The shortest month of the year

Has this month gone fast or what!?
I can't believe it is going to March tomorrow. It is been a while since
I start marking my calendar for February and look at it now....
Well it is the last day of the month.... it is February 28....

Yeah, time flies away, it is almost March....

La Vague

The Flower
A female flower, delicate and fragile and soft, never jaded of the buzzing bees that drop by her throne, tasting her sweet smelling honey in return for a chat or two about their lives, their thoughts and sights of the world. She wishes she could give them something else, so she sends out her fragrance and her cheerful mild-mannered ways while the bees told their stories, hoping its enough to brighten up the day.

The Thoughts
There are certain times in your life when you feel that certain things are ..unclear.. indefinite ..obscure ..and dreamlike. But amongst all vague things, the long path of different interpretations will lead us to comprehend something new.

"...Let go of your worries and be completely clear-hearted, like the face of a mirror that contains no images. If you want a clear mirror, behold yourself and see the shameless truth, which the mirror reflects. If metal can be polished to a mirror-like finish, what polishing might the mirror of the heart require? Between the mirror and the heart is this single difference: the heart conceals secrets, while the mirror does not..."

Leven

Leven zonder liefde,

is leven met verdriet
Leven zonder vrede,

dat leven ken ik niet
Leven zonder vriendschap,

daar gaat een mens aan dood

Deze drie dingen hebben alle mensen nodig

zelfs in hun nood...

Tanyakanlah pada Mama dan Papa

jika ada yang menceritakan omong kosong tentang bintang jatuh, atau tentang doa-doa yang terjawab, tanyakanlah pada mama, nama siapa disebut dalam doanya

jika begitu kamu rindu langit dan bintang-bintang, atau tentang malaikat bersayap lembut, tanyakanlah pada papa, wajah siapa terbayang dalam tidurnya

mereka telah mengerti tentang bintang dan kisah tentang santa

I wish a Falling Star could fall forever

Pasti banyak orang yang pernah dengar tentang fenomena 'Falling Star' yang katanya kita harus 'Make a Wish' saat melihatnya. Wish itu sangat dipercaya akan menjadi kenyataan. Sayangnya cuman bisa 1 wish, mungkin bisa banyak tapi karena falling star kan kejadiannya sangat cepat maka wishes kita itu harus yang OK dan bagus. Jarang sekali bisa diulangi untuk kedua kalinya atau untuk forever.. hehe..

Make a wish saat falling star itu lebih exciting dari pada make a wish saat meniup birthday candle, mungkin karena itu bisa dilakukan setiap tahun. Beda sama falling star yang kejadiannya itu.. 'Once in a lifetime'. Kaya married aja.. ada yang sudah untuk ke 3 atau ke 4 kalinya married.. hehe..

Pikir-pikir.. sebenarnya apa yang membuat wishes kita waktu 'falling star' jadi kenyataan? Clue seperti ini, mungkin ini fenomena yang turun-temurun sejak jaman bahela kalau wishes kita saat 'falling star' pasti akan menjadi kenyataan. Oleh karena itu, kita jadi yakin banget wishes kita akan menjadi kenyataan, maka hidup kita terarah pada wishes kita.

Seperti wishes kepingin jadi orang yang kaya, dia merasa bisnisnya berkembang lancar dan sukses tapi sebenarnya yang ada, adalah semangat untuk mewujudkan wishes tersebut.

Analogi-nya seorang peramal. Meramal si A dan si B misalnya akan cerai, maka hidup mereka akan dalam bayangan perceraian, sehingga masalah kecilpun bisa dijadikan alasan pertengkaran dan perceraian, karena dalam pikiran mereka sudah bercerai aja.

Jadi intinya... YAKIN dan PERCAYA...

Mungkin itu clue yang aku dapat, bisa jadi ada clue lain yang gak sempat terlintas dipikiranku.... aku menanti dengan exiting moment itu.. hehe....

One World

If peace and love prevail among all different religious followers, the world would be so much simpler, and so much more comforting. Humanity will be much better. Prosperity and fraternity among mankind will be the talk of our daily life.

There are a few segment and fraction of all religious followers who want to make the faith differences as a big issue, making the always-want-to-be-close instinct of human species evaporates.

This kind of tendencies should not be given any chance to grow as it is the evil in itself. Let any religious preference be a personal choice without interfering. Any single person knows what is best for him or her. Let the World become one.

Salam, Peace, Syaloom....

The Secret Garden of Jerry MaGuire

I Love This Movie... sometimes I watch this movie again. I've always liked it, and liked it a lot. In short, this film is nothing short of miraculous. There is something about this movie that I've just now realized. What it is, I'm not sure, but I do have a theory: Soul. It is an uncompromising movie about principles and loyalty and the true nature of Love. I've seen a lot of love stories, but I rarely see one that tries to get to the true bottom of what love really is the way that this one does.

Someday, I wish I love a woman enough to pour my heart out to her as Tom does to Renee at the end of this movie. I someday wish to meet a woman that I can't live without who, in turn, can't live without me. Until then, I can simply watch "Jerry Maguire", cry my eyes out, and dream... :)

Here's the song and the dialogues:

Secret Garden
(Jerry MaGuire Version)
Sung by: Bruce Springsteen

Dorothy: "I was just about to tell you"
Laurel: (uh huh)
Dorothy: "That I love him, I do.. I love him, I love him and I don't care what you think.. I love him for the man he wants to be and I love him for the man he almost is.. I love him Laurel.. I love him, I love him"

(Bruce)
She'll let you in her house
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides

Cuba: "You got to be fair to her. She loves you. If you don't love her, you got to tell her"

(Bruce)
She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart if you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice

Jerry: "What if we got married if I said that would you stay,"
Dorothy: "No, no, don't do that, don't say that unless."

(Bruce)
You've gone a million miles

Dorothy: "Well you can say if you want to"

(Bruce)
How far'd you get

Jerry: "Will you marry me?"

(Bruce)
To that place where you can't remember

Jerry: "What are you thinking?"

(Bruce)
And you can't forget

Dorothy: "Laurel, we're getting married"

(Bruce)
She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away

Priest: "Do you Jerry Mcguire take this women to be your lawfully wedded wife? And do you Dorothy boyce (Dorothy Says,"not now sweetheart") take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? I know pronounce you husband and wife."
Dorothy: "I pretended that proposal by the car was real and it might have been just a hypothetical I did this and at least I can do something about it now"
Jerry: "So this brake is a brake up" (sighs)
Dorothy: "Come on Jerry you know this isn't easy for me"
Jerry: "OK, OK, if this is where it has to end, if this is where it has to happen. I'm not letting you get rid of me. How about that? I miss my wife. I love You! You.. complete me and I just ha..."
Dorothy: "Just shut up, just shut up. You had me at hello, you had me at hello.....

Menjadi Wanita Single lebih menyenangkan

Jaman sekarang, kalau wanita gak dapat jodoh diusia 30-an bukan masalah lagi. Wanita modern gak tertarik dengan baju pengantin yang anggun. Apakah menjadi wanita single lebih menyenangkan?

Sepanjang mereka bekerja, bisa menghidupi diri sendiri dan tidak merepotkan orangtua, saudaranya, family, apalagi orang lain, biasanya orangtua bisa menerima pilihan anaknya. Penerimaan mereka terhadap wanita yang jomblo ini semakin terbuka, terutama di kota-kota besar.

Wanita memilih hidup tanpa pasangan pasti beralasan. Ada yang patah hati, gak mau sakit hati lagi, memilih pria yang udah settled, ingin kariernya gak terganggu, dan sebagian menganggap memang jodohnya belum tiba. Ada yang masalah berbeda agama, berbeda prinsip, sampai kalau ngobrol gak nyambung.

Banyak wanita juga mengatakan, hidup sendiri memberikan kebebasan untuk melakukan semua hal yang diinginkan. Mengatakan akan tetap single karena lebih menyenangkan. Mengatakan lebih suka single karena membuat rumah mereka tetap rapi.

Alasan lain wanita yang memilih hidup sebagai single: “Kalau kawin justru tambah bikin susah sebab wajib membuatkan suami kopi, menyediakan makan, dan pekerjaan rumah tangga lain, gak perlu memaksakan diri menonton acara olahraga di TV untuk mendampingi suami, belum lagi berisiko makan hati, kenapa harus memilih menikah?”

Wanita akan lebih merasa bahagia jika hidup sendiri alias tidak menikah. Namun, kaum wanita single yang berusia 30-an ini akan mankin mengecil dengan bertambahnya usia mereka menjelang ke 40-an.
Barangkali mereka sadar makin tua hidup makin “sepi” tanpa pasangan. Tapi kalau dapat pasangan yang gak bener dan tepat, repot juga, bakal tersiksa seumur hidup.

Ah, serba salah memang.....

Why Men Don't Listen

Today, I’ve read an interesting article of Lorraine Pirihi, Australia’s Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach, which to my point of view there may’be a ring of truth to the perception of a girl friend why “It’s sometimes hard to be a women Living in a Man’s World”...


According to research, women speak around 30,000 (that’s right guys) words a day and men (if you’re lucky) speak around 10,000. So that’s a ratio of 3:1.

Interesting, isn’t it? So how does this work in daily life?

She Says: “He just doesn’t listen”
He Says: “She talks too much”

In their best-selling books “Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps” and “Why Men, Lie and Women Cry”, Barbara and Alan Pease say: Women Talk, Talk and Talk...

When a woman talks she often uses indirect speech. This means she hints at what she wants or infers things.

Women’s indirect speech has a purpose - it builds relationships and rapport with others by avoiding aggression, confrontation or discord.

When women use indirect speech with other women there is seldom a problem - women are sensitive to picking up the real meaning. It can, however be disastrous when used on men.

Men Take Words Literally
Men use direct speech and take words literally. They find women’s lack of conversational structure and purpose very disconcerting, and accuse women of not knowing what they’re talking about. They respond by saying things like “What’s the point here?”, “Where is this conversation going?” and “What’s the bottom line?”

Men then proceed to talk to a woman as if she is a mental patient or will cut her off by saying “We’ve been over this a dozen times”, “How much longer will this take?” and “This conversation is too much hard work and isn’t going anywhere!”

Indirect Talk In Business
When a woman uses indirect speech in business, it can prove problematic because men may have difficulty following a multi-tracked, indirect conversation.
Men need to be presented with clear, logical, organised ideas and information before they will make a decision. A woman can have her ideas and requests rejected purely because her male boss didn’t have a clue what she really wanted.

Marie's Story
After six months of negotiations, Marie finally won the chance to present her company’s new advertising program to a big financial client. The audience would be eight men and four women, the account up for grabs was worth $200,000, and she had 30 minutes to sell her story.

As she started into her presentation, however, she noticed how blankly the men were regarding her. She felt they were judging her critically and, assuming they were losing interest, she began to multi-track her presentation to try to spur their interest by going back to previous slides, talking indirectly and trying to show how one related to the other.

The women were giving her encouragement by smiling at her, using various facial expressions and making listening sounds like, “Uh huh”, “Right!” and “Mmmmm” and generally looking interested.
Marie was excited by the women’s feedback and started pitching her story to them, unintentionally ignoring the men. Her entire presentation became a juggling act. She finished and departed, convinced she’d done a great job and eagerly waited for the company’s response.

Here’s the conversation that took place between the male executives over coffee after Marie had gone:

Marketing Director: “Do you guys have an idea in hell c what she was talking about?”.
Chief Executive: “No…she lost me. Tell her to sent the proposal in writing.”

Marie had multi-tracked her presentation and used indirect talk with a group of men who didn’t have a clue what she was talking about or what related to what. The women executives were happy with the presentation and had participated by asking questions but no man wanted to raise his hand and admit he didn’t understand.

A woman needs to understand that if a man doesn’t follow what she’s saying he’ll often pretend he understands rather than look stupid.

Regardless of a man’s age, a woman still needs to talk with direct speech. Give him timetables, agenda, bottom line answers and deadlines.

Women need to be direct with men in business and give them one thing at a time to consider. Marie is still waiting for an answer…

Living in a Man's World

A girl friend said once: May’be I’ll be a man in my next life? It's sometimes hard to be a woman living in a Man's World. Men can do, say, and think whatever they want. A man is always right.

If I were to reincarnate, I'd want to be a woman again. I've always appreciated being a woman and even thought that if I could do it all over again, that I'd still want to be a woman.

I reassured and said: Girl, these things are true. Indeed, this is a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl. Without you, he's lost in the wilderness and bitternes…

When it's a Woman's World though, will you miss us when we were gone?...

Who say's it's a Man's World......
'I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house.' -Zsa Zsa Gabor-

'In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.' -Margaret Thatcher-

Jodoh dan Budaya Indonesia

Kemarin seorang temanku bertanya: “…Hidup ini aneh ya? Pacaran pusing, gak pacaran lebih pusing lagi :) .. Menikah juga gitu, kamu taukan budaya orang Indo gimana? Kalau belum punya pacar ditanya kenapa kok belum punya pacar? Kalau udah punya pacar ditanya kapan nikahnya? Kalau nikah ribet lagi pertanyaanya, kapan sih punya anak? Kok belum ada-ada juga, kamu kan tambah tua bukannya tambah muda?? Duuh.. pusing...
Tapi aku selalu punya positive thinking, itu artinya kan mereka masih sayang kita, mengingatkan yang baik-baik walaupun kadang ngeselin juga sih :) …”

Di Indonesia biasa sih komentar model begini. Didorong-dorong kanan kiri depan belakang atas bawah untuk segera punya jodoh, didoakan dari segala penjuru supaya segera dapat jodoh, atau malah dikasihani karena tidak segera punya jodoh.

Kebanyakan orang jadi jatuh kasihan karena mengira mereka itu kesulitan cari pacar. Ada yang bilang, “…Sabar, jodoh akan datang sendiri.” Yang lain berkata, “Banyak-banyaklah berdoa supaya segera diberi jodoh…”

Yang mengherankan malah sering mendengar komentar yang kira-kira begini, “…Sepertinya kamu sudah menemukan jodohmu... Kalau dia bisa membuatmu tenang, dialah jodohmu...”

Apa sih sebetulnya ‘jodoh’ itu? Tanya kanan-kiri ke teman-teman tentang jodoh dan macam-macam saja jawaban merka, dimulai dari: ‘Jodoh itu sesuatu yang sama-sama saling mau, dari situ mau dari sini mau dan ketemunya disaat yang sama’ atau ‘Jodoh itu kan soulmate, seperti cangkir dan pinggan, panci dan tutupan’ atau ‘Jodoh itu seseorang yang sudah dipilih oleh Tuhan sebelum kita lahir, ditakdirkan untuk menjadi pasangan hidup kita’ atau ‘Jodoh itu saling berjanji untuk sehidup dan semati dihadapan Tuhan’ atau ‘Jodoh itu dengan siapa dia merasa klop satu sama lain dan merasa dia adalah bagian dari hidup yang lain... dan achirnya diikat dengan perkawinan’. Ada yang gak tahu definisi jodoh itu apa tapi menyatakan bahwa ‘kalau jodoh pasti cinta, tapi cinta belum tentu jodoh’.

Tadinya aku kira jodoh itu adalah terjemahan langsung dan tepat dari ‘soulmate’. Ternyata menurut teman-teman yang semuanya berlatar belakang budaya Indonesia, jodoh itu gak hanya meliputi kecocokan sebuah pasangan atau sebuah bentuk cinta dari pasangan, tetapi mencakup juga persetujuan, doa restu dari kedua belah pihak orang tua, family dan Tuhan.

Rupanya jodoh itu bukan sekedar terjemahan dari soulmate. Jodoh adalah kata Bahasa Indonesia yang mempunyai arti khusus yang hanya ada dalam konteks budaya Indonesia. Walaupun sepasang manusia sudah saling merasa sreg dan sepakat, belum tentu mereka berjodoh! Karena seandainya mereka tidak terikat dalam sebuah tali perkawinan maka mereka gak akan disebut sebagai berjodoh.

Menurut aku jodoh itu definisinya, seseorang yang membuat kita merasa complete, yang bisa membuat hidup kita tenang, utuh, bahagia (seperti definisi dari soulmate). Seseorang yang bersedia mengerti keanehan dan kekurangan kita, yang menerima kita apa adanya. Seseorang yang mau memberi kita kebebasan sehingga kita bisa berdiri menantang angin, tapi juga tetap bisa berlindung padanya saat badai. Seseorang yang bisa menerima bahwa kita ini berada didunia tradisional oriental dengan segala kesungkanan dan tata krama dan ikatan persaudaraan dan kemunafikannya sekaligus didunia modern yang bebas merdeka dengan segala keegoisannya.

Jodoh itu definisinya sebenarnya sederhana, tapi di Indonesia selalu diberi berbagai frame menurut agama dan budaya…

Every day is a Valentine’s day

Most people see Valentine's Day as the one day out of the year that they have to go above and beyond to show their significant other how much they love them. Some people use actions taken (or not taken) on Valentine's Day determine the fate of their relationship. Others see it as the official ‘let my intentions be known’ day.

What about the other 364 days of the year? Why do we always need a reason, to buy gifts, send flowers, give cards, go out to dinner on Valentine’s day? Everyday should be a good enough day to let somebody know how you feel about them.

The gestures made on Valentine's Day should not be limited to just that day. Valentine's Day should not be limited to one day, it should be everyday.

Anyway, I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day…

Satire Senja

Sayang, coretan ini aku tulis kepada senja yang remang, mendung yang tidak dikunjungin hujan. Hari-hari yang lalu, saat seperti ini adalah saat yang mendebarkan. Saat dimana rinduku begitu memburu, dan pertemuan dengan kamu adalah detik-detik yang aku tunggu. Coretan ini, terpaksa harus aku tulis untuk kamu. Padahal, aku ingin mencumbumu, mendekap kamu erat-erat, memeluk kamu untuk selamanya.

Harus kamu ketahui sayang, aku tidak mungkin lagi menemui kamu. Bukan aku menemukan kekasih lain. Sama sekali tidak. Hanya kamu yang aku cintai kekasihku. Hanya kamu yang berhak atas jiwaku.

Sayang, nasib membawa aku jauh dari kamu. Aku telah diseret takdir dan kini aku hanya sesosok manusia tanpa keinginan, sebab keinginanku berada dalam pelukanmu.

Kamu masih ingat sayang? Saat pertama kali aku mengenal kamu. Masihkah kamu ingat dialog kita itu, sayang? Aku tidak pernah melupakannya sampai sekarang. Disanalah aku menemukan keindahanmu meski tidak ada seorang pun yang menyadarinya. Sejak itu, senja selalu mengirimkan debaran lain dalam dadaku. Sebab senja berarti pertemuan dengan kamu. Tapi senja kali ini mengirimkan debaran yang lain, debaran perpisahan dari kita.

Sayang, hari-hariku menjadi asing dan sunyi sekarang. Sunyi yang membuat aku terluka. Luka yang dalam. Tidak ada lagi cerita tentang cinta, airmata, rindu dan tertawa. Kenapa? Kenapa? Kenapa?

Kekasihku, aku titipkan coretan ini kepada senja.
Aku tahu, senja akan memberikannya kepada kamu. Bukankah setiap hari dia berpapasan dengan kamu? Aku tahu, kamu tidak akan pernah membalas corentanku ini, tapi itu tidak penting. Asal kamu tahu, kenapa aku tidak bisa lagi menemui kamu, aku sudah bahagia. Salamku untuk rembulan dan bintang, sahabat setiamu..

U2 wins five GRAMMY Awards

U2 is the great winner of the 48th edition of the Grammy Awards.
The Irish band of vocalist Bono won 5 of the important American music awards. The Album 'How Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' earned awards in the categories The Album Of The Year and The Best Rock Album. The hit 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' won an award in the category Song Of The Year. Also the number 'City Of Blinding Lights' won an award in the category Best Rock Song. The band won from among others Kanye West and Mariah Carey which be satisfied to win each three Grammys. During the Granting of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Bono said to the losers: 'Mariah, you sing as an angel and Kanye, you’re the next'.

Mariah Carey won three Grammys for the Best R&B Album (The Emancipation Of Mimi) and the Best R&B Song (We Belong Together). Beside it, this song earned also an award for the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Kanye West won with the hits 'Gold Digger' and 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone' and the Album 'Late Registration' in total three Grammys. Best New Artist was John Legend. Former American Idols winner Kelly Clarkson won two Grammys. She was very happy because previously she didn’t expected to win an award.

Nowadays, from the album 'How Dismantle An Atomic Bomb', the song ‘Original To The Species’ is one of my favorite song. I love Gaelics lyrics, poet and writers. I’ll dedicate this song to all who are meaningful in my life...


Original To The Species

Baby slow down
The end is not as fun as the start
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it

Some things you shouldn't get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby, baby...

I'll give you everything you want
Except the thing that you want
You are the first one of your kind

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it
No, Oh no, Oh no, no, no…

And you'll never be alone
Come on now show your soul
You've been keeping your love under control

Everywhere you go you shout it
You don't have to be shy about it
Everywhere you go you shout it
Oh my, my…

And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want you some more, I want you some more...
Oh no, Oh no, Oh no…


48th Grammy Awards Winners – February 8, 2006
Record Of The Year - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, Green Day
Song Of The Year - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, U2
Album Of The Year - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2
Best New Artist - John Legend
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - From The Bottom Of My Heart, Stevie Wonder
Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group - This Love, Maroon 5
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals - Feel Good Inc, Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul
Best Pop Vocal Album - Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson
Best Dance Recording - Galvanize, The Chemical Brothers Featuring Q-Tip
Best Electronic/Dance Album - Push The Button, The Chemical Brothers
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, U2
Best Metal Performance - Before I Forget, Slipknot
Best Rock Song - City Of Blinding Lights, U2
Best Rock Album - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2
Best Alternative Music Album - Get Behind Me Satan, The White Stripes
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance - We Belong Together, Mariah Carey
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance - Ordinary People, John Legend
Best Urban/Alternative Performance - Welcome To Jamrock, Damian Marley
Best R&B Song - We Belong Together, Mariah Carey
Best Contemporary R&B Album - The Emancipation Of Mimi, Mariah Carey
Best Rap Solo Performance - Gold Digger, Kanye West
Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group - Don't Phunk With My Heart, The Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - Numb/Encore, Jay-Z Featuring Linkin Park
Best Rap Song - Diamonds From Sierra Leone, Kanye West
Best Rap Album - Late Registration, Kanye West
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical - Steve Lillywhite: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2; Mr. A-Z, Jason Mraz

Smell the Springtime air and the characteristic air of Indonesia

Well, the days are quickly counting down!....
39 more days and the Springtime is coming.

The grass is getting green, the flowers and plants are getting bloom.
The smell of the warm springtime air coming through my bedroom window. That's one of the many things I’ve always adored springtime, the beautiful smell of the air when winter is finally over. When the temperatures are rising above freezing at night it gets warm enough by day, it is fine to walk or to bike alongside the fruit horticultures. You smell the blossoms of the apple or peer trees.

Over more than 7 weeks, after a short business trip to Asia I’m going on holiday to my beautiful motherland Indonesia. Warm and clammy, with the humidity grade almost 100%. Always be in a traffic jam, smell the pollution of exhaust gasses of millions motorbikes, cars old and new ones, public vehicles like busses or little ones called angkots and bemos.

I can smell the characteristic of the Indonesian air, smell the rotten garbage floating in the river be take turns by the sweet-smelling of dishes which prepared directly on several stalls (called kaki lima or tenda) alongside the streets. A combination of villas, small houses, huts and skyscrapers decorating Jakarta, This Jakarta, with more than 12 million people living. This is Jakarta on top, the metropolitan city of Indonesia.

I love Indonesia, back to my roots, visit my family, visit old and new friends.
I love the way of living, simple, almost outdoor house. Plenty restaurants, junks foods, bistro’s or ‘rumah makans’ cheap or expensive to visit or you can order and eat your meal under the dark sky in the little stalls which you can find on every corner of busy streets.

I love the people, their hospitality.
Not hasty or stressy like the daily living in the Western World.
I’m a borned Indonesian!…. I can’t wait, yummy, yummy….

Wat is Liefde?

Is het niet alleen willen zijn?
Je eenzaamheid verstoppen?
Is het vlinders voelen bij elke aanblik?
Is het samen oud willen zijn?

Een tijd geleden zou ik zeggen:
Iemand vinden die mijn eenzaamheid weg kan nemen.
Iemand die mij neemt zoals ik ben.
Iemand waar ik 's nachts tegen aan kan liggen.

Liefde is voor mij, denken aan iemand die mijn hart verwarmd.
Iemand die mij kan laten lachen, genieten van de alledaagse dingen in het leven. Weten dat er iemand is die ook aan je denkt.
Iemand hebben waarbij ik enkel een woord of een blik hoef te hebben, om te weten dat alles goed komt.

Liefde is voor mij de warmte voelen stralen als ik naar je foto kijk.
De angst voelen om je kwijt te raken. Denken aan hoe het nog beter kan.

'Als je echt van iemand houdt, iemand alles toevertrouwt, die echt weet wie je bent, ook je zwakke plekken kent, die je bijstaat en vergeeft, naast en in je leeft... dan voel je pas wat 'leven' is en dat liefde 'geven' is.....'

Is dit echte liefde?
Iedereen heeft een ander idee van wat liefde is....

Love is not such a Game to play

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a teardrop.

Simple love may come or may not such as it seems, because anything goes on its basic rule. So I wait, wait for the one to come, wait for the one to love, also wait for the one that cares about me. But when the time comes I will not sit still, I should take the change to say to the one and tell her: "I want to hold your hands from now till....."

We all know Love is not such a game to play.
No one should play an unfaithfull role in the Love Act, because Love is a Double Edge. When you play an evil role to hurt another, you will also got hurt sooner or later. So don't play game with 'others' heart in the Love game.

Love one by your heart and not because you feel alone.
Love one by your soul and don't try love when you don't sure it or not.
Love one by respect, one not let one feel dilemma.
Love one by no reason just because you're feeling into love.
You're addict to each other.....

Super Bowl XL versus Danish Cartoons

Super Bowl XL
The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first Super Bowl since 1980 by beating the surprised team, the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Detroit.

The Rolling Stones sang three songs for the Super Bowl XL halftime show last night and were censored in two of them - not a bad average for a band of sexagenarians who still ride a reputation as provocateurs. As the band played, the vocal suddenly went silent for one word each in "Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice," a song from the latest Stones album. Each unheard word was a sexual reference. But then again, so was most of the Stones' miniset, from the stage shaped like the band's lascivious lips-and-tongue logo to Mick Jagger's hip-swiveling, elbow-pumping, gleefully leering presence. His cropped-top shirt showed his navel, and, of course, he sang "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Source: Pop Music Review
ABC Avoids a Lyric Malfunction but Allows Mick's Midriff - By JON PARELES
Published: New York Times - February 6, 2006.


Danish cartoons
It is both inevitable and important that people offend the sensibilities of others. By Kenan Malik In December, before the controversy over the publication of a series of Danish newspaper cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammed became a global issue, the Muslim writer & broadcaster Kenan Malik addressed the key issues raised by the furore and others like it at a conference debate convened by Index on Censorship. Read more: Say what you think – The importance of giving offence

The media can’t give people a platform to stir up hatred, or spread abuse. By Richard Sambrook The decision of some newspapers to publish controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed lead some to argue that the media should be a force for tolerance and cohesion as well as a source of news. Speaking at a recent debate convened by Index on Censorship, the BBC’s head of news, Richard Sambrook, considered this argument. Read more: Think what you say – The responsibilities of the media

Core of both issues are actually about freedom of speak and freedom of write. Emotions have broken loose, discussions have taking place, enough comments or critics have been given by people over the whole world, but for person who are interested, there are many actual interesting articles published on: Index On Censorship or The Brussels Journal.

Mulai Sabtu Dilarang Merokok Sembarangan

Jakarta.. mulai hari Sabtu, 4 Februari 2006 larangan merokok sembarangan ditempat umum diberlakukan. Barang siapa yang melanggar dikenakan sangsi kurungan badan selama enam bulan penjara dan denda maksimal Rp 50 juta...

Starting on Saturday, February 4 2006, everyone in Jakarta who does not follow the smoking ban rule will have to face sanctions as stated in the 2005 bylaw on air pollution control that includes a partial ban on smoking in public places. The sanctions can be as severe as a six months in prison and a Rp 50 million fine.

Different European countries have chosen to regulate smoking in public places in different ways. The Swedes allow separate smoking rooms in restaurants and other catering etablishments. In Belgium and Holland smoking is permitted in bars and cafes. The Greeks set aside a smoking area licensed premises, providing it is well ventilated. In Germany employers can choose between smoking areas, ventilation or a total ban. Only in Ireland and Scotland, politicians have decided to ignore the public opinion and enforce a ban in all enclosed public places, including every pub, bar and cafe.

The message of the majority who believe in freedom of choice to speak out is clear. They don't want a total ban and that is not what the most people of Europe actually want...

I'm not a smoker as well against the smoker but think that smokers should be allowed to smoke in some public places, provided they don't inconvenience non-smokers. Or believe that owners of public places should be allowed to offer a choice of smoking and non-smoking facilities, with everyone free to choose their preference...

Somewhere Out There

Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight
Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky

Somewhere out there if love can see us through
Then we'll be together somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true.....

~~~ sung by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram ~~~


When I've a bad day and being emotional, is this one of my favorite songs ever,
... its lyrics is romantic,
... its melody is sentimental,
... really reflects my personality...

State Of The Union, Sliced and Diced

Note: The following is an item of correction to false and fabricated claims in President Bush's State Of The Union (SOTU) speech from Think Progress.


ON ENERGY:

Bush said: “The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources -- and we are on the threshold of incredible advances.”

Fact – Bush pushed for renewable energy cuts in latest budget:
President Bush's FY06 budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) energy efficiency and renewable energy programs envisioned “reductions totaling nearly $50 million -- an overall cut of roughly four percent.” (Renewable Energy Access, 2/28/05)

Fact – Bush rejected bipartisan plan to set goals for renewable energy:
Last year, President Bush “oppose[d] efforts to include a national renewable energy requirement for utilities in Congress's broad energy legislation.” According to the Union of Concerned Scientists it “is a cost-effective, market-based policy that requires electric utilities to gradually increase their use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, and bioenergy,” to between 10 percent and 20 percent by 2020. A 10 percent standard “would have virtually no impact on electricity prices and could save consumers as much as $13.2 billion.” (Reuters, 2/10/05; Union of Concerned Scientists; Union of Concerned Scientists)

Fact – Bush energy bill contained little on renewable energy:
The energy bill supported and signed by President Bush dropped a provision that would have required utilities “to generate at least 10 percent of their electricity through renewable fuels by 2020.” (New York Times, 7/26/05)

Read the rest of the SOTU, Slice and Dice at Think Progress.



The recearch in H2O and other forms of green energy, can't do without the politics. Gouverments has to change the law for it and make desicions about the use of it.

The gouverment of the Netherlands
In the Netherlands is the subject H2O not yet a really great item in the politic. There has been some questions, but a real debate hasn't been there. Some little proposals to make a network of gasstations for H2O, didn't came far. On the other hand is the issue CO2 a big item. There are many attemps to lower the CO2 emission. A short time ago, when the oil prices became very high, the discussion of lowering the taxes on gas became an item. But there weren't made any changes, because of the environmental consequences.

The market of green energy became recently free in the Netherlands. This means that everyone can make their own choices about picking a energy provider. This means that the price of green energy will lower because of the competition. The gouverment has also lower the taxes of green energy, what means that the prices of normal energy and green energy became almost equal. The normal market of energy will come also free. Al these desicions needs to change the use of normal energy into green energy, and that's the best for the emission of CO2.

The politics in the world
Worldwide are many countries working together.
The goal is to reduce global warming. Because of this, there were many different conferences about this. The first and most important conference, what gave a big step in the good direction, was the treaty of Kyoto.
They made plans to lower the emission of CO2.

But the're still countries, like the USA who doesn't want to sign the Kyoto Protocol, even after many confessions. Until now there isn't an agreement…


References:
1. H2: A Solution For The Future
2. Alter Net/Think Progress/The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

West Edmonton Mall (WEM)

West Edmonton Mall (WEM), with over 800 stores and services you will find everything you’re looking for and more. Except the Chinese Malls in Beijing and Guangdong, is WEM one of the world's largest entertainment and shopping center in the world.

Places to play:
Galaxy Amusement Park, world’s largest indoor amusement park with various on games and attraction machines. In here you will find the world’s largest indoor triple rollercoaster.
World Waterpark, a tropical indoor waterpark paradise with more than 20 water activities enough for hours of fun.
Ice Palace, you can do recreational skating or you will be surprised, see an Edmonton Oilers player practicing hockey for the NHL competition.
In WEM you will find The Sea Lions’ Rock, The Sea Life Cavern and so many more attractions for kids and adults, like bungee jumping, mini golf.
If you have left money you can visit the Palace Casino or Caesar’s Bingo.

Theme Streets:
Bourbon Street, is one of theme street with the taste of New Orleans.
Much restaurants serve up a variety of specialties from Mexican to Italian kitchen. You will experience the nightlife and fun of the Mardi Grass.
Europa Boulevard, take a stroll down this second theme street and let yourself mind wander on a trip across beautiful European cities with unigue typical European building style. Youl will find here fashion boutiques of the world’s best designers. And if you make a stop at the café on the corner, take a sit on the patio and watch the people go by, just like you would in Paris.
Chinatown, you will experience a taste of Asian culture.
This third theme street located directly above the Bourbon Street, is designed to reflect traditional Chinese market place and will take the visitors to the beautiful architecture rich in symbolism to the Chinese incorporates elements, such as rocks, water, calligraphy, ornamental paving, patterns the coulours red and gold.

I love shopping in places where there are a large variety of shops, lots of places to eat and drink and just chill out, and also other attractions.
A shopping mall, this big with this many shops and things to see and do…

Once in 2001, when I was on holiday to Vancouver and Edmonton, I’ve visited WEM and it was an unforgettable funny day and worthwile…