Current Affairs

November 29, 2008

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Thailand, has been closed by protesters

IMG_0762

Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok’s new International airport has been closed for 4 days now by a group call PAD, the People’s Alliance for Democracy. 

I’ve been anxiously searching for and following news from many different sources because I’m concerned about the chaos that’s going on. The result is I found a lot of disturbing blogs and Twitter postings. These are some examples:

“Thai Government should break down the protests with violence,”

“PAD are the terrorists,”

“Thai people are so uneducated that they let PAD rise to power,”

and worse.

As I am Thai born and raised, their comments show little knowledge about Thai political history. Some of the bloggers even admit that they’ve never been to Thailand.

I’m surely not a PAD supporter,n nor do I support the UDD, the United Front for Democracy Against the Dictatorship, either. There is another group in Thailand who, even though they are anti-corrupt government, seek peace. They are known as the “White Shirt” group.

I know America is a free country and people can say whatever they want about anything but let’s face it, Thai government and PAD leaders will not make any decisions based on your suggestion. Rather, what you expressed might disturb Thai people, as it did me.

I would like to ask a favor of you. If you are not Thai or at least do not clearly understand what’s going on in our kingdom, please keep your opinions to yourself and do not publicly express uninformed comments. Please, do not insult people that you do not know. Please do not suggest violence just because the result of it doesn’t affect you or your family personally or even your country of citizenship.

Why would you make yourself sound ignorant when you do not need to? By not posting a casual opinion on something that you do not truly know about, at least you do not cause irritation and indeed insult to the Thai people, who all hope that this chaos ends peacefully.

Nov 29, 2008 11:07:18 PM | Current Affairs

November 21, 2008

Bankruptcy Warning! Gift Cards

These are the updates with resource references of the stores that have been mentioned in the Gift card warning e-mail. Please, check the Business Journal at about the Better Business Bureau warning.

Companies that already filed Chapter 11

Filing does not necessarily mean a company is going out of business. Please, see detail on US. Courts definition. Although the law allows companies to stop honoring gift cards when they file for bankruptcy protection, that doesn't mean they will not validate the gift card, so check with them first.

Bombay Company - closed all 384 U.S stores since January 2008 but still operates stores in Canada under new ownership.

Mervyn's - filed July 2008, 149 stores to be closed and liquidated.

Circuit City - filed November 10, 2008 and planned to close 155 out of total more than 566 stores in U.S. by December 31.

Levitz - filed October 2007, sold in bankruptcy to a group of bidders and closed down all stores

Sharper Image - filed in February 2008, and all 86 stores to be closed  and liquidated as of June 2008.

Whitehall - 373 stores to be liquidated by the chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in June 2008

Wickes Furniture - announced going out of business sale on March 1, 2008

Companies that will close some of their stores but not the entire chain:

Ann Taylor - (Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet stores) will close 117 underperforming stores between 2008-2010. The company didn't specify the anticipated locations.

Cache - closing approximately 21 locations but expecting to open approximately 16 new Cache stores and expecting to maintain operation in 292 locations.

Dillard's to close some stores

Disney closing 98 stores

Eddie Bauer - closed 29 stores

Ethan Allen - closed 12 stores

Footlocker closing - 140 stores from 3,700 total in 21 countries

GAP - (Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic) to close 115 stores and open about 100 stores.

Home Depot closing 15 under-performing stores

Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's - closing 150 stores as of February 2008

Linens and Things - filed Chater 11 in May 2008 and first announced 120 underperforming stores to be closed. The latest announcement said total 205 stores to be closed but 390 stores will remain.

Macys to close 9 stores in December 2007

Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots) - closing 154 demo stores
 
Sprint/Nextel - to close 125 stores as of January 21, 2008

Talbots - closing 78 stores

Wilson Leather  - to close 160 mall stores

Zales - (Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet, Gordon's Jewelers, Peoples Jewelers, Mappins Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda) closing 105  stores out of approximately 2,145 stores.

Other

J. Jill - Owned by Talbots Inc. who pursuing a sale of this unit (latest news as of November 7, 2008). Talbots said it would issue further details about selling J. Jill when its third quarter operating results come out on Nov 25.

Please feel free to add the stores that I've missed either in the comment or e-mail me the list and I will add them on here.

Nov 21, 2008 11:44:40 AM | Current Affairs

Miranti Borvornsin

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