OK maybe not. Actually those are all lies, but it’s fun at least. The truth is Metblogs is the largest network of locally focused blogs on the web, covering almost 60 cities around the world and we’re looking to add a few new bloggers/writters/authors to this fine site. If you wanna know more about us check out this wikipedia entry but it’s kinda boring so I won’t waste time repeating it all here again. If you wanna write for us, here’s the scoop:

• All author positions are volunteer. That means you don’t get paid.
• You must live in (or very near) the city you plan to write about.
• Anything you post must relate to the city somehow. That means you shouldn’t post a movie review, but talking about going to see a movie at a local theater is fine.
• There’s no requirement for how much you can or should write, but we ask that if we set you up as an author you make about 3 posts a week.
• You can post about things you love, you can post about things you hate. It’s entirely up to you

Additionally, because of our global network, there’s plenty of options for things you write to be read by people all over the world. Interested? Want more details? Post a comment and we’ll be in touch!

If so, drop us a comment and join us as a writer.

The 2007 Computer-related Crimes Act also prevents unauthorised applications and access made to other people’s computers, as well as alteration, deletion or destruction of the information of others.

Whilst this might seem a step in the right direction, as most modern countries have laws to protect users using the web, this one adds a little Thai flare to the whole saga.

Article 9: Those who unlawfully damage, destroy, delete, alter, or modify, wholly or partly, information on other’s computers: subject to three years jail and/or a Bt100,000 fine.

Article 11: Those who send data or electronic mails to others without revealing their identity, or by posing as someone else, in an act that disrupts the others’ normal computer use: subject to a Bt100,000 fine.

Any my personal favourite, only in Thailand…

Article 18: Inspectors are required to minimally access information on targeted computers and, if unable, are required to produce solid evidence to owner of private premises to support their suspicion over illegal activities and then seize the computers, without court warrants. Entry will be only during daytime and only after showing their ID cards.

The key phrase here being “WITHOUT A COURT WARRANT”

I’m sorry but this country has some of the most corrupt policemen in the world. Only last night did i see a anti-corruption advert featuring two scenes where police took bribes.

Oh yes, expect it to be a bumper christmas for the boys in lycra!

I find it brilliant that someone like Kitty has the guts to stand up and do something that the other media agencies are afraid of, and thats ask questions and not worry about upsetting someone.

What does this mean to the future of Thai democratic and foreign investment?

As strange as it may sounds, I’d say this is officially the end of the turmoil era and the beginning of the new era.

It is how it should be ending, as most people from business and analyst sectors would agree.

To put it bluntly, many voices from major business sectors simply want a clear direction of how the nation is heading, one way or another and they could not care less.

I would not be surprised to see the SET index on the rise from tomorrow even.

From political sector, most political analysts, both from international and local, generally see that despite the really tense build up, the virtually peaceful ending signals the public feeling about the verdict.

That Thai people feel that the verdict is fair and the Tribunal court is doing what it is set to do, which is the to carry on the King’s wish to end the political mess in the most peaceful way possible.

Realistically speaking, despite the vow to fight and the claim that this is the ruling from the gun barrel, most Thai Rak Thai key members will probably leave the party in the “blink and you miss” fashion anyway.

As for Democrat party, it is expected that its leader Arpisit Wejchacheewa will be leading the new government come election, given the amount of the congratulation phone calls he received from the ex member of Thai Rak Thai party …

The Thai politicians are at their best when it comes to this old saying “No real friends or foe in politics”, I can assure you …

Slum Klongteuy is arguably the largest slum in the city. It is full of any possible society problems you can imagine , although I would say the biggest problem is about the “little one”, child abuse.

Hidden underneath the big rotten surface of slum Klongteuy is large number of children being abandoned by drug addicted parent, some are abused by those who see merely monetary benefit from child prostitution, with no moral whatsoever.

Around 30 years ago, our very early generation of western expat, a priest name Father Joe Maier, has decided that someone has got to do something.

With the help of many of his local friends, some from the church he worked with (sister Maria Chantavarodom), some from UNESCO (my friend’s mother really ☺), they decided to create the Human Development Foundation (HDF), a nondenominational community-based field organisation.

The aim is to reach out to those street children of Klongteuy. To give them home that they never have, love they never experience, or a Christmas that every child deserve.

Over the time, health clinic has been set to fight against AIDS in child abuse, more shelters have been created for those kids who has nowhere to go, and many home schools for those who want to learn more about the world.

Today, over 250 volunteers, both Thai and “non-Thai” are fighting this battle together with the man whom simply known to every child in slum Klongteuy as “Father Joe” or, “Khun Por Joe”

I am writing this blog with the hope of rasing the awareness of the battle Father Joe has been fighting for the past 30 years. My intention is not to ask for any donation (even though it is needed) but to simply praise the man who trying to make Bangkok become the real “city of angel” once again.

If children are the living proof that hope does exist for mankind, then Father Joe is the angel to guard them.

Human Development Foundation is located at

100/11 Kae-ha Klong Toey4,
Dhamrongratthaphiphat Rd., Klong Toey
Tel: (662) 671-5313
E-mail: info@mercycentre.org
Web site: www.mercycentre.org

This single law could put Thailand in the same category as China and Burma with regards to censorship and the lack of a democratic right for free speech.

The bill sailed through its third reading on Wednesday by a vote of 119 to 1. It requires royal endorsement before it can be formally enacted into law. 

The bill regards as a crime the intention to withhold internet protocol (IP) addresses and violators are subject to severe punishment, according to the NLA special committee assigned to scrutinise the law. 

The IP is a unique address used to identify computer users while communicating with others on the network. However, the committee said, “ill-intentioned users” often hide or falsify their computer addresses so that they can easily carry out illegal acts and get away with them. 

The committee believed tighter controls on IP addresses would help tackle the root cause of cyber problems. 

Penalties apply to all illegal acts using the internet, including those carried out abroad and deemed to “damage the country both directly and indirectly”.

What worries me here is that the people that be have admitted they hardly use the Internet or even know what it is for, so have they consulted the international community for advice or decided that IP address control is the only way to go.

The level of abuse that this bill could be vulnerable to is staggering. If “someone” decides that a political parties website is deemed threatening, the site would be banned. Another worrying part of the bill is “The bill regards as a crime the intention to withhold internet protocol (IP) addresses”
If this single rule is enacted and someone charged under it, Thailand is now on par with China and Burma for censorship and lack of a democratic process.

The technologies which seem to fall under this “bypassing government censors” are:

- Secure Shell
- Virtual Private Networks (VPN) used by millions of companies here in Thailand
- IPSec (again used by many with Windows Networks)

I really hope His Majesty stops this bill from going ahead with such strong restrictions on the public. He is a champion of Human Rights in Thailand and this seems to be against everything he stands for.

What are your thoughts?

Update
Kitty showed me this online petition to get this law dropped

The Gods thought this country was too perfect and needed a way to balance the Ying & the Yang… so what did they do? They decided to stick Thai people on this promising land to balance out the perfection.

Compared to a country like Japan, where they had no resources, or even the United States where natural disaster strikes all the time… Thailand should be at least on par…

But instead, this country has always been a Kleptocracy… benefiting an elite few at the expense of the population…

The first to recommend here is a vegetarian Japanese restaurant, in Soi Tong lor, called Chijuya.
Really easy to get there, just catch the monorail from Siam square and get off at Tong lor station, then head to 55th PLaza building, about 10 mins walk from the main road, or a few mins if you fancy the motorbike taxi :-)

You will find the lovely Japanese meal like California roll, sushi, tempura .. bla bla…, complete vegetarian (I think vegan can eat here too).

official address is Chijuya, Fifty-Fifth Plaza Sukhumvit Soi 55, 2nd floor. (I am not going to tell the phone number because I dont want anyone to think that this is one of those ads … )

Another place is a Thai-Chinese vegetarian called Suki Jeh Ru Yi (means Ru Yi vegetarian sukiyaki). It locates itself in a tiny soi opposite the Bangkok Center hotel on Rama 4 road. The soi is next to railway station, called Soi Phraya Singhaseni

Here you will find a really tiny diner hidden in the unseen corner, and loads of lovely foods that you will completely forget it’s vegie food..

If you fancy Thai traditional food done in vegie style, this is the right place. They also do good noodle dish too..

The official address is Ru Yi vegetarian sukiyaki, 285 Soi Phraya Singhaseni Street (at opposite Bangkok centre hotel, north of Rama 4 road, near Hua Lampong railway & MRTA station) .

I’m happy to answer on email of how to get there.

Koh Mak was the next on the list and it is by far the best we experienced so far.

Koh Mak is the third biggest island in Trat province after Koh Chang and Koh Kood, with an area of 16 square kilometers; it is mostly flat. Getting to Koh Mak is pretty easy, you can fly to Trat, get a bus or do as we do and just jump in a cab. Once you get to Trat, there are speedboats which leave early in the morning and then one at 12. The boat itself takes around 1 hour to get to the island.

Once on the island you will notice a massive difference from other islands, there are no bars, tacky clubs or even shops. This is the real beach life and does it make a difference or what!. The beaches are amazing, with great coral reefs to scuba or snorkel.
If you are looking for an island that is relaxing and not full of idiots wanting cheap drink and tacky bars, this is the place for you