In an unprecedented move, the Central Bank of Thailand appointed a foreign advisor, Mr. Shiva, earlier this month. Mr. Shiva, whose name means 'The Destroyer', claims ancestry from South Asia, Palestine, and as far away as Portugal. His native tongue is Italian, which he speaks with a thick Indian accent. Mr. Shiva was educated in the United States, where he is known as 'The Biker of Wharton'. While struggling to master the rudiments of reading and writing Thai, Mr. Shiva will be advising the BOT on important financial questions. As this is a job that does not require literacy, he is felt to be fully qualified. His postmodern style of dress contrasts uniquely with his traditional headgear, which has gained him the attention of leading Bangkok aestheticians at the Rama IX Art Foundation and elsewhere.