Who doesn’t love a good sale? But when bargain hunting, coupon clipping or mastering the deal becomes the objective, you and your budget are likely headed for big trouble. I can’t tell you the number of people who have said, “But it was such a deal!” Really? You don’t have the money you need to pay off your credit card balance in full, but it was a deal? Hmmm.If you’re spending money you don’t have – if you’re putting it on credit and not paying it off in full by the end of the month – it’s not a deal. If you’re buying something you don’t need, it’s not a deal. If it takes you three weeks, three months, or never to put what you bought to use, it’s not a deal.A deal is buying the snowsuit your child is going to wear next winter on sale at the end of this winter at 70 per cent off. A deal is picking up a new book you know your sister is dying to read for half price and stashing it for her birthday. … [Read more...] about How to tell if your bargain-hunting is getting out of hand
Loving hands
All you need is love, and a sense of the absurd
The approach of Valentine’s Day means we are heading into the annual silly season, although some might argue that in Thailand it is the silly season all year round. Valentine’s is admittedly one of the most spurious celebrations of the calendar, which probably explains why it becomes more popular here every year. However, it serves as a desperately needed break from the daily diet of depressing news. No doubt we will be treated to the usual mass underwater weddings in Trang, tying the knot aboard elephants in Chiang Mai and couples getting married while dangling upside down after a bungee jump. To each their own.A few years ago, Pattaya hosted a marathon kissing contest in which a Thai couple stuck at it for more than 46 hours to break the world record. In a kingdom which officially frowns on public kissing, it seemed a curious choice of contest. However, considering nothing is frowned upon in Pattaya — with the possible exception of bridge-players — it … [Read more...] about All you need is love, and a sense of the absurd
Cavs all-star Kevin Love expected to miss two months
CLEVELAND—Kevin Love’s heart was questioned last week. The focus has switched to his broken left hand this week.And so it goes for the Cleveland Cavaliers, a championship-chasing team plagued by as much malfunction as dysfunction.Love fractured a bone in his left hand in the first half of an ugly loss on Tuesday night in Detroit, and the all-star forward’s injury and status likely will have a major effect on the team’s plans to fix a season spiralling away. Read more: No Love lost in NBA’s season of strife … [Read more...] about Cavs all-star Kevin Love expected to miss two months
Amazon just canceled 3 shows at once: ‘Jean-Claude Van Johnson,’ ‘One Mississippi,’ and ‘I Love Dick’ — here are the others it has dropped
Amazon had a big night at the 2018 Golden Globes, with high-profile wins for its hit comedy series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Then it turned around and canceled three shows at once: “Jean-Claude Van Johnson,” “One Mississippi,” and “I Love Dick.” The cancellations come as Amazon continues to clean house after a management shakeup. In October, Amazon Studios head Roy Price resigned after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced, and CEO Jeff Bezos has reportedly directed a change in strategy at the company, which led to Amazon in November grabbing the rights to make a TV series based on “The Lord of the Rings.” Amazon also seems to have a much quicker trigger finger than Netflix, and has killed a bunch of shows already. The recent crop consisted of “I Love Dick,” which was nominated for a Golden Globe (Kevin Bacon as best actor in a comedy), “One Mississippi” starring comedian … [Read more...] about Amazon just canceled 3 shows at once: ‘Jean-Claude Van Johnson,’ ‘One Mississippi,’ and ‘I Love Dick’ — here are the others it has dropped
Cultivating a love of reading in the digital age
The Neilson Hays Library on Surawong Road has become a much-loved Bangkok institution since its foundation in 1869. It was designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno and dedicated to the memory of Jennie Neilson Hays. The elegant neoclassical building houses some 20,000 books and magazines across many genres, the largest collection of English-language books in Thailand. The library is run by a small team of staff, supported by a volunteer Library Association Board and a hard-working team of volunteers (Friends of the Neilson Hays Library). Guru spoke to the library's president, Nalin Vanasin, about the recent completion of extensive renovations and fostering a passion for books and reading. Tell us about the all-new Neilson Hays Library. What renovations were done and how was the old architecture preserved?The old architecture is intact, as the works focused on repairing damages and putting in place systems to prevent further damages from flooding, water leakages, and humidity. The … [Read more...] about Cultivating a love of reading in the digital age