I know some of you are occupied with the Preah Vihear issue, but there's one important event in the next few days you should not miss. Studied and predicted by NASA, it is a very rare Partial Solar Eclipse (So Kreas - សូគ្រាស) on 01/08/2008 from 5:55 PM to 6:30 PM in the evening. While the sun's setting into the horizon, it will be covered partially by the moon that passes in front of it. People in many Asian countries including Cambodia and Thailand will see this magnificent show of nature. It's as if the Universe, God if you're religious, is trying to ease the conflict of our countries. I do hope this is to coincide with a peaceful withdrawal of all troops both Thai and Cambodian along the border. Soldiers and civilians alike should reunion with their family and take time to enjoy this gift. Imagine how romantic it is, taking your special ones to a high ground to watch the once in a lifetime solar eclipse at sunset. Of course, to protect your eyes, you will need a pair of special viewing glasses which is easily made with a roll of undeveloped camera film. You can also look through the LCD screen of a digital camera. Please never attempt to view it with naked eyes, which could make you go blind. I've got some films left. Let me know should you need one.

By the way, we all know the consequences of war: Poverty, loss of lives, broken families, destruction everywhere it touches. Wars made us live in this state of "your horror stories here". War is endless, and there is no winner in this game. Excuse my humble request, please try not to overreact to the border issue. You may have wanted to boycott Thai products or do harm to any Thai you meet, but in doing so, it will probably further isolate Cambodia from the rest of the world. Believe me, they can make us miserable too if we make them miserable. Instead of doing all bad things, why don't we do something good? We scratch their backs. They will scratch our. It's a win-win. There are too many good deeds you can do that I can't list them all here. Make your own good judgment and make a good foreign friend, will you? Well, you might be now saying that I'm nobody to ask you to reconsider your political ideology. Hell yeah, I'm not graduated in Political Science, but I've got common senses.

Enjoy your solar eclipse viewing! On 01/08/2008 from 5:55 PM to 6:30 PM at sunset. And you should let your friends know about this solar eclipse too!

Sopheap - Your Humble Friend