Tyler Ward's USA Live Lounge Competition!

I just read a status update from Michael Henry and Justin Robinett Facebook fanpage that attracted to check about their new album. Disappointed coz it's the same compilation of their covers... Not their original songs... And then I just skimmed over for the wall posts and I saw a post from Robinnet asking for support in their submission over Tyler Ward's USA Live Lounge.

Curious to what it is about... I checked it out again... Well, about what it is about, you can just go to the link I gave and see the whole things through there... I'm pretty shocked for the so many talented people you can find in the competition!

These are my most favorite participants!

Loving it, and after I gave a visit to their site... I listen to their songs and GOSH! I love 'em!

another one...

Pong Harjatmo, Heroic or Unstable?

Pong Harjatmo

First of all, do we hate the members of our "honorable" parliament? Do we love them? Recently a senior celebrity (which I don't know what he is, whether he is an actor, singer, or perhaps composer?), Pong Harjatmo did a vandalism toward the building of Parliament.

Most of the students who are active in politics organization and are active down to the road in order to 'sounding' their opinion would say that Pong has did a heroic act towards the bad reputation and the bad performance the Parliament has. But not me, I put some concern to the politic world too, but in my perspective, what Pong did to the building is an action of vandalism to the building that the funds for maintenance and such came from the society.

Does his action really 'slap' the parliament members like the mass media told us? Nooo... first of all, the police had him caged and now he's being a joke for the parliament people (plus me, with synical humor). Now he's indicated that he has mental problem causing him to act the way he did just hours ago.

My advice, if you really want to 'slap' those honorous parliament members. Just slape them! Like literally! Slap them in the crowd saying how stupid they've been and how impoten they have been. And for my closing! Do think before you act!

Michael Henry and Justin Robinett!

Guys! You should check these guys! Their covers over some songs are just adorable! These are some samples:

Tobacco For Culture, Please?

Lovely Ads Of Anti-Tobacco Movement!

“As long as it’s not smoked, go on!” that would be my answer for the question above. The tobacco case in Indonesia is something I put concern in. Simply because I am a victim of the uninformed-careless-action done by my surrounding. I am or I was a smoker, passive one, and I have experienced difficulties in my youth because my lungs got problematic.

My dad is a real active smoker and never cares about where he smokes and what might cause by his action. And so are the Indonesian people. I have this experience of attending a cultural religious meeting in the village where I live, make it simple, it was a kenduri. I was a pretty early one there and I could choose where I want to take a seat. So I took the outdoor one in order to avoid the smokes these careless people breathed. They insisted me to sit indoor, and told me to sit next to the door after I explained the reason why I chose outdoor. But still, those people breathed smokes in my face. I went home pretty red and sick that night. I mean, after I explained that I cannot stand the smokes of tobacco, they still did smoke and breathed the smokes carelessly unto me!

And then now there’s an issue of tobacco cigar banning. Oh please I’d love that. But the industrial people don’t and lots of farmers’ lives are at stake on this policy of tobacco cigar banning. Are they?

I have thoughts about this problem for years since I was informed that there is this term called passive smokers. Before I can explain about my solution of this complex problem, let’s breakdown what are the problems why tobacco cigar is that hard to be banned.

1.      Tax and Income for the government

I am sure that the willingness of banning tobacco cigar was actually there since long time ago in this republic. But the tax income from cigar is respectably huge and cannot be ignored for such developing country like Indonesia. I believe that some government people think that cigar is an account of asset in the government’s balance sheet. Funny because I thought the tax put into a cylinder of tobacco cigar was purposed to reduce the willingness of people in consuming it. To be underlined, the government put policy for people not to smoke while they still expect people to do it.

Okay then, there is one way to make both things worked! Increase the tax into irrational number! Let say, make a cigar which price is around five hundred Rupiah to be three thousand Rupiah or more. The government got the income from the tobacco tax, the society got the impact in reducing their priority of buying cigars for the expensive price. I don’t know why the government never did this policy. Tell us if you do know!

2.      The addicts matter

The number of active smoker, or lets call it nicotine addict, in Indonesia is respectable. Data from nusantaranews.wordpress.com mention that in 2009 the number of addicts in Indonesia has reached approximately 65 million, or 28%. And most of them are men, which we know, still are the major gender who work and have influences to the system in Indonesia. How can a person who is psychologically not wanting in stop consuming nicotine through tobacco approves the policy that makes him cannot do his hobby…

3.      The social mindset about tobacco

Back to the mindset matter. The social mindset of smoking activity is really complex. But everything is started from the culture of mindset that was formed by the Indonesian environment. I’ll just quote an opinion I have heard from TV, “Indonesia is a heaven for smokers, and a hell in the same time for those who do not smoke!” This is a very true and strong statement of Indonesian condition that is so lack of awareness. Most of Indonesians were raised to say that it is fine to smoke around them, and is rude to complain. Oh, I am living in stupid culture that been cared so much by the addicts. (Honestly I’m in rage while writing this remembering my experience of telling people to not smoke in a room full of non smoker but they do not listen. I am so dead being patience to not tell who they are and where they are from for how much I hate them.)

Now, tell me when a classmate started to light his cigar and blows the smoke right on your face with I’m-the-man-expression. Those smokers who ever did that to me and read this, I hate that and I’ve been strongly holding myself from not slapping yer face. I don’t care if I already know you for years and said, we’re friends.

We really need to change that way of thinking. These people are not civilized people! Not at all!

4.      The religious side

Just for muslim, cause I don’t know about other religions’ policy (yeah, this is a policy in Islam) for smoking cigar, weed, or whatever. Just from my previous statement, do you think that the MUI is a representative of the God who can use their logic about God rule of what is haraam and not? Ask yourself, is cigar haraam or not? I think you will find yourself answering it just like how you answer, is your routine of masturbation activity is haaram or not? What do you think about watching porns? What about lying? Those are clear examples of what is haraam activity, but you were so given what so called intelligence and so much validation you made in your mind about what you did. But the rules have been declared 15 centuries ago and still we reject to make them the norms in our lives. You don’t need the MUI to declare cigar is haraam or a routine masturbation helps you control your cock from wanting pussy. (Dammit! I’m dirty!) You know which one is right, which one is wrong. Grey areas never really exist. Those are in the black with lots of reasoning you made.

5.      The lives of tobacco and clove (cengkeh, Bahasa) farmers

The nature of the farmers is always out of my logic. What makes it so hard for them from not planting tobacco? When cigar is a no more allowed commodity, the price of tobacco will be drop by the demand of it that decreasing. And that way, those former smokers will have extra cash to be spent on other commodities. Weeds for an instance =P. I don’t see any real efforts from those in position to figure out what can be the substitute from planting tobacco and has a better effect to the social and environment.

And the option of doing export! I am sure the world would pay for both clove and tobacco from Indonesia land with high price. The world is always a promising market remembering the food crisis and the demand on herbs and spices that always high. Let’s support for spicier taste of world food!

6.      The cultural aspect

Some people use cigar to neutralize the social awkwardness. And it works! But only when both parties are smokers or those who do not mind being passive smokers. Too bad for me, there are some conditions that forced you in being an idiotic polite being. Have you ever try rejecting cigar or breathing other’s smoke when the ones who smokes are culturally higher than you. Your grandfather for example. Most of the time I did that, they went nuts and mad. Knowing they are wrong but too ashamed to admit that they have been wrong to others for years or even decades.

Now I don’t know what would be my solution to the problem after I break it down my way. Well, I’ll just leave some messages and share my perspective about the culture of tobacco smoking. First, not everyone in this country feels okay for you to smoke around. Most of them are people below 35 years old. Smoke is poison to human body and THAT IS SICKENING THOSE WHO BREATH IT!!!

_______________________

Originally posted here, April 2010

The Ventriloquist

hope there won’t be sue-sue things of my article

This article is my perspective in respond to the sensational future candidate for mayor-leveled election in Kabupaten Pacitan which is Jenifer Lopez, wait no, I mean Julia Perez or Jupe. Seriously, JULIA PEREZ? 

For Indonesian citizens, everybody knows who Jupe is. She’s a celebrity, an artist (singer, actress, and maybe model), who sells, mostly her sexuality looks, on her products. She always appears in sexy looks and wearing mini clothes.

Off topic for definition of sexy from me and my opinions about it. Sexy, consecutively made from sex+y, means that it is something to do with the sex or the genital. Blatantly I will say that sexy is something that arise your sexual desire. By this definition, sexy appearance are then an absolute ban in the muslim culture. Now I have heard so many public figures started to bend the real meaning of sexy into positive perception. If you’re living in Indonesia, I can straightly say, it is wrong to be sexy in public environment!

Now my argument to those who are defensive about sexy is good. Sexy personalities are good. Well, I don’t think so! Starting with separate the term of liking and sexually attracted. I don’t think we need to discuss about those two things, besides I am not that much enthusiastic to do it. Now, people believe that smart thinking people are sexy. I believe on that statement too, but not completely. It adds the sexy side of a person and makes you want this person more, to satisfy your sexual needs (told ya it’s about your genital). But that does not make someone sexy when your eyes are unsatisfied. Pick the ugliest girl/boy in your life, physically ugly! Now think he/she is a smart person. Do you want to f*ck/be f*cked by him/her? (first article and oh, I am so rude!) That’s my point.

Now I want to emphasize my previous statement that Jupe is a sexy celebrity and always want to be judged that way. I am the public and that’s what I can tell from her nature. I want to do quality analysis of her, well just very rough one.

What are the qualities needed for ones to be leader of political and governmental in developing and maintaining a respectable area? I will say intelligence, charisma, courage, wise, honesty and innovative thinking. How many of these qualities Jupe has? I don’t know, at all. But by looking at the ‘audition’ of the future candidate for the election which consisted of Cici Paramida (a singer who just got a case of violence by her ex husband), Sarah Azhari (another sexy celebrity which I don’t know what is she. A model or what, but we all know she has big packages :P), and finally Jupe.

Judging from the other candidates that was going to be registered into the election by Hanura, Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya, Partai Patriot, Partai Amanat Nasional and Partai Bulan Bintang (which recently PAN withdrew from it), that really is another surprise for me. I mean, they really are looking for celebrities to be a Bupati? Sarah Azhari? Come on! From what I know, this woman is nothing good (morally) for me. Her reputation just by what I see from the media is that she is a party animal, not to mention her countless scandal of ‘such’ pictures. And she’s in for the so called audition! Well, she rejected the offer to be a candidate. Good thing that she knows where her area is. I am not saying that Jupe does not know where her area is, directly. :P

Cici Paramida, I don’t know… She looks like a polite celebrity to me, but to be in with another two such candidates, now I’m questioning her position. Well, back to the qualities, I am not sure that Jupe has what it needs to be a Bupati. What came in my mind is that such weak candidate who always being accompanied from the parties she represents in answering the question looks like a doll, political doll. So, who are the real minds that will lead Pacitan if Jupe won the election? The minds behind her! Is that what a Bupati is? A doll played by a ventriloquist behind it? Or was it not only for Bupati? The President? The governor? Are they all driven by the parties who support them?

Before I close this article, I have to clear things. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate Jupe nor dislike her. I actually like her existence in the entertainment world. Not for her sexy looks (well, if I do, that is not my major reason), but how she can go Oh-whatever-they-say to the gossips about her and kept doing what she was doing. And I am afraid that, firstly, the body type of Jupe and Sarah Azhari is not that much favorited by the young generation, but the older ones. And I am afraid that they would be just the political doll, could be sex doll to smooth things up. Now don’t accuse me that I am such a negative thinker, it’s just that I have to tell one possibility. You have another story to tell, then tell us what are the motif behind this sensational selection for Bupati candidate.

Ventriloquist, is an act of in which a person (a ventriloquist) manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere. The act of ventriloquism is ventriloquizing.

 _____________________

Originally posted here, April 2010

Do You Walk Sometimes?

So……………

My mom just got a new motor-cycle (because my Pa bought her). It was Supra X 125R (If I’m not mistaken). And I tried it about two days ago… The experience was a WOW! The current motor-cycle I use is Honda – Astrea Prima (which was stated the best motor cycle made by Honda “kaskus.com”). So, I experienced a huge different comparison of speed from an old motor-cycle with a brand new one. It was a speed test I did along the way from Jalan Kaliurang KM 12 to KM 7. The acceleration was extraordinary (since my ordinary was 60 kmph in ± 500 meters).

That time I was realized why so many people could say that “speed is one favorite toy for boys”. Yeah… I was one who is not familiar with speed as a toy. Not even when I was a boy… Maybe there is time for every boy to have the characteristic of man.

Eh… then, the title was about walking… so here you go…

Yesterday, the motor-cycle of my dad got tire leak. And bla… bla… bla… I have to pick him up by using the Colt (local term to call the Mass Transport). I was amazed sitting in it looking outside the window. The view that I passed through everyday but never really look at them. So once again, I was amazed by the view that I passed everyday….

I was go down for about ± 1 kilometer from the site. I walked…. Believe me… you should try to abandon your vehicle sometime and take a walk. You’ll be amazed (just like me) how beautiful your surrounds could be…
Last message (Indonesian saying) …

“Gajah di pelupuk mata tak tampak,

kutu di seberang lautan terlihat jelas.”

*you don’t see an elephant right in front your eyes, while you can see a bug across the sea clearly.*


Originally posted here, January 2009

Corruption, The Culture of Indonesians?

It happened just in front of my own nose and there is nothing I can do. I hate myself for doing nothing about it and just let my self taken along in it. The first experience of me, in corrupting (this is my confession for all of those who did the same), was in the Junior High School. You know that the pocket money of a student just never enough? At least it happens to me. And I am sure that you know how teens want to get more attention from their peers by being and acting exclusive (I feel stupid already)?

So, to get the image that I came from one wealthy family, I should have enough pocket money and enough spending to support (give result) the image. And how did I find the financial source for the project? I found the opportunity to raise additional pocket money from the semester books expenses (I know I try to make it Economic-like). The proposals that received by the Financial Department (read = my mother) for books purchasing was lifted for about IDR 500 to 1,500 for LKS and upward IDR 5,000 for text books. Just for your info, an additional of IDR 500 for a week is a premium additional for my pocket (the daily pocket money back then was IDR 500/school day), but today, the pocket money of an elementary school student who still in the 2^nd grade has reached IDR 10,000 per day. What a waste of money….

Well, that was my first attempt of corruption (which kept happening until I graduated from High School). Being honest, telling you what happened in my past beside it is a little embarrassing, it just lifted my mood up from the hate of corruption habit. So the second paragraph could tell you how the corruption was being crystallized with the daily life of us (do not be worry or hesitant, I represent all of us) or in Englished-Bahasa, bleed and fleshed (mendarah daging, Bahasa).

So, the main reason why I write it is that I cannot keep it just in my mind about what have happened around me. The first experience of mine in corruption act toward the society system was my bike-driving license (SIM C). Different with others, how I managed to get my driving license was by nembak (bribing, local term); and by doing it all I have to do in the Police Dept was get in the line for having my face captured by the camera there and went home without a single touch to the field where the real test held.

Another experience was when I lost my wallet and made the report for it. Just after I finished reported what I lost and everything the officer asked me, he then asked me for administration fee.

When I asked him “Berapa, Pak? (How much it cost, Officer?)”

He answered, “Seikhlasnya saja… (Up to you…)”

I got confused for 5 seconds and nodded for a sign of understanding, and then grope a piece of IDR 10,000 in my pocket. Me and my uncle were looked each other and smiled for couple seconds in the way out from the office.

That was another contribution of mine toward the corruption in the society system. And believe me, since that experience I have promised my self not to have any businesses with the policemen (anyone?) to avoid from me giving more contributions toward the corruption in the society systems.

The recent that just happened and made me write this was about the distribution of LPG and the gas-stove for the government program of gas conversion. So the story began couple months ago.

There were 2 pieces of paper to be filled with data in our house for the economic power and the usage of gas, petrol or firewood. I filled the data with the real condition in my house that we do not need any free gas or gas stove from the government because we have the capability. But then when my mother’s brother (simply, my uncle) came and checked them up, he said that I should not filled them that way or we will not received the free LPG and gas stove. When I argued that we do not need that and that was not our right, he told me that even the family who are more prosperous than us still received it. I told him that is not right. That day, the decision was, we will skip the opportunity.

The other day with about 1-2 months interval from the forms rejection, 2 other forms came to the house (fyi, the house inhabitants are holding two family group, Dad’s and Grandpa’s). The courier told us to submit them in the next day. The same act was done to not submit them so we will not accept the program in our house.
I do not know how, but yesterday I found 3 kg LPG in the kitchen and just this morning found the mini gas stove. So I asked my mom and she told me that we still received them though we did not asked to. I asked her to put it back and return them. But I still heard the resistant in her voice. To act the right here, in this case, will give you the image of hypocrite between people in the society. I guess that was why there still some resistant in her voice agreeing my suggestion.

What do you think? Can we really eliminate the corruption? The society said that they want the corruptor to get the dead penalty while in the same time they said that they want to cut their head off? In my opinion, the biggest contribution of corruption is not from the people who they called mice in tie (tikus berdasi, Bahasa term), but from the society who support these mice to corrupt with the expectation they will get benefits from it.
Gosh, when do we will really be a free independent nation?



Originally posted here, January 2009