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US Consular Alert for Northern Thailand – 2010-03-05

This message alerts U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Northern Thailand to media reports that, following the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding the disposition of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s frozen assets, supporters of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (aka UDD or “red-shirts”) are planning a demonstration in Phrae on March 9. UDD supporters also might demonstrate at Bangkok Bank branches in Sankampheng and Doi Saket between now and the planned March 12-14 rallies in Nakhon Sawan, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok.

We wish to remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas that may be targeted for demonstrations and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations or large gatherings. U.S. citizens should monitor local media to keep updated with the latest information of any demonstrations and areas to avoid.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada or, for callers in other areas by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens traveling or residing in northern Thailand are encouraged to register with the Department of State (https://travelregistration.state.gov) or the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai (http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/). The Consulate General is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at acschn@state.gov. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

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March 5, 2010 • Tags: , • Posted in: travel • No Comments

The Art of Asking

Time and Value

Relief
I have recently received a few unsolicited email requests from people whom I don’t know. Now, I am actually happy to help other people, but I have to weigh this desire to be helpful with the actual value it will create in the universe as a whole, not simply to unknown individuals requesting something. Time is inelastic and I have a limited amount. The older I become the more I desire to help others and the more picky I become in providing my time.

Priorities and Protocols

Priorities are going to be something along the lines of how much value is created for others, not just the individual doing the asking. In addition, the way that the request is made does have some value, since it is after all a favor that is being asked and a little bit of gratitude goes a long way (while fawning flattery is a sure sign of someone who just doesn’t get how to ask for things and what it means to be appropriately grateful).

That said, there are a few suggestions which can help provide both:

Introduction

France, Sunflowers Missing the Sun at Beynac (#1 Interesting according to flickr)
Introduce yourself. This sounds basic, but it is amazing how I get emails from people I don’t know (or don’t remember I know) who don’t actually clarify how we know each other or how the individual found me.

The Connection

Part of the introduction is about how we have something in common. This can be anything from where we went to school, to how we share similar interests. If you found me via my blog or other websites, or friend-of-a-friend on Facebook or Linked-In, then surely this should be stated. Even the path via Google or Twitter can be interesting. I have made good friends and found vendors and clients this way.

One part of connections is a referral. However, this can be a two-edged sword (or rather the proper metaphor, a sword that cuts both ways). For example, if someone whom I have had bad experiences with is making the recommendation, then there is actually a negative connotation.

This recently happened and while it is unlikely the individual innocently making a request knew of previous less-than-pleasant experiences with the recommending party, it should be kept in mind and a question about “how they know you” should be made previous to using that name in an attempt at contact. When in doubt, simply don’t use the recommending person’s name.

Specificity

my tree at dusk
This is the heart of the matter. Can you ask specifically for something? Generic advice, while a somewhat flattering request, in my experience is usually the most ignored kind of advice. Why should someone waste a lot of time trying to comb through their memory assembling something along these lines? Ridiculous, actually. But this kind of question is asked all the time. The art of asking has a lot to do with what constitutes a good question.

Ask thoughtful questions and it is much more likely that one will receive thoughtful answers.

Result of Assistance

This is the potential result of assistance, namely value. But again, value to an individual (”I need this… so I can…”) is much less interesting to me (if I don’t know you), than the potential greater result of how others will benefit. Again, be specific, not general. Gratitude should not be the result of assistance (that is a result of doing a favor in general) but some concrete potential outcome.

Don’t Ask

If you need something from me that I am not obligated to provide, you don’t know me, and the only value will be to you, then don’t ask. This is the attitude of a person who simply wants others to help them out with no real thought. If time were infinite, then this kind of a request might make sense. But it is not, and the time available needs to be put to use helping those for whom the assistance is more urgent and has real value beyond the individuals themselves, namely those helping others.

Small Courtesies

Under the Milky Way
Now that said, of course the small courtesies of in-person interaction such as “can you help direct me to the nearest gas station,” etc. do not apply here. That is simply being neighborly. The same would apply to social networking and the like, such as Twitter, etc. After all, asking a question can be a way of making friends, I understand all of this. It is the random request, without introduction or a clearly stated objective, one which is usually a part of a broadcast of emails to many such individuals which is simply inappropriate.

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February 28, 2010 • Tags: , , , • Posted in: Uncategorized • No Comments

Urgent Evoke

My Application to Urgent Evoke

I am an American expatriate living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I am an entrepreneur who co-founded a Thailand-based publishing company in 2009. Previous to that I taught for 7 years at the University of Hawaii including courses in Internet marketing, organizational communication, public relations and entrepreneurship. Previous to that I was a network engineer managing global corporate IT networks for six years.

I’ve always incorporated new media technologies into my teaching, including early adoption of Twitter, wikis, blogs, YouTube and Second Life. I’ve taught crowdsourcing and implemented it in courses, challenging students to build knowledge repositories in a wiki as opposed to individual “right answer” throw-away assignments. I’ve used McGonigal’s “Why I love bees” as required reading in several classes. This led one of my students to do her senior thesis on ARGs.

Entrepreneurship

I co-founded a startup publishing company in Thailand in 2009 with a Thai business partner. I also taught innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizational change at the University level and have been fascinated with it since the late 1990s living in the SF Bay Area during the Internet boom.

Knowledge Networking

I have several blogs and websites and contribute on social networks (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr) and am a contributor to Wikipedia and WikiTravel (~1,000 edits), and have created over 10 new articles on Wikipedia. I also do network administration of my sites and occasional coding.

Vision

For me it is always important to have the big picture in view. Thinking about the future (not simply daydreaming) and how the future can be realized is highly motivating. I see many possibilities and challenge myself to look for creative solutions because the vision is one that is possible and achievable.

I am interested in helping out with Urgent Evoke. Let me know how I may be of use. Also interested in running this sort of game in my part of the world (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam).

Urgent Evoke Videos

EVOKE trailer (a new online game) from Alchemy on Vimeo.

Evoke is your crash course in changing the world.

The game begins March 3, 2010.

Reserve YOUR spot in the game now — visit urgentevoke.com


CREDITS

Creative Director – Jane McGonigal
Executive Producer, World Bank Institute – Robert Hawkins
Story Director/Producer – Kiyash Monsef
Game Development – Natron Baxter Applied Gaming
Graphic Novel Art – Jacob Glaser
Graphic Novel Colors – Anthony Deicidue
Motion Graphics – Nik Braatz
Alchemy voice – Adam Behr

“Through the Shadow and the Light (feat. Fahrenheit)”
by DJ Fab
Powered by Jamendo

What is an EVOKE? from Alchemy on Vimeo.

This is not a simulation.

You are about to tackle real problems.

Welcome to the EVOKE Network.

There’s an old saying here: “If you have a problem, and you can’t solve it alone, EVOKE it.”

An evoke is an urgent call to innovation.

When we evoke, we look for creative solutions.
We use whatever resources we have.
We get as many people involved as possible.
We take risks.
We come up with ideas that have never been tried before.

Every Wednesday at midnight, the network will send out a new evoke.
Here’s how to respond.

Read the story.
Investigate the story.
Accept your mission.

If you respond to at least one evoke by May 12, 2010, you will earn your spot as a founding member of the Evoke Network.

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