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The Doctor's Consultation: by Dr. Iain Corness
Smoking reduces the risk of Dementia?
In the press of
late there has been much debate in the reader’s letters page over smoking. I
have zealously resisted the chance to hop into the minefield, and it
certainly seems that the same old names are there week after week. While
much of the debate is whether or not sidestream smoke is dangerous for the
individuals in that environment, it also encompasses whether smokers have
any “rights” and many will justify their “choice” saying that it hurts
nobody but themselves.
I am not joining the debate, as it is usually a pointless
exercise, as many of you have already found. But perhaps the following may
be of interest when looking at the arguments put forward.
The smokers amongst you will have seized on that headline
and are now voraciously reading this item, in the hope that you have some
evidence to throw in the face of those who would point the finger at all
smokers.
As reported in the British Medical Journal, a publication
not known for wild and extravagant claims, researchers investigated claims
that smoking enhances memory, vigilance, attention and reduces the risk of
Dementia.
Now, when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) publishes
results, the author has been checked for his or her bona fides, and the
results are also checked by independent specialists. When the BMJ publishes
something, it is authoritative.
In the article ‘Long term smoking contributes to
cognitive decline’, the study was based on about 500 men and women who were
all born in 1936 and who had taken part in the same IQ survey in 1947, and
who had agreed to be re-examined at the age of about 64 between 2000 - 2002
to measure any decline.
In essence, what the researchers did, was to look at the
IQ score of the 500 people when they were 11 years old, and then compare the
scores at age 64. It was found that many factors were involved, including
education, occupation, lung function and smoking.
The authors, from universities at Aberdeen and Edinburgh,
reported in a paper in Addictive Behaviors, “Current smokers and non-smokers
had significantly different mental test scores at age 64. This difference
remained after adjustment for childhood IQ,” said the authors.
Now comes the crunch line. “After adjustment for
childhood IQ, a positive smoking history was associated with lower
performance on tests of psychomotor speed and on a composite score derived
from five cognitive tests,” says the report. “There were no differences in
IQ at age 11 by smoking status, but by age 64, current smokers were
performing less well on cognitive tests than non-smokers and former smokers.
Psychomotor speed was lower in smokers.”
After taking every other variable factor into
consideration, the research debunked the claims that smoking enhances memory,
vigilance, attention and reduces the risk of Dementia. In fact, it was quite
the reverse. Quoting directly from the report in the BMJ, “We conclude that
long term smoking does not produce long term cognitive benefits; to the
contrary, smoking makes a small but significant contribution to cognitive
decline from age 11 to 64.”
The authors added, “The data obtained here suggest that
about 5.7 percent of the variance in cognitive function at age 64 is
attributable to the effects of education and occupation after adjustment for
IQ at age 11. Thereafter, small but significant negative contributions
amounting to no more than about 4 percent are made by a combination of
smoking and impaired lung function acting both together and alone. Although
negative effects on cognition are relatively small in terms of a single
individual, these effects are important at the population level. As a
lifestyle choice, they are open to modification and thereby to enhancement
of retention of cognitive function.”
This research has shown that you can expect a slow
deterioration in your mental function, but if you remain interested in life
and continue your education, have an interesting job and don’t smoke, you
have every chance of still being on the ball when you turn 64.
But as a smoker, you will have reduced your mental
capacity by 10 percent. Now while 10 percent doesn’t sound much, in the IQ
stakes, it means a lot!
Tawaan the Bull Terrier - Urgent Case
This bundle of love is a 3-4 year old bull terrier who is very
affectionate with people but somewhat jealous and dominant with
other dogs as is common with her breed. She is currently undergoing
treatment for a minor skin condition and we will update her photo on
our website as soon as she’s back to looking her best again. These
dogs are very popular in Thailand so we are hoping we can re-home
her quite soon, especially as she is not well suited to shelter
life. Contact the shelter English (08 47 52 52 55) or Thai language
(08 69 13 87 01) asap to make an appointment to meet her, email:
contact@carefordogs.org or visit the website for further info
www.carefordogs.org.
Heart to Heart
with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
I have just returned from another long and enjoyable
stay in ‘sunny’ Thailand but I just cannot rest happy. At the end of a
row of small bars/restaurants, opposite the Asia Hotel on Soi 4
Pratamnak adjacent to the last building are two cages housing two foxes
in the most abject and deplorable conditions. The poor animals can
barely stand up nor turn around and just lay in their excrement
suffering in the heat with barely any water. What were once beautiful
animals now have filthy matted coats and they always appear to be
starving.
During my time living nearby, myself and a Swiss
gentleman would regularly visit them with food and water. From enquiries
made with a lady living in the building next door to the foxes’ cages it
would appear that the foxes were transported to Pattaya from Loie in
Northern Thailand by a man who intended to farm them for profit, but he
has since lost interest in them.
The sad plight of these animals has since caused me
nightmares (and shame) that I did not do more for them. I am hoping that
with your contacts and obvious kind and compassionate heart that you can
do something to help these poor and unfortunate animals. (I shall reward
you with the best Belgian chocolates on my return!)
Chris J.
Dear Chris J,
This really isn’t my role, but with the thought of Belgian chocolates on
the horizon, and after hiding my faux fox stole in the closet, I will
try to contact any animal refuge groups to see if they can help, but
generally they are over-run with stray dogs, and not foxes. It would not
be possible to just take them to the nearest temple, as what happens
with a lot of the excess dog populations. Foxes and chickens do not make
for good neighbors.
Dear Hillary,
This is a serious question. Why are all Thai women
addicted to sales? My Thai GF cannot walk past a shop which has a “sale”
sign without going in and if it has a two for one deal she’s sold, even
though we don’t need it or already have one (from the last sale). I have
spoken to mates and they all say the same, so is it something that’s
taught in Thai schools or what? Or is it the bowerbird complex that
women have in general and Thai women have it in big degrees?
Thom
Dear Thom,
No, Petal, the addiction to sales is not taught in schools because it is
already in the genetic make-up of all Thai women, so it is more like an
inbuilt bowerbird complex as you say. All it needs to trigger the
response is the smell of farang money. Like Pavlov’s dogs that would run
when a bell was rung, Thai women run to the shops when shown a full
wallet. The two for one deal shows just how she is being frugal and
looking after your interests and money (so there is still some left for
tomorrow’s sales). You should be thankful. By the way, get her to let me
know when the next sale is on.
Dear Hillary,
I come over to Thailand at least three times a year for one month at a
time and I have now got a steady girlfriend for the last two times. She
waits for me and goes up to the village in between times and comes down
to meet me at the airport. She is now asking me to buy a house which she
says would be for us both when I come over, rather than getting hotel
rooms each time. I can sort of see the logic in this, but it looks
expensive to me. I’m told that I cannot own the house either, which
seems pretty silly, but if that’s the rules, that’s the rules. Have you
any experience in these things, Hillary? I don’t want to lose this
girlfriend, but my friends all tell me that this is a dangerous
situation. Just how dangerous, and in what way?
Jock
Dear Jock,
That’s a good Scottish name, so I can see why you want to keep a tight
rein on the expenses. The person you should be referring this question
to is a real estate agent, and there are some honest ones in town. It is
correct that you cannot own land in your own name as a foreigner, but
there are many ways around this issue. However, you can own a
condominium (flat) in your own name, and since you are only going to be
here three months a year, that would seem the better option to me in
many ways. Be real, Jock ma wee Scottish petal, you hardly know this
gurrl at all, so it is far too early to be talking about buying hoosses.
Would you do this after two months with a bonnie Scottish lassie? Slow
down. Enjoy her company when you are here, but keep your sporran tightly
locked!
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Camera Class:
by Harry Flashman
Photographing stage performers
 Stage
photography is an exciting and different application of the art
of photography. The results can be spectacular and make for wall
art. But this type of end result does not come easily, and much
forward planning is necessary.
With live theatre and stage performances you have
some very difficult composition and lighting problems to contend with if
nothing else. You cannot quite ask someone in the middle of the Swan
Lake ballet to move a couple of steps to the left and say “Cheese”.
The lighting, too, is quite different from that you
normally experience. Stage lighting is generally tungsten based and
sharp (what we call “spectral” lighting). Spots for the performers and
floods for the background are the hallmarks of the usual stage lighting.
The use of spots in particular is used to highlight the principal
performer or action on stage, and the lighting technician will follow
the performer’s movements, as he knows where the principal dancer is
going to move towards. Unfortunately, you don’t!
Successful “stage” photographs are ones that have
managed to retain that “stagey” lighting feel to them, so that instantly
you look at the image you know it is of a performer on a stage
somewhere. Remember that as a photographer you are recording events,
people and places as they happen. You are a mirror of the world!
The secret of retaining that stage feel is definitely
in the lighting. Because it tends to be dark, we all break out the super-pro
flash gear, or activate the in-built flash that comes with the camera.
Unfortunately, the pro-flash gear can overpower the stage lights and you
lose the effect. All you get is someone dressed in strange garb, flash-lit
at night. Not Othello at all! On the other hand, the simple inbuilt
flash just won’t carry the distance from seat 15E to the stage.
Here’s what to do. Reset the camera’s ISO to 800 ASA
if you can, but 400 ASA will do at a pinch. This is to allow for
handholding the camera in the stage situation.
The next tip - leave the flash in the bag, or turn it
off at the camera. Now I know it is dark, but you are trying to retain
the stage lighting effects. In other words, you are going to let the
stage’s lighting technician be the source of light for your photograph
too. With some point and shoot cameras this is actually quite difficult
to do, but if in doubt, read the instruction manual (see last week’s
column).
Tip number 3 - get as close to the action as you can.
Now I know the pro photographers get to walk right up on stage, shoot
the performer clean in the eye and shuffle off stage left. You will
probably be thrown out on your ear if you try it (also stage left), so
please don’t. However, get a seat as close to the action as you can, and
then select a lens that can allow you to fill the frame with the
performers. Shots that show an entire dark stage with two tiny little
people spot lit in front are not good stage shots. In fact they are not
good anything shots! If all you have is a fixed lens point and shooter,
get as close to the front of the stage as you can. You can still get the
scene stopping shot - you have just to get very close. OK? For practice,
go to the Malibu Cabaret (back to the corner of Second Road and Soi Post
Office) as you can get very close there.
Now then, as far as f stops and the like are
concerned - if you are confident in these things, then monitor for the
central subject. If you are unsure, just set the camera on “Auto” - with
the 400 ASA pre-selected as there will be enough light to run the “auto”
settings.
So there you are. Get close, use high ASA numbers and
no flash. The Malibu Cabaret is as a good place to start. You can
practically sit on the stage and the performers will even “stop” the
action for you! Have fun.
Money Matters: Paul Gambles
MBMG International Ltd.
Does more risk mean more money? Part 2
(Figure 1)
Portfolios should be designed to reflect what the client
actually needs and what access, if any, is required to money. If an income is
needed then it is very important to make plans built around a worse case
scenario. If you look at the first graph (Figure 1) this shows that Fred is a
fifty five year old man who wants to retire in ten years time. He has one
million US dollars in assets and earns USD80,000 per annum after all deductions
but spends USD74,000 of it each year. In this case we see Fred has what is
considered to be a typical balanced fund allocation with 28% in cash and fixed
interest vehicles and 72% in equities.
If things turn out well then, in an optimistic or even
average situation, Fred will live well. However, if things do not go according
to plan and the worse case scenario prevails Fred will not have enough income to
last his lifetime.
(Figure 2)
How can this be? Is it because Fred has taken too much risk
or not enough? What can he do? Cut back on the quality of his lifestyle or take
even more risk? Actually, this would be the worst possible solution. As can be
seen from the second graph (Figure 2), if changes are made whilst keeping
spending the same then whilst increasing risk improves the mean and optimistic
state of affairs it also affects the pessimistic one as well - and not in a good
way. This should be quite obvious to anyone as the more risk is taken the
greater the possibility of different outcomes can be.
However, things need not be so. If Fred actually plans for
the pessimistic option he will achieve all his goals and, possibly even more. As
the third set of figures show, Fred can carry on taking his income of USD74,000
if he goes with a balanced/cautious approach as designed by a multi-manager,
multi-asset portfolio, but he cannot do this if he takes a more aggressive or
even more cautious approach.
It is important here to emphasise what is good for one client
is not always good for another. For example, age is an important factor. Let us
look at Harold who is in the same situation as Fred but is only forty years old.
The amount of money spent per annum is changed in our pessimistic picture until
the red line goes to nothing when the planned age of life expectancy is reached
- 93 years old. The income and spending allowed is prudent and will allow both
clients to have almost complete confidence there will be always be money for
them whilst they are alive.
3: P1 = 76% defensive assets (cash and tier 1 fixed interest), 24% risky
assets (tier 2 fixed interest, equities, and property); P2 = 68% defensive
assets, 32% risky assets; P3 = 46% defensive assets, 54% risky assets; P4 = 28%
defensive assets, 72% risky assets; P5 = 10% defensive assets, 90% risky assets.
If we look at the last box we can see that if almost no risk
is taken then the amount of money available to spend is not actually enough as
it only reaches USD72,000. However, by taking the optimal level of risk whilst
maintaining a proper level of caution, the desired amount of USD74,000 is
achieved. If the risk ratio is increased, and the worse case scenario happens
then the amount of money that can be spent each year may only be as little as
USD51,000.
Another factor which is seen is that age is important. Harold
could be slightly more aggressive if he wanted to be but then he has age on his
side. However, if he was still cautious then the mount of annual returns is not
affected greatly. Despite this it is very important not to gamble with what is
basically your future.
To go back to the beginning of this article, it is very
important people realise equities are not the be and end all of investments.
They can perform poorly both in the short and long term. Only by creating a
portfolio which will perform in all market conditions will a client get what is
wanted from his investment.
What is also critical when building a portfolio is
understanding that each and every person is different and nobody’s circumstances
are the same. However, as can be seen from above, it is actually possible to
provide clients with more income by having a more conservative portfolio than
they may have believed possible.
This is particularly relevant to people the older they get.
This is done by creating a flexible investment strategy that has no loyalty to
any particular asset class and, as stated above, taking the multi-manager, multi-asset
class alpha management approach as practised by Scott Campbell and his team at
MitonOptimal Guernsey.
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The above data and research was
compiled from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither MBMG
International Ltd nor its officers can accept any liability for any
errors or omissions in the above article nor bear any responsibility for
any losses achieved as a result of any actions taken or not taken as a
consequence of reading the above article. For more information please
contact Paul Gambles on paul@mbmg-international.com |
DVD of the Week:
By Brian Baxter
Se7en
 There
are eight deaths in the movie, Se7en. Six are hideous, grotesque: the work
of a homicidal sadist. The seventh is suicide by proxy. And the eighth is
the living death of the young hero.
It is the last which makes the film so un-Hollywood.
Unsurprisingly this climax was resisted by the money men, the suits. No
doubt its huge financial success mollified them. Without the existing
structure, it would still have been a cinematic tour de force: vivid, brutal,
well acted and – most importantly – shot and designed to create a startling
visual texture.
It would, though, have lacked the essential element of
tragedy which lifts it above the conventional cops vs. killers movie
The basic premise is that of a thousand predecessors:
think of any film about ‘sparring partners, whose initial animosity forms
the mainspring of the action and the resolution which comes about. Here one
of them is black, the other white. The former is highly intelligent, ageing,
now single and seeking retirement, disillusioned (Morgan Freeman). The
second is intuitive, ambitious, handsome and –rather indulgently, even
selfishly – married (Brad Pitt). Nothing much new there.
This odd couple is thrown together to investigate a
series of horrendous killings taking place in a nameless, rain soaked city.
The tortured victims are apparently being sacrificed as atonement for the
seven deadly sins: sloth, pride, gluttony and so on. The success of the
narrative stems from the parallel approaches taken to the investigation. For
example Freeman meticulously researches Dante and other writers in the
library, while Pitt gets a fellow cop to track down primers to the books.
But the real success of the movie is the almost tangible, gritty texture
which creates a backdrop to the fairly routine procedural drama.
The young cop has a beautiful wife (Gwyneth Paltrow)
whose seemingly modest role might easily have been played by any pretty
actress if she were simply the bridge over the troubled waters that divide
the two men. Thanks to a couple of key scenes, especially one with Freeman
she justifies the position as the movie’s catalyst, so that something of the
intense emotional undertow revolves around her.
This movie revived, perhaps launched, Fincher’s career
after the failure of Alien 3. He went on to make Fight Club (also with Pitt),
Panic Room, The Game, Zodiac and Benjamin Button among others, though only
the first recaptured the dark spirit of this movie. He is- to be honest –
the possessor of an unlovely talent, more at home with the action and
visceral aspects of the screenplay than with the more human or domestic
confrontations. Benjamin Button (again with Pitt) is a unique exception.
Se7en is not without flaws (the odd redundant scene) and
possibly we get too much of a bad thing. It has a scent, a stench, about it
that suggests exposed nerve ends and raw emotions. In one way this elevates
it above most Hollywood dross but it would have been unbearable without
Freeman’s nuanced performance which proves again – if any were needed – that
he is the rightful heir to Spencer Tracy as tinsel town’s greatest actor.
Importantly his playing unselfishly allows the brash extrovert role of Pitt
full rein against the stoical older man.
The film is thus both narrative and character driven. And
the cops emerge as sides of the same coin, sent spinning by the murderer (Kevin
Spacey) into a dance of death. As Freeman notes early on, ‘There is not
going to be a happy ending’. That you might say is the only moment of
understatement in the entire movie.
Let's Go To The Movies:
by Mark Gernpy
Now playing in Chiang Mai
Inception: US/ UK, Drama/
Mystery/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – Wow! Is this a movie and a half! A true action
film, with car chases and gunfights, but for the thinking man! It’s a puzzle
in a maze, and very exciting, to the emotions and the mind. I loved it! Has
garnered a raft of ecstatic reviews from those attuned to Christopher
Nolan’s brand of mind games, and for those who appreciate his sort of thing,
this is certainly a not-to-be-missed event. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio in
another in his string of outstanding state-of-the-art acting jobs. It’s
written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan, so it’s his baby
entirely, and it’s a worthy successor to his memorable Memento and
his dark action film, The Dark Knight. About controlling a person
through messing with his dreams. Highly recommended! See it multiple times
to get more of what’s going on; no one will ever get it all. Early reviews:
generally favorable.
Despicable Me (3D): US, Animation/ Family – This first
film from a new animation shop captures much of what one likes about Pixar
cartoons, but with a bit of a European sensibility. Though it’s an American
story, it was a Spanish animator’s idea, and realized by a French animation
house. It’s funny, clever, and filled with memorable characters, all about a
super villain, voiced by Steve Carell, who is planning the biggest heist in
the history of the world: he’s going to steal the moon. Three little orphan
girls challenge his plans. Generally favorable reviews. In 3D at Airport
Plaza, 2D and Thai-dubbed at Vista.
Pop Star / Duang Antarai: Thai, Drama – An ordinary
girl becomes involved in the life of a Thai superstar with unexpected
results. Rated 18+ in Thailand. At Major Cineplex only.
8E88 / Fan Lala: Thai, Comedy – On the eve of his
wedding, the groom is arrested as the assassin of a politician. He claims to
be innocent, but is taken to the dreaded “Zone 8E88” where he will be
induced to tell the truth. At Major Cineplex only.
Predators: US, Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – I
enjoyed this! Of its type, I thought it quite superior. I was impressed by
the fun the actors seemed to be having with their characters (Lawrence
Fishburne especially giving a deliciously-chewed performance!). I thought
the photography was striking, the mood nicely tense and forbidding, and the
music fascinating! I’m not a particular fan of this sort of action film, but
I found it quite entertaining. Starring Adrien Brody, and directed by
Hungarian filmmaker Nimrod Antal (Kontroll). Rock-solid, old-school
thrills. Mixed or average reviews.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: US, Fantasy/ Romance/
Thriller – The pack is back again! In this episode Bella (Kristen Stewart)
once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a
string of mysterious killings. In the midst of this, she is forced to choose
between her love for Edward (heartthrob Robert Pattinson, a vampire) and her
friendship with Jacob (heartthrob Taylor Lautner, member of the Quileute
Wolfpack) – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the
struggle between vampire and wolfpack, and a tissy fit between fans of each.
Mixed or average reviews. The Vista version is Thai-dubbed.
Knight and Day: US, Action/ Comedy/ Thriller –
Pleasantly amusing, as much a cute rom-com as an action flick. Mixed or
average reviews. Vista only.
Sorry Saranghaeyo / Kao Rak Ti Korea: Thai/ South
Korea, Comedy/ Romance – A Thai woman is obsessed with Korean styles in
general and one Korean heartthrob in particular, and travels with her sister
to South Korea to saturate herself in all things Korean. Directed by Poj
Arnon (Bangkok Love Story (2007)), who says that this is his first
film about a man and woman in love. He’s known for his Katoey
comedies and gay love stories.
The Karate Kid: US/ China, Action/ Drama/ Family/
Sport – Generally favorable reviews. At Vista only, and Thai-dubbed.
Scheduled for July 22
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice:
Directed by Jon Turteltaub (National Treasure 1 & 2). You remember
the plot: A sorcerer leaves his workshop in the hands of his apprentice, who
gets into trouble when the broomstick he’s tasked to do his chores for him
somehow develops a mind of its own. Well, anyway that’s the plot of the
segment in Walt Disney’s Fantasia which is supposedly the origin of
this movie. It is said that the idea was mostly Nicolas Cage’s, who wanted
to make a feature length movie based upon the Fantasia segment. The
cast is made up of Nicolas Cage as Balthazar Blake, a sorcerer and computer
simulation expert, based on the magician Yen Sid portrayed in Fantasia;
newcomer Jay Baruchel as an average college student who becomes Blake’s
apprentice – he is based on the character played by Mickey Mouse in
Fantasia; and Alfred Molina as Maxim Horvath, an evil magician. Mixed or
average reviews.
Bridge in Paradise :
by Neil Robinson
Imagine you are sitting North. You are vulnerable against E-W
non-vulnerable. East deals and passes. Your partner opens 1N and West
passes. This is your unpromising hand—what do you bid?
I have heard players answer that, with only one point,
they are too weak to bid. The truth is the opposite—they are too weak to
pass—they must bid but only if they have a bid that makes
sense. The full deal is below. If 1N is passed out, pity poor South having
to play it. South’s hand is a good 1N opener, with something in every suit
and 16 high card points. However, there are only 17 points between the two
hands. Even worse there is no entry to dummy, so dummy’s long cards are
worthless and declarer cannot get to dummy to finesse anything. West leads a
low diamond to East’s king. Soon the defence is taking six diamond tricks,
three hearts and a spade for down four and 400 points—as good as a game for
them and a poor result for you. Declarer can only take the ace of spades and
the top two clubs (the queen is onside but with no dummy entry a finesse is
not possible).
The only way the North hand is worth anything at all is
in a heart contract, allowing North to trump diamonds and providing entries
to dummy. So the answer to the question posed above is that North must
bid 2D over 1N, as a transfer to hearts. South obediently bids 2H and North
passes. The defence can take three heart tricks, two spade tricks and a
diamond, for one down and 100 points to E-W. This is a very good result for
you, because as the cards lie E-W can make 4D. In fact they can actually
make 3N played by East, probably with an overtrick because South cannot
profitably attack clubs without giving a trick to the club queen. Next week,
trash Stayman and another example of “too weak to pass”.
Bridge Club of Chiang Mai welcomes new players. For
information on the Club go to the web site www.bridgewebs.com/chiangmai. If
you have bridge questions, or to send me your interesting hands, please
contact me at: bridgethailand@live.com.
MAIL OPINION : By Shana Kongmun
The crackdown has started
It appears that the helmet and license
crackdown has started as the police can be seen in various places around
town stopping people for not wearing their helmets and issuing tickets.
Additionally, lines (or queues for our British brethren) of people waiting
were seen on the side of the road. Presumably those are the people who have
no driver’s license.
This is all to be commended. But, I do always wonder
how long they will last and once they stop, everyone will go back to the
old way and drive around with no helmet. I even saw a policeman the
other night, driving without his helmet. Do as I say, not as I do?
In light of this newest crackdown, some friends of
mine started telling me their “I went without a helmet and had to get
five stitches in my face” stories. I do always wear a helmet but have to
wonder how strong it is. And that little plastic face cover part (I am
sure there is a word for but it escapes me at the moment) seems awfully
flimsy, it seems that it might be more of a hazard as it shattered than
if it weren’t there at all.
What I would love to see, however, is not just a
crackdown but regular enforcement of traffic laws time and time again
without the need for a much touted ‘crackdown’. I would love to see
traffic police regularly writing tickets, stopping careless and reckless
drivers, enforcing helmet and seat belt laws. All those things you
expect from traffic police. Even better, I’d like to see them open some
kind of driving school that teaches people the rules of the road, and
why you need those rules. Perhaps even start in the regular government
schools. Goodness knows there are enough 10 year olds driving around now
that starting at school certainly wouldn’t hurt.
How does your garden grow?:
By Eric Danell,Dokmai Garden
What is that leaf?
The Tiger Paw morning glory
 The aim of Dokmai garden is to impart knowledge about plants in Chiang Mai.
Thereby creating awareness about plants among people. What was a green wall
of anonymous plants will, with knowledge, become a fantastic mosaic. If also
the newcomers to Chiang Mai can identify edible species, dangerous species,
rare species, medicinal species and even weeds, and then many people can
help each other in creating lovely gardens, delicious food and create
refuges for endangered plants. One problem in Chiang Mai is that it is quite
hard to identify the native plants. We all use home-made names for them, but
with its real international and scientific name, we can share the global
knowledge on how to use, or eradicate, a certain plant. Today I start with a
most conspicuous wildflower most of us have in our gardens: the Tiger Paw
morning glory (kayuhm dteen mah, Ipomoea pes-tigridis, Convolvulaceae).
To me, this is an ornamental plant. It has very interesting leaves, and the
white flowers which can be seen from April to July, are nice too. It grows
as an annual vine, not much longer than two meters. If you have an orchard
of longan trees, one possibility is to allow wild flowers grow tall,
creating what might resemble a French olive orchard. You can even introduce
native gingers, lilies and ground orchids, such as Eulophia. Such a
tall wild flower meadow usually becomes a sanctuary for predatory insects
which can keep your garden pests under control. I think the Tiger Paw
morning glory is a nice member of such a wildflower meadow.
www.dokmaigarden.co.th. www.dokmaidogma.wordpress.com.
Life in Chiang Mai:
By Mark Whitman
On being ‘A Stranger in a Strange Land’
My lot – the ‘Brits’ – are an insular race, an island
race to be sure, cut off physically from mainland Europe, as well as
mentally.
A colleague once told me how she took her parents for
their first (and possibly last) holiday to the great beyond – the Canary
Islands. They’d enjoyed the trip but, apart from rejecting the mere notion
of paella or grilled squid in favour of fish and chips, there had been a
major ‘problem’ when dealing with shops and payment.
“What I can’t understand, said the mother with the
triumphant air of having solved a tricky problem, “is why they can’t print
their money on one side and ours on the other, so we’d know what’s what”.
That was in the days of Spanish pesetas but the same fear
(borne, like most fear and prejudice, out of ignorance) informs the so
called debate about the euro.
In the case of such intrepid travelers, they cling to the
notion that it is not they who are the foreigners on the trip to another
country but the inhabitants, who should accordingly make concessions. This
is true too of many farangs who come here fully expecting Thais to ‘mend
their ways’ and adapt to European or – most especially –American standards (for
they are a race who always seem travel with a little of God’s country in
their luggage).
Such people despise the notion of being a stranger in a
strange land (to pinch the title of a Robert Heinlein novel), if only from
being inherently suspicious of the unknown. Naturally it is easier to adapt
to the familiar and an Englishman in Denmark will find the culture and
landscape compatible. In return the Danes are not that suspicious of
visitors provided, of course, that they have white skin.
But it is difficult not to feel alien in Russia or more
especially in Japan (a country with a tiny proportion of foreign residents)
where the indigenous population who look ‘different’ (too tall, too dark)
are routinely stopped by officials and asked for I.D. Scary and offensive,
as was pointed out in an article recently in the International Herald
Tribune. Such intrusions into one’s privacy are doubly daunting for those
entitled by birth to live in a country.
In Thailand the situation is further complicated, since
there are a million, perhaps two million, people living here who are from
bordering countries. Many are in camps, and many more work mainly in the
construction industry.
They are tolerated as strangers in a semi-strange land,
routinely exposed to questioning and arrest for misdemeanours (not wearing a
crash helmet when riding a motorcycle for example) for which a Thai would
expect a caution or a 200 baht fine. The incomer will pay much more and risk
confiscation of the motorbike. Such policing is explicable given the numbers
and the fact that many of those questioned are not here legally.
It is easy to see both sides of this coin and to
understand why such efforts are made by Burmese and other incomers,
especially those born here or long resident, to obtain Thai I.D. and cease
to be the ‘strangers’. But that is not an easy task; it involves a long wait,
rigorous documentation, interviews, background checks and so on. But it is
worth the hassle.
I know of one person who recently achieved this after a
six year wait, the assemblage of a thick dossier of affidavits, family
information, schooling, residency, details of work experience and so on.
This was followed by long interviews, computer checks and a further check up
in Bangkok. Such applicants tackle as many hurdles as an Olympic champion,
but the resultant I.D. is worth more than any gold medal.
There was no resentment to this rigorous process, which
was accepted as fair and necessary. Such stringency was understandably more
acceptable to the victors than to those refused the application. The effect
is multi layered. It means an increase in personal status, a feeling of
being more secure and of being part of the society in which one lives and
works.
There are also tangible results, not least a change to
the Thai minimum wage or legal self employment. And better insurance when
working plus the invaluable 30 baht a day hospital treatment, introduced by
Mr. Thaksin. It also means that motorcycle and driving licences can be
obtained. And a new residency book is issued.
The 1900-baht a year card previously needed to permit
travel within the country is a thing of the past: the I.D card is
sufficient. Also a passport can be obtained. Property can be bought or
inherited and such things as an interest yielding account may be opened. You
are, in short, a paid up member of the country where you may have lived for
decades or been born. And yes, you can even volunteer to served in the Thai
army, or be called up if you are young enough.
Well, nobody ever said we live in a perfect world.
Day Tripper:
By Heather Allen
Pamper yourself for a day
Kad Suan Kaew massage ladies in action.
Oasis Spa on Nimmanhaemin
offers an elegant and relaxing spa atmosphere.
While not really a day out of Chiang Mai, sometimes it’s
a nice luxury to pamper oneself and in that sense, Chiang Mai abounds with
options. Day spas galore, from the high end hotels, high end spas to the
little place around the corner that will give you a foot massage, pedicure
and slough off all those unattractive calluses..
The Oasis spa had a half off promotion last month, this
month they are offering a free body scrub with the purchase of a massage.
The serene Ban Sabai offers accommodation for those who want to take a rest
from the hurly burly of home. The Devi at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi
not only has spa treatments but offers Ayurvedic medicine for those seeing
alternative treatments.
Tao Garden offers alternative treatments as well with chi
massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture, fasting and cleansing programs and more.
Other traditional Chinese medicines can be found but in a less spa like
atmosphere as can Ayurvedic medicine.
Around every corner, it seems, one can find traditional
Thai massage, from the ladies on the ground floor of Kad Suan Kaew (a
bargain at 130 baht for one hour) to the astonishing four hand massage at
Oasis. You can get oil massages, foot massages, even face massages!
For those more beauty inclined, various spas and clinics
offer skin treatments, Absolute Skin Care just before Chiang Mai Ram offers
some very interesting treatments, from skin tightening to melasma. Many of
the day spas across the city offer body wraps, cellulite massage, and
hydrotherapy.
A stroll around the Nimman area, including spa alley
Sirimangkalajarn, yields an abundance of day spas and skin care. You can
even bring Fido along and drop him off for a bath, a trim or a hot oil
massage at the doggie spa just at the bridge behind Kad Suan Kaew!
Men should give some of these a try and they will find
out why women have been flocking to these places. There is nothing more
relaxing than taking a few hours out of your busy schedule for some
pampering.
Staying happy in Paradise - the Counseling Corner
Richard L. Fellner
Frustration in the bedroom: Impotence
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined by the inability of
a man to maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse in more than two-thirds
of the attempts during half a year. So if it only ‘doesn’t work’ now and
then, it isn’t a disorder requiring treatment. But with age, more men have
to deal with ED: only one in ten 40 to 49-year-old men is affected, but
among 60 to 69-year-olds it is at least one in three.
Especially in older men, physical conditions often
cause or at least contribute to ED, while in men under 55, there are
almost always mental triggers. ‘Magic bullets’ like Viagra are therefore
not really advisable for this younger group of men, not only out of the
possible adverse consequences of long-term use, but also for the risk of
a psychological dependency on the ‘power pill’.
As an ED can be indicative of heart, cardiovascular
and other serious diseases, a medical checkup is the first thing to do.
If no physical causes can be found, however, a few counseling sessions
with a sex therapist can often set a new pace. ‘I feel incredibly
liberated,’ a client once said at the end of our sessions. Indeed,
trying to improve their ‘sexual fitness’, many men can give new and more
positive impetus to their own sexuality. For what could be more fair in
sex than Men’s Lib?
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Live the happy life you planned! Richard
L. Fellner is head of the Counseling Center Pattaya in Soi
Kopai and offers consultations in English and German
languages after making appointments at 0854 370 470. |
BIRDWATCHING TALES: Lapwings territory
 By
Mike Gilman
As the Blackbird’s song is so quintessentially
English, Thailand has an equivalent songster, the Red Wattled Lapwing.
To differentiate both calls could not be easier, as they are so
different, yet once heard the species can be denoted from near or afar.
The delights of nest building and the rearing of
fledglings is already well underway in Thailand. Busy bills carrying dry
grass, reeds and small sticks pursue the ‘fetch and carry’ routine
monotonously. At this time of year birds become non-stop work alcoholics,
and we have been fortunate enough to watch Magpie-Robins, Munias, Mynas,
Drongos, Weavers and Swallows, all engaged fulfilling their naturalistic
rituals. In May we drove along route 107 from Chiang Mai and headed for
the province’s far northern town of Fang. This rolling-hills countryside
location is famed for its hot springs, health spas, orange plantations,
garlic and onion farms. There on a clear day vistas of the mountains,
Doi Ang Khang and the 2285mts, (7,495ft) high Doi Phahompok can be seen
towards the north-west, forming a geographic buffer from Burma’s border.
Three black mottled Lapwing eggs. (Photo by Ubon Gilman)
We took the ‘hot springs’ route from Fang and
carefully negotiated the twisting narrow lane. A tall coconut tree with
unusual shaped hanging nests caught our eyes, and we diverted onto an
arid cart track. The shimmering heat-haze ahead forewarned us of the
sultry conditions as we sought shaded shelter in a nearby coniferous
copse. A bubbling brook at our feet had a calming-cooling effect as it
meandered by, without a care in the world. Immediately ahead were the
hanging nests, with binoculars raised we marvelled at the trunk-like
shapes and watched yellow capped, thick billed birds weave long strands
of grass around the tubular forms. The Sparrow-sized Baya Weaver birds
are in a ‘weaving and aerialist ‘ class of their own. This talent is
truly a gift of nature, and yet the more we watched proceedings we
concluded that only the males build nests, and once partially completed
they will seek-out a mate. It is not uncommon for the male birds to
initiate the building of several nests as both sexes are polygamous.
Red Wattled Lapwing in pensive mode. (Photo by Ubon Gilman)
Early June saw us seeking pastures new as we ventured
to unknown ‘off the beaten track’ scrub-land, not too far from our home.
It was still early in the day with the fire-ball creeping ever higher
above the eastern hills. Pacing around rocky outcrops we stopped
abruptly as alarm calls of agitated breeding birds with flapping wings
engulfed us. As we soon came to realise the Red Wattled Lapwings were
very territorial. This species is 33cm long, and sport red bills and
long yellow legs. Their black heads contrast well with a white patch
behind the eyes, making recognition easy. Habitually they make short
sprints along the ground, similar to the Plover family. We were standing
on open stony ground, and by extremely good fortune looked down to see a
clutch of three black mottled eggs, they were lying together amid
similar coloured stones. Their disguise was almost perfect, as is
nature’s way. Not wanting to cause anymore disturbance we retreated from
the area. As day followed day we spied the nest location from 100 meters
distance, eager to know if the hatchings’ had been successful, and as to
the fledglings advancement. During the last week of June we saw the
family of five, standing near to their nesting area. A sight we will not
forget. Despite keeping our distance away from the Lapwings stony nest,
their call became quite familiar to us, and to their would-be predators
too.
Many birds lay eggs on the ground and the hazards
therein are well known. Certainly snakes and other reptiles abound in
the area mentioned, yet amazingly both the eggs and fledglings survived.
Our local countryside comprises of many paddy fields
and large ponds. Recently we walked in a wooded area close to a pond,
and were rewarded by seeing an Ashy Wood-Swallow sitting on its nest.
This drab-grey and purplish coloured bird is by no means an artist’s
palette, however that becomes incidental once it’s masterly airborne
agility is observed. The pond was a perfect back-drop, a magnet for
airborne insects, and ideal for a quick snack. From this natural
supermarket insects would be garnered to feed the forthcoming
fledglings. Standing at a safe distance we watched the daily progress of
three fledglings, and the adults harvesting them with all manner of
fresh goodies. At the end of June both adults and juveniles were seen
during their aerial feeding missions.
Some of the earliest chicks we saw in April this year
were a pair of Brahminy Kites. Alongside the Andaman coast stood tall
Casuarina trees, we took advantage of their shade one day, and looking
skywards noticed an adult raptor circling ominously above the tree tops.
With binoculars raised we scoured the upper most branches and discovered
a nest of thick sticks and bracken, interwoven between branch forks. Two
chicks were seen peering out to sea, anxiously awaiting their parents
return with yet more fishy delights. Returning to the same area two
weeks later the once fluffy chicks had grown to almost adult size.
Sitting upright within the nest they were stretching their wings, eager
to take that first flight adventure. Enjoy the gifts of nature.
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