NUCLEAR FACE OFF

The concept of “Face” is an incredibly difficult and dangerous concept particularly when it is Nuclear Powered!

I say face because that can be the only reason that the “powers that be” would even consider a Nuclear Power Plant in Indonesia. Does anyone with even one last firing synapse believe that Nuclear Power Plant could be built and operated safely in the current conditions in Indonesia?

Indonesia has been beset by an on-going list on natural disasters whose most inglorious claim to fame is rather than being mitigated by human invention, the suffering is magnified by powers of 10 by a combination of greed, corruption and a sheer lack of concern for others. Not content with natural disasters, we have decided that we can do so much better than Nature and create the conditions for a disaster that will ensure suffering for thousands of years by building a Nuclear Power Plant in one of the worlds most geographically unstable regions. But hey there are some big bucks to be made!

Why should we be concerned you ask? We assured that Safety protocols will be investigated later.

Well that’s a relief; perhaps we could use the agencies that are responsible for quality and standards on:

Railways…ooops maybe not
Shipping and Ferry’s …oops maybe not
Airlines…..Sorry
Toll roads…nope

I am more than willing to be corrected, to which agency would you be willing to trust the health of the next five generations of your family? As for the rest of South East Asia are you willing to trust country that renders your air unbreathable year after year due rampant burning off of World Heritage Forest for the sake of the rich few?

Besides the above it is economically stupid. Indonesia sits on the world’s largest coal reserves and year after year ships millions of tones of coal to provide power and lighting to other countries. Meanwhile over 40% of her citizens sit in darkness.

How hard would it be to invest some of the billions of Nuclear dollars into Clean Coal Technology and the welfare of her own people? Just the stopping of the wide spread practice of “transfer pricing” would pay for the coal required for the foreseeable future.

It will be interesting if the now discredited environmental group WALHI can make a difference and serve the environment as it is supposed to instead on some bizarre political/personal agenda.

Anyway, I am off to check out the wind patterns to see in which 20,000 sq km area is out of bounds for the next 5000 years.
By the way, I am actually a supporter of Nuclear Power as clean, robust answer to the earths future energy needs. However a couple of fairly basic considerations are required:

a. A robust system of checks and balances
b. A safety regime that is not subject to money politics
c. A stable Geographic Location
d. The ability to assess the above.

In the meantime, before we start thinking about a Nuclear Power Plant, we concentrate on:

Planes that stay in the air
Ferries that don’t sink monthly
Toll roads that don’t collapse after six weeks
Capitial cities that don’t flood every year

Sorry if some find this a bit brutal…But a Nuclear Power Plant…ARE YOU SERIOUS?

GREEN WANK

There is saying from a movie ‘Build it and they will come” and more realistic twist would be “Green it and the Scam will come” Indonesia has it own versions, the more ominous and far reaching being the now strangely silent Newmont pollution trial which Unspun covers here

(Where have all those accusers gone..Still they will be back on the other side when the lawsuits start).

In a worrying trend, Australia seems to leading the way in gold medal for “Green Stupids”. The latest "green wank" may well not be a scam, but it is certainly a stupid way to be parted from your money and a sleazy way to make some. Essentially a company is selling you carbon credits that will off set your carbon foot print on the planet. Or as it was reported the company “vows to spend the $8 you give them on products, such as energy-saving lightbulbs and water-saving shower heads, that reduce emissions elsewhere (if not in your own backyard)”.

Now obviously the you can spend more than $8 on carbon credits with the company (as I sure they would want you too) like one sad soul “For $20, the company made Jenny XXXX into a "carbon-neutral granny" last year. Her daughter, Emily, gave her a gift certificate to offset two years' worth of flatulence. "I don't like to brag, but I actually don't have much flatulence," Mrs XXXX says. "But when I do, I feel OK about it, because the damage to the planet has been offset."…. or “Take Sally XXX and her husband, Stephen XXXX, of Sydney's northern beaches. They have a four-wheel drive, two children - George, 3, and Olivia, 1, both of whom wear disposable nappies - and take three interstate trips a year.

Easy Being Green used a complicated mathematical formula (I bet they did) to value the family's "footprint" at $600 a year, so Mr XXXX bought $600 worth of carbon credits for his wife for her birthday.”
Pleaasee… The amazing thing is not that these people bought this stuff but they actually made any money in the first place. Seriously, you have a lazy six hundred dollars and best thing thing you can think of to improve the planet is an Anti Granny Fart Tax Certificate.

The Chief Executive commenting on a “Simliar money for Green” scheme that generated millions of dollars, mostly from tax payer was cancelled by the government when it proved unworkable (surprise) said "Well, not to rort, but it obviously had its problems."..yea right!

Still the old adges seem to apply – A fool and his money…….

Still if anyone has $600 they want to spend contact me and I will install some light bulbs and even plant a tree for you or buy you a cork for granny’s bum. Oh, I also have some left Y2k recovery plans left over going cheap.

P.S ..Anyone want to bet the CE of the company owns more than one car?

WE HATE BUSH

Along with the plethora of Starbucks across the world, the other parallel trend is the rise in “Anti-America/Bush/USA-ism”. Of course, in Indonesia as in so many other places, your resident “rent a crowd” doffs the placards, the fake blood, complete in the US inspired uniform of jeans, t shirts and base ball cap (guys, the pointy pit goes to the front, its not really that hard) much to the amusement of many.

The Republicans in particular are reviled by many in Indonesia. Although sadly in a lot of cases, the Protestors would be hard pressed to tell you what party Bush represented. To be fair, it’s unreasonable to expect any deep thought process from a mob.

Ironically, a Democrat President with a Democrat controlled congress would be a disaster in real terms for Indonesia. Democrats are traditionally far more interested in human rights abuses (perceived or otherwise) than the Republicans. ..Hello Papua..Munir, East Timor ..How’s that coming along Indonesia? Democrats also place far more emphasis on domestic trade protection, guess where that will be felt.

Of course, the more isolationist foreign policies of the Democrats and need to fund domestic welfare programs will severely restrict foreign aid programs in countries viewed as less than critical in the new order (aka Indonesia). But hey we hate bush, so it’s all going to be good.

So is it to be principles or practical for Indonesia??

I must admit I did kind of like a recent article by Janet Albrechtsen which said in part:

“Anti-Americanism has morphed into a desire to bring America to heel, something that coincides with the goal of Islamists. But if the big, fast rich guy retreats, it’s worth asking who will step up to the plate when the West needs things fixed. The dawdling burghers of Europe may recall that small and slow did not help the Kuwaitis, Bosnian Muslims, Kosovars, Afghanis or the tsunami victims.”
‘So the Islamic world will complain the US is anti-Muslim while overlooking Bosnia. Europeans regularly overlook the fact that American power, resolve and, yes, idealism, delivered them from both Nazism and communism. Nor, when they nip down to the corner store for some foie gras in their BMWs or Citroens, do they remember the contribution the Marshall Plan made to their postwar prosperity.”

Disclosure time. Personally I dislike Bush as well; trouble is I dislike the vast majority of leaders (?) who dislike America more. I think dear ol Janet is probably a bit over the top in defence of America but the point is well made.

Honour..what honour!

"Rape of Pakistani girl leads to protest
Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent
February 02, 2007

IN a savage repeat of the Mukhtar Mai case that ignited international outrage, a 16-year-old Pakistani girl was reported last night to have been kidnapped and pack-raped by 11 men, then paraded naked through her village near the town of Ubaro, 530km from the port city of Karachi.
The teenager is believed to have suffered horrifying injuries during the brutal and sustained attack, described as an "honour revenge" after her cousin eloped with the female relative of one of the men accused in the case.
Adding to her agony, police initially expressed scepticism that there had been any sexual assault, refusing to take action, adopting the same attitude they did in the Mukhtar Mai case.

Women are often used in Pakistan's backward rural areas as a means of settling tribal vendettas and so-called matters of "honour". What is clear from last night's reports is that despite the reform of the country's rape laws - forced through parliament by President Pervez Musharraf in the face of trenchant opposition from Islamic fundamentalists - dreadful outrages continue."

I wonder if this will come up in the next round of talks between the Presidents..

It really is a matter of how low can you go..scum!

April Fools

After months of feeling a bit "crook" finally found out whats wrong. Although still not sure why it did not show up on the first blood test a month ago or why it always takes 3 hours to get a blood test done in Indonesia. Anyway it would appear I have picked up a stomach bug which gives rise to on-going fevers and saps any remaining energy and rational thought you may have. Still feverish, so enjoy the following fever induced rant,

Yesterday was the first day, they let me out of hospital and lo and behold its the 1st of April, I had no idea I was out that long!! The Jakarta Post was just full on, with one story after another each topping the other for best April Fool's Joke.

The Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyanto is quoted as saying the nation's commercial poultry breeders were "more well informed about bird flu than back yard farmers and more prepared to deal with the disease and most commercial concerns have implemented proper bio-security measures, successfully combatting bird flu in commercial poultry"

That's a hoot, anyone who has the misfortune to visit the majority of commercial poultry concerns in Indonesia would see the filth and generations of fowl shit raising meters from the floor. Even on the best of days, most Indonesian chickens look at best half starved, racid excuses for poultry. One for the journos..Did not one of you want ask about the well known state of these "concerns"? Or why Singapore banned poultry products from Indonesia a full 12 months before the first ever warning about bird flu in Indonesia?

The Chief Editor of the Jakarta Post learnt (relearnt) the old adage "never share the stage with animals or small children". At a panel discussion regarding the role of Indonesia as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the chief editor said " Indonesia needed to be both pragmatic and idealistic in its decisions with the UNSC or risk falling into a double standard of behaviour" sensible words indeed! Trouble was, he was follwed up by Government Minister (?) Djoko Susilo with "for instance, it should be made clear why Indonesia decided to abstain on the Myanmar resolution whilst we uphold democratic and human right values"... Hard to act to follow...although I must be thick coz it still ain't clear to me.


The absolute gold star gem of April Fool's articles was the report that the Jakarta Health Agency was revising a draft law to punish those who refuse to take part an active part in efforts to curb commincable diseases. "For example if we find, during a door to door inspection, find mosquito lavae in a water container, we will give the resident a santion" said Agency Head Salimar Salim. It is said the administration has mulled sending offenders to jail for six months or leving a fine of Rp 50 million ($5488).

Yea..right..Right law..wrong target. How about sending to jail for six months those useless bastards, who despite forever granting themselves allowances, are quite happy for the residents to live next to non-flowing, stinking black cesspits that Jakaratans have to call rivers. Or the kilometers of open sewage drains, or the dodgy developments that increase Jakarta's flooding year in year out..
The poor guy in the kampung, with his bowl of water is the evil one..I think not.. Next thing you know he will get the blame for creating the bird flu crisis..Oops sorry already done that..

As Unspun says..where are the real journalists and media? Who will ask the questions that will reveal these people as the year long April Fool's Joke they are?

One last point, thanks to all for looking after my Troll while I have been away. I know he is immature, not very bright, abusive and somewhat boring after awhile. However it pays to remind us that even evolution forks off into a dead end from time to time. We should all take care that if we wade in the shallow end of the gene pool always wear protection.

Professors and Liars

In this day and age of global and instant media coverage, the trouble with making really bizarre statements is it is only a matter of time before someone, somewhere calls your bluff!

Senior Brother Grimm commenting on the Lapindo Mud Disaster that left thousands upon thousands homeless and has caused untold enviromental damage, recently stated "According to the experts, it is truly a natural disaster nothing can prevent," This was in front of a room of foreign correspondents in Jakarta last week. He went on to say "It happens in a lot of places of the world". Yea Right!! These statements were made to the sound effects of journalists and others laughing uncontrollably and falling off chairs.

Then wouldn't you know it on Page 3 of Jakarta Post today, the findings of a scientific team lead by Professor Richard Davies (University of Durhams Centre for Research into Earth Energy Systems). The good Professor not only disputes the Brother's Grim Version, but actually rules them out even as just silly. The article which was printed in the peer review journal "GSA Today".

Thats two completely different stories going around. The trick for most us in Indonesia is to work out who is the liar. Do we believe Professor Davies and his team or the ass clutching version of the brothers Grim.

Even in the worst of circumstances, there is always a smile (grimace) to be had if you look hard enough. The lastest competition in Indonesia is which is the poorly position named cabinet position in Indonesia..Is it "Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare" (What a great title) or Transport ("we know the planes are safe") Minister or the annual favorite the Minister the Environment (also know as Minister for Plam Oil) .

I'll say one thing for them all, they all have balls as big as elephants! How the F*** these Grims and friends even look at themselves in the mirror every day astounds me.

Also on the rumour mill.... Over 5000 villagers in Puncak Papau have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and threats of violence. No confirmation as yet and I don't think we will see anything in Indonesian Papers. Does anyone have any good links on the latest "hearts and minds" in the provinces.

Tough Tape and Tough Men

Ok, a couple of direct pinches today, after all piracy is not a crime but a vocation in Indonesia.
Out of respect for the Indonesian Airline Industry and the Transport Minister we bring you these:



To find out which airline you will have to go here.

On another topic, although still related to unsavory human beings and a lack of regard for others. I am constantly surprised by the tolerance that Indonesians show to people (and I use the term loosely!) that continue to bring the majority religion and the nation into disrepute.

"Islamic (????) Protesters at the indecency (????) trial of editor Playboy's Indonesia editor, Erwin Arnada hurled abuse at Playboy magazine's first Indonesian centerfold Thursday, calling her a prostitute and saying they hoped her daughter would be raped." As the incident was widely reported in the International Herald Tribune, its safe to say Indonesia's reputation as taken yet another knock on the world stage, thanks to the bottom feeders.

"Hope your daughter gets raped!!!" besides the fact that playboy international, let alone the soaped, washed out Indonesia version is pretty lame. To say I hope you daughter gets raped, is by any standards in any civilisation a repugnant comment!! It is a sad reflection on society that people like this still seem to be able to walk the street without being condemned as the complete Dickheads and two-bit bullies they are.

One of the protestors was pictured in last Friday’s Jakarta Post (and we ain’t talking the top of the gene pool here), was pictured trying to destroy a copy of the Indonesian Playboy. Sadly (for him) he was reduced to tearing it up page by page (which is pathetic, we ain't talking a phone book here). Even more ironic was a man (?) like him was tearing up pictures of a beautiful girl in a bikini. Lets be honest, it’s the closest a sorry little thug like that is every going to get to a girl not under duress.

If you cannot get last Friday's Jakarta Post, Indcoup has remarkable likeness of the thug here

There are millions upon millions of great people in Indonesia, but as they say.."just one goat"

Lords of the RINGS

"Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong. You cannot shirk this and be a man." Mark Twain

From time to time, Indonesian bloggers particularly expatriate bloggers face the accusation they are too critical of Indonesia and its ways (for want of a better term). In many cases, quite rightly and I do include myself.

In my defence, its the old story when you do good no one notices...do bad and the world world knows about it.

So in that vein and with the bottom feeders already at the trough positioning for the next election, I thought I would so a post appealing for help to identify those in power, who actually are working for the people. You know the good guys, the honest ones, the ethical ones.

The Jakarta Post gives a great example today, there must have been at least one person who said NO THANKS!

I won't link to the post, the links disappear anyway, but story goes like this..

Three members of the Bekasi Legislative Council from the 1999-2004 period returned Friday gold signet rings that were bestowed upon them as gifts at the end of their terms in office.

The rings, worth Rp 66.6 million each (about $7000USD EACH), were given to 45 councilors. But the Supreme Audit Agency found they were improperly purchased, using budgetary funds.

Ok we can discount the three members who gave the rings back as good guys. Its safe to assume they only did it after The 2004 Presidential Decree on guidelines for regional budget spending which states that money for gifts, souvenirs or bouquets cannot be taken from the budget was issued.

(Getting nervous lads..if it was an attack of ethics, it took a long time coming).

So my question is surely there was one man/woman who didn't need a Presidential Decree to tell right from wrong?

Surely there is one man/woman who looking around the conditions that Bapak and Average have to endure thought "gee a $7000 gift from the council budget, in country with 10 million unemployed (officially, unofficially I reckon you could times that by 5 and still be under)is not really the thing to do?

Surely, there is one man/woman who looked at the schools in the said area and just vomited at the thought of taking the ring?

Who is he/she?

We need a hero!!

Perhaps we could start a bloggers dream team??? (if we can find enough respectable contenders, gotta admit cupboard looks bare).

BALI - ISLAND OF THE GODS

It was a great break on the Island of the Gods (Bali). Sun, Sand and some outstanding games of Golf. There is a lot to be said for Girl Caddies and an Ocean view Golf Course. Don't forget your KITAS as it makes the difference between a $100 and $200 game of Golf, expensive but wow!!!! By the way, the little white hut you can see in the distance that's the tee off for the green in the foreground...Ain't far but teeing off across the ocean eats balls.

Unfortunately, we made the error of booking via Lion (Lying) Air, one of the low cost, lower standard carriers (as Gardua was booked solid) that plague this country.. This resulted in both journeys to and from Bali being a trial that tested the most adventurous amongst us. Minimum Delay seven hours and (I guess this is good) only two bags misplaced.

Setting new standards in Customer Service, our cheerful Lying representative informed us that if our bag was found then he would call us and we could come down and pick it up. Gee..After a seven hour delay and lost bag that was probably not the thing to say. We certainly gained the attention of the security guards as it was explained if I had to come and collect the bag, then it would be from an orifice not normally used for storing lost property.

We at the stump have decided its just too much to expect for an Indonesian Airline to display any degree of competence or professionalism. Changes are afoot and we are busy planning our next break to sunny Thailand for a week of Golf and Diving (ok…so the breaks a long way off, we can day dream). It’s a shame Bali is so ham strung by such dangerous morons and I don't just mean the airlines.

At the time of writing, the ADAM Air plane is still not found, survivors are still being picked up from yet another ferry sinking, tens of thousands of people are still being displaced by toxic mud from the Lapindo Disaster and the responsible ministers still have jobs. Situation normal..

I will be a bit busy catching up on work for awhile, so I will post when I can.

P.S. I have found a new Troll; his name is “ASS”. He isn’t very smart and repeats himself a lot but is kind of funny. I promise I shall feed this one more often.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To All,

I am off to take a well earned (I reckon anyway) break...

Have a great, safe and happy Christmas and New Year..

Who knows Indonesia may even get a Christmas Present and the "Brothers Grimm" may be brought to account before the law!!

Anyway........HAVE FUN AND REMEMBER CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY AND FRIENDS..CALL SOMEONE FROM YOUR PAST AND JUST SAY HI..(It may be the best present they receive this year).

If a goat, cow or turkey comes a knocking...Refugee status applies at this time of year

IRAQ

Personally I had grave doubts about Iraq long before the WMD proved so damn hard to find. No doubt that Saddam was a murderous bastard but then it’s not like there are not another dozen like him in the world.

Of course, there is a certain amount of selective blindness on both sides of the equation. Its interesting to note the outrage of some parts of the world in regard to Iraq but absolute silence to the genocide in Sudan (a large number of those being slaughtered being Sudanese Muslims but apparently the "Animal Farm" theory is in effect here). Even more revolting is the simpering greetings give to Sudanese Ambassadors by ...Ahem...some governments.

Still back to Iraq whilst not funny the following highlights the folly of it all.

IRAQ

Gloating I am

I shouldn't gloat but...I as a confirmed Cricket Tragic, I can't help myself so...

Billy was at school this morning and the teacher asked all the children what their fathers did for a living. All the typical answers came out, fireman,policeman,salesman, chippy, captain of industry etc, but Billy was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father. "My father is an exotic dancer in a gay club and takes off all his clothes in front of other men. Sometimes if the offer is really good, he'll go out with a man, rent a cheap hotel room and let them sleep with him." The teacher quickly set the other children some work and took little Billy aside to ask him if that was really true. "No" said Billy, "He plays cricket for England but I was just too embarrassed to say."

As for the real news besides again pasting the English in the traditional manner expected, the best Headline from the WACA was:

Privilege to watch three musketeers put England to sword
"Only the most hard-hearted rejoiced at the disintegration of the elite of English cricket, but it was a privilege to witness batsmen of the calibre of Michael Hussey, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke in full cry"

Gilchrist was in full cry too, 24 of six balls and the same poor "bowler" and 100 in 57 balls..

Oh well sometimes..life is good!!

King Prawn Cricket

Another Cricket Test is underway (Still cannot watch it here..bugger!) and some of my associates have been kind enough to send me pictures of themselves enjoying the match from a Corporate Box. This raises two questions; Who did they kill for tickets? Would it be considered bad form, if I send them a King Prawn by snail mail for xmas?

Undercover Cookie. has been kind enough to correct my post on the cricket. It’s the Barmy Army not Balmy Army although UC should be careful correcting my spelling errors it is a full time job with very low pay and job satisfaction.

UC further states that like millions of other poor souls, she really has not got the hang of cricket yet. She should not be disappointed, it’s like reading a Joseph Conrad novel, an acquired taste requiring concentration and dedication but once acquired everything else is just a pale imitations.

By the way, if you like reading, do try some Joseph Conrad. Enjoy the magnificent use of words to paint a picture. Its interesting to note that English was not even JC’s first language yet he puts all to shame before his prose. Wilbur Smith could only dream such ability.

On lighter news (or should that be lightweight news). Despite the fact my Trolls have obviously died and been recycled as road way humps, there is a sort of competition to decide what is the correct plural term for Trolls. Some early suggestions include:

Herd, Cluster, and personal favorite a ‘Nuisance of Trolls” (Thanks UC). Of course some of the more non PC had to be ruled out for legal reasons i.e. A LAPINDO of Trolls or a Bakery (sic) of Trolls. Anyway feel free to post any suggestions. The winner will be re-directed to Treespotters site as with his untold wealth, he is always giving away prizes like two tickets to Disney On Ice in Tehran or such like (I can only afford to throw in a free Bintang).



Anyway, winding down to Christmas and a holiday in beautiful Bali..Countdown has begun.

P.S. The Poms are losing the cricket again..oh the joy..the joooyyy…

P.P.S. Rumour has it (and I missed it) that Beheadings in Iraq were aired on national TV Today. Note to the "Powers that be" (Or Idiots that are) you only look very very stupid and ignorant when you complain about people kissing on TV but allow beheadings to aired in prime time (let alone any other time). What sad twisted values some people (?) have.

Im Back...Where's the Troll?

Been a bit crook (sick) and at the same time busy traveling around a bit so my blogging has been more slack of late. I think my trolls have died of neglect (similar to real life I suppose).

Still not all is lost, Treespotter has been exposed as one of the pasty Balmy Army. After all I have written, bleated, blabbed, moaned and groaned about! It is my post on the miserable effort by the POM’s in the first Ashes Cricket Test that leads him to accuse me of cultural superiority.

Tough!!…Did I tell youse, the Poms got flogged, shellacked(?), beaten, trounced, whipped and burnt in the Second Ashes test as well. I did get some advice where the cricket could be viewed but not being a Jakarta lad, I am doomed to internet streaming (at glacial download speed, I think that’s Wally Grout coming up to wicket keep now)

Other things of note; It looks like a former GAM fighter will be governor of Aceh which is sure to make the “powers that be” in Jakarta more than a tad jittery. I can have a second girlfriend and/or wife (although apparently my penis will be removed, which kinda defeats the purpose). Sorry if you don't get the last one. Its been all the rage lately in Indonesia if it is right or not to take one wife or two, three or even four ok five then. It has been quite a talking point (the topic not the wives).

There is a BLOGFEST on this Friday?? See Jakartass for details..

Oh and I nearly forgot... Vice Prez Kalla reckons (and I paraphrase here)”The current anti corruption drive is making government officials to scared to do their jobs and therefore stalling numerous projects” I must be a cynic..Does that mean they don’t how to perform their duties without being corrupt..nagh couldn’t be!!
Some one really needs to a book on our Kalla, the US has its Bushisms we could have our Kallams, its only fair why should the yanks have all the fun.

My own personal view is that the current (oops anti-corruption) corruption drive is all arse about. I don’t believe for a minute that the average Indonesian is any more corrupt than anyone else. The vast majority of (all) people will take advantage if they think they can get away with no consequences. The difference being is a free and robust professional press/media is just waiting to shame you. Name any country with a free and robust press and you will find them near the top of the anti-corruption tree..Name any country with a restricted, muzzled, pliant press and you will find them languishing at the bottom of the corruption tree (where the manure collects).

Of course, that means activists should not die on national carriers, reporters should be protected not beaten up or killed, and editors should not have to face long and lengthy trials for publishing unpopular stories (nor have their homes seized).

Free the press, Free the nation.

Lastly, according to the Jakarta Post today "20 Greenpeace Supporters were jailed for protesting the destruction of Indonesian Forests. Interesting...there are currently……..0, zilch, nada in custody for covering hundreds of homes in mud. . Yosef Ardi has interesting post on the topic here.

WHERE'S THE CRICKET - Ashes to Ashes

WHERE'S THE CRICKET??

Whilst I have made Indonesia my home, pay my taxes and rave at the lack of leadership and short term greed as any responsible person should (despite the more xenophobic amongst us insisting we are guests, sorry guys welcome to the new world of globisation). There are times when the longing for the country of your birth becomes a weight only a draught horse could bear.

Today is one of those times. The Ashes tour has started and there is no bloody coverage !!

Ah the ASHES....England and Australia play a number of 5 day long cricket matches to decide who gets to take the ASHES home. Not to be able to bear witness to this, is tantamount to denying your heritage. (More on the Ashes history later if you want).

WHERE'S THE CRICKET??

In Indonesia we have pay tv (of sorts) called Indovision on which you can find endless suburban english and italian soccer matches (yawn), roller girls (sexy but pointless), sheep dog trials (plead the 5th), caber tossing (tough on mr caber)but cricket??? Not on your life. I would have thought with the large Indian, English, Oz, NZ population, the cricket was a "monty" but nope, just plenty of repeats of TNA "wrestling" ...BUGGER!!

Still on cricket, I notice the Indians are still pissed at the oz team who gave the "short shift" to the stuffed shirt official who would not get out of the road for the team photo after Australia's magnificent win recently in India. Bad luck guys..winners is grinners..

Back to Indovision, Lose the Ads!! Your service is already over priced for what is provided and lame ads only pisses paying customers off. Certainly, I will never bank BCA after the current and endlessly repeated commercials

Once again .....WHERE'S THE CRICKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geez I'm Crook!

As some have you may have noticed (ok one of you..thanks T/S) I have not been posting for awhile. The stump has had to relocate for a couple of reasons. One, the house contract was up and two, the old place was subject one to many break-ins. The view overlooking the fields out the back was great but also provided a great escape route for local "Ali Barbers".

Move completed and I have the internet up and running again. Of course we still have to got through all the usual gump. First off is reporting to the local RT. The “RT” is sort qausi-goverment officer, cum village head, cum busy body (although the busy body role is usually left to his wife). Then off to report the change of address to the police, immigration etc with the usual "administration fees" to make sure things are not lost.

On top of all that, some evil bug decided to take residence in my body (I have no idea why, it could not be considered a 5 star body even from a bugs point of view). Besides inducing a general feeling of “ugh and no blogging”, the bugs caused the cancelation of a trip to the big smoke (Jakarta) where I was due for a months training.That was a real bugger, I was looking forward to arcing up the Blok M debate again). Despite numerous trips to the doctor, it has taken some time to evict the body invaders. At one stage I was even thinking of visiting th local dukun (local mystic man) but after their failure stopping the mudflow and the causing the cancellation of POTUS visit despite huge publicity, I figure I might be better off with David Blaine or a panadol

Anyway I am sorta back and somewhat jealous the treespotter has got trolls that can spell as opposed to the semi-literate and barely logical mobs that live under my bridge.

THE UGLY HUMAN

My view towards humanity is a particularly low ebb this month. Of course, reading about the scum that continue to plague this corner of Paradise does not help one bit.

The court case of the swine who are accused of beheading three school girls earlier this year has begun. With the Jakarta Post reporting here here and more coverage here.

"Prosecutors yesterday detailed how Hasanuddin, Lilik and co-accused Irwanto Irano planned the schoolgirl beheadings with six other men. They prepared six machetes and black plastic bags for carrying off the severed heads and spent several days surveying the area where the students regularly passed by"

Nine men lying in wait to ambush 4 schoolgirls!!

What brave and noble warriors they must be!!!

Not being great believer in the existance of an afterlife, however on the off chance I am wrong then I hope these guys are off to a really special place..

The really scary, obnoxious part is one of these F*ckers went and spoke to religious community (?)leader about the plan.. Did he report it ...nagh not on your life(or should I say their life). Something is seriously wrong when men... (I would call them animals but animals don't deserve that)that are capable of such acts exist amongst us

I am not about to get into the religion thing because to be honest, I think the world has had a gutful of it all!! Don't bother with the I hate Muslims comments, I hate Christian comments, I hate (insert your religion of choice here)...I will delete ya all!! If only you could do that with some of the scum that call themselves human.

Do you think we will see wide-spread condemnation of these acts.. or just more radio cartoon competitions..

Unfortunately, although a Nation with a long history of Kings, Regents and Dictators, Indonesian democracy has yet failed to produce a leader with the vision and courage to carry Indonesia into a safe, prosperous future. As a result, those of black hearts and maggot riddled ethics have taken advantage of this lack of leadership to inflict their own perverse needs and wants on a virtually undefended populace.

Its sad but one can only hope its temporary..

spritual refreshment

The Pentonarc has just returned from Beautiful Bali (Lucky bugger) and has some nice pictures of the island of the Gods… We here at the Greenstump have no such luck (how do you get these jobs that come inclusive with holidays?).

Instead we have had to find our spritual refreshment in other ways.

INVEST IN BULLSHIT

Anytime you want to catch up on Business in Indonesia it’s normally a good plan to pop across to see Yosef's blog. This week one of his commentators noted there was a distinct absence of "bule" at the latest piece of government invest in Indonesia wank. The Infrastructure Two Summit (this is the summit you have when your first was a dismal failure) was the Indonesian Government’s latest attempt to revive the long dead patient that is International Investment in Indonesia.

The Yosef's commentator suggests the lack of western interest was due to the rise in Chinese investment. I beg to differ; the more likely reason is most international business people can smell the stench of corruption and bullshit thousands of miles away.

Of course, international cases like the trial of Rich Ness hardly instill confidence.. Richard Ness is being charged over environmental crimes (As opposed to the mud brothers Grim), in the latest piece of one law for you and one for us.

Ness is currently facing ten years in prison and a US$60,000 fine. He is accused of polluting the environment and causing illnesses. However, over 30 independent studies (most notably the United Nation’s World Health Organisation, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia, and the National Institute for Minamata Disease) have repeatedly confirmed that there is no evidence of environmental damage and, most importantly, medical analysis has established that there is no incidence of arsenic or mercury poisoning among the local community.”

Although I have to disagree with his son Eric who said

"One of my biggest concerns is that the law hasn’t been followed. It sometimes feels like the law doesn’t matter."

Now that is simply untrue, Tempo only recently revealed that Indonesian legal system made Indonesian history this year with the conditional release of Tommy Suharto, the defendant in the murder case of Supreme Court Judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita. In Indonesia’s history, remission of 38 months, like Tommy received, has never been granted, a new record.

I think it should be congratulations all round, nothing like setting legal history to inspire filth oops sorry typo..faith in the legal system.

SS SECURITY

After the recent "liberation" of various items of value, we have sacked the SS (Sleeping Security) and gone up market.

Oh where oh where were these cartoons when I was young..