Love Letter

I love
you for what
you are,
not what
you think
you are.

Me and my girlfriend often exchange love letters during our class in our college years. Nothing fancy. Just something we could write on scrap paper or a money bill. The shorter, the better. Half of it was just something silly. And some are to adult-oriented to be mentioned here while the rest only marked my inapt in haiku. However, then and then, in some occasions, what I call a true confession one human can give another, occurred. Like what my GF wrote above (I guess in her attempt to suppress my ego, my self-importance tendency or some sort, that sometimes lead me to trouble). I can't remember what I wrote in response to that. What I do remember is the feeling I felt, knowing that the most beautiful girl on Planet Earth had allocated her precious time and 5 minutes of boring lecture to write on a crumpled, smelly old money, that she love me for what I am and not for what I think I am; that she has decided to love me, no matter what.
The feeling my friend, is addictive. An instant high. Technically, it's similar to what I feel everyday these past 9 years. Yeah, mate, me and that gorgeous girlfriend of mine have managed to always be together since that.

Half Of It Is Meaningless

Once Upon A Time

A new temple built
another age of men had passed
The reigning is over, no more waiting...
and nothing
you or me can do about it.
Hands that fit will be the first to be crushed

Of nations but none risen
Too many silences...
and ghosts.
Emotion from unnamed kind.
The Lord of Host of the Apocalypse's Pass.
No Rainbow this time,
no vows.
Uprise!

A Refreshing Read: XTC's Go 2 Cover

Sick bastard...whoever behind the idea of putting these writing on the XTC Go 2 Cover (1978) is a sick bastard. That's a compliment...

The Lost Shepherd: A Parable

Everyone knows the parable of the lost sheep, about how a shepherd had lost one of his 100 sheeps, and how he then abandoned the 99 (temporally, though) to find the lost one and how he rejoice with his fellow shepherd when he managed to find the lost sheep, baa baa baa...
And everyone who went to Sunday School knows that the parable has something to do with the nature of the God; that he is merciful even to the sinner, that he prefer to leave the righteous in order to save the sinner baa baa baa...
Now imagine...just imagine... that the situation is somewhat put in reverse, that there was a lost shepherd instead of sheep. What would the sheep do? Would they miss him, would  they seek for him? Would they notice in the first place, that the person that's responsible to their well-being had vanished and there are no assurance of any kind that he would come back? What you think would happened to the herd? Here's one version of it:

Then Jesus told them this parable:
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and he goes and loses himself. Does he not find that the sheep take several hours to notice? And does he not find that they bleat aimlessly for some time when they discover him gone? However, he then discovers that they spread out over the open country, ignoring the other ninety-nine shepherds they see along the way, and will not return to their pen until they have found him. And when they find him, they joyfully put him upon their woollen backs and with much bleating and bumping into one another, they carry him home. Then they call the goats and the cows and say 'Baa', which roughly translates as 'Rejoice with us, for we have found our lost shepherd.' And the shepherd will undoubtedly be overjoyed also and will celebrate with a meal of roast lamb.

Quoted from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A26988204

Hunter S. Thompson, Who?

I first read his name, Hunter S. Thompson, and saw the picture of him, in the Rolling Stone's 1000th Issue's Cover. I didn't know who that man is. The fact that Rolling Stone's editors should dressed him up as the Devil himself (in comparison to Kurt Cobain's Angel) made me wondering that that bald dude must be someone famous.
And he IS famous. Not in Indonesia, though (that's why I don't know who he was in the first place). And boy, he is more than famous. He is important.
So, I gathered everything I could that bears his name. Books and reviews. I stole a few, bought the rest, and illegally download any ebook that I couldn't find in my country.
In instance, like a revelation, I know what I should be doing in the rest of my life. I should write, and God has made Dr. Thompson my great guru... posthumously.

How Generous Are You?

Are you the one who likes to do charity works; always give money to the poor, give an extra alms to the church etc? Are you always give donation to whoever need one? Or are you the kind of people who frown upon the word "donation", thinking it's a sacrilege of some sort because you hold fast to the hard work ethics, that man must work if man wants to eat?
Which one are you?

I'm kinda in the middle of both...
You see, some part of me still believe that asking for money is a kind of thug-ish... whatever the amount is, if one asking in such a way that leave no choice to the one who is being asked for. That's seems wrong.
In another hand, I do realize that there are some people who cornered in an "ask donation or die" situation. Especially when what they do is really benefiting a lot of people, and those people merely take it for granted, not realizing all the hard efforts that preceded they having that service.

I'm talking about great service like Wikipedia. How many times you use it? How many times you benefit from it? And how many times you express your gratitude by giving donation to it? Have you noticed the small donation link in the left upper corner of Wikipedia page? They asking for donation, so that they can live on, helping people like you and me providing information, or in my case, fresh content for my upcoming posts.
I donated $5 today (I'll definitely give more if only I have more money in my PayPal account). It's kinda a relieve knowing that I have done something (though not much) to something that have been helpful to me.
Scratch that. It's always  a relieve to do such thing whether the party we donate to helpful or not. I don't think that the beggars who stationed on every junctions I drive through on my way to work will ever help me, but I give them money anyway and the great feeling is none the less.

At this time you have possibly realized just how many blogs (including this one) have applied the PayPal donation button. Have you donated to any of them?

Some blogs maybe not helpful or less than interesting, but you can always tell whether the person behind it is really serious about it or not; whether she/he spends a good shares of her/his time to maintain them, so that  the visitors feel welcomed/informed/entertained when they are bouncing out. I'm not talking about those good, established and well- maintained professional websites. I'm talking on the behalf of any amateur bloggers; single moms, retired pops, the unemployed who probably won't starve without your donation, but who will be ever grateful to any that comes in.

Let's make donation a habit. Save the world. Make a donation, today.

Art Of The Week

You see, I'm not only a master of kungfu and ninja techniques, I am an art lover myself. Though I can't reveal you my art style just yet, nothing can stop me to feature the art I happen to like to you. The "Art of the Week" I made fit that purpose perfectly. The section will feature any kind of art; paintings, graphics, photography or motion media that I found amusing (I hope they amuse you as well, my dear readers).
Don't hesitate to contact me if you have your own art to exhibit. I'll give you proper credit as well as free back link.
As you can see, the honor for the 1st Art of The Week falls to Tom Tomorrow's creation of Pearl Jam's new album Back Spacer. Cool, huh?

Like Father Like Son

Wolverine vs Daken by Marko Djurdjevic-image linked to Wikipedia
The Free Encyclopedia

What would happen if a short-bodied, short-tempered furball with retractable claws well-known for his attitude and abilities as a highly effective killing machine happen to have a son? Daken is what have happened.

Nirvana At Reading Festival Revisited

08/30/92. Nirvana At Reading Festival.

Update: As of today, November 5th, 2009, I found out that the guy who dance onstage is called, "Tony The Interpretive Dancer". I'll keep you updated.

There are at least some reasons behind this post. First, because this is probably Nirvana's best live performance caught on tape (trust me). Second, because this is their only footage I never seen in complete (poor me). The third reason is because I've read reviews about this gig before in almost all Nirvana's/Kurt's biographies, including the one I helped to translate (to Bahasa Indonesia). The last reason is that the official DVD of  Nirvana's "Live At Reading Festival" is due to release in November 2, 2009.
So, think it is as a warm up.

I  thank Nirvana, that allowed me to have ill-channeled angst back then. And for Kurt, for being around as long as you were...

I also want to thank BBBwagggan for uploading these videos. Thanks, man.
This post is dedicated to Mr.C.A.T who are really kind to mention me in his post. I know you'll like it, man.

For the rest of you, Nirvana fans and haters alike, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
Although, I've placed each songs chronologically ( I'm not sure. Do tell me if I disorder it) here some advices so that you can enjoy it more:

• Keep in mind that the gig taken place after a long delay that was caused by, but not limited to, the rumor that Kurt had died. Lol! So imagine how the crowds felt when finally Kurt, Krist and Dave had showed on stage and pulled a little play on the rumor before they blast them off literally to ... Nirvana.
  
• Try not to be distracted by the guy who was dancing on stage continuously (anyone knows who that w****  is?). He can be really annoying.

'Nuff said... here they come...

How To Put Privacy Policy on Your Blog

You must have and abide by an appropriate privacy policy that clearly discloses that third parties may be placing and reading cookies on your user’s browser, or using web beacons to collect information, in the course of ads being served on your website. Your privacy policy should also include information about user options for cookie management.

Since Google has clearly stated that every Adsense publisher has to disclose a Privacy Policy in every website/blog that contain Adsense ads, this become a dire need for every blogger. First because like me, so many people simply don't know how to do just that. Those snobs don't even think it's important to explain how...

So, it is fortunate of me that I found a site that provide a Privacy Policy Generator. All you need to do is put your blog's URL and it's done.
Next, you can copy it (either in txt format or html) then paste it in a new post. Don't forget to schedule the date of that post to the dates older than your blog. This is important, so that the post doesn't show up on the mainpage.

Then you can make a link to that Privacy Policy. Go to Layout-->; Add Gadget-->Html/Javascript-->and type <a href="http://www.blogger.com/YOUR-PRIVACY-POLICY-URL">Privacy Policy</a> (change the YOUR-PRIVACY-POLICY-URL with url on which your post located) and you are done. You can put the link on top or the bottom of your blog.

Feel Kinda 60's

Scraped this from somewhere over the net. I think it's from comic (Marvel? I saw an "X", there) Dunno. Thanks to the artist. Whoever you are, don't sue me. I like your work. I don't know which one of the images attracted me more. The Vespa, the girl, the fact that she is "blowing" (soap bubble) instead of "inhaling" (err, something else...) or simply the whole psychedelic aura. Damn. I wish I could draw something like that.

Starry Night, FUBAR Life

Van Gogh's Starry Night-Image Linked to Wikipedia-The Free Encyclopedia

Seriously, this fine piece of art work is haunting me as it thrills me every time I see it. And the fact that the artist died poor, insane and friendless without any share of every dime he deserved from the insane price all his creations worth posthumously is really pisses me off. Poor Van Gogh. you learn life ain't fair in the coldest, hardest, craziest way, man! You deserve more! Rest In Piss Peace...

The Old Gods: Where Are They, Now?

Before monotheism swept the world like angry hordes, different entities ruled the universe. In  Ancient Greece, there were Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Athena, Hermes, Hera, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Apollo, Demeter and Artemis; The Big Twelve of Ancient Greece's Pantheon.

 A Repro Work of Zeus' Temple

In the Pantheon of Ancient Egypt; Osiris, Seth, Anubis, Isis and Horus were the most important gods among I don't know how many others.

In the north, the fierce Vikings worshiped Odin, Thor, Freya and sometimes Loki, The Trickster. Ancient Americans, worshiped Quetzalcoatl, The Plumed Snake, God of Sun. There were more others. Some even older and simply lost from human memories.

From all the aforementioned gods of old, only those of Hindus Valley survived, not only in names and lore but also in ritual as well. Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma, or the Trimurti, are still worshiped today by the Hindu. Meanwhile the other gods of old, simply vanished. They lost their power over the one God that came so much later, The God of Abraham, The One who is so powerful, His power emanated from His worshipers who often caused chaos, revolution, rebellion, bloodshed in every place they chose to stay.

Make Money Online: Some Preliminary Steps

It's approximately a year and a half after I started my blogging activities, and I've become too familiar with the term "make money online". If there's anything I've learned in the past year, it is definitely about online moneymaking. And here's the compilation of things you will need to make money online, based on my experience (and strategies of the well-known names in this department that I've managed to steal :) and incorporate in my own) :

Guitar Hero 5 of Kurt Cobain: Not Good

Surely, even that can't make Cobain in any means less in the eyes of his fans, including me. I can imagine he's rolling in laughter in his grave seeing this. Seriously guys, that person needs more respects from you. He achieved more in his short life than those in full, including most big names in rock n roll history and of course you. If this is a joke, it's a bad one. I bet no one would expect to see Kurt Cobain's post-mortem performance that way, even those who hated him.

#2 Google Adsense

More than 50% of bloggers blog for money. Don't be insulted if you aren't, I'm just telling the fact. Why shouldn't they? It's more nonsensical if they don't use any money-making opportunities available to them. I myself won't be so dedicated in updating my blogs if there's no incentives whatsoever as the compensation of spending some hours to it.

From the various type of online money making scheme, Google Adsense is still the leading party out there. This pay-per-click (PPC) advertising program promise you a decent income stream, once you know all the hows. It's difficult not to see that tiny sign "Ads By Google" in blogs you visit, isn't it? That's how popular Adsense is among bloggers.

Although there are increasing concern that Adsense is no longer as lucrative as it was several years back due to what is called "ad blindness", many publishers still use it. In fact it become something to boast about if you have an up and running Adsense account (with or without income).

Iron Man 2

Marvel.com announces that Iron Man 2 will be released in May 7, 2010. Like you already guess, it will feature several new characters. See the image? Yes, that's Scarlett Johansson, alright. She will play the "Black Widow" (yum-yum), a super power hot-chick of the Marvel Universe. Gwyneth Paltrow will still play as Pepper Potts, the personal assistant of Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) However, Don Cheadle replace Terrence Howard as James Rhodes. Mickey Rourke meanwhile will play the villain "Whiplash". Here, for more info.

Sitting On A Ticking Bomb

These fine archipelago are my country Indonesia. Since 1512, it had been invaded, in chronological order, by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and Japan. It had been robbed, raped, stripped bare to the point where no other country had ever experienced. And by that I mean literally. Every inch of its soil were ravaged by the greed of the invaders. From Aceh in the southern-most part, to Merauke, its eastern counterpart. This beautiful, highly cultured country had been reduced as a sole source of profit by the invaders. Gold, spice, coffee, sugar, tobacco were hauled over centuries to the invaders countries. It was an object of slavery. And by that, I mean the worst kind of slavery, where the slave didn't even own a piece of cloth to cover themselves. No food to eat and no Abe Lincoln to speak for them.

Not only that, recently, its culture are also scraped by the neighboring country. You see that darker green color above the Borneo Island? Sitting there like cancer is the thief I'm talking about. That fascist country has always trying to steal whatever we have just because they don't have anything to call their own. But that's for another ocassion.

Right now, I'm more concerned to the surge of natural disasters that overwhelmed the country. In this month alone, there have been several earthquakes in all over the country. All of which with >5 Richter Scale. It all started with the great earthquake and tsunami that hit Aceh, and several neighboring countries in 2004. Since then, earthquake appeared as a routine to many cities in Indonesia. Having witnessed one major earthquake myself (in Yogyakarta, 2006) and the devastation it caused, I can't help but hope to never experience something of that scale (or bigger!) again.

Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, like Japan, my country indeed is a ticking bomb, a bomb that I hope never explode in full force while I or anyone sit on it. For once in my life, I really wish God listens to me now.

Never Ending Battle 2

Never Ending Battle

How Did The First Hokage Died?

The Battle of Uchiha Madara+Kyuubi VS Senju Hashirama

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, is told to be the most powerful ninja of his time. Not even Uchiha Madara can beat him even with the help of the Kyuubi, The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. Just how powerful he was?!
But even then, we know that he died young. What on ninja world could be the cause of death of so powerful a ninja? The same question applicable also for his younger brother, Tobirama Senju, The Second Hokage, who also died in young age. These are the biggest mystery in the whole Naruto world for me. Any opinion are welcome.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, than you're a wanker!

From various source.

All Hail, Megatron!!!

Seriously, Megatron is one scary dude. Big, bad and ugly with attitude. No one should mess with Megatron, unless you're: But that's highly unlikely.

9/11: 8 Years Later

People remember exactly where they were when World Trade Centre buildings collapsed to the ground. I was in front of my TV, staring at a newsticker that says that US was under attack. The images that follow frightened me. A burning building and a plane that fly so low before it hit the second building.
I do remember also the day US strikes back. Dropping bombs like maniac on Afghanistan and Iraq.
"The world is burning in hatred.
And still is today, 8 years after. Never before the world stripped apart into two equal portions with grudges and hatred for each other. Not since the Cold War.
Eight years of killing frenzy, bad presidency and the fall of economy. The circle of hatred rages on. Burned everything, consume everything, even the goodness in people's conscience. Who started what? One may ask.
Both sides are the victims I would say. Victims of their own greed, hatred and ideals. Victims of the leader who don't know shit about grief of losing people we love. Both sides suffer. That's that. When it comes to suffering, it no longer matters who suffer the most or who started it, especially when parents have to buried their children.
And the images still frightened me, for even I know, the circle of hatred will never end.

Above is Benjamin Franklin's Magic circle which I think fitly represents how hatred is passed around. Taken from http://www.pasles.org/circle.html

A Liar And A Thief

When you steal someone's money, you're a thief. When you lie, you're a liar. When you claim something you don't belong, you are a thief and a liar.

#1. Misleading The Potential Readers By Providing Misleading Title of Their Posts

Most bloggers do it all the time. Usually they'll put some bombastic title on a post(s) which turned out to be not so bombastic information. This age-old method of getting readers is successful in much ways it fails. Putting a headline like "Make money online fast!" do tend to interest people, but usually unreliable in keeping them, unless you are really a big name in that "make money online: how to" market niche.

This is an ongoing project to sort and list up things that people tend to do when they are blogging.

Pattie Boyd

Pattie Boyd

Something	Layla
Something in the way she moves, Attracts me like no other lover. Something in the way she woos me. I don't want to leave her now, You know I believe and how. Somewhere in her smile she knows, That I don't need no other lover. Something in her style that shows me. I don't want to leave her now, You know I believe and how. You're asking me will my love grow, I don't know, I don't know. Stick around, and it may show, But I don't know, I don't know. Something in the way she knows, And all I have to do is think of her. Something in the things she shows me. I don't want to leave her now. You know I believe and how.	What do you do when you get lonely and nobody's waiting by your side? You've been running and hiding much too long. You know it's just your foolish pride. Chorus: Layla, you got me on my knees. Layla, i'm begging darlin' please. Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind? I Tried to give you consolation When Your old man had let you down. Like a fool, I fell in love with you, You turned my whole world upside down. Chorus Let's make the best of the situation, Before I finally go insane. Please don't say we'll never find a way, Or tell me all my love's in vain.

*)The Beatles' Something and Eric Clapton's Layla
Two different wonderful songs that speaks of one woman...Pattie Boyd

Bodysnatchers by Radiohead

It is always great to see Radiohead play live. This one, Bodysnatchers from In Rainbow is one of my most favorite Radiohead songs. I never know that the intro is played by Thom all along. Not before I seen this. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do. Bob along, Thom!

Ugly Truth