In this Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, photo, women take a selfie near a tree decorated with red lanterns ahead of the Lunar New Year at Ditan Park in Beijing. Photo: Andy Wong / Associated Press
The Lunar New Year is being celebrated around Asia with lanterns, performances, decorations and food. People are bidding farewell to the year of the dog in the 12-year Chinese astrological cycle and welcoming the year of the pig with hopes of happiness and fortune.
On the eve of the new year, people gathered for reunion dinners, gave red packets of pocket money to youngsters and lit firecrackers at midnight.
Early Tuesday, the first day of the year of the pig, hundreds lined up outside famous temples to burn the first joss sticks of the year, expecting it to bring them good luck.
Ornaments were readied, kiosks set up, and traditional dragon dancers leapt in the air. Everywhere, the color red dominated — on lanterns, clothes and signs. In homes and in shops, cute pig dolls were displayed for the festival, which is also celebrated in Vietnam and by ethnic Chinese communities across Asia.
In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, photo, Muslim women take a selfie at a shop selling Lunar New Year decorations in the Chinatown area of Jakarta, Indonesia. People of Chinese descent in the world’s most populous Muslim country are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Pig on Feb. 5. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)In this Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, photo, Filipino-Chinese display piggy banks at the start of celebrations leading to next week’s Lunar New Year in Chinatown, Manila, Philippines. This year is the Year of the Earth Pig on the Lunar calendar and is supposed to represent abundance, diligence and generosity. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)In this Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, photo, ethnic Chinese-Thai offers flowers after prayers at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple for the upcoming Lunar New Year in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)In this Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, photo, two divers perform an underwater Chinese Lion Dance ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations at Aquaria KLCC underwater park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. People around the world will be celebrating the start of the Year of Pig on Feb. 5th this year in the Chinese lunar calendar. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)In this Sunday, Feb.3, 2019, photo, a woman takes a souvenir photo of her family posing in front of red lanterns on display at the Longtan Park for a temple fair ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing. Chinese around the world will celebrate Lunar New Year on Feb. 5 this year which marks the Year of the Pig on the Chinese zodiac. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)In this Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, photo, vendors carrying pig-shaped balloons for sale to mark the Lunar New Year in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam is celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Pig, the biggest annual festival of the year. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
BANGKOK — Having set itself the ambitious target of sending zero food waste to landfill sites, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has successfully achieved the goal at its main all-day dining restaurant, Goji Kitchen + Bar.
From September to December 2018, this hugely significant initiative reduced the hotel’s wastage by 27.4 tons of food. Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is now planning to roll out this program to all of its restaurants and food-related departments.
The food waste crisis is one of the world’s most pressing concerns and tackling it is part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a hotel renowned for its sustainable and environmentally-friendly focus, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is committed to helping eliminate hunger and malnutrition, promoting sustainable production and consumption of food, and reducing global climate change caused by food waste.
The hotel’s waste reduction initiative, which was overseen by LightBlue Environmental Consulting Company, helped to shed light on the significance of food waste practices and create awareness among the hotel employees. Implemented by 80 hotel associates from a range of departments, including kitchen, catering, finance and human resources, this program also led to the initiation of the “Clean Our Plate” campaign in the staff canteen.
In the three and a half months since the program was activated, Goji Kitchen + Bar has successfully reduced its food waste by 27.4 tons, or 294 kilograms per day. The practice has also saved 68.4 tons of CO2 emissions during the whole period.
In addition to its in-house program, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is also partnering with SOS (Scholar of Sustenance Foundation Thailand) to manage its surplus food. Through this initiative, the hotel now contributes 37.5 kilograms of food per day from Goji Kitchen + Bar to the SOS network, which serves over 3,000 daily meals to underprivileged people in Bangkok.
“Throughout the three months of the program, our entire team was determined to reduce food waste, starting from Goji Kitchen + Bar – our biggest outlet. With this determination we have proved that we can achieve this, and we significantly reduced our food waste from 0.679 kg. to 0.490 kg. per plate, which increases food value by 10 percent. This is a very promising outcome,” said Michael Hogan, Executive Chef of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park.
Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park is now moving ahead with plans to reduce food waste in all of its restaurants and food-related outlets, starting with Pagoda Chinese Restaurant, Akira Back and M Club Lounge from January to April 2019, and followed by its catering department from April to August 2019. Through these efforts, Bangkok Marriott Marquis
Queen’s Park is striving to become the first urban five-star hotel in Asia Pacific to be awarded The PLEDGE* certificate, and first urban five-star hotel in Southeast Asia to achieve zero food waste to landfill.
*The PLEDGE™ is an independently verified nine-point food waste prevention standard that is designed to reduce food waste and costs.
Daikin, the leader in air conditioning technology from Japan, is fully aware of the serious air pollution situation that is currently threatening the wellbeing of people in Bangkok and metropolitan areas. With the density of PM2.5 pollutant that has risen to harmful level from vehicle emissions, industrial activities, burning, closed and stagnant weather. The accumulated pollutant is hazardous to health and causes series of illness if left unattended. Besides N95 masks, another option to intercept micro-dust, fine particle pollutants, germs and bacteria, is using an air purifier, in which Daikin offers several models to choose from:
MCK55TVM6: Air purifier with humidifier
Purify the air internally and externally with Active Plasma Ion and Streamer technology. The model also intercepts virus, bacteria, allergens, odors and increases humidity in the air to moisturize the skin and relief irritation from dryness. MCK55TVM6 comes equipped with electrostatic HEPA filer that filters up to 99.97% of fine particles as small as 0.3 micron for 41sqm room.
The model also features 3 censors that evaluate air cleanliness, screen for dust with high accuracy and separate dust and PM2.5 fine particles, as well as detect and eliminate odor when in Auto mode. There are 4 function modes: Auto, Econo, Pollen and Humidifier, that allows air flow in three directions. The Deodorizing Filter can be used throughout its lifetime and the engine runs at 19 decibel. It also comes with child lock, power surge protector between 180-264V and remote controller.
MC55UVM6: Air purifier with Active Plasma Ion and Streamer
Purify the air internally and externally with Active Plasma Ion that generates 25,000 ion per cubic centimeter, with Streamer feature that blocks virus, H1N1 influenza, H5N1 bird flu, bacteria, fungus, allergens and odor. The model comes with electrostatic HEPA filter that intercepts 99.97% of 0.3 micron fine particles in 41sqm room.
MC40UVM6: Air purifier with Streamer
Air purifier with Streamer blocks virus, H1N1 influenza, H5N1 bird flu, bacteria, fungus, allergens and odor. The model comes with lifelong deodorizing filter, electrostatic HEPA filter that intercepts 99.97% of 0.3 micron fine particles and detects 6 levels of PM2.5 fine particles in 31sqm room.
MC30VVM-A: Compact air purifier with dust filter
Small but efficient, the purifier cleanse the air with electrostatic HEPA filter that quickly and efficiently block dust particles without clogging the filter. It can intercept 99.97% of 0.3 micron fine particles in 21sqm room, and detect 3 levels of PM2.5 fine particles.
To restore wellbeing, safety and good health of Thai consumers, Daikin offers world-standard air purifiers with special promotion: complimentary 20-inch luggage worth of 2,900 baht with purchase of Daikin MCK55TVM6 and MC55UVM6, S&P voucher worth of 300baht with purchase of MC40UVM6 and MC30VVM-A and 1-year warranty for all part with purchase by February 28, 2019 only. Daikin air purifies are available from PowerBuy, Boonthavorn, Modern Air and all Daikin dealers. For more information, visit www.daikin.co.th.
Hakeem AlAraibi is led by police Monday at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — A refugee footballer who refused voluntary extradition Monday to Bahrain was told to appear in court again in April.
An outpouring of anger met the Criminal Court’s decision to give Hakeem AlAraibi until April 5 to file an appeal against extradition proceedings, with a hearing to follow on April 22. The decision not to immediately release the Bahraini national despite his refugee status in Australia prompted calls for sanctions.
The Australian football players’ union called on the International Olympic Committee and football’s governing body to consider sporting sanctions against Thailand and Bahrain over AlAraibi’s continued detention in Bangkok. He’s been held behind bars since he was taken into custody at Bangkok’s airport.
The top Thai twitter trends were dominated by topics related to the footballer, who pleaded outside the court not to be sent back to Bahrain. He was brought to the hearing with his ankles shackled.
Professional Footballers Australia chief executive John Didulica in a statement called the detention “a flagrant breach of [AlAraibi’s] internationally accepted human rights as an Australian permanent resident and refugee.”
Didulica also said it has only been pressure from the international soccer community that has prevented AlAraibi’s extradition to Bahrain.
Nadthasiri Bergman, the attorney representing AlAraibi, said they’re ready to file an appeal as they have enough evidence to show that his warrant from Bahrain was politically motivated. She said her client has been sick and highly stressed by his detention, adding that they are seeking ways to win his release from prison after the court denied bail.
In court, AlAraibi said Bahrain accused him of a crime – vandalizing a police station – that occurred while he was playing a televised football match, adding that he believes he was prosecuted because he sought asylum in Australia.
Mark Warnock, spokesman of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, said after the hearing today that Bahrain’s government had never sought AlAraibi’s extradition from Australia although it knew he had been living there as a refugee. He said it immediately filed a request with Thailand once it learned that the footballer was travelling here with his wife for their honeymoon.
He declined to say whether the Australian government has directly contacted Bahrain over the case.
AlAraibi has been held in Thailand because Bahrain has asked for his return to serve a 10-year prison sentence over the alleged vandalism. He fled to Australia in 2014 and won political asylum there in 2017. He plays football for a semi-professional team.
BANGKOK — A motorcycle taxi driver was charged with several traffic offenses Monday after a stunt in which he stood atop his moving vehicle fell flat.
Kannapak Ketchom, 24, surrendered himself at a police station in Bangkok earlier today, where he acknowledged five charges including reckless driving and not wearing a helmet. Speaking to reporters at the Prawet Police Station, the motorcyclist apologized for his actions.
“I‘m sorry for acting recklessly, without consideration for others’ safety,” Kannapak said while clasping his hands in an apologetic wai. He also offered an apology to his win, or group of motorcycle taxi drivers, for tainting their image.
Police said they confiscated Kannapak’s motorcycle as evidence while the case moves forward. Kannapak faces up to three months in jail.
According to investigators, Kannapak was going 30kph while standing on his motorcycle gas tank along On Nut Road last week. The video attracted widespread condemnation after it was posted online.
Kannapak’s first court appearance is set for tomorrow.
BANGKOK — City Hall said Monday it expects to find a contractor by the end of next month to build 19 additional, court-ordered elevators for the BTS Skytrain.
Eight months after funds were committed to the work, the city transport director said the elevators would be built at 16 stations to make the rail system accessible to disabled commuters. Panurak Klannurak said plan excludes five downtown stations where elevators can’t be built due to “infrastructure limitations.”
The department said bids for the work must be in by Wednesday with a contractor to be chosen by the end of March. Construction will take about 300 days, Panurak added.
It’s the latest in a series of promises from City Hall has made since disability activists won a landmark legal victory in 2015, in which the popular rail network owned by the city was given one year to become fully accessible.
According to Panurak, 10 more elevators needed at BTS Saphan Taksin, Sala Daeng, Chit Lom, Phloen Chit and Asok can’t be built due to constraints such as very narrow sidewalks at BTS Chit Lom and the structure of BTS Saphan Taksin.
“There are infrastructure limitations. It’s impossible to build [elevators there],” he said. “We’re considering further strategies moving forward.”
Japanese author and ‘organizing consultant’ Marie Kondo in a promotional image for her series ‘Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.’
So you’ve applied the KonMari method to your home: tossed stuff the non-joy sparking stuff into bag upon bag. Congrats on the decluttering, but now what do with all that stuff that without dumping it on the sidewalk or in those wonderful trash cages.
Here’s how to donate, recycle, sell and even swap all those unwanted clothes, books, e-waste, household items and cosmetics in Bangkok, with some ideas for helping others at the same time.
E-Waste
Hoping your random cables and 10-year-old DVD player will be properly handled may be wishful thinking. They’ll likely be picked up if put out with the trash – but with no guarantee of proper disposal. Don’t be part of the problem and send your e-waste to the right place.
Drop used batteries, broken light bulbs and other toxic items into a dropbox in front of the ground floor restroom at the Pollution Control Department down Phahon Yothin 7 from BTS Ari. Otherwise, local district offices also accept toxic waste, which they send monthly for proper disposal. For example, the Khlong Toei District Office accepts residential e-waste such as batteries and the like.
Old mobile phones and tablets can be mailed to the government’s year-old Old Mobiles to New Life project. Donated items will be sent to China, where they will be destroyed. The revenue gained will be used to buy books for 1,000 primary schools around Thailand. Send them by post to:
Old Mobiles to New Life Foundation
333 Sukhumvit Road 71, Phra Khanong Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110
Tel. 092-887-2728
Chonburi province:
E-Waste Collection Center for the Old Mobiles to New Life Foundation
Bangkok Recycle and Reuse Co. Ltd.
85/1 Moo 2, Map Phai, Ban Bueng District, Chonburi 20170
Donate old CPUs, monitors, printers and phones to Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi province.
Mail small electronic items, such as mobile phones, chargers, cables, headphones and notebooks to the Chula Loves the Earth program and the university will appropriately dispose of it. Batteries are not accepted. Address:
Chula Loves the Earth
Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management
CU Research Building Floor 8
Phaya Thai Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
Tel. 02-218-3959
That old Vaio, Walkman or any Sony-made item will be properly destroyed if you mail it or drop it off at the Sony Service Center on Petchaburi Road. If mailing, be sure to label the item as intended for destruction.
Chonburi residents, rejoice, for the Chonburi Town Municipalityaccepts non-toxic e-waste, so drop off of old computers, TVs, phones without batteries and other old or broken devices there.
Clothes
Temples, orphanages and most charities will take clothing donations. The Mirror Foundation accepts most donations of clothing, shoes, bags, and so on. Take it to their main office in Soi Viphavadi Rangsit 62 Yaek 4-7 between 9:30am and 6pm, Monday through Friday, or 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. You can also send items there by mail. They will also pick up items for a fee. A spokesman said they accept all items in good, working condition.
Bras can be donated to women’s prisons such as the Central Women Correctional Institution in Bangkok through the Prairboon Foundation. Contact them at 096-236-3895 for more information.
In the provinces, women’s prisons in Chonburi, Songkhla, Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai accept items such as bras and sanitary items, which can even be sent by mail. Check with the prisons by phone to see what kind of items they accept, as some don’t take second-hand bras.
A Swap ‘Till You Drop event in September. Photo: The Hive Thonglor / Facebook
For a fun-filled goodbye to your clothes – and the possibility of coming home with more – join the monthly Swap ‘Til You Drop! events. Bring 300 baht and bags of clothes you don’t want anymore for a fun night of swapping clothes with other women while drinking free-flow sangria. Any unclaimed will be donated to needy families via Scholars of Sustenance. The next swap is Feb. 28 at The Home BKK in Soi Sukhumvit 23.
Books
Photo: Dasa Book Cafe / Facebook
Give it up. You’re never going to read that John Irving novel, and it’s high time to unload those bodice-rippers.
Short of trundling them all to a paper recycling center, here are some options for re-homing them.
First, you can send a list of your books via email or Facebook message – title and author; no textbooks or magazines – to Dasa Book Cafe. The shop only buys specific titles, so they’ll send a reply to save you the pain of rejection. Then just bring the desired books to the shop, which is a five-minute walk from BTS Phrom Phong. What they pay depends on the book’s condition and is paid in cash or store credit at a 20 percent markup. Dasa is open 10am to 8pm daily but has no parking.
Nalynya Jaroonruangrit displays a children’s book translated into Burmese at Miraibrary. Migrant worker families from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos live in the community.
To donate, drop by Miraibrary, a children’s library founded by theSikkha Asia Foundation in the Khlong Toei district. Books in any language are accepted and will be translated into Thai, Burmese and Khmer by volunteers. Children’s books are most needed, but those at higher levels will be redistributed to local schools. Miraibrary is open 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Pickup services can be arranged by calling them by calling them at 02-249-7567.
Furniture and Housewares
An unused blender that no longer blends to satisfaction or a sun-damaged couch no one on Lazada will buy? Unload these things clogging your home and life at a second-hand store near downtown in the Khlong Toei district. Better yet, proceeds will help with employment and children’s programs in the community.
Second Chance, a shop co-founded a decade back by Australian Jodie MacCartney, accepts clothing, electronic goods, bedding, kitchenware, household items and furniture that it then resells at low prices to Khlong Toei residents.
“We take pretty much anything, as long as it’s not broken and in working order,” the 41-year-old said. “We sort and sell everything and try to keep all the prices very affordable.”
A shirt can run as low as 5 baht or 20 baht. Couches cost 200 to a few thousand, depending on condition and so on. Those dropping off donations might score some thrifty deals.
“We want to offer quality goods at affordable prices and provide sustainable employment which gives dignity,” she said.
Proceeds pay Second Chance’s rent, utilities and staff – all employed from the Khlong Toei area – as well as to support a children’s club and needy community members such as indigent migrant workers.
Local women are also employed to “upcycle” some of the donated clothes into handbags, pouches, and so on for prices ranging from 30 baht to 450 baht. Check Second Chance’s Facebook page for where they will set up their booth next.
Donations can be dropped off 9:30am to 4:30pm Tuesdays through Saturdays at the shop on At Narong Road. Call 02-249-1921 to arrange for a pickup. They do not accept e-waste.
Cosmetics
Photo: Somkuan Villa
For those with a large stash of expired or unwanted makeup, consider donating to the deceased. That’s right, area hospitals need makeup for funerals.
Somkhuan Villa, founder of Baeng Boon Suay (Sharing Beautiful Merit), has arranged donations for morgues at 12 hospitals nationwide.
“Everyone in the world wants to look good. So in someone’s final moments, they might not know what their physical state will be like, but they might get comfort from knowing that their relatives will see them dead but in a little better state,” Somkhuan, 41, said.
Participating hospitals are accepting any type of makeup, from blush to nail polish. Drop it off in Bangkok at the morgues at the Police Siriraj hospitals.
Other hospitals accepting donations are Srinagarind Hospital in Khon Kaen, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital, Hua Hin Hospital, Chumphon Khet Udomsakdi Hospital, Thammasat University Hospital in Pathum Thani, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center in Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok Hospital, Buddhachinaraj Hospital in Phitsanulok and Surat Thani Hospital.
“I’m a woman with lots of makeup. So I knew in my heart I wanted to make merit with it,” Somkuan said.
Until the end of February, cosmetics can also be sent to Somkuan by mail at:
66/10 Soi Bangla Absolute
Bangla Road, Patong
Kathu, Phuket 83150
MP candidates in Nakhon Ratchasima province show reporters their ID cards which now say “Thaksin” and “Yingluck.”
BANGKOK — Since its inception earlier this year, the Pheu Chart Party has been seen as a clone of Pheu Thai, the political powerhouse associated with former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
But the party took it one step further today, when nine Pheu Chart candidates announced they had legally changed their first names to Thaksin, while two female candidates now calls themselves Yingluck, after Thaksin’s sister who served as premier until 2014. Explaining his motive, one of the politicians said he’s a fan of the ex-prime minister.
“I changed my name to Thaksin because Thaksin brought progress to Thailand. Every world leader knows Thaksin,” said Thaksin Kuenkhoksoong, who’s running for a seat in Korat. “Thaksin is in the heart of all people.”
“I want people to remember me,” Yingluck Phetraksa said. “It’s also inspiring for myself to have the same name as a female leader.”
Thaksin was ousted from power by the military in 2006; Yingluck went much the same way in 2014. Both fled the country and live in exile in the face of criminal convictions they say were politically motivated.
Party spokeswoman Ketpreeya Kaewsanmuang said she hasn’t talked to the name-changers but believes it shouldn’t matter.
“People may change their names based on personal preference. It’s an individual freedom under the law,” Ketpreeya said by phone. “People don’t elect someone based on their names.”
Seemingly innocuous mentions of the Shinawatras could affect a party’s fate this election season. Under voting regulations, a party can be disbanded if it is found to have campaigned in collusion with individuals not directly related to the party.
In another Election Commission rule seen as deterrence against invoking the twice-elected leader by Thaksin-allied parties, posters can only show images and names of candidates and party leaders.
When reached for comment, commissioner Charungwit Phumma said he would see if the name changes violate any election laws.
An MP candidate for Phayao province admitted it’s a way to get around those restrictions.
“This election has regulations and prohibitions from the Election Commission that make our canvassing difficult,” Thaksin Kittisakworakul told reporters today. “Therefore, changing my name to Thaksin might help people recognize me easily.”
Although Pheu Chart and its allied parties publicly insist they are not influenced by or tied to Thaksin, the former prime minister is clearly a selling point.
Thaksin’s only son, Panthongtae Shinawatra, appeared at a rally in Khon Kaen today to show support for a Pheu Thai candidates who registered there.
Dramatic Entry: Pheu Thai Party candidate Saranwut Saranket rolled up on the Uttaradit province registration center on horseback in a Thai warrior costume,saying he was there to kick out the dictatorship.
By Jintamas Saksornchai and Pravit Rojanaphruk
BANGKOK — Excitement spread Monday as dozens of candidates flocked to register their candidacies to contest the first successful election since 2011.
In Bangkok, party members and supporters held signs and colorful parades for the candidates, cheering loudly as they entered the Bangkok Youth Center in the capital’s Din Daeng district. Many appeared enthusiastic and voiced hope for the election despite concern it may not be free or fair.
Top party names to head parades included Pheu Thai’s Sudarat Keyuraphan, Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Action Coalition of Thailand’s Chatumongkol Sonakul, Democrats’ Abhisit Vejjajiva and Palang Pracharat’s Suvit Maesincee.
An excited and slightly bombastic Kanphong Prayoonsak, a first time politician with Future Forward, registered to run in the Nong Khaem district, saying he wants to change the country after five years of military rule.
“We’re about to change [the past],” he said. “We’re gonna change by our campaign, by the power of our youth.”
Kanphong said he wasn’t worried if the junta’s election rules put the parties at a disadvantage.
“This is an unfair election, but we’re gonna play [by] their game,” he said. “We’re gonna beat them with their rules.”
Candidate registration opened in all provinces nationwide today. In Uttaradit, Pheu Thai candidate Saranwut Saranket dressed as a Thai warrior and rode into the registration center on a horse, saying he was there to kick out dictatorship.
In recent days, campaign posters have sprung up throughout the streets as messaging begins in the run-up to the March 24 poll.
The Democrat Party’s Maj. Gen. Wichai Sangprapai, a former deputy metro police commander who will compete for the Lak Si district seat, appeared less optimistic about the playing field given that the upper house will be fully appointed by junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.
The 250 unelected members of the Senate are expected to support Prayuth’s ongoing rule after Election Day, making it difficult for any other candidates to garner enough backing among the fractious parties.
But that’s not stopping Wichai from throwing his hat in the ring.
“We have to accept and comply with what the constitution says,” he said. “We might be frustrated by those rules, but we have to play by the book.”
A spokeswoman for canned food scion Kraisorn Tohtubtiang, a candidate fielded by the pro-junta Palang Pracharat Party to represent Bangkok’s Thung Khru and Rat Burana, said the election will be fair for all parties.
“It’s fair because we have no privileges. Everyone is under the same rules. We act under the laws, and the people will decide,” she said.
NEW YORK — This year’s Super Bowl ads went heavy on the humor — and surprises.
Take, for instance, Jason Bateman’s Hyundaiad about an elevator with unpleasantness on every floor. A surprise “Game of Thrones” tie-in with Bud Light both confused and delighted viewers. And robots seemed to be everywhere as advertisers picked up on Americans’ unease over our growing dependence on artificial intelligence.
This year’s ads are “more mild than wild,” said Kelly O’Keefe, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Brandcenter. “While the focus of the night is on entertainment rather than controversy, there is very little that we’re going to talking about at the water cooler tomorrow.”
The New England Patriots reigned supreme over the L.A. Rams on the field in Atlanta, but during ad breaks, advertisers battled each other for buzz. Bud Light was one of the more talked about advertisers during the game.
Itssurprise ad, for instance, garnered some raves. The Bud Light spot started off focused on its “Bud Knight” mascot in a jousting tournament. But he ends up facing an evil character from the TV show who attacks him while a dragon fills the sky and apparently incinerates the scene — abruptly turning the ad into a promo for the upcoming final season of the series.
Super Bowl ad fan Tom Olivieri, 42, watching the game at a party at his sister’s house in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said the ad was the “best so far.”
“Everyone here loves ‘Game of Thrones,'” he said. “The whole room was screaming.”
Bud’s wasn’t the only misdirection of the night. A Huluad for the new season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” started out as a spoof of Ronald Reagan’s 1984 campaign ad “Morning in America.” And apromofor CBS’ new “Twilight Zone” made it seem like the game was starting up again in Atlanta before abruptly cutting to an empty stadium with host Jordan Peele at the center.
Ads poking fun at robots appeared everywhere.TurboTaxhad a “Robochild” andMichelob Ultrashowcased an uber-athletic robot sad that he can’t partake in a beer. SimpliSafeandSprint’sads also featured robots. Meanwhile, Pringles and Amazon itself made fun of smart assistants.
Most of the ads played up robots for laughs and weren’t realistic.
“We have a real anxiety about AI and our future overlords, and a lot of advertisers are trying to address it,” said Mark DiMassimo, head of ad agency DiMassimo Goldstein.
Amazon‘s ad was the best of the bunch, he said. It showed Harrison Ford, Forest Whitaker and other celebrities testing out rejected Amazon products that feature its Alexa digital assistant, such as a talking electric toothbrush and a dog collar that responds to dogs, not humans.
“Amazon stands out for having gotten tech-related advertising right,” he said. Their ad was “pop-culture first, self-deprecating, and it plays against the robot-like personality of Alexa.”
Women-centric ads were also big. After Hulu’s “Handmaid’s Tale” spot, Serena Williams appeared as spokeswoman for Bumble, which bills itself as a feminist dating app where women make the first move. The tennis icon urges women not to wait to be given power, saying, “we already have it.”
Supermodel Karlie Kloss played up her identity as a businesswoman in an ad for web-hosting service Wix.com. She wore an understated green T-shirt, a far cry from skimpily clad super models in Super Bowl ads of yore.
Ads in general avoided politics, but a few tugged at the heartstrings.
A Microsoft adshowed a disabled child talking excitedly about the fun he has using Microsoft’s adaptive Xbox controller designed for players with mobility limitations. The Washington Post aired an ad voiced by Tom Hanks highlighting the often dangerous work journalists do.
Google’s pair of ads focused on its good deeds.One focused on its ability to help veterans search for jobs. Another emphasized the human side of its translation service. “Words can hurt and sometimes divide,” the voiceover said. But according to the ad, every day the most translated words are “How are you,” ”Thank you,” and “I love you.”
That ad was a favorite at Robert Lerner’s gathering in Los Altos, California. He hosted about 20 people on game day.
“People liked the fact it was international and shows Google is doing the good stuff — we live in Google country,” he said. “It was heartwarming and good to see.”
