Hey, fun.....my professor has now posted the paper in the School's Faculty Working Paper series... ;))
So many stories to tell on totally different subjects (nothing related to vaccines/policies I assure you ;)....as soon as I arrive back to the sacred land of nasi padang, teh botol and sate :D
A bientot!
-moenlite-
Its funny how things work in this country. You can officially say anything in the forefront and then do the exact opposite in reality…yet the system somehow does not have a way to catch you.
Just the other day I was driving through Kuningan, behind the Swiss Embassy and to my surprise this ‘newspaper guy’ was offering the infamous Indonesian Playboy magazine in the streets (and this was around 11am). As he passed in front of my car I tried to take a closer look; he noticed and approached, trying to convince me it was indeed the original copy (he showed the backside, which matched some pictures a college friend sent through a mailing list).
He then came by my window. I noticed this guy was not your average street retailer, plus...he was only carrying that one magazine. Having trained spotting unlawful cigarette distributions and promotions I automatically knew this guy was sponsored if not working for that particular magazine company. So I rolled down my window...
Me: ‘why is that sold in the streets?’
Him: ‘but the magazine is okay, kok’
Me: ‘well, I’m just surprised, that’s all’. ‘you’re not a magazine seller are you?’
Him: (smiling…and shaking his head, acting timid’
Guess what...he passed but as I was about to roll up my window, he turned back...and said ‘You know, the magazine is actually okay, really...’
Me: ‘Okay, but I’m just a bit surprised its being sold in the street that’s all.
A middle class guy trying to look like a junky, carrying two copies of one same magazine, and promoting the magazine by convincing people that the content is alright.
You’re average red light retailer, or...simply a PR?
The magazine's content is not what I'd like to emphasize here.
But in case you're wondering...no, I am not in favor of that magazine, in case anyone was wondering. And I definitely do not appreciate the looseness and permissiveness of our society’s system. Freedom of speech is not freedom of no responsibility whatsoever. Noticed how after censors on TV commercials were lifted (around 1999 was it?), a huge surge of weird and disgusting commercials came on TV? That’s not a democratic society, that’s a community heading towards a mental breakdown.
So, in a world like ours (Indonesia), where anything says goes; can be found statements that or either not backed up by facts or are complete opposite of the truth.
And what annoys me the most is that these conducts can just stroll along like nothing really matters. Maybe it doesn’t to some, but it does to me. Darn!
-moenlite-
PS: for those of you who can read Indonesian, notice that in the linked article (and also in another article, which I haven't been able to relocate) the Magazine's chief editor states that street retailing is outside of their hands.....by what I saw, I think that's total cr*p.
Finally, I submitted the article I’ve (seemed to have) been working on for eons with my professor, to this particular journal home. Alhamdulillah...
Yes, it definitely feels good.
Wish us luck on the review process :)
-moenlite-
[looking forward to her insya Allah yet-to-be next publication ;)]
*picture
It’s funny how you see a world from the outside
to then realize that you too are now handed its script.
And at that moment you wonder whether your ‘objectiveness’ is objective at all
And whether you too would give up all that you have, all that you’ve dreamed of, just to be sure...
And you now know what it feels to be like them...
And so here you are trapped between two worlds...
One full of dreams, and one full of hopes...
And when you look in the mirror and see a reflection of their nature,
You now do not mind,
Cause now you know how it feels to that one on the other side...
-moenlite-
[please God grant her unwavering health...]
Funny how one becomes dependent on tools like mobiles, atm cards, etc. What happened to the good ol’days where one could live without these fruits of technology?
I guess the good ol’days gave turned in to the good present days that have enabled us such easiness...well, that is unless you forgot to bring them along...:P
Yes,...its only when you experience it, that you actually appreciate what you have.
I had an appointment with a new friend, and we arranged that I picked her up in my old office, so that we can go to this coffee shop to chat on various interesting issues. Well, as planned...10 minutes before I arrived at the building I was to call her so that she can come down to the entrance. Now, once I realized that I left my miraculous ‘magic wand’ I figured I had to park somewhere near and actually walk down to the building...then I realized I don’t know her number (yes, technology eases our memory, and leaves it stored into a small box), so...good thing that I know my mom’s number (well, I could have relied on that cellphone of mine now, couldn’t I? :), and could call her from this old office of mine; I'm blessed to able to rely on a my mom for such 'emergencies' (yes, I ofcourse sensed her shaking her head in disbelief, that she can have such a forgetful daughter....but I always think that's what makes me so lovable...I'm sure she agrees ;).
Well, that issue was solved, and off we went for dinner and some coffee...yes, life is good. Coffee and good conversation drew the night into a nice conclusion :)
bon nuit,
-moenlite-
*picture
