1. Mayisell, B3,800
2. Louis Vuitton, B73,200
3. Crumpler, B5,290
4. Mink, B450
5. Mayisell, Herring Bone, B7,500
6. Sneaka Villa, B650

Essentials

Sneaka Villa. Trendy Zone 2/F, 226/7 Siam Square Soi 2, 089-168-6336. BTS Siam
Timo Editions. B3,000 at BOYY store, G/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., BTS Chit Lom
Crumpler. 2/F, Seed Camera, Pantip Plaza, Petchburi Rd., 089-966-4440. www.seedcam- era.com
Louis Vuitton. G/F, Gaysorn, 02-656-1010. BTS Chit Lom
Mink. http://tiny.cc/e7d1e, 088-871-7520 Mayisell. www.mayisell.com, 087-795-0041

Sony Internet TV KDL-32EX720 <BK PICK>

This LCD HD TV allows you to surf the internet through built-in Wi-Fi, video confrence via Skype and track down extra online info about whatever is playing on your screen. For iPhone and Android users, you can also download the Media Remote app to transform your phone into a TV remote, or connect the screen to a VAIO for faster typing using the keyboard. The TV is also a certified DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) device, meaning you can stream content to it directly from your computer or even mobile device. The Sony TV requires an optional USB dongle to connect to Wi-Fi, like the other two (not included). Prices start at B36,740 for a 32-inch. Try Sony Center, G/F, Central Rama 3, 02-673-6221.

LG LV3730

Nearly half the price of the Sony, LG covers the basics: an Ethernet LAN cable and DNLA certification. Don’t want to run a cable from your modem to your TV? The Wi-Fi is optional, and works with a dongle that you plug into the USB port. The TV can access “exclusive” content from MThai and Nation Channel as well as some international portals dedicated to LG smart TVs but you’ll probably prefer surfing more popular sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Prices start from B19,900 for a 32-inch. Try Power Buy, 4/F Central World, 02-640-7000.

Samsung LED 9000 Series

Again, despite an Ethernet LAN port, this TV can only connect to a Wi-Fi network with an additional USB dongle, which means running a cable from your modem/router to your TV. It’s otherwise a gorgeous 3D HD TV, with a widget and app system to stream videos from YouTube or check your Facebook. Since Hulu and Netflix don’t work here, forget about streaming movies, though. Note that the TV is not DNLA compliant, meaning you’ll need to use Samsung’s AllShare software to stream videos from a separate device. Unfortunately, AllShare works on PCs and Samsung mobile phones only. B270,000 for a 55-inch. Try Samsung Brand Shop, 2/F Paragon, 02-690-1000.

Your Internet TV checklist
 
Wi-Fi
Without Wi-Fi, you’re going to have to connect your TV to your home modem/router with an Ethernet LAN cable. This could be fairly unsightly—or even impractical—depending on the distance between your TV and your modem. Wi-Fi is an elegant solution to the problem, but more importantly it allows for easier communication with your mobile devices, which is where DNLA comes in.

DNLA
The Digital Living Network Alliance is a standard that allows devices to share content with each other painlessly. Shot a video of your kids on your iPhone? Stream it directly to your TV over Wi-Fi. Downloaded a movie on your computer? Again, stream it straight to your TV. Beware of Samsung’s proprietary AllShare system which (despite its name) doesn’t work with non-Samsung phones and Apple computers.

Apps
Most internet TVs cover your favorite social media, like Facebook and Twitter, along with basic weather and news ticker functions. We think video streaming is actually more important than reading twitter feeds from your couch so don’t get too excited just because a TV has Facebook and Twitter stickers on it.

“It’s tempting to call Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son a huge waste of talent, but considering the talent involved, that doesn’t seem like much of a waste.” Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress

“Big Momma has laid a gigantic egg.” John P. McCarthy, Boxoffice Magazine

“It only escapes a bomb rating because it’s more irritating than offensive -- like an ant crawling across a counter top rather than a roach roosting in the cereal box.” Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

“Anyone with a funnybone should avoid what will surely be the worst film of 2011. Until the next Martin Lawrence movie, that is.” David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]

“Though more professionally made than its predecessors, it is just as lazily plotted, formulaic and insultingly stupid.” Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]

“The fat suit in this movie is a metaphor for the film itself. It’s awkward, grotesque, misshapen and full of ugly padding.” Kevin Carr , 7M Pictures

Where are you from originally?
I’m from Roi-ed but I’ve lived in Bangkok for ten years already and consider myself a Bangkokian. I now live with four relatives in a rented house on Soi Phiphat. I work and provide for my father and mother who still live in Roi-ed.

Have you always sold kluay khak (fried bananas)?
No. I sold socks first but the business wasn’t going as well as I would have liked, and I thought food might be more lucrative. So I switched to bananas three years ago. I use one of my friend’s recipes and bought the cart secondhand. I chose selling snacks simply because they’re easy to sell. Almost everybody eats kluay khak. It’s been going quite well actually.

What’s your daily routine?
Every day I wake up at 5am to prepare the ingredients: flour, bananas, sweet potatoes, and taro. I come here at 7am and start cooking. But when school is in session, I have to come here after 8am because there’s traffic from students coming to school, so the police asks us to come later. Almost every day, I’m sold out by around 3-4pm. But if there are not many people on the street, I won’t fry all of my bananas because the remainder can be kept for another day. Every couple of days, I go by tuk-tuk to buy my ingredients at Khlong Toei Market.

How has the palm oil price crisis affected you?
I have had to raise my prices. The price hike has resulted in fewer customers, too. In fact, oil price isn’t the only factor. Coconut, coconut cream, sugar and flour are more expensive as well. I used to sell seven pieces for 10 baht but now it’s four pieces for 10 baht. I know it’s almost 50% less but the ingredient prices have doubled.

Do you have any complaints about Bangkok?
Well, I don’t think there’s anything specific I want to change, but I’m worried that the permission for street stands might be revoked in the near future. We all have our names registered at the district office, yet the authority is pretty strict. The sanitation unit comes quite often to check on the cleanliness and to make sure we use proper containers for our food. The municipal officials come a lot too, but after a recent receipt scandal, I haven’t seen any. Sometimes we have to pay them a little something like a “cleaning fee,” but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s sensitive.

Have you ever dreamed of selling anything or doing something else?
No. I’m satisfied. I’m self-employed. I can work on my own and I enjoy my freedom. Interview by Kanyanun Sanglaw, Nuchanat Prathumsuwan