World

famous Associated Press bureau boss Ker Munthit says that, even in the face of pressure

from his wife Sothavy, he is refusing to dye his hair to cover up the increasing

number of grey hairs that are speckling his robust mane. Munthit says there is no

point in trying to cover up the grey as it is impossible to dye one's nostril hairs

too so people will know anyway.

** World famous NGO chief Theary Seng says that prayer and meditation stem the growth

of grey hair and she is living proof of this fact.

** Somebody is ripping off the tiles in the old Bokor hotel. They are headed down

the mountain by the truckload daily.

** One political pundit says one of the possible explanations for the drop in voter

turnout at last Sunday's commune elections is that ladies are saying no to turning

their index fingers blue. One lady tried to just dab her finger in the ink, but an

alert election official insisted on a full dunk.

** The Cantina is now offering a "Meat Lovers Bloody Mary". No celery,

no tomato juice, no limes and no spices.

** The first batch of 28 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers were sworn in on April 4 and

will head for the provinces soon.

PCV Conor Cronin, who sort of looks like Brad Pitt, gave a speech in Khmer and said

that two of the most useful phrases he has learned so far are how to say "serves

you right" and "whatever" in Khmer.

US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said: "The United States is a very large country

and a very rich one. We spend huge amounts of money on many things, but there is

nothing we do that is more effective and more valuable than sending our Peace Corps

volunteers to places like Cambodia. Dollar for dollar our Peace Corps volunteers

do more to advance freedom and justice in the world and protect American ideals and

principles than any other program of the United States government. Peace Corps is

American's 'soft power' at its very finest."

Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Khol Pheng gave the volunteers two pieces

of advice: "When it's hot, do not run for ice in the countryside. Drink hot

tea. Hot tea will keep you cool."

He said the process of making ice is not safe as sometimes people use urine to help

the process. He also advised the volunteers not to eat raw vegetables. If they followed

this advice then they wouldn't get diarrhea.