The headline reads: "Ask what you can do for your country!"

The ad goes on to exhort: "Don't ask what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country."

Grant Thornton's slogan is different from traditional recruitment ads, which tend to highlight the benefits to the winners.

But the company mounts exhibitions and is looking for an executive who will "represent Thailand as the facilitator that gets industry associations and the private and public sectors to join hands in a common approach. Through your support you will win business in Thailand for major international events".

No word on what will be the benefits to the winner.

The ad sounds like a re-cruitment pitch for the nation's next prime minister rather than a mere company president. Interested persons can check it out at www.nationjobs.com.

Too much stimulation

Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham was not amused when he checked some of the comics sold at the annual Bangkok International Book Fair last week.

At first, Paiboon thought he would simply check the annual event, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year, to see the progress of the government's campaign to promote reading among young people.

But when he visited a booth by the Rung Wattana Panich - wildly popular among kids -

he was surprised to see the content of some Japanese comic books.

Whoa! Explicit sex scenes!

Suddenly Paiboon came to realise that the children might actually be reading too much. He ordered the comic books pulled off the shelves.

No word about where the Japanese "manga" comics will be sold later as they are widely popular among Thai readers - and not only children, but adults alike.

Busdsk@nationgroup.com