Kevin Kwak’s Blog

Hello everyone,

Have you heard about the “One Laptop Per Child” project that is currently undergoing development? The mission is to deliver these high-tech yet low priced computer notebooks to undeveloped third world countries so that children and young adults can obtain education to advance the lives of their community and eventually their country.

The project’s vision along with other relevant information can be found at http://laptop.org/.

Making a Difference One Child at a Time
The Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118462081476168003-search.html?KEYWORDS=one+laptop&COLLECTION=wsjie/6month
July 17, 2007; Page B4

The nonprofit group One Laptop Per Child has as self-explanatory a title as can be imagined. It was founded in 2005 and is closely associated with Nicholas Negroponte, the former director of the MIT Media Lab.

What are the goals of your group?There are about a billion children in the developing world who don’t have the opportunities they should or could have, and we want to figure out a way to reach them. We think that building an affordable, connected laptop is the way to do it. So we’ve been developing something known as the “Hundred Dollar Laptop,” which is our target price for a few years hence. It’s designed for 6 to 16-year-olds, and has a number of unique features, including a very high resolution sunlight readable display. It runs on two watts of electricity, so it can be powered by solar or by human energy, for kids who live off the grid.

How many are in use right now?
We have about 5,000 machines out in the field now. Our goal is one billion in the developing world. It’s going to take a decade.

0 Calcium
When you browse the health related websites, articles on the osteoporosis topic are popular for females and the seniors. Osteoporosis is not something a young man or woman put much thought into. Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass resulting in fragile bones which leads to severe health consequences. The good news is that it can be avoided for many years simply by maintaining your body through physical workout.

The bones inside our body will not absorb as much calcium and nutrients to fortify the bones as we used to in our youth. Doctors and physicians strongly recommend that people consume calcium-enriched food and vitamins in addition to healthy workout that strengthens both the muscle and the bones. But once the bone stops absorbing calcium, it will rely on the existing supply of calciums stored in the bone. When the calcium depletes, osteoporosis will affect your lifestyle. Talk to your physician, research online, and ask others.

15 Pounds
Getting myself in a three-year contract commitment with Bally Total Fitness this year, I am getting a positive return from the investment. What made the deal better was that I had subscribed the membership with my parents hoping that they will start an active and healthy lifestyle. So far, my father is averaging three to four times a week during work.

My goal with the health membership is to build muscle mass and become physically stronger. Being on the slim side, it was embarrassing when someone asked how much I weighed and the immediate response was, “Really?! You weigh so little.”
Two months shy from initial enrollment, I feel great and look great. Everything is fine but the challenge is, will I be able to gain 15 pounds of muscle and work out consistently (heading to the gym is half the battle)? Yet I’m up to the challenge and enjoying every day of it. The amount of food I eat grew more than 25% compared to last year. The increased intake is nothing to worry about as I am consuming high protein foods like eggs, tuna, meat, and rice. As of March, I gained five pounds.

Invest $30
If you live in the cities, you can easily locate a fitness center you can enroll in. Bally Total Fitness and the 24 Hour Fitness are within miles in an urban city, and so are other health clubs which may include amenities like a driving range, massage services, and food courts. The fees will vary. The recent Bally’s promotion ($19 down and $19 a month is an attractive promotion and worth signing up for but be sure read the contract terms.
Here is an enrollment tip: always negotiate the enrollment fees.

The benefits of a health membership outweigh the expense. Once you start working out, you’ll feel great, improve your looks, and minimize health problems.

60 Years Old
Working out should be a lifestyle and not a periodic exercise simply to lose weight. I can picture myself swinging 300+ yards on a driver by the time I reach 60. There are plenty of seniors that are very active, healthy, and strong because they continued to take care of their one and only body. Best that you get started now.

A whole new year has just begun and I am very excited to see what challenges and lessons I will get to experience and learn. Year 2006 will be an unforgettable year for me and I do hope you had a terrific year too.

I spent many weeks last year in a “monk mode,” where I’ve concentrated on my personal goals both short and long term, my visions, and many other things that would help me focus to achieve such goals. Needless to say, I think it is time for some new action and less on research.

Everyone is given the same amount of time, 24 hours and seven days a week, not a minute more or a minute less than the people next to you. It is one of those adage worth remembering and reminding oneself of. After all, time is an irreplaceable commodity, everyone wants more as you get older.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. Albert Einstein

Enough with the mumble jumbos, seize the day throughout 2007!
The redesigned website should be open within this week.

Here’s a short blog for you: the month of November of 2006 will not a typical month. Lot has been going on in our nation, major political events sprung up here and there, and the decisions that were made will change and affect millions of Americans one way or another. I recommend that you visit the major news site to catch up if you haven’t done so.

God bless America and the veterans of the United States of America.

On Yahoo’s frontpage under the Featured tab, an article featured a smart looking Asian kid with a rubik’s cube in his hand. The caption was personally thought-provoking, “Tyson Mao is hoping to regain his title as blindfolded Rubik’s Cube world champion.”) I can’t even get near completion with a cheap $1 cube rolling somewhere in the car. Every time I got my hands on the cube, I tossed it back after an effortless attempt.

So the guy on the Yahoo’s photo is Tyson Mao and he can finish the cube in less than two minutes. Smart Cal Tech grad.

But if the Yahoo article written by Belinda Goldsmith is entirely true (they wouldn’t lie to us, would they?), I found hope. The rubik’s cube is not only for geniuses and nerds. You can find a great amount of sites teaching you the strategies to solving the puzzle. Thank goodness for online video broadcasting.