The Indonesian Virus?

It never ceases to amaze the Stump that even in the cosmopolitan (?) heart of Jakarta, the local populace has this filthy but seemingly irresistible need to share their latest virus with you, coughing all over fellow travellers and hawking up grab gobs of pus and flem in the street. Guys, it’s not exactly a mind bending concept to show some consideration to others!

Speaking of the spreading of viruses, the Stump and the female colleague were accosted in the Pondok Indah Mall (It’s an amusement to come and watch the Kaya Baru..Newly Rich flaunt themselves) when we were accosted by Indonesia’s version of the three witches.

Where are you from?

Where do you live?

Etc etc ..until our colleague was hit with the usual highly personal but inevitable ..

What religion are you?

Upon being told the answer followed the outrageous..

Why are you not wearing the Jilbab ??

To the Stump’s eternal pleasure and outright laughter..

Colleague replied
“Because I am an Indonesian with adat (customs/traditions) not an Arab Pembantu (Maid/Servant)”

Unfortunately any pretence of civil conversation kinda declined thereafter. Where the @@@@ do these morons get the idea they have right to pry and push into others lives??

Still, after recently reviewing an old picture book of traditional Jakarta and Indonesia, one can certainly see where the current virus has certainly ripped the heart from Indonesian traditional dress and mores and replaced it with the drab and colourless dress of distant and irrelevant desert tribes. Funny you would think the vibrancy of colours and traditions would have meant the smothering of a culture would have gone the other way but there you have it. I guess the question, is will the patient ever recover and reclaim her identity? Prognosis does not seem good.

None So Blind

On other matters, did anyone notice the safe return of the Maid from Palestine, who was not paid for five years and made to work in appalling conditions? Yet, a large section of the Indonesian population still honestly believes that these people consider them equals. Does the term “Untermensch” ring any bells people?




A Timely Intervention

The Stump owes Desi Anwar and Jakartass a vote of thanks for adding yet another emotion evoked when the name Elvis is mentioned. Although in this case, the emotion is not one associated with Music but rather the need to burst out with a grand,gut wrenching belly laugh. Seems our local Elvis the plonker has decided that clocks lead to ruination of youth! Check this quote out.."Usually, around 300,000 people gather at the clock every New Year's Eve to witness the clock strike 12, marking the change of year. Youngsters express their happiness by hugging their mates, and even kissing"... Ah those fiends, those children of the corn!

As scary as it may be to get into the minds of dodos of this magnitude, one can only assume, Elvis the galah has decided the Clock Tower in Bukittinggi (High Hill?) Central Square was a ring leader in leading the local populace away from the ranting of the resident joy Nazis. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day the clock face was draped in a monumental version of the Chadar.

Mmmm, the Stump wonders how far is from clock faces giving offence and the Taliban blowing up statues thousands of years old and world heritage listed. Certainly the debased logic (?) seems linked..It’s enough to make the original Elvis turn to drugs and binge eating! You really have to follow the links, read this and laugh (although if you are Indonesian, cry might be a more understandable option).
Stay tuned for the next piece of lunacy..the pace is picking up

VISA LOSER

The overfed, under smart galah who demonstrated how far evolution can regress in a generation by his behaviour to an American President recent news conference in Iraq has requested Political Asylum in Switzerland.

Trivia Pursuit Question Number 1..
What is the home address of the last person who threw a shoe at President Saddam.....?

Bzzzz..

Answer ...Sorry, trick Question..dead people don’t have addresses.

Via his lawyer (?), the poor little zipperhead has complained “ I am at the mercy of all manner of extremists,'' the lawyer said, adding: "He can no longer work as a journalist without suffering terrible pressure... his life can become hell in his country.'' (The Stump bets zipperhead and the Kurds could just swap hardship stories..not!).

In that breathtaking hypocrisy that lives and breathes in that region, we may recall that The zipperheads action “was hailed across the Arab world as an ideal parting gift to a president widely unpopular in the region.” And yet he seeks Asylum in Switzerland..

Gee, wonder why not Saudi Arabia, Syria? Wonderful warm countries all well known for their tolerance to journalist critics. Like so many of the frauds and losers all too quick to moan about the evil west..but wave a free pass and get killed in the rush.
Well the Stump hopes the clock and chocolate makers of Switzerland will forgive the Stump if we presume a response on their behalf...

This is not a Obama Picture

Aggh! New computer and new virus thingy me bob and now the Stump cannot post pictures...stinking technology..

Still they say a picture is worth a thousand words...

"A thousand words"

Bugger it ..didn't work!!

Oh Well... Meanwhile is it just the Stump??? Or is this Obama Rama more than a little scary! Why is the Stump reminded of that silly religious right movie (Is there any other kind of religious based story) where the smooth talking anti-christ becomes President?

And just to be provocative..Who thinks he would have been elected if wasn't the left cute vision of the articulate but harmless black man?

Back to serious issues and things that matter, can anyone tell me why the little box that techo cripples like us click on to post pictures has disappeared from the create post screen?

Brrr..It's cold now?

In spite of the highest concentrations of carbon dioxide in the history of civilization, world temperatures have failed to warm the past 10 years. Ocean heat content is falling. World ice concentrations (Arctic and Antarctic combined) are higher than normal.

The 2001 forecasts by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (cited by Al Gore) have failed to capture the recent cooling, as the above graph indicates, suggesting that the carbon dioxide-atmosphere connection is more complex than some initially believed. A small but growing number of scientists are becoming concerned about global cooling due to the current unusually low solar activity and other geophysical factors.


Ah BUGGER IT...NOW I HAVE TO DIG UP THE POOL AND PUT IN A SAUNA...

Now unlike some the Stump pretend to know what the weather will belike in ten years, but when you point out to the rancid deep greens that real results don't show any global warming over last ten years, the reply is "that doesn't disprove our mantra" The Stump just wants to know what does?

HEROS AND VILLAINS

Must be the week for Heros!

The Captain of a US Airlines plane saved the lives of 155 passengers when he managed a "perfect" water landing
on the Hudson river after his plane hit a flock of birds on take off.

"Crew interviews also confirmed reports of how the Sullenberger refused to leave his sinking plane until he was sure everyone was safe.

"He was very concerned with the count of the passengers,'' the flight crew told the NTSB, Higgins said.

"He wanted everyone accounted for. He returned to the plane a couple of times to check no one was there. The captain was the last off.''

Indonesian Ferry Captains and Crew (and other responsible for peoples safety) may wish to note the bold type above.

Speaking of the lastest ferry disaster, why isn't the Transport Minister under investigation for criminal neglect of duties? Did anyone in Indonesia believe the first reports made by transport ministry officials that the Ferry WAS safe and not overloaded? As usual, the poorly trained surviving crew will be jailed for a little while, the owners and governement will deny any responsibility and the useful idiots will protest about issues they barely understand on the other side of the world whilst their own countrymen are slaughtered on the alter of incompendence and greed.

THOSE FEW THOSE BRAVE FEW

Disregarded his own safety to save another ... Trooper Mark Donaldson, pictured with his wife (top) and with 1969 Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne


THE VICTORIA CROSS is awarded for

“ ... most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy"

"The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces, It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command."

In these days of self absorbed, feathered beded child-men, the Stump wonders how many of us would be found wanting when time comes..At least there is still room for us to admire the few:

"The first Australian soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 40 years does not see himself as a hero.

Trooper Mark Donaldson, 29, says all soldiers are heroes.

The Special Air Service (SAS) soldier was presented the award for his rescue of a coalition forces interpreter from heavy fire in Oruzgan Province in Afghanistan in September.

He said the award was overwhelming and a great honour but it would not change who he was.

"I'm still Mark Donaldson, and we'll keep going from day to day and we'll see how we go," he told reporters after receiving the award on Friday.

"I don't see myself as a hero, honestly.

"I still see myself as a soldier first and foremost."

But Prime Minister Kevin Rudd begs to differ.

He said Trooper Donaldson had joined the list of Australian heroes.

"Generations of school children will now know of the story of Trooper Mark Donaldson," Mr Rudd said.

"It is a story of a hero, one which will be told in classrooms, workplaces and watering holes for many years to come."

"His feat under fire now becomes the stuff of Australian legend."

Trooper Donaldson, who is married and has one daughter, paid tribute to all Australian soldiers.

"Every single one of our soldiers that are there serving for the nation are heroes," he said.

The SAS soldier also became the first person to receive the Victoria Cross for Australia - the nation's highest military honour - established in 1991 to replace the Imperial VC awarded previously to 96 Australians since the Boer War in 1900.

Trooper Donaldson said he had not really thought about the danger when he went to rescue the stricken interpreter.

"I'm a soldier ... I'm trained to fight, that's what we do, it's instinct and it's natural and you don't really think about it at the time," he said.

"I just saw him there, I went over there and got him, that was it."

Trooper Donaldson said he understood the interpreter had made a full recovery.

He was touched to receive the medal, describing the ceremony as "quite emotional and quite overwhelming".

"It's very humbling and really makes you sit back and take a look at yourself."

Trooper Donaldson hopes to return to Afghanistan later this year.

He has not decided where to keep the medal, but "probably somewhere pretty safe".

Trooper Donaldson's wife says the hero has long been married to the army.

A beaming Emma Donaldson said she was proud of her husband.

"He was married to the army before he married me, and I support him all the way," she told reporters after the ceremony.

There were nervous moments being an army spouse, Ms Donaldson admitted.

"It has its moments, but I know what he's like as a person and I know the guys he works with and they train ridiculously hard all the time.

"So I have the utmost faith that they will all get back in some form or another."

When asked if she would tell her husband to be a little more careful on the battlefield in future, she laughed and said she couldn't ask that of him.

The couple, who live in Perth, have a young daughter Kaylee, who also attended Friday's ceremony.

The investiture at Government House, attended by Governor-General Quentin Bryce and the prime minister was told that on numerous occasions Trooper Donaldson deliberately drew enemy fire in order to allow wounded soldiers to be removed to safety.

"As the battle raged around him he saw that the coalition force interpreter was lying motionless on exposed ground," the governor-general's official secretary Stephen Brady told the gathering.

"With complete disregard for his own safety on his own initiative and alone, Trooper Donaldson ran back 80 metres across exposed ground to rescue the interpreter and carry him back to a vehicle.

"Trooper Donaldson then rejoined his patrol and then continued to engage the enemy while remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire."

Ms Bryce described Trooper Donaldson as an "inspiration".

"We gather around you to distinguish your actions, and to honour the individual they speak of, the person you are, your undertaking, your way of living," she said after the presentation.

"We are here to dedicate your contribution, your unconditional surrender to duty and humanity, your abandonment of your own necessity so that others may be secured."

"By your doing and knowing, you will shoulder more than most. You are the finest example and inspiration.

"Trooper Donaldson, VC, I salute you."

Defence force chief Angus Houston said Trooper Donaldson joined a band of brothers - only 10 VC winners are alive today - so admired for their valour.

"Victoria Cross recipients are at the very core of the ethos of which our military identity has been forged," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

"We in the modern Australian Defence Force, strive to live up to the heroism, and the values of the Victoria Cross recipients that have gone before us."

In keeping with military protocol the air chief marshall saluted Trooper Donaldson.

"As the highest ranking member of the defence force, there has been no current serving member that I salute, until now," he said.

"Tradition holds that even the most senior officer will salute a Victoria Cross recipient as a mark of the utmost respect for their act of valour."

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said Trooper Donaldson stood in a great line of courageous soldiers who had won the Victoria Cross.

"You have been in the front line of the battle for freedom, the battle against terrorism, a battle we cannot lose and we will not lose because of brave men like you," he said.

"As the prime minister said, there is no greater honour than wearing the uniform you wear today, serving this nation, and that is why we thank you from the bottom of our heart."

REAL MEN AND WARREN SNOWDEN

The Stump was not aware that the missing member of the Village People, Warren Snowden (pictured) had been appointed Australia's Defence Minister. Still in line with Labor Party Tradition another human waste vessel appointed five levels beyond its ability.

In a classic display of pandering to the loons at the expense of real Australians, Warren (I wish I was on a pink Cruise)Snowden attacked one of Australia's Submarine Commanders for making the obvious trueism possible. Any wonder Australia has trouble recruiting people into the defence force when they are forced to deal with idiots and professional trough snouters like Snowden and Eva Cox.

What was the so-called evil transgression commited in fron to the alter of Political Correctness? The Honourable Commander (as opposed to the dishonourable Snowden) when asked asked by a men's magazine if "female sailors all had to be hot and had to wear bikinis, would that help recruitment?".

Commander Phillips is quoted as replying: "It would certainly get the right demographic of young men in. I'm not sure how feasible it is."

Eeer Duh... Fit, intelligent young men would not be attracted by hot women in Bikinis, now perhaps that may apply to the young men Snowden grew up with but for the rest of us...get real!

The Commander went on to say it's not feasible because he well knows that Australian Women in the services would quite rightly tell the young men ..YOU WISH!!

Read for yourself..

Feminists angered by bikini suggestions
January 15, 2009, 6:13 am
Feminists are calling for action to be taken after an Australian Navy submarine commander suggested that women sailors in bikinis would help boost recruitment.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Commander Tom Phillips from the HMAS Farncomb was asked by a men's magazine if "female sailors all had to be hot and had to wear bikinis, would that help recruitment?".

Commander Phillips is quoted as replying: "It would certainly get the right demographic of young men in. I'm not sure how feasible it is."

Defence Minister Warren Snowden said the comments were "utterly unacceptable".

Chair of the Women's Lobby Australia, Eva Cox, said the comments reflected the "Navy's limited view of women as bodies rather than brains", the Telegraph reported.


The Stump suggests perhaps Eva Cox (nagh that's too easy) might be better squandering the taxpayers dollar with comments on things such as

Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric was quoted on Wednesday as saying it is permissible for 10-year-old girls to marry and those who think they're too young are doing the girls an injustice.

Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, the country's grand mufti, said during a lecture on Monday that those who say women should not marry before the age of 25 are following a "bad path," according to the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper.

Al Sheikh's comments come at a time when Saudi human rights groups have been pushing the government to put an end to marriages involving the very young and to define a minimum age for marriage. In the past few months, Saudi newspapers have highlighted several cases in which young girls were married off to much older men or very young boys.

On Sunday, the government-run Human Rights Commission condemned marriages of minor girls, saying such marriages are an "inhumane violation" and rob children of their rights.

The commission's statement followed a ruling by a court in Oneiza in central Saudi Arabia last month that dismissed a divorce petition by the mother of an eight-year-old girl whose father married her off to a man in his 50s.

Newspaper reports said the court argued that the mother did not have the right to file such a case on behalf of her daughter and said that the petition should be filed by the girl when she reaches puberty.

Responding to a question about parents who force their underage daughters to marry, the mufti said: "We hear a lot about the marriage of underage girls in the media, and we should know that Islamic law has not brought injustice to women."

"For it to be said that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger is wrong," Al Sheikh was quoted as saying. "A female who is 10 or 12 is marriageable and those who think she's too young are wrong and are being unfair to her."

The mufti said a good upbringing will make a girl capable of carrying out her duties as a wife.

"Our mothers and before them our grandmothers married when they were barely 12," said Al Sheikh, according to Al-Hayat.

There are no statistics to show how many marriages involving children are performed in Saudi Arabia every year. And it's also not clear whether these unions are on the rise or whether people are hearing about them more now because of the prevalence of media outlets and easy access to the internet.

Activists say the girls are given away in return for hefty dowries or as a result of long-standing custom in which a father promises his infant daughters and sons to cousins out of a belief that marriage will protect them from illicit relationships.

ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS ?

The Stump has been accused of a Anti Religion bias due the last couple of posts. Now that is probably true and the stump does believe that Religion is "the opium of the masses" and the wankers seem to getting dumber..sort of a reverse evolution thing going on. In this particular case the Stump claims innocence so in a Stumpsque defence, a picture is worth a thousand words










Picture pinched from the master cartoonist Bill Leak..

Israel and Dogs

The Stump doesn't believe there will ever be any solution to the problems in the Middle East. Too many religious lunatics in direct communication with GOD. Which is never ever a good thing, too little education and too many murderous religious thugs to profit by the continuing pain of others

The Stump is bemused but not surprised at the bizarre support for HAMAS (as opposed to the Palestine people)from the Muslim World. In it's simplest form...

If you are going to throw rocks at a big nasty dog, who you know is going chase you into your own back yard and bite a bloody great chunk of flesh out of your arse. Then if you care just a little bit about your women and children (rather than as human stakes in a poker game) you would make sure they are safe and out of reach of the dog BEFORE you poke the beast.

No matter what you may think of Israel, they are a very predictable nation and for HAMAS to claim no responsibility for the death and mayhem after poking the eye of the dog is a global bloody wank!

This weeks bloody brain perversion....

How come the miserable excuses for humanity below are not getting equal protest time with Israel???

Back once again to the Useful Idiots and their adherance to the Some Muslims are more equal than others doctrine.

December 29, 2008

Nashanuddin Khan/Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan --

A day after a suicide bomber killed at least 16 people, including 13 schoolchildren, in a region bordering Pakistan, a new rash of bombings shook different areas of Afghanistan on Monday, killing two civilians north of Kabul and two more in Kandahar Province.

Men inspected the wreckage of a suicide car bomb on Sunday in Khost Province, Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bomb, which was detonated next to a school.

Several Afghan provinces have been centers of violence.

The explosion on Sunday detonated outside a local government compound in Khost Province and wounded 53, local government officials and coalition forces said. The bombing, near the border with Pakistan, occurred next to a school, and many children were among the wounded.

The Taliban fighters claimed responsibility for the attack.

Coalition forces provided a video showing about 15 children walking on the street as they were engulfed by a ball of fire. Mark Larter, a spokesman for the coalition forces, said the death toll also was based on reports of troops at the scene. Two police officers were among the dead.

WELCOME 2009

Hi All,

Please except Stump wishes for a safe, tolerant and happy 2009.

The citizens of the Stump have just returned from a short break from reality (or was that to reality) looks forward to annoying you all again this year.

Indonesia and the world has kicked off in its usual insane way ….

The Bakrie boys have risen from the ashes (or mud) as can only happen in Indonesia proving once again that doing business in Indonesia is like walking through a hall of mirrors.

Two teachers in Aceh were arrested for inviting some Muslim Students to their homes to celebrate Christmas in the fine tradition of religious tolerance and understanding so oft touted by the powers that be.

The Indonesia reputation for interesting court room decisions was once again on display with the news that an Indonesian court has acquitted a former spy of charges that he murdered Munir Thalib, an outspoken critic of the country's military, by poisoning him with arsenic while on a flight to Europe.

Meanwhile on the international front, the grand Obama experiment has developed feet of clay with the news that his previously held senate seat was up for sale as is the procedure for (apparently)the murky world of Chicago politics. The Stump looks forward to hefty belly laughs as the world's media tries to excuse their armchair ride to power they provided as more of the story comes to light.

The Middle East has erupted into violence again with HAMAS and Israel ensuring as many people as possible experience maximum suffering to start off the New Year. Indonesia’s own Islamic Fringe Groups (The Islamic Version of Lenin’s “Useful Idiots”) have been generally calling for further bloodshed and mayhem proving once again that passion and ignorance make such fine bed fellows.

Gunna be an interesting year..

INDONESIAN CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

Enjoying a rowdy Christmas with loved ones (although as regular readers would know it's sans any overly religious overtones unless you call the festive tree an Idol).

It is timely for the Stump to acknowledge the quiet courage and faith of Christians in Indonesia. The stump always feels a good deal of admiration for the christians, particularly the women who quietly declare their faith by wearing the cross around their necks in form of a usually simple necklace.

Despite the fact, wearing of the necklace exposes those women to harrassment by the ignorant they continue to do so and remain high in the Stump's list of people to respect.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND FOR THOSE NOT IN INDONESIA ..HAVE A RUM FOR US!

long day and stupid taxi drivers

End of long day and a long way from home, so hop into the nearest Taxi. Just my luck.. A talkative taxi driver

“Dari Mana Mr” (Where From) ..

“What Country”

Then it started, the peabrain decided he was going to educate the poor Bule…

"What Mr think of Amrozi? They bad Muslim but it not right to the shoot them, they deserve to be treated honourably (excuse the para-phrasing) ..yah ..yah..yah…"

Mr Bush had shoe thrown at him, it good because he kill Muslims and invade Iraq..yah yah..

In fact it had been too long a day, normally ignore the pig-ignorant drongos but today..

“Listen you fool, Amrozi and his dog mates got better then they deserved, if it was up to me. I would had deposed of them in manner befitting the Deadwood TV series..Feed the mongrels to the pigs, they murdered innocent Indonesians who were just trying feed their families, they deserve no pity, no honour and no more idiots trotting around pretending they were anything else but losers.
As for Bush, where the hell were you and the rest of the numb nuts when Iraq invaded Iran or when Saddam was slaughtering thousand of Muslims every month oh and by the way numb nuts. The death toll in Iraq is about 98% Muslim killing Muslim.

Before you even start about the Palestine issue, go and give a hand to the 11000 people homeless in Surabaya.

Of course, The rest of the trip was stony silence! Stuff him!

Parroting Morons wear you down!

Personally, I think no one should have ever gone into Iraq, for all the parroting of brotherhood, the fact is life is cheap and always will be there.

For all the mindless abuse thrown at Bush and the USA, the reality is the piss ant dictators and failed nations throwing the abuse do far worse to their own people every day.

What is so disappointing over the past few years is the USA began to reach down to their level. The Stump believes its time to stop pussy footing around these idiots and call a spade a spade, for too long too many compromises have been made to appease the ignorant and intolerant. McCain had it right, dump that third world dumping ground for the useless and inane more commonly known as the United Nations and form a League of Democracies and forget the rest.

You want foreign nations out of Iraq, You got it! Less interference..You got it!
Of course, when comes to shouting for help you are on own as well dickwads. the rest of the rational world is tired of ya all.

I'm ok how about you?

Just been informed that Vice Prez Kalla comes from the same Province as the poor little buggers in the previous post..I guess he has been busy telling us all what an Icon and credit to the Nation the Bakrie Boys (and the Head Bakrie.. Minister for People's Welfare are (In fairness, probably a tough sell to the 11,000 plus people forced from their homes).

Ironic..doesn't fit when becomes this pathetic

Now as well all know its still an offence to insult Senior Ministers in Indonesia but who needs to..

INFANT DIES - WHO CARES?

Sometimes it occurs to the Stump that perhaps the posts are overly cynical and sometimes words cannot even begin to convey the revulsion at some of things we see and hear.



THE NEEDLESS DEATH OF AN INFANT

"I lied. I told the driver the baby was just sick. I kept talking to the body as if it was alive, while her aunt who accompanied me sang lullabies, pretending to send her to sleep," Norma said.

John has more here ..

For the nations leaders who let this happen and the nut bag protesters who seem to think that a glimpse of nipple is more obscene than the above, You are a disgrace and one would hope you are wrong about judgement day for your own sakes.

Muslims target the Bundy Bear!

It's enough to make a Bundy Bear cry!

The backwood web-toed, buck toothed, bastard sons of intolerance have had major victory in intruding into peoples lives with the cunningly although incorrectly nick named ANTI-PORN Bill (Bugger all to do with Porn and a lot to do with cowardice and bowing to religious hard line fruit cups)and now it dang near impossible to get a decent drink so you can pretend its all just a bad dream.

Let's see.. that's bare shoulders, yoga, wine..NEXT.........

TIC TOCK.. Tic Tock


The Straits Times (Singapore)

December 13, 2008



A Spirited Bid To Drain Corruption



John McBeth, Senior Writer



THE sign at the Grand Hyatt Hotel said it all: 'Due to the

Shortage of certain beverage products within Indonesia, many

Popular items are unavailable at the present time...This

Predicament is beyond our control and we are communicating with

The concerned authorities to try and resolve this situation.'



The lobby lounge bar in Jakarta's premier five-star hotel had

Run out of Scotch, gin, vodka and all other hard liquor. It is

The same situation, to varying degrees, in many hotels and

Retail outlets across the Indonesian capital - and on the

Tourist island of Bali as well.



The consumption of alcohol, even by only a small percentage of

The population, has always been a lingering issue in a

Muslim-majority nation where beer advertising is treated like

That for cigarettes: The brand name can be used, but not the

Product itself.



But only now is it dawning on drinkers that what they have been

Imbibing all these years had been either smuggled into the

Country or had escaped the full duty because of cosy

Arrangements between importers and the notoriously corrupt

Customs Department.



Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's clean-up of the Customs

Department has changed all that, elevating the price for a

Bottle of wine or liquor by 300 to 500 per cent and dissuading

Distributors from buying new stocks.



The result: glum aficionados contemplating barely-drinkable

Shiraz, sky-high whisky prices - and a trouble-weary Bali

Tourist industry trying to figure out what impact this latest

Bombshell will have on its lifeblood.



Previously, two state-owned trading companies, Sarinah and

Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI), were responsible,

Respectively, for importing duty-free and duty-paid alcohol.



But when auditors found PPI stickers on smuggled liquor in

Mid-2006, it quickly became clear that the company was colluding

With Customs in depriving the state of an estimated 2.6 trillion

Rupiah (S$330 million) in duties a year.



PPI lost its licence as a duty-paid importer, which meant that

There were no alcohol shipments between November 2006 and

November last year - a few months after Sarinah was finally

Given the job of performing both functions.



The booze blockade didn't end there, however. Already hit by a

Plunging exchange rate, the 16 designated distributors have been

Willing to buy new stocks at the full duty-paid prices until it

Is determined if they are here to stay.



Banking on past experience, many are hoping the black market

Will eventually return to business as usual. But such optimism

Ignores the fact that, unlike all her predecessors, Dr Indrawati

Is deadly serious about stamping out smuggling and corruption.



Just how much she means business can be seen in this year's

Revenue collection, which is projected to top 535 trillion

Rupiah - a whopping 25.5 per cent jump over last year's takings.



Hotel associations are trying to persuade Dr Indrawati to end

The import quota system and to lower duties for wine and

Spirits, pointing to the harm that soaring prices are having on

Tourism and what they believe will be revenues as well.



No wonder. Top-shelf Johnny Walker Black Label Scotch whisky has

Gone from US$35 (S$52) to US$190. Red Label and other brands

Containing 15-20 per cent alcohol retail at more than US$50 a

Bottle. A bottle of cheap US$5 wine now costs US$20 to US$30.



Previously, more than 60 per cent of the wine came from what

Some call the 'grey market', in which distributors mixed up

Legally and illegally imported bottles as a way of bringing down

Prices.



Now that the government has ended that racket, wine is subject

To 300 per cent duties, including a 150 per cent import tax and

A 40 per cent luxury goods tax, in line with its alcohol content.



The Finance Ministry is not ignoring the outcry. It is now

Studying a simplified system under which importers will be

Charged a specific import tax and excise duty based on volume

Rather than alcohol content - a practice followed in Singapore

And elsewhere.



But alcohol is a touchy subject during a time when hardline

Islamic groups are liable to seize on any issue. Says one

Western trade official: 'Indonesia says it's not a Muslim state,

But every time we try to deal with officials on this they say it

Is very sensitive.'



What makes the issue even more ticklish is that this is election

Time. Anxious to pander to Muslim voters - as they were with the

Unpopular anti-pornography law just passed - politicians are

Hardly inclined to be sympathetic about anything to do with

Alcohol.



Some wine and spirits are still available, but retailers say

Much of these are either counterfeit or suspected to come from

Raids that Customs officers have conducted on outlets stocking

alcohol without the proper stickers.



Local liquor - basically flavoured, watered-down industrial

alcohol - has not been touched in the revenue drive, despite the

fact that manufacturers grossly under-invoice the 10-15 million

cases sold each year.



Like the Grand Hyatt, most major hotels have precious little

stock, with a five-star establishment selling a small glass of

mediocre red for 110,000 rupiah, or 130,000 rupiah when value

added taxes are added on.



Stand-alone bars, which do not have the same overheads, are

generally offering the same glass for about 60,000 rupiah, but

that represents a profit of only 10 per cent - hardly enough to

keep heads above water.



Many customers are switching to beer, with the two principal

brands, Bintang and Anker, seeing an 11 per cent increase in

sales this year in a country that normally consumes only 2.1

litres per capita a year - compared to 135 litres in Australia.

OUTRAGED MUSLIMS OR THE SILENCE OF THE DAMNED

Just a pondering..

Wondering where the outraged Muslims who were protesting, buring buildings and killing people over a cartoon are now? Surely people who claim to represent their religion whilst gunning down poor bloody waiters, hospital staff and drivers are a fair greater insult to their religion than a silly cartoon in a paper 99.9% of the world would never read.

Perhaps the stump is missing the point, at least until we decide if Yoga is allowed for Muslims or not..Then again perhaps its gone past the point where even the most moderate and progressive Muslim voice can be heard anymore.

Is this really acceptable to the "Moderate Muslims" of Indonesia perhaps if truth in advertising exists we will see it on the VISIT ACEH 2009 tourist brochures next year.

HOLIDAYS CAN BE MURDER

Well the Stump and branches have survived another Muslim holy day of sacrifice. Although in Indonesia (and other places) the sacrifices seem to be mainly confined to our four legged friends. By mid morning it appears every Drongo with a few dollars to spare and blunt knife is ineptly and cruelly hacking away at some poor thrashing beasts throat. Now the Stump’s regular readers (both of you) would know that the stump is no limp wrested, mung-bean vegetarian, but the slack jawed grins on these once a year butchers as the poor chosen beast has its life blood hacked out of it is a sight to put your off your steak for at least a week.

The numb-nut apologists for everything in this world will tell you that the knives are sharpened and blessed prior to each use. However, a walk through any village on Idul Adha will certainly disavow you of that quaint romantic, albeit bloody little notion. In a seriously weird "all in the family" bonding thingy, the watching of these poor animals in their death throes is a family affair and fun for all the kids (although looking at some of the kids faces its difficult to see who is more traumatised, the beast or kid). I guess it's a modern version of taking the whole family down to the village square to watch a hanging.

Of course, the Stump must confess a certain amount of bemusement on the whole notion behind religious ceremonies. If the stump has it straight, this story goes.. God appeared to Abraham and commanded him to sacrifice his son. At which point, Abraham naturally agrees to this request (as opposed to the notion, that perhaps it’s time to seek another Omi-Master) and binds his son and prepares to sacrifice him. When… with a due regard to the dramatic, God advises (and the stump paraphrase here for effect) “Ha! It was only a test! You can sacrifice a beast instead”. Well if nothing else, the story proves this particular God dude has a sick sense of humour but we knew that when he made the Arabs and Jews neighbours to see what would happen.

Now, little has been said about what the son thought about his old man hearing voices and being quite prepared to snuff him before his first stolen kiss out the back of McCamels Double Goatee Burgers on the family donkey. One can only assume that the young fella certainly looked askew at the old man the next time he suggested a father son bonding walk in the forest.

It all fairness, the notion is no more bizarre than the almost auto-erotic, cannibalistic rituals carried out by the Catholic Church. Kneel before me and accept the blood of our savior indeed (on a wafer biscuit no less)…

Oh for the straight forward bull fighting of the Spaniards. At least the bull sometimes wins.

Other chuckle-worthy news items this week:

Director General for Land Transportation at the Transportation Ministry Suroyo Alimoeso said Thursday motorists tended to drive at high speeds without heeding safety laws.
He said action was needed to take the ability to break speed limits away from motorists to minimize accidents, suggesting that vehicle engines be modified to limit speeds.
The DG went on to demonstrate his deep and profound understanding of road safety issues by declaring “earlier generations of motorbikes could only travel at 7 miles per hour, or 11.27 kilometers per hour, but that the latest models could reach 250 kilometers per hour.”

And this classic piece of nonsense
"We hope that by 2015, facilities, technology, law enforcement and good, proper driver etiquette can be achieved resulting in a zero percent rate of accidents,”

Fair Dinkum, its hard to believe these wackers can breathe without reminder instructions. The road toll in Indonesia has sweet FA to do with speed but more to do with a seemingly genetic inability to display any semblance of road sense or consideration for other road users and infrastructure that highlights the absolute failure of successive governements to represent the people's interest in any shape or form. You want to cut the road toll, arrest the idiot motorcyclist who insist on passing on the inside, on blind corners and crests (oh arrest and beat the morons who do the previous whilst carrying their six month old baby) and build a road.

As for the zero rate of accidents, could there a more nonsensical statement made in relation to the issue? Once again , one has to question where are the reporters who should be questioning and high lighting the sheer ineptness of these so called peoples representatives. Just for fun and for the sheer silliness of the press release in the Jakarta Post, please go here. It’s worth it for a belly laugh!

Chuckle Number 2 (Although, one wouldn’t be laughing if I didn’t have a escape the country clause in one’s contract)

President SBY signed off on the so called Anti Porn Law declaring that it was the right thing to do as the nation had reached on consensus on the matter.

Really??? With all due respect Mr Prez, perhaps you need to get out more without all them hangers on and lick-spittles. Then again, it is time to pander to the bullies and thugs as there is an election coming up. This is one major victory for the intolerant and nasties.

Third Chuckle..

Expatriates have been subject to "raids" to ensure all their "paperwork" is in order. Personally the Stump does not have issue with this as it is the right of the country to ensure all procedures are followed Although, we would love to know of anywhere we can find out how the $1200USD "Training Fee" per year expats charged has been utilised (Can anyone tell advise?). However, you pompous twits!! A paperwork inspection doesn not give you the right to burst into someones home or office with all the manners of an FPI thug, or expect newtonsque reaction. I loved the scene on metro tv, where the expat wife was beating the cowering official who had tried to force his way into her house. Big mistake o pompous one.. the majority of expats don't cower in fear at the mere sight of a government official, particularly if your paperwork is in order!

CHICKEN LITTLE IS GETTING COLD

This quote raised chuckles at the Stump today

"With very few exceptions, press reporters (and Jakartass..the stump presumes... chuckle) commenting on global warming are either ignorant of the science matters involved, or wilfully determined to propagate warming hysteria because that fits their personal world view

National Climate Centre former head William Kininmonth said coverage of global warming had been hysterical and was getting worse

Once again one can't help but draw a direct line to other cults and religions of the world that rely on dogma and half truths to maintain any sense of purpose in the world. Like the dogma tied, emotional and irrational of all cults, the chanters and malcontents get more hysterical and violent as each advance of science pushes them further into the dark cracks inhabited by pseudo-science and scary stories for little children.

The quotes were taken from the "Australian" newpaper and like the authors, the Stump is not saying there is not a problem but the chicken little approach problem needs some balance. Full article below for your enjoyment or outrage as desired.

"EUROPE is shivering through an extreme cold snap. One of the coldest winters in the US in more than 100 years is toppling meteorological records by the dozen, and the Arctic ice is expanding. Even Australia has been experiencing unseasonable snow.

But the stories about global warming have not stopped, not for a second.

In May last year, The Sydney Morning Herald breathlessly reported that climate change had reduced the Southern Ocean's ability to soak up carbon dioxide, claiming that as a result global warming would accelerate even faster than previously thought.

The story was picked up and repeated in a number of different journals around the region.

But this week the CSIRO suggested the exact opposite. "The new study suggests that Southern Ocean currents, and therefore the Southern Ocean's ability to soak up carbon dioxide, have not changed in recent decades," it said. This time the story got no coverage in the SMH, and was run on the ABC's website as evidence the Southern Ocean was adapting to climate change.

CSIRO oceanographer Stuart Rintoul, a co-author of the study, said it did not disprove global warming and he did not believe its lack of an alarmist tone was responsible for the poor coverage.

But the story is being pointed out as an example of media bias on global warming. Critics argue that the ABC and the Fairfax media are the worst offenders.

ABC board member Keith Windschuttle said yesterday the national broadcaster was in breach of its charter to provide a diversity of views. "The ABC and the Fairfax press rarely provide an opportunity for global warming sceptics to put their view," Mr Windschuttle said. "The science is not settled.

"We are seeing an increasing number of people with impeccable scientific backgrounds questioning part or whole of the story. I don't believe the ABC has been reflecting the genuine diversity of the debate. Under its own act, the ABC is required to produce a diversity of views."

Bob Carter of James Cook University, one of the world's best-known climate change sceptics, said there was no doubt Windschuttle was correct.

"With very few exceptions, press reporters commenting on global warming are either ignorant of the science matters involved, or wilfully determined to propagate warming hysteria because that fits their personal world view, or are under editorial direction to focus the story around the alarmist headline grab -- and often all three," Professor Carter said.

National Climate Centre former head William Kininmonth said coverage of global warming had been hysterical and was getting worse, with a large public relations effort inundating the media with information from the alarmist side."

CLIMATE CHANGE ZEALOTS

One thing about the Rabid Greens, it certainly is a cult to rival the very worst of the zealot religions of the world sans terrorist..Oops Forgot Peta and the veggy brained.

Like all religions, the rabid greens have to be dragged kicking screaming to face reality as facts pile up like so many plastic bags in a Jakarta river. They cling to and shout out the same old hoary chestnuts, flinging insults and abuse about the place like a mad women’s shit.

Let’s deal with some of the most recent flingings:

Flung Shit 1: - Oil will be $200 a barrel by Christmas 2008 and will never fall below $200 again

Truth: Oil is currently $53 a barrel, a dropping daily. Over Supply (!) by mid 2009 will see the price below $45

Flung Shit 2: - Climate Change will see the oceans around Indonesia rise by over 1m within 10 Years.

Truth: - The 10 year statement was first mooted 5 years ago, which means the oceans around Indonesia need to rise in the next five years by ..wait for it..1metre

Flung Shit 3: - The electric car was killed by big oil, GM and …(oh Insert your favourite demon)

Truth: - Electric cars are expensive, limited in range, unreliable and most importantly…LIKE ALL BAGS OF CRAP, IT DON’T SELL!

Flung Shit 4:- Co2 is responsible for raising the earth temperature and we are all gunna die.

Truth:- At best unproven, unfortunately for the rabids, there has been no recorded increase in world temperature since 1998 (1996 according to other studies) in fact some scientists are concerned we may be entering another long term cooling period.

Flung Shit 5: - The Polar Bears are dying

Truth:- There are currently more Polar Bears than any time in the last fifty years (see what happens when you stop shooting the buggers and thats got SFA to do with how hot it is)

Trouble with all this as it is a distraction from the main game and fixing the things that could really make a difference.

Ask yourself which provides better value
1. The self important Climate Change conference in Bali earlier this year and 93 plus government toadies and hangers on travelling to Poland this month for another Climate Change Talk Fest

Or..

2. Spending the time, effort and money on cleaning the disgusting disease ridden cess pools that are marked as rivers in the Nations Capital.

3. How about some clean water for the average Indonesian Family to drink and bathe in?

4. A viable public transport system?


The Stump’s old lefty green sparring partner Jakartass has it the bag though and to the Stump’s mind encapsulates the moldy thinking of the rabid left (backwoods indeed)

Shared transport, be it by a car pool scheme or company bus, rather than being an isolating cocoon as in individual travel mode, could well boost courtesy and communal ties. For example, there's a commuter train from Serpong, some 40 kms outside Jakarta, offering mini-classes and home cooked packed lunches. Such relief from the stress of road rage should surely boost productivity and creativity.

Ok besides the fact only a person seeing cute bunnies in the clouds would equate the local rail system with productivity and creativity. We have all seen how well the car pool scheme works in Jakarta, there is something very wrong with young girls, women with babies and children exposed to the very worst that Jakarta has to offer whilst offering their services (?) as jockeys to the government mandated “three in one” car pool scheme.

You can bet any rabid green plan would be “mandated” because like all zealots, the green mullahs find dissent and free choice rise hives on their very mouldy souls.

Of course, we could take the train for some mini classes and cooked packed lunches. One could only hope:

1. You happen to live in the less than 1% of the country that is served by a rail system
2. The Mini Classes include first aid and triage as a companion to the world class safety record of the current rail system
3. Cut lunches include water of slightly better class than is currently available to 99% of the Indonesian people.

This rabid green fixation on climate change is nothing more than sanctimonious and pretentious masturbation, mildly enjoyable for the individual but of no benefit to society as a whole.

How about we skip the toss and concentrate on things that will really make a difference to the people..for instance…

Fresh Water
Pollution Control
A Viable and safe transport system
And STOP CUTTING DOWN THE TREES IN THE PROVINCES TO MAKE SOME A’HOLE IN JAKARTA RICH.

Next post some practical examples as opposed to cut lunches and mini classes

Hey but the STUMP does owe the rabids a vote of thanks..the $200 barrel of oil scare and the tweenies push for crapola cars that could not get your grandmother to bowls and back at over 30kph has meant I will save thousands on THIS..

LIFE IS A BEACH

If you want to try something away from the crowds, no plastic bags or human waste in the water you could do worse than Western Australia. These pictures were taken in Oct about three hours South of Perth (Ibu Kota).