Microsoft Office Labs Vision 2019

This is what Microsoft envision the world of communcation and techonology's gonna be in 2019.
I found it so impressive. If things go to this direction, I think we have moved our humanity to another level of civilization!

360 Desktop

I checked out this 360 Beta... It's cool. To those who love dual-desktop... this should turn your laptop into one of the desktop at your work place. It will give your more space for your works.

Try it out yourself... http://www.360desktop.com/

Thanks you note from the other side of the world

Today, when I got back from the library, I saw a postcard sent from Cambodia by the Sharing Foundation. It thanked me for the donation that I made last year for the Sharing Foundation in Cambodia. It indeed helped the organization won $50,000 on top of the donation $52,006.

Thanks you all for contributing to the cause... :)

[Brief about the Sharing Foundation]
The Sharing Foundation serves about 1500 children a day in Cambodia in 5 schools, an orphanage, a sewing project, computer school, farm projects etc-- You money will be used carefully. Education is our big emphasis, as  we feel that the best way out of poverty is learning a skill [ like sewing  or computer skills-] or getting through high school  and  or college and taking a place such areas as  business or teaching.  We currently have over 50 students sponsored for High School, and 28 on full scholarships at universities in Phnom Penh, in addition to over 400 young people in our English school in the countryside.
Increasing the good health of the youngsters is also vital, and such projects as getting  potable water systems into schools, and immunizing as many children as possible also claim TSF's attention.

More about the Sharing Foundation organization: www.sharingfoundation.org

Randy Pausch, an Inspirational Computer Professor Ever: "It's not how to achieve your dream. It's about how to live you life."

Randy Pausch, giving his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University

One of the most inspirational professor ever. I wish there can be many people like him on earth. People who follows their passions, their dreams, and their love! Never give up! Unsuccessful comes for reason. It keeps those who doesn't want it badly enough from achieving it, and that's not YOU!


Hope these video can teach you some lesson!

Here are series of his interview with ABC:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BZbOQqtDAW0&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CDIf4D4SQFo&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5O8FvH_k2k4&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=i2HWTrDTsv0&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KSx-AB4JhvQ&feature=related


Here is his "last lecture"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Hiking at Wallace Falls Park

... Friday 02th, 2008
Tomorrow was Hiking day! I would be going off with a group of friends from the school to Wallace Falls Park. We poped up with this plan just about 3 days before this. We checked the weather and it seemed fine! Then, things put into action!! Invitation is sent to everyone. Confirmation mail was sent back! It sounded fun since we've never made such committement!!

... Hiking day!!!
I woke up at around 7 AM. It took me about 15mns to get things done and ready to go.
As I thought, that's not gonna work to make people waking up at this moment of time!!
My roomates woke up at about 7:40AM. Still, we were hanging around the apartment just to wait for others. Oh, forget to tell you that my apartment is the gathering point!! We met each other here. After a long time of waking up, I felt good enough to take breakfast! I did eat last night food brought from a shop nearby. It's Thai Style Chicken Fried Rice made by real Thai people. It's good!! It has egg, mixed with rice, Tomato(I don't like it), and some spices.
Overall, I was true!!! It's around 9:00AM that we all were here!! Then we got off to the parking lot as soon as possible.

From Left to Right
(front row: Chaltu, Dhanu, Deepak, Bora[it's me], Sanjeev)
(back row: Manoj, Bidur, Tola, Nebiyou, Tigist, Navy, Sanjeep, Islam, Subash)
(Phtographer: Lawir [you will know him in later pics])

... Got off to the Park!!!!
We took 4 cars for 15 people. I got in Lawir's car. Hmm, I can say it's a lovely car!! Kinda similar to the racing one. After just the wheels started running, he turned on the music!! As always, the volume was around 100 dB!!! WOW, that's even higher than the classical orchestra!! I hoped my ear didn't go deaf!!!! huh!!!!!!! The good thing was that he tuned to a radio channel that I love. 101.5FM is always my favorite. It always played music I love. Leavin by Jesse McCartney, When You Look Me in The Eyes by The Jonas Brothers, Sorry by Buckcherry, Wait for You by Elloit Yamin, Four Minutes by Madona, If You Didn't Love Me by Phil Stacey, No Air by Jordin Spark Feat. Christ Brown, Please Don't Stop the Music by Rihana, Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis!!! ............................ (many many many!!!!)

Well, along the way there, we did follow another car which was GPS equiped. That's driven by Subash. They kept on calling me to check that I wasn't lost the sight of their car. It took about 1 hour to reach there!! However, 1 car was not there. "I missed the exit!!!" That's what they said!! So, we waited for them in the parking lot. People came and started hiking! One afer another.
40mns after that, they were still not here. At last they arrived after another 15mns. Then, we started hiking right after that!!!!

... Hiking Begins!!!
The trail is 10miles!! Huh!!! I didn't know this before. I knew it once I got back and checked the map!!! 10miles = 16.09344km WOW!!! That's the longest walk I've ever done in my life! We walked along the walking path up to the top of the hill. It was foggy starting from one third of the way. It's a bit muddy. I messed up my Converse!!!! Even I didn't bring enough stuff for lunch besides chips! Anyways, we did survive!!!

Hiking Begins!!!!

At the Entrance Gate

Isn't it beautiful?
Just right down the hill!!

Yeh!! Just a style!!!

Middle Fall


At the Upper Fall
(Yeah!! We Made it!!!!!)

We climbed down at around 2:00PM. It took 2 hours to get down. He he, I & few other guys are always the lead, both climbing up and down!!!! :D

After that, we did go to one Mongolian restaurant in downtown Seattle. It's a buffet restaurant. We are the cook!!! We get the stuff, they will cook for us. I did have 2 rounds!!! Oh hoOo!!! Cool!!! Will go there again some day!!

And that's all for now. Maybe the video can describe how joyful we had!!!

Picture of the Year

Guess who is me!!!?
I bet it gonna worth more than $1K.

New Year Welcoming Donation

Inspiring from article Cambodia facing uneducated future written by BBC News, I decided to make a change in this new year 2008 by donating some money to help The Sharing Foundation win the $50.000 from America's Giving Challenge. Even though my donation is not quite big, but at least it is counted as one.

In the above article, it describes the current situation of education in poor community in Cambodia. All over the country, the informal fee demands from the teacher are forcing children to quit classes because their parents can not afford to pay. After they drop the classes and unlikely to return, their hope of that education would bring them a better future has been dashed.

The rate of student registering for primary school has been remarkably noticed, up to 90%. We can prove this by just seeing the surrounding road of the school are packed with white-shirted students. However, this number dwindles as the students go to higher grade. There is an acknowledge from the Ministry of Education that half of those have fail to finish their classes. Somehow, this causes by the poverty. About one third of the population earns less than 50 cents per day. School is supposed to be free, but it is the major drain of family resources.

We hardly say that this problem causes by the teachers since the teachers themselves live close to the poverty line, earning as little as $30 a month. With this amount of salary, it barely covers the utility payment like water and electricity. Some teachers has to do some supplementary job like driving a motorbike taxi.

Well, I don't know what I can do as a single Cambodian citizen to help next generation of my country. But I know for sure that all of our contributions will make different. Our $10 that we spend on one time buffet can help one child to go to school for the whole month. For $50, we can help adult students with their English for the whole year!! This is absolutely what we can do as a person.

I strongly appreciate my parents efforts both financially and spiritually that they have put toward my education. Without them, I don't think I could have come this far! Thank you very much, Dad & Mom.

So, I hope my donation for this new year will more or less contributes to the path to end poverty and help developing human resource in Cambodia.

Oh, I forget to tell you all about the America's Giving Challenge. If we are four of the top causes to get the most unique donors, we'll win $50,000 for the Sharing Foundation as part of America's Giving Challenge. The cause is "Route Out of Poverty for Cambodian Children".
More information about America's Giving Challenge

New Year Welcoming Sport

Today, there was a heavy snow dumped down over my area, up to around 8". Luckily that there was no wind, otherwise I could not come out and do Cross Country Ski at all, or I would be frozen.

Well, this is the first time I did this sport. It was not so much fun since I didn't get any official training on it at all. I did it at the soccer field near my dorm. The soccer field was designed to be lower than the main land about 30 feet. So, it is possible do do this sport during this season rather than playing soccer!

For about 10 times that I tried, I slided down every single time. I could not balance my body to stand still while it's moving downward. Still, I enjoyed it. Hopefully, when I play it next time, I will have a coach to give me lessons.
:D

skates, polls and my lovely Steve Madden

again: skates, polls and my lovely Steve Madden

Happy New Year 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wish you all the best, Readers!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Farewell Party - dated back May 01 2007

I just scanned through my album this afternoon and found these interesting pictures. They reminded me the time that I was in Cambodia. Really miss that time.

These pictures were taken at my farewell party. They are cool!!!

My cousin (Amra) and Anna are cooking the spring roll (Sa Yor).
Watch out!! She is carrying something with her right hand!!
I get you now!! That's why we ran out of that food so fast!!!



Kinda get stuck of how to decorate the banner!!!!
Thx Mey Mey for helping us finishing it!



& here what it looks like!!!!
"Farew. Party"
"Tola & Bora"
(just write it here in case you can not read our hand writing in the picture)



Ham Ham, Yummy Yummy!!!
I missed those food so much!!!!
Don't eat too much Anna, or you gonna gain weight!



Ey yoy!!! Busy Dol Kor (damn busy)
I had to be on phone even while I was eating. That's why I could not eat much!!
& that's why A Nak, the guy next to me, can be the forerunner in eating at that time!!!


Hahhhh!! Who is that girl with the blue shirt? GrandMa Thany??
Oh, there she is!! She got a good work place!!
Right there, she could eat as much as she could.
hahahaha, that's what she love to do.



There come Samedy (the guy in the middle)!! He is the biggest guy in the group!!
He's the lead in doing thing. He leads us singing. He leads us dancing.
But, he doesn't lead us in eating at all. hahahha. That's my turn. I'm the lead in that!!!



Huhhhh, at last the big star came!!! She comes by the name Leaksmy.
That's hard to tear out her precious time to join us.
She never wasted her time at all. You can see by this picture.
Even she's standing, still she has to find things filling her stomach too.
Take it easy, GrandMa Leaksmy.
hahahahahha



There comes the "Boy Band".
From left to right: Bora, Tola Thirith, Chhoung, Kompheak
or
From left to right: James, Dexter, Jack, Chhoung, Kompheak
រឺ
ពីឆ្វេងទៅស្តាំ៖ ចែម. ដែកស្ទើរ. ចេក. ឈួង. ល្បងម៉ា



hahaha, kinda crazy going with this pic!!!
Can you guess which foot is mine?


There comes the "Big Band"
Standing Row - Left to Right: N/A, Leaksmy, Karona, Thany, Mey Mey,
Amra, Anna, Metrey, Davy, A Knak, Pannhavuth, Aphivat(Development)
Lying Down Row - Left to Right: Chanthy, Ne Ne, James, Dexter,
Socheat, Kompheak, Samedy, Jack, Chhoung
(Are you convinced enough to get us to your next Model Show!!)
(You will not regret if you do so!!!)
(PS: In case you want to be bankrupt!!! hahahah)



& Here they are!!!! Miss RUPP
From Left To Right: Anna, Chanthy, Ne Ne, Karona,
Mey Mey, Thany (GrandMa), Amra, Leaksmy (GrandMa)
[Believe it or not, they are on a competition. It's Miss RUPP.]
[The winner will get Bi Jeng 1 pack, Sa Rong 1, Kror Ma 1, and Ang Kor(rice) 2kg]
hahahahhahaha
[I have no idea who's the winner!!]



Oh god!! how come they are eating and we are dancing!!
Let's go and continue our eating Tola.
We are cheated!!!!

It was a joyful moment!! However, after that, we needed to clean everything. Thanks to Anna and her family for providing space for this party. Thanks to everyone for helping me making this happen. & Thanks to the reader for spending time reading this. Hope that I could at least make you smile!!!
Have a wonderful New Year!!!
:D

Bokator - The Great Angkorian Martial Art

Resurrecting Bokator Khmer, The Nearly Lost Martial Art of Cambodia.

A new DVD introduces the world to the pride of Cambodian martial arts, while preserving a piece of history, which was almost lost. The Ancient Khmer martial art of Bokator is something which belongs only to Cambodia. The proof is written in stone, on the walls of Angkor Wat. A thousand years of war with Thailand and Vietnam, followed by the Khmer Rouge Genocide nearly wiped this art off of the face of the Earth.

Film maker and Khmer genocide survivor, Tim Pek, and martial arts author, Antonio Graceffo, have teamed up to create the DVD Bokator Khmer. Shot on location in and around Phnom Penh, the DVD introduces the world to this fascinating martial art, which is a complete fighting system of more than 1,000 separate movements.

Bokator includes striking, grappling, ground fighting, and weapons. The DVD also features Master Sam Kim Saen, who fled the Khmer Rouge, and arrived in the USA as a refugee. After returning to Cambodia, more than twenty years later, Master Sam Kim Saen opened the first modern school of Bokator. The Master works tirelessly, trying to teach as many students as possible, in the hopes that the art will live on. If we had more time they could specialize. Said the Master. But I want every one of my black belts to know every single movement, form, and weapon, so when I die, no portion of the art will be lost. See the DVD.

See the beauty of a lethal Cambodian martial art. Learn about the plight of the Khmer people. And, become one more link in the long chain of history, a history which will include Bokator Khmer.

Link to Bokator's official website: http://www.bokator.com/

Contact4Ever Group

Well, we are such good friends. We met each other in the college. From that time on, we've kept on hanging out together, sparing time together, and even spending hard time together too when someone was in trouble. Totally, Contact4Ever group comprises of 10 members. The most out lead six are Anna, Bora(me), Chhoung, Kompheak, Thirith and Tola. Here we are:

(From Left to Right: Anna, Thirith, Kompheak, Tola, Chhoung, Bora)

This picture was taken at the airport by the time I was about to take off to come here. Although it's such a busy day, they still could devote themselves to farewell me. I can't wait to come back and be reunion!!!

Now, Anna is in London. Guess what!! she is the sunshine in the group. She always shines everyone. She's doing her MBA there. She might be done at the same time to me, probably by 2010.

Thirith, the youngest looking guy, is still in Cambodia, but he plans to come here too. If everything is ok, he will be here this Feb 2008. Oh, he is also known as a serious guy, probably too serious some times.

Kompheak, the busy man, is still working as a supervisor in a tourism company. He has just been promoted with this position. He's complained that his job is damn busy. Still, he says he loves it. So, what is the use of the complaint then? He plans to continue his study in Australia. If everything works fine, he will go there by this August 2008.

Tola, the tallest guy among all, is here with me in the States doing the same degree. He is keen in exploring new things. As an example, he used to eat almost 90% kind of animal meat in Cambodia. Oh hoo, that sounds amazing. If you let me count mine, I will end up the list with about 10 or 15 only.

Chhoung, named the Brain, is the cleverest guy among us. He was quiet somehow in the past. But, after we all met, he kinda change. For sure, he did not turn to be bad. He is now not as quiet as before. He is be able to make joke. He likes going out with us. Now, he should be named as the Happy Brain. He also plans to come here too, but due to some problems in his family, he could not manage to be here this soon at all. Wish him and his family good luck so that he can also fulfill his dream coming here.

Me Singing A Rap Pi Ya អារ៉ាប់ពីយ៉ា

This is the song that I chose to sing on Christmas celebration at my school. Everyone enjoyed it. I also passed out the lyric below to them to help me singing. Why don't you help me singing along while watching this movie though! [I'm the far left tallest guy :P]

::::Lyric::::
Jub Jum Khnear Rik Reay Sabay Jit
Jol Ram Oy Snit Jol Jit Kom Oy Mong Sao
Jol Ram Tam Pleng Tam Pleng A Treat Yup Jrov
Pel La Ngeach Tngai Sao Jear Thngai Chhup Sam Rak Kay, Muy, Pi

A Rap Pi Ya Ya Ya A Rap Pi Ya ........
A Rap Pi Ya Ya Ya A Rap Pi Ya ........
A Rap Pi Ya Ya Ya A Rap Pi Ya ........
A Rap Pi Ya, A Rap Pi Ya, A Rap Pi Ya, Muy, Pi
(Repeat from the begining)

Distributed Computing - My Last Course On Campus

This is the book for my last course on campus starting on 07th Jan. Hopefully it's not going to be tough. It will be taught by Prof. Bunker, my favorite professor for all time. After this last course, I will leave the campus looking for new life in new place and new environment. Let see what it will be.

Life Over Dump Site - ជីវិត​លើ​ភ្នំ​សំណល់

This is a song from New Song Production, a new established production company in Cambodia. It produces song by itself without modifying any from others. This is a good model for other production companies.

This song is about the life over the dump site. Seeking left over stuffs is the activity that people in that are do instead of going to school. As well, they ask for help from everyone to make their lives.

PS: I extract this song from NS Production blog. I got the lyric from Khmer Lyric. Please support them by buying the original CD. Their album is available on the market with 2.5$.

១. ពេលធំដឹងក្តីនៅក្នុងគ្រួសារ
រើស​ស្បោង​ជំនួស​សិក្សា លើ​វាល​ដ៏​ធំ​ធេង
ភក់​ជ្រាំ​ក្លិន​ស្អុយ ហុយ​ឡើង​ទ្រលោម​បែក​ផ្សែង
យក​រុយ​ជា​មិត្ត​ប្រឡែង ផ្សង​ព្រេង​លើ​ភ្នំ​សំណល់ ។

២. យក​វាល​សំរាម​សម្រាប់​អាស្រ័យ
ពេល​យប់​ ពេល​ថ្ងៃ ទឹក​ដី​ខ្ញុំ​នៅ​ទី​នេះ
ខំ​កាយ​សំរាម ដើម្បី​ចិញ្ចឹម​ក្រពះ
តាំង​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​រះ ជះ​អស់​សូរិយា ។

បន្ទរ. មនុស្ស​យើង​ដែល​រស់​នៅ​ក្នុង​លោកា
តែង​តែ​ប្រាថ្នា សិទ្ធិ​ស្មើ​គ្នា
ទោះ​មាន​ឋានៈ បុណ្យ​សក្ដិ​ទាប ឬ ខ្ពស់
សូម​ជួយ​សង្គ្រោះ​ដល់​អ្នក​ក្រក្រី សូម​ប្រណី​ខ្ញុំ​ផង ។

៣. ខ្ញុំ​សូម​លើក​ហត្ថ​ទាំង​ទ្វេ​ប្រណម្យ
អង្វរ​ស្រែក​សុំ​ដល់​អស់​ទាំង​ជន​ប្រុស​ស្រី
សុំ​ការ​សង្គ្រោះ ឲ្យ​រួច​ពី​ភិតភ័យ
រស់​មាន​តម្លៃ មាន​សិទ្ធិ​សេរី​ស្មើ​គ្នា ។