Yoga's Blog (Anything and Everything)

Quote of The Day: The Incompetent

2006-10-07T14:00:00.001+08:00

"It is one of the essential features of such incompetence that the person so afflicted is incapable of knowing that he is incompetent. To have such knowledge would already be to remedy a good portion of the offense."

(Miller, W. I. (1993). Humiliation. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press; Quoted by Justin Kruger and David Dunning in Unskilled and Unaware of It: ...; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology)

***

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments
by Justin Kruger and David Dunning (Cornell University)
http://www.apa.org/journals/

Politics 101

2006-06-26T01:23:00.000+08:00

Note to self:

(1) In politics, it is about bringing up issues that benefit us and and avoiding issues that disadvantage us. It is about getting the right issue.
(2) Aligning with religious conservative is like playing with firecrackers. It could give us beautiful sparks and real fun. But on the other hand, it can burn our skin. Is it worth it? Right now, and coming from a country and community very much like America in term of political landscape: Indonesia, I would say YES. Just be really really careful. And always be in control.
(3) As a party, you must present a decisive and unified front to the voters to stake any claim at all for their votes. Don't be like the Democrats.
(4) Public face! Public face! Public face! *OK. This brings the klise that politics is superficial and fake. Well... it is P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S!*

***

The Observer Online
Democrats Dare to Dream of Recapturing the Bush Heartland
observer.guardian.co.uk

Is Single-sex Education Better?

2006-06-26T00:45:00.000+08:00

Coming from a boys school, I have mixed feeling about single-sex education. In one hand I have to credit my school for whatever I become right now, for better or worse. On the other hand, when I have kids, I would definitely think twice or more before sending them to single sex school.

***

From one of the article:

"... girls' and boys' brains are wired differently; girls hear better, so react worse if they are shouted at; boys excel under stress while girls flounder; female brains adapt to languages earlier, and so on. They all conclude the same thing - separate the girls and the boys."

***

The Observer Online
Single-sex Schools 'No Benefit for Girls'
observer.guardian.co.uk

The Observer Online

Why Single-sex Education is Not The Route to Better Results
observer.guardian.co.uk

The Observer Online
A Mixed Solution to The Class Problem
observer.guardian.co.uk

The Pirate is Coming!

2006-06-25T23:07:00.000+08:00

For reasons that I cannot really explain, I am looking forward to the new Pirates of Carribean movie. I even mistakenly believed that it started showing in Singapore 1 week ago. I actually called a friend to see the movie. Only after we reached the cinema and were confused that there were no poster whatsoever about the movie, and after we frantically called another friend to check the schedule in the internet that we, or rather - embarassingly - I, realized that it would not be shown until another month.

Ok, may be it is because of the leading brit girl*. May be it is because some friends keep mentioning how good the first movie is. Or may be because the TV here is showing the first movie, and it reminds me how good the first movie is. Or may be because I played the game and liked it.

Or maybe... it is because I am so stressed up in work and in my personal life lately that I desperately need some good entertainment, and ones that require little or no thinking. It is entertainment at best, isn't it?

***

* The girl is Kiera Knightley. In the first movie there was a phrase she said that kept ringing in my head after the movie. It is "Do you like pain?". No, I am not into S/M or something like that. It is just that in that sentence, her british accent was so thick it was kind of.... cute?

On Love

2005-10-06T14:22:00.000+08:00

What is Love Really?

"... love is about pursuing happiness - and to lesser degree contentment. As such, the true meaning of love varies between person, depending on their definition of happiness itself. Some people see happiness as purely materialistic, so for them love is also materialistic - or rather the pursue of the fulfilment of their materialistic desire. Others see happiness as purely physical - and perhaps sexual, so for them love is also very physical - and sexual. Still to others, happiness - and love - is about caring for each other, sharing the burden and the fruit of life with someone we deeply care about. But for most people, happiness is combination of all of that; it blurs, or rather zig-zag, the defining line. And precisely for that reason, love is hard to define. "

***

The full writing is in the comment section, ie here: Yoga - On Love

***

Update:
The comedian I mention in the writing is Russel Peter. (To Hardono: Thanks, Bro!)

Internal Promotion vs External Appointment

2005-10-04T10:06:00.000+08:00

Note to self:
Internal promotion is always better than external appointment except when there is a need to enforce drastic changes, such as corporate culture. (Of course assuming there is no big disparaty in quality.)

***

USA Today
A Weakness in Our System
news.yahoo.com

On Presenting Both Sides of Story

2005-09-09T16:10:00.000+08:00

On Bush's idea of teaching both Intelectual Design theory and Evolution theory side by side in science/biology classes....

From the article:

"The call for balance (of judgement - Yoga), by the way, was always tempered by the maxim: When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly half way between. It is possible for one side simply to be wrong."

***

Guardian Online
One Side Can Be Wrong
www.guardian.co.uk

***

Notes:

There is also a danger of confusing the target audiences (in this case the children) when presenting controversial ideas by exposing them to all sides of story. For this - presenting all sides of story - to be effective as education strategy, we first must ensure - by preparing/educating them - that the target audiences:

are mature enough mentally/psychologically/intellectually, not physically, to be objective
possess the basic knowledge to evaluate the merit of different theories/sides of story based on rationale and accepted methodology.

Forcing it to audiences that are not yet ready - that don't have both qualities - would only result in chaos and confusion. Even worse, forcing it to audiences that have bias and/or prejudice toward one or more sides could create dangerous extrimists/fundamentalists. (Observation: look at many religious schools that "try" to teach comparative religion.)

This is applicable not only in the study of evolution (vs creationism) but also in the study of other controversial issues including in a comparative study of various religions (say, in a multireligious / multicultural society or even in a multireligious / multicultural family).

Salute to Israeli Government

2005-08-17T10:16:00.000+08:00

For once, I actually have to give respect to the Israeli Government (and Ariel Sharon). Salute. I surely hope he will stick to it to the end.

***

Associated Press on Yahoo! News
Gaza Settlers Defy Evacuation Deadline
news.yahoo.com

Quote of The Day - Internet Anonymous Sperm Donor

2005-08-17T09:58:00.000+08:00

"The government proposes to regulate the burgeoning internet services that offer to provide anonymous donor sperm by courier service to women who then inseminate themselves at home..."

(SocietyGuardian, Public Asked to Help Rewrite IVF Law, Guardian Online)

Highly Educated Global Terrorists

2005-07-21T15:34:00.000+08:00

"53% of the terrorists had either attended college or had received a college degree. As a point of reference, only 52% of Americans have been to college."

(Peter Bergen of Johns Hopkins University)

***

Guardian Online
A Largely Bourgeois Endeavour
www.guardian.co.uk

She Loved Bringing In Sleazebags

2005-07-14T10:30:00.000+08:00

I would like to see the movie. (After all, it is Kiera Knightley.... :))

***

Guardian
She Loved Bringing In Sleazebags
www.guardian.co.uk

What Is Actually Inside The Mind of A Suicide Bomber?

2005-07-14T10:02:00.000+08:00

Even as a moslem, I never really understand the mindset of a suicide bomber.

***

Guardian Online
From Cricket-Lover Who Enjoyed A Laugh to Terror Suspect
www.guardian.co.uk

Accuracy and Honesty in Journalism (and Fox News)

2005-07-14T09:52:00.000+08:00

The reason I read BBC and Guardian instead of FoxNews. (But then again, this article is from Guardian. ;))

***

Guardian - Media
Accuracy and Honesty (in Journalism)
www.guardian.co.uk

Tsunami of The Century Hit Indonesia and South Asia

2004-12-28T15:29:00.000+08:00

It is bad, Man! Really bad! I've been glued to then news since sunday evening.... and feel sad, really sad! Prayers go to all the victims and their relatives......

Quote of The Day:
"Sunday's massive quake of 9.0 magnitude sent 500-mph waves surging across the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal in the deadliest known tsunami since the one caused by the 1883 volcanic eruption at Krakatoa — located off Sumatra's southern tip — which killed an estimated 36,000 people."

Count us, Indonesia & Indonesians, to be number one in things that is bad..... *ironic, sad smile*

Another Quote of The Day:
"Late Monday, Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla told the state news agency he believed the toll in his country could climb to 25,000"

I really hope he was just exagerating... probably for some political gains, or to get more sympaty from the world, or out of greed (of more aid money). At the moment, it doesn't seem so bad really... compare to the alternative. Hiks... hiks...

Btw, the current formal toll in Indonesia is 4500 deaths.

Quote of The Day - Origin of Santa Claus

2004-12-20T19:54:00.000+08:00

"...the American-style father Christmas was invented by a German, the Landau-born Thomas Nast, who was also responsible for the elephant and donkey symbols of the US political parties."

(AFP Offbeat Article, Father Christmas Lives -- And That's Official, on Yahoo! News)

Opportunistic Golkar Becomes Ruling Party, Again

2004-12-20T05:00:00.000+08:00

I didn't expect this, but smart move in the part of SBY-JK. I personally think it is not in the nature of Golkar to be opposition, ie. outside the government. Golkar's politicians are so used to having lots of privileges for being associated with the ruling government. Even during Megawati's presidency, it is part of the ruling coalition.

I think it is bad for democracy in Indonesia. Well.... Golkar has always been bad for democracy in Indonesia.

But again, another very smart move from SBY-JK's camp!

***

Kompas Cyber Media
Golkar Menjadi Partai Penguasa (Lit. Golkar Becomes Ruling Party)
www.kompas.com

Kompas Cyber Media
Jusuf Kalla Angkat Lagi Pengurus Golkar yang Dipecat Akbar (Lit. Kalla Reinstated Party Officials Fired by Akbar)
www.kompas.com

***

On side note, I have always thought that Akbar Tanjung (AT) would lose in the battle for Golkar Chairman for several reasons:

Overtime, Akbar have stirred strong resistance against him inside his own Golkar from as early as after the failure of Habibie's re-election bid. And recent events have made this resistence stronger than ever: Akbar's corruption scandal and trial, Golkar's failed bid for Presidency early in the first stage of Presidential Election, coalition with Megawati during the second stage of Presidential election, etc. Iramasuka is a known anti-Akbar faction in Golkar. (Jusuf Kalla is from Iramasuka faction.)
For his bid for Golkar Chairman, he build coalition with Wiranto. That was how low he had gone. He lost the support of his long time ally and leutenant, Agung Laksono. And Wiranto, I suspect, would never be happier than seeing Akbar lost his bid. (Some believe that Wiranto's presidency bid, using Golkar card, failed miserably because of internal sabotage by Akbar Tanjung's faction. I, on my part, believe this theory has credibility to stand.)

Is A Smaller School Always A Better School?

2004-12-15T19:58:00.000+08:00

Teresa Méndez
Is A Smaller School Always A Better School?
www.csmonitor.com

Political Assasination - Poisoning

2004-12-12T02:10:00.000+08:00

Reminding me of Munir. (I hardly ever agree with Munir. Still, I am sad and sorry for what happen to him). How about Baharuddin Lopa? Apparently, Lopa also died while traveling (with plane). Interesting/Suspicious....

Susanna Loof
Doctor: Yushchenko Poisoned With Dioxin
www.wired.com

Scott Peterson/Fred Weir
KGB Legacy of Poison Politics
www.csmonitor.com

Munir:

A well known human right activist in Indonesia, died during a flight to Asterdam from Jakarta (via Singapore) using Garuda. Autopsy by the Dutch's authority revealed high level of arsenic in his blood.

The Jakarta Post
Munir Dies on Flight to The Netherlands
www.thejakartapost.com

Richard C. Paddock/Los Angeles Times
Indonesia Activist Died Of Poisoning
www.ctnow.com

Lopa:

Baharuddin Lopa, then Indonesia's Attorney General, was very well known for his anti-corruption stand. He died of heart attack during a plane trip to Saudi Arabia. His body was never autopsied.

Tokoh Indonesia
Baharuddin Lopa - Teladan Jaksa Pendekar Hukum (Lit. Baharuddin Lopa, Example for Law Defending Attorney)
www.tokohindonesia.com

Tempo Interactive
Mahasiswa Sulsel Minta Polri Usut Meninggalnya Lopa (Lit. Students in South Sulawesi Ask Police to Investigate Lopa's Death)
www.tempo.co.id

Yasser Arafat:

Some claims that the Palestinian leader's sudden death for mysterious heart problem is due to poisining by Israel's secret agent.

(I personally believe the more likely story: long confinement/siege by Israel's army in/on his office compound - malnutrition, no water, no electricity, no telephone - affected his old body.)

CNN Online
Palestinian Leader Arafat Dies at 75
www.cnn.com

BBC News
Veteran Leader Yasser Arafat Dies
www.bbc.co.uk

Jusuf Kalla:

Some news media reported that the Presidential Guard found high level of arsenic in food to be consumend by Indonesia's Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, but not high enough to kill him. Some, though, are sceptical suspecting it may just be part of a publicity stunt from him.

Is Wal-Mart Good or Bad?

2004-12-12T02:01:00.000+08:00

Bruce Bartlett
PBS’s Anti-Wal-Mart Propaganda
www.nationalreview.com

Japan's Phones Are The Coolest

2004-12-07T17:21:00.000+08:00

Ian Rowley
Japan's Phones Are The Coolest -- And Have The Skimpiest Profits
www.businessweek.com

Snouck Hurgronje - The Person Acehneses Hate The Most

2004-12-07T16:06:00.000+08:00

Aulia A. Muhammad
Snouck Hurgronje: Memahami Agama Memenangkan Belanda
www.suaramerdeka.com

Another Infuriating Story from Israel

2004-12-07T14:10:00.000+08:00

Chris McGreal
Israel Shocked by Image of Soldiers Forcing Violinist to Play at Roadblock
www.guardian.co.uk

Never Trust Spywares!

2004-12-06T23:11:00.000+08:00

I think these guys are stupid! There is always REAL free alternatives to those come-with-spyware softwares... if only one really looks for it.

Michelle Delio
Spyware on My Machine? So What?
www.wired.com

Something towards Better (Ideal?) Election

2004-11-28T23:14:00.000+08:00

US' Election System is hardly the model election system in the world. Here is how to make it better...

Clive Thompson
6 Ways to Reboot the System
www.wired.com

The US Election System:

Wikipedia
Election System
www.wikipedia.org

Wikipedia
U.S. Electoral College
www.wikipedia.org

Michael G. Neubauer & Joel Zeitlin
Outcomes of Presidential Elections and the House Size
www.thirty-thousand.org (Orig. from The American Political Science Association, www.apsanet.org)

Ohio University
The System: How US Presidential Elections Work
www.ohiou.edu

The Library of Congress
The Learning Page: Election, the American Way
www.loc.gov

Kevin Bonsor
How the Electoral College Works
www.howstuffworks.com

PBS Media
Election Glossary
www.pbs.org

Arnold, The New American Idol

2004-11-28T23:07:00.000+08:00

As I mentioned once, I grow more respect to Arnold's performance as Governor of California. He potrays a pragmatic problem solver, not a special interest driven politician. He seems to be the model radical centrist.

Jill Stewart
The New American Idol
www.wired.com

Why Nerds Are Unpopular

2004-11-28T22:40:00.000+08:00

I always wonder why.

Paul Graham
Why Nerds Are Unpopular
www.wired.com

Anti-Chinese or What? So What?

2004-11-23T07:52:00.000+08:00

DetikCom
Kalla Bantah Anti Cina (Lit. Kalla, Indonesian VP, dismissed the accussation of being anti-Chinese)
www.detik.com

***

I always hate this kind of news.

Only because a person has certain opinions or certain views or certain policies that disadvantage certain Chinese doesn't mean he/she is anti-Chinese. In fact I suspect the person who started this rumour may not even a Chinese. Even if he/she is a Chinese, I strongly suspect that he/she only represents his/her own wicked interest instead of the interest of the general Chinese population in Indonesia. Sadly though, many Chinese in Indonesia are still easily agitated/provoked by this kind of rumour. And sadly as well, this has become a recurring horor for many public office holder in Indonesia.

And the fact that this kind of news still get the attention of mainstream media makes another sad point.

That people still feel the need to answer this kind of accusation is also pathetic.

Point To Ponder - Built-in Moral Sense?

2004-11-22T18:19:00.000+08:00

Do we have an inbuilt moral sense, or do we learn what is right and wrong as we grow up? And which is stronger: emotions or logic?

(Rowan Hooper of Wired News: Clear Pictures of How We Think)

Notes:

I think we form our moral sense by learning from our sourounding, our environment as we grow.

But there is also the tendency, which might be genetic (ie. genetically transfered from parents fo children). So there are people who have a cruel tendency, people who have a tendency of being weak against tear, etc. It also explain for instance how women have tendency to be more emotional.

But that's only a tendency, not a real hard trait. In fact, I believe, in most people this tendency has very little, or even no, influence of what a person would become. Our environment is what makes us to become what we are.

Quotes of The Day - Recipe for Failure

2004-11-22T18:06:00.000+08:00

I do not know the recipe for success. But I do know the recipe for failure: trying to please everybody.

(Bill Cosby)

If you always try to please a person, you will end up blaming that person. Or that person will end up blaming yourself.

(Yoga aka Superbono)

Side Notes:

I think the reason trying too hard to please somebody is destructive (to yourself) is because when we try too hard to please a person, we often sacrifice our own feeling, our own thinking, our own desire. In the process, we lose our sense of self-identity. We become an object not a subject. And that cannot be good! Especially if we do that all the time.

Besides, if after all our effort we still fail to impress that person, the feeling of despair can be too much to bear.

Internet Porn - The Ultimate Drug

2004-11-22T18:00:00.000+08:00

Wired News
Internet Porn: Worse than Crack?
www.wired.com

Tolerance vs Ignorance

2004-11-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

There is a big contrast between tolerance and ignorance. The first need a lot and constant effort, the latter doesn't need any effort at all.

I Love "Opinionated" Woman - Cherie Blair

2004-11-07T16:54:00.001+08:00

I admire, to borrow a term popularized by Heinze Kerry, "opinionated" woman. And Cherie Booth QC aka Cherie Blair is one!

From the Special Report: Cherie Blair at The Guardian website. For more articles, check the website.

Nick Cohen
Cherie's Double Life
www.guardian.co.uk

Fiona Millar
Being Cherie
www.guardian.co.uk

Special Report: Cherie Blair
What They Said About... Cherie Blair
www.guardian.co.uk

Special Report: Cherie Blair
Howard's Wife Tips Her Hat To 'Brave' Cherie
www.guardian.co.uk

Side Notes:

There are big difference between "opionated" and "hard-headed and stubborn" although it may seems similar from the surface. Both types have strong opinion/stand on certain issues. But they cannot be more different, like the earth and the sky:

(1) Opinionated people can argue their case soundly and logically while hard-headed people have no apparent reason for their conviction (or stubborness). They, stubborn people, just blindly believe their cause, many times very strongly emotional about that.

(2) Opinionated people usually come to their stand after a personal, intellectual, journey. On the other hand, I don't know how stubborn people get into their stand, maybe they were born with it.

(3) Opinionated people is open to discussion. They welcome different and opposing opinions as long others are also open to their opinions. In contrast stubborn people don't care less about other, different opinions. In fact, most of the times, they despise it.

(4) As the result, to be opionated people need a lot of effort on their part. Most of opinionated people are also honest in nature. On the contrary, stubborness need no effort at all. And many stubborn people are also dishonest, sly and always scheming.

Likewise, this is a passing note, there is a big contrast between tolerance and ignorance. The first need a lot and constant effort, the latter doesn't need any effort at all.

Congratulation Mr. Bush!

2004-11-04T05:44:00.000+08:00

George W. Bush wins re-election bid. Congratulation.

America's Civil Rights Movement

2004-11-01T11:04:00.000+08:00

MSN Encarta
Reconstruction (U.S. history)
www.encarta.msn.com

MSN Encarta
Civil Rights Movement in the United States
www.encarta.msn.com

Notes:

I came across these articles while researching on Abraham Lincoln. See here.

How To Talk To Our Enemies

2004-11-01T07:48:00.000+08:00

From the How To Talk To Our Enemies series at Christian Science Monitor website. For more articles, check the website.

Carla Seaquist
At Heart of Good Political Discussion: The Idea
www.csmonitor.com

Laura Chasin
How to Break The Argument Habit
www.csmonitor.com

Side Notes

Eventhough I agree that tonning down our response to a sharp argument is THE way to start a meaningful and fair discussion of ideas, I also believe that certain times we need to fiercely shoot back to an accusatory arguments.

Ideally, people would be touched by our humble response to their arguments and thus would then engage us in more meaningful discussion. Unfortunately, there are certain scenarios where I believe a heated response is not only preferable but necessary:

(1) Some people are just too ignorant to see between the lines and these people often perceived our humble response as a sign of weakness or worse a confirmation of their accusations.

(2) Some other people also are so narrow-minded or so deep in their stereotyping mindset that it would need a little shock therapy, by way of sharp response, to wake them up.

(3) In another scenario, we may need to heatedly argue our response to obtain level ground. No meaningful and fair discussion could be achieved without a level ground to base the discussion.

(4) A fierce response may also be needed to convey a strong message to our opponents that their argument is insensitive, deeply insulting and more importantly irrelevant.

But it has to be kept in mind that the purpose of the fierce response is not to embarass our opponents nor to get them in their knees. The main purpose is to establish a level gound before proceeding with further discussion. Once a level ground is achieved, we should revert back to more thoughtful response.

Quote of The Day - Democracy Requires Compromise

2004-11-01T07:26:00.000+08:00

Democracy requires space for compromise, and compromise is best won through acknowledging the legitimate concerns of the other. We need to bridge opposing positions, not accentuate differences.

(Daniel Yankelovich, founder and chairman of Viewpoint Learning, on bridging polarized Americans people ahead of Presidential Election 2004)

Re-inventing God (Based on Science)

2004-10-29T07:10:00.000+08:00

William H. Calvin
Reinventing God
www.williamcalvin.com

He said atheism is an occupational hazard for many scientists! Hmmm...... *nodding, nodding*

Abraham Lincoln - The First Republican President

2004-10-29T02:05:00.000+08:00

From www.guardian.co.uk:

The first Republican president was Abraham Lincoln, who won the 1860 election. He polled a little under 40% of the vote but in one of the most factional contests on record, the Democrats split into pro and anti-slavery southern and northern wings and the Constitution Union party campaigned hard along what were to become the civil war borders between the northern and southern states.

---

Notes:

Lincoln is the US president who abolished slavery.

(Well sort of. It is said that Lincoln was not a total abolitionist. But I think it was more of political compromise on his part. Besides, he did free the slaves and planned to give voting right to certain blacks. Unfortunately he was assasinated before realising his plan so the voting right part - and his many other policies concerning Blacks - were shelved back for another 100 years - thanks to a Democrat, Andrew Johnson.)

(It sounds ironic considering the current Republican party is perceived as less than appreciative to minority and majority of blacks are Democrat - ie. non Republican. It is also ironic that nowadays southern states are the basis of Republican party considering during the Civil War these states strongly opposed the Republican power.)

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, causing consternation among those arrested on vague charges of disloyalty to the Union in its war with the Confederacy.

Lincoln is also nicknamed "Honest Abe". It is said that Abraham Lincoln never lie.

Resources:

White House Website
Biography of Abraham Lincoln
www.whitehouse.gov

Roger Norton
Abraham Lincoln's Research Site
www.members.aol.com/RVSNorton/

MSN Encarta
Encycopedia Article - Reconstruction (U.S. history)
www.encarta.msn.com

How bin Laden Got Away from Tora Bora

2004-10-29T01:31:00.000+08:00

A very old article. I just find out today. Dated March 04, 2002 .

www.csmonitor.com
How bin Laden Got Away

"What If" on US Presidential Election

2004-10-29T01:25:00.000+08:00

www.guardian.co.uk
New Iron Curtain Divides Europe over Bush

www.guardian.co.uk
A Question of Compromise

Notable Quotes:

Europe's recipe for dealing with conflict is "pre-emptive engagement" - the use of diplomatic, economic and political tools to head off conflict rather than getting your retaliation in first.

(Emil Kirchner, professor of European studies at Essex University, contrasting Bush's pre-emptive strike policy with Europe's)

Europe has always delivered economically. If it can do that sufficiently for the new countries they will come around much more to a kind of shared understanding and similar values. The ethos of the EU is peaceful coexistence.

(Emil Kirchner, professor of European studies at Essex University, on EU's various new members)

The only way to address this issue is to strike a deal with Iran and come out in support of a viable state for the Palestinians. Neither will do that. Unless they do both, we're going to hit the iceberg and we'll all be sunk into decades of conflict with 1.5 billion very angry people.

(Fred Halliday, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, on hostility in the Middle East and from Muslims across the world towards America over Iraq and War on Terrorism)

It would be US v Europe with Blair in the middle.

(Paul Rogers, of Bradford University's peace studies department, on the possible worst-case scenario if Bush is re-elected.)

Side Notes:

Professor Kirchner does not see the fractured state of Europe being healed by the new constitution, even if it is adopted, but by growing prosperity.

I strongly agree with that. Resolving differences, especially cultural one, many times boils down to "stomach issue". Poor people - or hungry people - is almost impossible to engage into a rational discussion. Poor people has also normally lower education level. And poor people, understandably, are less open minded on differences with other people, if they care at all.

The point is, if you want people to be more understanding toward different cultures, more tolerance toward others, feed them and provide them with all their basic needs first. Only then, engage them into the virtue of tolerance and understanding others.

Quote of The Day - Foucault on Representation

2004-10-28T23:56:00.000+08:00

... "representation" in the sense that Michel Foucault used the term rather than in the civics sense. Foucault said that people have a tendency to represent reality, and then to refer to the representation rather than to the reality. (This is also the way stereotypes and bigotry work.)

(Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan, on One of Bush's Debate's Claim)

Another Quote of The Day - Fool Enough People Enough Time

2004-10-28T23:22:00.000+08:00

The presidential election of 2004 is a test of Lincoln's assertion that you can't fool all the people all the time. At the very least, if Bush is put back in it will demonstrate that you can fool enough of the people enough of the time.

(Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan, on US Presidential Election 2004)

Side Note:

The original Lincoln saying is, I remember from a book a friend of mine showed me sometime when I was a senior in high school:

You can fool some people all the time.
You can fool all the people some of the time.
But you can not fool all the people all the time.

Bush vs Kerry on Key Issues

2004-10-28T18:31:00.000+08:00

www.guardian.co.uk
Bush and Kerry: Where They Stand on The Key Issues

Quote of The Day - Be The Media

2004-10-26T17:14:00.000+08:00

Don't hate the media, become the media.

(Eric Blumrich, founder of BushFlash.com, quoting Jello Biafra, lead singer of the Dead Kennedys)

The Problem with (Political) Polling

2004-10-20T15:11:00.000+08:00

www.ariannaonline.com
Bogus Polls: Meaningless Farce Or Looming Tragedy?
(Arianna Huffington)

www.mysterypollster.com
Mobile Phone (Comment on The Above Article)
(Mark Blumenthal)

No Sex for Arnold's after Pro-Bush Speech

2004-10-20T14:57:00.000+08:00

www.abc.co.au
Arnie's wife terminates sex after pro-Bush speech

(You go Girl!! LOL)

(Btw, reading recent news on him and his governorship, I grow more respect on him. Apparently, he is not only muscles but some brain also.)

The German Peasants' Rebellion

2004-10-20T14:03:00.000+08:00

Interesting reading on faith-based social movement.

Ed Weick:
The German Peasants' Rebellion
www.members.eisa.com/~ec086636/

For Israelis Army, Killing Children Is No Longer A Big Deal

2004-10-20T13:54:00.000+08:00

www.haaretz.com
Killing Children Is No Longer A Big Deal

(A, surprisingly, alternative view from a popular Israel newspaper)

Bush and Faith-based Presidency

2004-10-20T13:23:00.000+08:00

www.nytimes.com
Without a Doubt (Bush's Faith-based Presidency)

(I am tempted to think, let him win the second term and we will see what happen. It could be really interesting. LOL)

Notable quote from the article:

That's not the way the world really works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.

(A Bush' aide responding to "reality-based community", people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'')

Faith can cut in so many ways. If you're penitent and not triumphal, it can move us to repentance and accountability and help us reach for something higher than ourselves. That can be a powerful thing, a thing that moves us beyond politics as usual, like Martin Luther King did. But when it's designed to certify our righteousness -- that can be a dangerous thing. Then it pushes self-criticism aside. There's no reflection.

(Jim Wallis, an evangelical pastor)

Whether you can run the world on faith, it's clear you can run one hell of a campaign on it.

(Ron Suskind, author of the article)

Megawati and Her Reluctance to Attend SBY's Inauguration

2004-10-18T15:48:00.000+08:00

I am tempted to say..... WTF?!!!
(Well, I said it anyway, didn't I?)

In my opinion, if she has any character, she would go to any of these directions:

(1)
She should file formal complaint to General Election Commision and submits evidences no matter how insignificance that is. She could than use this as a reason not to attend the inauguration ceremony. This doesn't show that she has a "real" character as in moral character. But at least it would show that she is indeed a politician. Politically savvy.

(2)
Or... She should openly admit defeat. After all, in my opinion, she lost the election fair and square. Besides, she has indirectly admitted that she has lost the election. And even if she doesn't, she admitted that she has no proofs whatsoever to argue otherwise.

So, she should instead play a stateman. Set an example to the people that democracy, and life that is, is not always about winning but sometimes also losing. Damn, Indonesia is DESPERATE for that kind of attitude! Show the people that there is no indignation in losing in a fair battle. that difference can be settled over open and fair competition and not neccessary by force, that not every competition/diferrence must end bitterly and bloody. Like I said, Indonesia DESPERATELY needs this kind of example!!!

So after admitting fair defeat, she should attend SBY's inaguration with dignity. Congratulate him warmly and pose and smile broadly with him to thousands of cameras and journalists. Then, proudly proclaim that Indonesia, and Indonesians, are ready for democracy, that Indonesia, and Indonesians, are mature enough to deal with differences in civilized manner - peacefully, fairly and objectively. Then, with twinkle in the eyes, said gleefully but truthfully: "I am proud being Indonesian!"

Then, if she is ever a politician, start preparing for the next battle in 5 year time.

***

But what course she chooses to take. Neither of it. In fact NONE of ANYTHING, which is very Megawati, which SUCKS!!! Big Time!!!

She is a shame in the great name of his father. And to think that she abused his father 's name to gather votes.... that really gave new level to LOW!

And neither any of PDIP's elites helps.... maybe even worse, which explains why Megawati always behaves that way. (The exception is Kwik Kian Gie, of whom I have GREAT respect. That's right: "great" with all capital letters!)

The question would be: who influence who?

But if I am Megawati, I would start listening to Kwik and diss the rest of PDIP's elites. At least, majorly re-organize it to prepare for the next election. Then, I would start showing a character, any character at all - which would be better than anything I am/she is now. Oh... and then I would start shopping. It realeases tension and reduces stress, or so they said. Besides, I need a new dress for SBY's inauguration ceremony. Come to think of it, maybe I'll have Botox and Lipposuction as well. If I look sweet and sexy in front of those overzealous, overcritical but grossly underpaid journalists, maybe... maybe I would have a chance of stealing SBY's thunder during the ceremony.

Mega... Oh Mega...

2004-10-18T14:00:00.000+08:00

www.kompas.com
Soal Ketidakhadiran pada Pelantikan SBY, Megawati Enggan Komentar
(Lit. Megawati doesn't want to comment on her absence in SBY's inauguration.)

www.kompas.com
Tjahjo: Tidak Ada Aturan Hukum Mega Harus Hadir
(Lit. Tjahjo: No law governing Megawati's attendance.)

www.kompas.com
Megawati Tak Akan Hadiri Pelantikan SBY
(Lit. Megawati will not attend SBY's inauguration)

www.detik.com
Bujuk Hadiri Pelantikan Presiden, Hidayat akan Temui Mega
(Lit. To persuade her to attend the President's inauguration, Hidayat - The Speaker of Parliment - will meet Mega.)

www.detik.com
Mengapa Megawati Perlu Hadir?
(Lit. Why Megawati need to attend?)

A Few Good Men in Indonesia (Kwik Kian Gie)

2004-10-18T13:26:00.000+08:00

www.detik.com
Kwik: Nanti Sore Saya akan Minta Mega Hadiri Pelantikan SBY
(Lit. Kwik: After noon, I'll ask Mega to attend SBY's swear-in ceremony.)

www.detik.com
Kwik Kian Gie: Ekonom yang Dipanggil ke Cikeas Pro-IMF
(Lit. Kwik: Economists called to Cikeas, SBY's villa and HQ, are Pro-IMF)

www.detik.com
Kwik: Rencana SBY Pimpin Negosiasi Utang, Langkah Besar
(Lit. Kwik: SBY's plan to lead the loan negotiation himself is a big step.)

www.detik.com
Kwik: Tanggulangi Kemiskinan Bukan Dengan Pinjaman
(Lit. Kwik: Loan is not the way to tackle poverty.)

Men More Willing to Sleep with Their Boss?

2004-10-17T11:17:00.000+08:00

More like: Men More Willing to Sleep with Anybody. LOL!

Reuter via Yahoo! News
Men More Willing to Sleep with Their Boss

Megawati Has Not Yet Accept Defeat.

2004-10-11T14:29:00.000+08:00

www.detik.com
Bara: Megawati Harus Respon Pernyataan SBY Soal Transisi
(Lit: Bara said Megawati must response to SBY's statement on transition.)

www.detik.com
Rekonsiliasi Mega-SBY, Semoga Hanya Menunggu Waktu Saja
(Lit: Reconciliation between Mega-SBY, hopefully only a matter of time.)

What's wrong with her? Can she just accept defeat fairly and squarely? It is not the end of everything. Or is it? Maybe for her. She is not very bright, is she?

(Btw, I hate the interface in detik.com, which is the reason I seldom visit the news site anymore. I used to visit the site several times a day. Now, not even once a week.)

Yudhoyono, Focus with What Is Ahead!

2004-10-11T14:00:00.000+08:00

www.kompas.com
Kasus Masa Lalu Tak Akan Jadi Prioritas Yudhoyono
(Lit. Past cases won't be high in Yudhoyono's priority list.)

Which is a good thing! We, Indonesian people, should move on. We should always learn from the past. But don't let the past holding us back! (This is a good advise! For me as a person! And for me as a Moslem!)

There is also another article that mentions that Yudhoyono's will focus his first 100 days in power to tackle corruption. Good thing!

IMHO, the future of Yudhoyono's political career (and his presidency) will depend very much on his performance as President during his first year.

If he does well, he will stay popular, or even more popular, with the people. This will be a very important leverage for him, and he cannot afford to lose it, against a hostile parlement. (I expect the parliment to be very hostile to him considering the attitude Megawati, PDIP, and Akbar Tanjung, Golkar, put up recently.)

If he does well, his party's power base will grow. And he could expect to rather enjoy his presidency. Hell, he could even expect to be re-elected in the next election. (And next time, he can expect to control the parliment as well!)

On the contrary, if he doesn't do well, there is a high chance he will not complete his 5-year term as the president. Impeachment is looming, and he risks of losing everything including his party's supporters.

So all the best SBY!!! Don't disappoint me.

Most Indonesian Are Irrational?

2004-10-11T13:29:00.000+08:00

www.kompas.com
Sampai Kapan Kita Tidak Rasional?
(Lit. When will we stop being irrational?)

I agree! Most of Indonesian are irrational. And uneducated! Only because somebody completes the 9 years of compulsory education doesn't mean he/she is "educated" and rational. In fact I see back home in Indonesia so many people with university/college background have mindset no more than an elementary school graduate. And boy, they are also stubborn and shameless. What a lethal combination!! Stupid, stubborn and shameless!!!

Oh, and may I add also that many - many - of them are corrupted and power hungry, as in they would do anything - anything - to obtain power and stay in power.

Make me wonder sometimes why I still proudly say that I am an Indonesian! Hey, I am an Indonesian!!!

The solution my dear people..... is education, education, and education! Did I mention education?

(I strongly urge SBY to put education in his high priority list. Put it on the top of it. Not only high priority but highest priority. Allocate 20% of the annual budget for education as the constitution prescribes. Well, make it 40%!!!)

My Personal View on Bush

2004-10-11T04:09:00.000+08:00

I think Bush is an idealist. An out of touch idealist but an indealist nevertheless. And I always have great respect to idealists simply because I used to be one. Now, I consider myself more of a pragmatist.

But that's where I make my stand. An idealist can be the driving force of renaissance in a society. But an idealist can also be a very destructive factor. And especially true, an out of touch idealist is potentially dangerous. For that reason, I don't want him to be re-elected.

(Come to think of it, I think Bush's idealist mentality comes from being used to get whatever he wants. It could explain his stubbornness. And every idealist is a stubborn person. And a stubborn person is, in a way or another, an idealist. That, my friend, I speak from personal experience.)

Disagree Doesn't Mean Hate

2004-10-11T03:56:00.000+08:00

I always wonder why so many people think that if I don't agree with them, sometimes strongly, that means I hate them. In grander scale, if I don't agree with their country's policy, that means I hate the people, their race.

Hey man, it is nothing personal! Really! It is just a conflict of ideas, a debate on issues, nothing sort of a clash of civilization.

(I am so tired of explaining this or that, but nevertheles still feel I need to because of some personal experiences in the past!)

(I am Indonesian. But I don't agree with many, repeat: many, Indonesian government's policy. But I could not possibly hate Indonesian people right?)

Skewed views of 'Bush doctrine'

2004-10-11T03:30:00.000+08:00

It is a rather balance opinion on Bush's policy. It quoted Washington Post's reporter Robin Wright.

The four central planks of President Bush's foreign policy:
1. Preemptive action to "prevent strikes on US targets"
2. A willingness "to act unilaterally, alone or with a select coalition, when the United Nations or allies balk"
3. A policy to promote democratic reform in the Middle East, sparked by democratic progress in Iraq and
4. Iraq as "the next cornerstone in the global war on terrorism"

Those are not new concepts, Bush only in a way inherits it, and it will stay even if Bush is not re-elected this November.

www.csmonitor.com
Skewed views of 'Bush doctrine'

(My opinion:
1. I can understand sometimes there is a need for pre-emptive action.
2. But unilateral action is not justified even in the context of pre-emptive action. The very reason there is United Nation is to prevent unilateral action from its member(s) which may or may not disrupt world order/peace.
3. Middle East's problem is a complex issue. It will not dissolve only because Iraq becomes a democratic country, if she succeeds which I doubt. In fact, one of the stumbling block for peace and progress in Middle East, and a bigger block IMHO, is Israel.
4. No comment.)

(I don't hate Israel, much less Jews. But I don't agree - well, strongly oppose - the occupation of Palestine by the Israel. And I am disgusted with Israel's repeated disregard, with the backing of US, of many UN's resolution about herself.)

Classic Guerrilla War Forming in Iraq

2004-10-11T02:59:00.000+08:00

This is rather old (dated September 20, 2004) but I just happen to re-visit it.

A nice wrap-up on situation in Iraq and a passing study about insurgency and guerilla warfare, something I as Indonesian can relate to. (Aceh? Irian? Maluku?)

www.csmonitor.com
Classic Guerrilla War Forming in Iraq

Quote of The Day - Objective Reporting

2004-10-11T02:20:00.000+08:00

I'm one who believes there's no such thing as purely "objective" reporting - on screen, in print, or anywhere else. We all carry perspectives and assumptions in our imperfect human minds, and if some of these seem self-evident or unquestionable, it may be because we don't happen to know anyone who thinks otherwise.

(David Sterritt, Film critic of The Christian Science Monitor)

"Fair and Balanced" Coverage by Fox

2004-10-10T11:15:00.000+08:00

I don't think I would ever watch Fox News or read foxnews.com without salt anymore.

Fox dismissed the phony story by Carl Cameron, its chief political correspondent, on the first presidential debate in which John Kerry's was "quoted" as flaunting his great manicure and sex appeal to women as a regrettable error, "which occurred because of fatigue and bad judgment, not malice."

What about its handwringing and spitballing over CBS's Dan Rather?

www.startribune.com:
Editorial: Fox's blunder/Brushing aside a staffer's hoax

Happiness is Created, Not Found

2004-10-10T10:41:00.000+08:00

Retrospect Mode.

We don't search for happiness. We create happiness. Happiness is not about what we can have or should have. Instead, happiness is about what we already have.

Until we really accept who we really are, the present we, we won't be truly happy!!!

Extreme Personality Makeover

2004-10-07T19:51:00.000+08:00

Be a better (well, perfect?) person with genetic re-engineering?

(I know! It almost becomes a cliche topic. But still very intriguing nevertheless.)

You Need a Robolawyer

2004-10-07T19:38:00.000+08:00

Good idea !

(What about intellegent program which understands legal contracts on word by word and context? If it doesn't recognize a word it would search it in a dictionary for synonym and work its meaning from there according to context. The hardest part of course is to understand the context. Prompt user?)

Quote of The Day - Formats Control Content

2004-10-07T18:53:00.000+08:00

... the formats are what's going to determine who really controls content on the internet ...

(Gary Barnett, IT Research Director of Ovum, on European Commision's recent Media Player action)

(Article in here)

(I appreciate Internet Task Force's principle to maintain the Internet as patent-free as possible. Just imagine what it would be like if hyperlink is patented. Obviously, the Internet would never be like what it is now since, IMHO, hyperlink is the main power behind the popularity of Internet. Recent case: Microsoft's email's sender ID proposal)

Quote of The Day - Higher Power Guidance

2004-10-06T18:26:00.000+08:00

Joan: I just tried to figure it out, who I wanted to be.
...
Joan: I didn't really want anyone else to tell me. (Not even God. Yoga)
...
Joan: Do you know who you are?
Adam: I... I don't try to figure it out.
Joan: Mmmm... Maybe it's not important, you know!

(Joan of Arcadia, S02-02)

(Yoga: The more I deny God, the harder I question God's existence and fairness, the more desperate I feel for "higher-power" guidance.)

Quote of The Day - Conscience

2004-10-05T05:46:00.000+08:00

I am willing to accept that my opinions are a result of a given subconscious, not sufficient knowledge.
...
What if you could be given a reason for everything you believe, but the reason is unrelated to the topic – the result of a life and a psyche? Will we believe those things the same way we used to?
...
It's not what I know, it's what I felt. It's dangerous to rely on emotions to guide your moral compass – but it’s the only way to be honest.

(Specialist Mike Prysner writing to Michael Moore from Iraq)

Sex Minded?

2004-10-03T03:24:00.000+08:00

OK. My last 4 posts have something to do with sex. So what?

Scalia: "Orgies Ease Social Tension"

2004-10-03T03:19:00.000+08:00

Justice Antonin Scalia of US Supreme Court thinks Americans ought to be having more orgies.

(I really don't know what to say.)

(Btw, a friend of mine would be glad to here that. Hell, he probably would really like to hear more about it!)

(I do know that Sex DOES ease tension. LOL!)

Ringtones for Bigger Boobs

2004-10-03T02:54:00.000+08:00

Apparently, there is a ringtone that increases the size of breast in Japan. Man, I respect those Japs!

So what's next? Ringtones to enlarge Penis? That would sell more...!

(Maybe I should get one for my gf. LOL!)

(Oh, I have this thought: What would happen when in a crowded place, say subway, a girl's phone rings, and the ringtone is, surprise surprise, the bigger-boobs tone? For me, my natural reaction would.... well, look at her boobs! What else?)

Man is All About SEX?

2004-10-03T02:10:00.000+08:00

Why is most man so obsessed with sex, boobs and porns? I think it more cultural than anything else! We, male human, grew up on this assumption (from our elders, our peers, and our society). So in the end, it becomes some sort of self-fulfilled propechy.

(I think the same logic is applicable to many of Freudian theory on human sexuality.)

(I also think that anything cultural is almost a certainty... so I come to accept that. :))

Keira Knightley is THE Sexiest Star

2004-10-03T01:28:00.000+08:00

Say no more. Here!

(Man!!!!)

Thumbs Up for Yudhoyono

2004-10-01T18:13:00.000+08:00

Indonesian Politics.
Tinggalkan Koalisi Kebangsaan, PPP Gabung Koalisi Keumatan
(Lit. PPP left National Coalition to join People Coalition)

Two thumbs up for Yudhoyono and PD for their political moves recently. Smart/flexible but also potrays some solid direction/agenda. Recent incident I have in mind is on the election of House Speaker of Jakarta's Regional Parliments (DPRD DKI Jakarta). He scolded his party members for not following his instruction truthfully and later apologized to coalition partner PKS for its members behaviour. That's a promising sign for his pledge to fight corruption in Indonesia.

Three things I see in that:
1. He doen't turn blind eye to his party's members behaviour.
2. He apologizes (hopefully truthfully) when he makes mistakes. That's is one hell of a Character!
3. He tries to correct any mistakes on his part or his party's part.

I guess I have to revise my earlier prediction that Yudhoyono will not last 5 years in the President seat. Well, almost... but not yet!

Faces of the Fallen

2004-10-01T16:50:00.001+08:00

Touching. Salute for them.
Faces of the Fallen: US Fatalities in Iraq

(Hey, I don't hate Americans! I just don't like their government's "With us or against us!" tendency!)

Akbar Tanjung, Anti-Hero of Indonesian Politics

2004-10-01T16:50:00.000+08:00

The current anti-hero of Indonesian Politics: Akbar Tanjung!!!
(WTF he has in mind? I thoroughly, truthfully disgusted!!!)

I still have some respect for his party though. I have always said Golkar is a solid party. It is here to stay.

Don't Look Back! Look Ahead!

2004-10-01T16:23:00.002+08:00

Retrospect Mode.

It is so damn hard!!! Especially when it seems your past is more secure than your future!

Bush by Numbers

2004-10-01T16:23:00.001+08:00

This in an old article...
Bush by numbers: Four years of double standards

Do you know that 85% of Indonesians had an unfavourable image of the United States in 2003. I thought it was 100%? OK, maybe only 98%. (When it comes to her Unilateralism and her invasion of Iraq that is.)

Go Kerry Go!

2004-10-01T16:23:00.000+08:00

Presidential Elections in US:
Bush, Kerry Clash on Iraq in Debate

I personally have mixed feeling about who should win the election and becomes the next President of US. If Kerry wins, well... good for the world (hopefully!). But if Bush wins, well... good for America. (That means more people/countries will be irritated by her Unilateralism. But hey, that's what Americans want right?)

Cool Pillow

2004-10-01T15:50:00.000+08:00

Why do I never thought of it....
In Japan, Women Can Doze With Man Pillow (Coming up: Women's Lap Pillow for Men)

Fulham close in on Djorkaeff

2004-09-23T15:25:00.001+08:00

Fulham manager Chris Coleman tonight confirmed that former France international Youri Djorkaeff is poised for a move to Craven Cottage.

(Bla..bla..bla...)

Boston Utd 1-4 Fulham

2004-09-23T15:25:00.000+08:00

Tomasz Radzinski's two goals and a man-of-the-match performance from Steed Malbranque helped Fulham breeze into the third round of the Carling Cup with a 4-1 win at Boston.

(Bla..bla...bla...)