damn and have some idea what's going on, so why put up with it?
The general message I get from the "upper" classes is simply: "They are all the same. All Thai politicians are corrupt so what can we do?".
Well actually there are things you can do. The only way to make changes in any country is by getting enough people together. Rulers know that a real threat comes when enough people raise their voice. Thailand has groups such as PNET (People's Network for Elections) , PNAC (Peoples' Network Against Corruption) and all sorts of university groups set up. Giles Unpagkorn, for example, is a leader of a political party that will not run for election for at least ten years. They want to build a solid foundation that does not rely on patronage or quick fixes before they run. These are just a few examples of what's out there for those who want to get involved.
What it really comes down to is how much you care. It's easy to say "They're all the same so what's the point?" then go back to reading Facebook and listening to your iPod, but if you really want to do something to help Thailand, then you can. Any effort makes a difference. Yes, sometimes democratic groups have been placed in harm's way, that's what happens when those in power feel threatened. But it is not in vain, changes have happened and will continue to happen.
So to the Thais who have been lucky enough to be born richer than most of their countrymen, what are you going to do to help?
Thai students, what are YOU going to do about this?
I'm not just talking about Samak. He is, after all, a democratically elected leader (though that is a worry in itself). I'm talking about this cycle we are stuck in of coup, corrupt government, another coup, another corrupt government and so on.
Why do Thai people tolerate this? Some foreigners seem to think Thai people don't care, but I don't think that's true for most Thais.
For certain, the likes of Samak are elected by Thailand's rural people. These people may be less aware of corruption issues and simply prefer the type of politician who speaks in a down to earth, Thai village style.
But it's easy to see that here on Facebook we have a lot of Thai students who are studying abroad or at a good university or school in Thailand. We're talking middle or upper class here. So these are people that give a damn and have some idea what's going on, so why put up with it?
The general message I get from the "upper" classes is simply: "They are all the same. All Thai politicians are corrupt so what can we do?".
Well actually there are things you can do. The only way to make changes in any country is by getting enough people together. Rulers know that a real threat comes when enough people raise their voice. Thailand has groups such as PNET (People's Network for Elections) , PNAC (Peoples' Network Against Corruption) and all sorts of university groups set up. Giles Unpagkorn, for example, is a leader of a political party that will not run for election for at least ten years. They want to build a solid foundation that does not rely on patronage or quick fixes before they run. These are just a few examples of what's out there for those who want to get involved.
What it really comes down to is how much you care. It's easy to say "They're all the same so what's the point?" then go back to reading Facebook and listening to your iPod, but if you really want to do something to help Thailand, then you can. Any effort makes a difference. Yes, sometimes democratic groups have been placed in harm's way, that's what happens when those in power feel threatened. But it is not in vain, changes have happened and will continue to happen.
So to the Thais who have been lucky enough to be born richer than most of their countrymen, what are you going to do to help?
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