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XPRESS
DAILY
Friday, July 17, 2009 VOL 2, NO 377 dailyxpress.net
TRAVEL ON THE WEEKEND GO CLUBBING
HIT THE DANCE FLOOR AFTER DARK PAGE 9
PAGE 6
DAILY XPRESS/THANIS SUDTO
Check out GOOD DEALS and more –
REEL LIFE Catch inspiring Filipino film director LAV DIAZ as he brings his meditations on life – some as long as 11 hours – to Bangkok at the end of the month >PAGE 7
2 TODAY
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE CITY
Bt80,000 IS THE AVERAGE monthly salary of a Thai executive – about 10 times higher than the lowest-ranking company employees
Will Torres make it to Bangkok?
briefly
D A I LY X P R E S S
DAILY
XPRESS
Herbal remedy PHOTO COURTESY OF MAJOR CINEPLEX
Liverpool fans across the world must be congratulating Fernando Torres for becoming a father, but their Thai counterparts are holding their breath. Thai supporters are almost certain to miss out on Steven Gerrard when Liverpool come to play a friendly match with the Thai team next week because of his court schedules. But Torres’s absence from the Liverpool squad would spoil it completely for supporters here. Organisers have neither confirmed nor denied whether Torres would arrive with the team. But news photos showing him as a proud father are bitter-sweet for Thai fans. Former Liverpool star Steve McMahon, who is organising the event, said on Tuesday that Gerrard would certainly make it despite his court appearances. However, he may arrive in Thailand later than his teammates. The fresh-faced Torres barely looks old enough to buy a beer, but he – actually 25 – now has a little nipper of his own. His wife Olalla gave birth to their first child a week ago at a hospital in Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, just a month after their wedding.
Fernando Torres
DAILY XPRESS
Potter mania A stage performance is held before the premiere of the sixth ‘Harry Potter’ movie, with die-hard fans and celebrities gathering at Paragon Cineplex to see the first show. ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ opened in Thailand yesterday. Present at the opening were British Ambassador Quinton Quayle, Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat and Major Cineplex chief executive Vicha Poolvoraluck.
DREAMING OF
S Korea, Taiwan Thais would love to work in Korea, but prefer Taiwan to seek their fortune D A I LY X P R E S S
S
outh Korea is the most popular country for Thais dreaming of working abroad, but Taiwan is the place where the largest number go to seek their fortune, says the Department of Employment (DOE). And these travelling workers send their money home, as much as Bt63 billion last year. DOE chief Pichai Expitakdamrong said 477,821 Thais registered their intention to work abroad between 2005 to 2007. For 31.25 per cent of them, South Korea topped the favoured list, followed by Taiwan at 30.37 per cent and Japan at 5.74 per cent.
The department gave the green light to 462,430 workers, or 96.7 per cent of the number registered, he said.
Working abroad Taiwan took 171,923 Thai workers while the department permitted only 43,976 Thais to work in South Korea, Pichai said. Most wishing to work abroad were from Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum and Nong Khai. Pichai urged labourers to think hard before deciding on foreign employment, not just doing so because they saw others doing it.
Pichai said sending Thai workers abroad benefits the economy because these workers send money back home – Bt63 billion last year, according to a Bank of Thailand report. Labour Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong said sending Thais to work in South Korea was done by the DOE, which required quality workers who passed Korean-language tests. Since fewer Thai workers passed the tests than the quota, only a small number of applicants could go. Taiwan on the other hand was not so strict on workers’ language skills and, as employment was done by the private sector, the number of Thais allowed to go there was higher, said Phaithoon.
Fa Talai Jon (“King of Bitters”) capsules have sold out in Phitsanulok after it was suggested that this traditional herb offered protection against type-A (H1N1) flu. Kwanchai Khongmongkol, an expert in Thai traditional medicine, said that people could boost their immunity either by chewing three to five fresh leaves per day, drinking tea made from fresh or dried leaves before mealtimes or mixing ground dried leaves with honey to take before meals. He said people with low blood pressure should not take the herb and advised against its prolonged use, which he said can cause numbness in limbs.
Teachers, celebs tackle the flu Wall Street Institute has recruited two celebrities in its battle against type-A (H1N1) flu. The English language school’s new billboards at 16 Skytrain stations feature singer/actor Rathaphum “Film” Tokhongsap and actress Naowarat Yuktanant wearing face masks. To launch the campaign, the institute’s English teachers handed out masks at Siam Station this morning to urge members of the public to protect themselves and their fellow citizens. – Daily Xpress
Editor: Tulsathit Taptim / Managing Editor: Thanong Khanthong / Deputy Managing Editors: Kumar Krishnan, Jintana Panyaarvudh / Design Editor: Leroy A Sylk Web Co-editors: Marisa Chimprabha, Paisal Chuenprasaeng / The City Editor: Chularat Saengpassa / The Fun Editor: Veena Thoopkrajae / Sport Editor: Preechachan Wiriyanupappong / Group Editor in Chief: Suthichai Yoon
>>DAILY XPRESS is edited by Tulsathit Taptim and published by NMG News Co Ltd, at 1854, Bang Na-Trat Road, Bangkok 10260, and printed by FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING,PLEASE CALL (02) 338 3000 # 1 WPS (Thailand) Co Ltd, Tel (02) 338 3000, Fax (02) 338 3334. EDITORIAL: Tel (02) 338 3333. ON THE WEB: DAILYXPRESS.NET >>DAILY XPRESS is a supplement to subscriber copies of THE NATION with bonus distribution in selected areas of Bangkok and its environs every Monday to Friday. Subscription rates for THE NATION: one year Bt4,900 within regular delivery areas; please contact Customer Service on (02) 338 3000. For bulk copy subscription rates please call (02) 338 3532.
4
GLOBETROT
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE WORLD Whale of a time
A baby male killer whale named Earth and his mother Lovey look up during a performance at Kamogawa Sea World, east of Tokyo, on Wednesday.
DAILY XPRESS
Google’s share of the US online search market is
74%
while Yahoo! has 16% and Microsoft’s Bing 6.5%
Info highway
AP
Toddler rides toy truck downstream
Twitter hacked – again Breaking into someone’s e-mail can be child’s play for a determined hacker, as Twitter employees have learned the hard way – again. In the latest case – the third this year – a hacker got the password for an employee’s personal e-mail account, possibly by guessing, or by correctly answering a security question, and worked from there to steal confidential company documents. The techniques used by the attackers highlight the dangers of a broader trend promoted by Google and others toward storing more data online, instead of on computers under your control. Stealing the password for someone’s Gmail account, for example, not only gives the hacker access to that person’s personal e-mail, but also to any other Google applications they might use for work. That’s apparently what happened to Twitter. A hacker’s approach is lowtech: all they need to find is an employee who uses a weak passwords for his or her e-mail. – A P
Oldest woman to give birth dies, leaving twins She lied to fertility clinic about her age to be allowed in vitro fertilisation A P , Madrid
S
he devoted years to caring for her mother, who died at 101. Then Maria del Carmen Bousada embarked on a quest to become a mom herself. She lied to a California fertility clinic to skirt its age limit, and pointed to her mother’s longevity as a reason to expect she’d be around to care for her kids. At 66 she had twins, becoming the world’s oldest new mom – and raising questions about maternity so late in life. Now she is dead at 69, leaving behind boys not yet three. When Bousada revealed last November she had stomach cancer, she said she did not re-
gret having children late in life and that her sons would be well-cared for no matter what happened to their mother.
Reversing menopause Beginning in 2005, Bousada underwent hormone treatments to reverse nearly 20 years of menopause and sold her house to pay for in vitro fertilisation at the Pacific Fertility Clinic in Los Angeles. Slender with dark brown hair, she told the clinic she was 55 – the facility’s maximum age for single women undergoing the procedure. When her sons were born in December 2006, Guinness
World Records said she was the oldest woman on record to give birth. When Dr Vicken Sahakian, director and owner of the clinic, learned of the deception, “I figured something might happen and wind up being a disaster for these kids, and unfortunately I was right”, he said. Sahakian said he implanted the Spanish woman with a younger woman’s eggs and donated sperm, using hormone therapy to “rejuvenate” her uterus after she had been in menopause for 18 years. When Bousada told her relatives she was two months pregnant, they thought she was joking. “Yes, I am old, but if I live as long as my mom did, I could even have grandchildren,” she said after the birth.
A toddler who rode his toy jeep into a western Canadian river and floated nearly 13 km downstream on his own, told his grandmother after he was rescued that he wants to go back on his “boat”. Three-year-old Demetrius Jones was unfazed by the danger he faced when he took his battery-operated truck into British Columbia’s Peace River, where he got swept up by a current. The boy was staying at his grandmother’s holiday trailer in Peace Island Park in Taylor, while his parents were in a nearby tent. Police were called to help the family search for him, but Don Loewen, a nearby town resident who saw the boy in the river, helped in the rescue. “He wasn’t crying or whimpering or anything,” Loewen said, adding that the toy car was floating in about 4.5 metres of water.
Dog nurses pandas Two red panda cubs abandoned by their mother at birth are thriving at a northern China zoo thanks to milk and loving care from an unlikely surrogate mother – a dog. The cubs, born on June 25, were abandoned immediately by their mother after giving birth in front of a crowd of visitors at the Taiyuan Zoo in northern China’s Shanxi province, according to zoo employee Ha Guojiang. The dog wet nurse, belonging to a farmer from a nearby suburb, was selected from two other candidates that had recently given birth. The dog is now raising the two panda cubs like its own pups, sometimes even refusing to feed its own pup, said Ha, cited by Xinhua news agency. – AP
Friday, July 17, 2009
GLOBETROT 5
DAILY XPRESS
Video shows Jackson’s head catching fire Pop star needed multiple surgeries following the 1984 accident, which led to an ‘addiction to painkillers’ A F P , New York
US entertainment magazine has released neverbefore-seen footage of Michael Jackson’s hair catching fire while filming a commercial in 1984, an accident it said led to an addiction to painkillers. Jackson was filming the advert for Pepsi when fireworks were exploded too early, causing the superstar to suffer severe burns as his hair and scalp were engulfed in flames, according to the video Us Weekly magazine has re-
AP
A
In this January 27, 1984, file photo, Michael Jackson looks out from an ambulance after suffering second-degree burns on his scalp while filming a Pepsi commercial. leased on its website. The “King of Pop”, who died on June 25 from cardiac arrest at the age of 50, at first keeps dancing apparently unaware
that his head is on fire. Still images of the accident have already been released but the video had never been shown publicly before.
“He was never the same after the accident,” Us Weekly said. “To relieve the second- and third-degree burns on his scalp and body [and later to help him tolerate multiple surgeries on the scorched spot on his head], Jackson was prescribed several medications – which kicked off his addiction to painkillers and obsession with plastic surgery,” the magazine quoted sources as saying. Los Angeles police said on Wednesday they were investigating Jackson’s death, but would not confirm it was being treated as a homicide investigation, as reported by entertainment website TMZ.com. TMZ, citing “multiple” law enforcement sources, said “the evidence points to the anaesthesia Propofol (Diprivan) as the primary cause of Jackson’s death”.
7 charged with killing US couple An ex-convict who taught self-defence to children. A day labourer who served prison time for killing a man in a fight. An air force staff sergeant attached to an elite special operations unit. Somehow, authorities say, they ended up part of a loosely connected group of seven men charged in the shooting deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings, a wealthy Florida Panhandle couple known for adopting children with special needs. The suspects, some dressed as ninjas, stole a safe and other items during the break-in at the sprawling Billings home west of Pensacola. Nine of the couple’s 13 adopted children were home. Three saw the intruders but were not hurt. Authorities would not say what was in the safe or what else was taken. The Billings family and friends struggled to understand how the couple could have been killed in such a horrific way. The crime was captured by an extensive home video surveillance system. – A P
6 ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE FUN. Filipino speciality The Six Senses Destination Spa in Phuket is introducing Maharlika, a form of massage originating in the Philippines and favoured by the entourage of King Philip of Spain during the Spanish occupation. The programme’s designer, Victor Quemuel, combined traditional therapy with modern knowledge. Get the details at www.SixSenses.com.
Cheaper on Chang All this month, the Amari
Emerald Cove Resort on Koh Chang is offering a Super Saver Package for twin sharing. You get six days and five nights in a superior room, American breakfast, a set dinner, pampering at the Sivara Spa and free wireless Internet access. The cost is Bt19,549. Visit www.Amari.com.
The place to plan All this year, the JW Marriott
Phuket Resort and Spa has a deal for business travellers. The Full Day Meeting Package costing Bt1,650 per person includes the use of a meeting room from 8 to 5, coffee break, luncheon, audio-visual equipment and stationery. The halfday package costs Bt1,450. You need at least 10 people. See how it works at www.Mariott.com.
TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT
G E TAWAY S
The grandeur of the Intramuros
Manila began as a walled Spanish fortress, and much of the colonial setting’s charm has been restored By Manta Klangboonkrong D A I L Y X P R E S S , Manila
T
he Philippines is a huge country with its thousands of little islets and immensely diverse in terms of culture as well. As a first-time visitor with only one day, fully devoted to Manila, my best option to see as much culture as possible was the Intramuros. The word is Latin for “within the walls”, and it’s a good name for this (formerly) walled city erected by the Spanish during their 16th-century occupation of Manila. This alone was Manila at the time, in fact, a colony covering less than a square kilometre, enclosed within a fortress with a moat, churches and the homes of highranking Spanish officers and the local elite. The thick stone wall was typical of mediaeval Spanish bastions elsewhere in the world, but here it was rendered unique by its the setting among tropical flora, not to mention the highly diverse local community. Sadly, very little remains of the great wall, only remnants left over from the combined assault of American and Philippines commonwealth troops during World War II. Flushing out the occupying Japanese turned the fortress into rubble. In the 1980s, though, the Intramuros itself was restored, and today this is the only district of Manila where the old Spanish-era influence lingers, a souvenir of colonial times. You can stroll around the old town or hop on one of the decorated horse-drawn carriages called calesa. There are quite a few historical buildings to see, including San Augustin Church, which has a stunning interior, and the Manila Cathedral, elevated to the rank of minor basilica in 1981 by Pope John Paul II.
Manila Cathedral was elevated to basilica status by Pope John Paul II. Above, the interior of San Augustin Church.
Saintly statues You’ll see many old office buildings in grand nostalgic styles, such as the Palacio del Gobernador, now government offices,
DAILY XPRESS/MANTA KLANGBOONKRONG
good deal
DAILY XPRESS
and the Casa Manila Museum. Statues of Spanish kings and Catholic saints stand in small, shady gardens at every turn. Fort Santiago is a former military base that’s now home to breathtaking gardens and offers a mix of historic features and refreshing drinks. And you can’t leave Manila without a nod to the Philippines’ national heroes in the 60-hectare Rizal Park, not far from the Intramuros. Here you can pay tribute at the execution site and tomb of activist and scholar Dr Jose Rizal and the larger-than-life statue of Lapu-Lapu, the first native son to resist Spanish colonisation.
Friday, July 17, 2009
ENTERTAINMENT 7
DAILY XPRESS
22.2
US$
million
“ANGEL AT SEA”, the debut feature by Belgian director Frederic Dumont, won the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.
WAS EARNED by “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, in its midnight opening on Wednesday in the US, breaking a record held by “The Dark Knight”.
(Bt749 million)
briefly Perfect ‘Eyes’sight
COURTESY OF PAUL TANEDO
This month and next, Seksan Prasertkul, Kamthon Paowattanasuk and Samitti Tananitichote share how they see daily life in “simple yet profound photographs” at Hemlock Art Restaurant and Gallery on Phra Arthit Road. View “Inner Eyes” any day except Sunday from 7pm to midnight. Call (02) 282 47507.
‘Evolution of a Filipino Family’ runs for 11 hours.
Dean Oram
R E T RO S P E C T I V E
It’s a long, long story Filipino indie director Lav Diaz brings his ‘free’ films – running up to 11 hours – to Bangkok and Phuket D A I LY X P R E S S
A
pioneer and inspiration for the independent film movement in the Philippines, Lav Diaz will be in Thailand at the end of the month to help kick off a three-month series of screenings of his films in Bangkok and Phuket. Diaz broke away from commercial filmmaking in 2002 when he made “Batang West Side”, which set the tone for the Pinoy New Wave, using digi- Diaz tal cameras, experimental techniques and boundless running times. Diaz’s other films include “Death in the Land of Encantos” and “Evolution of a Filipino Family”, each 11 hours long, the latter taking 11 years to make, and “Heremias Book One”, a nine-hour movie. His latest, the seven-and-ahalf-hour “Melancholia”, won the Horizons Award at the 2008 Venice Film Festival. It was to
be shown at this year’s Singapore International Film Festival but was pulled over censorship. Diaz’s films unhurriedly tell the stories of ordinary Filipinos. They were made to record, argue about and make a firm political stand about his country. “My films are not long – they are free,” he said last year when he was a juror at the Bangkok International Film Festival. “Death in the Land of Melancholia: Lav Diaz Retrospective in Thailand” will feature a rough cut of the twohour “Heremias Book II”, plus “Melancholia”, “Death in the Land of Encantos”, “Evolution of a Filipino Family” and “Heremias Book I”. Taking place at a variety of venues over the next three months in Bangkok and Phuket, the retrospective is organised by Duangkamol Filmhouse (Filmvirus) in conjunction with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, King Mongkut’s University of Technology
>> Bangkok CODE, August 2, noon, “Death in the Land of Encantos” >> Conference of Birds Gallery, August 8, noon, “Evolution of a Filipino Family”; August 9, noon, “Heremias Book 1” >> BO(OK)HEMIAN, Phuket, August 29, noon, “Melancholia”; August 30, noon, “Death in the Land of Encantos”; September 5, noon, “Evolution of a Filipino Family”; September 6, noon, “Heremias Book 1”
South Korean girl group Baby Vox ReV is auditioning young Thais for the troupe. If you can sing and dance “Korean style”, apply at S Club Siam Centre or www. AsiaFesta.com. The winner will be introduced on August 15.
Marvellous Mahler
XTRA BOOK IT >> Bangkok Art and Culture Centre: July 31, 4pm, “Heremias Book II”; 6pm, discussion with Lav Diaz, Filipino film critic Alexis Tioseco and scholar May Adadol Ingawanij; August 1, “Melancholia”
Stardom awaits
Load up your Hed Hed Kandi’s first “Hed Kandi World Series Thailand” starts tonight at Phuket’s Stereolab, then moves to Koh Samui’s Nikki Beach, and ends up at Q Bar in Bangkok on July 24. The tour features the music group’s youngest DJ, Dean Rigg, and percussionist Dean Oram. Entry is free tonight, Bt500 with a drink on Samui and Bt800 with two drinks in Bangkok. Check out www.StereoLabPhuket.com, www.NikkiBeach.com and www.QBarBangkok.com.
The Siam Philharmonic Orchestra is geared up to perform Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No 5” at the Thailand Cultural Centre at 8 on Tuesday. Tickets are Bt100 to Bt900 at Thaiticketmajor. Call (02) 262 3456.
Norway, anyone? Book a flight with Scandinavian Airlines by August 15 – for travel between July 21 and December 15 – and you pay Bt47,000 per round-trip, economy-class trip from Bangkok to 36 northern Europe destinations. Add to that a 30kg baggage allowance and priority check-in and boarding, and you’ll want to visit www. FlySAS.com/th or call (02) 645 8200.
>> Visit Bit.ly/diazretro or email Filmsick@gmail.com
Thonburi’s Bangkok CODE, Bioscope magazine, Conference of Birds Gallery and BO(OK)HEMIAN.
South Korean girl group Baby Vox ReV is looking for Thai talent.
8
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAILY XPRESS
T H E AT R E P R E V I E W
We’re all on the ‘Run’ A new troupe debuts with an experimental theatre focusing on a gay relationship
,,
PHOTO/NUMEN.N.CO
I WANT THE AUDIENCE TO BE ENGAGED WITH THE PLAY AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT SCENE CHANGES INTERRUPTING.
XTRA
By Pawit Mahasarinand S P E C I A L T O DA I LY X P R E S S
R
un” is the debut production of a theatre troupe called numen.n.co, formed by Krisana “Num” Punpeng, a seasoned actor, lecturer at Dhurakij Pundit University and a PhD candidate in performance practice. “Run” features 13 scenes utilising different styles – spoken word, movement, dance, etc. “It’s like an experiment,” says Num. “I think many styles can be presented coherently in one work.” “There are certain moments in life,” says the show’s poster,
KEEP GOING >> “Run” is at Crescent Moon Space at the Pridi Banomyong Institute from July 24 to 26 and July 31 to August 2. Shows are at 7.30pm with 2.30 matinees on the weekends. >> Tickets cost Bt250 and Bt200 for students at (081) 899 7111.
“when you feel a sudden urge to run.” “It’s about the relationship of two people, a man and a man,” Num says, “like a journey from the beginning to the end.”
Joining him are Varanyoo “Ball” Intrakamhang, a member of B-Floor Theatre whose acting and movement were solid additions to the recent “Sunflower” and “Something
Else”, and Naiyaphorn “Am” Channivet, a Chulalongkorn University graduate and cast member in Khandha Arts ’n Theatre’s “Mae Nam”. “The first scene,” Num says
of “Run”, “is about attraction, showing the two men’s interactions during love at first sight. Later on there’s a scene about fascination, showing what’s happening during the early stage of the relationship. This is presented by a solo narrative dance by Am. “Although the two main characters are male, the presence of a female gives this work a broader perspective,” he says. “In some scenes she appears like a character, in others as an object and a motion. “In the end, ‘Run’ is applicable to any heterosexual relationship, or even that of a woman and a woman as well.”
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAILY XPRESS
AFTER DARK
9
clubscene Grand Opening Tonight Sound Club Jungceylon, Phuket Call (076) 366 163 www.SoundPhuket.com
XTRA
PHOTO/COURTESY OF UB RADIO
DUTCH DANCIN’ >> 16 Bit Lolitas perform Thursday night. Entry with a drink for members is Bt500; non-members pay Bt700. Subscribe at www.UBRadio.net. >> Bed Supperclub is on Sukhumvit Soi 11 (BTS: Nana). Call (02) 651 3537 or visit www.BedSupperclub.com. Dress code; ID.
Phuket’s newbie opens with a bang with Bed Supperclub residents Saint Vincent, Fred Jungo, Emanuel, Mikey Mike, Ome, Eddy Frampton, DJ Octo and Josh Ezelle. Dress code: chic traveller.
Yves Baron Tonight
Birthday with a ‘Bit’ Funky online station UB Radio celebrates its first anniversary with a party in Bed
Bed Supperclub Sukhumvit Soi 11 (BTS: Nana) (02) 651 3537 www.BedSupperclub.com Dress code; ID Thai-French tenor crooner Yves Baron returns to Bangkok for a month long performance, starting tonight from 8.30pm till 11pm. Sign up to Baron’s guest list at resabillet@yahoo.fr for free entry.
D A I LY X P R E S S
I
t’s been a year of hard work and total dedication for UB Radio. For their first birthday bash on Thursday night, they’re saying thank you to fans and supporters with a party at Bed Supperclub headlined by DJs 16Bit Lolitas from the Netherlands. 16 Bit Lolitas, aka Peter Kriek and Ariaan Olieroock, made music on their own for a while before joining forces and becoming 16 Bit Lolitas in 2003. This collaboration quickly produced a wave of releases. Tracks such as “The Puppet Show”, “Destiny”, “My Lexicon”, “Stereo Control” and the epic “Sednaa” quickly followed on labels as diverse as Yoshitoshi, Alternative Route, Release, Sadie, Plastic Fantastic, Nu Republic, Armada, Minimal, DK and LMR. Kriek and Olieroock then decided to take control of their material and launched their own successful imprint “Bits and Pieces”, shooting off club hit after club hit. A hectic few years later and the boys are firmly in the spotlight where their crisp creations are carving out a sound that is both cool and sophisticated. In fact, it embraces all that is good about house music. At the end of 2008, the 16 Bit Lolitas launched the “Live At Warung” mix album series on Hope Recordings/Bits and Pieces. It features upfront underground sounds, handpicked from across the globe along with stacks of their own unreleased material. With luck, fans will hear some tracks that night.
JAM: Let’s Go to Neverland Tonight Club Culture Sri Ayutthaya Road (BTS: Phya Thai) (02) 642 5499 www.Club-Culture-Bkk.com Dress code; ID Another Michael Jackson tribute party with jam sessions from Superrzaaap!, Action Replay, Nonsense Bros and Club Soma. Entry with a drink is Bt250 and proceeds go to the Pakkred Orphanage.
Trancedayze First Anniversary Tomorrow Club Culture It’s been a year! Celebrated British trance DJ and Bangkok monthly resident Graham Gold takes you on a roller coaster in an amazing theme park all night. Entry is Bt300 with a drink and a toy.
10
ALTERNATIVE / SOHO
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAILY XPRESS
so-ho-t Rainbow sports event All past participants in Rainbow Sky camps are invited to the sixth Rainbow Sky Games tomorrow. There will be performances, a volleyball tournament and fun games. Call (02) 690 7733-4 or (08) 7504 2112.
The wonderful and wise
Bummed out
Kama Sutra General Motors has ordered all videos created in conjunction with its recent “Chevrolet Gay Day at the Movies” promotion removed from YouTube. “The video was not appropriate and not in good taste,” the carmaker said. Two men were pictured washing a car, wearing yellow underwear with the word “Camaro” across the rear. Their nickname was the Bumblebee Boys, after the yellow Camaro character named Bumblebee in the current “Transformers” movie.
If spanking, scratching and ‘mouth congress’ could be discussed freely in the fourth century, why not now? By Paisarn Likhitpreechakul
Advanced state
The US state of Massachusetts has legally challenged the federal government’s Defence of Marriage Act, which insists that marriage can only involve a man and a woman. The state’s attorney general calls it an infringement on state jurisdiction over marriage rights: It limits Massachusetts’ right to include same-sex spouses in federally funded programmes. In 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to legalise same-sex marriage.
S P E C I A L T O D A I LY X P R E S S
L
ast year’s Bollywood film “Dostana” (“Friendship”) portrayed two straight men – sexiest man alive John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan, son of the legendary Amitabh – who pretend to be a gay couple in order to get close to the landlady’s beautiful niece. With Bollywood’s first man-on-man kiss, the blockbuster is another sign of how, in baby steps, modern India’s attitude in regards to homosexuality, and sexuality in general, is returning to the tolerance of its pre-colonial millennia, harking back to the Kama Sutra. Contrary to popular belief, this treatise on love isn’t all about sex, but deals with subjects ranging from gender relations and duties to the art of seduction. There’s also a tender section on how to begin and end lovemaking. It’s a shame that most people these days jump to the steamy part, although it’s understandable, since this is the part that doesn’t appear dated. The ancient Indians believed that what’s worth doing is worth doing well. While other treatises were written on virtue (dharma) and wealth (artha), the
Kama Sutra was composed around the fourth century to serve the “third area” – love and sexual pleasure, or kama, completing the triad considered central to household life.
In just one of the seven parts, Vatsyayana discusses aspects of sexual union in chapters on size, embrace, kissing, leaving marks with nails, “spanking” different body parts and positions, with a special chapter on “woman on top”. Showing its open attitude to same-sex love, a chapter devoted to the Auparishtaka – the “mouth congress” – explains that such juicy steps as “sucking a mango fruit” were principally practised by the “third sex” (triteeyaprakrti). Some of these people disguised themselves as females and lived as courtesans, while others appeared as males whose job was shampooing hair. Hair salons with “happy endings” are clearly not a modern invention. “Mouth congress” was also performed among some male citizens who knew each other well and between male servants and their masters. Although the technique was frowned up on by some people, Vatsyayana was of the opinion that “in all these things connected with love, everybody should act according to the custom of his country, and his own inclination”. Wise words indeed.
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE SCREEN 11
DAILY XPRESS
“BRUNO”, Sacha Baron Cohen’s raunchy
TO SEE
“mockumentary”, opened at No 1 in North America last week, earning US$30.6 million.
on dvd REGION 3
ter and Harry Po-tBlood Prince g the the Half mort tightens his grip, escstaplaatilsn, Hermione d his be rd Volde enes The evil Lo (Daniel Radcliffe) an . Opening sc t) n y ri rr G a rt H e r p peril fo on (Ru tson) and R (Emma Wa ★ ★★
Wongkamlao
Petchtai “Mum Jokmok” Wongk amlao directs an this parody of so d stars in ap operas and high society. Su “Tookie” Butrpr darat om also stars. W it
some cinemas . ★★
★★
h English subt itles in
AX. in 3-D at IM
don’t miss!
Misty Kid of the Wind This month’s “Summer” series continues with this 1989 drama by Ito Toshiya, based on a story by novelist Kenji Miyazawa. At 6.30 tonight with Thai subtitles only at the Japan Foundation.
New York
romance set in 1920s Paris as a courtesan who educates a young man in the ways of love. Rupert Friend and Kathy Bates also star. At the Lido. ★★★
“Cannes Version” at SFW CentralWorld, “Director’s Cut” at House and Century. ★★★★
B13-U
Vincent Cassel portrays French gangster Jacques Mesrine in this biographical drama covering the years before he became “public enemy No 1”. In French with
Call (02) 260 8560-4 or visit www.JFBKK.or.th.
Urban acrobats Leito (David Belle) and Damien (Cyril Raffaelli) uncover a conspiracy that will destroy the Banlieue 13 ghetto. In
The Secret of Moonacre
French with English and Thai subtitles at Paragon only, elsewhere Thai dubbed. ★★★
There will be one more screening of this hit Bollywood drama set in the Big Apple in 2001 at 8 tomorrow at Grand EGV Siam Discovery. Call (089)
A 13-year-old girl discovers that she is the only hope for banishing an ancient curse from a magical kingdom. ★★
488 2620.
Michelle Pfeiffer stars in this
Cheri
Nang Mai (Nymph) Director Pen-ek Ratanaruang follows a husband and wife and their troubled marriage into a foreboding jungle. With English subtitles at some cinemas.
L’instinct de mort
Twilight A teenage girl (Kristen Stewart) risks everything when she falls in love with a vampire (Robert Pattinson) in this teenybopper sensation that’s adapted from the first in the novel series by Stephenie Meyer. The one-disc version with English and Thai audio, just Thai subtitles and no bonus features is priced at Bt160. The two-disc box set, costing Bt990, comes with the works, including a bag, T-shirt and postcards. – DAILY
English and Thai subtitles at the Lido. ★★★
XPRESS
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
on tv
Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) again finds himself at the centre of a war between giant alien robots. Megan Fox also stars. Michael Bay directs. ★★
Apex Lido: (02) 252 6498 Siam: (02) 251 3508 Scala: (02) 251 2861
Pulse
Century – The Movie Plaza (02) 247 9940
In this remake of the 2001 Japanese horror classic “Kairo”, a computer hacker mistakenly creates a terrifying gateway between the human and spiritual worlds.
House (02) 641 5177-8
Major Cineplex/EGV Bangkok: (02) 515 5555
Star Movies (TrueVisions), 8pm
Major Hollywood Bangkok: (02) 718 7999
Channel links Paragon Cineplex Bangkok: (02) 129 4635 IMAX: (02) 129 4631
SF cinemas Bangkok: (02) 268 8888
UMG RCA: (02) 641 5913-14
Cape No 7 This hit Taiwanese romantic comedy is about a failed rock singer turned mailman and a Japanese model who form a band for a beach town’s pop concert. In Mandarin with English and Thai subtitles at House.
www.NationChannel.com Channel 3 – www.ThaiTV3.com Channel 5 – www.TV5.co.th Channel 7 – www.CH7.com Modernine – www.MCOT.net NBT – TV11.prd.go.th TV Thai – www.ThaiPBS.or.th True – www.TrueVisionsTV.com
Adam By Bryan Basset
The Buckets By Scott Stantis
Pooch Cafe By Paul Gilligan
Red and Rover
By Brian Basset
By Bill Watterson
Calvin and Hobbes
By John McPherson
Close to Home
12 LEISURE Friday, July 17, 2009
Comics&Games DAILY XPRESS
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAILY XPRESS
LEISURE
Games&YourStars SUDOKU
The last word in
ASTROLOGY
By Eugenia Last
Today’s Birthday: You will be the glue that holds a team together, the one who can mediate until everyone is on the same page. Your unique way of talking and dealing with others will lead to bigger and better opportunities. Change is heading your way but it’s what you do this year that will set the standard for what’s to come in the future.
Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
ARIES *** March 21-April 19 Deal swiftly with any personal affront you face. Concentrate on making your home more comfortable. Ease the stress in your life and you’ll become more productive. TAURUS *** April 20-May 20 Get ready to fight back if someone tries to take advantage of you. Good things will happen if you put your time and effort into what really counts. Don’t run from change -make it work for you. GEMINI *** May 21-June 20 You may have to bend a bit in order to get what you want. Putting up a fight will be a waste of time and will accomplish little. Have your facts straight before you indulge in a healthy debate.
DIFFICULTY RATING ★★★★★
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY
CANCER **** June 21-July 22 Set aside a certain amount of time and money for something special. A trip will do you good. A proposal you present will draw attention and lead to an enticing counteroffer. LEO ** July 23-Aug. 22 Keep a lid on your true feelings, especially if you are worried about the future. You don’t want to promote your biggest competitor. Look out for your own interests and don’t let your emotions lead you. VIRGO ***** Aug. 23-Sept. 22 Don’t deviate from your set plans or you will face ridicule. Hands-on efforts will bring you the best results and will allow you to stay in control while you massage situations to your favour. LIBRA *** Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Back away from anyone who is pushy or giving you ultimatums. Focus on the people you love or get in touch with someone your miss from the past. A creative idea will take off. SCORPIO *** Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Someone who is painting a pretty picture will disappoint you. Ask questions so you are fully aware of what’s being offered. Don’t give in to emotional blackmail. Be pragmatic. SAGITTARIUS *** Nov. 22-Dec. 21 If you feel someone is using you, back away. An emotional issue will be brought to the surface and must be dealt with immediately if you don’t want to face controversy and possible embarrassment.
David Hasselhoff
TV personality Art Linkletter is 97. Comedian Phyllis Diller is 92. Actor Donald Sutherland is 74. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 74. Guitarist Spencer Davis of the Spencer Davis Group is 67. Bassist Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is 60. Actress Lucie Arnaz is 58. Actor David Hasselhoff is 57. Actor Andre Royo is 41.
CAPRICORN ***** Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Put an end to anyone trying to push you into paying for something that isn’t your responsibility. You can turn something negative into a positive and make a little extra money on the side. AQUARIUS ** Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Don’t believe everything you hear. Someone will mislead you. Love is in the stars and engaging in activities you both enjoy will bring you closer together. Spend time at home fixing things. PISCES **** Feb. 19-March 20 Be more protective of your private plans. Take people by surprise. Being too impulsive will backfire, leaving you in an awkward position that will result in questions and complaints.
13
Big C Supercenter PCL, Thailand's leading hypermarket, is looking for highly motivated men and women to join our professional team of more than 14,000 employees working in our Headquarters Office in Bangkok and in Big C stores throughout Thailand.
Come to join the Big C Management Team in any of the following open positions:
1. Store General Manager ✔ ✔ ✔
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business Administration or related fields At least 8 years experience in retail business with 3 years as a store manager in large hypermarket store, proven track record of successes required Good command of both spoken and written English
2. Assistant General Manager/Division Manager/Department Manager 2.1 Fresh Food Division 2.2 Dry Food Division 2.3 General Merchandise Division ✔ Bachelor’s degree in any field ✔ At least 5 years experience in retail business ✔ Good knowledge of each product category 2.4 Customer Service Division/Department ✔ Bachelor’s degree in any field ✔ At least 3 years experience in retail business in the area of customer service, cashier and invoice & claim 2.5 Replenishment Division/Department ✔ Bachelor’s degree in any field ✔ At least 3 years experience in retail business in the area of inventory control and goods receiving 2.6 Maintenance Division/Department ✔ Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering ✔ At least 3 years experience in retail business in the area of all maintenance services such as water, electrical, air-conditioning and telephone systems 2.7 Plaza Division/Department ✔ Bachelor’s degree in any field ✔ At least 3 years experience in retail business in the area of rental space and tenancy services Qualifications for all positions ➢ Strong leadership with very good people skills ➢ Open minded, strong negotiation and communication skills ➢ Good interpersonal skills, flexibility and financially competent ➢ Able to relocate and work on shift schedule ➢ Good command of both spoken and written English would be an advantage ➢ Computer literacy As a member of the Big C team, you will enjoy participating in a competitive package of salary, annual bonus, incentive bonus (in some jobs), and a benefits package which will provide financial security to both you and your family - now and in the future. Interested applicants are invited to apply in person or send their application with full resume indicating qualifications and experience, transcript, current & expected salary and recent photo to:
Human Resources Division (Recruitment Dept.) Big C Supercenter Public Co., Ltd. 6th Floor, 97/11 Rajdamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 E-mail: recruit@bigc.co.th Website: www.bigc.co.th
Urgently Required Backtracking through our history in Japan, Kinokuniya Book Stores have been topnotch retailed bookstores for over 80 years. In Thailand, Kinokuniya has been founded since 1990 and has been well known as a leading international bookstore. Currently, we are urgently seeking a qualified candidate to join us in the position of:
An Assistant Manager of Chinese Book Section • • • • • • • • • • •
Thai nationality, 30-35 years of age BA in Chinese A degree/certificate from a Chinese speaking country is a plus Excellent in Chinese language both traditional and simplified Able to use English language well 7-10 years of working experience in Chinese language field Chinese language experience in a bookstore is preferable Computer literacy in Chinese is a must High managerial skill Good leadership skill, hard working Able to work on shift in the bookstore
Main job responsibilities include team management, managing category plan, and merchandising tasks.
Please send an application letter and resume in English and Chinese with a recent photo to: Kinokuniya Book Stores (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 29 Vanissa Bldg., 10th Fl. Unit 10A, Soi Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 or chanokkamol@kinokuniya.co.jp Tel. 0-2655-0614-6 Fax: 0-2655-0617, 0-2253-1861
Home Product Center Public Company Limited was founded on June 27, 1995 with the initial registered capital of Baht 150 million. The Company is a joint venture between Land and Houses Group, American International Assurance Co., Ltd. and the Sarasin family. The Company was listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand on October 30, 2001. The Company was established with an objective to operate a retail business by selling goods and providing complete services relating to construction, improvement, decoration and renovation of buildings, houses and residence places under the trade name "HomePro".
Management Trainee - District Manager / GM Store
Buyer Division Manager / Buyer
Qualifications: • Age 35-45 years old, Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field • Prior experience in sales team management, sales target management, customer management, inventory management or overall knowledge of retail operation business / department store will be an advantage • Good English communication skill, good personality and good leadership, Able to work upcountry
Qualifications: • Age 22-35 years old (for the division manager over 27 years old) • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, Economics, Statistics or related field • Minimum 3 years experience in retail business or department store • Good personality, confident, and good negotiation skill • Good computer skill especially in MS Excel
Management Trainee - Sale / Administration / Customer Service Qualifications: • Age 28-35 years • Bachelor's or Master's Degree in any field • Minimum 3 years experience in logistics management, sales team management, product delivery management areas or customer services • Willing to work on rotating shift schedules • Experience in retails business or department stores will be an advantage, Able to work upcountry
AVP Buyer / Merchandiser Qualifications: • Age 30-40 years • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, Economics, statistic or related field • Minimum 5 years experience in retail business or department store • Good personality, confident, good negotiation skill, and management skill.
(Head Office)
AVP Service support Qualifications: • Sex Female • Age between 30-40 years old • Bachelor's or Master's Degree Business Administration, Arts, or related field • Experience in area services job function at least 5 years (experience within retail business area would be advantage) • Good English communication skill, Personality and good leadership To join our team, please send your resume and recent photograph to:
Home Product Center Public Co., Ltd. Head Office 96/27 M. 9 Bangkhen, Muang, Nonthaburi 11000 (Beside of The Mall Ngamwongwan) Download Map: http://www.homepro.co.th/map/pr.asp Tel. 0-2832-1000 ext. 1364, 1399, 1681 Fax: 0-2832-1299 E-mail: job@homepro.co.th or thanapolw@homepro.co.th Website: www.homepro.co.th
Forbest Properties Co., Ltd. Tel. 02-287-4568-70, 677-5550 / www.fbprop.com nd
Expert in 2 hand houses in the city. Property investment consulting service. Sukhumvit 12 Rd. 2-storey house, 154 sq.w. 3 brs., 3 bths., near BTS Nana, Asoke, suitable for project No.29006-058/027
Muban Panya, Pattanakarn 30 439 sq.w. detached house 6 brs., 10 bths., pool Bavarian style, ready to move in, good atmosphere
Sell@60 MB.
Sell@42 MB.
No.27954-001/163
Naradivas 14, Chan 16 5-storey house, 120 sq.w. 2-way access, suitable for home office
Sell@30 MB.
No.28960-001
4-storey townhouse, 49 sq.w. 4 brs., 6 bths., 1 kitchen, fully furnished, parking 3 cars, near expressway, convenient transport
Sell@7 MB.
Sell@14.5 MB.
No.29027-006
Ramkhamhaeng 44 3-storey house, 98 sq.w. 3 brs., 3 bths., 1 maid room, 1 kitchen, fully furnished, near ABAC, Ram universities
Sell@14 MB.
No.28967-068
No.28954-041
Ramindra 14 Rd., Maiyalab
Õ —ßÀ“√‘¡∑√—æ¬å
Naradivas 10 Rd.
Green Valley, Bangna-Trad km.14
2-storey house, 68 sq.w. 2 brs., 3 bths., 1 kitchen peaceful atmosphere, in housing community area
2-storey house, 245 sq.w., 4 brs., 4 bths., kitchen, maid room, furniture 10 m. from Suvarnabhumi Airport
3 brs., 2 bths., 1 maid room, convenient transport, near Mengjai, Cultural Center
over 80% complete, lakeside good atmosphere, suitable for residence, near Donwai Market
Sell@17.5 MB. No.28116-099 Sell@14.8 MB. No.28957-029 Krisdanakorn 27 Muban Ratchadanives Pracharatbampen Rd. Pinklao-Nakornchaisri Rd. 2-storey house, 2 rai 2-storey house, 75 sq.w. Sell@8.3 MB.
No.28968-004
Phutthamonthol Sai 2 Jaroenrat Rd. (Rama III-Sathorn) Sukhumvit 49 Prompak 2-storey house, 113 sq.w. 4 brs., 3 bths., parking 2 cars brand new condition, convenient transport, near a community
BROKER ¡“™‘° ¡“§¡π“¬Àπâ“
Sell@42 MB.
No.29028-006/068
Kamnanmaen Rd.
2-storey townhouse, 47 sq.w. 4-storey house, 31 sq.w. 3 brs., 2 bths., near Carrefour 2 brs., 2 bths., built-in furniture, connected to Bangkhae & Rama II a/c in all rooms Sell@3.15 MB.
Sell@16 MB.
No.28992-001/124
No.29020-032/029
Ramkhamhaeng 65
Kamnanmaen Rd. 4.5-storey townhome 3-storey townhouse, 31 sq.w. 2-storey townhouse, 35 sq.w. 37 sq.w., 6 m. wide 3 brs., 2 bths., near Carrefour 3 brs., 4 bths., parking 4 cars 25 m. deep, corner unit connected to Bangkhae & Rama II on a shortcut between Ramindra renovated, good environment and Navamin Sell@2.84 MB.
Sell@4.5 MB.
No.28945-023
Consign. sell@3 MB. No.29018-194
No.29026-032/029
ANYTHING ABOUT HOME & OFFICE SERVICE.
CALL. HOME SMILE ELECTRICITY WORK PLUMBLING WORK RENOVATION DECORATION
TEL. 083-7709090
COURSE MEMBERSHIP EXCHANGE CENTRE THE FIRST IN THAILAND Tel: 081-5555888, 081-5555999 02-259-0980-5 www.thaigolfcentre.com
BUY 1.Bangpra International 2.Krungthep Kreetha 1,700,000 3.Muang Ake 1 350,000 4.Bangpakong Riverside 5.Tanya Thanee 140,000 6.Spring Field -
SELL 145,000 185,000 150,000 370,000
24 GAMES
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE SPORT Barca give Eto’o a week to find new club
Samuel Eto’o
Barcelona have given their Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o, whose future at the club is uncertain, an extra week of holidays to buy time to negotiate his departure. The club resume training on Monday but the player will only join up with the team on July 27. Coach Josep Guardiola no longer wants Eto’o in his team and the move is an attempt by the European and Spanish champions to “buy time” to offload the striker.
Becks ‘dedicated to Galaxy’ David Beckham swears he is back with the Los Angeles Galaxy to help boost football in the United States even though his desire to play for England in the 2010 World Cup might draw him back to Europe. “Not at all,” he said. “I’ve been very dedicated to the Galaxy, dedicated to the fans. I’ve always been very positive and very honest with my play here and when I went to Milan I explained to everyone the reason behind me going. “I always said to the manager and the players that I would be coming back. Maybe one or two didn’t believe me but at the end of the day I’m here, I’m committed to the team and we’ll see what the first game back will be like. “I don’t feel like I owe an apology, but I don’t know.” – AFP
Adebayor fears ‘greedy’taunts Emmanuel Adebayor asked Manchester City to delay his £25million proposed move from Arsenal as he’s concerned about criticism in his native country. The Togo striker fears he could be perceived as “money- driven” by his compatriots, although he’s attracted by the perspective of a £150,000-a-week salary. The 25year-old is understood to prefer a
move to AC Milan and asked Manchester City to allow him some time to discuss the situation with his family and agents. – Bloomberg
Chelsea clutch at talisman Terry Chelsea are confident John Terry will remain at Stamford Bridge next season despite courting from Manchester City. “John is a talisman, he’s the heart of Chelsea. We’re very confident he will be remaining here,” the Blues chief executive officer Peter Kenyon said. “We’re not going to sell John so it’s really irrelevant what another club John Terry will offer. He’s too important for us. Terry posed for a photo shoot to promote Chelsea’s new endorsement deal with Samsung and he’s expected to go on tour with the squad for the pre-season tour to the US. Michael Ballack is also convinced that the captain will remain. “Money is always a big part of this business but he’s happy. He’s a Chelsea boy and that’s why I think he will stay,” he said.
20M Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo is on the verge of a move to the Premier League, most likely to Tottenham, who are willing to pay ¤20 million.
MADRID EYE ASIA Ronaldo will be back on our screens if Real reschedule DPA, Madrid
R
eal Madrid are planning to take the Asian market by storm by playing their home games on Sunday afternoon, sports daily AS reported yesterday. AS said Real president A S H EPerez S C R“is I Ctrying K E Tto Florentino convince the different television operators” to allow the whites to play their home matches at 3pm on Sunday in winter and at 4pm in autumn and spring. Perez told television channel Intereconomia last week that, because of the current La Liga schedule, 800 million people worldwide can follow Real’s games. Playing on Sunday afternoons would mean that 1,800 million people – including Indians, Chinese and Japanese – could watch them, he said. India is five hours ahead of European time, China seven hours ahead and Japan eight. Perez said that England’s Premier League had more impact in Asia because games were scheduled earlier in the day. In June Perez, a controversial construction billionaire, returned as president of Real and
AFP
briefly
DAILY XPRESS
Cristiano Ronaldo, left, and Karim Benzema could be playing matches earlier next season as their club targets Asian TV viewers. immediately embarked upon the biggest spending spree ever seen in world football, splashing out around ¤210 million on Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Raul Albiol. He is also interested in Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery, Valencia’s David Silva and Xabi Alonso of Liverpool. Now his task is to make these signings profitable, through replica shirt sales, merchandizing – and television rights. Perez is working on the assumption that Ronaldo and Kaka alone will generate ¤90 million per year. Spanish games are played at 8pm and 10pm on Saturdays,
and at five, seven and nine on Sundays. In his previous spell at the Real helm, from 2000 to 2006, Perez tried to convince the Spanish football federation to allow Real a different schedule, but to no avail. AS said the same thing might happen again. According to AS, Perez will try to convince the federation that the schedule change would be beneficial for La Liga in general, not just for Real. The other obstacle to Perez’s plan is the “madridista” fans, who mostly enjoy a big family Sunday lunch and a pleasant siesta afterwards – before setting off for the Estadio Bernabeu.
Lucio switch to Inter in doubt Bayern Munich’s Brazilian international defender Lucio’s proposed move to Serie A champions Inter Milan has not been completed, the Italians said yesterday. Inter’s transfer consultant Gabriele Oriali rebuked an earlier claim from the German club and was later backed up by club president Massimo Moratti. “Nothing is signed regarding Lucio’s transfer, there’s nothing official,” Moratti told Inter’s official website. However he did admit that any such deal for the centre-back could spell the end in Inter’s interest in Chelsea pair Ricardo Carvalho and Deco. “From what I know there’s nothing agreed. Would the signing of Lucio mean we abandon a deal for Deco and Carvalho?” he said. “I think it’s sufficiently clear that we can’t sign 40 players.” Moratti’s words confirmed what Oriali had already stated. “We’re negotiating but we don’t yet have an agreement,” Oriali told Italian news agency Ansa before adding: “Although it could be Bayern’s Lucio could be staying. finalised in a matter of days.”– AFP
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE SPORT 25
DAILY XPRESS
Calca sinks birdies after his beers
GOLF
BLAST FROM THE PAST Watson leads the British Open with a fantastic 65 AP, Turnberry, Scotland
hirty-two years after his epic “Duel in the Sun” with Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson took advantage of pristine conditions at the British Open to shoot a stunning 5-under 65 yesterday. “Not bad for an almost 60-year-old,” said Watson, who turns 60 in September. “Obviously I enjoyed it. I played very well, kept the ball in play, made a few putts. The course was defenceless today. As a result, you’re seeing a lot of scores under par. I suspect by the end of the day, 65 will not be in the lead.” The Open keeps bringing out the best in the old-timers. Last year, Norman was 53 when he held the 54-hole lead at Birkdale, only to fade on the final day. Watson still has three rounds to go, and the history of Major championship golf is filled with opening-day leaders who fell out of contention by the weekend. But those first 18 holes at Turnberry sure were fun – and not as surprising to Watson as they were to everyone else. “I haven’t reassessed [expectations] at all,” he said. “I was playing well in the practice rounds, and I felt I would play very well this week.” Watson, a five-time Open champion, posted his lowest score in the tournament since a second-round 65 in 1994 – the last time it was held at Turnberry. A year ago, he shot 74-76 at Birkdale and missed the cut. Watson posted five birdies
,,
AP
T
Tom Watson, 59, tips his hat to the gallery at the 18th green after finishing his opening round. and made a couple of testing par saves, including a 6-footer at the final hole to ensure his name would be alone atop the leaderboard, at least for a while. With red numbers there for the taking, Australia’s John Senden, American Steve Stricker and Camilo Villegas of Colombia put up 66s. Stewart Cink of the US and England’s David Howell also were at 4 under while still on the course, and 1989 Open champion Mark Calcavecchia went out in the first group of the day with his wife on the bag and shot 67. Stricker, playing in the group just ahead of Watson, got a chance to keep up with the turn-back-the-clock round. “That was very cool to
I DON’T LIVE IN THE PAST BUT CERTAINLY THAT HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CONVERSATIONS FOR ME THIS WEEK. Tom Watson
watch,” Stricker said. “It gives hope to everybody that you can continue to play well in your later years.” The conditions along the picturesque Scottish coast were ideal for going low – the sun peeking in and out of the clouds, the Ailsa Craig easily visible offshore, the flags hanging limply above the grandstands, barely the hint of a breeze. “It was perfect out there,” Calcavecchia said. “The course couldn’t possibly play any easier. I don’t know how long it’s going to stay like that.” Surprisingly, overwhelming favourite Tiger Woods failed to take advantage. The world No 1 struggled to 1-over 71.
Mark Calcavecchia put himself on to the British Open leaderboard yesterday with a little help from a cocktail of beer and painkillers. The 49-year-old, who won his only Major title in the 1989 Open at nearby Troon, took full advantage of a 6.30am start in near perfect conditions to fire a three-under-par 67. It was a remarkable performance from a player who had been in acute pain after being forced to play 36 holes to finish the weather-disrupted John Deere Classic on Sunday. “I don’t think anybody would have even finished the way I felt,” he said. “I was pretty much in full blown spasm the entire second 18.” Calcavecchia’s way of dealing with the pain was not exactly drawn from the medical textbook. “I was contemplating not coming,” he confirmed. “If it had been any other tournament I would not have come. But, you know, I love this tournament and once I got done at the John Deere, I took a few more [painkillers] Aleve and a couple of beers and I was okay. “I got on the plane, and several more beers went flowing down. The next thing you know we were landing. I felt pretty good on Monday.” Calcavecchia undeniably looks like a man who has a warm relationship with beer and he admits his chronic back problems might be eased by losing a bit of weight and following the example of Tiger Woods when it comes to working on his core strength. AFP
No second honeymoon for Norman AFP, Turnberry, Scotland
AFP
G
Greg Norman looks for his ball in the rough near the fifth hole.
reg Norman’s dreams of a rerun of last year’s British Open challenge were shattered by some close encounters with the Turnberry rough yesterday as he struggled to an opening 77. On a day when benign conditions made life just about as easy as it could be for Norman and his peers, the veteran Australian was left facing a battle to make the cut on the course when he won his first
Major title, 23 years ago. Uncharacteristically wayward driving and two double bogeys, the first caused by a lost ball on the 5th, did the damage and Norman admitted there could be no excuses in near perfect weather. “For me to drive the golf ball the way I drove the golf ball today was probably the worst in my career and that’s all I can say,” he said. “If you don’t get it on the fairway,
you’re going to struggle. “If I played nine holes and the rest of the guys played 18 tomorrow, I’ll be ok. That’s about all my consolation is. I got what I deserved today.” Norman’s round began to unravel as early as the second hole, where he pushed an iron into the thick stuff and was left with a wedge up the fairway as his only option. Back-to-back birdies on the last two holes undid some of
the damage but not sufficiently to put the smile back on the face of tennis legend Chris Evert, Norman’s wife of 12 months, who was looking on glumly. It all felt very different from last year at Royal Birkdale, where the just-married couple stole the show as Norman brilliantly mastered much tougher conditions to lead the field by two shots going into the final round before finally finishing in a tie for third place.
26
THE SPORT
Friday, July 17, 2009
DAILY XPRESS
BOXING
GATTI’S WIFE FIGHTS BACK Murdered boxer’s spouse protests innocence; couple often fought AP, Rio De Janeiro
rturo Gatti’s wife, accused of strangling the champion boxer with her purse strap, proclaims her innocence and love for her dead husband in a letter given to the Associated Press yesterday. While declining to be interviewed from her jail cell in the northeastern Brazil city of Recife, Amanda Rodrigues did hand over a letter written on white, lined paper and penned in red ink. “This is a pain that has become inexplicable and intolerable, this loss and this malicious accusation,” Rodrigues wrote. “I lost my husband!” The 23-year-old Rodrigues told investigators she awoke on Saturday about 6am to find her husband’s body in the apart-
EPA
A
Amanda Rodriguez, centre, wife of Canadian boxer Arturo Gatti, after her arrest in Recife, Brazil. ment they rented in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in Pernambuco state. She then called police. But investigators said she was the only suspect and they are certain she killed Gatti in the apartment where they and their 10-month-old son arrived for a second honeymoon last week. The boy was unhurt and was in the care of Rodrigues’ family.
“I’m innocent and I know that this will be proven in a few days,” Rodrigues wrote. But those who knew Gatti and Rodrigues in the US and Canada have said their relationship was rocky at best. “She was yelling all the time, they were always fighting and she’d say ‘I’m going to kill you!’ when they fought,” Gatti’s mother, Ida, said.
According to records at the Court of Quebec’s criminal and penal division, Gatti was charged on April 16 for violating a restraining order that had been filed against him. The records didn’t indicate who filed the restraining order, but Gatti’s mother confirmed that it was Rodrigues who had taken one out against him. She offered no other details. Gatti’s stepfather Geraldo DiFrancesco said the pair fought, but that he “was surprised” it went as far as Gatti’s death. “You can never expect something like that to happen.” Chuck Zito, an actor and friend of Gatti who met the boxer 13 years ago and accompanied him to the ring for several of his most notable fights, said he knew the couple was having problems. “Things were real rocky. They were rocky between them from the beginning,” Zito said. “He said they were probably going to get a divorce.” Zito said Gatti met his wife at
the strip club Scores in New York and that Gatti’s friends tried to talk him out of marrying her. Rodrigues, however, batted away the criticism in her letter. “The people most important to my life, who know us, know the size of our love,” she wrote. “What hurts me is knowing the suffering of my family and friends. What hurts me is to know that my husband will not be in my house waiting for my return.” An autopsy report on Gatti was due to be released within days. Investigators said they had no new information to share, but remained steadfast in their theory that Rodrigues acted alone – and that the alleged murder may have been premeditated, saying she may have encouraged him to drink excessively so she could overpower him later. Police spokeswoman Milena Saraiva said Gatti was very drunk – to the point of being incapacitated.
Friday, July 17, 2009
THE SPORT 27
DAILY XPRESS
Noppawan handed US Open wildcard
S U P P O RT T O N AT I O N A L T E A M S
A GRAND DEAL
By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam
Sportswear and equipment maker pumps in Bt144m
DAILY XPRESS
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DAILY XPRESS
rand Sport, which has been sponsoring the national team since 2005, has extended its contract with the Olympic Committee of Thailand (OCT) for another four years. The deal was signed at OCT’s Bangkok headquarters yesterday with OCT president General Yuthasak Sasiprapha, its secretary-general MajGeneral Charouck Arirachakaran and Suchada Nimakorn, chief executive officer of Grand Sport Group. According to the contract, Grand Sport, one of the leading brands of sportswear and sporting goods in Thailand, will be the official sponsor of the OCT from 2009 to 2013. The deal will cost Grand Sport Bt144 million, which includes Bt1 million worth of
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Grand Sport’s Suchada Nimakorn, third from left, exchanges the contract with OCT president General Yuthasak Sasiprapha. sports equipment and sportswear. “We are not expecting any commercial benefits from extending the contract. But as a leading sportswear manufacturer, we are proud to support the national players with highquality sportswear. We’ve already proved that our sportswear products are widely ac-
cepted both nationally and internationally,” said Suchada. Under the contract, Grand Sport will supply equipment and sportswear to national representatives at 15 major events including the first Asian Martial Art Games, the first Asian Youth Games, the third Asian Indoor and the SEA Games.
orld Junior No 1 Noppawan “Nok” Lertcheewakarn was given a wildcard into the women’s US Open qualifying round as she resumed practice for the first time since her homecoming. This is the second time the Wimbledon junior champion has been handed a chance to compete in a women’s singles event. The Thai was awarded a wildcard by the All England Club but lost her first round qualifying match to Russian Vesna Manasieva in three sets. “I’m happy to be given this opportunity. I will do my best to get into the main draw,’’ said Noppawan who hit balls for the first time in a week at the Pyramid Tennis Academy yesterday. Since arriving back from Wimbledon a week ago, the teenage celebrity has been busy with interviews and celebrations. But she said she won’t be accepting any more invitations as she’s turning her focus back to tennis.
After a week of celebrations, it’s back to tennis for ‘Nok’. “I never imagined I would be this popular. But it’s time to go back to the routine because that’s my priority,’’ said Noppawan, who will play 11 events including the SEA Games in Laos this December. Noppawan will fly to Canada on August 1 to compete in a US$75,000 event, her first since claiming the girls’ singles and doubles at Wimbledon. She is committed to three junior tournaments, with the US Open as her farewell junior tournament. Of her 11 scheduled women’s events, she’s been given wildcards for Tokyo in October and Taiwan in November.