Kinanti Pinta Karana

Force Vehicles Off Roads to Cut Gridlock: Expert

2010-05-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

On the same day the nation’s largest car and motorcycle dealer predicted record sales, a scientist warned that the only way Jakarta would solve its massive traffic problems was by curbing vehicle ownership.

With too few roads and massive numbers of new vehicles rolling out every day, traffic was only going to get worse, Lukman Hakim, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said during a seminar on mass transportation in the capital on Wednesday.

“In Jakarta, the number of cars being sold has increased and now reaches 300 units daily, while motorcycles could soon rise to 800 a day,” he told the German-Asean Conference on Mass Transport Technologies.

The startling figures came on the same day PT Astra International forecast record nationwide sales for motorcycles and cars. “We are optimistic we will surpass the 2008 record of 607,000 cars and 6.5 million motorcycles this year,” said Prijono Sugiarto, Astra’s president director.

He said favorable economic conditions had driven new car sales up 73 percent over the past year. In the first quarter of this year, motorcycle sales increased by 35 percent to 1.6 million units.

While the figures were positive for the country’s economic outlook, it also meant more gridlock for the besieged capital, Lukman said.
“Vehicle ownership should be limited [in Jakarta],” he said bluntly.

Traffic experts frequently cite the paucity of roadways in Jakarta, which make up only about 6.2 percent of its total area, as compared with metropolises such as Singapore, New York City and Tokyo, which devote up to 20 percent of their city space to roads.

With about 1.5 million vehicles in Jakarta squeezed onto roads that can only handle about one million, according to 2009 estimates from several experts, the result is a jumbled nightmare of mostly private vehicles — public transportation makes up only about 8 percent of all vehicles.

“It’s not surprising that we see traffic jams every day during peak hour,” Lukman said, “even on toll roads that were built to reduce traffic.”

He said the snarl was also a threat to the economy. Citing research by Firdaus Ali, an environment expert at the University of Indonesia, Lukman said traffic jams in the Greater Jakarta area were estimated to cost more than Rp 26 trillion ($2.8 billion) every year. “Gasoline accounts for Rp 10.7 trillion, productive time lost Rp 9.7 trillion and health costs about Rp 5.8 trillion,” he said.

Lukman strongly urged the government to start drafting regulations to limit vehicle ownership in the city. Common ways to reduce ownership are through punitive taxes on second and subsequent cars in each family, increasing taxes at the pump or by charging for road usage, such as with electronic road pricing, which is currently being considered by the government.

Such methods, however, are often criticized for unfairly penalizing the poor.

As if on cue, an official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Wednesday said the agency was considering restricting motorcycle users from buying subsidized gas.

Evita Legowo, director general of oil and gas at the ministry, said the idea to bar motorcyclists from using the low-octane subsidized fuel was the result of a meeting with the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI).

Lukman, however, warned that greater efforts were needed beyond curbing subsidized gas. He said alternative modes of transportation had to be developed.

“Ownership limitations can only be implemented if the government builds an effective mass rapid transportation system. A number of countries have high-tech MRT systems, specializing in train technology,” he said.

Jakarta’s long-delayed MRT has still not broken ground despite repeated promises. The design for a limited first phase is to be finished this year, with construction due to start in 2012 — if all goes well, 14.5 kilometers of rail will be in operation by 2016.

Bali: A Cowboy’s Paradise

2010-05-02T06:34:00.000-07:00

You may think you already know everything there is to know about the so-called cowboys of Kuta Beach in Bali. But Singaporean filmmaker Amit Virmani’s controversial documentary, “Cowboys in Paradise,” will make you think again. The film offers a peek into the minds of the cowboys, from lessons in how to woo women and a rather naive outlook on sexually transmitted diseases, to unusual sex tips, like tying horse hair to the tip of your penis for enhanced pleasure.

The film is essentially a tale of struggle and survival with a twist: While the cowboys admit that they benefit from women financially, they refuse to be called gigolos.

Tucked in between personal testimonies are beach scenes showing tanned, muscular young men with Western women engaged in activities like playing cards and volleyball, as well as kissing and cuddling. According to the men, they work on the beach. Most of them are self-taught surfing instructors, while some got their start selling cold drinks on the beach.

But regardless of their story, they certainly know their way around women.

In the film, Bali-based writer Mark Ulyseas says the cowboys are so charming that women, more specifically female tourists, are easily drawn to them. “The women connect to them instantly,” Ulyseas says, while admitting that he himself has not been as lucky in this department.

The film offers men like Ulyseas a tip or two as the cowboys share some of the secrets of their trade. Virmani spells out the essential tips when the cowboys talk about what it is that women want. One tip is: “Shower them with attention.” As one cowboy explains, “Ask them how they’re doing, how their day was, what they did last night.” Most important, he adds, “I make them laugh.”

The film also turns the tables on the stereotype of manipulative women taking advantage of men for money. This time around, the men are the gold diggers.

“The women pay for the food and drinks every day during their vacation,” one cowboy says. “When they leave, they usually give us enough money to pay for a few months’ rent.”

However, he stresses that women give voluntarily. “I never ask for money,” he says, adding that he is not a gigolo.

Virmani says he agrees that the boys are not gigolos, while acknowledging that this is not always clear-cut. “You can find all kinds of articles calling them gigolos,” he says.

“People even make fun of them for saying they are not gigolos. But I’m with the cowboys on this one. I see a distinction and the film does what it can to make the point. Simple reasons. They have primary jobs, usually on the beach or as tour guides or whatever. And they never charge for sex. So they’re not sex workers to me.

“But they are part of the male sex trade in Bali for a host of other reasons. Academics and health officials have started to regard them as such. Not just the cowboys, but beach boys in different countries. They are a high-risk HIV group.

“Also, even though they don’t charge for sex, money does change hands through indirect ways. And plenty of women go in knowing and willing to pay for their companionship, so it amounts to a trade.”

And the cowboys are up front about the fact that money is involved. As they explain throughout the film, parents fall sick, grandparents die and other reasons are invented as an opening for girlfriends to provide financial assistance.

Others use the I-have-nothing card. “When my girlfriend wants to see my place, I move my things, like TV and DVD player, to my friend’s. When she sees that I have nothing, she will give me money for stuff,” he says.

The cowboys’ lifestyle is not a secret to most of their families. One man in the film proudly shows off the houses he built for himself and his father from money provided by his girlfriends. In front of a group of relatives, his father says that he is not ashamed of his son’s “job.”

“I’m not ashamed that my son works on the beach and looks for women. He takes care of his elders. I am proud.”

The film’s editing is a reflection of the director’s sense of humor. Virmani playfully inserts witty graphics and text between scenes. When one cowboy insists on showing Virmani his “modified penis,” everything goes black for a few seconds before the words “I must be content with I have” repeatedly runs across the screen.

The film is not without serious moments, particularly when it discusses HIV/AIDS. Aside from having multiple sex partners, the cowboys also admit to not always using a condom. “I usually wear a condom, but sometimes when my partner and I are too drunk, we don’t use it,” one beach boy says. “But I’m not worried because Europeans are cleaner than Asians. They are also disciplined about medical checkups.”

“Cowboys in Paradise” premiered at the DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival in South Korea last October. The film has had limited special screenings in Singapore. It is also scheduled to be part of the Melbourne International Film Festival in July. Virmani says that so far, the audience response has been “very gratifying.”

But despite the film’s international success, the 34-year-old director now finds himself at the center of controversy. “Cowboys” has sparked anger on Bali, with the police starting an investigation.

Three men who appeared in the film told police that Virmani said he was just documenting his holiday, not making a movie. After watching the movie in its entirety, however, this claim seems questionable. The people interviewed wear clip-on microphones and the audience can hear the director’s voice asking questions in the background. Virmani also used a Sony EX-1 to shoot the documentary, a pretty conspicuous camera for just taking some holiday snaps.

Some of the beach boys told the police that Virmani paid them for their interviews. On that matter, the director has this to say: “I’ve never denied paying the beach boys for their time. I budgeted for it, I did it and I’m proud that I did it. I’ll say it again, and louder: I’m proud that I did it. Various news channels pay people for their stories. Even leading documentary filmmakers have admitted to paying subjects from time to time. And that’s in the West. I’m supposed to go to a beach boy in Bali and say I can’t compensate him for his time? Why? Because interviewees in the West deserve the money more?

“But doesn’t it make you question what they’re saying now? They thought it was a home video for ‘holiday documentation?’ Who pays people to be in a home video? And why would I interview them if I was making a video of my holiday memories? Did Bali run out of lovely scenery?”

The police said on Friday that the director would likely be named a suspect in the next few days for filming without the proper permits. “We are on that path. Nothing, however, is confirmed as yet,” said Sr. Comr. Gede Sugianyar Dwi Putra, a spokesman for the Bali Police. “In one or two days, we will formally let everyone know. We are not too concerned about extradition matters. What’s important is that we first declare him a suspect.”

Without elaborating, police also suggested that in addition to charges of violating the 1992 Law on Film, Virmani could also be charged with fraud for allegedly tricking the film’s subjects into taking part.

“We have alerted NCB-Interpol to track him down in Singapore,” Gede said. “Every single witness we have questioned said that when Amit shot footage of them, he said it was not for the purpose of making a documentary or film. That’s trickery.”

Virmani declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, but remains fiercely proud of “Cowboys in Paradise.”

Asked if he would have made the movie had he known it would be so controversial, he says, “Yes. The cowboys are a fascinating subject for any filmmaker. Besides, on many levels, the subject chose me.”

At last, I know what love is!

2010-04-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Love for me is knowing and absolutely believing that my life will be happier with him. Just one look at him and I know how his day has been. I know how to approach him, what questions to ask, how he loves to have his back rubbed before I hug him and kiss him.

Love for me is accepting him as he is and still in love with him. Just the thought of him would make me feel at peace. I fear nothing as long as we're together. His happiness is my happiness, his tears are in my eyes... Waking up from a beautiful dream is no longer a dread because when I look at him sleeping peacefully besides me, I know my reality is way more beautiful than the dream.

I love him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health 'till death do us part.

God, please make him mine forever.

Aw, That Is Just So Sweet

2010-04-24T05:46:00.000-07:00

A former intern at my office wrote this in her blog. Please allow me to indulge in my secret vanity by putting the link. Enjoy!

http://www.shrunkin.com/33389/

Dolphins

2009-12-16T22:36:00.000-08:00

Today I saw a pair of cute silver dolphin earrings at Perlini Silver store and I couldn't help myself.

A few years ago, Witte went diving in Lovina, Bali and when he returned to Jakarta, he said he was enchanted by a group of dolphins he saw in the ocean.

"Dolphins are the most intelligent creatures in the sea and they reminded me of you," he said.

I asked why and he asked me to close my eyes.

"Open your eyes," he said and he showed me a silver dolphin-shaped ring and a dolphin-shaped bracelet in his hand.

"Because you're the most intelligent woman on earth I've ever known," he said and he put the ring on my finger and the bracelet on my wrist. I just cried and hugged him close. How could I not love him?

Looking at the dolphin earrings, my heart swell with love and a yearning for my Witte. I had no doubt. I bought them and put them on my ears. Suddenly I feel at peace, I feel my Witte is so close to me. His dolphin.

Sadomasochist

2009-12-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

8 P.M I just arrived at my flat from work. I had a fever and a dizzy head. Still, I wanted to get my laundry done before I took a rest. Then his email arrived in my blackberry. It's him, Witte. He said he's in Jakarta and is waiting for a friend but as soon as he finishes with his friend, he will call me up and we'll meet. Suddenly, I didn't feel any fever, my dizzy head was gone. I did my laundy in record breaking speed and took a shower. I put on my prettiest dress, a flowery dress with deep, low cut which shows my cleavage. I put on my make up, accentuated my eyes and sat in my bedroom watching TV, waiting for his call.

10 P.M He called. He said his friend will come at 11 P.M and he wanted to rearrange the meeting with me to tomorrow evening. What? I told him I'll wait. Even if hatthe meeting wraps up at midnight, I will call a cab and meet him wherever he is. He told me to take it easy, well, that's impossible. What if something happens between tonight and tomorrow evening? What if one of us dies without seeing each other for the last time? How could he not know that he's the only one who can make everything else doesn't seem that important. I love him to the bone. Hook, line and sinker. I insisted we meet tonight. i just don't care anymore. i want to see him and i want it now.

10.54 P.M I'm still waiting for him. Save your breath because I know what you're gonna say: I'm a sadomasochist. It took me years to learn to love like this, loving him to the core without expecting anything... because there's nothing to expect. I love him and that's enough.

10.59 P.M i'm still waiting

Witte

2009-12-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

Witte in Dutch means "White" and that's my nickname for a man who so far remains the greatest love of my life. He lives in Den Bosch, Netherlands. He's an auto engineer, 44 years old, blond and blue eyed with a smile that melts my inside. Tall and well built, soft spoken, family man, in short the kind of man you would want to marry or be the father of your children, or maybe both. For me, marriage with him maybe out of question but I'd love to have him as the father of my children.

He has a partner.

No matter how fantastic he is, he's somebody else's property. I know, I know you'd say that I'm a beautiful, smart, independent woman and I can get any man I want. It's not entirely true. Believe me, my good qualities sometimes become the roadblock between me and prospective dates who don't have enough confidence to approach me but that's another story...

Back to mijn Witte. Well, he always comes to Indonesia every august or december for holiday and this december would mark our four-year affair. Don't ask me the definition of an affair because I'm not Miriam Webster. All I know is, every day both of us live our lives separately in two continents. Thousands of kilometers apart. Five-hour time difference. Still, I can feel that our hearts are connected to each other. Sometimes somewhere in my busy day, I would think of him and wish him well. Every day. My heart aches every time he crosses my mind and i would close my eyes, hug myself... Imagining it's this arms that wrapped around me, holding me close.

Yes, I do date other men. Last year I even got engaged to an Aussie, alas the odds were against me. The engagement fell apart but I couldn't be happier. Looking back I couldn't imagine myself being married to a man who did not love me but that's also another story.

Witte is here for Christmas and New Year. That alone is enough to keep me smiling despite the bad stormy weather (literally), financial issues, newsroom drama and the resurrection of legging and pantyhose.

The love of my life is here and that's all I need, for now.

Ya Ampun Kamu Kok Gemuk Banget!

2009-09-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

Pertanyaan pertama saya: apakah bertambah berat badan atau terlihat montok adalah suatu kejahatan di Jakarta?

Jika jawaban anda adalah tidak, maka izinkan saya menyampaikan kekesalan yang sudah bertahun tahun mengganjal. Jika jawaban anda ya, silakan berhenti membaca unek unek ini.

Saya tidak pernah merasa harus menjelaskan kepada siapa pun mengenai pola makan saya, apakah saya berolahraga atau tidak, dan hal hal lain yang mengarah pada alasan atau penyebab jarum timbangan berat badan saya bergerak ke arah 80 kg.

Namun jangan dikira saya tidak stress dengan hal itu. Asal anda tahu, saya sangat frustrasi setiap kali belanja dan melihat ada banyak gaun cantik yang tidak bisa saya pakai karena ukurannya terlalu kecil dan modelnya tidak pas dengan postur saya yang tinggi besar. Saya bukan fashionista dan jarang mengikuti arus mode tapi saya juga ingin sesekali mengenakan skinny jeans dan itu adalah suatu tantangan karena dari namanya saja sudah tidak mungkin. Tapi hal itu tidak membuat saya lantas stress, karena toh saya tetap bisa tampil cantik dan layak dengan model pakaian yang memang pantas dengan bentuk tubuh saya.

Nah, anda mau tau yang bikin saya stress?

Setiap kali bertemu sanak saudara atau teman lama yang sudah lama tidak berjumpa dan kalimat pertama mereka adalah, "Ya ampun, kamu kok gemuk banget sih sekarang!'

Tolong bantu saya berpikir, dari semua hal baik yang bisa dikatakan, kenapa justru kalimat itu yang terlontar? Apa yang terjadi dengan, "Hai, apa kabar? Seneng banget bisa ketemu lagi," atau "Ya ampuuun, aku kangen banget sama kamu. Ayo cerita cerita!"

Pernah ga denger nasehat bahwa jika anda tidak bisa mengatakan sesuatu yang baik, mending diem aja.

Untuk anda yang pernah atau bahkan sudah terbiasa mengucapkan kalimat itu, apakah anda tau bahwa perkataan anda sangat menyakitkan? Apakah anda tau betapa kalimat itu menjatuhkan mental dan kepercayaan diri 'korban' anda? Apakah anda tau betapa orang yang anda jatuhkan kepercayaan dirinya sedang berusaha keras menurunkan berat badannya meski hal itu sebenarnya ga perlu dia lakukan tapi terpaksa dia lakukan karena ada orang orang picik seperti anda yang tidak bisa merasa senang sebelum membuat orang lain merasa tidak nyaman dengan diri mereka sendiri?

Apa anda sadar betapa perkataan anda bisa membuat 'korban' anda melakukan hal hal bodoh yang bisa membahayakan kesehatan diri mereka seperti menahan lapar, minum obat obatan penurun berat badan yang belum jelas keamanannya, atau menyiksa diri di gym?

Jika anda berdalih bahwa apa yang anda katakan bertujuan untuk memberi motivasi pada 'korban' anda, ayolah, siapa yang sedang anda bodohi?

Jika anda benar benar peduli, cukup dengan halus meminta kawan atau kerabat anda yang menurut anda 'gemuk' agar waspada dengan ancaman penyakit seperti jantung, asam urat, diabetes dll dan mengingatkan mereka untuk rajin mengonsumsi sayuran serta mulai memperhatikan asupan serta pola makan. Kami tidak bodoh, kami tau apa maksud anda dan kami sangat menghargai cara anda mengingatkan kami untuk menjaga kesehatan tanpa membuat kami merasa seperti seekor babi yang gemuk. Kami menghargai nasehat anda karena itu adalah ungkapan kepedulian anda sebagai sahabat atau saudara.

Jadi, tolong, sesudah membaca tulisan ini cobalah untuk mengerem lidah anda setiap kali anda tergoda untuk mengatakan kalimat berbisa "Ya ampun, kamu kok gemuk banget!" tapi jika sesudah membaca tulisan ini anda tetap bergeming, maka saya merasa kasihan pada anda karena anda harus membuat orang lain merasa buruk dan terhina hanya untuk mengangkat rasa percaya diri anda.

Hey, I'm famous!

2009-05-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

you'd better believe it!! Copy paste the link to your browser, search for my name and you'll see what I mean.

Should I Call Him After The First Date?

2009-03-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a great date with a wonderful man. A few days passed and he still hasn't called me. I was almost tempted to call him but then i read Greg Behrendt's He's Just Not That Into You. For you, fellow ladies, who might have the same dillema as I did, here's what Greg says:

1. THE "MAYBE HE FORGOT TO REMEMBER ME" EXCUSE
Have faith. You made an impression. Leave it at that. If he likes you, he'll still remember you after the tsunami, flood, or Red Sox loss. If he doesn't, he's not worth your time.

2.Men don't forget how much they like you. So put down the phone.

3. You are good enough to be asked out.

4. He's just not that into you if he's not calling you. Men know how to use the phone.

5. Oh sure, they say they're busy. They say they didn't have even a moment in their insanely busy day to pick up the phone. It was just that crazy. Bullshit. With the advent of cell phones and speed dialing it is almost impossible not to call you.

6. If I were into you, you would be the bright spot in my horribly busy day. Which would be a day that I would never too busy to call you.

7. The next incredible guy we meet with the really good excuse is just another guy who's hurting our feelings.

8.One hundred percent of men polled said they've never been too busy to call a woman they were really into. As one fine man said, "A man has got to have his priorities."

9. If he's not calling you, it's because you're not on his mind.

10. You deserve a fucking phone call

So, is a phone call just a phone call, or is it really the almighty representation of how much he really cares about you? Probably somewhere in the middle. And a good man will know that and use this handy telecommunication device accordingly. E-mails need not apply.

We are all beautiful, smart, funny women, and we shouldn't be wasting our time figuring out why a guy isn't calling us. So girlfriend, put down that phone!

TEN THINGS TO DO AFTER BREAK UP

2009-03-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

1. put all of his pics and belongings in a cardboard marked HIS. Take it to your parents' place or your friend's place for temporary storing. Don't give it back to him directly because it is still painful for you to see him or you might use it as an excuse to see him.

2. put all of the things he gave you in a separate cardbox marked MINE, including all of your pics together. Put tight scotch-tape all around it and store it some place invisible. Be strong. Don't open it until you have been married for ten years

3. Erase his numbers from your phone. Erase his name from your blackberry messenger list. Erase his email address from your account. Whatever you do, do not attempt contact with him. Be classy, be strong. You'll be proud of yourself later. Trust me

4. I know, I know. Meeting his friends can be painful sometimes, so don't. Try to fill your time, call your old friends, meet favorite cousins, get busy at the office, whatever! You know yourself the best. You can cry your eyes out and drown in sorrow but please, girlfriend, hear what I'm saying: YOU ARE A WONDERFUL PERSON AND YOU DESERVE SOMEBODY WHO RECOGNIZES THAT. And the next best thing is, you will meet that man, oh yes, you will!!

5. Take good care of yourself. Have your hair done. Put some make up on your face. Wear that pretty dress. Don't take revenge on the way you look. Shine on, Silvermoon. When you walk out of the house looking and feeling like the most beautiful girl in the world, friends and family will say, Oh break up has done her a lot of good.

The next five things will soon follow.

Dear Love God, It's Me, Pinta

2009-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Love God, it's me, Pinta.
How are you, Love God? It's been a while since we had our last talk.
I'm fine, Love God. I'm in a healing process after the last metrosexual, popular-among-girls, attention-hunger frog you tried to fool me with(and succedeed! ).

I don't mean to complain, Love God, but frogs are only good for catching mosquitoes and flies . Besides, I had enough frogs in my romantic life span.

Sure, Oprah and Carrie Bradshaw should supply me with enough basic knowledge about male pattern of bastardness but hey, even Jen Aniston failed to read the signs and look who's shagging Brad Pitt now! (Salute, Ms Jolie)

Anyway, I learned another lesson from the godforsaken frog: I will only stay in a relationship where I feel happy, loved and comfortable. Dang, I should've stuck by the rules in the He's Just Not That Into You bible written by one of your messengers, whose name I can't even remember. (I'm sorry, I'd pay more attention )

Love God, tell me honestly, where is my Mr Right? I assume he's from a place thousands of miles away from me. Well,is he already at the international airport ready to board the love jet? What's his first name? Is he in facebook? What's his Blackberry PIN?

In the meantime, how many Mr Right Now's I still have to endure?
Love God, I know you told me to be patient but it sucks being lonely. And no, I can't kiss and cuddle with friends. Pets are not a temporary solution either.

Yes, Love God? Ok, I promise I'll be more faithful.I will enjoy my life and be happy until my Mr Right gives me a beautiful 2-carat (colorless, well-cut) diamond ring in a Tiffany's blue box.

Will I have a wedding in The Plaza like Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson in Bride Wars? Don't think so, though. A beautiful beach wedding is more likely. I'm a hopeless romantic and sometimes, I confess, corny.

Love God, it's a relief talking to you. I have to go somewhere, we'll chat again later.
By the way, Love God, have you joined Facebook?

I'll Be Seeing You

2009-02-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

Ill be seeing you
In all the old, familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.

In that small cafe
The park across the way
The childrens carousel
The chestnut tree
The wishing well.

Ill be seeing you
In every lovely, summers day
And everything thats bright and gay
Ill always think of you that way
Ill find you in the morning sun
And when the night is new
Ill be looking at the moon
But Ill be seeing you.

Hidden

2009-02-24T20:21:00.000-08:00

Honestly,

there's a sudden pain in my heart
there's anger
there are choked back tears
there's a deep sadness
there's frustration
there's hatred

Everytime I see you with other women.

Help me, o, heart breaker, help me by not crossing my path
Help me by not showing off your face in my door
Help me by not staying in my world
Help me by disappearing from my life
Help me, you godforsaken pitiful excuse for a man, help me!!
Get lost. For good.

Comeback you, youthful body!

2008-12-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

I'm a 32 year old single woman with killer boobs and an overweight bod, to begin with. It's killing me, the extra pounds not the boobs. It's definitely a hard thing for a woman to take especially because i used to be a tall girl with a spanish guitar figure. I used to be very athlethic, jogging twice a week and a one hour cardio every day, not to mention the food-combining diet. Then I lost my motivation to stay fit and trim.
Now I spend hours watching tv, my hardest exercise is climbing the three flight of stairs to get to my office every day. Even as I'm writing this, I'm sitting at a french pattiserie sipping espresso and munching on a pear tart. In my bag I have a chocolate bar, a pouch of cheese sticks and some candies. I'm watching Madagascar 2 afterwards with my svelte girlfriend whose idea of a big meal is a piece of chicken drum and a handful of steamed rice. Oh, by the way, I just had lunch consisting of two plates of rice, a piece of fried chicken thigh and fried tempeh and tahu. Oh ya, lots of raw vegetables and spicy sambal kemangi. I was in the mood for Sundanese food. What a pig i have been! See??
Everytime I watch The Nanny, it reminds me of how I should start exercising again. So today before I came here, I spent three hours cleaning up my apartment. I changed the sheets of the bed, I dusted the modest furniture, I swept and mopped the floor, I brushed the bathroom floor, i took out the garbage, I even organized my books and threw away unused stuffs. It made me sweat and smell like Cinderella, I mean it, I almost fainted when I sniffed my armpit. Sorry.
Allright, so here is my resolution for the new year: exercise and live a healthy life. No more beers, no more social smoking, no more fatty food, and lots and lots of exercise. Light or hard, five minutes or an hour, anytime I can manage, I will try to exercise. I'm sure living a healthy life will lead to a beautiful romantic life. I'll be happier and happiness is attractive.
Allah, please guide this clueless mortal worshipper of Yours. Amen.

The Truth About Moving On

2008-12-26T02:53:00.000-08:00

Breaking up is hard to do, a song says and it is indeed. Whoever said breaking up is easy is either a type A jerk or a cat. But seriously, what makes ending a romantic relationship is like pulling a dagger stabbed through your heart is the awareness that you are suddenly alone. Simple questions like, "What should I do on friday night?' or "How am I supposed to spend the weekend?" can make a day turns into a total hell.
If that's not enough, post break up period is painful especially when the former significant other moves on faster than we are. How to fight the constant craving to communicate with him (since I'm a woman, let's use 'him' to name the former lover), or to find out what he does every hour of the day and the mother of all post-breakup curiosity: does he have a new girlfriend already???
Things become a lot harder when you have already moved in with the former lover. Either he leaves or you leave. When the place is rented then men usually don't bother, they will leave. But it means you will have to pay the rent by yourself. If you can't afford it, then you have to leave too and find a more affordable place to stay. A whole new chaos will start. The stress of moving is known to be the second most likely thing to kill a person after divorce.
And again, the loneliness. God, this is pathetic but it is true. It feels so lonely in break-up land. Friends are not enough, we can't kiss a friend or make love with them. We need to love and be loved. We need a lover.
I need a lover

The Secret to Money

2008-07-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

Money
Money is magnetic energy. You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings.

To become a powerful money magnet:

Be clear about the amount of money you want to receive. State it and intend it! Don’t think about how much you can earn, but how much you want to receive.

Fall in love with money. Most people do not love money, because they always feel that they don't have enough of it.

Visualize and imagine yourself spending all the money you want, as though you have it already.

Speak, act, and think from the mindset of being wealthy now. Eliminate thoughts and words of lack such as "I can't afford it", "It is too expensive".

Do not speak or think of the lack of money for a single second.

Be grateful for the money you have. Appreciate it as you touch it.

Make lists of all the things you will buy with an abundance of money.

Do whatever it takes for you to feel wealthy.

Affirm to yourself every day that you have an abundance of money, and that it comes to you effortlessly.

Appreciate all the riches around you, including the riches of others. Look for wealth wherever you go, and appreciate it.

Be certain that money is coming to you.

Love yourself and know that you are deserving and worthy of an abundance of money.

Remind yourself everyday that you are a money magnet, and ask yourself often during the day, am I attracting money now or pushing it away with my thoughts?

Always, always pay yourself first from your wage, then pay your creditors. In that single act, you are telling the Universe that you are worthy and deserving of more.

Repeat over and over every day, "I am a money magnet and money comes to me effortlessly and easily."

Write out a check to yourself for the sum of money you would like to have and carry it in your wallet. Look at it often.

Do whatever it takes to feel good. The emotions of joy and happiness are powerful money magnets. Be happy now!

Love yourself!
Wealth is a mindset. Money is literally attracted to you or repelled from you. It's all about how you think.

The Secret to Relationship

2008-07-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

This is The Secret in a nutshell. I am a convert now and I hope The Secret can also inspire you.

RELATIONSHIP
You can completely transform any relationship, no matter what it's like right now.

Every single relationship you have is a reflection of how you feel inside about you. You are a magnet attracting to you all things, via

the signal you are emitting through your thoughts and feelings. Every relationship you have and every interaction with every person,

is a reflection of your own thoughts and feelings in that very moment.

To transform every single relationship you have in your life:

Fall in love with YOU!

Make lists of hundreds and hundreds of wonderful things about you. Keep adding to it every day.

Know that you are perfect. Do not think any negative thoughts about you.

Know that you are worthy and deserving of anything and everything you could possibly want in your life.

Focus on the wonderful things in every person. Look for only those things.

Do not blame or criticize anybody, ever.

Set an intention that you are going to see the best in everything and everyone.

Make your happiness the number one thing in your life. Happiness is an inside job.

Free yourself of the responsibility of trying to make other people happy. Respect and love them enough to allow them to take care of

their own happiness.

Get your attention off those things in others that don't make you feel good.

Appreciate and love yourself in every moment you can.

Do not expect others to behave in a way you want, so you will be happy. Release yourself forevermore and know that you alone

control your happiness and it is a choice, no matter what anyone else is doing.

Love and respect yourself completely.

Know that you are perfect right now.

TOTAL VOETBALL

2008-06-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

I admit, I'm a TV freak. I would watch just about anything and having a cable TV is as important to me as having a cellphone. Aside from the CSI series in AXN, the regular dose of Discovery Channel Travel and Living, I so love watching CNN. Should anybody ask why, I would ask 'Why not?' As a TV journalist, I think it's mandatory to watch CNN for they have a great way to package news items, be it sport, entertainment or politics. Yes, especially politics.

In the last few months, the prima donna of CNN agenda is the US Presidential Election. They have a special segment in every news program. Besides the compulsory news such as the campaigning activities and manouvres by the candidates (John McCain/Republic, Barack Obama/Democrat, and Hillary Clinton/Democrat--she has resigned), they have really witty soft news about the race. Three days ago, they ran a story about Obama's presidential seal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGeLeVpIHE

Obama's team created a seal with his name on it which looked like the presidential seal. And what's worse, they put the seal on the front part of Obama's table. The reaction in the vox pop was various. One woman was shown the picture of the seal and shrieked, "What audacity of hope?? It's the audacity of HIM!", another was quoted saying, "It's a mistake, very arrogant." The Obama team later said it's a one-time seal made for a one-time event.

However, the damage's done. It's not actually advantageous for Obama's campaign, especially after rumor spreading through the internet that Obama is an Arab and linked to terrorism (maybe because his name rhymes with Osama).

Okay, okay, back to the topic: CNN election news packaging. Hard news about the election is amazingly complete, analytical, and compact. It's long enough for the audience to get the picture and it's short enough too keep the audience from boredom. The whole news program is integrated, I mean, the news anchors seem to understand really well about the news they deliver, the audio-visual editing, the script, and the graphics support one another to make an excellent news item. To them, every news is important and they make the audience think the same way. They have applied the principle of "Total Voetball" in broadcast news. Hmm, I think I should mail my Deputy Editor-in-Chief who swears by the total voetball concept. I've got it, mate!

Tentang Inovasi dan Berpikir Positif

2008-06-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

Needs is the mother of invention, begitu kata seorang pemikir besar dari masa lalu, dan ia benar. Dari kebutuhan kecil melahirkan alat bantu kecil, kebutuhan besar melahirkan alat bantu besar. Alas kaki tercipta karena manusia zaman dahulu perlu sesuatu untuk melindungi kaki mereka saat berjalan di era ketika transportasi utama adalah kuda. Eskalator tercipta karena orang butuh suatu alat untuk menghemat waktu dan tenaga saat naik tangga.

Semangat untuk berinovasi juga membuat orang lebih mampu beradaptasi dengan perubahan zaman dan kondisi hidup yang semakin lama, semakin keras. Saat krisis ekonomi tahun 2007, ribuan orang kehilangan pekerjaan mereka karena di phk. Tapi orang Indonesia bukan bangsa yang mudah menyerah. Mereka yang menjadi korban phk putar otak dan dengan modal seadanya, banting stir buka warung tenda, berjualan makanan dengan mobil, buka usaha binatu, menerima pesanan kue, apa saja. Kerja keras demi bertahan hidup itu kini terbayar sudah. Banyak korban phk yang kini menjadi pengusaha sukses dan memberikan lapangan kerja juga penghidupan bagi banyak orang.

Mitologi Cina mengenal kisah burung Hong atau burung Phoenix yang terlahir kembali setelah terbakar menjadi abu. Hal itu seharusnya menjadi inspirasi bagi mereka yang sedang dirundung nasib kurang beruntung. Kenapa 'sedang'? Karena keadaan hanyalah suatu hal yang bersifat temporer, keadaan dapat diubah. Maka bekerjalah, berinovasilah, galilah potensi diri. Nasib kita ada di tangan kita sendiri. Kebahagiaan dan kesuksesan tidak datang sendiri. Kita harus berusaha untuk bahagia. Mulailah sekarang, mari kita berpikir positif karena pikiran positif membawa hasil positif dan vice versa.

Positive Thinking

2008-06-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Everything is allright with my universe
My love life is excellent
My future is looking bright
My work is enjoyable and I know a great new job is on its way
Good things always happen to me

Everything is allright with my universe

Deaf and Blind

2008-06-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

Whenever I travel be it by bus, train or cab, I usually make myself busy by reading, flicking with my cellphone or chatting with my travel mate/s. It's exhausting sometimes but I have to do it to avoid looking out the window and see poverty before my eyes. Beggars and homeless people, mentally-insane people who left their homes or abandoned by their families, children street singers, elderly people travel alone because they have no family to care for them or perhaps their children can't care enough about their old folks. Sigh..

It's a heartbreaking sight that I can't bear. My heart bleeds each time I see them. I can't imagine how they survive the harsh life in Jakarta streets. Do people still care about other people? I ask myself numerous times and every time I feel embarrased because I can't even bring myself to help the poor ones. I deliberately choose to be deaf and blind because I'm not strong enough to see the poor people. I know I shouldn't pretend to be deaf and blind in the face of growing poverty in Jakarta. I know I should do something.

Barack Oh..bama

2008-06-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

Selama tiga tahun terakhir, nama Barack Obama menjadi household name di Amerika Serikat dan berbagai penjuru dunia lainnya, hingga Indonesia. Obama, begitu senator dari partai Demokrat ini biasa disapa, memang fenomenal. Sebagai politisi, ia bersinar. Ide-idenya tentang masa depan Amerika dan politik perubahan yang diusungnya, menjadikannya bak secercah sinar terang di tengah citra politik luar negeri Amerika Serikat yang buram pasca keputusan Presiden George W Bush untuk melancarkan invasi ke Afghanistan dan Irak.

Obama tanpa ragu mencalonkan diri sebagai kandidat presiden AS dari partai Demokrat bersaing dengan rekannya sesama Demokrat yaitu John Edwards dan Hillary Clinton. Motto yang diusungnya, "Change we can believe in, " membuka jalan sukses dan popularitasnya. Edwards akhirnya mengundurkan diri, sedangkan Hillary butuh waktu 18 bulan untuk menyadari bahwa perjuangannya telah berakhir. Kekalahan Hillary dari Obama meski tidak sepenuhnya mengejutkan tapi tetap menarik untuk disimak, mengingat Hillary punya lebih banyak pengalaman. Suaminya, Bill Clinton, memimpin AS selama dua periode. Hillary pun memegang peranan penting yaitu sebagai penasehat Bill. Dalam berbagai pemilihan pendahuluan di beberapa negara bagian, Obama selalu bersikap santun baik kalah atau menang. Jika menang, ia tetap memberi pujian bagi Hillary dan jika kalah, ia tidak pernah lupa memberi selamat dengan tulus. Satu sikap legowo yang patut dicontoh oleh siapa saja. Media AS asyik mengulas penyebab kekalahan Hillary Clinton dari 'anak bawang' ini tapi ada satu yang cukup kocak, CNN mengatakan, kemungkinan Hillary kalah karena publik Amerika tidak suka dengan ide Bush-Clinton-Clinton-Bush-Clinton di gedung putih, hahahaha!

Latar belakang Barack Obama juga menarik. Ayahnya adalah seorang lelaki kulit hitam dari Kenya, Afrika dan ibunya Ann Dunham adalah wanita kulit putih dari Hawaii, AS. Sayang, orangtuanya bercerai. Ibunya kemudian menikah lagi dengan warga negara Indonesia bernama Lolo Sutoro. Ann dan Lolo kemudian pindah ke Jakarta bersama Obama kecil. Mereka tinggal di daerah Menteng Atas, Jakarta Pusat, selama beberapa tahun. Tidak heran jika banyak orang Indonesia yang merasa memiliki keterikatan dengan Obama. Man, calon presiden Amerika pernah tinggal di Jakarta!

Saya belum pernah bertemu Obama tapi saya bisa mengerti mengapa orang kagum padanya. Ia begitu berkharisma dan bersahaja. Secara fisik, ia juga lebih tampan dari John McCain, kandidat presiden dari partai Republik yang berjulukan 'Old Man McCain' hihihi. Suatu hari di tahun 2007, jaringan televisi Fox menyiarkan gambar Obama sedang berlari di pantai dengan bertelanjang dada. Sontak gadis-gadis memberinya nama panggilan Oh... Bama! Popularitasnya bahkan membuat seorang gadis cantik dan sexy membuat seri video klip berjudul Obama Girl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyjXt1zSXHU

Memang perjalanan Obama masih panjang. Memang pemilu AS punya banyak kejutan, meski sangat populer belum tentu kemenangan sudah di tangan. Memang kita belum tahu seperti apa kebijakan-kebijakan Obama nanti kalau terpilih, dan apa dampaknya buat Indonesia. Biarlah waktu kan menjawab semua tapi yang pasti saya berharap Barack Obama bisa menjadi Presiden Amerika Serikat karena Amerika bisa jadi lebih simpatik di bawah kepemimpinannya, karena dunia saat ini butuh tokoh yang dapat mempersatukan dan bukan mempertajam perbedaan dan akhirnya saya sangat berharap Obama menang karena alasan sederhana, bahwa ada sekeping Indonesia pada dirinya.

Hidup Obama!