Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Pass the Books. Hold the Oil.

By Thomas L. Friedman

EVERY so often someone asks me: “What’s your favorite country, other than your own?”

I’ve always had the same answer: Taiwan. “Taiwan? Why Taiwan?” people ask.

Very simple: Because Taiwan is a barren rock in a typhoon-laden sea with no natural resources to live off of — it even has to import sand and gravel from China for construction — yet it has the fourth-largest financial reserves in the world. Because rather than digging in the ground and mining whatever comes up, Taiwan has mined its 23 million people, their talent, energy and intelligence — men and women. I always tell my friends in Taiwan: “You’re the luckiest people in the world. How did you get so lucky? You have no oil, no iron ore, no forests, no diamonds, no gold, just a few small deposits of coal and natural gas — and because of that you developed the habits and culture of honing your people’s skills, which turns out to be the most valuable and only truly renewable resource in the world today. How did you get so lucky?”

That, at least, was my gut instinct. But now we have proof.A team from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or O.E.C.D., has just come out with a fascinating little study mapping the correlation between performance on the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, exam — which every two years tests math, science and reading comprehension skills of 15-year-olds in 65 countries — and the total earnings on natural resources as a percentage of G.D.P. for each participating country. In short, how well do your high school kids do on math compared with how much oil you pump or how many diamonds you dig?

The results indicated that there was a “a significant negative relationship between the money countries extract from national resources and the knowledge and skills of their high school population,” said Andreas Schleicher, who oversees the PISA exams for the O.E.C.D. “This is a global pattern that holds across 65 countries that took part in the latest PISA assessment.” Oil and PISA don’t mix. (See the data map at:http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/43/9/49881940.pdf.)

As the Bible notes, added Schleicher, “Moses arduously led the Jews for 40 years through the desert — just to bring them to the only country in the Middle East that had no oil. But Moses may have gotten it right, after all. Today, Israel has one of the most innovative economies, and its population enjoys a standard of living most of the oil-rich countries in the region are not able to offer.”

So hold the oil, and pass the books. According to Schleicher, in the latest PISA results, students in Singapore, Finland, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan stand out as having high PISA scores and few natural resources, while Qatar and Kazakhstan stand out as having the highest oil rents and the lowest PISA scores. (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Bahrain, Iran and Syria stood out the same way in a similar 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, or Timss, test, while, interestingly, students from Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey — also Middle East states with few natural resources — scored better.) Also lagging in recent PISA scores, though, were students in many of the resource-rich countries of Latin America, like Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Africa was not tested. Canada, Australia and Norway, also countries with high levels of natural resources, still score well on PISA, in large part, argues Schleicher, because all three countries have established deliberate policies of saving and investing these resource rents, and not just consuming them.

Add it all up and the numbers say that if you really want to know how a country is going to do in the 21st century, don’t count its oil reserves or gold mines, count its highly effective teachers, involved parents and committed students. “Today’s learning outcomes at school,” says Schleicher, “are a powerful predictor for the wealth and social outcomes that countries will reap in the long run.”

Economists have long known about “Dutch disease,” which happens when a country becomes so dependent on exporting natural resources that its currency soars in value and, as a result, its domestic manufacturing gets crushed as cheap imports flood in and exports become too expensive. What the PISA team is revealing is a related disease: societies that get addicted to their natural resources seem to develop parents and young people who lose some of the instincts, habits and incentives for doing homework and honing skills.

By, contrast, says Schleicher, “in countries with little in the way of natural resources — Finland, Singapore or Japan — education has strong outcomes and a high status, at least in part because the public at large has understood that the country must live by its knowledge and skills and that these depend on the quality of education. ... Every parent and child in these countries knows that skills will decide the life chances of the child and nothing else is going to rescue them, so they build a whole culture and education system around it.”

Or as my Indian-American friend K. R. Sridhar, the founder of the Silicon Valley fuel-cell company Bloom Energy, likes to say, “When you don’t have resources, you become resourceful.”

That’s why the foreign countries with the most companies listed on the Nasdaq are Israel, China/Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, South Korea and Singapore — none of which can live off natural resources.

But there is an important message for the industrialized world in this study, too. In these difficult economic times, it is tempting to buttress our own standards of living today by incurring even greater financial liabilities for the future. To be sure, there is a role for stimulus in a prolonged recession, but “the only sustainable way is to grow our way out by giving more people the knowledge and skills to compete, collaborate and connect in a way that drives our countries forward,” argues Schleicher.

In sum, says Schleicher, “knowledge and skills have become the global currency of 21st-century economies, but there is no central bank that prints this currency. Everyone has to decide on their own how much they will print.” Sure, it’s great to have oil, gas and diamonds; they can buy jobs. But they’ll weaken your society in the long run unless they’re used to build schools and a culture of lifelong learning. “The thing that will keep you moving forward,” says Schleicher, is always “what you bring to the table yourself.”

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Oat Straw Benefits Longevity & Sexual Performance

Did You know…that calcium-rich oat straw has been shown to heal osteoporosis, mend bones, improve cognitive performance–and even enhance sexual performance?

When oats are harvested before the grain matures, the green grass and tops are called oat straw (Avena sativa).

Many alternative health advisers recommend oat straw for its dramatic capacity to improve stimulation of the reproductive organs for both men and women…and consumer testimonials indicate this botanical can indeed work wonders in the bedroom.oat straw tea

But this calcium-rich herb has many other important healing properties, as well, from treating osteoporosis and osteopenia to reducing anxiety.

How Oat Straw Stimulates Cell Growth and Builds Better Bones

Research indicates that oat straw is an excellent defense against osteoporosis. One study published in 2000 in Integrative Herbal Communications showed that oat straw triggers the release of a “luteinizing” hormone in rats.

The release of the luteinizing hormone leads to an overall hormone surge that stimulates cell growth, said M. Blumenthal, who led the study. He says that this ability to stimulate cell growth makes oat straw a great supplement for building bone strength.

Oat straw is also rich in calcium and other bone-bolstering minerals. The late herbology pioneer Dr. John R. Christopher concocted a calcium-fortifying formula using oat straw. The formula could be taken as a capsule or a tea and had many traditional uses, such as:

  • Healing broken bones
  • Easing muscle cramps
  • Strengthening blood vessels
  • Building tooth enamel
  • Protecting nerve sheaths

Not all Calcium is Created Equal–Oat Straw’s Organic Calcium is Superior

Did you know there are two different kinds of calcium–organic and inorganic?

Inorganic minerals cannot be assimilated into the body. When you ingest supplements containing inorganic calcium, it accumulates and forms deposits in weakened or injured areas. Often, this leads to long-term side effects.

Organic calcium–such as that found in oat straw–can be assimilated. Calcium supplements of this kind are nontoxic, have no side effects even when used over long periods, and they’resignificantly more effective.

An Herbal Remedy for Stress and Anxiety

As early as 1987, the German Commission E (comparable to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) declared oat straw a nervine herb. As the name implies, nervine herbs are especially useful for soothing, calming, and nourishing the nervous system. Because of this, Commission E declared that oat straw tea could be an effective herbal remedy for anxiety and stress.

In addition, oat straw encourages restful sleep and contains a powerful vitamin B complex for sustained energy.

Oat straw also enhances brainpower. Just this year, new studies published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine suggested that oat straw could improve cognitive performance. Taking 1600 mg of oat straw extract “acutely improved the attention, focus, and concentration abilities [of] elderly adults.”

The Best Aphrodisiac You’ve Never Heard Of

Though you may not know it, many male sexual performance enhancers use oat straw tea as an active ingredient–and a good deal of anecdotal evidence supports its love-sparking benefits. Better yet, when used with saw palmetto or stinging nettle, oat straw is said to be a very effective arousal aid for women, as well.

How to Make Your Own Oat Straw Tea

Ageless.com offers an excellent recipe for oat straw tea with slight variations depending on whether you’re using fresh plant material, dried material, or bark or seeds. In any case, the basics are the same. Begin the infusing process by pouring a cup of boiling water over the oat straw material, let it steep for 5 minutes, then strain and enjoy! If you like, honey or a dash of lemon juice can be added for taste.

Oat straw supplements are also widely available online and in health food and supplement retail stores.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Stroke or no stroke?

The friend asked, "How do you know it was a stroke?"

"Well, a good indication is when the left corner of my lip kept curling up to whisper sweet nothings in my left ear."

The conversation was sometime last week. The incident was a few days before that. I was driving back to KL from Mantin at about 11pm. Not a comfortable feeling to have especially while doing 110kph on the expressway. I suppose not a comfortable feeling under any circumstances.

And just to make sure I didn't get pulled up by the police for driving as though I was under the influence of some illegal substance, I had to give myself a tight slap. And I mean a slap so tight, my ears were ringing for the next five minutes.

And that was how I found myself a few days later in the neurology section of some private hospital.

First diagnosis which cost about RM200 - suspected transient stroke. Vision in left eye was a bit blurred. Left cheek a bit numb. So the good doctor prescribed blood thinner and something for the cholesterol.

Second diagnosis which cost some RM4,000 inclusive of medication, MRI, echo and ECG and one night hospitalisation - acute sinus infection.

A few more tight slaps would have saved me all the money. A numb cheek would also have made me realise that a single swallow doesn't a summer make. And a few twitches are by no means the onslaught of a stroke. Could just be a cheek wanting to be slapped.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR AMAZING THAILAND GRAND SALE 2011

For the first time, locally-made products are to be at the forefront of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sate 2011, the biggest annual shopping extravaganza to be held nationwide between 15 June to 15 August 2011.

As in past years, the annual Grand Sale is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) together with VISA International and tourism related agencies. As of this week, over 15,000 shops, department stores, spas, airlines, hotels, hospitals, duty-free, jewellery, golf courses, and travel agents have agreed to participate.

This year, along with the brand-name products which are traditionally the most popular purchased items, special attention is being paid to promote the sale of locally-made products; such as, handicrafts, apparel, decorations and home-use products made under the umbrella of the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) scheme.

The OTOP scheme allows villages all over Thailand to specialise in making local products with the Royal Thai Government providing support for marketing, distribution and sales. The scheme contributes significantly towards job creation and poverty alleviation in the provinces.

Popular retail and wholesale markets where OTOP and locally-made products are available include Chatuchak Market, J.J. Mall, Pratunam Platinum, Outlet Mall and others.

The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale will be held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Koh Samui Local shopping streets will be organised in all the participating cities.

TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, "Thailand is a shopping paradise for worldwide visitors, thanks to our value-for-money factor and extensive diversity of products and services. The Grand Sale is now in its 14th year and goes from strength to strength, thanks to the cooperation of all the participating companies, organisations and the support of our primary partner, VISA International."

As is normal every year, shoppers will also get shopping discounts of up to 80 percent on a broad range of products and services and up to 20 percent off on food and beverage. They will have a chance to win lucky-draw prizes and also avail of a month-long opportunity to become better acquainted with Thai culture and lifestyles.

Those who book their travel plans in advance with participating tour operators and airlines in their respective countries will get additional benefits; such as, special discount card from leading retail outlets, discounted travel insurance and Fast Track coupons to cut waiting times at airport immigration channels.

The "Amazing Thailand Grand Sate Fair 2011" will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center between 28-31 July 2011, at which about 600 tourism-related products and services will be available for sale at discounts of between 10-80 percent.

Travel agents in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China (Guangzhou, Shanghai), India (New Delhi, Mumbai) and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) that participate in the ATGS 2011 will have a chance to "Win A Trip to Thailand" with a total of five prizes, 2 persons per prize comprising a round-trip air ticket from their home country to Thailand; two-nights accommodation; shopping and dining vouchers, and spa and massage privileges.

Beside getting the discounts, both Thai and foreign tourists will have a chance to win a range of coupon-based prizes; such as,

1. Foreign tourists will be able to fill out coupons for the prize-draw of a "30 Days Experience Thailand". Along with one companion, prize winners will be able to visit Thailand for 30 days, with first-class round-trip air tickets, domestic round-trip air tickets on all routes as per the tour programme, transfers, accommodation at deluxe hotels, meals, entrance fees for all sites, a Thai lifestyle and culture experience, guides and pocket money for 2 persons (10,000 Baht per person per day).

2. Foreign tourists will be able to book a travel package at special prices from travel agents participating in the ATGS 2011 project which include Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China (Guangzhou and Shanghai), India (New Delhi, Mumbai) and Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam). In addition, they will get a ATGS Privileges Card which will carry additional discounts of 5-10 percent over the normal discount.

3. Those that book seats on Thai Airways, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways will have a chance to win 10 prizes of 2-nights stay accommodation at the Accor Group.

4. Those that reserve online for accommodation at the hotels of the Dusit and Accor Groups will get special rates and an over-riding discount of 5-10 percent.

5. At KingPower Duty-Free, Suvarnabhumi Airport, tourists will get a 500 Baht coupon when they buy products worth over 5,000 Baht, In addition, car rental and mobile roaming companies will also offer special privileges.

6. The BTS Skytrain mass-transit system in Bangkok will be offering a 10 Baht discount for a One-day Pass ticket. Tourists can register online to avail of this.

7. Thai tourists will have a chance to win a 1,000,000 Baht coupon when they spend 500 Baht at participating shops and services. If they pay by cash or credit card, they will get 1 coupon but for payments by VISA card, they will get 2 coupons.

8. All tourists will have a chance to join the Top spender programme. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, tourists who buy products and services from shops on the shopping streets in each province can write their contact details on the back of the credit card slip and place it in boxes for the lucky draw. The first Top Ten spenders of each week will have a chance to win 10 prizes, for a total of 560 prizes, valued at 1,120,000 Baht.

The ceremony for all the lucky draws will be held on 20 September 2011. The names of the winners will be published on the Grand Sale web site www.tourismthailand.org/thailandgrandsale on 10 October 2011.

International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Khasiat budu


Budu yang berasal dari negeri sebelah pantai timur Malaysia ini mendapat perhatian dan menjadi kajian para ahli pemakanan berkhasiat Jepun, Amerika Syarikat, Australia, New Zealand dan Jerman. Penemuan baru-baru ini membuktikan kandungan budu memiliki glutathione sebagai bahan antioksidan, mengeluarkan sisa toxic dan meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh (immune) yang dapat memerangi pelbagai penyakit merbahaya dan menghalang kanser.

Kenyataan ini bagaikan satu kejutan bagi golongan yang selama ini memperlekehkan kewujudan budu yang dianggap makan "kuno".

Budu didapati berpotensi untuk melawan radikal bebas dan dipercayai mampu menghalang proses penuaan dan mencegah terjadinya penyakit degeneratif seperti aterosklerosis, koroner jantung, penyakit kencing manis, kanser dan selainnya pada peringkat lebih awal. Kajian mendalam juga mendapati budu turut mengandungi zat antibakteria penyebab cirit (diarrhoea), penurunan kolestrol darah, pencegah penyakit jantung dan hipertensi.

Budu memiliki zat gizi yang lebih mudah dicerna, diserap dan dimanfaatkan oleh tubuh berbanding jenis protein yang lain. Khasiat budu yang diproses dari ikan bilis yang diperam terbukti mampu mengatasi masalah kanak-kanak yang menderita penyakit diarrhoea kronik akibat kurang zat pada tubuh. Dengan pengambilan budu sebagai makanan sampingan, ia mampu menggalakkan pertumbuhan berat badan bagi golongan yang menderita penyakit diarrhoea kronik ini serta menyembuhkannya dalam waktu singkat.

Ia juga dapat mempertingkatkan IQ kepada sesiapa yang memakannya, kerana iamerangsangkan sel-sel otak dan akan memperkukuhkan ikatan di antara neuron-neuron serta menguatkan neuron-neuron yang lemah. Pemakanan budu turut bertindak membantutkan pertumbuhan bakteria raffinosa dan stokiosa, penyebab utama gejala flatulensi dan masalah kembung perut bagi kanak-kanak dan orang dewasa. 2 kelompok vitamin yang terdapat pada budu iaitu, vitamin larut air (vitamin B kompleks) dan vitamin larut lemak (vitamin A, D, E dan K).
Budu merupakan sumber vitamin B yang paling banyak menyumbang kepada pecahan lain seperti vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), asid pantotenat, asid niasin, vitamin B6 dan vitamin B12 (sianokobalamin). Secara saintifik, budu merupakan penyumbang utama vitamin B12 yang dihasilkan oleh bakteria klebsiella pneumoniae dan Citrobacter frundiin - yang mana vitamin B12 ini tidak dimiliki dari mana-mana sumber makanan laut, ikan-ikan dan daging-daging lain. vitamin B12 ini perlu untuk pembentukan sel darah merah, di mana kekurangan vitaman ini mengakibatkan terjadinya penyakit anemia perisiosa (pucat), sakit perut dan berat badan menurun.

Kadar vitamin B12 dalam budu adalah di antara 1.5 sehingga 6.3 mikrogram per 100 gram bagi setiap satu hidangan atau 2 sudu besar. Jumlah ini jauh lebih cukup untuk keperluan badan manusia dalam sehari. Dengan adanya vitamin B12 para pengamal diet (jaga badan) tidak perlu lagi merasa khuatir akan kekurangan vitamin B12 di dalam badan.
Selain pembekal kepada protein yang tinggi, ia turut mengandungi mineral makro dan mikro dalam jumlah yang cukup. Jumlah mineral zat besi, kalsium dan magnesium adalah sebanyak 9, 39, 2, 87 dan 8.05 mg bagi setiap 100 gram budu. Budu juga mengandungi zat antioksidan dalam bentuk isoflavon.

Seperti halnya vitamin C, vitamin E dan karotenoid, isoflavon juga merupakan antioksidan yang sangat diperlukan oleh tubuh untuk menghentikan reaksi pembentukan radikal bebas. Radikal bebas merupakan atom atau molekul yang mempunyai satu atau lebih elektron yang tidak berpasangan, sehingga menjadi sangat aktif hingga menyebabkan ketumbuhan tumor, kanser, penuaan dan kematian sel. Radikal bebas didapati berpunca dari makan seharian yang dimakan dan juga dari reaksi yang terjadi di dalam tubuh. Adanya antioksidan di dalam budu akan mencegah pembentukan radikal bebas tersebut.

Kebiasaannya di dalam apa jua jenis ikan terdapat 3 jenis isoflavon unsur antioksidan iaitu daidzein, glisitein dan genistien. Pada budu, di samping 2 jenis unsur ini, terdapat juga antioksidan faktor 11 (6, 7, 4 trihidroksi isoflavon) yang mempunyai sifat antioksidan paling kuat dibandingkan isoflavon dalam ikan-ikan lain.
Penelitian yang dilakukan di Universiti North Carolina, Amerika Syarikat menemukan bahawa unsur genestein dan phytoestrogen yang terdapat pada budu terbukti dapat mencegah penyakit kanser, proses penuaan dan barah payu dara.

Penyakit jantung koroner (PJK) merupakan salah satu bentuk kelainan pembuluh darah koroner akibat penumpuan lemak di dalam dinding pembuluh darah iaitu satu keadaan yang disebut aterosklerosis. Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh faktor usia, pemakanan, jantina dan keturunan. Manakala faktor dimodifikasi adalah peningkatan kadar lipida darah (hiperkolestrolemia), hipertensi, obesiti, stress dan kurang aktiviti lasak. Pemakanan budu yang mempunyai sifat hipokolesterolemik (menurunkan lemak darah) seperti kandungan protein, serta makanan, niasin, vitamin E, karotenoid dan kalsium. Satu ujikaji rambang yang dijalankan, mendapati pengambilan budu sebanyak 150 gm sehari selama 2 minggu dapat menurunkan kadar kolestrol ke tahap luar dari jangkaan.
Selain dari sumber protein yang berkualiti tinggi, budu turut dikenali sebagai sumber serat (dietary fiber) yang baik. Kandungan serat di dalam budu mampu mencapai di antara 8 hingga 10% bagi setiap 100 gm. Ia menyumbangkan kepada 30% dari jumlah serat yang dianjurkan oleh National Cancer Research.

Berbanding serat di dalam ikan-ikan atau sumber protein lain, serat pada budu lebih mudah untuk dicernakan, kerana ia telah disepara cerana oleh bakteria. Dari apa yang dinyatakan ini jelas sekali bahawa khasiat serta kebaikan sepiring budu yang dimakan bersama hidangan nasi pagi, tengahari dan malam melampau jangkauan yang anda fikirkan. Budu seumpama cecair pelbagai vitamin yang memenuhi segala keperluan untuk tubuh badan.


Sumber dari: Wikipedia

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Some dangers about Facebook

I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this article. Nevertheless it is worthwhile being aware of this.


For those on Facebook

- Very important message, please read

It's a good reminder even though we may know (or not) all this about Facebook. One other good practice is about Instant Personalization:

  • The New Face Book Privacy setting called "Instant Personalization" goes into effect. The new setting shares your data with non-Facebook websites & it is automatically set to "Enabled".
  • Go to Account > Privacy Settings > Apps & Websites > Instant Personalization >edit settings & uncheck "Enable". BTW If your friends don't do this, they will be sharing info about you as well. Please copy and repost
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE AN ACCOUNT ON FACE BOOK - BEWARE!

Please spare a few minutes to read this...It’s an eye opener.


"The information people give out on Facebook, when linked up with other information freely available on the internet, is an absolute ­goldmine for criminals," the Daily Mail quoted Michael Fraser, a reformed burglar who presents the BBC's 'Beat The Burglar' programme, as saying.

"One year, you might have a party and give out your address. A while later, you might tell everyone that it is your 30th birthday.

"So, if you've accepted me as a friend of a friend, I know your name, your address and your birth date.

"From that, I can go to
192.com or192.com usa and on there I can find out what you do for a living, how much your home is worth - and whether you're likely to be worth burgling.

"I might have already made up my mind because you've posted party ­pictures on Facebook and I can see what kind of valuables you have in the house - and which rooms they're in. Then you go and tell your Facebook friends how much you're looking forward to going on holiday next Tuesday.


"I can go on to Google Street View and see actual photographs of your home. I can see if you have a burglar alarm, or whether there are any bushes in the garden to hide in. And I can see all the alleyways I can escape down. And, of course, I know you won't be at home.

"Once you accept a stranger into your Facebook account, they can begin what we call social ­engineering - ­delicately asking questions to build up information about you,' said
Jason Hart, ­senior vice ­president of ­CRYPTOCard Network Security.

"And that can cause havoc. Let's say they got your email address, then they could go to your email account pretending to be you and saying you have ­forgotten your password.



"Once they have that secret ­information, the email account will let them in. And once they are in there, they can find lots of sensitive information, such as your Amazon and eBay account history.

"They can then go to those sites pretending to be you and saying you have lost your passwords, and guess what happens then?

"Those sites send the passwords to your email account - the one that they have already conned their way into.


"Crooks who do this usually use the credit card details you have stored there to buy online gift vouchers that can be traded on the internet. It is a form of instant ­currency.

"Even worse, if you have a
PayPalaccount and have credit in it, your so-called friend could clean it out.

"Effectively, they have become an electronic version of you, they can change all your passwords and begin stealing from you.


The world is a dangerous place not because of people who do evil, but because of good people who look on and do nothing about it.
-- Albert Einstein


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

New airline to fly in April




PC Air, a�newly formed carrier in Thailand, is set to take to the skies in April.

And the bigger news seemed to be that it has hired six transgender people as flight attendants to promote equal opportunities for the '3rd sex' in Southeast Asia. Over 100 transsexual people applied for the positions, and the airline's boss says that more are expected to be hired. The carrier is also hiring non-transsexuals.

Thailand has one of the biggest populations of 'kathoey' in the world. This term refers to a male-to-female transgender person, or an effeminate gay male. The figure comes as doctors in the country have come up with cheap and fast sex change techniques for people who are willing to go under the knife.

However, transsexuals weren't the only people hired in flight attendant positions for the company. President Peter Chan says that he believes these people can have several careers and not just in the entertainment industry. Many of them have dreams to be flight attendants, he continued, and he's made those dreams come true. Society has changed, evolved, he explained, and he is a pioneer that is sure other organizations will follow his idea. It isn't mandatory that applicants go through a sex change to be considered for the job, he noted. The important thing, he added, is that they have the necessary language skills and can give good service.

One of the few transgender applicants they chose is 23-year-old�Thanyarat 'Film' Jiraphatpakorn, who won the Miss Tiffany beauty pageant in 2007. She is ecstatic to have the job, saying that she thought that they would just take applications without actually recruiting anyone, because this has happened before.�

The transgender staff will wear a special gold '3rd sex' name tag to help other PC Air staff and travelers identify their gender.�