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Book Review: A Guide to Healthy Living in Thailand and Southeast Asia
King Crimson - Three of a Perfect Pair by Mott the Dog **** 4 Stars Rating Definitely a dog with two tails, this collection from Britain’s premier progressive rockers King Crimson, who as ever are led by the musician’s musician Mr. Robert Fripp. The first four songs on the album are more heavily influenced by Robert Fripp’s sidekick Adrian Belew, showing off Crimsons, dare I say it, poppier sound, where all band members sound as if they are quite happy to entertain us. In fact “Sleepless” was very nearly a hit single for the band with its slap bass style, and the title song is classic pop rock with its exasperated call to make sense out of that thing we call love. But after these four little ditties comes the heavy prog-rock dinosaur that is more probably the real King Crimson. You are lulled into a false sense of security by the lilting lullaby (“Nuages” that which passes, passes like clouds) then “Industry” gives you a sonic description of a scrap yard crew at work, full of saws, drills, & piston engines, without even the faintest apology that they just plain don’t bother with any vocals to give you a glimmer of what’s going on; a crazy idea yes, but take a listen, it really works. By way of making it up to the listener the next piece of music (well you can hardly call them songs) is “Dig Me”, the band’s tribute to old cars, with the whimsical words of the forlorn car, “Once I was worshipped, polished magnificently, now I live in decay by the dirty angry bay”, “Dig me but don’t bury me”. “No Warning” is a chance for Bill Bruford to show off his chops, on both the acoustic & electric drums. The music is drawn to a conclusion by the latest chapter in “The larks tongue in aspic”; this being part 3, a blend of all that’s gone before in all editions of every “King Crimson” lineup from the beginning of time, a fitting end as this would be better termed as “King Black”. The music is heavy, disturbing stuff that is just sure to alienate your neighbors. It would be a far stretch to call this music Rock ‘n’ Roll, but it is certainly very invigorating. The multi facets of this King Crimson obviously got too much for the musicians at this point, as without touring this album, Robert Fripp retired the band for the next decade, but as ever they came back and the story continues today. King Crimson are an acquired taste, well worth the effort, but I feel this album is a little confusing with its two very different parts, so it’s not an easy album for a beginner, so therefore I deduct 1 star for self indulgence, but do highly recommend further investigation. Robert Fripp - Guitar & Genius Track Listing 1. Three of a Perfect Pair
Movie Review: The Princess Diaries By Poppy Do you remember when you were a child how you used sit and dream that you were really a prince or a princess? Well, for fifteen-year-old Mia the dream comes true. She finds out that her father is the Prince of Genovia and she is the sole heir to the throne. She is given the choice to stay in Manhattan with her mother an artist, or be a princess in Genovia. “My expectation in life is to be invisible, and I’m good at it,” Mia (Anne Hathaway) proclaims at the beginning of the movie. Mia is not a popular teenager at school; she has nothing much to recommend her apart from brains, and she’s plain and ordinary. But while she contemplates accepting or renouncing her royalty, Mia does acquiesce to getting the “Pygmalion” treatment from her grandmother (Julie Andrews).
It’s a silly movie and a bit too long but the youngsters will like it as will those of us still children at heart. Directed by Garry Marshall Cast: Anne Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis
Updated every Friday Updated by
Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk. |
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The
next large section covers general health issues, including blood
transfusions, highlighting the fact that the Rhesus Negative blood is rare
in Thai nationals (less than 0.3%) while this blood type is present in 15%
of expats. Even “herbal” dietary control is mentioned, with the
chilling evidence that many of the so-called “herbal” or “natural”
appetite suppressants are in fact banned western pharmaceuticals. Caveat
emptor! There is also a list of drugs and their effects during pregnancy.
This is a most complete book.
Mott’s CD review:
Keeping
her new identity a secret becomes more and more difficult especially with
driver/bodyguard/father-figure confidant (Hector Elizondo) that sticks close
to her at grandma’s insistence. Of course it isn’t long before Mia’s
secret is out, what with her conspicuous new look (straight, shiny locks,
plucked brows, makeup and contact lenses). Suddenly she’s the school’s
“it” girl, a boy magnet and a local media darling - and she’s just not
sure how to cope.