My Taxi Feature and Thoughts on Source Anonymity

I wrote an article about taxis Coconuts Bangkok. You can see it here [CLICK]

There are a couple of things that I would like to mention about it; I don’t know if this is against journalistic etiquette, but two out of four of my sources wanted to be unnamed, and I think for understandable reasons.

I didn’t set up an interview with my first source, the bored taxi driver; the conversation happened naturally. When I told him I was a writer he wouldn’t give me his name. I also don’t want to get the guy in trouble, he was a nice dude who drove decently.

My second source was a friend of a friend who probably doesn’t want to have this tragedy pop up whenever people (perhaps future employers) google his name.

Having a full name in a print publication is different. There’s more anonymity in being a source. Things are kept more local, but now that the internet is putting everyone’s information in public file folders. People have to look after their anonymity because now, everything that is written and recorded can be reached anywhere.

Croon Shoes by Bloom Tripwatana

My girlfriend Bloom is launching her first shoe brand. She has been designing for Thai fashion brand Kloset for six years.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Croon.Bkk

Bloom’s previous work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUx_uZOUVE

Interview Bloom on BK Mag: http://bk.asia-city.com/shopping/article/qa-suphakanya-tripwatana

One of my favourite Canadian artists, Cadence Weapon. New song out. Grimes puts her poppy take on it too. http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46302-listen-grimes-remixes-cadence-weapon/

I like this video. It features Thai pop star Palmy and Kings of Convenience’s Erlend Oye. The video was shot and directed by Chardchakaj Waikawee, who shot the YOUTH exhibition, and who I collaborated with to do my street kids article. 

A vid my friends made. I helped a little bit.

The Naw-Not-That-Hungry Games

Why’s everyone love The Hunger Games so much? I don’t get it. What’s with all the raving reviews? It wasn’t that good. Gary Ross tries to direct an epic but it falls short because there’s a glaring hole in the screenplay. 

Half the book is about Katniss getting a meal. The movie Katniss definitely doesn’t need one. No, that wasn’t a fat joke. She turns down a royal meal because she had drama with Peeta who she just met. Would a famished person do that? Would a famished person like Gale forget he had a piece of bread in his pocket in the beginning of the movie? In the book, Katniss and everyone else except for the career kids are completely famished and desperate.

The costume direction and wardrobe failed too. People casted to play the District kids are all dressed like a American Outfitters catalogue. Not a spec of dirt anywhere. There was no aesthetic of poverty.

This gawker review pisses me off. He says it’s so true to the book but it’s not. It’s a watered down version of the book. The book is gritty. It’s actually about hunger because famine is more of a threat than anyone that wants to kill them. That’s why the book isn’t that violent, and that’s why it was PG-13 too. I was not at all surprised that I don’t know what this guy is talking about.

The focus was shifted more towards the games. It makes sense, but Suzanne Collins’ plot in her book unwinds brilliantly. Ross shakes away any pretense of suspense because he had mistaken his camera for an etch-a-sketch or something.

This is a pretty negative post; I guess I’m saying that I hate Gary Ross’ adaptation of the book (which ain’t no literary triumph, but awesome all the same).

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Hangout: Aran Bicicletta

A chill hangout for freelancer, freeloaders and fixie riders on Ari Samphan 4. They sell fixed-gear bike frames and parts, coffee and beer. The food is limited, but the atmosphere and the free wifi makes up for it.

Aran Kamonchan is a bike buff. I’m not. But, there is a whole floor of bike stuff and it looks legit.

Prices: latte, B50; italian soda, B50; Leo beer, B45; Heineken, B65.

50 Baht Lattes and wifi. That’s all.

18 Soi Aree 4 (North) Paholyothin Rd, Phone 081-821-9603, Facebook, open Mon-Sun 11am-8pm