The Damaging Subsidies

With the ever rising oil prices, the Indonesian government has been thriving to 'ease' the suffering on millions by subsidizing oil. A pretty noble act, really, but somehow dumbing and futile. According to the Indonesia Association Petroleum (IPA), total subsidy for oil and electricity (from fuel) has reached the toll number of 239,4 T Rupiah.

Imagine the burden it has on the APBN. That much must be channeled only to prolong the lives of millions.

ICP announced that with evry $1 increase in the price of oil (assuming $1 = 9,000-9100 Rupiah) will ultimately lead to a rise in 3,15 T Rupiah. With the current instability and uncertainty, I doubt that oil subsidy will fall anytime soon.

Subsidy now has become on of the largest spender in the govt's budget that it's ridiculous. That much Ts can be spent to help other real and productive sectors such as education and training so that Indonesians can actually educated themselves to get better jobs and better income. It would also increase the country's productivity and living standards in the future.

I know that this seems like a far, if not impossible goal to achieve. But I personally think that it's way better than feeding the people with the money that we honestly cant afford.

With the current education system and health implications (esp. malnutrition), some actually believe that by 2010, Indonesia will suffer from a lost generation because they're too dumb and malnutriced to begin with.

I think subsidies should still be given, only less with closer monitoring. Subsidies to the people is always way better than putting the money into the rats' pockets. I just think that the government should pay more attention on the micro of this economy than boasting on how we can still hold against the effects of the US's credit crunch.

Indexed

This is HILLARIOUS.

Check out the booze section. I couldnt stop smiling.

For Jed

I dont really get the idea of the game/homework/whatever this is. As a matter of fact I find it kinda weird and embarassing, but what the heck.

Aturan main:
1. Postinglah aturan pengerjaan tugas ini di dalam blog Anda.
2. Tulis delapan kebiasaan atau fakta tentang diri Anda (pilih secara acak).
3. Di bagian akhir tulisan, tulis delapan nama teman Anda yang ingin Anda suruh untuk mengerjakan tugas ini juga.
4. Jangan lupa untuk memberitahu delapan orang tersebut agar mereka membaca blog Anda dan kemudian mengerjakan tugas ini juga.
5. Tersenyumlah dengan penuh rasa puas setelah Anda menyelesaikan tugas ini.

8 facts about me (written in shame):

1. I'm a claustrophobic.
2. I dislike seafood.
3. I love melancholic songs.
4. I love reading.
5. I am a geek.
6. I am a fool.
7. I am feeling like a ultra geek writing this.
8. I cant stand waiting.

Now there u go. That wasnt so bad after all.

Anyways this is Jed's.

Hm it says that I should tag another 8. Argh what the heck. Whoever's willing to, feel free.

:)

It's now 6 AM in the morning and I'm up and about. Rise and shine. Had a sudden urge of missing-highschool moment. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I'm never up this early (I'm always late. Always.)

I woke up into the same old familiar coldness in the morning, the same want to stay in bed longer. It's like all I want to do is slip on into my ugly green uniform, put on the tie and vest and leave for school.

Then I would rush myself a bit, because I would be either late by 5 minutes or an hour. (This is totally not my fault. It's my nerve system?) As I climbed the stairs up in my old building, I would see Audi's idiotic face as she sat in front of our lockers. She was late, as usual. She would be sitting on the floor, sometimes motivating herself not to be late again in her life, with her little black Converse bag, a plastic bag full of papers and files, along with her big green transparent water bottle.

As she saw me walking towards her, we would lock eyes, and laugh at each other's ass like two complete retards at 7.10 in the morning. Then I would sit across her and we would share our obstacles of the day (such as laziness to attend Business, or the need to kill Maths teacher, or threatening assessments and assignments).

We would then laugh at each other again.

And when the bell rang (indicating that Devotion and Homeroom is over), we would pretend to be crazy and laugh when our homeroom came to see us. Offering shameless complimentaries ("Oh miss your eyes is so pretty today", "Did you lose weight?", "Wow yur hair is so pretty!") in laughter while she pretends to be mad at us for being late again. Then pat her on her tiny back and went pass her into the classroom. Sometimes we would get detentions (because she's pretending to be mean), and most of the times we would just happily get away with it.

Those were the days.

And some days we would be lucky enough to have glorious moments that define itself. Catastrophic or happy enough to be written here tho. This one is definitely defines this category:

Mr M ark R oberts' fiasco. This one's a classic beauty. I got cramps in my stomach from laughter just by reading and reliving it once more.

But right now, even coming to mundane classes would be just fine for me.

Oh I know what else I miss: the togetherness of 12.4 when we laugh at DPH's peach-like bottom. And having him laugh with us at him.

Super Nice English Indo Song

There's this new Indo singer that's been dominating the radio these days. Adhitia Sofyan with his single "Adelaide Sky".

Strangely, he sang with impeccable english instead of indonesian. Everytime I heard this song, I was quickly calmed with the soft accoustic tunes and his sweet voice.

It was also very KoC-ish though.

Gym Thoughts

I love my hair after my weekly body balance class. It's so soft and bouncy and pretty and just right. And it has a lifespan of 10 minutes. Story of my life, I couldnt bear having my hair wet and sweaty :(.

I also love my skin semi-sweaty because it looks so healthy and glowy. And sweaty and sticky and gross.

:)


And somehow in the dressing room, I managed to bump into one of my former classmates in primary school. We chatted, and I said hey to her friend who happens to be my junior in high school but never realized. Never saw her, as far as I can remember. She said she was a triple science kid.

Ah, no wonder.

When I asked her name, she replied, and I courteously gave her mine. And you knw what she said?

"Oh youre the Denica who got great UAI score"

OK I stood there beaming shamelessly with pride. It turns out being a part geek during high school pays off just right

Im such a loser.

The Sides

Stella wrote:

"sometimes these two dominant sides of myself really kill me. i think that they might destroy every brain cells my body've managed to produce each day."

"one is the sanguinic side. she believes that as long as she does everything that makes everyone happy, eventually she will be happy too."

"the good thing about her is that, she is strong and she will stay strong until she finds the happiness of her own."

"one is the melancholic side, beside constantly cursing what the sanguinic side is doing. she had also finished the list of ifs and thens. if good things come to her, the then will not stay good. if bad things come to her, the then will be worse. she believes that i am a doormat and she blames me for trapping her inside."

"the only good thing about her is that she believes that this life is only a temporary phase we have to go through and she had her own guide book of how to end it."

I think I have the same syndrome, the two sides thats making me a) positive and motivated, and b) negative and annoyed. The a) is the simple one that's always whispers motivational phrases to keep me going another day. This side always made me feel much better, see the world as a brighter and warmer place, and always tried to cheer up in hope that it'll scrub on to others.

This side made me dream like theres no tomorrow. Or wish that tomorrow would come because it has so many open doors and opportunities to be taken.

This one always made me feel like I can do whatever I want to.

And the other one, the b), is a plain bitch. She detests lots of things. She gets super annoyed when things doesnt go her way. She is annoying. Selfish. Inconsiderate.

And b)made me feel like crap. And my world becomes dark and sad and pitiful that I couldnt bear to do anything but listen to somber musics and be on my own.

Having said that, I dont really know whether I suffer from multiple personalities, a schizophrenic, or just immature.

Secretly I always hope that a) would triumph over b) and we'll all live happily ever after.

Porn Fight

The Indonesian govt is contemplating upon blocking porn websites as a radical move on the fight against pornography.

So yes, in the midst of rising basic prices and famished people, we are proudly fighting pornography.

What made me skeptical about all these fuss is the blatant fact that it's futile, unless of course the govt would block all porn sources: DVDs, magazines, pictures, newspaper ads etc etc.

Just this morning as I drove to Moms office, there were at least 6 people offering us drivers porn magazines. Imagine, porn delivered to you, at the convinience of your own car. Can things possibly get any easier?

This is the image that they're portraying: it is so OK for you to read and masturbate by reading tax-paying-adult-male magazines, as long as you dont do it infront of your computer screens.

So people, dont be that dissapointed. Porn will still be there for you, all you need is pay for it.

What Did I Do Yesterday

Im not sure. A lot of laughing. Random talks. Couple of boozes. More laughing. More booze. Much more laughing. Some dancing.

Something I'd like to call quality time.

18 may not be that different after all. The difference is that MY SISTER IS THE ONE GETTING ME WASTED. SHAME ON YOU, SISTER, SHAME ON YOU.

I'm so proud of you.

18! and 20!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER! Gosh cant believe you're 20! You're growing old, dude :p

At this day 20 yrs before, we might be busy contemplating and transmitting signals to decide when to pop. Because here we are, 18 yrs later, with the same birth date :)

Yes, I am now 18.

18.

18.

18.

Not 17.

This might take a while for me to adjust to.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER! WISHING YOU A GLORIOUS BIRTHDAY, AND A BLISSFUL YEAR TO COME.

OMG OMG YOU'RE 20!

XOXOs :)

This is Kong

This is Kong, my sister's doll. He's this abnormally round kingkong that looks like an idiot. Too stupid that it's cute. I wonder if she'll let me bring Kong (ok this isnt really his name) when I go abroad?

Hm.

My best guess is no, though.

Well if she doesnt, at least I have these pictures to remember him by :)

Geekong

Rocker Kong

Kong Hair Pushed Back

Bed Head Kong

Emo Kong

Girl Kong

Superman Kong

The Contender Asia- Ep 13

the first semi final. Surprisingly wasnt an adrenaline rusher. It was too predictable. And so not that awesome for a semi final. Cant wait for next week tho. JWP (me love) and Zhabar (me awed). Hmmm.



Long live the Bear.

James Blunt in Concert

JAMES BLUNT IS COMING ON MAY 21ST AND I WANT I WANT I WANT I WANT TO GO AND WATCH HIM.

Lemme tell u a secret: I've never been to any concert before. Yes, I am a concert virgin. And I would sooo let JB deflower me (not literally tho).

I WANT I WANT I WANT I WANT TO SEE JAMES BLUNT.

Why oh why does the people around me doesnt like JB? I brought home a flyer to arouse my sister's awareness to accompany me, but her first remark was sort of heart-breaking.

"Why would I wanna spend 650thou to watch this fag?"

NOOOOOOOOOO.

Last Pictures in Uniform

All the girls from class of 2007 :)


And here comes the maniac.

Money Bait

There's this new radio ad. At first the lady told listeners about recent famine tragedies that resulted in several deaths. Then gave poverty statistics. And ask rhetorical questions, gave words of encouragement for us to fight poverty together.

Comments from real people, saying things like "it's because the price of rice is so high!" or "i dont know what else to do"

Then the lady invites listeners to send in their ideas to fight poverty. Another motivating claims for us to help our people.

And offered hundreds of million rupiah in prize.

Then came other words of encouragement.

Then came the politician. Bla bla bla. Fight poverty with me.

--

This is absurd. How can they use these deaths, these tragedies, these agonies to help his campaign? It is so degrading on so many levels.

And they offered a huge sum of money for us to send in our ideas to help poverty, thinking that monetary incentives are the only thing that will keep us going. They maybe imagined us as the golddiggers who doesnt give a shit about anything but ourselves.

"Hey apparently there are people dying because of lack of food. Hm. I wonder if I should help. But hey, there's hundreds of million rupiah offered. Hm, who knows if I can win this thing. What an opportunity to brush up my imagination and bullshit skills!"

HOT

Jakarta these days is scorching hot. The air is so hot that the slightest breeze is like a kiss from heaven. I am trying really hard to cope, but bright colored tanktop and cotton boxer can only do so much. I feel like I'm in constant need to shower, which is a ridiculous excuse to waste precious water.

I would walk randomly throughout the house, up, down, kitchen, sitting room, bro's room, older bro's room, sis' room, my room, living room, dining room, just to enjoy the simple pleasure of breaking off the air infront of me with my presence, creating slight breeze for my sweating back.

I am even eating ice creams. I stole 2 spoonful from my sister's BR's Cookies and Cream 1 L pint when I dont even like them. I never really dig the idea of enjoying ice creams, theyre so creamy it makes my throat dry.

And as I just finished writing that sentence before, half of my ice cream melted. Yes, I am not that scientifically dumb that I dont know that ice creams would melt. But this aint right. The ice cream isnt melting, its like its racing relentlessly with an unprecedented pace. Maybe it couldnt bear the heat and prefer to commit suicide.

Ice cream suicide.

Hm.

I wonder if ice creams feel pain as they melt. Or would they joyfully chant their way up to ice cream heaven, where there's always winter and snowy and cold and they can play with all the other melted ice creams and make ice cream angels, ice cream ball war, or make ice cream snowmans.

I wonder if my brain is suffering from the heat.

Fitna. Ayat-Ayat Setan.

Really, when will we grow up.