This report discusses the current political and economic state of Thailand, particularly in the wake of the September 2006 coup that displaced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and has resulted in continuing instability. This report also discusses the ongoing U.S.-Thai relationship, despite different policies in such areas as human rights.

The North Texan magazine includes articles and notes about UNT students, faculty, and alumni activities.

The Thai government has strongly advocated for the learner-centered education for the past decade. Success For Life Thailand (SFLT), a brain-research-based early childhood education program blended with the theories of the developmentally appropriate practices and child-centered philosophies, has been implemented in Thailand for over 8 years. The purposes of the present study were to: (a) describe the current statuses of the Thai early childhood educators' learner-centered beliefs and practices, (b) identify if the SFLT training workshop affects teachers' learner-centered beliefs and practices, and (c) examine if other variables, along with familiarity with the SFLT program, predict teachers' learner-centered beliefs and practices. Ninety-three preschool and kindergarten teachers participated in the study. Among them, 17 were SFLT trainees in 1999 and 2000 (i.e., the previously trained group), 43 were trained in Year 2006 (the currently trained group), and the others were comparable to the currently trained group by matching the key personal and school variables. The Teachers Beliefs and Practices Survey: 3-5 Year Olds (Burts et al., 2000) and the Learner-Centered Education: the Assessment of Learner- Centered (ALCP) for K-3 (McCombs, 2001) were used to collect data on the various domains of the learner-centered beliefs and practices. Findings reveal that: (a) Thai …

Interview with Arhtur B. Clark, a Texas National Guard WWII veteran and POW from Abilene, Texas, who was captured with the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery. Clark discusses joining the National Guard, training and maneuvers, deployment to the Pacific, the fall of Java and surrender to the Japanese, experiences in internment at Tanjong Priok in Batavia, internment at Changi Camp in Singapore, labor on the Burma "Death" Railway, and liberation. The interview includes an appendix with a reference page and a written flight log by Col. Tom Sledge.

This report discusses the current political and economic state of Thailand, particularly in the wake of the September 2006 coup that displaced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and has resulted in continuing instability. This report also discusses the ongoing U.S.-Thai relationship, despite different policies in such areas as human rights.

Interview with W. A. (Bill) Henderson, a pilot during World War II. He discusses his time as a bombardier and navigator on a B-24 in the China-Burma-India Theater. His crew hit the bridge over River Kwai (Mae Klong) while making bombing runs along the Burma Railway and also flew runs to supply gasoline to various bases in China, India and Burma. He relates anecdotes about the food and living quarters on the bases and the time he saved his co-pilot's life. He helped his co-pilot land the plane after a bullet tore through the plane's nose wheel and injured the man's leg.

Interview with Vaughn Bercaw, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force from East Lansing, Michigan who served in Germany during the Cold War and Thailand in the early days of the Vietnam War. Bercaw describes his training in basic aircraft weapon systems and experiences on various missions in both wars, including life upon returning to the United States.

Study examining near-death experiences (NDEs) in Thailand, which do not demonstrate the episodes most noted in those collected in the West, but they do show consistent features. The article argues that these features, including harbingers of death, visions of hell, the Lord of the underworld, and the benefits of making donations to Buddhist monks and temples, can be understood within the framework of beliefs and customs unique to Southeast Asia.

Photograph of Brad Leali playing alto saxophone with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing soprano saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter on stage with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand. Carter is holding a saxophone upside-down in his left hand.

Photograph of James Carter on stage with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand. Carter is holding a soprano saxophone under his left arm and a tenor under his right.

Photograph of James Carter on stage with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand. Carter is holding a saxophone upside-down in his left hand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing tenor saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing soprano saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter on stage with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand. A tenor saxophone is hanging from Carter's neck.

Photograph of James Carter playing soprano saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of James Carter playing soprano saxophone at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.

Photograph of Pete Clagett (standing, left) playing trumpet with the One O'Clock Lab Band at the 15th World Saxophone Congress held at Mahidol University in Thailand.