HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Family Money

Snap Shots

Modern Medicine

Women's World

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Grapevine

Antiques, are they genuine?

Social Commentary by Khai Khem

Roll over Rover

A Slice of Thai History

The Message In The Moon

Coins of the Realm

Family Money: Understanding Risk

By Leslie Wright,
Managing director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd.

All investments carry risk, and it is important to understand and accept this. Even putting cash in a deposit account carries two risks: one that the currency doesn’t devalue; and another that the bank itself does not collapse.

The economic crash in Argentina, followed by the consequent run on bank deposits and the devaluation of the peso, is a striking example of just how fragile a financial system can be - in case you’ve forgotten what happened in Asia in 1997, starting with the currency meltdown in Thailand.

Then there’s Japan. On February 9th 2002, the value of Japan’s main stock market index, the Nikkei 225, dipped below the main US stock market, the Dow Jones, for the first time in 45 years. Back in 1989, at the height of Japan’s popularity with the world’s investment industry, the market capitalisation of Japanese stocks accounted for 45% of the world total - more than the US and Europe combined. Then, the Nikkei 225 was 15 times higher than the Dow Jones Index.

Continued problems and an inability to engage fundamental reform have blighted Japan with a weak economy for the past decade. Now Japan accounts for less than 20% of world stock market capitalisation, corporate bankruptcies abound, unemployment has breached 5%, and thousands of its banks and companies are struggling under bad loans.

Different things to different folk

The word ‘risk’ can in fact mean two very different things: either historical volatility (so investments such as cash and bonds are the least risky); or a measurement of long-term performance (in which case equities, which historically outperform bonds and cash, could also be defined as the least risky).

For most people, the former definition is more pertinent. Fund volatility, as measured by Standard & Poor’s, for instance, measures the standard deviation of a fund’s monthly total returns over the most recent 36-month period. The higher the figure the more volatile that fund’s monthly performance has been. While this is a useful guide to how volatile a particular fund sector has behaved in the past, it doesn’t inform about the underlying risk of a sector or give any indications of any possible future problems.

One famous example of how things can come seriously unstuck if your viewing window is skewed is that of Victor Niederhoffer, a hedge fund operator who believed that markets would never fall by more than 5% in a single day. He had checked his recent history and found this was true in the five-year period between 1993 and 1997, with the largest single day fall being 3.1%. Then October 27th 1997 occurred, the market fell 7% and he was wiped out. Had he remembered the events of 1987 and realised it was only 8 days to the 10th anniversary of a one-day loss in the market of 20.4% he might have saved himself. Such is risk.

Risk, whether intuitive or mathematical, requires human input to determine its value. The utility placed on buying a share, a bond, a mutual fund or unit trust - or even a lottery ticket, will be different from person to person and from day to day, which will mean the risk they are prepared to take will have different values. Consequently, the idea of a single figure encapsulating risk is nonsense. Risk depends upon what aspect of it you are trying to measure and the value each individual places on each aspect of risk.

General rules

While ‘risk’ as a benchmark is hard to quantify, some general rules can be deciphered. Perhaps the best known is that equities outperform bonds over the long term, despite frequent short-term volatility.

A new study of equity returns in 16 industrialised countries since 1900, by the London Business School with Dutch bank ABN Amro, has confirmed this. Looking back over this period, equities have in all countries, from Denmark to Germany to Australia, been the best performing asset class, with real returns around 4% to 6% per year.

In each case, the report found that returns from equities are greater than bonds. For instance, ฃ1 invested in UK equities in 1900 would today be worth ฃ14,080 or ฃ252 after adjusting for inflation. ฃ1 invested in UK bonds would today be worth ฃ205 or under ฃ4 after adjusting for inflation.

While concluding that equities have generally been a better bet, the research also concludes that equity investment is still risky, nonetheless. Since 1900, the volatility of the UK and US stock markets has been high - an annual risk (standard deviation) of some 20% - with nearly all other equity markets even more risky than the UK and US.

Although two consecutive years of negative stock market returns are not uncommon, such as over 2000 and 2001, the scale of the recent decline is historically high. The 18-month bear market that began in March 2000 produced negative returns of 34% in the US, 29% in the UK and 39% (in US dollars) worldwide. The only post-war period with lower returns was the bear market from 1973 to 1974, when US equities fell by half and UK equities by two-thirds. Indeed, between 2000 and 2001, bonds were the best performing asset in every major world market except Ireland, where equities outperformed, and the UK, where cash beat bonds.

Diversity is the spice

Many commentators are predicting a more muted equity environment over the coming years, especially given the burnt fingers from the technology bust and rampant “Enronitis” currently spreading throughout the corporate and investment world. Institutional investors for one have taken note, with a recent marked trend of lowering equities’ allocations to pension funds.

The London Business School/ABN Amro report argues that to counter potential risk and volatility, investors - whether institutional or private - should diversify their portfolios. I have been singing that song for many years. Diversifying across different sectors, asset classes and investments often reduces the volatility without compromising on performance.

But what constitutes an appropriate portfolio for one potential investor may be inappropriate for another. What is regarded as high risk for one person may be low risk for another - and that risk has to be interpreted individually and for each occasion.

Snap Shot: Is Harry turning into Hillary?

by Harry Flashman

I received the following two queries this past couple of weeks, and since they have a general interest I have decided to answer them via the column.

Dear Mr. Flashman,

I cannot believe that I am writing a letter (email) to someone who does not exist! I tried to phone you about 10 minutes ago to be told by your switchboard operator that there is no-one there by that name. May I suggest that you introduce yourself to her and let her know your “ghost-writers” name! Believing in spirits as she probably does, I am sure that she will have no problem in believing in a “ghost-writer.” I decided to try to get information as a result of your photography article on Page 10 of the Pattaya Mail of 22-28 March.

However, to get to the point of my question. I have a valued photograph which, unfortunately, took on rainwater due to some very successful roofing structures! This photograph is now solidly stuck to the glass and in fact in one or two places has “shed” a bit of the picture/photograph which would have to be “touched up”. Two questions, please:

1) Is there a shop/studio in Pattaya that can successfully remove the picture from the glass and then successfully touch-up the photograph?

2) If not, can the photo be “re-photographed” with the necessary touch-up?

I can be contacted via the next Pattaya Mail.

Thanking you,

Bob

Dear Bob,

Sorry the switchboard gave you some misinformation, but if you have lived for a while in the mystic East you will know that to be told that there is no-one there by that name just means the person was not in when you called. Now, regarding your problem - if you try and soak the photograph off you will probably do more damage (if it was a glazed B&W print you “may” be able to get it off, but do not try that yet). Take the print with its glass to a reasonably competent photo-processor and ask them to make a copy of the print, through the glass and retouch as necessary. After you have the copy, then try soaking the print away from the glass. I use the Kodak place just past the Golden Beach Hotel on Second Road. They are very helpful people and they will try their best for you.

Harry

Dear Harry Flashman,

I always read your Snap Shot column in the “Mail”, and find a lot of useful information there. Thank you. I loved the article in Vol. X No 13 about the new Nikon SLR and about the ‘pin-sharp’ pictures it takes. But hey, obviously the photo of the camera was not taken with a Nikon. What happened? Very blurred! It looks like some of the shots I take. By the way, is there anyone in the Pattaya area that can take a look at some of my photos and advise on what I’m doing wrong? I use SLR cameras (not Nikon), and I have been very dissatisfied with my photos lately. Is it the camera, the lenses, or the ‘nut’ that holds the camera?

Kind regards,

Gunnar

Dear Gunnar,

Thank you for your letter too. I have to admit that the FM3A pic was not too good by the time it ended up in newsprint. It was actually downloaded from Nikon’s own web-site, so I will not take too much of the blame. I agree, though, shots taken with my old Nikons are better than that - but pictures from the web can be scanned at very low resolution and downloading is often disappointing.

As regards your own shots, if you would like to leave some at the Pattaya Mail office, clearly marked “For Harry Flashman, c/o Khun Poo” I will happily look at them and critique (constructively) where necessary. A few details will assist, such as any technical data (aperture/shutter speed) and model of camera. Leave them with me for a couple of weeks before reclaiming from the Pattaya Mail office.

Modern Medicine: Dangerous Liaisons!

by Dr Iain Corness, Consultant

Well, that got your interest up, didn’t it? There are (have been) plenty of dangerous liaisons in the world, and we’ve probably all had one (or two)? However, the liaisons I want to discuss today are the interactions between various drugs and how to avoid a fairly explosive situation in the way some drugs can interact with you.

What is the commonest drug taken by human beings in the western world? Hands up all of you who said alcohol. Yes, our old friend ethanol, AKA booze, is really a drug. It is a depressant, it dilates arteries and does all kinds of neat things to the body (and the brain). One of the big problems though, is that alcohol can heighten the effects of other drugs. In other words, it is not a simple 1+1 additive effect - the combination multiplies the effects of both the alcohol and the other drug too. For example, the anti-anxiety drug Valium (which I used to call the “Health Food of the Nation” in my younger and more cynical days) plus alcohol make a very nasty cocktail. This combination produces “space” travel without having to go to Cape Canaveral. A most dangerous way to be bombed out of your brain.

Simple cough medicines are another group of drugs that do not combine well with alcohol. A couple of beers and a shot of something for your cough can combine to produce a lethal combination. Lethal in the fact that the interaction can make you fall asleep at the wheel.

Let’s imagine that you have now found out that you have high blood pressure and have gone on a type of medication called Beta Blockers. They do work well at reducing blood pressure. They also stop trembling hands, and many people take them for this - even concert pianists. There are some drawbacks, though. One it can exacerbate asthma, and two, it can make Willy the Wonder Wand not work like it used to. A dangerous way to draw a halt to dangerous liaisons!

Some of you will be on medication to reduce your blood sugar, a condition we sometimes called NIDDM (Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus). You may also get indigestion. There is a particularly nasty interaction between certain sugar reducers and some antacids, which can make you go into a hypoglycaemic coma. Again, not the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Now here’s one for all the people who have had a stroke, or a heart attack or a deep vein thrombosis and have been put on a blood thinner, such as warfarin (also known as “rat poison”). Got a headache today? Taken a common old aspirin for it? You have just set the scene for a haemorrhage, as the effects of these two are again multiplied.

So just what is the message I am putting across this week? Well, it is simple. Whilst it is great that you can just wander into a pharmacy and buy all the cheap drugs you want and self-medicate with whatever you think you need, there can be a downside to all this. And it can be a big downside. Letting your doctor prescribe is much safer than doing it yourself. After all, the doctor has been trained to look for the dangerous liaisons!

Women’s World: What a horrible thought hair loss

by Lesley Warner

We tend to assume that this is a ‘male thing’ but it’s not. Where it seems acceptable in a man I’m quite sure that it will never be accepted for a women to be bald!

In America alone it is estimated that over 25 million women suffer the effects of female hair loss and the emotional distress it causes.

Normal hair shedding is approximately 100 hairs per day. (I wonder how they know? Can you imagine trying to count them?) A lower number of hairs lost would apply to those whose hair is already thin. It’s considered not normal when the daily hair loss exceeds 100 hairs. In female pattern hair loss, when the affected hair is shed, the root grows one in its place that is shorter. Eventually it becomes invisible “peach fuzz”. Genetically, hair loss can come from either parent’s side of the family.

Men have a much higher level of the androgen testosterone. This is the hormone that is responsible for male sexual characteristics and when the body converts it to DHT, it becomes the main culprit in causing baldness. Fortunately, for once, the much lower levels of testosterone in women spare them from the extensive hair loss that is often seen in men.

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern alopecia and may begin as early as puberty. Alopecia means baldness but it does not have to be complete hair loss. Unlike men, women rarely become “bald” in the true sense, but many experience significant overall thinning and a reduction in hair shaft diameter, particularly around the forehead and crown of the scalp as they age. In these cases if there are signs of a hormone imbalance, such as excess facial or body hair, a hormone evaluation should be done. Hormonal changes are a common cause of female hair loss.

Apparently a pattern for hair loss can also begin at around the age 40 or with the onset of menopause. What did we do to deserve menstruation and all that goes with it from the beginning to the end? I can’t believe it’s all down to eating an apple...

Before menopause, various forms of estrogen block the steroid hormone responsible for hair loss (testosterone) resulting in low levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) being produced in the skin and follicle region. Once women enter menopause, their levels of estrogen decline and more testosterone is then bio-available to be converted to DHT (the known cause of non-traumatic hair loss) in the root bulb and stem cell regions. This results in a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and eventually, general effluvium or shedding. As women enter their 80s and 90s, the follicle itself can shrink and stop producing hair completely. By then will I care?

There can also be more localized hair loss that occurs around the hairline after face-lift surgery. Also, hair loss occurs with constant tugging on the hair, so be careful when you drag your daughter’s hair back into that ponytail all her school life. Both of these conditions can be treated with hair transplantation.

Fortunately, according to research survey’s the most common causes of hair loss in women are not related to inherited genes but to temporary metabolic problems associated with pregnancy, unusual stress, chemotherapy, crash diets/anorexia, thyroid hormone deficiency, major surgery, severe infection or high fever. Certain drugs can also take their toll on once lush and healthy tresses. However, these conditions are usually temporary and once the “trauma” is over, the hair stops falling out and generally grows back as good as new.

There are various creams and other concoctions on the market that promise miracle regeneration of hair growth but I would be reluctant to recommend any. There are various surgical procedures now available for replanting hair; this suits some people and not others. Professional counseling might be of help. Perms, dyes and other cosmetic options can be used to give a fuller appearance to hair. Contrary to popular belief, shampooing does not increase hair loss. A consultation with a skilled specialist to discuss your options is advised. There are also some great wigs on offer these days.

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Dear Hillary,

In your reply to Enquirer you posed the question as to your location when drafting replies. I’ve heard that you have gone back to Australia and you write the column from there. True or false?

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Oh Heaven, Kevin! I hope there was no financial stake here. Hillary is not in Australia, my Petal, but if you are offering to take me there, all expenses and as much champagne as I can drink, I could be tempted! They tell me the Australians make a reasonable champagne (or Methode Champenoise, as my friend Ranjith from the Royal Cliff Wine Club tells me). No, let me assure you that Hillary is very much alive and living permanently in Pattaya. Once a week I take my string shopping bag and call into the Pattaya Mail offices to check my pigeonhole and have a quick look in the fridge for champagne and chocolates, and then take all your little morsels home. Every Saturday evening I do not go outside my little condo since the Pattaya streets are now an endless clotted mass of motor cars thanks to the Amazing (“Wisdom”) Fair, so I use this time to read your letters and reply to them. All done right here in Pattaya.

Dear Hillary,

My girlfriend is wonderful in every way, other than the fact that she lives at home with her family. We have been seeing each other for almost a year and I am tired of living on my own, as I have been for the past year. My girlfriend and I agree on every point, other than the fact that she says she cannot stay with me as her family would not allow it. Is there something different with Thai women? After this length of time any of my UK girls would have moved in lock, stock and barrel. Other friends of mine have had no end of girls staying with them, though I have to say that these were girls from the bars. My girlfriend is not one of those girls. How do you get a Thai girl who lives at home with her family to move in with you? Any tips are gratefully received.

Bill

Dear Bill,

You have fallen into the trap of thinking that all girls in Pattaya are easy. They are not, as you are in the process of finding out. There is much to be done before you are going to prise your lady friend away from the family. There is a bill to be paid, Bill. Even if your lady has told her family that she would like to change her address and take up residence with you and your sweaty socks, then there will be prior approval of you required, plus approval of your financial status which will be judged as being appropriate when a large wedge of it leaves your home and moves in to her family home. Dowry is important, Petal. If you haven’t even reached that stage of negotiation, then you are still several months away from your goal of co-habitation. If it were easy then there would be no need for bars in Pattaya, would there? It is time for you to broach the subject with the lady and then start haggling from there. Bargaining is part of life in this country - in all spheres, including the affairs of the heart. Of course, if all else fails, you could always try moving in with her!

Sawasdee kha, Khun Hillary,

I’m a Thai lady 24 years lived in Pattaya. I wondering that is there any farang who like a girl not work in bar? Thank you na kha.

Aor

Dear Aor,

I am sure there are many, many farangs who are looking for girls who do not work in bars. Particularly judging by the agonized letters I get from the farangs who have picked up their life’s partner from the “Till the Money Runs Out a-Go-Go”. However, the hard part is that to meet the farangs you are looking for, you generally have to be in a bar to do it, as that is where the local farangs meet and socialize. What Hillary suggests is that you watch the Pattaya Mail for concerts and special nights at the various Pattaya ex-pat hang-outs like Shenanigans, Henry J Beans, Moon River Pub and the like and go along. Enjoy the music and talk to any farang who is also enjoying the music and who comes up and sits next to you. Give him a card with your name and phone number at the end of the night if you like him and go from there. Best of luck.

Dear Hillary,

As I am getting older (I am now 64) I have noticed a certain problem happening in the behind the bedroom door department. My friends say I should try taking some vitamin pills, but I don’t know which ones I should get. Is Vitamin C good for this? Or is Vitamin B better? Where do you get them from too? Thank you in advance.

Rodger

Dear Rodger,

Here’s the answer to make you into a “jolly Rodger” - the only vitamin you need is Vitamin “V” but you do not buy it in the health shops. You should go and get a check-up at the hospital and discuss the bedroom problems with your doctor. The magic blue “V” tablet is available legally in Pattaya on prescription.

Grapevine

Antiques, are they genuine? Inlaid carvings

by Apichart Panyadee

So far we have only looked at okimono carved from single pieces of ivory. There was, however, a long established tradition of netsuke with small details such as the eyes inlaid in a different material; tortoiseshell for example.

Over the years, through degradation of the glue or a knock, an eye may have been lost, so both should be checked to see that they have the same amount of wear and patina. The smart restorer replaces both pupils and if this is done well there is unlikely to be any great loss of value.

This wood replica of a rabbit was copied from an illustration in the Raymond Bushell catalogue. The copyist has engraved the details crudely and the patina has been imitated with a stain of inferior quality.

Later netsuke, figures and works of art could have considerable amounts of inlay in mother-of-pearl, amber, coconut, tortoiseshell and stained ivory. Again, these may have been lost over time and replaced. A careful comparison with the color and tone of remaining inlay may reveal discrepancies. Inlays into lacquer grounds are particularly difficult to replace accurately and usually show a gap between the ground and the inset. This is because when they were first made, the ground was applied up to already fixed inlays. The resetting, as opposed to replacement, of lost pieces does not detract if done properly.

Sectional figures

Towards the end of the 19th century, as the market for ivories exported to the West increased, sectional figures were produced from separate pieces. Many of these were off-cuts sold by the markers of large carvings. These figures often mixed walrus and bone and there are two distinct grades of them.

The first is of exceptionally finely carved groups which had to be constructed from several pieces as no single tusk was large enough to accommodate them. What should be watched for here is the replacement of a lost part by one newly carved. The most obviously delicate sections such as pipes, tools, arrows, small boxes, etc. should be examined for changes in color or texture of the ivory. This is a downgrading of quality and may also entail a slight change in scale. A substitution of a lost piece by something appropriate from a group too damaged to be of any use but of comparable quality will not affect the value.

Many of these sectional groups were signed on a small red lacquer panel let into the base, and the belief seems to have arisen that a lacquer reserve indicates quality. However, both the best and the junk can have this feature, so the collector must look for the care with which the signature has been engraved. Good advice is to beware of the thin, spidery hand. New lacquer signatures have also been noted on originally unsigned pieces.

The Tokyo School carvings produced from the end of the 19th century up until the First World War usually came from a single large tusk, and they have risen in value dramatically over the decades. The major carvers, such as Ishikawsa Komei and Yoshida Homei are now becoming recognized. There is no likelihood of reproductions of their work ever being made as their skills are no longer around to produce them. But carvings bearing Ishikawa’s name (though too poorly done to be by his hand) were produced. These are on the market and have deceived people who paid too much attention to the signature and not enough to the actual quality of the piece.

Social Commentary by Khai Khem

The Fine Line

Apparently there are some objections to the new initiative of Pattaya’s Thai Wisdom Fair because of the chaos it has provoked with parking and traffic, plus the inconvenience it causes residents who want to patronize business in close proximity to Beach Road. Since we have been informed that the Fair will continue in spite of the nuisance it’s causing it looks like we’ll have to put up with it for awhile. It may or may not die a natural death, but at the moment it serves a purpose.

The One Tambon One Product campaign is being promoted to give Thais a chance to earn a living. Personally I think this whole idea can eventually be removed to another area as a permanent bazaar and the participants will not suffer. Pattaya still has a lot of important tourist activities on the calendar for the next couple of months. The Songkran Festival is nearly upon us and the US military will arrive for Cobra Gold in May. To abort the Thai Wisdom Fair now would be premature.

We’ve been told by the authorities that when construction begins on Beach Road again the Fair will be affected. Of course the aggravation of the construction will replace the inconvenience of the Fair, but I suppose since Pattaya is not a ‘finished product’ the city will always be in a state of flux. The monsoon season would have put the Fair out of business for awhile anyway, so as Buddhism tells us, nothing in the universe is permanent.

This is an honest question: Why did the organizers of the Fair name it the Thai Wisdom Fair? What has wisdom got to do with this? Was it a botch in English translation or is it a reference to how very clever our city leaders are in their regard for Fun City? Perhaps it refers to the cleverness of the products made in the Tambons. Whatever the reason, like most things which have been introduced to Pattaya, it will mutate into something uncontrollable and eventually be replaced by another bright idea for that particular location and the Fair may re-appear somewhere down a side road or an empty field.

I particularly liked the announcement that this whole idea is not costing the city more money with an extra budget allocation. I wonder how that can be. All those extra police and officials who monitor the area and reroute traffic may putting in their extra man hours for free. Surely the Sunday morning clean-up must involve more work. Civic pride may be a motivation in some places, but why does one get the impression that law-enforcement in Thailand is more of an entrepreneurial endeavor than a profession? Of course we are in the middle of a social order crackdown, so perhaps things are really going to change. If so, Bravo!

If the Thai Wisdom Fair becomes a permanent feature on Beach Road and the Bali High Pier is finished, there are some eventual scenarios I can see coming to pass. With the exception of some of the high-end investment which has been made in this area, the ‘tenderloin’ of the city is still pretty shabby. Some of the ramshackle egg-crate architecture of the Bauhaus School of socialist design known as the Southeast Asian shop-house is sitting on some very expensive real estate right now. Eventually the sleazy businesses and the sector of population - both Thai and foreign - which inhabits and patronizes this area will be priced out of the market. A combination of the MOI’s new social order campaign and consistent enforcement of regulations now in existence could uproot the core of what has made Pattaya famous around the world. Yes, I know - we can split hairs about fame or infamy but whichever; it has put us on the map.

We are walking a delicate line between destroying the soul of the city (and reconstructing a new one) and preserving some of the laid-back fun and open-mindedness which has served the growth of this sea-side resort town well through the years. If we kill off everything about Pattaya which has made it so notorious, we may have a more livable city for the future, but we will lose something which has made us unique.

I happened to be living in Singapore when it was being torn down and rebuilt into a city so antiseptic that a decade later the politicos appealed to business leaders to resurrect the infamous Bugis Street. And so it was done. The result was similar to a body exhumed from the grave. And just as popular.

Roll over Rover: Choosing and using gates

by C. Schloemer

Some people keep their dogs outside, day and night and in all weather. House dogs usually have the run of the home. Gates are optional, but if you have a puppy or a young dog, you will probably find them useful. They are great to close off a play area or confine your dog if you are leaving the house. A crate is another option.

Be sure to buy gates made of quality wood, metal, or non-toxic vinyl mesh and ones that are pressurized to fit your doorways. If you have breeds known for their athletic ability, look for extra tall versions.

When considering where to confine your dog, keep some things in mind. Choose an area with linoleum or tiled floors in case of mishaps or accidents so the area is easily cleaned. Keep the area clear of loose objects that might be tempting to chew on or swallow. Check electrical cords and keep them out of reach. If they are on the ground level, tape them to the wall securely.

Left alone, dogs are mischievous. Gates can also isolate dogs from off-limit areas and are handy for blocking dangerous stairways, ledges, porches or balconies.

If you leave your dog confined when you are home does he go nuts?

Your dog is suffering from isolation anxiety. A social creature, he doesn’t understand why he is trapped away from you. Of course an untrained dog let free can be a nuisance but we will be discussing how to remedy this situation to the satisfaction of both dog and owner in a later column.

Dogs also go nuts when they are confined when company arrives. Here too, they are frustrated at being left out. Behind gates, most dogs get very excited. They jump, bark and get over stimulated. Unfortunately, this behavior usually brings someone to soothe them which will reinforce their behavior with attention. Another vicious cycle is created.

About beds

Not all dogs like beds. Some do, some don’t. Your dog will tell you. It will also let you know what kind of stuffing it prefers. Some are partial to beads. For others, only pseudo-lambskin or polyester fluff will do. If your dog likes one type, stick to it. If you need one bed for upstairs and one for downstairs, get identical beds. It may bore you but dogs are habitual creatures and their learning is motivated by consistency.

Chew toys and bones

If your dog is having difficulty differentiating his toys from other household objects, the consistency rule applies here. Take a good look at how many toys are in his basket. They all may have been special presents, but too many are confusing. Too large a selection gives the dog the illusion that everything on the ground is a toy. To make your expectations more clear, try to choose one or two favorites and buy identical replicas to disperse around the house. If you have a die-hard chewer, be sure to select a chew bone that will satisfy his gumming needs. Avoid soft toys that might feel like a sofa cushion or a fringed Oriental carpet.

A Slice of Thai History: The Growth of Bangkok

Part One - A makeshift capital becomes the ‘Venice of the East’ 1782-1860

by Duncan Stearn

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the official name of the city of Bangkok is, ‘The Great City of Angels, the Supreme Repository of Divine Jewels, the Great Unconquerable Land, the Grand and Illustrious Realm, the Royal and Delightful Capital City, Home of the Nine Noble Gems, the Highest Royal Dwelling and Grand Palace, the Divine Shelter and Dwelling Place of the Reincarnated Spirits’.

Thankfully, you are not required to write this as part of the address if you happen to be sending or receiving mail.

Bangkok was established as the royal capital of Thailand in 1782, 15 years after the Burmese had razed the former capital Ayutthaya, and at the same time as the beginning of the present royal dynasty.

What started as a royal fortified town grew, via overseas trade, into a major commercial port, attracting large numbers of migrants, both from the countryside of Thailand and the Asian region, particularly southern China, before finishing as the great sprawling urban industrial metropolis we see today.

Over the past 200-plus years, Bangkok has gone from being a city based almost totally on maritime transport (the Chao Phraya River and a network of canals) to a predominantly land-based industrial and manufacturing centre as the canals were filled in and roads constructed in there stead.

Until the 1820s, foreign trade was mainly conducted with China, exports being linked to the tribute taxes exacted by the government from the Thai provinces and vassal states.

This trade led to substantial migration of Chinese workers to Thailand, the vast majority choosing to settle in the burgeoning port of Bangkok.

By 1820, Bangkok was already larger, in terms of population, than any other city in Thailand, while by the 1850s its population had grown to around 100,000 inhabitants.

Revenue from foreign trade doubled in the years between 1795 and 1837. Between 1830 and 1850, trade between Bangkok and the British colony of Singapore doubled, while trade from Singapore to Bangkok increased around 33 percent in the same time.

Bangkok’s growth was particularly noticeable during the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851), with no less than 62 kilometres of canals being dug and 83 temples constructed. Compare this with the mere seven kilometres of canals dug during the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809) and the nine kilometres under King Rama II (1809-1824). This massive increase in canal transport led to European visitors declaring Bangkok to be the ‘Venice of the East’, a title the city was to hold until the massive expansion of the 1960s and 1970s made it anachronistic.

The signing of the Bowring Treaty in 1855 led to the acceleration of the growth of the Bangkok city environs. Perhaps one of the reasons for this was that the treaty encouraged Western businesses to set up shop in Bangkok, leading to an influx of foreigners and the expansion of the private sector of the economy.

This in turn led to a demand for land, for the construction of both housing and businesses and, of course, led to more labour coming into the city from the provinces searching for work.

Although the numbers of Caucasian residents in the mid-nineteenth century was relatively small, their influence was significant. When European diplomats complained to the Thai government about the difficulties of getting around the small city, King Mongkut, Rama IV, ordered the laying down of the very first land thoroughfare in the city. Constructed in the 1860s, Chareonkrung or ‘New’ Road attracted the majority of the good hotels, trading houses and banks as it developed into the diplomatic and commercial centre of Bangkok, remaining the city’s pre-eminent land artery for almost a century.

The Message In The Moon: Sun in Leo-Moon in Virgo

by Anchalee Kaewmanee

The Moralist

Discriminating, analytical, and fastidious, the outward show of leadership and aggression masks an inner nature that is cautious and somewhat reticent. Rather than gaining the power and prestige that people born into this combination crave through active leadership, they will seek influence through mental endeavors. Forsaking the sword, they most likely will reach for the pen.

This combo is somewhat paradoxical. The Leo Sun wants status, recognition and authority. However, the Virgo Moon requires the stability and security of a less risky role. Inhibition often keeps these individuals from taking on the position of leadership that they inwardly feel they deserve. This is rather unfortunate in some cases because they are actually very capable individuals with great organizational skills which would serve them well in situations which require guiding others. Leos are natural leaders but Virgo will often opt to pull the strings behind the scenes and forego the limelight.

In addition, the desire for attention and admiration will also compete with a need to be of service to others. But for the most part, both sides of this Sun/Moon combination will work together harmoniously. Although most natives of this sign will not desire to be a dynamic executive or administrator, they will still manage to voice their opinions and use those inherent organizational skills to command power in inconspicuous ways.

If there is a flaw in this sign it will be a tendency to be overly judgmental and even downright arrogantly opinionated. Although the observations of the Leo-Virgo are usually uncannily accurate, they tend to be a little too outspoken in expressing them. So it’s little wonder that they quite frequently alienate people around them.

By channeling much of the Leo ardor and enthusiasm into work, and living up to the rigorous demands of the Virgo Moon, this group is often in danger of becoming workaholics. The prevailing attitude is that if they cannot lead others and bend them to their viewpoints, they can surely out-produce them. Exacting perfectionists, these natives will often push themselves to the brink of collapse. They can be very hard on themselves and when exhausted, can lapse into states of hypertension, agitation and acute anxiety. Often they will project their frustrations onto friends and associates. Eventually, if they are wise, they learn to use their ridged moral control to inspire those around them.

Socially the Leo-Virgo is very outgoing, charming and congenial. They secretly long to be the life of the party, the center of attention and the object of admiration. Virgo’s emotional reserve holds them back. It’s difficult to let go of those inhibitions because they feel guilty about indulging too heartily or allowing themselves too much pleasure. The Virgo influence results in an austere and stoic approach to life. Happily the Leo fire balances this personality with passion and courage.

The very characteristics which might annoy others in close proximity to the Leo-Virgo make this combination ideally suited to journalism and communications. These pursuits require mental acuteness, intellectual agility and detailed analysis. That fine Virgo logic combined with Leo’s refusal of defeat provides fertile ground in any career which can satisfy an inquiring mind. Although this sign will work best in a structured and well organized framework, that sense of independence and courage must be allowed freedom of expression.

Romance may be difficult for the Leo-Virgo. Highly sensual and very appealing to the opposite sex, the Leo Sun will struggle with the inhibited Virgo. A sense of honor and ethical Puritanism may cause confusion when faced with changing sexual mores. The search for the ideal partner with whom this sign can share a lifelong relationship will be long and fraught with many disappointments. High standards and a passionate nature can often lead these individuals on a quixotic quest. However, once they do become serious in a romantic attachment they must learn to curb their criticism and cultivate tolerance. When this is achieved they will find great happiness with a well chosen partner. Loyal and responsive, this sign will demand that their partner meets their expectations. A Leo-Virgo will not put up with disloyalty from a lover.

Coins of the Realm: The Evolution of Thai Money

by Jan Olav Aamlid
President - House of the Golden Coin (http://www.thaicoins.com)

The Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance recently released a new book, “The Evolution of Thai Money”. The book has 112 pages in A4 format written in Thai and English. The book is sold at The Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins at the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok for 500 baht. It can also be bought from dealers of coins and stamps, but the price might be slightly higher.

The book provides a lot of valuable information, not only for collectors of coins, but for anyone who would like to learn how this land developed from pre-historical human settlements through to the Thailand we know today. The first part describes the different Kingdoms, Funan, Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Lawo, and Lands of Independence.

The book is illustrated with paintings, drawings and actual photos of coins. This makes it a book that will fascinate even the very young ones, and with the guidance of a grown up, can illustrate how transactions were done even before we got coins and banknotes.

The coins from the Funan Kingdom, 1st to 6th Centuries AD, some of the earliest coins found in Thailand, shows on one side a half sun spreading rays between two rows of fish eggs. On the other side is Sriwatasi design that represents Phra Narai in accordance with the Brahmin religion, with Bandoh, a small Brahmin ceremonial drum, in one corner and the Swastika, a symbol that represents good-luck in another. At the top of each coin the sign of the sun and the moon appears, all according to the new book.

One of the bigger coins from the Funan period was made in silver; it weighs about 9 grams and is slightly bigger than the circulating 10 baht-coin. Some of the smaller coins are about the size of a one baht coin. If one wanted to buy something for a small amount during the Funan period, but only had a big coin, and no change was available, the deal could still be done. The coin would be cut in 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and even a 1/16 parts. This was also done in Europe, and in England and Scandinavia this was common.

The bigger coins from the Funan period, as the one illustrated here, can be bought for about 900 to 1,500 baht in nice condition. Rare ones are more expensive. Two halves are cheaper than a “complete” coin, so no money can be made cutting the coin.

Several of the coins from the different early Kingdoms illustrated and described in the book can from time to time be found in the market. Some of the coins can be bought for as little as a few hundred baht, and a collection of the early Thai coins can be built up without spending a fortune.

In 1238 AD the Sukhothai Kingdom was founded. It is said in the book that the Sukhothai Kingdom was the center of trading. As evidence by the stone inscriptions, “...those who wish to trade in elephants, do so; those who wish to trade in silver and gold; do so...” In the beginning of the Sukhothai period trade was mostly paid for with other merchandise, but bigger transactions were handled with gold and silver. It is believed that the Pod Duang, the bullet coin, originated in Sukhothai.

The bullet coin was for more than 600 years the most important form of payment in Thailand, and remained legal tender until 1908. The interest for collecting bullet coins has increased considerably over the last few years, but still a decent looking one baht bullet coin can be bought for less than 500 baht.

In Thailand there have been several coins with interesting shapes. Hoi Money was made out of silver, copper and bronze and shaped like a small river fishing boat. These coins were used in the northern regions of Thailand and had different marks illustrating their place of origin. This is just one of the more interesting forms of coins that circulated in Thailand.

The book also describes Sycee Money, Chiang Money, Tok Money, Pak Money and Dok Mai Money, as well as several others.

The last 70 pages of the book describe the “modern” history of Thai coins and development, from 1782 till today. The final chapter describes a coin auction that took place last year. The objects were from the hidings of the Ministry of Finance. The record price, 1,000,000 baht, was paid for a four baht flat coin struck in 1864 during the reign of King Mongkut. The starting price for this interesting coin bearing the Mongkut-Krung Siam design was 400,000 baht.

I mentioned to a friend that a four baht coin struck some 134 years ago today is worth a million baht. The idea my friend had was that we should put aside some of the circulating 5 baht coins today, and we would be sure that some great-great-great grandchildren’s future some 150 years from now would be financially secure. The four baht from 1864 was a large silver coin weighing more than 60 grams, and given inflation probably had larger buying power at that time than the banknote with the highest denomination has today. But the four baht coin was struck on the occasion of the then reigning King’s 60th birthday, and in very limited numbers. The King allowed the four baht to be worn as a decoration similar to the Royal Decorations, and we concluded that the 5 baht coins of today minted in millions are something totally different from the four baht of 1864.