The Arrogance of People in Power

Finally, the trial for the 2 New York Indian Millionaires who abused their Indonesian domestic helpers in a modern-day slavery torture case have come to an end. According to USA Today, International perfume maker Mahender Sabhnani, 51, was sentenced to 3 1/3 years and fined $12,500 and his wife, Varsha, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Prosecutors contended Varsha Sabhnani was primarily responsible for inflicting years of abuse on the poorly educated servants, Her husband, they said, allowed the conduct to take place and benefited from the work the women performed in their $2 million Long Island home.

Prosecutors suggest the women (servants) are due more than $1.1 million, including overtime, but defense attorneys said the figure should be much lower.

This is good news. It's good to see the how the American justice system deals with this, and also the response of many Americans for this case. Many were appalled that something like this happened in their country, today - in the 21st century, nonetheless. But the thing that pisses me off about this is the fact that the dirty American infidels foreigners are more concerned about the welfare and fate of one of us than our own government.

There are so many cases alike and even more horrifying cases happening to Indonesian domestic workers working overseas (TKW) in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries. Some of our TKWs were not only abused and tortured but also raped and in some cases were forced to return home pregnant with no money to show for their hard work. Despite this, our government are still doing nothing about it, as if the lives of these TKWs don't matter because aftre all, they are 'only' poor, uneducated domestic helpers.

Even more horrifying, these tortures do not only occur overseas, but in the homes of some Indonesians as well. This disgust me more, because although having foreigners treat Indonesian domestic helpers is certainly not right, the thought of Indonesians treating one of their own badly is worse. I have yet to see a trial finding a rich employer guilty of servant abuse and a prison sentence for them in Indonesia.

I have read here (the story is in Indonesian, sorry) that an Indonesian Ambassador posted in one European country (or maybe his wife?) abuses their domestic helpers. While many of their staff know about this, nobody is doing anything about it because:
a. It's the Ambassador (or his wife), and
b. Even if someone does anything about it, the poor domestic helpers and the person(s) that reports it will be the ones screwed over because as many people know, in Indonesia, the people in power/money/position almost always have the upper hand.

The Philippines have quite a good law protecting their domestic helpers' rights. Filipino domestic workers working overseas are well-trained and they know their rights. Their government set a minimum wage and protects their interests by having their employers sign contracts for them which guarantees their salary, right to annual leave, health-care and so on.

There was a similar case here in Brussels where the previous Philippines Ambassador for Belgium was caught abusing his domestic helpers but was sued by them then deported and had his career flushed down the toilet. I hope the Indonesian Ambassador will suffer the same fate.

I know that arrogance of people in power is one of the negative traits of the human race. It seems for some, the higher the position, the more money and/or power he has, the more arrogant he becomes. Some delusional individuals even think they are invincible and immune from law.

One perfect example is some Indonesian diplomats here who think that they can do just about anything because they have 'diplomatic immunity'. One even said he doesn't care about the new non-smoking regulations in restaurants in Belgium and that the local government can't do anything to him because of again, his diplomatic immunity as if having that privilege is a prerequisite to the retirement of his brain use and rationale.

However twisted, these stories have a silver lining, at least for me. It reminds me not to do what these people did, and to be a more compassionate human being to others, no matter how rich, how powerful or how high of a position I might one day possess.

How about you?

A rant about Greenstump's ranter

Apparently Greenstump has gained a fan. From the writings of this particular fan, I presume she's a girl, and this has made me unhappy because Greenstump was not supposed to have any other female fans but me as I have proclaimed my undying love for the stump and will not look at any other stumps.

If you are curious of this rant that has inspired me to write today when so many other much more important things happening in the world has failed to do so, please read this. For those of you who are too bloody lazy to click a link to a perfectly good blog, you can read the rant here too.

Getting really pissed over people who can’t seem to appreciate where they came from. And usually, yes people, usually these sort of comments come from those who had lived not really far from Indonesia, not long enough to feel how they suffer without the sun showering their days the way it is in Indonesia.

Brag. First, they’ll brag about how organized it is in other countries. People queue, people line of for tube tickets, people line up for vending machines. Then they’ll continue bragging on how blue the sky is on the other side of the world, compare to the polluted Indonesia (mind how they mix Indonesia with Jakarta!!). Not enough? Then, they’ll brag about how good the manners of people abroad compare to the smileful Indonesians. Hmmph. I hope you do spot some anomaly in my last sentence.
Unless you have traveled to all thirteen thousands something islands in Indonesia, do not say that our country is worse than a piece of small island formed off a country in Europe.

Unless you have seen and touched paddy fields in your life, do not say that the air in Indonesia is polluted and people are building malls everywhere.
Unless you have slept on some part of sandy beaches in Western part of Indonesia, do not say that our beaches are abandoned.

You can’t say that Jakarta represents Indonesia in general. Surely if you only see Jakarta (and all other big cities) you might want to have that impression. But have you thought of going to another side of the Indonesia’s world? Try going down under the water, snorkel, dive, then you’d forget about all of the malls in Indonesia, for that matters. Try climbing the mountains or even a small hill, then you’ll forget about how bad the traffic is everywhere in Jakarta.

I just simply don’t understand why people with so little knowledge decided to generalize everything about something they don’t even know.
It is like one blind person trying to explain how an elephant looks like while holding only its ear.
Sad. Well, pathetic to be exact.

Now I must be fair, the rant is actually not so bad although it took me three reads to get the gist, funny enough, while the ranter is pissed off at those whom she accuses of having generalized Indonesia by only knowing Jakarta and big cities alike, she has inadvertently (or maybe not) generalized the people she is pissed off at.

Now I can't help feeling like I'm being personally attacked as I am the friendly critic you have all come to love. Plus I do live in *gasps* what I think she meant to say as a country formed from a small piece of the Island of Europe? or is it a country piece of small island formed off Europe? or maybe she meant a country in Europe from a small piece of island? Ouch..my head hurts from trying to understand The Ranter's Shakespearean English..

Anyway, she made good points about how beautiful our country is. Agreed. But then she goes on by saying that we brag about all the good stuff happening in our host country. Brag? Moi??

Well, if stating the facts is perceived as bragging or showing off, then by all means, I am a bragger. I hope that all the good things I see here will one day become traits of Indonesians as well. Constructive criticism, if you will.

Rice fields are irrelevant to the fact of how Indonesians love malls. Plus, malls aren't built only in Jakarta, it is an overwhelming phenomenon that has spread to smaller cities as well (oh by the way, I have been to many Indonesian cities and towns, and in my experience, there are always malls. It might be called 'Plaza' or 'Department Store' but in theory, they are malls.)

However, Miss Ranter is right, Jakarta does not represent the whole of Indonesia, but it is the most well known city in Indonesia besides Bali, and should not be the mess that it is right now, cos like it or not, it is one of the things that represents Indonesia in the eyes of foreigners, at least.

Perhaps Miss Ranter has spent too much time snorkeling and diving that she is a bit disoriented. Maybe the lack of oxygen has caused the mood swings that has made her so pissed off at other people, I really don't know. But my criticism towards Indonesia has always been towards the people. I see a lot of others criticizing Indonesia as well, but it's always the mentality of the people, the fanaticism, the ignorance, the corruption, the laziness, the carelessness of preserving the environment, and so on and so forth.

So, it's not the country that sucks. The country is beautiful. It's some of the people that ruins it for the rest of us that sucks. BIG TIME.

Oh and Miss Ranter, Indonesia consists of approximately 17,508 islands and not thirteen thousand. I guess you haven't been to the 4,508 islands where the air is polluted, the beaches are exploited and malls are sprouting like truffles in the forests.

Stolen Car Update

I had a meeting this afternoon that ended at 4.30 pm. I asked mr. Boss if I could go straight home cos there was no point in my going back to the office only to go back home the minute I arrived at the office. He said it was ok.

Called hubby to ask how Lulu was (ok, I forgot to tell you guys that I have secretly named the car Lulu since a couple of months ago). He told me he was in the garage with her and he wanted me to come to meet him there.

When I arrived in the garage, I was a bit sad because the thieves have stripped her a bit. The cover of the bottom of the steering wheel was gone, I thought she looked a bit naked, vulnerable and ashamed. Pascal (our mechanic) said that the thieves tore that part by force to get to the wires so they could get engine running (like what you usually see in the movies, how thieves manage to get the engine of a car running by some wires underneath the steering wheel) and it seemed that at one point, Lulu was upset and died on the thieves.

Mr. Husband said, the police told him that's what happened too. Apparently Lulu died on the thieves 20-30 metres away FROM THE POLICE STATION. Well, if that isn't a smart car, I don't know what is.

So the thieves mgiht have been angry, and tried to turn Lulu's engine on again by disconnecting some fuse, wires and so on, but she still wouldn't start. That is when the police patrol car passed them. The police officers stopped and asked the thieves what they were doing, they coulnd't answer and that is when the police got out of their patrol car and discovered that the car was obviously stolen - no keys and stripped naked to expose wires all criss-crossed.

The thieves kinda abused her too, I saw some new 'scars' on her body and on the rims of her tires. The thieves were obviously drunk and drove like madmen, bumping her into sidewalks and shit. I think that is when Lulu had enough and decided to punish the thieves by dying near a police station.

For those who wants to see what Lulu looks like (all battered and abused but still elegant and pretty) here she is below:

When I went inside Pascal's office to pay (yes, me finance manager, mr. husband money maker) for the small work he did with the burnt wires, from the corner of my eyes I saw mr. husband petting Lulu's hood, and I could've sworn I heard him say, "That's my good girl." I laughed a bit because when I decided to name the car, he said I was insane.

So now we wait for the trial of the bloody thieves, the police said they will be ordered to pay us damages, which the garage has estimated at EUR 2,071. Remember, I got the car for free, and the market price for that kind of car is around EUR 1,000. If we are paid the estimated damage price (plus my missing CD player) then we would have profited well over EUR 2,000. Which means Therry is right, Lulu is a good luck charm! I think I just might keep her for life.

Only In My Life: Our Car Was Stolen Last Night!

I swear, my life is so colorful I sometimes rather watch episodes of my life than reruns of tv series.

So, our car was stolen last night. We arrived home at around 7pm, parked, locked the car and went in our apartment. We woke up this morning, got ready for work and went downstairs to drive to our workplace. Mr. husband was a bit confused not to find our car where we left it. I thought, we might have parked somewhere else, we are forgetful like that sometimes.

But then, I saw a note on our mailbox from the police, saying that we had to contact one Inspector Rotsaert because our car was stolen the night before. Mind you, this is not a nice or new car. Our nice car was wrecked in an accident last year, we had to throw it away because it was considered as total loss. Mr. husband was quite seriously injured, while I had less serious injuries. This happened last year, in June. Damn, I'm beginning to think June is not such a lucky month for us.

Anyway, after we threw away our nice car - or what mr. husband fondly calls his second wife - my boss, who just bought a brand new BMW, told us we can use his old car. When I say old, I mean really old. It's a '93 Ford Fiesta, which is old but in pretty good condition.

I offered to pay him monthly rent for his car until we buy a replacement for mr. husband's second wife, but then he said, "Ah, what the heck. Just take the car. It's yours. I can't be bothered with it anymore." I was so surprised and happy too! I mean, it's not everyday that a person gives you a car, and it was still worth around 1200 to 1500 Euros in the market!

So, just imagine, a '93 grey metallic Ford Fiesta, two doors, power windows, power lock, automatic transmission but NO POWER STEERING. But hey, I'm not complaining. It's free!

What I don't get is, with all the other nice cars parked on the street, why our car?? The police said, "well, yours is easy to steal, and our guess is the thieves are young people with nothing better to do or wanted to joyride or too lazy too walk."

I was a little bit disappointed by their theories. I'd prefer the thieves saw something in the car, a uniqueness, a certain character so attractive it is obvious the owner is truly awesome, and so, they wanted that awesomeness to rub off on them too. I certainly don't blame them if that is the case.

So this morning, we went to the police station, they took our statements and informed us that the thieves were caught. Damages (they broke the steering wheel) were to be paid by the thieves, the police will make sure they do.

We weren't so sad about this turn of event, actually we find it's rather funny. Mr. husband and I were laughing our heads off in the taxi on our way to work after we left the police station.

This was one of those things that happened only in my life (Mr. husband confessed to having a normal boring life before he met me), It's kinda like a dash of cumin in my mince pie, which makes it less boring and more exciting!

Bright lipstick will get you raped & No Sharia in Indonesia (Thank Buddha)

The Jakarta Post reports today that uneasy support is seen for Sharia in Indonesia. This is rather interesting, because I'd have thought that most Muslims in Indonesia would support it . Apparently I was wrong and there are still many, many Muslims in my beloved country who are somewhat moderate (and by moderate I mean still have their heads screwed on right).

The majority of Muslims in Indonesia support the introduction of sharia in the country, but are wary about its implementation, a survey has revealed.

A nine-month survey by Roy Morgan Research, involving 8,000 respondent from across the country, found that 52 percent of Indonesians say sharia law should be introduced in their area.

Debnath Guharoy of Roy Morgan, however, warned the public about the way the survey's questions were presented to respondents.

"Ask a practicing Muslim if he supports the introduction of sharia law and he is likely to say yes also. Considering that reality, it is surprising that only 56 percent responded positively," Guharoy said in a statement.

In sequence, respondents were asked if "sharia law should be introduced in my area", if "it should be compulsory for women in Indonesia to wear the jilbab (veil)" and should "thieves have their hands cut off".

The first question evokes an answer influenced by faith, and 52 percent of residents said sharia should be introduced.

Only 45 percent said women should be compelled to wear the jilbab, while 40 percent said thieves should have their hands cut off.

Well, if 8000 respondents can be considered as the voice of 200 million Muslims, thank Mother Earth only 45% wants to force women to wear jilbab. Clothing is a personal decision, and I think only women who want to wear jilbab should.

As for cutting things off, while we're at it, I suggest penis cutting for rapists, beheading for corruptors, eyeball nerve cutting for porn dwellers and maybe vein cutting for drug users and dealers? Because it's really not fair if chicken thieves get their hands cut off while other much major criminals who cause serious pain and damage to other people are not receiving the same 'courtesy'.

The Poll also said,

The Indonesia survey did not give participants a definition of sharia, but follow-up questions sought their opinions about practices in conservative Islamic countries in the Middle East.

When asked if women should have to wear a jilbab - a gown covering the entire body save hands and feet - 45 percent of the Indonesians answered "yes," while 40 percent said they want thieves to have a hand removed as punishment. Just under a quarter said women should stay at home.

Now, I would like to thank Mother Earth and the Sun God Ra, for making not even a quarter say women should stay at home. Can you imagine staying at home all the time and not being able to go to malls, have coffee with friends, show off your new cleavage while drinking wine and smoking cigarettes? That would be a NIGHTMARE! *sniggers*

I was afraid that most Indonesians would agree to Sharia for all Indonesia. That would seriously screw with our right to wear bright lipstick and 4 inch Manolos outside our homes, and um, our Constitution. I would really hate to see this happen in Indonesia,

Authorities in a northern Malaysian city have forbidden Muslim women from wearing bright lipstick and noisy high-heeled shoes to work, saying the ban will enhance their dignity and prevent them from getting raped, a news report said.

If they insist on wearing such shoes, the heels should be padded with rubber, it said.

The city already has a directive that women should wear non-transparent head scarves that cover the chest, long-sleeved, loose blouses - and socks. Those who break the rules can be fined up to 500 ringgit (US$150), Bernama said.

Apparently wearing bright lipstick and clickety high heels will get your raped and lessens one woman's dignity. In that case, I have no dignity left, as my lipsticks are in in harlot burgundy, pinkwhore, minx red, hussy orange, slutty peach, tart-delight, wanton brown and nude jezebel.

Oddly, rubber padded heels sounds intriguing, especially if the balls of my feet can be padded as well which would really decrease the immense bitch of a pain I get from wearing my rape inducing heels more than a couple of hours.

But no socks with my sexy heels, please! A girl has got to draw a line somewhere. And if Sharia is enforced in Indonesia, forcing women to wear socks with their 4 inch rubber padded heel jimmy choos, I WILL NOT stay still and do nothing. I'm sure my heel and slutty lipstick loving sisters will agree with me on this.

ps: Men, please take off your socks in bed. The sight of a naked adult male except for the socks is not sexy at all. Really.

Jesus Camp. The Next Generation of Western Terrorists?

As Xanthippa suggested, I went to Youtube and searched for the Jesus Camp Documentary. The documentary takes a look behind a fundamentalist Christian sect that recruits little children and make them 'Warriors of Christ'. The little kids are indoctrinated, fanaticized and brainwashed.They are threatened with words like 'death is the punishment for sinners' and even forbidden to read books like Harry Potter because warlocks are the enemy of Christ (I don't know about you, I think my enemy is not Harry, it is definitely Voldemort).

It was really awful. They may call it Jesus Camp, I call it child abuse camp.

After that scary documentary, I came across this clip of Bill Maher's discussion with a Christian fundamentalist, an actor and a Muslim. Very interesting discussion, and guess who looks insane in this discussion? Watch for yourself.

Yang mana yang benar?

Blogwalking pagi ini, saya menemukan lumayan banyak postingan rekan-rekan blogger yang menarik dan menjadi inspirasi untuk saya. Seringnya saya posting dalam bahasa Inggris, tapi berhubung postingan menarik yang saya temukan kali ini adalah dari blog mas Guh yang berbahasa Indonesia, maka entry kali ini juga akan saya tulis dalam bahasa Indonesia. Lumayan, memperbanyak postingan saya dalam bahasa ibu, juga mengasah kemampuan saya menulis dalam bahasa Indonesia (semoga pak Frans, dosen Bahasa Indonesia saya di UI yang dulu pernah DUA KALI tidak meluluskan saya akan membaca blog saya. Pak Frans, ok kan sekarang bahasa Indonesia saya?)

Mas Guh mempertanyakan 'Apakah Benar Tidak Ada Paksaan dalam Agama?' Beliau bersabda:

Jika itu adalah perintah, maka itu adalah perintah yang mencurigakan. Terlalu banyak pemuka dan penguasa agama sepanjang sejarah yang tidak mengindahkan, kebanyakan mereka yang waras juga melakukan pembiaran setiap kali pemaksaan terjadi.

Jika itu adalah pernyataan, itu adalah pernyataan yang terlalu tidak sesuai dengan kenyataan. Bohong besar yang sebesar-besarnya.

Jika itu adalah pengakuan, maka itu adalah kemunafikan paling menjijikkan sepanjang sejarah manusia.

Untunglah tak ada ajaran agama yang mengajarkan kemunafikan dan membuat kebohongan seperti itu. Kebohongan yang hanya membuktikan bahwa dirinya tidak pernah relevan dengan kehidupan manusia, perlu direvisi atau menjadi kerak tong sampah.

Eh… bener kan ga ada?
*ragu-ragu*

Mas, kalau masih ragu ragu gitu berarti kesaktian sampeyan sama saja dengan saya. Padahal kata kata mas Guh sudah saya jadikan sebagai 'sabda' loh.. kecewa nih penonton jadinya..:p

Saya sendiri bingung dengan yang satu ini, katanya tidak ada paksaan kok prakteknya dimana mana malah memaksa. Jangankan memaksa kaum yang lain, yang masih sealiran tapi beda tipis saja juga dipaksa. Dan ini terjadi dimana-mana (tempat yang penduduknya beragama), baik di negara yang penduduknya berwarna coklat, maupun kuning, hitam dan putih. Untuk planet-planet dengan penduduk berwarna biru, hijau dan ungu, saya kurang tahu karena kurang karya tulis maupun berita untuk dapat memastikan hal ini.

Berhubung saya masih memikirkan fenomena yang munafik aneh tapi lucu ini, saya cek komen-komen di postingan saya seputar agama dan tuhan. Ternyata ada seorang anonym yang memberi komen baru di postingan saya yang berjudul Siapa Tuhanku. Anonym bertanya:

bagaimana dengan demokrasi, kapitalisme, komunisme? yang menciptakan perang dimana-mana. bisa dibikin ulasan? kalau semua ide manusia akhirnya juga menuju pada menyakiti orang lain, terus kita mau men-share value apa dalam kehidupan ini? ide untuk tidak menyakiti orang lain apa mungkin di realisasikan? contoh kasus dalam hal cinta. a cinta b. b juga cinta a. datanglah c yang cinta b. kalau b menolak cinta c, sakitlah b. kalau b menerima cinta c, sakitlah a. kalau didunia ini cuman ada a,b,c ya bisalah mereka saling mencintai. ndak ada pilihan lain. masalahnya ada 6 milyar lebih nih. gimana dong?

Buat mas/mbak anonym, saya akan membalas pertanyaan anda di bawah ini.

Buat saya, dan banyak orang lainnya, agama adalah sama seperti demokrasi, kapitalisme, komunisme dan isme-isme lainnya, SEMUANYA adalah ciptaan manusia. Banyak sekali ciptaan manusia, dan banyak pula yang ternyata lebih banyak buruknya dibanding manfaatnya.

Ide tidak menyakiti orang lain tentunya realistis untuk direalisasikan. Misalnya, filosofi buddhism dan humanist-atheist (seperti di eropa saat ini) yang menurut saya (ini menurut saya loh.. bebas aja kan saya berpendapat seperti ini?) lebih baik untuk dijalankan.

Sebetulnya saya tidak mempermasalahkan mereka yang memeluk agama, sepanjang agama dan keyakinan itu kembali menjadi suatu yang personal antara seorang manusia dan sang penciptanya, dan jauh dari suatu grup terorganisir (yang jaman sekarang ini sudah mirip mafia).

Hemat saya, yang saat ini harus dilakukan adalah 'separation of church (atau mosque atau temple) and government' atau agama dan pemerintahan. Apabila itu dijalankan, maka adalah sangat mungkin bahwa saat itulah dunia bisa akhirnya menjadi damai.

Mengasihi sesama, penyetaraan hak semua orang dan penghijauan bumi/pemeliharaan lingkungan adalah hal yang jauh lebih penting dan berarti daripada 'memerangi' musuh Tuhan. Lagipula, seperti yang sudah sering saya katakan, Tuhan itu kan Maha Kuasa, tentunya tidak memerlukan orang untuk memerangi 'musuhnya' - apalagi ketika 'musuhnya' itu adalah manusia juga.

Apabila kita memerangi 'musuh' Tuhan - yang merupakan manusia = ciptaan Tuhan juga - itu sama saja dengan merendahkan kuasa Tuhan dan menempatkan musuh Tuhan, para manusia tersebut, di suatu tempat yang sejajar dengan Tuhan, karena mereka ternyata dapat 'menyakiti' Tuhan. Menurut saya, itu suatu hal yang sangat bodoh, yang berarti adalah alasan atau rasionalisasi suatu ajaran dan para manusianya yang tidak kalah bodoh (Ayo, pikir baik-baik .. heheheheh)

Walaupun di dunia ada lebih dari 6 milyar orang, saling mencintai dan mengasihi itu suatu hal yang sangat feasible atau sangat memungkinkan untuk terjadi. Binatang saja bisa diajar masa manusia yang katanya pintar tidak bisa?

Saya pernah diajari oleh tante saya yang saat ini tinggal di Tokyo. Tante saya - yang sebetulnya adalah seorang universalist tetapi memakai jubah satu agama karena itu merupakan suatu requirement dalam masyarakat kita - ini salah seorang yang paling bijaksana yang pernah saya kenal, dan juga manusia yang sangat baik.

Suatu hari saya bertanya kepadanya, "Tan, gimana sih caranya jadi orang yang baik?"

Lalu jawabnya, "Kamu berpura-puralah baik, berpura-puralah tulus dalam berbuat baik, namun kamu coba untuk menjalankan ini setiap hari,"

Saya lantas bertanya kembali, "Loh tan, aku tidak tanya gimana cara pura-pura jadi orang baik, tapi cara supaya bisa jadi orang baik beneran kaya tante!"

Dia dengan arifnya berkata, "Sayangku, kalau kamu pura-pura jadi orang baik, dan pura-pura jadi orang yang tulus berbuat baik kepada sesama setiap hari, lambat laun otak dan jiwa kamu akan percaya bahwa kamu orang baik dan akan menjadi benar-benar tulus dalam menjalankan yang baik."

Suatu logika yang aneh, menarik dan terbukti benar sekali. Otak kita itu bagaikan suatu mesin yang dapat menjalani suatu rutinitas apabila kita secara rutin menginput hal tersebut. Bagi yang beragama dan percaya Tuhan, apabila sudah di-input dan dijalankan masih tidak bisa juga, itu bisa jadi antara: Tuhannya kurang canggih, manusianya sudah terlalu bebal, atau mungkin itu adalah bukti tidak adanya Tuhan.

Berhubung saya masih percaya adanya Tuhan atau Higher Power, maka saya sangat percaya bahwa mencintai dan mengasihi sesama itu sangat mungkin terjadi, untuk 600, 6 juta, 6 milyar atau 60 milyar manusia sekalipun, apabila dibiasakan dan dibudidayakan.

Pertanyaan akhir saya adalah, yang mana yang benar? Pernyataan 'Tidak ada paksaan dalam agama' atau 'Saling mencintai dan mengasihi sesama itu hal yang sangat mungkin terjadi' ?

What's in my head and heart

I read an entry in Polar Bear's Diary today and cant help wondering if he was talking about me as all three of the points there are, yes, posts in my blog. If he was talking about me, well, as I have been inspirationally challenged lately, I thought that my reply to his blog entry would be a new post in my blog.

If he wasn't talking about me, I think this entry would be a good one nonetheless, another contemplation on my part and explanation for my readers so they could hopefully understand me better. So this is what's in my head and heart.

A. I really dont like Bakrie and his company's attitude, but I will try my best not to act holier than thou and claim I am the most correct person on earth, although in my previous posts, I have stated how awesome I am, and that I am God.

I am merely thinking out loud what many people are thinking quietly; Bakrie, being in a position where he has enough money to make a difference, should at least compensate those who are now less fortunate because of him.

B. I know that there are those who cannot accept homosexuality, and I know their reasons why, it varies, but I know most of them. I try to understand that there are people who cannot and will not understand, let alone accept, homosexuals, but I do wish they will one day be able to at least try to understand what homosexuality is instead of being afraid of it for no apparent reason.

But for me, as long as they dont commit hate crimes against homosexuals, that's enough. Not accepting and not liking homosexuals, heterosexuals or polar bears is every human's basic rights, but it is also everyone's basic rights to live their lives without being hurt or injured because of who they are. So for things that happen to them like those in Egypt and Iran etc, I still find unacceptable and I will not stop saying that those kinds of treatments are WRONG, and unacceptable for humans (or even animals)

C. As for disliking USA, well, this one is definitely not aimed at me as I dont dislike it. I REALLY LIKE IT, not crazy loving it yet, as I am in crazy love with Belgium and Western Europe at the moment.

But I agree (to an extent) with Polar Bear when he says:

We cannot have our cake and eat it. If we are liberal and tolerant, than it is to all and sundry. Just as you cannot be a little bit pregnant, you cannot be a little bit liberal.
In short, if you accept the ideas and beliefs of one group, you must accept the ideas and beliefs of all other groups. To not do so is hypercritical.

Why 'to an extent'? Well, I still cannot agree and accept - and I don't think I will ever do, those who hurt others cheerfully in the name of religions, those who commit human rights violations, those who commit evil acts as a result of ignorance and other things I think are evil and inhuman (the list grows as I read news from around the world every day).

Homosexual, Schlomosexual. Who are we to judge?

The issue of gay marriage/civil unions and equal rights is particularly volatile. European nations have led the way on this issue. In 1989, Denmark became the first nation to grant legal rights to gay couples, calling such unions “domestic partnerships” that grant many of the same legal rights as marriage. The Netherlands went even further in 1999, allowing full-fledged same-sex marriages. This is all good news to me.

I have no problem with gay people and their relationships and it is a well known fact (to those who know me in person) that I encourage them to have equal rights with everyone else. Reading this (beautiful) comment of Shloka from this IM thread,

about rights of gays, lesbians and women, surely I don’t need to enumerate the numerous atrocities committed against them by religion? Women are forced to wear the full veil in Saudi and other theocracies, are stoned to death for adultery or unwed pregnancy, and homosexuals are routinely killed as well. Again, if white supremacy is not acceptable, male supremacy or heterosexual supremacy isn’t either.

I agree 100 million percent with it.

We know how gay men in Iran are treated, right? They will be executed except if they commit to a sex-change operation. But just last month, in Egypt, HIV infected men are imprisoned because the Egyptian authorities had deemed them “a danger to public health,” thus should not be allowed to “roam the streets freely.”

(Cairo, May 29, 2008) – A Cairo appeals court’s decision to uphold the sentences imposed on five men jailed in a crackdown on people living with HIV/AIDS underscores the Egyptian government’s dangerous indifference to public health and justice, Human Rights Watch said today. The May 28 ruling upheld the maximum three-year prison terms for each of the five, following a months-long campaign targeting men with HIV/AIDS. A total of nine men have been sentenced to prison so far.

Since October 2007, Cairo police have arrested a dozen men on suspicion of being HIV-positive. The crackdown began when one man, stopped on the street during an altercation, told officers he was HIV-positive. Police arrested him and the man with him, beat and abused them, and interrogated them to name sexual contacts. Police then began picking up others based on information from those interrogations.

On January 14, 2008, a Cairo court sentenced four of those men to one-year prison terms on “debauchery” charges. An appeals court upheld those sentences on February 2. The present five defendants were referred for trial separately in March. Authorities released three other men, who tested negative for HIV, without charge, after months in detention.

While the 12 were in detention, doctors from the Ministry of Health forcibly subjected all of them to HIV tests without their consent. Doctors from Egypt’s Forensic Medical Authority performed abusive anal examinations on the men to “prove” they had had sex with other men. Human Rights Watch has documented that such examinations conducted in detention constitute torture. Police and guards beat several of the men in detention. A prosecutor told one of the men that he had tested positive for HIV by saying, “People like you should be burnt alive. You do not deserve to live.”

The prisoners who tested HIV-positive were chained to their beds in hospitals for months. After a local and international outcry, the Ministry of Health ordered the men unchained on February 25.

I swear, news like the above and this make me wonder if those people are stuck in the year 500, while the rest of us are living in 2008. I don't get how some breeds of people seem to suffer from what Jennie S. Bev had beautifully described as conscientiasclerosis, or crises of conscience. Or maybe in some groups of people in certain culture and country, conscience simply does not exist, the people were born without it, an unexplainable birth defect, if you will.

People should not be judged from their race, religion, gender, sexual preference or ethnic background. All people should have equal rights to work, marry, adopt children, live, voice out opinions and love regardless of anything.

As my good blogging friend Rob Baiton had proudly stated in his blog a couple of days ago, I am also very proud to be PRO same-sex marriage. Many of those I hold dear to my heart are gay, and all of them are people with the best characters I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

If this guy (please click the picture and read the article, I promise you will not regret it!)


is accepted in his society without questions and has even had his 15 minutes of fame, the rest of us in the world should and MUST extend the same courtesy to homosexuals.


Useful Links: - Gay Rights - Gay Marriage, Arguments and Motives - Countries legalizing and Banning Gay Marriage

Two wrongs won't make it right. Or will it?

Taken from the Pakistani news site 'Daily Times'

Thackeray calls for Hindu suicide bombers to target Muslims

MUMBAI: A radical right-wing Indian politician, Bal Thackeray, called on Hindus to form suicide bomber squads and attack Muslim neighbourhoods to combat Islamic terrorism - a threat promptly condemned by political friends and foes alike.

Thackeray, a Hindu extremist linked to past waves of mob violence in the western state of Maharashtra, has long advocated attacks against Muslims. “Islamic terrorism is on the rise. To combat this, Hindu terrorism must be created of similar strength,” Thackeray wrote in an editorial published Wednesday in Saamna, the newspaper of his Shiv Sena party. The editorial was unsigned, but his party said Thackerary wrote it.

“Hindu suicide squads must be built,” he wrote. “Only then will Hindus survive.”

The Shiv Sena - which means Shiva’s Army - is among the most extreme of India’s Hindu political parties and held power in Mumbai from 1995 to 2000. Traditionally, the party’s main aim has been to keep people who are not from Maharashtra out of the state and to stem the spread of Islam.

Thackeray said he was “happy” that Hindus were behind a recent theatre attack, but displeased that innocent Hindus were injured - and that the bomb itself was so weak. “Instead of planting faulty bombs, they should have planted a stronger bomb in these mini-Pakistans,” he said.

Thackeray’s editorial came ahead of Shiv Sena’s 42nd anniversary on Thursday. It was promptly condemned by politicians from across the political spectrum, including India’s leading Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has long-standing ties with Shiv Sena. ap

I came across this piece of news today and after reading it I laughed out loud. I thought that people are going to react in many different ways, but I will jot down three ways of the many most people will view Bal Thackeray as, after reading the news.

1. A mad genius who's figured out a way to combat Islamic terrorism (or other forms of terrorism as this method is applicable to all kinds).
2. A raving lunatic extremist who has got a point there, somewhere.
3. A bigoted extremist who are no better than those he claims as enemies.

So, which one do you agree with? If it's not one of the three above, please share your views on this piece and give me your take on this hilarious man.

I am a Unitarian Universalist. And here I thought I was an Agnostic...

Thanks to my blogging friend Jakartass, I took the Belief-O-Matic™ quiz which revealed to me that I am in fact a 100% Unitarian Universalist. Behold the screenshot of my result:



When I clicked the link explaining what Unitarian Universalists believe, this is what came up:

Belief in Deity
Very diverse beliefs--Unitarian/Universalists welcome all deity beliefs as well as nontheistic beliefs. Some congregations are formed for those who share a common belief, e.g. Christianity.

Incarnations
Very diverse beliefs, including belief in no incarnations, or that all are the embodiment of God. Some believe Christ is God's Son, or not Son but "Wayshower."

Origin of Universe and Life
Diverse beliefs, but most believe in the Bible as symbolic and that natural processes account for origins.

After Death
Diverse beliefs, but most believe that heaven and hell are not places but are symbolic. Some believe heaven and hell are states of consciousness either in life or continuing after death; some believe in reincarnation; some believe that afterlife is nonexistent or not known or not important, as actions in life are all that matter.

Why Evil?
Most do not believe that humanity inherited original sin from Adam and Eve or that Satan actually exists. Most believe that God is good and made people inherently good but also with free will and an imperfect nature that leads some to immoral behavior. Diverse beliefs. Some believe wrong is committed when people distance themselves from God. Some believe in "karma,” that what goes around comes around. Some believe wrongdoing is a matter of human nature, psychology, sociology, etc.

Salvation
Some believe in salvation through faith in God and Jesus Christ, along with doing good works and doing no harm to others. Many believe all will be saved, as God is good and forgiving. Some believe in reincarnation and the necessity to eliminate personal greed or to learn all of life’s lessons before achieving enlightenment or salvation. For some, the concepts of salvation or enlightenment are irrelevant or disbelieved.

Undeserving Suffering
Diverse beliefs. Most Unitarians do not believe that Satan causes suffering. Some believe suffering is part of God’s plan, will, or design, even if we don’t immediately understand it. Some don’t believe in any spiritual reasons for suffering, and most take a humanistic approach to helping those in need.

Contemporary Issues
The Unitarian Universalist Association’s stance is to protect the personal right to choose abortion. Other contemporary views include working for equality for homosexuals, gender equality, a secular approach to divorce and remarriage, working to end poverty, promoting peace and nonviolence, and environmental protection.

I see that I agree with most, and I am in strong accordance with the last point. When I looked at what Liberal Quakers believe in, I felt some of the points were those I believed in too. So the quiz is more or less accurate, but I wouldn't go around calling myself a Unitarian Universalist cum Liberal Quakers just yet, there is so much to myself than what values I believe in or where I come from.

Not content with just that, I took the 'What's your spiritual type?' quiz. I guess, I am feeling very spiritual today. My results from this test is:

Active Spiritual Seeker: Spiritual but turned off by organized religion.

RIGHT ON THE MONEY! (though to be fair, I'm turned off by many other things as well.. )

I love animals. Grilled, fried or barbecued - you name it!

No, seriously. I love animals. I especially love cats and dogs, although I have a particular fondness for (non-poisonous) snakes as well. And tarantulas.

I know if I was a celebrity, PETA would grill me over writing the title above. Although I support them for their strong stand against animal cruelty, skinning animals alive for their fur and cattle/poultry torture, I do not agree with a PETA blog entry I read today.

PETA is attacking Jessica Simpson for wearing a T-shirt that says 'Real Girls Eat Meat'. Come on, you and I both know she doesn't really eat meat, otherwise she wouldn't have the continuous bad luck being dumped by men, but for God's sake, it's just a stupid T-Shirt and I think sometimes PETA are reading too much into things.

This is part of the blog entry I was talking about, and you can click here to read the rest.

Just for funsies, here are the top five reasons that only stupid girls brag about eating meat:

1. Meat increases the risk of breast cancer. A 2007 study of 35,000 women published in the British Journal of Cancer found that women who ate meat were far more likely to develop breast cancer than women who consumed none. Will Jessica's next t-shirt will say, "Real Girls Smoke 3 Packs a Day"?

2. Real girls don't support animal abuse. Compassion is super sexy, if the huge number of hot celebs ditching meat is any indication. Young women turn vegetarian in droves when they learn that the meat industry cuts the sensitive beaks off newborn chicks and cuts off the tails of baby piglets.

3. The meat industry is destroying the Earth. The only thing that's hot about the meat industry is that it's toasting the planet. According to the United Nations, raising animals for food causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, planes, and ships in the world combined.

4. Meat will make you fat. All the saturated fat and cholesterol in chicken wings, pork chops, and steak eventually leads to flabby thighs and love handles. I hope the upcoming "Jessica Simpson's Intimates" line comes in plus sizes! Going vegetarian is the best way to get slim and stay that way.

5. Eating meat steals food from starving kids. Jessica's trip to help kids in Africa got a lot of media buzz, but by gnawing on meat, she's essentially stealing food from the mouths of starving children since it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat. If more people went vegetarian, we'd free up enough grain to feed every person in the world.

Ok, I can't say much about numbers 1 and 3 as I am not a qualified expert on the matter (although, when have not being an expert in something ever stopped me from saying anything?) but for number 2, hmm.. compassion is sexy, but one must be compassionate towards other human beings first, methinks. No 4, well.. I don't think eating meat makes you fat. I know several vegetarians who are NOT SLIM at all. So this is baseless.

Number 5. I would HATE to have to eat grains for the rest of my life. So eating grains for breakfast, lunch and dinner is really out of the question. Plus, if everybody went vegetarian, there will be a hell lot of animals in the world and the next thing we know, animals will pull a coup d'etat and invade humans! I don't want to be a human slave for some fat cow. Yes sirree, fat gigantic cows and over-sized chickens are gonna rule the world if we don't balance them out and eat some of their brothers and sisters! You can count on it!

Come on PETA, it's only Jessica I-know-it's-tuna-but-it-says-chicken-of-the-sea Simpson who's wearing the shirt, not Hillary, not Obama. I doubt people will listen to what she has to say. She is not known for her big brains, she is known for her other big body parts. You needn't worry so much!

As I scrolled down the PETA blog, I saw another post on PETA boycotting KFC for their cruel way to kill chickens. This is an excerpt from the blog entry:

PETA's latest demonstration highlights that while KFC Canada has met PETA's demand for less cruel killing methods, birds killed for KFC in the U.S. are still scalded to death. It costs KFC more money, and it's just plain cruel.

Here are some details from our news release (it's not that I'm lazy—I just thought it was already well explained):

Because the voltage levels of electric stun tanks in U.S. slaughterhouses are kept at only a fraction of the level needed to render chickens insensible to pain, birds are usually paralyzed but still conscious when their throats are cut. Government studies show that birds feel pain after being shocked, even if they can't move. According to the USDA, every year, millions of birds—who are conscious and able to feel pain—enter tanks of hot water that are intended to remove their feathers after the birds are dead.

What KFC Canada does now, is a very good thing. I'm all for it. In this case, I really think we should do this for all animals we kill for food.

Why? Well, let me tell you why. When I was younger, I spent a couple of years studying in a pesantren*. We can go home once a month, for a weekend, but other than that, we have to stay at school. Muslims have a holy day they call Eidl Adha, a day where they commemorate the day Abraham almost sacrificed Ishmael to God**, only to find that God was especially funny that day, duped him and replaced Ishmael with a sheep (btw, for this, PETA should be demonstrating against God, too). Nearing the celebration of this holy day, Muslims all over the world will buy animals to sacrifice to God, they will kill the animals and give the meat to the poor.

Anyway, before the slaughter day, for a week or so, all these animals - cows and goats - are kept in the backyard of our school. As I told you before, I love animals, right? Well, I have let myself grow very close to a couple of cows and goats. I go to the backyard and feed them, play with them, and even name several of them.

Come slaughter day, I cried like a little kid to see my 'beloved new friends' being butchered, no painkillers, no sleep gas, nothing! They were crying out of fear, they knew they were gonna be butchered that day, and they cried out of pain when their throats are slit. So, this memory have stayed with me all these years, and because of this, I think we really should minimize the pain of the animals killed for our stomach's pleasure. I mean, if the gigantic cows and over-sized chickens rule the world, we would want them to give us the same courtesy before they slaughter us, wouldn't we?

* Pesantren is Islamic Boarding School. Students live on school premises, and students learn Islamic studies (Fiqh, Tauhid, Tajweed in Arabic, Arabic language etc) in addition to normal school subjects.
** It is well known to Muslims, Christians and Jews that Abraham was ordered to sacrifice his son and he was willing to do so but God gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead of his cherished progeny. So far, everybody agrees. However, Jews and Christians say that the sacrificed was Isaac -"Abraham's only son", whereas according to the Islamic tradition the sacrificed is Ishmael.

Great Jokes

*I got the link for these jokes from Mike.

An Italian, an Irishman and a Chinese fellow are hired at a construction site.The manager points out a huge pile of sand and says to the Italian, "You're in charge of sweeping". To the Irishman, "You're in charge of shoveling" To the Chinese guy, "And you're in charge of supplies". "Now, I have to leave for a little while. I expect you guys to make a dent in that pile."

So the manager goes away for a couple of hours. And when he returns, the pile of sand is untouched. He says to the Italian, "Why didn't you sweep any of it?

The Italian guy replies, "I didn't have a broom. You said the Chinese guy was in charge of the supplies, but he disappeared and I couldn't find him" So then the manager turns to the Irishman and asks why he didn't shovel.

The Irishman replies, "I couldn't get myself a shovel. You left the Chinese guy in charge of supplies and I couldn't find him." The manager is really pissed now, and storms off toward the pile of Sand looking for the Chinese guy.

Just then, the Chinese guy springs out from behind the pile of sand and yells, "SUPPLIES!"

---

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

----

At a world brewing convention in the States, the CEOs of various Brewing organizations retired to the bar at the end of each day's conference.

Bruce, CEO of Fosters, shouted to the Barman: "In 'Strylya, we make the best bladdy beer in the world, so pour me a Bladdy Fosters, mate."

Bob, CEO of Budweiser, calls out next: "In the States, we brew the finest beers in the world, and I make the King of them all; gimme a Bud."

Hans steps up next: "In Germany ve invented das beer, verdamt. Give me ein Becks, ya ist Der real King of beers, danke."

Paddy, CEO of Guinness, steps forward "Barman, would ya give me a doyet coke wid ice and lemon. Tanks."

The others stare at him in stunned silence, amazement written all over their faces. Eventually Bruce asks, "Are you not going to have a Guinness, Pat?"

Paddy replies: "Well, if you fookin' pansies aren't drinkin', then neither am I".

---

A hillbilly decides to get an education so he and his friend drive to the community college.

Hillbilly walks in : "I wants me some ed-u-cay-shin. What you recommend?"

Man behind counter: "How about a course in Logic?"

Hillbilly: "Logic??! Whats that?!"

Man: "Well, let me show you an example. Lets see.... Sir, do you own a lawn mower?"

Hillbily replies, "Why Yes, sir. I do."

Man: "Then, through logic, I can conclude that you probably own your own home!"

Hillbilly: "By golly, I sure doo!"

Man : "Then, through logic, if you have your own house, you are probably married!"

Hillbilly in amazement, replies, "I certainly am!"

Man says: "And if you're married, you're probably a heterosexual!"

Hillbilly: "I most definitely sure am! Wow, sign me up for that course in logic!"

Hillbilly returns to the car where his friend is waiting: "I signed up for Logic!"

Friend: "What's Logic?"

Hillbilly : "...alright.. do you own a lawn mower?"

Friend: "No..."

Hillbilly looks around perplexed and confused... thinks for a second: "Well, then you're a god damn faggot!"

---

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

I said, "Well, are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

I said, "Me too! Are your Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

I said, Me too! Are your Episcopalian or Baptist?

He said, "Baptist!"

I said, "Wow! Me too! Are your Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?

He said, Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are your Original Baptist Church of God or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915!"

I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.

---

Little Timmy's taking a walk with his dad and they see two dogs going at it. "What are those dogs doing, Dad?"

"Well, Timmy, they're making a puppy."

Timmy is satisfied. Later on that night Timmy hears noises and opens Dad and Mom's bedroom door. "What are you doing to Mom, Dad?"

"Uh, son, we're making you a little brother."

"Well, flip her around, Dad! I'd rather have a puppy."

Why Religion Doesn’t Matter At All

*This opinion piece is published in Indonesia Matters today, 16 June 2008. For those who would like to have a discussion and/or debate, you can visit Indonesia Matters and do so there if you wish. You can also comment here.


Once upon a time, Indonesia was well-known in the world as a nation of peace, tolerance and religious pluralism. Other countries even made us their example, a country full of people with various religious beliefs, from various ethnic and language background, people who live side by side in harmony.

Indonesia was and even more now, a very religious country, where the people live and breathe religion. It doesn’t matter what religion a person is, as long as it’s one of the six official religions. While it is unheard of in developed countries, in Indonesia identity cards bear not only name, address and sex, but also religion. Thus, religion is a must in the country of 240+ million people.

I still remember as a little girl, my Christian neighbors would come to our house in Eidl Fitr to celebrate our Ramadan victory with us, and vice versa, we would come to their houses to celebrate Christmas with them. Back then, we were not suspicious with one another, we were all like one big happy family, with real problems, none of which originated from religion. Those were good times.

I also remember being taught that religious people, specifically Muslims, go to heaven (if they’re good) and others do not. As kids, our schools taught us communism equals atheism and therefore very, very bad. This is deeply embedded in our minds which is why many Indonesians feel somewhat afraid or even disgusted towards communists and atheists.

As a little Muslim girl, at home and in Madrasah, I was taught that Jews were our enemy, never mind the fact that the Koran says otherwise. Christians weren’t mentioned, as it was politically incorrect to address them as our enemies back then. Besides, the President was close with the Christian community as well as the Muslims, making it a point that we were brothers and sisters who must fight the latent danger of communism and atheism.

Back then, I thought religious people like my dad, with his Peci, white shirt and sarong, reading the Holy Koran and doing the daily 5 obligatory prayers, Friday prayers plus the sunnahs like Dhuha and Tahajud; Or neighbors that go to church every Sunday and have bible studies once or twice a week, were perfect. Maybe they were, then. Living without a religion was something unthinkable, and most certainly a life that would doom a person to hell.

Fast forward several decades, things have changed. Not for the better, but for the worse. Now, the country is becoming more religious than ever, but tolerance is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Suspicion of Christian evangelism, for example, is rampant everywhere in the country with ridiculous accusations of lures of instant noodle to make one convert. Not only that, even sects within Islam are now attacked, despite sharing the same God and the same Holy Book.

Many of us are not obeying the law but instead take matters into our own hands. We are bypassing God as the only rightful entity to judge and condone or condemn anyone. Attacks and burning down of churches, places of worship and even mosques of different Islamic faith from Indonesia’s mainstream Islamic brand make many feel threatened to continue living in this tropical paradise. The government is weak and caves in to terrorist demands. A real shame that would make our founding fathers turn in their graves.

However, as we are growing more religious, good morals seems to have declined. There is no more shame in bribery, in prostituting the country by selling its resources to the so-called ‘infidels’ for big money while the country is short of the resources sold;
there is no more shame in adultery, in human rights violations, in cheating the poor; there is no more shame in flaunting riches in front those who don’t have enough money to buy a decent meal, in attacking people for having different beliefs, in condoning immoral and violent acts;
there is no more shame in oppressing ethnic and religious minority, in stealing funds intended to help those struck with earthquake/tsunami;
there is no more shame in not being polite, in offending our brothers and sisters of different beliefs, of displaying behavior and attitude suitable for the middle ages, and;
there is no more shame in abandoning victims of a disaster as a result of one’s greedy attempt to rich themselves, in any immoral acts in the interest of one’s self or group, being a bigot, racist and being discriminative.

We are instead fixated in pornography, women’s dress codes, dangdut singers’ dance and internet as if those are the only things in the world that could and would corrupt the moral of our future generation. We aren’t even ashamed of the fact that we are in the top 10 of most corrupt countries in the world, as if money is our new God, yet we are, without a doubt, one of the most religious nations in the world.

As I see all those above and more so-called religious people fighting with one another. Where one feels more self-righteous than the other and worse, hurting and killing people in the name of God, a God - if It exists at all - who would most likely shed a tear in sadness and frustration at all this, my opinion and feeling towards religions have changed 180 degrees.

I now strongly believe that religions are the culprit of all hurt and heartaches the people of this world has endured in the past, present and future. I believe it’s nothing but poison to the human mind. It limits our thinking, promotes hatred and violence and it tries to control us with threats of hell and lure us into doing evil things with promises of heaven. The day I know what religion God believes in, is the day I will once again believe in a religion. But until then, all the points above are the reasons why I think religion doesn’t matter at all.

Polar Bear Hates Me

I have decided that today is 'love yourself day' and since I am feeling all this love for myself, I don't mind all the flattery that I have been receiving lately. In fact, I encourage it. I encourage everyone to say good things about everyone else.

I feel really good, but maybe it's also because mr. husband arrives today. In any case, I feel good today.

Btw, Polar Bear hates me. He says so in his blog. But I think it's a compliment, I know he loves me, and I love big bears with white silvery fur.

My Attempt At Being Funny

Reading Bilbo's blog Friday, I came across this post in which he shared with us amazingly funny quotes from comedian Steven Wright. I thought they were genius and hilarious.

Today, I attempted to make my own. I don't know if it's funny or not, but here goes:

My brother and I went to Amsterdam. We saw an ‘Anal Cruise’ excursion, got all excited and wanted to try it out. Turns out it was Canal Cruise with the letter C missing.

Befriend a pessimist. Let them worry for you so that you could enjoy your life.

Conscience is what Indonesian government officials leave at home when they go to work.

Smoking cures weight problems of the wallet.

I accidentally hurt my pussy, it got mad and scratched and bit me.

Contrary to popular belief, Brussels sprouts do not sprout anywhere in Brussels

If wireless means 'without wire', painless means 'without pain', does bless mean 'without b'?

I wish God was a woman and made men with boobs, a pussy, have periods, PMS, be pregnant and give birth. And I'd be a woman with a penis and a beergut watching football.

Gravity is a good thing otherwise we’d be (accidentally bumping into and) eating shit everyday instead of the bullshit we now are accustomed to.

I took piano lessons once but I could only afford three lessons. Now I can play John Lennon’s Imagine up to “Imagine all the…” after that, I’d have to imagine how the rest of the song goes.

I went to an all you can eat restaurant, paid and asked them to wrap everything up because I can eat it all, just not in one go.

I was sick and went to my general practitioner. He couldn’t find what was specifically wrong with me.

Mr. Husband called and asked what I was doing. I said, “Nothing dear, I’m just here stroking my pussy.” 10 minutes later he walks in the apartment out of breath only to find me sitting on the sofa stroking my cat.

I went to a steak restaurant with my friends. One friend asked for a rare steak, one a medium rare steak, the other a well done steak. I asked for a medium medium steak, well done. The waitress looked confused.

I opened a bookshop and had a “buy two get one” sign on the windows. When customers came in, bought two books and paid, I gave them only one book. They were all angry but I don’t know why.

My husband has a voice controlled remote control installed. Everytime he says, “Honey, I’m hungry” several minutes later food will appear in front of him. The same thing goes for drinks, massages, laundry, ironing and everything else.

Doctors say one of the symptoms of OCD is repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking). I think I have OCD, because I repeatedly take showers and brush my teeth. Sometimes even three times a day..

Let me close this post with one of my most favorite quotes, one I heard when I was in college. I don't know whose it is but it sure is funny!

Sex is a misdemeanor.
The more I miss it, the meaner I get.

Witchcraft Causes Impotence

* Editor's note: Another piece written by my ignorant-racist-fundamentalist evil twin Mira Fauzi who fills in for me when I don't feel like writing stuff.

A Saudi witch was arrested for making a man turn impotent. Pleas for condemned Saudi 'witch' was apparently ignored because the witch clearly deserved it.

Human Rights Watch has appealed to Saudi Arabia to halt the execution of a woman convicted of witchcraft.

In a letter to King Abdullah, the rights group described the trial and conviction of Fawza Falih as a miscarriage of justice.

The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read.

Among her accusers was a man who alleged she made him impotent.

Human Rights Watch said that Ms Falih had exhausted all her chances of appealing against her death sentence and she could only now be saved if King Abdullah intervened.

'Undefined' crime

The US-based group is asking the Saudi ruler to void Ms Falih's conviction and to bring charges against the religious police who detained her and are alleged to have mistreated her.

Its letter to King Abdullah says the woman was tried for the undefined crime of witchcraft and that her conviction was on the basis of the written statements of witnesses who said that she had bewitched them.

Human Rights Watch says the trial failed to meet the safeguards in the Saudi justice system.

The confession which the defendant was forced to fingerprint was not even read out to her, the group says.

Also Ms Falih and her representatives were not allowed to attend most of the hearings.

When an appeal court decided she should not be executed, the law courts imposed the death sentence again, arguing that it would be in the public interest.

Yes, public interest should ALWAYS be more important than a mere innocent woman/group minding their own business lying witch's life. She is definitely guilty, an impotent man accuser is proof. And you know what they say, proof is in the pudding, when the pudding is all soft and can't be stiff, you know the pudding is cursed by a witch. My boyfriend and I have killed many witches and black cats, usually every time his wiener can't get stiff.

Men don't get impotent. Impotence is a result of witchcraft. It's true. I swear. This is a well known fact proven by various medical studies in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran!

La Lohan Topless and Swaps Clothes

* Editor's note: This piece is written by my celeb gossip lovin' skanky evil twin Mira Fauzi who fills in for me when I don't feel like writing stuff.

Lindsay Lohan gets topless for credit card campaign. Just when I was really convinced she was a cheap slutty lesbian whore, she upped her game and went all classy.

La lohan is the new face of the VISA Swap UK 2008 campaign.

Visa is pleased to announce Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan will front this year’s Visa Swap fashion event. In her first UK fashion campaign, Lindsay will encourage the UK to swap their unwanted clothes at the world’s biggest and most popular fashion swapping event, Visa Swap, in association with clothing charity TRAID.

Recognized for her individual style, Lindsay has fronted campaigns for major international fashion brands including Miu Miu, Versace and Donna Karen making her the perfect successor to Mischa Barton who launched the initiative in 2007. Lindsay’s Visa Swap campaign shoot took place in LA earlier this year and produced a set of five stunning images.

Upon her appointment Lindsay said, “I am so excited to be involved with this year’s Visa Swap event. The concept of swapping clothes, getting something for nothing and refreshing your wardrobe appeals to everyone. Ethical stories continue to dominate the news agenda and it’s great when fashion projects benefit charities. I had such a great time at the Visa Swap campaign shoot, the clothes I wore were all vintage designer pieces which you just don’t see every day!

Well, I guess she does dress better than Mischa Barton, but it doesn't automaticaly make her a better successor. La lohan is a well known fire-crotch (google 'lindsay lohan fire crotch' if you want to know what it is. My uptight goody two shoes twin sister would not have NSFW links in her blog, stupid slut) Heaven knows what kind of STDs she will give people who get her clothes from the swap.

And people will enjoy swapping their stinky worn out clothes with almost new designer items, I know I do. I remember that one clothes swapping event at Bloomingdales where you can come in and swap your clothes with the stuff there. What you do is, you take what you like into the fitting room, put it on and leave your old clothes in the fitting room. It really was a great event!

Damn you Li-Lo, damn you for proving the world you have a bit of class!!! I hate you for getting topless for a campaign!!!

Now I feel so bad for getting nude for 20 bucks last night behind the dumpster. I could have have at least gotten 25. Aaarggghh!

Indonesian Government Needs Viagra

I wrote about how impotent our government is, and although some might not agree with me, now it seems I was right all along. On the 9th of June, the decree against the Ahmadiyya followers in indonesia has been introduced, and Jakarta Post reported that the decree is seen as legalizing violence.

Never mind that violence, what about confirming people's suspicion that the government is favorable only to one particular group? What about solidifying some people's impression of how weak our government is? What about establishing the notion that our government is caving in to terrorist demands? What about our country being a democratic country that guarantees their people's right to believe in their belief? What about being human and having brains and free will?

This decree is, like it or not, a demand from a terrorist-like group. If the government caves in now, what will it do when groups like this, or this group, demand the same thing against other minority groups? They are already demanding abolition of polytheism in Indonesia. Where does that leave the Hindus and their Gods?

Ahmadiyyas believe what they believe, just because they believe there is another prophet after Mohammad does not make them heretics. What if Christians did the same thing to Muslims now for believing in Mohammad as the next prophet because they believe Jesus is the Son of God and no other will come before him? What if the Jews did the same thing to Christians now because they believe there should be no one after Moses?

This whole religion thing in Indonesia has gotten out of hands. It was the Government who let these radical fundamentalists flourish, and now it should be the Government's job to take care of things and bring Indonesia back to the era of peace and tolerance. Today they will ask for a foot in return for halts on further attacks and violence, if we give the foot to them, tomorrow they will ask for something else. Now, it's our freedom at stake, the Government should have a tougher stance against any kinds of terrorism. Now! Otherwise soon they will attempt a coup d'etat and try to abolish anybody who doesn't agree with them.

I'd really hate to see that happen. If it does, I hope it won't happen in my lifetime. I really don't want to see cancer in our society spread like herpes on spring break. I don't think I can survive it, and I suspect many others share my view on this. God/s bless Indonesia, please!

Love letter for Aburizal Bakrie

I know I have written about this at least twice before, and that Jakartass and Rob Baiton did too, but today's news surfing brought me to an article where scientists say drilling almost certainly to blame for Indonesian mud flow (read: bakrie screwed mud flow victims over, saying earthquake caused mud flow, now scientists are saying earthquake was not the cause, I say: Dear Scientists, please tell us something we don't already know).

Polar Bear, before you go all apes on me about dissing Bakrie, please bear in mind I understand your point of 'Why single out Bakrie when it’s a way of life in Indonesia. Lets take a good look at how Jakarta manages its floods every year.'

While it is a valid point and I agree how it is in fact a very sad way of life in Indonesia. I do, however, think we should set an example and single him out all the more. Bakrie should pay a LOT of money to the victims, and be fined a HUGE amount for what he did. If this is done, maybe other conglomerates and businessmen will think twice before running away from their responsibilities. We can't all just sit still and say, "everybody does it anyway, so why bother," can we?

So here I am, writing a love letter for Bakrie, that some people might perceive more as dissing. But it's not. I swear. Just look at the title of this post.

Dear Ichal,

Pay up, man. don't you think it's embarrassing to be fucking wealthy but act like you cannot set aside some money of millions to help those you have 'helped' to become even less fortunate then they were to begin with?

You could make your children and wife sell some of their jewelries and perhaps a couple hundred of their Hermès bags. Or if that's beneath you, there's always the option of allocating their 2009 shopping budget for the mud victims. I'm sure that budget will be enough for at least 100 houses, maybe more.

Come on, dude, grow a heart. And some testicles. While you're at it, why not pay and own up to your responsibilities too? I'm sure you'll be appreciated.


Much Love,

Turning Old... er.

I've been in a sentimental mood lately, hence the more sensitive posts than usual. Some people tells me it's a good thing for my blog to have some balance but I personally just write what I want, whether people like it or not (although it's nicer when people like it).

I've had back pain since forever. Well, maybe not forever, more like a year now. Mr. Husband says it's due to my weight (that I'm desperately trying to lose), I say it's my getting old. Some of my friends say I'm exaggerating, but the they're older than me, so they it's true, I feel like I'm in 50s.

I'm afraid I'd have to uncover my real age in this post. Yes people, I am now 20 something plus VAT. (Ha! you thought I was really gonna reveal it? Think again!)

My brother says it's probably because I have had so many experiences and gone through so many things in life, things only people in their 50s normally have gone through. If that is so then it explains why I feel this way, all worn out and tired. And I don't even have kids yet! (Can't imagine what I'd feel like with little devils running around the apartment keeping me up all night. Ohh no.. the sheer horror!!)

He told me to write a book about my life, but that's like writing a very long and racy telenovela script (yes, my life is like that) but I don't think I'm ready for many people to find out about just what kind of things I have actually gone through, so that idea is down the recycle bin. My other brother told me to write songs to channel my feelings about all this, but I don't want to depress anyone, also down the bin that idea went.

Finally, all this frustration about how old I am and how old I feel, how many regrets I have, how many things I'd change if I can do it all again and how I wish I was still 21 came to an end two days ago. An e-mail I received then from a highschool friend informed me of our classmate's death by kidney failure. She is survived by her beloved husband and two kids.

Well, that kind of news immediately put things into perspective for me, made me feel ashamed too, a little bit. Especially as I have no significant health problems and am not really that old.

As I was scouring the web during break earlier, I found this quote,

“Old age is not so bad when you consider the alternative.” Maurice Chevalier

I felt as if the words slapped my face as they flew out of the screen.

I'm not old, I just feel like I was, which can be easily changed. I have gone on a healthier diet and exercise regime to overcome my back pains and weight problem, I have stop regretting about the stupid things I did in the past and learned from my experiences, I am having more fun and stop feeling as if I have the whole world on my shoulders, I am embracing my age and am starting to use the words 'wise and mature' instead of old, and I am starting to feel young at heart, and I think this is important to do no matter what age we are.

I maybe 20 something plus VAT, but I now choose to feel like a 21 yr old!

In memoriam: Ninik Ambarwati, 1977-2008
May God Bless her, Rest In Peace.

ps: for Therry, whose birthday is tomorrow (11 June), the chevalier quote above is my and InesT's way of saying happy bird-day (and may you cherish this quote well into your twilight years. You're gonna need it when your turn five-o)

Internet Interesting Finds of the Day

I found several interesting things on the internet today, the first of which is the George Bush Conspiracy Theory Generator.

My George Bush Conspiracy Theory is as follows.

My George Bush Conspiracy Theory

George W. Bush allowed 9/11 to happen so that the Jews and Rush Limbaugh could offend Michael Moore.

As you might already know, I'm and American Idol diehard fan. As this season has already finished, I am now on to Canadian Idol for the first time. They started this season on the 3rd of June (this is where I watch it) and just for you, I will post the greatest auditionee of last season's Canadian Idol as the second of my interesting internet finds of the day.



The third interesting find is by far the stupidest, most pointless site ever. Turn on your computer speaker, and click Zombo, where anything is possible! Stay for at least 2 minutes and then you can regret the two minutes you have just spent and how you can never get it back.

Finally, I will leave you with these interesting picture finds (click on each to enlarge):

How it all started

M-Eggs-sacre

My New Ride

Eat Cow

Submission to God?

American Ignorance

The grass is always greener on my side of the fence

Maimunah is a single woman from the lower class who works as a cashier in a small department store in the big Durian we know as Jakarta. 5"3, dark skinned, with small squinted eyes, small pesek* nose and short coarse hair, she is not attractive by today's standard.

She dreams of having light skin like her friend Serena (née Sarinem), cute nose like her friend Sabrina (née Sabariah), long and smooth jet black hair like her friend Sherrie (née Syarifah) and big bright eyes with beautiful thick eyelashes like her friend Martha (née Martati).

Maimunah is convinced once her skin is lighter, her nose smaller, her hair longer and smoother and her eyes bigger and brighter with thick beautiful eyelashes she will have the same fate as all her friends. She also dreams to change her name to 'Mona' one day, a name she feels people will react better to, a name that will help her fit in. Just like the way her friends changed their names.

All five of them came from the same village, but while Maimunah is still stuck at the cash register in the lesser known department store, her four friends are living the 'glamorous' life and working in an well known department store in one of Jakarta's most exclusive malls.

Serena and Martha works together, Serena at the Chanel booth's perfume girl, Martha three booths away at Make up Forever, as one of the cosmetics 'experts'. The two are very fortunate to have tall slim bodies, which is why they sometimes moonlight as Sales Promotion Girls (SPG) for exhibitions. Maimunah loved the way the looked like when they're working, all made up and glamorous, she thought both of them looked like movie stars!

Sherrie and Sabrina works at one of the most expensive driving range in Jakarta. Sherrie works as a masseuse and Sabrina works at the reception. These two also had to look good in their workplace, as that was one of the requirements of the driving range. They weren't as tall as Serena and Martha, but they have many businessman and government official clients who were never short on tips and gifts.

Maimunah envied them but she idolized them at the same time. She desperately wanted to be just like them, wanted a life like theirs up to a point where she hated everything about herself.

That, up there, is probably a familiar setting for a lot of people, not the poor ugly girl from kampung** part, it's the hating ourselves or thinking we are not good enough part that I'm talking about. Most of us, at one point of another, did not like or accept ourselves. I know I went through something like that and probably a lot of you did too.

Why is it we think the grass is greener on the other side? Why do we, as humans, tend to look to those who are more fortunate when there are so many of those who are less fortunate than us?

Sometimes we get drowned in the superficiality of our surroundings, that we never introspect and even say thanks for what we already have. We strive to be more, to have more, to get more until we lose sight of what we do have, until we actually lose it all. And the shitty thing is, in every case, regret comes last. The age old saying of 'you will never appreciate what you have until you lose it' is true, except when you feel that, it'll usually be too late for you to do anything about it.

I hated myself once, I hated everything. My hair, my eyes, my nose, my lips, my boobs, my skin color, you name it. I also thought I was a stupid and pathetic person and nobody would want me. That was until I reconnected with my aunt, who is now living in Tokyo, one of the closest and dearest person to my heart. She was the one who taught me to accept myself, that self acceptance is the most important key to my, and everyone else's, happiness. Only when I started to listen to her and apply what knowledge she shared with me did I become a happier and more self confident person.

At the end of the day I realised, even with all my shortcomings, my stupid old car, my boring desk job and my far from glamorous life, I am still much more blessed than billions of other people in the world. There are people dying from hunger, people terrified of the war that's happening around them, people who cannot even afford to have three meals a day, people who have lost everyone they have ever loved, people who are sick with a deadly disease and people who have nothing.

Since then, every time I feel lonely or unsatisfied with myself or my life, I try to look to the less fortunate and thank God I am still blessed with all the things I still have in my life. Usually after that, the grateful feeling I get never fails to make me smile, and that same grateful feeling drives me to take another step towards a more blissful life.

Now I feel the grass is always green on my side of the fence, other people's are too, but mine is greener because it's mine.

*Pesek is Indonesian for wide flat nose
**Kampung is Indonesian for small village.

Soulmate or Soulmates?

Many people believe in true love, love at first sight and soulmate, especially in love. But does soulmate only exist in romantic love? what about between siblings? Or friends?

When I was a little girl, my girlfriends and I would dream about the day we meet our soulmates. We had a very specific idea of what our soul mates would be like, and basically, he would be like Prince Charming. I think all little girls dream of that at one point or another in their childhood lives, and I was no exception.

The older and wiser I get, the stranger I think this theory of the so-called soulmate became. Ideally, I would've loved to have met my soul mate, my prince charming. To ride together into the sunset and live happily ever after would be a dream come true. However, that is why they call it a dream, because I know nothing of this sort would ever happen. Not to me, at least.

I know a lot of adults who believe in true love and a soul mate for life. Personally, I don't believe in one soul mate for life because if I did, I would be screwed, BIG TIME.

I believe in several soul mates in a lifetime, because that is what I know and have. Of course, there are unfortunate lucky enough people who have met one soulmate and stayed with them their whole lives. Even luckier are those who are on the same wavelength, have many things in common, stay crazily in love with their one soulmate until they die. But trust me, those are one in millions. Most people are lucky to even experience some sort of love, and I'm not talking about the epic Danielle Steel/Harlequin whirlwind romance type of love.

I myself have fallen in love several times, but I have to admit that I have had the good fortune of having three soul mates so far, of which the last is my current husband. My first 'true' love, true love being something on a deeper and more serious level than my previous and later loves, was a sweet guy whom I had - and still do - a deep almost psychic connection with. Even now, we can feel it when one or the other is sick, or upset, or if one was thinking of the other. It's very eerie, but it's true. We are - until now - still on very good terms, almost best friend-ish.

My second soul mate was my ex husband, a gentle giant of a man with a very wonderful and warm personality, who loved me very much up to a point where I thought it was a bit too much for me to handle. I had to leave him because had I stayed, he would have not grown as a person, most importantly, as a man. Although he was my soul mate, and posibly, the love of my life, I wasn't a very good match for him. I have too strong of a personality, and I needed someone as strong as I am, if not more, one who was not afraid of telling me off whenever I, unconsciously, start to dominate our relationship.

Finally, my third (and hopefully last) soul mate, which is my current husband. I think he is the right amount of everything, someone very suitable for me. Loves me to death, but is not afraid to 'discipline' me if I go too far.

I also believe in other kinds of soulmates, three others that I have are my very best friend Deffie in the Netherlands, my brother Rama in Hamburg, and my aunt in Tokyo. People may think these people are more kindred spirits than soulmate, but I strongly believe they are my soulmates as well, I can't really explain why, they just are.

More than one soul mate in a life time is what I believe. But what about you? Soul mate or soul mates?

Odd News of the day: Cocaine Jesus, Testicle Festival, Slutty Logo and more.

Odd News of the Day #1: Cocaine Jesus

Gone were the days when drug mules had cocaine in condoms stuffed up their ass or swollen and kept in their stomach. There was also a time when dogs became drug mules (Therry and Tree, doglovers that they are, should not click this link) - pure bred puppies surgically implanted with liquid heroin.

Now, there are newer, more innovative and exciting ways to smuggle drugs into the USA, and Cocaine Jesus - Praise the Lord! - is one of them.

Federal agents last week arrested a Mexican national for allegedly paying a woman to smuggle into the U.S. a statue that was made of a dried cocaine paste. The carefully painted religious icon, pictured below, weighed about six pounds and would have had a street value of about $30,000. The statue was confiscated at a Texas border crossing after a drug-sniffing dog alerted to it during an inspection of a vehicle driven by a Mexican woman. The woman later told agents that she was paid $80 by a man who wanted the statue delivered to him at a Laredo bus station.

Meet Cocaine Jesus:



Now, if Christians won't regard this as blasphemy in the highest form, I don't know what will. Christians in the world should run amok and attack people because of this. Really, they should show the world they can kick some serious ass! Jesus statue made of cocaine, ggaaaahhhhhh!!! Not Acceptable!




Odd News of the Day #2: Testicle Festival

The title of this particular news had me feeling all tingly and excited. When I was about to click and read it, shivers went down my spine in anticipation and excitement. Apparently my idea of testicle festival is a different one from this festival organizers.

WOODRUFF, Utah, June 1 (UPI) -- The eighth annual Testicle Festival in Woodruff, Utah, has helped raised nearly $30,000 for charity by dispensing plenty of bull testicles, volunteers say.

Festival volunteer Lori Cornia said in addition to raising donations, the Black Gold Cattle Co. event served plenty of deep-fried bull testicles, also known as "Rocky Mountain Oysters," The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday.

The event, which had 250 pounds of the "Oysters" available for visitors, also included old-time rodeo events such as team branding and range bull riding.

I wonder what charity the money goes to. I would imagine the money from this festival would be aptly suitable for the Testicular Cancer Research Foundation or The Foundation for the One Testicled War Heroes (of which Prabowo would most likely be the chairman)


Odd News of the Day #3: Jurors Watch Sex Video During Trial

I wish this happened 18 years ago so I could use it as an basis to prove my dad wrong. Porn is perfectly acceptable, even jurors watch it during trial. I still have the mental scars from the punishment he gave me that day, the day he caught me and my girlfriends watching porn - out of curiosity, of course - together (I thought I should clear the air here, it's not like we were porn loving girl teens, we were just curious as to what it's all about. Really. I swear)

You can read the whole story here, although according to the Editor's note: The story contains graphic language that may offend some readers.

So be careful, be very careful!

Jurors Watch Extreme Sex Video During Obscenity Trial

The Tampa Tribune, May 29, 2008

TAMPA - A panel of jurors saw an extreme hard-core pornographic movie today and is expected to see many more as it weighs whether a California porn producer, who uses the name Max Hardcore, has violated criminal obscenity laws.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew decided federal prosecutors can show excerpts of the movies. Defense lawyers for Max Hardcore, argued that jurors need to see the entirety of the movies because the repetition of the acts is a necessary component.

"Over a period of time, the shock is blunted," defense lawyer Jeffrey J. Douglas said. "That is part of the presentation. That is part of the DVD."

For about 40 minutes Wednesday and for more than an hour this morning, the entire DVD "Max Extreme 20" was shown to jurors.

As the DVD began, the jurors sat mostly stone faced. Two women blushed and smiled slightly. One woman sat wide-eyed.

The DVD progressed, and the smiles vanished. Hands often covered mouths. Men and women fidgeted in their seats.

Several of the jurors wince. One man rubs his closed eyes for several seconds.

I imagine my my porn loving male friends would love to be jurors in this trial. They would probably come prepared, with a six pack and hot dogs, and as the video starts, they'll sit back, relax and enjoy. Hey, nothing to be ashamed of, it's only natural, right? (Right Dilli? GJ?)


Odd News of the Day #4: Sharks developing a taste for humans

Read the full article here.

Locals fear one rogue shark is responsible but experts believe a pack of deadly bull sharks are actively targeting humans for the first time.

They think the 3m fish could have developed a taste for human flesh after devouring hundreds of corpses dumped into the sea by mobsters.

With an annual average of only four fatal shark attacks globally, the fact that two people have died along the same stretch of coast within weeks has astonished international experts.

Jose Leonardo Castillo, chief shark investigator for Mexico’s National Fishing Institute, said yesterday: “One theory we’re investigating is that a group of sharks have developed a taste for humans.”

Well I guess it's just a matter of time until sharks starts avenging their brothers and sisters' death. Humans have developed a taste for shark since ages ago, it's only logical they would do the same thing.

And now people are blaming the Mafia. Come on, they should be blaming themselves, why do they always have to blame others? Mafia dumping corpses in the sea, that is Preposterous!! Hmmppfftt..

And locals fearing 'one rogue shark' running wild helping himself with all the delicious humans swimming in the sea? It's not his fault, as long as he's concerned, anything swimming in open water is fair game, and by fair game I mean food.

It is possible the rogue shark was tired of the low paying desk job he has which is not enough to cover his daily lobster breakfasts, salmon lunches and caviar dinners - you know how expensive that is, with the fuel price hike and all - so he is venting out his frustrations, acting up, and eating humans. Most likely to blackmail his stuck up bosses who are obssesed with having a good reputation among humans, for a better paying job.

Or maybe the shark is a rogue cop shark involved with the mobsters, he is selling drugs to human junkies and when they fail to pay, he eats them alive!

I don't know, there are so many interesting conspiracy theories I can come up with my head hurts.


Odd News of the Day #5: Anger at 'Slutty' Starbucks Logo

US Christian group, The Resistance, is angry at Starbucks 'slutty' promotional logo. Now this is what I'm talking about, this group should show the world that narrow-mindedness does not belong exclusively to FPI/Al Qaeda/Abu Sayyaf/Jamaan Islamiyah!

US coffee chain Starbucks has come under fire for a new logo that critics say is offensive and overly graphic.

The Resistance, a US-based Christian group, has called for a national boycott of the coffee-selling giant.

It says the chain's new logo has a naked woman on it with her legs "spread like a prostitute... The company might as well call themselves Slutbucks".

Starbucks says the image - based on a 16th century Norse design of a mermaid with two-tails - is not inappropriate.

Starbucks spokesperson says the image - the longstanding logo for Pike Place bags of coffee - is appearing on some of its cups as part of a promotion, and will remain "for several weeks".

The logo on the left is the promotional logo that has gotten these people all hot and bothered, and the logo on the right is the logo as we know it today.

What's so slutty about that? And those are not spread legs, it looks more like two spread mermaid tails. But seeing as the usual mermaids have one tail and this one was obviously born with some kind of anomaly/deformity makes 'The Resistance' appear really discriminative and insensitive towards the disabled. Not cool, christian bigots, not cool.

Not only are they insensitive towards the disabled, they are very politically incorrect too! Sluts all over the world should come together, pun intended - they should name the movement 'Sluts Unite!' - defend themselves and make their voices heard.

There is nothing wrong with being sluts, as there is nothing wrong with being religious bigots walking around with a stick up their collective asses. Oh, and the politically correct term is 'Vertically Challenged' not 'Slut'.

Plastic Surgery and Indonesian Celebs. What Would You Do?

I have nothing against people who've had plastic surgery, or planning to, as long as they do it voluntarily and as long as the surgery actually improves how they look. It's when they turn out looking all contorted, unnatural or even scary that bugs me. But hey, as long as it's not my face they're screwing with, I don't really give a rat's ass.

In recent years, plastic surgery has become more and more common. It's no longer the Hollywood celebrities' exclusive domain. Indonesian celebrities are also becoming more and more accustomed to have things done on their face and bodies to 'improve' their marketability. There are Indonesians celebs who have indeed improved their look, while others have sadly ruined their God-given good looks.

I have yet to find male a Indonesian celeb who has had any work done, I'm sure there are, but for now, let's look at what I have found which are two prominent Indonesian actresses and one Indonesian singer. All have had work done, although the singer insists her beauty is all natural - naturally done by plastic surgery that is.

Indonesian celeb #1: Peggy Melati Sukma.



Thank God she had plastic surgery!! All I can say is If I had her face, I would have done the same thing, maybe more! Although I don't get how she can have work done on her eyes and a nose job, but feels the need to keep her mustache. Women should NOT have mustache, except if she works in a circus and makes money off it.

Indonesia celeb #2: Bella Saphira

With this girl, I don't get why she had anything done. She obviously had a nose job, you can see the bridge of her nose is much thinner and she might have an implant on the tip of her nose to make it perkier. It looks like she had her eyes done as well, to make it appear bigger and brighter. She was lovely to begin with but after the surgery, she just looks very generic, like any other Indonesian celebs who's had a nose job.

Indonesian celeb#3: Krisdayanti

This is a woman who clearly had a LOT of work done, yet she insists she has nothing done. Yes, maybe she was born with it and by it I mean acute selective amnesia that disturbs her ability to remember any details of her monthly plastic surgeon visits and procedures. She was a cute girl in the original picture - where she was a finalist in the Gadis Sampul modelling competition - then she started experimenting. In the 'in between' picture, she actually looks good, a little sex bomb/blow up doll-ish, but good. The last picture is when she got all wild and forgot she was 100% pure Indonesian who would never have been born with a caucasian looking nose. Also, her luscious lips are gone. Why she would prefer thin unexciting lips is beyond me, I myself am a big fan of the luscious lips a la Angelina Jolie though not the trout pout, especially not duck lips.

I don't think I am getting one any time soon, and even if I do, it certainly won't be to change the way I look. I am quite happy with my face - not so much with my body, but that's besides the point. However - with me there is always a but somewhere - when I hit 40 I might have some work done, just to improve some stuff, and not to change anything. I will also try not to be a plastic surgery junkie like these two:

This is Mickey Rourke a.k.a sexy actor who starred in Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man and guest starred in several episodes of My Dreams. He used to be so sizzling hot, and now he looks like a sad character out of "The Island of Dr. Moreau"

This monster formerly knows as not-so-bad-looking-lady is Jocelyn Wildenstein, a socialite obsessed with plastic surgery she reportedly had more than USD 3 million worth of procedure on her face. She started having work done when her millionaire husband replaced her with a younger model. Moral of the story, marry a millionaire, poison him daily so he will not leave you for anyone but God, and only, ONLY when you are sure he will leave everything to you. Then you can go crazy with the plastic surgery.

Finally, I will end this post with: Plastic surgery? Good. Plastic surgery up to leaving you looking like your dogs dinner? Not good.

ps: For those of you who insist Krisdayanti is beautiful, look at this picture of her. She looks good only when airbrushed etc, this one was candid and shows how scary she really looks.

Conversation with a Pinay Friend

I had tea with a Pinay friend a few days ago. When we get together for a drink, which is quite often - maybe once a week, we talk about a lot of things. The last conversation I remembered with her was about Indonesia beating the Philippines yet once again.

The last time we beat them was in the list of most corrupt countries. Now we are higher than them in the Global Peace Index Ranking 2008.

As you might have read in my previous post, We are currently at #68 in the ranking, up 10 places from last year. We are ahead of the Philippines, Thailand and two world super powers Russia and the USA. So we ended up talking about this subject.

Me: How bad is the situation in your country for it to be way down on the list?

Pinay Friend: Not worse than what's happening in Jakarta, what with the FPI attacks and all.

Me: Then how come we are way up at #68 and you guys are way down in #113?

Pinay Friend: I guess it's because we have the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf who has been creating problems for many years.

Me: But we have terrorist and fundamentalist groups here too, we have had bombings and all sorts of attacks on nightclubs, churches and even on Ahmadiyya mosques!

Pinay Friend: I don't know, maybe they base the rankings on some other stuff?

Me: I guess. Maybe they based it on how your government and the majority of your people are on opposite sides from the terrorists group, which causes clashes all the time.

Pinay Friend: If that is so, what's the difference with your people and government?

Me: It seems our government and most of our people are supporters of the terrorist group and the fundamentalist, which explains why we do not have as much clashes, thus, more peaceful than yours. *feeling full of shame*

Pinay Friend: *shot her tea out her nose* HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

Very very pathetically sad, but funny and true once I thought about it long and deep.

A word from the wise (Yes, I'm talking about ME)

I am a very wise person. I am telling you this fact, so you better believe me.

I got this e-mail today from Martine, a colleague. This is very wise, and seeing how wise I am, it might as well come from me.

La théorie du mouton

Un troupeau de moutons ne peut se déplacer qu'à la vitesse du mouton le plus lent.

Quand le troupeau est pourchassé, ce sont les plus lents et les plus faibles qui sont attaqués en premier.

Cette sélection naturelle est bonne pour le troupeau en général, parce que la vitesse du troupeau augmente à mesure que les plus lents et les plus faibles sont éliminés.

De la même façon, le cerveau humain ne peut fonctionner plus vite que ses cellules les plus lentes.

Comme on le sait aujourd'hui, la consommation d'alcool détruit les cellules du cerveau.

Naturellement ce sont les cellules les plus lentes et les plus faibles qui sont détruites en premier.

On peut donc en déduire que la consommation d'alcool élimine les cellules les plus faibles, rendant ainsi notre cerveau de plus en plus performant.

Ce qui explique pourquoi on se sent toujours un peu plus intelligent après 2 ou 3 apéros.

Putain, j'le savais ! .........

Ok, let's not be angry at me if you don't understand this. It's really not my fault you don't speak the language.

Because this is Wednesday, two days away from the weekend, I am feeling a bit generous, and I will let my midget workers translate it for you.

The theory of the sheep

A herd of sheep should not move at the speed of the slowest sheep because when the herd is pursued, the slowest and weakest will be the ones attacked first.

This natural selection is actually good for the herd in general, because the speed of the herd increases as the slowest and weakest are eliminated.

In the same way, when the human brain doesn't function well, it's because of the slow ones. As known today, consumption of alcohol destroys braincells. The slowest and weakest cells are naturally destroyed first.

One can then assume that the consumption of alcohol eliminates the weakest cells, thus making our brain increasingly powerful.

Which explains why one feels a little more intelligent after 2 or 3 shots.

So there you go, wise words of the day, courtesy of yours truly.

Penis. It's Magically Delicious.

No, I am not endorsing penises nor do I think there is anything magical about it. Delicious? Well, sometimes, though I do prefer Beef Quesadilla or Moussaka.

Anyhoo, the title is from a slogan generator I got from The Fool's blog. Have a slogan is a slogan generator which mixes terrible things with popular commercial taglines. I thought the slogans were hilarious and oddly appropriate.

These are the ones I like best. Some may be suitable for my blogging colleagues (Gj, Rob, Viper Tongue, Jakartass, Therry.. you know it's you I'm talking about, right?)

I am sorry if any of this is deemed offensive. (Well not really, but I have to apologize in case any FPI/LKI supporters read this and feels an uncomfortable pang of recognition when reading the last one)

If you would like to make your own slogan, you can do so below. Just click Murphy and see which one suits you best. Enjoy!

p.s. My sincere apologies for two blogging colleagues of mine, tree and anita, who I seemed to have forgotten to mention. I know how you guys love penises too. This post is also for you. mwah mwah!
p.p.s. tree, I think you are miraculously delicious.

'Only In Indonesia' Moments We Should No Longer Tolerate

I know I have been posting about feel good stuff lately, but that was because I have been a little depressed by feeling helpless when I think about my lovely country and what is going on there at the moment (and in the past decade or so). As I read the news in Kompas and The Jakarta Post (among two of a few medias I think are still credible in their reportages, just so you know - if you're reading, you know who you are!), I can't sit still and keep on posting random feel-good silly stuff, at least not all the time.

This post is a post some may view as another one of my 'complain instead of getting off my ass and do something/give solution about it' posts. But I could care less what they think, I just want to write all of these down because I am convinced some Indonesians, particularly the government and some the of the citizens, are definitely LOSING BRAINCELLS by the second.

So let the rants begin!

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Only in Indonesia #1 - Religious Freedom (As long as we believe in one God, and one of the six official religions)

I don't know if I have ever written about how I think the 'One God' theory in our state ideology (Pancasila) and how we MUST believe in it is highly ridiculous and hypocritical, but I know I have posted comments about this in many, many people's blogs.

Blogwalking this morning took me to Metro Mad's new article titled Dodgy Decade. After reading it I felt, "whoa dude, we are on the same wavelength here!" and I wrote exactly that in the comments section this morning, and although I am not losing any braincells, it seems my cells weren't up to speed yet then, because it takes time to warm them up seeign as I have a MASSIVE amount of braincells, running at 89% capacity when all warmed up, which is cool considering most humans only use 2% . Einsten? only 5%. Ok, now I'm just rambling senselessly.

Back to the topic, I think Metro Mad and I might be on the same wavelength for this particular issue, seeing how it is contradictory as Hindu has many Gods, Buddhists has none, and neither does Confucians, yet these three are among the six official religions in Indonesia, Go figure.

Braincells among Indonesians who think it's ok to force their beliefs to others must be declining.

Only in Indonesia #2 - Violence is A-OK, smile please! (When done by one particular religious movement)

The Jakarta Post reported, the Indonesian National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) peace rally to commemorate the 63rd year of Pancasila state ideology and freedom of religion ironically ended up with 34 of the rally participants being injured from an attack by FPI members.

First of all, this was a peace rally to commemorate Indonesia's State Ideology that (supposedly) supports the freedom of religion. Although the attack was said to be done because the rally supported the Ahmadiyyah Islamic sect's right to exist - a sect they and many Muslims in Indonesia disagree with, some even went as far as calling the sect a criminal organisation - it still doesn't justify the it, because the state guarantees freedom of religion, and like it or not, Ahmadiyya feels they are a part of Islam too.

This attack was a low blow and quite disgusting because many of the rally participants were women and children. It was also stupid because some of the victims of the beating are Muslim public figures, their own brothers in faith.

I would love to tell you that FPI stands for 'Fucking Perverted Idiots', but unfortunately it stands for Front Pembela Islam or Islamic Defenders Front. Those who believe that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, should really tell them to change their name or force them to disband. This violent organisation doesn't do anyone good by associating themselves to the religion.

In a pathetic attempt to provide a 'reasonable' excuse for the attack, FPI said they attacked the peace rally because one rally participant was reportedly carrying a gun. I got bad news for the FPIers, even if all of them carried guns, it does not make it right for them to go and beat up people. Someone should inform the police, and let the police deal with it.

Kompas has an article saying FPI violence is seriously harming Indonesia's Unity. I whole heartedly agree with this. Curiously, an article in detiknews reported how this attack seemed 'suspicious' seeing as it happened in 'Ring 1', which is just around the President's Palace, an area usually heavily guarded by the police. At the time this attack happened, not many police officers were in the area, clearing FPI members to run amok and do what their hearts desired.

Some articles said thre were 1,200 police officers in the area at the time of the attack. Methinks maybe all 1,200 were in the area at the time of the attack but all suddenly felt the need to go to the toilet simultaneously.

There are also articles supporting the attack, saying what FPI did was actually ensuring that Indonesia will always be in unity, and by ensuring that Indonesia will always be in unity I mean ensuring the smooth transition to be the Asian branch of Saudi Arabia.

The thing that pisses me off the most is nobody had been arrested, some people actually supported these kinds of attacks, and so far, the government has done nothing about this violent group, who I think are the real criminal organisation. From now on I will call them the bearded mafias.

Braincells among the Indonesian government officials and police force must be declining.

Only in Indonesia #3 - Some Indonesians' surprise at the fact that there are that many poor people.

Famous Jakartan 'motivator' Tung Dasem Waringin (what he motivates people to do is still a mystery to me) has decided to give away Rp. 100 million (USD 11,000 - USD 1 = Rp 9,000) to people as a marketing strategy for the launch of his new book titled 'Marketing Revolution'. He has repotedly donated more to several charities. What makes his giving away money so unique is that he decided to throw the money down to a sport stadium in Serang (West Java) from an airplane. You can see photos of people chasing all that money here.

Apparently, not all were thrilled to get free money, many were upset for getting only Rp 1,000 despite being exhausted by chasing the flying notes around. Detik wrote that some people were surprised of how poor some Indonesians were by the fact that many people were willing to run around and fight for Rp 1,000 and Rp 5,000 notes. These 'surprised' people are probably those who breakfasts, lunches, and dines in hotels and who are used to paying Rp 2 million for a hair cut, color and styling.

Braincells among those shocked at some poor some Indonesians are must be declining.

Only in Indonesia #4 - Indonesia's place in the Global Peace Index

This one is probably an error on the Global Peace Index's end, or maybe it's because the world's morality is sinking into a pathetic oblivion, I don't know really. Global Piece Index website shows Indonesia on the 68th place, up 10 place from 2007. And this is in spite of riots like the ones I wrote in #3 and rampant tortures reported by the Amnesty International.

We are more peaceful than than the USA (#97 - Indonesians living in the USA, do you hear that? COME ON BACK HOME! USA is not safe anymore to live in!), The Philippines (#113), Thailand (#118) and Russia (#131). Well, this one is not really a rant as it is a feel good news which is ironic considering how people living in Indonesia often fear riots and there are those who do not feel safe living there at all.

Braincells of those thinking our country is so peaceful that peace rally participants were beaten to a pulp must be declining.

Only in Indonesia #5 - Warnings of a big flood in Jakarta since last week, yet the government has not taken any significant precautions

As you can see here and here, the World Bank has warned the government about a possible severe flooding with an exceptionally high tide hitting the city tomorrow. Jakartass also wrote about this and said the government has a project to permanently solve this problem but are waiting for the 'tender projects' before doing any real 'solving'.

'Tender project' is a term meaning 10 or more companies will send cost proposals to the government, in which the one with the lowest number will be chosen. However, the chosen will be asked to submit the paper with the numbers proposed, but do the actual project with half the amount, while the other half goes to the 'personal' projects of the government officials appointed to choose the tender winner. When the said company agrees, they will be awarded the project and will use the cheapest materials they can find to cut costs and make themselves some profit. When the project for a 'permanent' solution to all this flooding is done, it will not be sufficient because the materials weren't adequate. After 3 years, it will need to be redone because why make it permanent if it can be a money source for the govenrment officials to further their 'personal' projects? Then the tender projects will happen all over again, allowing more time and state money to be wasted and more people to suffer.

After writing all this and reading all the gloomy news, it's my braincells' turn to decline.

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What we (and by we I mean the government) do most times is try to appear all good and peaceful then sweep all the bad things under the rug. The thing is, because there are so much bad things under the rug, they will form together and become bumps. It's like trying to walk with high heels on a bumpy and uneven rug, you will fall down and get hurt. so, unless we clean underneath the rug, things will not change.

It is obvious the very foundation and ideology of our country, not to mention the nation's mentality, need major reformation. We must dig deep and revamp ourselves from the core out. If this is done, then maybe - just maybe, good things will start to happen, and we will stop falling down.

Someone mistook me for a HOT celebrity!

This weekend is all about chores and relaxation. I did all my chores yesterday afternoon, had a very unexpected chat with a new friend last night, and today is all about lazying around at home. The weather isn't so good, the sun is shyly hiding behind the clouds, but the temperature is nice and cool.

If you are one of my 5 avid readers, you already know how I am a self-lovin' person. Not that kind of self-love, pervy..... the other kind! Yes, narcissistic, self-admiring, vain, all that stuff. I am so full of myself that I sometimes google me, and this morning, google myself I did.

As I went through all the pages bearing my name, my chest swelled with pride, you can tell by now how I crave approval and attention (coughs*attention whore suffering from daddy syndrome*coughs). Suddenly, my page turning went to a screeching halt as I see my name on an Italian chat forum. "What on earth is my name doing there?" I thought to my self. I could no longer resist the temptation and clicked the link, and this was what I saw...

My first response was, "Wow, nice boobs, love the skin color too," I know I am starting to sound like a lesbian, but then I focused on the bra. "Hmm.. the bra looks nice, I wonder what brand it is, it looks sexy yet comfortable, and looks like it provides good support. Her hair looks a bit brittle though, could do with a good deep conditioning" And as my trail of thoughts went to all this, I remained convinced I'm not a lesbian.


The headline says : "Guess whose picture this is" (excuse the mistakes in my translation, I don't speak Italian but I can guess the meaning of several words as it is very close to French)

And then I scrolled down to see a really nice taut abdomen (I really wish I had that body with a slightly bigger butt and bigger boobs - women, we just can't be satisfied even with an imaginary body!) and a list of names.

"Definitely a model," I thought to myself, and I scrolled down some more. And that's when I saw *gasps!* my name.

WTF? What the hell is my name doing there? That's not a picture of me (I wish it were, though) and I am but a normal upstanding citizen who is nowhere near stardom, at least not in the league of the other names on that list.


This was getting interesting, and at the same time arousing. Yes, the thought of being a real celebrity (read: someone famous not only in Indonesia) has once or twenty times been some kind of a turn on for me. I plea guilty of being a freak, your honor.

Surely, at the bottom of the page, there were hints to help people guess who this beautiful creature with coarse hair is (Yes, it's my jealousy talking. I'm a woman, that's what we do. Don't like it? So, sue me!)

The hints say:

INDICATION: NOT AN AMERICAN. I'm not American, hey, this could be me after all!
INDICATION: NOT AN AUSTRALIAN. I'm not Australian either, there is hope!
INDICATION: FORMER MODEL. I did some (amateur) modeling too! (plus size, but still, modeling..) what a coincidence!!
NEW INDICATION: EUROPEAN (or living in Europe) Wow, all hints point to me! there is definitely hope yet! This might well be me!!

I must have smoked too much pot when I was younger, because I definitely have brain damage to think I look anywhere near that hot. Then I walked in my room, looked at myself in the mirror and am brought back to the cruel reality. It's NOT me. Damn it!

Ok, so the girl in the picture is not me, I am nowhere near from being anything that sexy and attractive, but it is still somewhat flattering to have my name on the list, to have some Italian uomo thinking I might be that hot, that my name deserves to be on that list - he obviously doesn't know me, otherwise my name would definitely not be on that list, but that's besides the point.

All in all, it was a good morning. This was a booster for me, I think it was better than coffee. Uh, and it's my parents 33rd Anniversary today.

Bon Anniversaire de Marriage, Maman et Papa! Je t'aime!