By now you’ve probably heard the rumors of unusually heavy trading of sign-making and brochure-printing companies and of the letter “E” on the little known Alphabet Futures Exchange, but this is clearly propaganda disseminated by enemies of the interim government. These undercurrents would have us believe that the spelling of the former Bangkok International Airport was changed from “Don Muang” to “Don Mueang” not for the common good but as a means for a few unscrupulous scoundrels to make some quick and easy cash.In fact, of the myriad problems facing Thailand, the Council for National Security has once again shown it has its priorities straight by focusing on the extremely urgent issue of spelling (as well as related matters such as grammar, abbreviation, rhyming and branding) before attending to less important concerns like logistics and the democratic process. This explains why “CDRM” was shortened to “CDR” and then later changed to “CNS,” and why the “i” in iTV had to become a capital letter when it became “TITV.”As it’s all the same in Thai, it’s fair to ask why adding an “e” makes a difference—especially in this age when Google responds with, “Did you mean…” when you misspell spaghetti “carbonara” as “carbonera.” But what we sometimes forget is how stupid foreigners can be and how contagious stupidity can be. So after years of cringing when they say “Muang” even though every preschooler knows it’s “Mueang,” it was time somebody did something about it—and that somebody sure as hell wasn’t going to be Thaksin, who, if he really cared about Thailand would be spelling his name “Taksin.”The world of name creation is a multi-billion baht industry, and top companies spend months and millions to come up with the right moniker, one that correctly and memorably reflects their corporate identity. Ask branding and marketing experts and they’ll tell you that even one letter can spell the difference between success and failure, good and evil, sex and ex—just think (different): would you rather be selling “iPods” or “Pods”? (Unfortunately, adding an “i” sound to the beginning of a word in Thai—“iMueang,” in particular—if mispronounced might spell the difference between success and a hospital stay.)Airport director Pinit Saraithong is retiring later this year, but there will be plenty of work for him as a consultant. We’re looking forward to the day when, thanks to Pii Pinit, we’ll no longer have to suffer the indignity of foreign visitors who think we’re joking when we give them directions to Mor Chit.