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2BANGKOK.COM'S NEWS AND VIEWS
FEBRUARY 2004
Pipe mystery solved? - February 14, 2004
Pook started a thread at Pantip.com about the amazing field of pipes.
Above and below: After photo enhancement, Pantip-ers made some startling discoveries...
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
The amazing 'field of pipes' - February 8, 2004
After ncr mentioned this on the forum, we went to investigate. Between pillars 96 and 106 along Ngam Wongwan Road (east of Phahon Yothin Road) is a huge bog filled with termite mounds and hundreds (perhaps over 1000) of pipes or pilings of some kind driven into the ground. There is no sign nor access road into the site. Anyone know what these things are?
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
The Onion: "Thai Premier Eats Entire Bucket Of Chicken To Calm Bird-Flu Fears" - February 26, 2004
Conor Bracken points out that humor site theonion.com has the following Thai-related item:
Thai Premier Eats Entire Bucket Of Chicken To Calm Bird-Flu Fears
BANGKOK—To allay concerns about the safety of Thai poultry following an outbreak of the H5N1 bird virus, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ate an entire 15-piece bucket of fried chicken on live television Monday. "See, it's fine, this chicken," Shinawatra said as he tore into a leg. "You are all worried for nothing. It's delicious." In a Carson's Group International poll taken after the broadcast, 63 percent of viewers said they wouldn't be afraid to eat chicken raised in Thailand, but 94 percent said they were afraid of Shinawatra.
Also: An earlier humor piece mentioning Bangkok from bbSpot.
(Drawing: S.P.C. Properties and Development Co., Ltd.)
Another mall in the 'Crucible' - February 7, 2004
Yes, there is another huge shopping mall being built in Bangkok's Crucible of Construction. It is the Platinum Fashion Mall developed by S.P.C. Properties and Development Co., Ltd. They are preparing a website, but it is not up yet.
(Drawing: S.P.C. Properties and Development Co., Ltd.)
Asking for I.D. - February 28, 2004
A foreign reader informs us of an odd occurrence. About a month ago near Asok Skytrain Station an Asian person (perhaps Middle Eastern) wearing normal clothes drove up on a motorcycle. He claimed with much seriousness that he was a police officer and asked to see the foreigner's I.D. The foreigner refused and instead insisted on seeing the 'officer's' ID The 'officer' quickly backed down and said it was ok because the foreigner seemed to be Russian anyway (!) and then sped away. Our reader speculates that the astronomical price of fake traveling papers (caused by a worldwide crackdown on false documents) has caused crime syndicates to attempt new ways to get their hands on passports.
Forbes lists net worth of world rulers - Forbes.com, February 27, 2004
Bangkok Post editor Veera Prateepchaikul is fired - Reuters & The Nation, February 20, 2004
[Ed.: This will make the folks at The Nation especially concerned. The Post's editorial policy is, at most, respectfully or lightly critical of the government. The slant of the rest of the news they carry is what we have long called 'government happy news.' On the other hand, The Nation's editorial policy borders on hysterically anti-government. This is not the first time this kind of editorial meddling has happened at the Post--see the story below about the demise of the Insider column. ] ...Bangkok Post reporters said Veera, a long-serving journalist at the paper and its editor for the past 21 months, had resisted management efforts to have the paper soften its critical coverage of government policies of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. "He has in effect been sacked despite the beautiful words given by the management that the decision is a promotion," said Bangkok Post reporter Ampa Santimatanedol. "The management may have been concerned that the newspaper's editorial policy under Veera has frustrated their business interest by its constant attacks on the government," she said.
...Some Bangkok Post reporters said some of their earlier stories had been withdrawn apparently over concerns that they would make major shareholders unhappy.
Post Publishing is 30 percent owned by the family of retail business tycoon Suthikiart Chirathivat, 20 percent by the SCMP Group , publisher of Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, and 3.7 percent by Thailand's Bangkok Bank PCL.
Earlier: What happened to the Insider column in the Bangkok Post? - April 25, 2003
Several people have asked what happened to the beloved Insider column in the Bangkok Post. When 2Bangkok.com first mocked the Paragon website (someone has mirrored the original Paragon website here), we also challenged the local press to do the same. The Insider took up the challenge and poked fun at the English used on the site. 2B learned that the Insider article resulted in a warning from powerful people involved in both the Post board and the Paragon development not to make fun of the Paragon in the future. Then doing the Insider column was "not fun anymore." The Insider was offered a new job within the newspaper that conveniently made it not possible to continue the column.
Earlier: The Bangkok Post and urban legends
Also: Insurers Shun 'Sick Note' Politicians - Reuters, February 20, 2004
Insurers are refusing to give health care cover to Thai politicians because many are checking into hospitals instead of hotels during trips around the country and then claiming the money back, the parliament's speaker said.
Cursory concerts - February 28, 2004
Two readers have mentioned the rather cursory concert Mariah Carey gave in town recently. It started three hours late, after every three songs an unenthusiastic Carey left the stage and the audience had to call out for her to come back, those with 5000 baht seats sat on the floor, Carey only did a couple of old songs, and there was quite a bit of bad feeling in the crowd.
Many Western acts (and critics) do not consider concerts outside of the U.S. and Europe as 'real' concerts, but rather as warm-ups with undiscerning fans in preparation for 'real' concerts in the West.
AOL, Earthlink Sue Spammers - February 19, 2004
...AOL alleges that two other members of the spam ring are Thailand residents Jonathan Beyer and Joseph Conrad. AOL alleges that Beyer, a U.S. citizen residing in Thailand, headed the spam ring and, in addition to spamming, also operates a number of adult Web sites. AOL alleges that Conrad, also a U.S. citizen residing in Thailand, assisted in establishing and running Beyer's Internet operations. AOL has already taken legal action against Beyer and Conrad in a lawsuit filed in April 2003, now pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Microsoft develops XP 'Light' for Thailand - February 9, 2004
From /.: GoatJuggler writes with this Bangkok Post report that "Microsoft announced plans to develop a discounted, slightly crippled version of Windows XP for Thailand."
Another North Korean attempted kidnapping in Thailand? - February 13, 2004
Don Entz pointed out this mention of an attempted North Korean kidnapping in Thailand last month: Kim said North Korean agents tried to kidnap the younger Kang in Thailand in late January, in what the activist said was a failed attempt to retrieve some of the documents. Christian Solidarity said the younger Kang later went into hiding. Kim said Chinese authorities arrested the older Kang, his wife and a younger son at the border with Laos. The activist said it wasn't clear whether China had sent the family members back to North Korea or was still holding them.
ATM troubles? - February 13, 2004
Without any prompting, we have heard the same story from three people in the past three weeks--they tried to withdraw money from a Bangkok Bank ATM, a message on the screen said "Out of order," they did not get any money, but later found the money they requested had been deducted from their account. After reporting the incident to Bangkok Bank, their money was cheerfully returned. All three people felt lucky they had closely checked their balance or they might not have realized the money was gone. More on this story is in the forum.
New closing times and development - February 12, 2003
By now most people have heard of the new nightspot closing times:
All nightspots outside specified nightlife zones will have to shut at midnight, while there will be some exemptions inside the zones, of which Bangkok has three -- Patpong area, Ratchadapisek road and Royal City Avenue (RCA). (Bangkok Post)
In Bangkok, the zones designated for entertainment venues cover the Patpong area and New Phetchaburi and Ratchadaphisek Roads. (The Nation)
The scuttlebutt going around is that the earlier closing time also benefits vested interests who would like to develop nightspot areas entangled in multiple layers of leases. The new rules will make many nightspots nonviable and help encourage redevelopment of those areas.
Website watch - February 7, 2004
Chatchawal Phansopa notes: On February 6, the BMRT pages at the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning website have been restored (Development Plan for Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit (BMRT) and the map. [Ed.: These were links from Chatchawal's explanation of the subway routes of the future.] The MRTA's official website at www.mrta.or.th is still down. It website has disappeared since the New Year. UPDATE: Justin informs us: I think they changed it to http://www.mrta.co.th.]
Also the government has unveiled the Thailand Knowledge Center. Like most government sites, it is up one day and down the next.
