Funny how things come together, this week I seem to be stuck in my semi-annual anti-rabid green (and yet I consider myself a environmently aware person) anti left, anti socialist frame of mind and I come across this.
- We demand that the State shall make it its primary duty to provide a livelihood for its citizens. - The abolition of incomes unearned by work.
- The breaking of the slavery of interest.
- Personal enrichment from war must be regarded as a crime against the nation. We demand therefore the ruthless confiscation of all war profits.
- We demand the nationalization of all businesses which have been formed into corporations (trusts) (Sound familiar yet?).
- We demand profit-sharing in large industrial enterprises (perhaps now?).
- We demand the extensive development of insurance for old age.
- We demand the passing of a law for the expropriation of land for communal purposes without compensation.
- The State must consider a thorough reconstruction of our national system of education. The aim of the school must be to give the pupil, beginning with the first sign of intelligence, a grasp of the nation of the State (through the study of civic affairs).
- The State must ensure that the nation's health standards are raised by protecting mothers and infants, by prohibiting child labor.
- We demand the abolition of the mercenary army and the foundation of a people's army.
- The publishing of papers which are not conducive to the national welfare must be forbidden.
- Our nation can achieve permanent health only from within on the basis of the principle: The common interest before self-interest.
- To put the whole of this program into effect, we demand the creation of a strong central state power.
I think that about covers the general position of our leftish, green hued friends... not bad charter really ..bloke who wrote it went on to make a bit of name for himself..Adolf Hitler Feb 1920.
I stole this from a right bastard over at BASTARDS INC
Monday, April 30, 2007
Greens Nazis and Taxes
It comes as no surprise that some have taken me to task for daring to question the new gods and their acolytes of this new century. The new Green God revolution is far nastier the tie-tied version of the 70's and 80's and there isn't even free love involved anymore.
Oh no the new Green Gods, demand absolute loyalty and unquestioning, slavish devotion to the cause. Dare to question any part of the message be it global warming, all corporate is bad, everything western is bad.. then crucifixion is the best you can hope for.
A key plank of the Green God altar is a sort of slime green socialism (how many times do we have to go do this road before we realise it doesn't work..sigh). This slime green socialism means anyone who has the nerve to try and rise above the morass of sameness shall be taxed into submission.
On taxes ..perhaps a slice of the real world might help...
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you areall such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of yourdaily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so thefirst four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the$20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should p ay.
And so: The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free.
But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. 'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!' 'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar,too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!' 'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!' The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen,
Ph.D.Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do notunderstand, no explanation is possible.
Oh no the new Green Gods, demand absolute loyalty and unquestioning, slavish devotion to the cause. Dare to question any part of the message be it global warming, all corporate is bad, everything western is bad.. then crucifixion is the best you can hope for.
A key plank of the Green God altar is a sort of slime green socialism (how many times do we have to go do this road before we realise it doesn't work..sigh). This slime green socialism means anyone who has the nerve to try and rise above the morass of sameness shall be taxed into submission.
On taxes ..perhaps a slice of the real world might help...
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. 'Since you areall such good customers,' he said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of yourdaily beer by $20. 'Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so thefirst four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the$20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should p ay.
And so: The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free.
But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. 'I only got a dollar out of the $20,'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,' but he got $10!' 'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar,too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!' 'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!' 'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!' The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen,
Ph.D.Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do notunderstand, no explanation is possible.
Friday, April 27, 2007
LAZY NGO'S
Been “jalan jalan lagi” but strangely that had little effect on the world. The world didn’t stop and wait for me to get back.
I see the Newmont trial is over and Mr. Ness and the company has been acquitted of pollution and environmental damage charges. Based on newspaper reports of mishandled evidence, false reports and various other agenda driven slanders, it remains bizarre that the process took this long.
It’s a shame that various NGO still have not realised the damage to their credibility this case has done to them. It’s a bigger shame the NGO’s have compromised themselves just when Indonesia needs a reliable and transparent environmental watchdog the most. Its time for some leadership reviews and not just in the corporate world.
Here’s a tip …..’Walli’s” of the world, take a trip out to Surabaya and go play in the toxic mud brought to us by the Brothers Grimm. Perhaps out there you may regain some perspective.
Meanwhile a recent strike at Freeport, Papua raised a number of comments around the blogsphere. Predictably (and some what of a yawn), it was the mostly the “BIG BAD MULTINATIONAL” biased comments flowing again.
Invariably, the calls from the rabid green are to close the mine down and pay compensation (based on what??) and return the land to the people.
Of course, you never hear of what will replace the mine as the single biggest taxpayer in Indonesia. Perhaps a payroll tax on the ojek drivers?
In this strike, native Papuans wanted to a pay rise to over 3 times the national average and were concerned that Javanese were always given preference to Papuans in recruitment and career options.
The recruitment and promotion of Javanese over other ethnic groups is an explosive issue throughout many of the provinces. Decades of unequal school funding and “transmigration” policies have left many provinces way behind their Javanese cousins and this has yet to reach its crisis point. Although its safe to say the government does not have a lot time left to act.
The Papuans have every right to demand more opportunities from the wealth taken from their land. I can’t help but think their anger is misdirected. Any company is going to select its employees from the most qualified. A better question is where have the taxes and royalties gone? Why haven’t we got the best schools and hospitals in Indonesia based on out input to the national coffers? These are not questions that Freeport is responsible for.
The other issue is getting paid over three times the National Average. I know makes the NGO’s and other rabids feel all warm and fuzzy. Yippee!! We have screwed a few more bucks of our wealth back from the evil multi national!
Its short sighted, immature and devastates the communities involved. Basic supply and demand principles mean than market prices rise to the level the consumer can afford to pay (Hero Bali vs Hero Solo). Unless you can afford to employ every member of that community, you have condemned those without access to those higher wages to even greater poverty. (Does anyone want to take a bet that the price of a bag of rice in Papua does not double on the basis of the new wages?)
Perhaps instead of chasing ghosts and glory, the WALLI’s of this world could actually develop and propose viable working plans that ensure “All” of the community advances on the back of the natural bounty of the land.
Of course, this would require a bit of thought and planning. You cannot go changing the rules halfway thru the game .. UPFRONT AND TRANSPARENT
I see the Newmont trial is over and Mr. Ness and the company has been acquitted of pollution and environmental damage charges. Based on newspaper reports of mishandled evidence, false reports and various other agenda driven slanders, it remains bizarre that the process took this long.
It’s a shame that various NGO still have not realised the damage to their credibility this case has done to them. It’s a bigger shame the NGO’s have compromised themselves just when Indonesia needs a reliable and transparent environmental watchdog the most. Its time for some leadership reviews and not just in the corporate world.
Here’s a tip …..’Walli’s” of the world, take a trip out to Surabaya and go play in the toxic mud brought to us by the Brothers Grimm. Perhaps out there you may regain some perspective.
Meanwhile a recent strike at Freeport, Papua raised a number of comments around the blogsphere. Predictably (and some what of a yawn), it was the mostly the “BIG BAD MULTINATIONAL” biased comments flowing again.
Invariably, the calls from the rabid green are to close the mine down and pay compensation (based on what??) and return the land to the people.
Of course, you never hear of what will replace the mine as the single biggest taxpayer in Indonesia. Perhaps a payroll tax on the ojek drivers?
In this strike, native Papuans wanted to a pay rise to over 3 times the national average and were concerned that Javanese were always given preference to Papuans in recruitment and career options.
The recruitment and promotion of Javanese over other ethnic groups is an explosive issue throughout many of the provinces. Decades of unequal school funding and “transmigration” policies have left many provinces way behind their Javanese cousins and this has yet to reach its crisis point. Although its safe to say the government does not have a lot time left to act.
The Papuans have every right to demand more opportunities from the wealth taken from their land. I can’t help but think their anger is misdirected. Any company is going to select its employees from the most qualified. A better question is where have the taxes and royalties gone? Why haven’t we got the best schools and hospitals in Indonesia based on out input to the national coffers? These are not questions that Freeport is responsible for.
The other issue is getting paid over three times the National Average. I know makes the NGO’s and other rabids feel all warm and fuzzy. Yippee!! We have screwed a few more bucks of our wealth back from the evil multi national!
Its short sighted, immature and devastates the communities involved. Basic supply and demand principles mean than market prices rise to the level the consumer can afford to pay (Hero Bali vs Hero Solo). Unless you can afford to employ every member of that community, you have condemned those without access to those higher wages to even greater poverty. (Does anyone want to take a bet that the price of a bag of rice in Papua does not double on the basis of the new wages?)
Perhaps instead of chasing ghosts and glory, the WALLI’s of this world could actually develop and propose viable working plans that ensure “All” of the community advances on the back of the natural bounty of the land.
Of course, this would require a bit of thought and planning. You cannot go changing the rules halfway thru the game .. UPFRONT AND TRANSPARENT
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
ANZAC DAY
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
LEST WE FORGET
A Tribute to the mothers of the fallen from Turkish Ruler "Ataturk" in 1934
Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours... you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.
(Turkey became a republic in 1923 and Ataturk became the first president. Ataturk (then Kemal) commanded the Turkish defences against the ANZACS)
ANZAC Day - 25 April
This day-is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day.
Why is this day so special to Australians?
When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only fourteen years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the allied navies. The plan was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany. They landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.
Though the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking Turkey out of the war, the Australian and New Zealand troops' actions during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an "Anzac legend" became an important part of the national identity of both nations. This shaped the ways they viewed both their past and their future.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
BASTARDS, BULLIES AND TROLLS
Before we start on grimmer topics today, “Greenant” has been on the job and has reported our resident Troll, who likes to impersonate a Indonesian Man is actually a woman (actually a big hairy woman) from Oz. You know the type, sarong wearing dyke westerner, strutting around the local village, the male hater, sucking the public teat for sustenance, Stay tuned for more details..Thanks Greenant, certainly explains the penis envy.
Bullies and Bastards
Bullies and Bastards
A few weeks ago, I was reading the local paper and there was the picture of a group graduating pilots, blindfolded and being forced to sit drums of filthy oil and trash whilst their Non Commissioned Officers and other seniors looked on. The name for this is bullying and bastardisation in its lowest form.
Besides a fleeting thought, that is it any wonder that the Military has the reputation it does, I thought no more about it.
Until today..The Jakarta Post reports that another student had died from bullying at the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN). The IPDN is a quasi military school for wanna be public servants (which is a misnomer in its own right). This is not the first time this hell hole of thugs has being in the news, a senior lecturer at the school reported “34 students had died at IPDN since 1993”
Safe to assume that the “head” of the school has been dismissed and awaiting police investigation..Nope.
“Authorities at the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) suspended a lecturer Lecturer Inu Kencana Syafi'i on Monday after he spoke publicly on the death of a sophomore student and other violence at the college”
Now can you imagine the carnage and mayhem if such things were reported as happening in an American Prison …Still that’s the way things are here “Howl at the moon and the Middle East” Threaten violence and mayhem over a fully clad Playboy whilst tripping over far greater excesses in your own back yard.
Here’s is the full article from the JP as linking to the post is waste of time
IPDN lecturer suspended over violence report
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Sumedang
Authorities at the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) suspended a lecturer on Monday after he spoke publicly on the death of a sophomore student and other violence at the college.
Lecturer Inu Kencana Syafi'i said that if the suspension was a punishment then it was unjust and did not correspond with his work to stop brutality at the academy.
Inu sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono informing him that 34 students had died at IPDN since 1993, 17 of whom are believed to have died in suspicious circumstances.
"I sent him the letter this morning enclosing data on the deaths of the college students in order to set it straight that I'm not making this up. Not all the students died of unnatural causes apparently, but I have specified the irregular ones," he was quoted by Detikcom as saying at his official house in the IPDN lecturers' housing complex in Jatinangor, Sumedang, on Monday.
In the report shown to reporters, he said 34 students had died from 1993 to 2007, the most recent case being the death of sophomore Cliff Muntu from North Sulawesi. He highlighted the names of students whom he alleged died of unnatural causes.
On May 8, 1993, according to Inu's report, Aliyan, from West Kalimantan, fell from the second floor of the Bengkulu dormitory. Also that year, the report says, an East Java student, Gatot, was found dead with bruises on his chest and broken ribs after attending basic military training.
"I saw the condition of the student with my own eyes," said Inu.
The report says that in 1995, Alfian, from Lampung, was found dead with a fractured skull in his dormitory and in 1997 Fahruddin from Central Java died of unnatural causes. College authorities refused to allow doctors to perform an autopsy on him, according to the report.
In 1999, Edy, whose origin is not listed in the report, died during a field study and, Inu says, the institute also refused an autopsy on him. In 2000, Arizal, from South Sulawesi, was believed to have drowned in Lake Toba, North Sumatra. Purwanto, from Central Java, was found dead with broken ribs after graduating from the college in 2000.
In the same year, Obeth Nego Indow, from Papua, died in his senior's room with blood in his mouth and broken ribs, the report alleges.
In March 2000, a West Java student Eri Rahman, died in hospital after being beaten by seniors, who were sent to prison, but allowed to graduate after they served their sentences.
In 2000, a student from Jakarta, Utari Mustika, allegedly bled to death after an abortion. Her body was left in a mosque in Cimahi, West Java.
On July 25, 2002, Teddy Frederich Hendra, from Maluku, drowned and his body was found floating in the sea off Cilacap. In 2002, South Sulawesi student Wirman Nurman died. The college claimed he died in a traffic accident. In 2003, Wahyu Hidayat, from West Java, died after allegedly being beaten by his seniors. In 2004, Arizal Sasad, from Central Java, died. College officials told his parents he had died in a traffic accident.
In 2005, Irfan Albert Hibo, from Papua, died in his room and college officials said he committed suicide by taking insecticide, although it was later alleged that he died of a drug overdose.
In 2006, Papuan student Manfred Hubi, died at IPDN's IIP branch campus in Cilandak, Jakarta. College officials claimed he died of acute hepatitis, but they again refused to allow an autopsy.
"The difference between my data and that of the IPDN officials, which indicated that 29 students had died, is because theirs did not include students who died mysteriously and whose bodies were not examined," Inu said.
Inu received the suspension letter, signed by IPDN assistant rector Tjahja Supriatna, on Sunday.
"I don't understand it. They say I don't have to teach as long as I have to deal with the investigative team," said Inu, who has been teaching at the college for 17 years.
He also alleged that lecturers had used formaldehyde to hide bruises on Cliff's body, and asked why they had not been questioned.
Yep... COVER IT UP AND CONTINUE AS NORMAL
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Australian Labour Party
(Cartoon: Labour Party burnt out pop star trying to remember what he stands for, with coaching from kid rudd)Election time is coming up in Australia, which normally would not be much of an issue in Indonesia except that the current Prime Minister seems to be a favourite of Indcoup and Treespotter. So I thought I would dedicate a post on the theory that a rotting fish, rots from the head first.
Personally, I have never had much time for John Howard as I consider him as a more than economical with the truth when it suits him and just a little sneaky. Having said that, there is no doubt he is the consummate professional politician in the region bar none.
Time and again, the Australian Labour Party has thrown up challenges to the throne, only to find their chosen challengers, weak kneed bullies (Latham) intellectual ravers (Beasley) and their latest puff balloon of choice Kevin Rudd. Kevin Rudd’s latest claim to glory (besides never ever being able to answer a question with a straight answer) is this latest PR disaster:
“VIETNAM veterans have been offended by Labor leader Kevin Rudd’s request for a “fake” dawn service so he can commemorate Anzac Day live on Channel Seven’s breakfast show from Long Tan in Vietnam.
The plan for an earlier 4.15am service to coincide with the peak 7.15am morning TV ratings period were hatched by Mr Rudd’s office and staff of the Sunrise show several weeks ago.”
Few days hold greater reverence to Australian’s than ANZAC day and for some mealy mouthed spiv like Rudd to suggest the timings held in remembrance of the fallen be changed to suit his own inflated sense of self importance is repulsive in the extreme.
Rudd like the party he represents has demonstrated yet again they have no idea what is important to the average Australian and will self-destruct long before Election Day handing Howard yet another election on a platter…idiots.
To be fair, you cannot expect much from a political party, laced with Union Hacks, taxpayer funded leftist journalists and barely literate, washed up, bubble gum pop stars. You would have to dig long and hard in the Australian Labour Party to find anyone who has actually contributed to the economy of Australia and not spent their whole lives somewhere on the taxpayer teat.
As a twist, my own motives and ethics will be tested in this election. With the Australian Dollar at .80 USD up from .48c back in 2000. A vote for the economic disaster that is the Labour Party could only be good for my wallet but bad for the country...(Ok..Only kidding!! Only a fool, welfare cheats or at the risk of repeating myself, a socialist could vote for the rotting fish that is the Australian Labour Party).
Brace yourself for a few more years of Howard.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Frisco Rises for Easter
Frisk0dude on his recent release from captivy, as his mom said "I can't remember his name but his face rings a bellHey GOOD NEWS..
In a fitting tribute to Easter, Friskodude
has arisen from the dead. After going missing for many months, leading to several rumours to do with wet suits, babyoil and large overly friendly elephants, he has emerged to blog again.
Mind you he is still a bastard coz he has not come clean with all the "whys and wherefores" to his disappearance.
We now return you our quest for the best of Indonesia.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Indonesian Quest
"Indonesia Most Liveable" has generated some very interesting comments and
Jakartass has added his considerable influence to assist in the Greenstump quest. Thanks J.
I am hoping for some comments/advice on various regions from the Indonesian Perspective. I did get one comment from the resident blogshpere "expat pretending to be Indonesian" but included it for low class humour value only and it certianly doesn't count as an Indonesian Perspective Comment.
Based on the information so far, some future locations are already penciled in for a visit in the very near future. Bitangs on the beach, relaxing in the rainforest sounds so nice but in the meantime
"I am sitting in my dingy little office,
where a stingy ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all.
And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street,
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.
And the hurrying people daunt me,
and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy,
and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste
With a few more suggestions, perhaps we could develop an intineray purely based on Indonesian bloggers recommendations. A bloggers intinerary?? ...Mmm what would we call it "The Blogger's Run"...naagh... sounds a little to Hash House Harriers to me and might scare off the more "relaxed" bloggers out there. Suggestions anyone?
If this keeps going perhaps a new blog, with pictures and comments from our bloggers on each place..the mind boggles or is that bloggles.
Jakartass has added his considerable influence to assist in the Greenstump quest. Thanks J.
I am hoping for some comments/advice on various regions from the Indonesian Perspective. I did get one comment from the resident blogshpere "expat pretending to be Indonesian" but included it for low class humour value only and it certianly doesn't count as an Indonesian Perspective Comment.
Based on the information so far, some future locations are already penciled in for a visit in the very near future. Bitangs on the beach, relaxing in the rainforest sounds so nice but in the meantime
"I am sitting in my dingy little office,
where a stingy ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall,
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all.
And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle
Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street,
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.
And the hurrying people daunt me,
and their pallid faces haunt me
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste,
With their eager eyes and greedy,
and their stunted forms and weedy,
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste
With a few more suggestions, perhaps we could develop an intineray purely based on Indonesian bloggers recommendations. A bloggers intinerary?? ...Mmm what would we call it "The Blogger's Run"...naagh... sounds a little to Hash House Harriers to me and might scare off the more "relaxed" bloggers out there. Suggestions anyone?
If this keeps going perhaps a new blog, with pictures and comments from our bloggers on each place..the mind boggles or is that bloggles.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Indonesia Most Liveable
Jakartass recently reminded me that there are yet many places in Indonesia, I have yet to visit. We can too easily get set in our ways and forget that Indonesia is huge and diverse place so.........
I intend to be around in Indonesia for some time and shall now launch on a new mission:
To find Indonesia's most liveable province/city/town/village.
Naturally any such quest would be highly subjective, in my case the following would have to be considered:
1. Tolerant and FPI (and assorted other nutters) free;
2. Progessive Schooling;
3. Unpolluted;
4. Adhence to basic rule of law;
5. Beach/Mountain vistas;
6. Access - roads, rail, airports;
7. Infrastructure;
8. Traditional as opposed to imported culture;
9. Friendly, open society;
9 ...Eeer.. I will think of more and I open to suggestions .
A dream list is one thing, reality is different and life is a trade-off. It should be fun and I really would like suggestions on where to start, who knows I might learn something despite being an "Ol Dog". In the meantime, some thoughts:
Jakarta: Nice (make that interesting) to visit but who would want to live there? A city self destructing after generations of uncontrolled growth and poor planning. Is this not the world's polluted city?
Bandung: Seriously pretty, particularly up in the mountains. Bandung is (was) great, all the facilities of a big city, progessive, no serious traffic issues and then...they built the tollroad!!! Vale Bandung. However general area remains a favourite, perhaps a town close by?
Papua: Talk about views..talk about nature at its best. Is this not one of the last true paradises on Earth? Unfortunately, any place under a media black-out obviously has some very ugly secrets.
Kalimantan: I think we missed it, unless you are into seeing vast Oil Palm plantations or worse vacant, eroded hillsides where virgin forests used to stand, then Kalimantan's glory days are past. I have no doubt that Kalimantan will gain prominance again in the future as a symbol of short sighted greed and contempt for the environment. Furture generations will curse their forebears every time Kalimantan is mentioned.
Bali: Island of the Gods under attack from within and without. Still in my opinion, one of the most interesting cultures in Indonesia. Do yourself a favour a read some history of Bali before you go (preferably not the sanatised versions printed in Indonesia). To live there..I would need to travel to some of the more remote places I think.
Others...heaps..suggestions, comments
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