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October 31, 2002

Love Mathematic Do

Now Farid does wrong, he said in his blog that "nobody likes mathematics a lot at school." He absolutely wrong just because I do like. I really like mathematic at school, at least until junior high school, before computer and digital logic came :) But he truly right after because I see, in our real life, we now just loves what is called applicable mathematic. He added, "For example, all of us loves counting the money, especially if it's our own money :D. Therefore, if you want to have some other fun instead of counting your money :p, may be you can try these enjoyable math contests in Ole Miss: Problems of the week. It won't only make you feel great after solving the contest, but your name will also be listed in the list of the correct solvers. Aren't you challenged with that?" Yeah, why don't just try it!

Posted at 10:07 PM | Science
October 30, 2002

Democratic culture and extremist Islam

This may could answer of Dita's comment on my previous posting. Yes, from many of Islam praying, and its laws, there're generally could say Islam stand behind individualism rather than under state law. Even, as far as I know, the top of Islamic spirituality is likely came from self-experience spirituality, which also said in another term to be mystical spirituality, sufism or thasawwuf practises. Plese note to correct me if I'm wrong by this statement. If you want to know more about this, i think you should try to search it on Google by these terms.

Are Islam and democracy incompatible? The evolution of a radical Turkish Islamic group in Germany suggests that the pursuit of ‘fundamentalist’ goals can itself create the space for a rational appraisal of tradition. By seeking truth in origin and scripture rather than history, successive generations of Islamists may be drawn – even despite themselves – towards a more flexible commitment to a network society of social individuals. This may not yet be democracy; but it is reformation.
.....
The Islamic vision of the network society also has consequences for theological argument about the nature of the self in the Islamic order. Islam emphasises the divinity (and thereby the social nature) of man. Nefis is the principle of desire and egotism, but also of autonomy, which causes him to forget his divinity and social nature. In Islam, the idea of true self-discovery can be understood in terms of self-surrender.

This idea can be spelt out in mystical terms or in terms of ethical rules. The mystical idea is more easily accessible, because it connects to widely familiar experiences. In the act of love, always the model for the mystical finding of self, one experiences oneself most intensely (and only then) in forgetting oneself, by disappearing into or merging with the other. Surrendering oneself does not, therefore, mean denial of fullness of being – on the contrary.
Also: Where is Islam going?: responses to Werner Schiffauer

Posted at 05:08 AM | Perspective
October 29, 2002

A Talk Between Tree's Branches

I never been dreaming if i could made a real dialogue using poetical words, ever between poet artists. But, i made one, unimagined, unplanned, unique and orginal talk of two people (one is me) and it's result of most beautiful experience in my life. This talk happened a week ago, at this same day. After been thinking, i decide it's better i publish it as my new poet (sorry now still on Indonesian only), as collaboration poet exactly. Hope you enjoy to read. Of course, i should thank to a friend (a girl), without mentioned here, you must be know what is love to be.

The orginal Indonesian version of the talk:

Percakapan Dahan-dahan Pohon
Oleh: Arif dan seorang teman

Buih dan pantai adalah kekasih
Angin menyatukan dan memisahkan perak buih dengan emas pasirnya
Menjelang fajar kubacakan dalil gairah buat kekasih
Di senja hari kunyanyikan kerinduan
--21/10/2002 12:53

Engkau gugat angin, kenapa ia menganggu
Dari fajar hingga senja baru kusadari
Buih dan pasir abadi memadu kasih
Angin pun tetap setia menggetarkan gelora mereka
--22/10/2002 16:46

Nyanyian adalah keluhan sendu dahan-dahan yang rindu ingin bersatu
--22/10/2002 16:47

Bila ada angin, apakah dahan-dahan itu masih rindu bernyanyi sendu?
--22/10/2002 16:49

Angin hanyalah menggetarkan kerinduan sendu dahan-dahan tanpa kuasa menyatukannya
--22/10/2002 17:10

Malang nian dahan itu
Haruskah menunggu datangnya badai
Agar rontok dahan-dahan yang telah erat bersatu
Sedang anginpun masih setia menantikan sejuk naungannya
--22/10/2002 17:20

Dan padi pun tunduk pada keagungannya-Nya, patuh pada firman-Nya
Demikian, maka adakah yang mampu menolaknya?
Pohon?
Apalagi dahan?
--22/10/2002 17:34

Siapakah yang berkata menolak Sabda?
Padi bersama pohon dengan dahannya yang rimbun
semua menari dalam tiupan kedamaian
Dengan ikhlas, kebahagiaan pun menggema
--22/10/2002 17:35

Posted at 11:26 PM | Me and Myself
October 26, 2002

What do people say of Bali? Then?

These list are new coverage continuing Bali's bomb which blast on Oct 12. Most of, I didn't nothing why, did stupid news coverage. I was angry you know, I was very confused why the such hell analysis and politically act just seemly want to 'war'Indonesia, including their stupid very dumb Indonesian newspaper.


Okay, I'll try to stay calm. But, as you'll look after to read more news, you'll get such these things on your mind (or not?), "Indonesia is dangerous country which many terrorists were stand alive healthy, and happily ever after," just very like most classic stories we've read. Then, to fight on terror, 'they' will need to stand together like their own beloved countries, I really don't exactly know who they are, but you must be know they are "Bushess" and "Blairest". If you've watched The Sum All of Fear, it's likely what the Russian president (who is he?) said to US' security advisors, "We know that my wife made an affair behind us, that doesn't mean that you need to taken care of our problem" or in other mean, "This is my house, why I need another guard's house to protect my territory?" But, we exactly will know what answer will countinue on, it must be, if you don't, your country must be a terrorist land. Yeah, a blunder of very fool we have.

Okay look at this stupid comment I quote from Radio Singapore Internation website:

We all know what happened in Bali, at Kuta Beach. Or do we? I hear the confusion every day, as people say "that destroys Bali's economy, it will hurt the whole country, it will hurt the whole region. Why would they do that?" Because "they" want the whole region to suffer so much the established order will collapse in despair, after which angry and frightened people will turn to extreme solutions. It is called revolution. That is the agenda, terror is just the means. These groups of fanatical killers, Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiah, Kumpulan Militant Malaysia, all have the same ultimate target: their own society. Here in Southeast Asia the goal is to establish a so-called Islamic caliphate, a theocractic state encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore.

I want you focuses on those bolded text, yes, there're too many ifs, if they want to make revolution, why they destroy all country's future? Why? Why very stupid why? If, yes if again, they want to change the government, like other's rebels did, they easily just kill the president or the prime ministers, it's very easy than bombing Bali, which means disrupt all the country's future. It's likely means, all coverage in any mass media just do another thing, which just to create a bad image for generally Islam on basic purposes, to establish a so-called Islamic caliphate. Caliphate is not really different than monarchy, which United Kingdom still use until now. We know this model of government doesn't ideal in this era, and this is very dumb thinking. I still don't know another reason, do you?

Long before this event, even after the first bom I heard blew out in Indonesia happened long before Sept 11, i believed that there must be a (and may some) terrorist network in Indonesia. Why we so confused with this buzzyword? The point is, why there so many terrorist now, and I still believe, in the next future of our civilization the terorism is a product of any movement in globalised world. Terorism is an antidote of free-information era that we happily celebrate right now. If we could freely, and anonymously get information in this way, why we couldn't do crime in anonymous ways? Of course, it isn't be only in Islam, but every faiths and beliefs and ourgrowth thinking could turn to this? In any aspect and purposes. The Washiton sniper attack who had killed more than eight people in public places are the main example of this postulat. And may be more in future.

I realised that me (may be, just in my opinion), is not a likely militant or fundamentalist one, anything if you want to call. Look all my former post here, and you'll sure that, "Oh yeah, Arif is open thinking guys, he will never thought like that." But, the reality, i come to think like this, like the way every militant did. Like this Jakarta based newspaper comment, why some liberal muslims cleric become to anti-American? And still rise? Show me that we really dumb, and why?

Posted at 03:31 AM | Indonesia
October 25, 2002

Beauty Picture for Weekend

Ah, it's weekend again. What a wonderful isn't it? To celebrate this weekend, i happily want to show you a beautiful photo. It's actually not mine, it's mined by a new friend from England. I like the way he take a balanced angle with really good focus. The picture like tell us what does the mean of harmony. This picture is a place called Nieuwehaven which is Dutch for New Harbour. It's really old there, lots of Dutch history. He used to walk there many times when he lived in Holland, it's a nice place spend a few hours. Happy weekend!

nieuwehaven.jpg ©2002 mkobservingnow, used with permission.

PS: I will also made a welcome to miss Tira Soraya, my beautiful new sisters who lived in Minden, Germany, with her new hommie. I hope, she will do more blogging after having her own page. Not to forget, I happy to link a new friend, mbak Widya Murdani, a net friend which also heavy book-reader. Never all, don't forget to try the others links on right side page, there're many worth read blog, all guaranteed :)

Update: Just a few minutes after updating this post, i found a two great website, they are: This Modern World, an intelligent weblog by US cartoonist Tom Tomorrow and MaxSpeak, a great weblog by a Senior Economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. who also has wrote several books based on economic studies.

Posted at 10:53 PM | Beauty

Clandestine in Chile, A Story of Another Revenge

Yesterday, i found a nice book, Clandestine in Chile, written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a Colombian nobel prize literature award winner. I was impressed with this book because of its unordinary story, and actually is a real story.

It's about Miguel Littín, a Chilean born director and producer who was made head of Chile's film industry by the Allende government in 1970. After Allende's overthrow in 1973 Littín fled to Mexico, where he continued to work in exile. He returns to his native country disguised as a Uruguayan public-relations agent. His purpose is to film Chile today, to record the "abominable silences" of his beloved country under siege. This really desperate action was successfully done, he managed three filmmaker teams came from three different countries, Italia, France and Netherland. The wonderful is, each teams doesn't know each other existences and purposes, and every team, doesn't know that they actually directed by Littín using another man. Even he also several times appeared on the film, which actually he used to manage his crews by his fellows hands.

The another story that Marquez wrote on this book is Littín's self story. About how he fight the denial of himself to be another man that in Littín's real life is hated by him. It's also a funny story that his close friend, codenamed with Frankie, a respectable Chilean filmmaker, doesn't know that the Uruguay man is his friend. And, even his own mother-in-law doesn't know him exactly. To do this, he need to change his performance under a psychologist and clandestine special consultant (clandestine is an undercover operational, usually by inteligence agency to act in protected area, politically, usually to sabotage-infiltriate-or covert mission). Yes, he do the most amazing work by that fact that he is really a non-professional covert agent that usually work like this.

And, for the god's sake, his job is really great. He several times had do many mistakes, and really near with death. And finally, we just very grateful that still exist a man like him. Finally, he could do his revenge with Pinochet, and also made his present to give a tail behind Pinochet's government.

Posted at 03:45 PM | Books
October 24, 2002

Views After the Tragedy

Well, i think everyone is looks like very tired now after fully load of Bali news and terorists related headlines. But for me, and I think for every Indonesian, this event will never forgotten in their minds.

Today, i just happy looking Joe Friend website has been updated. There, he comment, "It is amazing how quickly the media (particularly US media) get's tired of a story. The Bali bombing is slowly moving off of the media radar screen. Within a few days it was no longer lead story, then it only got a short mention. It bumped back up with the Australian day of morning and is now sliding quickly. It is unlikely that the bombers will be quickly found, if at all, so I expect that the major media (outside of Indonesia and maybe SE Asia) will lose complete interest shortly."

After sort of, i pick these list as is worth read:

Posted at 03:57 AM | Indonesia

After Bali, the need to understand

Since the massacre in Bali four days ago, this view has become more widespread. But if we are to get a deeper idea of what is really happening, we need to look at a number of events and developments of the past two weeks, perhaps best placed in the context of earlier analyses concerning Afghanistan and al-Qaida (also see an earlier article).

The fourth incident takes us away from al-Qaida and back to Iraq. It relates to reliable reports (for example in the International Herald Tribune) that US action subsequent to the intended destruction of the Saddam Hussein regime now leans towards the military occupation of Iraq, pending the eventual establishment of some kind of client regime.

Indeed, one small item of news, so far missed in the Western press, is that the United States has offered the Israeli government twenty-four hours notice of an attack on Iraq (Defense News, 14 October 2002). From an American point of view this makes good sense, not least as a tactic for helping to keep Israel out of the war, but throughout the Middle East it will be seen as further proof, if any were needed, of the intricate links between the US and Israel.

It is in this context that the US plan to occupy Iraq should be seen. Again, from Washington’s perspective this makes sense – there is no point in destroying the regime only to see Iraq come apart in chaos. But from the perspective of al-Qaida, it merely proves their point; Iraq may be a secular regime but it is still primarily an Arab state and US occupation would be proof of one of al-Qaida’s long-term arguments – that Washington, along with Israel, seeks control of the region.

This brings us back to the terrible events in Bali. Exactly who was responsible, and the extent of the connections with al-Qaida, may remain unclear for a long time, but one effect of the atrocity will be to renew a commitment to the war on terror – a war conducted primarily by military means.

What we are still failing to do is to understand the root causes of the support for such movements. To seek to understand is not to condone in any shape or form, but it does raise the possibility of recognising the reasons for their enduring support and, in turn, offering some prospect for undercutting it.

Posted at 12:12 AM | Perspective
October 22, 2002

An Unfinished Story of Ambition, Death, and Love

I always happy at weekend. It fills my life with a lots of great new things and experiences. Yesterday Saturday evening, I get my impression to read a book, so i chose one of my booklist. I began read one of Sidney Sheldon's besteller, Master of the Game, a book i've borrowed from a friend nearly half a year ago. How wonderful to say, just turned page by the page, i just realised that the story goes end when i see the sun rising. Though i'm not a huge fan of Sheldon, I think this is one of his best, and may got me to be a Sheldon fan.

The story is about a Scot's poor boy, Jamie McGregor, that goes to South Africa with the ambition to become a very richman. At that time South Africa famously a dream land for every young people with its unmined diamond. Finally, he succeed, and became very rich, but its followed by a revenge story. He had two kids, but the older, the boy killed. The daughter, Kate, with her fabulous charm continue the company and create all story. All story of unfinished ambition, ambition to conquer, ambition of love, and ambition that followed by death. By reading this amazing story, we could learn about the very natural human emotion that have create an impact to the world, the friendship of Kate's family with a native african that have a political movements against racial policy. Finally, it's not only like a Hollywood story, but completely a human story.

Enchantedly, this wonderful story is really doesn't far away with our real mutual life. The America seemly like the unfinished story of ambition which never end, growing with pain and ill of others, but never told as a mistakes or fails. It's a story whose every people of the world never understood of whatsoever happened or its future. The central viewpoint of this story is, will we never been awoke of everything happened? Will we find the finish line of every story, a love? I think this is our new story.
Posted at 09:35 PM | Books
October 19, 2002

Happy Birthday Moveable Type

I happily to cheer MoveableType for its one-year birthday. Greatly, just for one year, they had been created most lovely tools for personal publishing. Whatever to say, Ben and Mena Trott, the creator, have been supported all of their users (including me in later months) who became a lovely users of MT and had helped us to publish our thoughts easily and nicely. The great news is, MT has been launched its new upgrade version MovableType 2.5. It's fully improved with lots of new feautures. So, if you hadn't try it before, why did't?
Posted at 05:58 PM | Web
October 18, 2002

Updated Coverage on Bali's Tragedy

Australian government urges citizens to leave Indonesia; alert went unheeded in September, says US intelligence source.
Posted at 08:47 PM | Indonesia

I'm an American tired of American lies

The history taught in our schools is scandalous. We grew up believing that Columbus actually discovered America. We still celebrate Columbus Day. Columbus was after one thing only - gold. As the natives were showering him with gifts and kindness, he wrote in his diary, "They do not bear arms ... They have no iron ... With 50 men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want." Columbus is the perfect symbol of US foreign policy to this day.

This is a racist and imperialist war. The warmongers who stole the White House (you call them "hawks", but I would never disparage such a fine bird) have hijacked a nation's grief and turned it into a perpetual war on any non-white country they choose to describe as terrorist.
Posted at 08:35 PM | Perspective

Pentagon: Hunt the Boeing! And test your perceptions!

As everyone knows, on 11 September, less than an hour after the attack on the World Trade Centre, an airplane collided with the Pentagon. The Associated Press first reported that a booby-trapped truck had caused the explosion. The Pentagon quickly denied this. The official US government version of events still holds. Here's a little game for you: Take a look at these photographs and try to find evidence to corroborate the official version. It's up to you to Hunt the Boeing!
--via Farid
Posted at 12:01 AM | World
October 17, 2002

Special Coverage on Terror

Here is lists of some news related to recent Bali's events:

Latest: Useful Links: Latest Terror:
Posted at 09:11 PM | Indonesia

Who's Play Who in Bali?

Okay, may be all of you asking or just wondering, what every Indonesian feels after the tragedy of Bali? For this situation, I could say, we're not only feeling sad. But we also feel such confused, anger, worry, sorry, condemn, horrible, and surely condole in every our deepest heart. We just have nothing to figure out, why the peacefully Indonesian island famously known as Bali, the Goddess' Island, was blew out on Saturday night. The bombing, who killed at least 182 people, include foreign tourists mostly Australian, not only attacked our last ground, but also blew out our spirit.

We didn't lose our spirit only, but also all of our faith and beliefs on this nation have been broken down. One obvious thing to point out is the lack of national security. I have a question, how could we stand in our land when the system that guards us can't protect the land. Then it followed by the economic instability, the falls of tourism sector, and suspension of some multinational programs (such as CGI Forums, education relationship, etc). At short, this tragedy, in the case of Indonesia, has attacked all sides of the nation. We just knocked down now.

I just figured out, whether those (I stated above) are the main reasons of why 'they' got us? By referring all recent reports and news following these tragedy, I mapped out four main subjects who possibly behind this occurrence: 1) Al-Qaeda. They have been mainly stated to be linked with, including by Indonesian Defense Minister. But, after mapped out of the possibilities in any goals and chances, they had only a 'plus' point on issues and rumors rather than the reasonable aims to reach. If they have to terror, why Bali? Yes, of course Bali is good, but it has more heterogeneous characters of target than Jakarta, for example. Therefore, Bali was taken not to terror foreigners, but obviously to terror Indonesia as a nation. 2) Local militant components. They had nothing on it. Good aims? All are worse. Instead of attack Bali, they probably easier to attack any state assets. If they had, they must be too dumb to think that they would have had very bad future after they had done. The situation (bad future) likely they have now, isn't it? 3) US lobbying. They had the best possibilities and chances. US have warned Indonesia several times ago, including are their testimony about Al-Qaeda and terrorist network. So, they need to reach here, to aims the 'unpredicted goals', like economic and business deal on Indonesian natural, and may be military acts on East-Asia-Pacific region. Last month, Indonesia has been made a deal with China on 7.8 billion dollar on natural gas exploration, followed by a couple projects. The recent Indonesian policies that close to its neighbors and its little brothers need to be warned. Truly, that still many report regarding these that must be too much to cover here. 4) The others. These possibilities reflects on how our global world policies today. Now, the world has divided into four main players: Big countries (US, UK, Japan, China), Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East. All have its policies; all their needs must be happened to collide; all must have its links and agencies. But, their reason didn't well enough and the possibilities didn't catch our eyes, instead they also had good chances here.

After all, those above possibilities and chances must be reasonable to say. But, as you thinking now, all of scenarios and speculations must be difficult to prove. The attack must be didn't acted by their direct supervision, it should be more reasonable that the attack operated directly by their third-third-third or so fellows which usually hadn't anything to track their uppers (even sometimes they also hate each other). Nice thing to say, if you would looked out who's behind who after such attack, it's good if you looking out who has very busy after the attack. Please note that these are not a disciplined views from somewhat scholars behind a formally educated people, these all just an opinion from an Indonesian geek, who had much read espionage novels and films and news, comment about his country. So, don't be serious, even all are possible :p
Posted at 08:17 PM | Indonesia
October 15, 2002

More Coverage on Bali's Bombing

Here some great coverage about Bali's tragedy:

Please notice that some links in this archive might be broken or didn't available or work anymore.