Thai-LA.com

Thai Prime Samak restricts PRESS freedom - next step Dictatorship.?

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Thursday dismissed claims he would resign. "Don't even think I am going to quit," he said. "The country needs a leader, and the world is watching us". 

As part of the "world" who is watching, it seems to me (the editor) that mr. Samak, the "democratic and un-corrupt" leader must be reading some pages from the standard dictatorship textbook by issuing treason charges for the leaders of PAD, and maybe more importantly he declared a "State of Emergency" which not only restricted gatherings of more than 5 people... BUT also restricted the freedom of the press.!  While I have only heard about the press-freedom restrictions and am sure more details will quickly hit the internet, I want to say; Congratulations mr. Samak, you could quickly be on the way to join countries such as North Korea in the art of democracy.

In today's editorial mr. Sanitsuda Ekachai of the Bangkok Post  calls for Mr Samak to step down.  While I do not entirely agree with the entire editorial it is definitely a appropriate call.
Click to read Bangkok Post Editorial

Demonstrations in Bangkok - Danish Tourist advised to stay away from city

Stay Away, is the Danish Goverment advise to travelers to Bangkok, where PAD (the Peoples Alliance for Democracy) have occupied several goverment offices and blocked trafic in central parts of Bangkok.

Asian American's well represented at the Democratic National Convention

"I am thrilled by the unprecedented involvement of APIAs at this historic Convention," said Bel Leong-Hong, chair of the DNC APIA Caucus -- this year’s Convention has 20 percent more

APIA

delegates than four years ago. "Our community’s rising political strength comes at a good time, given Senator Obama's self-identification as one of us, an honorary Asian American by virtue of his kinship, upbringing and beliefs."

Biden Who..?

What happened to Clinton.?  I keep reading quotes saying Biden brings "old School Cred", Im sorry but If for one don't see that we need Old School or Catholic credibility in this country, we need new vision to engage maybe the biggest international and environmental challenges any leader have ever had to tackle. Not old-school-anything.  Come on Obama, do better than this.

Alcohol abuse.. or just an eye to the future.?

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies have just announced a new educational kit, a table sized kit which can be powered on a shot of your favorite alcohol - or a cheap  vintage for that matter. The point being that the kit permits teachers and students to directly interact with a fuel cell and see how it will power the fan for days on end.

While I do not think this fan will change the world much, it is intereting that Horizon have found a niche making energy technology toys and educational tools.  This can only be good for the world.   Even at 99 bucks this is a cool little product.

Still making a fuelcell like this have serious implications - I can easily see this deployed in less fortunate parts of the world, as a fan, charging a laptop, or powering a water cleaning station.  After all, Rice Vine seems to be a readily available and abundant resource.

Click to visit Horizon's website and get your kit now.

Top Thai Band Hangman looking to California

Nothing like a little music and concert news to start off a great weekend, not much meat here, but none the less, top band Hangman is back in the news, Im sure this will soon become cool new tunes.

We are told ‘Hangman’ are currently writing their new album and will enter the studio at the beginning of September.

Website and sample music at the end of the post.

This is about YOU..!

A lot of my Asian friends is asking "Why Bother Anyway..?"

They could not be more wrong. For the first time in America we have the opportunity to elect not just a competent Presidential candidate, but also a ethnic person who will be able to represent todays multi ethnic American community, not only as a leader, but also by making the multitude of ethnic groups in America FEEL represented in Government.  BarackObama.com

If you don't choose to be part of moving the country forward and choose to be heard, then at least please stop sending me emails complaining that nobody is listening to the Asian community.

Nobody is going to hear you if you don't make your self heard, no matter who you are going to vote for.

Click here to SIGN UP TO VOTE

Thai Troops pulling back from Cambodia border

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to withdraw from border temple, Cambodian officials say.

The agreement was reached at a meeting of military officers from the two countries on Wednesday.
Only a small contingent from each side would remain at Preah Vihear temple, a top general said.

More than 1,000 troops have been engaged in a stand-off at the ancient site for a month.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of Thai territorial claims.

The decision by Unesco in June to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site reignited lingering tensions over unresolved border disputes between the two countries.

Visit BBC Asia for full story

Updating to commerical CMS system

Thai-LA.com have been based on xaraonline.com for years - however the updating and maintainance have become somewhat tidious so this month I have started setting the site and the old stories up in a modern blog engine.. so have patience while I figure this . 

We have been invited to the Democratic Convention 2008

Really - I have no idea how this happend - but on Aug 6th 2008 a email popped into my mailbox inviting us to participate in the 2008 Democratic convention - for real...

So here we are now, trying to figure out how best to cover this kind of event while getting the kind of information Thai and Asians in Southern California might be the most interested in.  Stay Tuned.