Scratching that itch

Her Turbo Music fan-club page on Facebook has had the "like" button clicked more than 113,000 times, and now she's joined Twitter. Since signing up on Monday, @Ja_TuRBoMusic has attracted more than 2,800 followers and she's only sent just over a dozen tweets.

"Thank you," was the first utterance on Twitter by the 20-year-old, real name Nongpanee Mahadthai. "I am new to this," she said next.

The singer of "Kan Hu", literally "itchy ears", comes across as a sweet, sincere young woman - suggesting that her sexy act is just that - an act.

And that's what she tried to explain a few weeks back on talk-show host Woody Milintajinda's TV show, but did anyone at the Culture Ministry believe her? Nope. And now they have a new worry - what happens when Ja Turbo masters the art of tweeting? Will she be too sexy for Twitter?

The pink answer

Instead of going after a 20-year-old girl, the Culture Ministry could perhaps turn its attention to a much-gaudier indicator of the erosion of Thai society - the pink Bentley that keeps turning up at diplomatic and government functions.

Who's that car belong to, anyway? Lady Gaga or Paris Hilton perhaps?

Nope, the owner is Chalerm Yoobamrung, our deputy prime minister. He's been riding around in the chompoo car for a while now, but it's back in the news thanks to its owner's position in the new government.

Soopsip is pretty sure the British automaker is pleased with the publicity, even if it is a oddly undignified colour for a government minister's car.

Well, might as well embrace it. After all, the man must have guts if he's willing to be seen riding around in a pink car.

So can we suggest that some accessories for Chalerm's rose-coloured ride? How about Hello Kitty licence-plate frames for starters?