The Obamania

So, America officially got a new president, Barack Obama. I watched the inauguration ceremony last nite, cancelling the CSI Season 8 that has been waiting since last month hehehe.. I am sure that this ceremony is a lot different than any other before it. They just elected the first afro-american president, a leader that came from many backgrounds that for sure have shaped him into a great leader with vision.

Here in Indonesia, the reaction from the people are various. Some are very proud and happy because Mr. Obama spent four of his youth age in Indonesia. He went to an elementary school here in Jakarta, spent his days with some of our local residents. Many of them still remember him as "Barry", a big dark colored foreign student who -at first- spoke little Indonesian language. Then he moved to Hawaii and started his teenage time and career in the States.

His father is Kenyan, Hussein Obama, who got married with American woman. They got divorced and she married an Indonesian man, Soentoro, who at that time worked for Pertamina (state owned oil company). Of course, even his time in Jakarta was only short (about 4 years), but this enough to ignite a thing what they call "Obamania". People talk about him, read his biography and book, even visiting the school he was once attending. They also founded a fans club for him, where his picture is idolized just like they did with Martin Luther King or JFK.

As for me, Barack Obama is a very unique figure. Not because he spent some of his childhood here, but because of what he represents. He represents freedom, equality and hope. I'm sure it's a big challenge for the Americans when they knew that Obama will run for presidency. C'mon, who are you kidding here? Even many countries have claimed to be a democratic society, racism and stereotyping are still the biggest culprit in their social problems. Hatred and negative suspicion are common in almost every society. So, this is a challenge that needs exact proof of democracy, proof of equality.

This could be seen as a freedom realization that every citizen has the chance to run for presidency. They are no longer limitations that focus more on what color is our skin, whether our hair is straight or curly, do we have blue eyes, or which faith we believe in.

These things had attracted me from the beginning of his campaign. Of course I didn't follow his day-to-day campaign or speech, or rally. What I mean is, from many of his speeches, many of his promises, and many of his extraordinary approach, this man is a promising leader. A leader that would not only lead Americans out of their crisis, but also a leader that hopefully will re-shape the prominent image of American Government and society.

Barack Obama represents equality, that all mankind are the same. Each of us needs wealth, needs a comfortable zone whether at workplace or at home. The projection of our hope and needs are as real as the life itself. We all hope that this equality will bring us out of these global problems and it will start in America.

He represents hope, the last thing we have and beyond our dreams. People put their hope on him. Not only his people, or his political party. But people from every layer of societies and countries. People from many backgrounds and ethnicities. Those who have been waiting for so long to see the dreams our previous leader unable to create. This marks the beginning of a journey, not only for the man himself, but for us as a citizen of the world.

Too bad that I'm not an American or I could try to be there in National Mall, listen to his voices of hope and unity. Then perhaps at the end of his speech, I could scream out and do standing ovation with the other two million souls out there in the cold day of January. And perhaps... perhaps I would also shed a tear with the others for we just got one great leader that would shape our modern history into a new beginning.

Congratulations Mr. Obama, and congratulations America.

Things do not change; we change.
Henry David Thoreau

Another Day In Another New Year

It's been exactly one month since my last posting *sighs*. What can I say? I've been too lazy and busy lately with all the errands. So, now I will try to sum up what have happened in my merry life for the last couple of weeks.

I or we to be precise, have moved into our new house (yay). As some of you already know, moving houses just sounds like an easy stuff to do during holiday. Things that most of us might think, "Oh, hell, what's so hard moving things from old place into a new one?". Well, it is actually more than that. The more time I, again, we, spend in the our new house, the more things are needed to be fixed. Ceilings, bathtub, lights, door handles, and the list goes on.

Another thing is, I already have enough routines everyday. Teaching in the morning, another teaching outside the school time in the afternoon, going home, watering the plants, spend time with wife and daughter, dinner, then movies or computer games, perhaps one or two cans of beer. Repeat that for 5 times a week, and weekends is unpredictable. We could have a relax weekend, or just truly tiring hehehe..

Like now, it's already 1 a.m. but yet I'm still awake writing this entry. Well, the only good thing this would bring is that some dudes are lucky enough for not have to play against me in the Battlefield 2 servers lol! I still enjoy the game until now. Maybe because it's more complex than DoD: Source and of course much more complex than the infamous CounterStrike. To be honest, I miss playing DoD: Source and CounterStrike: Source for some reasons. Not the repetition gameplay, but in CS:S and DoD:S, I've met players that are not only enjoyable to play with but also to have a chat. More of them are already aware the needs of teamwork and positive communication.

Heck, even I've played with a housewife who enjoys spending the Friday night havoc playing DoD:S as a machine gunner. That was when I'm in Australia tho. As the community in here, people are tend to spend time on trash-talking or insulting others hehehe.. not a pretty thing to have during weekends, but what can you do?

Back to the moving house topic, moving into a new settlement also needs extra time and money. After almost a month, now we are agree that we need some more items for the house. First, we need a portable air-conditioning device. The thing that blows air (cool air, that is) and can be moved around the room. I don't care about any brand because of the tight budget.

Second thing is we need another extension of our desk in the study room. A bigger space is needed to put all the peripherals of our desktop computer PLUS a laptop. Now it's just too small for anything that an computer screen and printer.

Third thing that is also importantly needed is an office chair, the one with comfy arm rest and good for the backside hehehe.. if we're going to spend much time on the Internet or computer, than this is a strike one item that would make things a bit easier.

Our fourth items needed is a mail box. The real mail box, the one that you can put outside your front door. Because this is a housing complex, all houses don't have fence. So, anything that the postman put in our front yard or terrace would also easily been accessed by anyone. Not good when you're having or expecting important postage.

The last but not least is a microwave. The-God-blessing-invention is very helpful for reheat the food or defrost meat. Of course we can always go natural like letting the damn meat sitting for hours just to sweat hehehe..

But I can't deny that moving into our own place is one of the greatest thing you could get. I mean, you arrange what you want to eat, what you like to watch, which channel you want to tune-in, etc, etc. Anyway, don't forget that "with great powers come great responsibilities". Meaning that if something is needed to be fixed then I have to drag my sorry @ss to fix it first hehehe.. also checking that windows and doors are locked before I hit the hay.

As for weather update, it becomes cloudy here. The rainy season might hit our place faster than they are expected. Example for today, it's been raining all day long since brunch time. It is a good thing, because the air is so much cooler and easy to enjoy. It's just the flooding thing that makes me worried. Two years ago Jakarta was forced into a complete stop as 85% of our region was flooded. By "flood" we don't mean a water as high as your leg. Our definition flood could go up to 7 m in some places and on average it's about 60 cm deep. The scene is also so surreal. Our flooded capital will make swamp looked like a heavenly paradise.

Oh well, that's everything I can think of now. After this, I might hit some rounds of games in Facebook or trying harrassing my friends mwahahaahha.. cya when I cya (WTF??)

Chapter I : A New Beginning

So I have to admit that I've abandoned this blog (for many times before). I also can't deny that I had been too busy with things that I wasn't be able to spare some extra minute just to update my blog *sighs*.

Anyway, I decided to have some changes with the blog. First, I changed the main title, and I'm now looking for a simple and calm layout. If I can find the one I feel most suitable for my blog, then I will change it. If not, then I'll stick with this one for a while.

How's everybody been doing? I hope the late global economic crisis won't drag you into deeper sh#t, than it already is. Many might find difficulties to pay the mortgage, and little money to spend on our family. I feel deep terribly sorry.

Just today, I or we had moved into our own new house. It has been postponed so many times because so many occasions. Some were nice to be remembered, the others were just like endless nightmares.

I took a day-off from work and had been busy since the morning. Exactly minimum rest and my stomach was kinda acting uncomfortably. BUT, *drum rolls* we are in now! I can't believe that this will happen hehehe as the house has already finished months and months ago. Then we have to sort things out such as water system, garden, kitchen, etc, etc.

Now it's already pass midnite, and I'm seriously sleep and tired. My wife even already fell asleep hours ago. Poor her. Well, because now I live in our own place, I really hope I could -at least try- updating my blog in more regular manner.

I hope you will enjoy it too...

Cya in the next posting.

Zero Sugar = Zero Fun?

So last Monday I've got my chance to try the infamous Coca Cola Zero. It means that the every can or bottle will give its loyal consumers zero sugar. What's the difference than Diet Coke? Well, CCZ is designed with the real taste of cola, while Diet Coke has a very very subtle coke taste.

Then why they don't just name it Diet Coke Zero Sugar? Apparently, in the States they call it "calorie-free" instead "diet" since the young males always associate "diet" with women. LOL. Can't agree more on that anyway.

So, I took one slim can of this little bastard and had a sip. Good taste on the palate tho, even I was expecting a good sweet taste. Usually, when some 'diet' drinks that claim have zero sugar aka calorie, it still has a very decent sweetness.
But I kid you not that CCZ has no -if not then very weak- sweet flavour. It is still carbonated drink, but the taste is so light. It's not flat, it's just missing something, there is no kicking in the taste hehehe..

For me, zero sugar is like watching Jackie Chan's movies without the funny stunts, or , watching Jerry Springer's show without the midgets. However, if you're one of those healthy-life enthusiasts then you will probably like this little bastard.

I don't have anything against it, just not enough sugar for me hehe.. Enough babbling for now. I'm on holiday, taking days off before I rejoin with the class for the new term. I will teach primary class. They said it will be very challenging, and I'm sure it will.

Little update on my blog, I've put some funny, if not, smart quotes. They're randomly set and it will show different one everytime you refresh the page. Have fun!

Reporting For Duty

For about the last couple of weeks, I've been 'away' from my ritual and sacred activities on the net. That includes e-mail, chatting, browsing and playing games. Perhaps I was too tired and I got some withdrew from this mighty cyber world. Now, it started to kick back again. Starting from last week, I've got myself a chance to re-enter the realm that has shaped me hehehe..

One of them is getting back into Ultima Online, a cyber realm where we could take a role of magician, paladin, thief, merchant, knight, necromancer, even ninja. A world that has painted me with memories, with moments that would stay until the end of my timeline. (Ok, I think I gotta stop exaggerating now hehehe) Also I'm starting to gear myself up and taking position into the world of Battlefield 2. If Ultime Online is a medieval world, Battlefield 2 offers a world of modern day combat experience. Taking up yourself with a challenge being a Spec Ops troop, Medic, Sniper, etc.

It gives a very fast phase of fight, with a split second being a victorious army or a defeated enemy. The intense battle in places from all over the world, fight for every inch that will turn the result of the war. I re-join this brother-in-arms, and I realized, this is actually my world. A world with fake blood and damn pixels of bodies lying around. Corners where you see your enemies' rifle muzzles, dust where you think you see a silhouette of your damned enemy, or rooftop where snipers will ambush your sorry ass without any hesitation. Well, that what have been happening lately.

I play in an unofficial server. It's better than nothing tho. Some players are great and challenging, some are just trash talker as usual but nothing to worry hehe.. I'm still down in the low rank officer, but it doesn't mean it has no fun to play it. They also provide each soldier's status in a website, and this is my status page. You're free to browse and have a look around.

Ok, have a great week everyone!

I Hate Monday!

Perhaps most of you will say "That's not new, we all hate Monday already!" haha.. well, I have my own reasons. Because on Mondays, I have to do PE. Yes, PE - Physical Ejaculation Education. Jumping and stretching, hopping and kicking! Hehehe.. IF I have to do it with some hot, young chicks, I might enjoy it, LOL! But I have to do it with underage kids. No, you got it right, underage kids. As young as 5 years old. So, yes, this is my other confession that now I'm a kindergarten teacher. I know some of might already rolling on the floor laughing your ass off or fall off the chair haha.. I teach kindergarten B, that means my students are at the age of 5 and 6 years old.

So, while most of you enjoy your weary days in some freaking cubicles or got abused by b*tchy superior comrades, I spend my days with kids. I'm being thrown back in a mixed-and-weird realms of Power Rangers and Barbie dolls, a world where Naruto will meet with Cinderella. Thank God, we haven't got anybody with the idea of marrying Naruto and Barbie. That would be awesome, wouldn't? A kicking ninja with legs like Paris Hilton lol..

Anyway, also on Mondays I will spend the time on swimming pool with these kids. Even until now, I'm still saved that I will spend the Mondays on an elementary school because my boss actually want me to be a teacher in her elementary school. Anyone who knows me in real person might still laughing until now.. so.. shusshh hehehehe.. It's because I'm a person with great appetite of sarcasm. If this is American Idol, I would be Mr. Cowell.

I can't believe that now I am a teacher, and I enjoy it. Even I enjoy more teaching and spending the day with female kids. They're more calm and easy to take care. While the boys always jumping around, kicking around, and no, I don't hold any personal grudge against it, I'm just worried that my balls would got kicked one day hahaha..

Ok, that's the latest update from me. I hope everyone enjoy the day. Any comment, sarcasms or just silly opinions, feel free to write them down hehehe..

One Month Old!

Last week we celebrated the anniversary of our daughter, she was 30 days old. It was not only marking her age but as well my survival being a dad lol! We were preparing for the food and we also ordered some pretty tarts with her pictures on them. Clarissa was so excited, even she couldn't say it but we KNEW that she was. Usually, after morning bath, she falls asleep, but not that day! Not at all. Since morning she was truly awake. She knew that she was the queen of the party!

And because everyone wanted to hug her, she was excited that she didn't sleep at all. So she kept awake until about 5 p.m. then we decided to take her into our room because she was tired. She slept so well the whole night, only awake one time I guess asking for milk around 4 a.m. She is getting bigger now and people keep saying that she looks like Liv, the others said she looks like me. Even some of them said that she looks like my sister-in-law. I guess we have to wait a while until we know whom she really looks like hahaha..

Now she could see further and further, and every morning she refuses to sleep. She wants to see things like bottles, paintings, hanging lanterns, fan on the ceiling, etc. I guess she was curious and attracted with those colorful things. We also found out the she could sleep with white noises. However, she also would easily startled with loud noises. She also now knows the difference between days and nights. It's a good thing tho that she sleeps longer during the night. But it has been her bad habit that she doesn't want to be put in bed. She always want to sleep in someone's arms. For a few minutes, this is ok, but after 30 minutes or so, your arm could go numb.

Anyway, I'm off now. Will put the pictures next time.

I Need To Put A Title????

Last night I got myself a chance to have a short chat with one of my friends. I've known her for years and we met through an IRC channel. She really made me realize that time flies, and sometimes it's a lot faster than you think. I could still remember those days when I was still actively involved managing an IRC channel on DALnet server.

At that time, we usually had around 8 to 12 people at a time. I accidentally stumbled into the channel during my first months of using IRC. Soon, we actually had some little gathering (only about 8 or 9 people) and the channel's owner gave me an authorization to manage the channel on her behalf. The channel's main purpose was to gather any Indonesian student who was living and studying in Perth, Western Australia.

I was really trying hard to maintain the channel to be occupied with more people and friends. As I was also into the mIRC scripts and bots, I was able to build my own bots. Bots are automatic program that can do a lot of things, from replying a message, greets users to stand guard the channel against spammers, and also provide some games and entertainments. So there we were, expanding and the number of visitors were growing fast. With the helps of my other friends, we were able to have about 80, even during weekends we could have about 120+ users. It was one of my glorious Internet moments LOL.

Anyway, I (or I should start use the word "we"), we were able to do more gatherings. Bbq parties at Millpoint during weekends, continued by going to the cafe afterwards, or catching movies, etc. Truly, we had a bonding more than just virtual friends, some of them, like me, have been friends until now, some had became a very close friend. Even we don't chat much as we have our own hectic days, we still keep in touch with each other. I would not be very proud with I had done with the channel, as there were also disputes and most of us were involved. That's the thing I'm not proud of.

And now, with the vast arrays of community website such as Friendster; Facebook; and MySpace, keeping touch with friends have never been easier. 

We have to be very grateful for we still have the chance to access the Internet. Its revolutionary of information sharing systems have brought another dimension of human's interaction. Friendship over the Internet is no longer seen as a weird thing, people even end up in a marriage with people they met on the Internet. We learn how to interact, communicate, even we learn how to fall in love over the Internet. Indeed, it is an amazing tranformation on how we communicate these days. So people, expand your horizons, take your chances, who knows that your soulmate or best friends are yet to be found on the Internet.

Next time I will upload the latest picture of our daughter, Clarissa. She'll be 30 days old on the 9th April.

"Each friend represents a world in us; a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only in meeting them that a new world is born."
- Anais Nin

Little Update

Yesterday, our ISP suffered a massive blackout throughout the country. Their fiber optic network was cut-off due some unxeplained incidents. I called them in the morning (for those who know me well, this is not something new!) hehe.. and they said that the fix was still undergo and hopefully by mid-day everything would get back to normal. But it took more than just some hours, until midnight last night, the only site I could browse was my ISP homopage homepage.

This morning I could access my Internet again. I did some couple updates on my blog such as changing the friend list, I also removed the media player tool which used to play a song. This time I really hope that I could post entries in a more regular manner.

Anyway, another cloudy and rainy day again today. Trying to write some poems but I'm afraid it's gonna be another gloomy one hahaha.. Maybe I should try to listen to some warm-hearted songs hehehe...

Another Babbling Posting

Lately I allow myself to sink watching the videos of Jeff Dunham. He is ventriloquist, and has about five or six talking dolls. He's so excellent, no matter how many times I watch his videos, they always made me crack. He had released two DVDs: Spark of Insanity and Arguing with Myself, they are very brilliant! My fave doll (I know it sounds so wrong!) is Walter. Find or rent the DVDs, I'm sure it will be a very different stand-up show you ever seen.

Last night was a bit hard for me and wifey. Our daughter could not stop crying. We have no idea what made her cry all night long. I mean, we had done all the things we could think of. Changing nappy, checked. Giving her milk, checked. Dim the room's light, checked. Adjust the room temperature, checked. Sing her lullaby, checked. Pray before go to bed, checked. Every loose end has been checked and re-checked, but she couldn't stop crying. It last from 1.30 a.m. to 5 a.m. Even I used to live as an insomniac, last night was very very tough hehehe.. Anyway, we hope tonight everything would be manageable. Now she is sleeping safe and sound in her cradle. I'm just waiting for her next milk schedule.

Usually I spend my waiting time by playing emulator games. It's really fun and very nostalgic to be able to play some old games we used to play in our young age. I always have a soft spot for old school games. By "old school" I mean really really old. It traces back to the days when Atari with their Atari 2600 was really a hit and popular video game console for household. With a long history of video games or computer games development, you also could play sh*tloads of old games. Games that were so popular during the 80's and 90's, but you couldn't find the consoles anymore these days.

My fave emulators are Nintendo, MAME, and Sega. Using these emulators you could enjoy the nostalgic journey of Link from Zelda (Nintendo) to the famous Sonic in Sega platform or Golden Axe (arcade version). These games were awesome because they had the originality of storyline and characters, games where graphics were not the only selling point or value. In giving a more comparative picture, imagine the current computer games that come in 1GB or even more in size, some even requires a massive 4GB space and another 2GB free space. Nintendo games on average reached only some KB in size.

So, if you grew up with NKOTB, used to listen Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U, watching Elvis on TV, or drooling over Jane Fonda's sex sexy scenes on TV then you might also like to play these emulators. For a start, you could use ROM-World as a basic guideline. Don't worry about other people saying "What a corny game", tell em to go and stay in the kitchen (wtf?). Only a true gamer would understand the beautiful nostalgic memories of old games.

"We do not remember days, we remember moments."
Cesare Pavese

Our Beginning

Slowly, life has begun a different pace. Streaming down the memory lane, I could still remember the points of my timeline. Junctions where I was required to make a decision. Some decisions that had shaped me, my life, and people around me to become what we are now.

The roaming will of creating a new life with family, which subdues all my selfishness, our selfishness for a little love that have just arrived into our life. An eternal seal sent by God, will keep reminding me about one unconditional love, a love without demanding something to be paid back. A love that will create a delightful memory, that one day we will cherish together and stay forever as long as there is life.

Welcome, Clarissa. Daddy and mommy love you so much. Thank you for bringing a new color for us. Let us stay simply as a family where love and warmth are our daily bread.

Jakarta,
25th Feb 2008

Good to be back!

Good to be back in Perth again, it's also a good reminder on how life could go so easy. And to enjoy it, one shouldn't have to worry about nothing. Weather is nice even sometimes it's just too bloody hot. The transportation system is even a lot better than before, at least that's what I think. I've went to the city, there's nothing much changing since I left Perth one and half years ago. Only some new cafes and bookshop, the rest are still the relax and lay-back downtown.

However, I haven't got myself a chance to visit Northbridge during weekends or especially on Friday night. Gotta hit there to visit some good ol' Chinese restaurants I used to go with my friends. Well, sometimes it's just too humid and hot that make you feel that you won't to do anything except staying home. Ya know, couch potato, with cold icy beer and watching some good movies. Because I'm not a type of person that can enjoy sitting down a beach and having some tanning, I never really plan my time to pay a visit to the beaches.

Oh, I hope everyone had a nice new year party this time. Although I just spent the rest of the night staying home. I can't really see the points to drag myself out under the rain just to blow some silly trumpets or screaming along the street hehehe..

This time I allow myself to stay in the most eastern part of Perth. It takes about 20minutes to go to downtown by train BUT as long as the train is safe and comfy, I don't mind it at all. Compare to what we have in Indonesia, it's a lot safer and comfortable taking public transport in here.

The Internet is good (oh yeah...), in fact, it is more enjoyable that it used to be hehehe.. Ok folks, I wish you all have a lovely week!