Daily Lesson

Cars Are Illegal

2008-07-06T02:32:00.000-07:00

Having observed the unfortunate develoment in oil market lately, I have strong reason to believe that there will come a time where gasoline cars become obsolete or illegal to be used.

There will come a time where a big fight occur between giant car manufacturers with government worldwide.

There will be.

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Netherlands vs Russia (1 - 3)

2008-06-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

If I were a Dutch man, will I hate Gus Hiddink?

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In Kupang

2008-04-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

Kupang is the capital city of Nusa Tenggara Timur Province (funny when I try to translate it to English: "Eastern South East Nusa") about 4 hours flight eastbound from Jakarta. I was there for 2 days and not much I can say about the city.

Still very underdeveloped, lack of natural resources which lead to small budget and less capacity to promote development, it further complicated with refugee problem from Timor Leste, a newly established country which faces NTT Province directly in the east (formerly East Timor, a province of Indonesia).

Anyway, it is always nice to be able to visit remote areas of Indonesia. This weekend next destination: Banjarmasin, capital city of South Kalimantan province.

In Japan

2008-03-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

For about three weeks, this is my morning routine: walk 20 minutes to Yoyogi-uehara station, ride the train on Chiyoda line and stop in Kasumigaseki station at the 8th stop, continue walking 15 minutes to Japan Fair Trade Commission office.

I am in Tokyo as I write, and have this training about competition law under the auspice of Japan International Cooperation Agency. Well so far, it did good. It just the weather that I.m not very fond of. This early May, the temperature range from 2 to 20 degree, but most of the time I really froze. It also very dry. Make my skin rough and extremely dried out.

Weekend is coming! So I don't have to worry about staying awake in class, which is a very difficult thing to do. I will go sightseeing this weekend! Yay!

Is Silence Golden?

2008-02-20T09:28:00.000-08:00

Ask it to lawyers."Absolutely not!" perhaps the answer. How come the truth is revealed without voicing it up? How come justice is served without accusation and defense? This is a job that hourly paid, to research, to analyze, to conclude, and the most important, to convey it, to clients and counterparts. So how come silence is golden?

Ask it to politicians. "Hell no!" could be the answer. How come democracy prevail without votes? Without freedom of speech and speak up opinion? How come a system that rules by the people works without a clear common goals told by the people?

Probably I'm missing the context here. There must be a circum stance where silence is the wisest attitude. But what kind of circum stance? When you're facing a bad temper opponent? When you know nothing good to say? When?

I believe that eventually you have to speak up your mind in whatever circum stance. The method and time, off course, have to fit the circum stance. But you could never be silent forever! That is for sure.

Thus I reach a conclusion that silence is not golden. We mistakenly take it as a value when actually we're trying to avoid confrontation. There's nothing wrong with avoiding confrontation, but it is very wrong to abandon dialectica process.

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Living In The Fast Lane

2008-02-07T00:04:00.000-08:00

Before we enter a new year, three cabinet ministers issued a joint decision to stipulate public holidays and collective leaves in the up-coming year.

Accordingly, everybody knew that February 7 is public holiday to celebrate Chinese New Year and the next day is collective leave day thus people can have four days holiday in a row.

But what a surprise! On February 5, those three cabinet ministers cancel the February 8 as collective holiday and consequently people have to to work as usual on that day!

Now I don't want to comment on how the people suffer from cancellation of their trips, vacancies, and any other activities planned beforehand. I only concern to what happen to me.

I supposed to go to Bandung and meet my folk. Due to February 8 is a work day, I received specific command to go to the office and prepare something for work. Then today is public holiday but I am unable to make the most of it.

Here I am, woke up at two o'clock in the noon, very lazy to clean up, still not take a bath, wash my face, or brush my teeth. Haven't take anything for breakfast (or lunch I supposed). I had a cup of milk tea and a budd of cigarette so far. Just rest my back against the bed and watch tv all days. When this hunger eats me up, I probably get out and look for something to digest or ... Probably not!

Sucks!

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Nice Pray

2008-01-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

"God, please grant me a serenity to accept things I can not change, a courage to change things I can change, and a wisdom to know the difference"

Is it from Bible? Or there is also one in Koran? Possibly. Certainly I got it from a movie "Mr. Brooke". Cool! And exactly what I need.

(Un)concius Mumbling

2007-11-27T10:24:00.001-08:00

When are we going to stop asking question "what am I really looking for in this life"? Perhaps never. Perhaps, what we are really looking for in this life is to be able to answer that exact question. Having said that means, if someone asks you profoundly "what are you looking for in this life?" then you go with "the answer of that question". In one side, you know what you are looking for, you are not lost, you have goal, and your life then is not meaningless. But in the other hand, your answer is a blank card, indefinite, and when you think it over, that is not an answer at all! It seems that there is a windmill in my mind, like a song in Thomas Crown's Affair. Put it on another angle, it means that you have an answer without an answer. Could it be legitimate? I do not see why it is illegitimate. It just like agree to disagree or to choose not to choose. Now I think I better stop this insanity useless thougt of mind. This is what I have become with mobile blogging and qwerty handphone!

Suggestion Please!

2007-11-11T10:14:00.001-08:00

What will you do when you know there's a lot of things you need to finish but you're out of energy and mind? Then you take a break to find some peace but the tasks keep rolling in your head and your brain levels it with numbers of alternative? You didn't get the break nor the job done. You feel very tired yet the job is waiting to be completed. You want to escape from all of that but you very knew that it is your nature to grasp the entire burden on your own . What will you do?

Losing Her

2007-10-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

Sometime we don't appreciate what we have whilst some others people crave to have it. Unfortunately, sometime it necessitates to loss it to realize how it means a lot to us and by that time we can't move backward the clock to honour and appreciate what we had. Remorse always come late and we never suffice to learn from experiences. Oh me, oh me...

Welcome Ramadhan

2007-09-14T09:19:00.001-07:00

Marhaban ya Ramadhan tidak terasa kita sudah menjalani ibadah puasa lagi. Ada beberapa hal yang perlu untuk dicatat dalam kurun waktu selama ini: 1. Tentang perkembangan Bapak. Setelah diketahui mengidap virus TORCH (toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalo, dan herpes complex 1 dan 2) yang meyerang otak kecil sehingga melumpuhkan syaraf dan diterapi dengan berbagai obat selama 3 minggu di RSCM, keadaan Bapak berangsur-angsur baik. Walaupun berat badannya belum kembali normal karena nafsu makan yang hilang dan tidur harus dibantu obat tidur, semangat hidup Bapak sudah tampak kembali. Sudah hampir satu bulan sejak meninggalkan RSCM dan menjalani rawat jalan, hari Senin besok Bapak akan diperiksa lab kembali. Syukur luar biasa akhirnya Bapak bisa dapat kembali ke rumah dan menjalankan ibadah puasa. 2. Perjalanan ke Dublin. Di tengah-tengah masa opname Bapak, saya mendapat beasiswa untuk mengikuti training hukum di Dublin selama seminggu. Perjalanan yang melelahkan namun sepadan dengan ilmu yang didapat dan kenalan kolega pengacara di berbagai belahan dunia. Hidup memang benar-benar roda yang berputar, kadang di atas kadang di bawah, teringat saya akan sebuah ungkapan "Everybody will fall and how they get up will determine the quality of their life". Dan hingga saat ini saya masih mencoba bangkit dan berharap menjalani hidup untuk mencapai kualitas yang terbaik. Semoga bulan yang suci ini memberikan berkah bagi kita semua. Amin.

Opname Lagi

2007-07-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Akhirnya setelah mencari second opinion, bapak didiagnosa mengidap sejumlah virus dengan jumlah yang laten sehinga mengganggu sistem saraf di otak kecilnya. Kemudian sejak tanggal 25 Juli bapak diopname di RSCM untuk menjalani program pengendalian virus selama 3 minggu.

Perkembangan Bapak

2007-07-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

Hari minggu kemarin saya pulang ke bandung. Bapak sudah bisa berjalan tanpa walker. Jari-jari sampai sikunya masih kaku, belum ada kemajuan apa pun. Ibu bercerita panjang lebar mengenai psikologis bapak yang sekarang sangat sensitif dan lebih emosional.

Bapak Terjatuh

2007-06-29T21:25:00.001-07:00

Hari ini ulang tahun perkawinan ibu dan bapak yang ke 33 tahun. Kondisi bapak tampaknya terus memburuk. Sudah hilang keseimbangan untuk berdiri tapi masih memaksakan untuk jalan sendiri. Akibatnya sudah 4 kali jatuh sejak pulang ke rumah, benjol dan luka kepalanya. Ibu menangis lagi.

Keluar Rumah Sakit

2007-06-27T07:56:00.001-07:00

Hari ini Bapak sudah keluar dari rumah sakit tapi diagnosa penyakitnya masih nihil.

Masuk Rumah Sakit

2007-06-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

Hari jumat ini Bapak masuk rumah sakit, persis di usianya yang menginjak 61 tahun. Selamat ulang tahun Bapak, saya besok akan menjenguk ke Bandung.

Baju Baru Bapak

2007-06-09T00:19:00.001-07:00

Hari ini Bapak minta dibelikan baju berkerah tangan panjang, sudah lama gak punya baju baru katanya. Kemarin Bapak menolak dibelikan kursi dorong, cukup alat bantu jalan berkaki empat saja katanya.

Bapak

2007-06-08T04:42:00.001-07:00

Sekitar sebulan yang lalu Bapak mengirim sms, isinya singkat tapi sungguh membuat terkejut, bapak terkena stroke ringan. Melalui telepon Ibu menjelaskan kalau jari-jari tangan Bapak seperti diliputi pasir dan kaku. Kekakuannya menyebabkan Bapak tidak bisa memegang gelas tambahnya. Kakinya juga mulai kaku, sering terjatuh kalau jalan. Waktu saya ke Bandung terlihat memang jari-jari Bapak sudah kaku, tapi Bapak masih tampak seperti biasa saja di usianya yang menjelang 61. Masih sempat ingin ditraktir makan di satu restoran yang baru buka di Bandung. Kemarin Ibu mengabarkan lagi kalau kondisi Bapak semakin memburuk dan sempat terjatuh di kamar mandi, dokter-dokter sampai saat ini masih belum bisa mendiagnosa penyakit yang diderita Bapak. Tadi pagi Ibu menelepon lagi katanya kasian Bapak sudah tidak bisa bangun, kakinya semakin kaku, pasir yang tadinya hanya di jari dan tangan semakin menjalar ke lengan mencapai siku. Ibu menangis di telepon. Saya menuju Bandung sekarang. Mudah-mudahan tidak ada sesuatu yang buruk.

At The Crossroad

2007-05-26T23:03:00.001-07:00

Tulisan ini adalah pengingat bahwa pernah dalam persimpangan imajiner hidup ini saya memilih untuk hidup sederhana dan bersahaja, meninggalkan jalan menuju kekuasaan dan hingar bingar panggung utama kehidupan yang penuh kenistaan.

Lagi di Solo

2007-04-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

Abis naek becak, udah lama juga gak naek becak.

About Flying

2007-03-29T05:18:00.001-07:00

I've just landed from surabaya and now on a bus that take me to gambir. Flying has become a weekly routine in my job. Airport is like a second home for me. I've become entirely familiar with procedures of flying. Security check, check in, security check, delay, embarking the plane, take off, landing, and disembark. However, to this very second i fail to comprehend the point of turning off the light and keeping open the window shut related to the safetiness of take off and landing. Are they really necessary? Well, perhaps it will remain a mistery. Note: the best part of flying in the night is be able to see the city light scenery from above and see the disperse light magnifies as the plane touch the ground, superb!

Long Weekend Note

2007-03-19T03:38:00.001-07:00

How can people manage to quit smoking? It's my third failed attempt. The first attempt was in the end of 2002 which last for 6 months. The second attempt was in the mid of 2005 which last for 3 months. And last week I tried to quit smoking again, now it is a national holiday Monday and I smoke in my room again. Can't get rid this anathema habit in my life. I'm thinking to use some hypnotize.

Disclaimer

2007-03-19T03:00:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since my last posting due to my hectic workload aggravated with my imperfect health. I decided that I won't be able to post any entries from the office henceforth. Now that I have bought a rather sophisticated Nokia E50 (I used to cling to my old Nokia 6310i) so I can have my entries written and posted from my mobile. I use Abiro Mobile blogger and long to see how its work. So let's fire away.

Stealing Time

2007-02-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

There are so many things to do with so little time to describe. However, a few matters has caught my attention:

Flood
Needless to say more. We’re fed up with it. It’s been hundred of years in Jakarta, hundred times of flood. There’s a saying that even a donkey will not fall in the same hole twice. I guess we all worse than a donkey, we all are donkey king (not Kong!). Go to Petisi Banjir Jakarta.

Fever
Under staff with increasing tasks = getting sick. That’s what happened to me. I got fever, and fever these days is trickier than ever. Could it be dengue fever, chikunguya, avian flu, you name it. Glad it was only the under staff with increasing tasks. For me, getting sick is the only way to break away from the job and months of sleepless nights. I entertained my self with some great new books and hilarious Jerry Seinfield during 4 days total bed rest.

Got back to work now...

It's A New Day, It's A New Dawn...

2007-01-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

Bukan bermaksud mengecilkan semangat di tahun baru 2007 ini, tapi tampaknya tahun ini diawali dengan mala petaka bertubi-tubi di bidang transportasi.

Bukan bermaksud tidak percaya pada pemerintah, tapi tampaknya sudah lewat seminggu pesawat Adam Air masih juga tidak ditemukan, sampai-sampai kita perlu bantuan Singapura dan Amerika.

Bukan bermaksud menghina, tapi tampaknya kita ini benar-benar bangsa yang menyedihkan.

Bukan bermaksud ngomongin orang lho.

P.S.: Di Indonesia ini, kalau kita memulai kalimat dengan “bukan bermaksud….” justru sebenarnya itulah yang benar-benar kita maksud.