Interesting Banner - Anti Graft Banner

I found this banner this morning when I arrived to the office. My office is actually in a government building and this banner looks like a campaign to me. Showing this banner proves that there is something wrong in their system. There must be something wrong, if not they will not put the banner.

Indonesia is among the most corrupt countries according to transparency international. The corruption index is 2.2 and at the same level as Iraq (which as you know are in war, which makes corruption quite reasonable). I guess this shows how the government looks like. Despite (maybe) quite high economic development, there is still lack of character development. It is true that money or something like that corrupts the character of people.

Recent Trip to South and West Sulawesi

It was actually happened in late 2009 (December 2009), therefore this note might be a little late. Anyway, I guess after 6 months the conditions might still the same therefore it might be a useful info for people want to travel there.

Back in December 2009 during this PCNA (Participatory Capacity Needs Assessment) with a friend of mine Axel Biegert von Integration, I went to Makassar and Batang Uru in West Sulawesi province. We had to fly from Jakarta to reach Makassar and drive the whole day to Batang Uru. The road from Makassar to Polewali was under construction at that time. The government tried to pave the road using concrete but the contractor/s do it part by part. Therefore it's like "coitus interuptus", when one just experiencing comfort suddenly it has to stop. Stopping here means good road ends. It happens frequently and it has made the travel not so comfortable. Reaching Polewali took longer then 5 years ago.

During the trip we stopped in Pinrang for lunch at one of the famous sea food restaurants. The food was good but still the road was not. Starting at around 7 from Makassar we reached Pinrang at around 1 p.m. and I guess this was considered as slow. We reached Batang Uru when the day was getting dark and raining. The road from Polewali to Batang Uru was worse because of many holes in the road. Since the Kabupaten (one level lower than provincial government) of Polman (Polewali Mandar) was split into two Kabupatens (Polewali and Mandar), the road maintenance was done poorly. Therefore 5 years ago I can reach Makassar in just 5 hours using speedy public transport even.

On the way back we stayed overnight in Pinrang and again took the liberty to enjoy the seafood there. Back in Makassar we tried to go to Trans Studio but it was too expensive and too little time to enjoy so we just ate at a recommended seafood restaurant there and we ordered some nice stuffs to eat. When you are in Makassar do not forget to buy Minyak Tawon (literally means Bee oil) kind a rub only that really works for even small wound on your skin.

Explore Indonesia, there are many things to explore and exotic ones. Going abroad is fifth or sixth options (when there is enough money..)

Lessons learned from Brazilian’s Experience

CBS has reported that some blackouts in Brazil (in 2005 and 2007) were caused by some dirty works of bad hackers (see: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/11/brazil/). The recent massive blackout in Brazil might also the result of bad hackers. This happened two days after CBS reported the possible cause of blackouts in 2005 and 2007.

This has clearly shown that computerized system is very vulnerable to electronic attack. It has shown that total integration is very risky. The centralized software managed control system might be very efficient and also easy to monitor but it is also easy to be attacked. There is no perfect system made by mankind. There are always trade offs. In the case of Brazil, the trade off is easiness to be hacked.

Luckily the system in Indonesia might still very old and manual. No hacking system can do much harm to the system. A real “terrorist style” attack on transformer stations might do better. Moving to centralized software managed control system surely takes a lot of energy and resources and PLN has none of them.

Right now PLN is struggling to normalize power generation and distribution in Jakarta. Kompas reported that the scheduled blackouts might still happen until December. We are used to blackouts therefore we actually need an independent power source like for example personal solar powered electricity generator or “dreaming mode on” fuel cell powered electricity generator (like the one in Japan shown in Discovery channel) or anything like that.

Conclusion: since PLN’s financial condition is not yet very healthy, centralized software managed control system might still far from realization. If it were materialized, there should be a manual back up system so that if the software system fails, the manual system can still do the job.

Merdeka…

E-Toll: why is it rather slow?

In the last 1 week, I drive to office via city toll road. I drive from Jatiasih (Jakarta Outer Ring Road), pass small part of Jagorawi toll, and get in to the Jakarta Inner City Toll road. Starting 19 of October, there is an interesting thing happening at Cililitan Ramp. There are two special toll payment gates that are using E-Toll Card. They are suppose to be an automatic gate. User use the E-toll card by putting the card close to the reader, get the print out receipt and drive into the toll road. People using that gates should at least get out of the gate faster than the normal cash payment gates. However, as far as I observe, the gate is even slower than the normal cash payment gate. Once I counted 14 seconds to finish one transaction at the e-toll gate. the standard time for cash transaction is 10 seconds (or maybe faster). this has caused delays and longer queue in the gate. the e-toll gate should be a faster option of the ramp, but i failed so far.

What have caused that sluggishness? There are at least two options that eventually lead to the technology. E-toll card uses different type of machine to read it. It is not like credit card or debit card that use swipe machine. E-toll card only needs to be "in touch" with the reader. The process should take very short time (2-3 seconds) and the transaction is done. It is true that after the transaction (payment and money is deducted) the gate is opening, but usually the car stays there maybe to get the printout of the receipt. The gap of the system might be in the printing stage. The whole system is actually quite complicated. It has to integrate car identification system (whether it is a small passenger car, bus, or trucks) and payment system. So far the installed one only handles small passenger car (type 1), so the complication is reduced. The system should work faster because it is not (yet) very complicated. The system integrator or designer has failed to provide fast reliable automatic gate system.

The second reason why the e-toll gate is so slow is because of its potential to replace manual gate operators. Can you imagine how many people will have to leave the job if the automation works fine? I do not know. Maybe hundreds of people directly in the job and thousands of people depending on them will be affected. Using this automatic gate will surely cut jobs and create unemployment.

The second reason might not have very strong technical relation to the slowness of automatic toll gate, but the potential condition can make certain people do something or more things strange, like tempering the machine so that it does not work properly. I hope, my second guess is not happening and the reason for slowness is purely technical reason.

Anyway, I am still waiting for better public transport so that I do not have to drive 60-70 kilometers per day. Bike? Let’s see. I am rather old to do it.

Redefinition of Sustainable

Information technology (electronic, automation, robots, software etc.) has revolutionized the way we live. It is somehow making our lives easier and more convenient, but on the other side it is also slowly destroying our social fundamentals. If we are not careful, the days of the “terminators” are coming and human has to survive in the machine driven world.

Today, 3rd of August 2009, my wife’s company (one of big companies of the US) is going to lay off some staffs. The company does not do lay off due to economic downturn but due to significant change in the “system”. The company sells the product very good in Indonesia. The reason of of the lay offs is just that the company has just used the big software and automated administration system. The new system, although might costly, but reduce human involvement in the administration system. In the long term it reduces a lot of costs and unnecessary problems (very logical !! just like IT use plain logic). The IT has just started ruining some families’ life.

IT is not fair. IT only serves to capitalism. IT supports greed and destroys humanity. A human is at its high value if he/she works and creates and be helpful and be useful for others. IT simplified those important values (as process) for the sake of bigger profit for capital owners. Social fundamentals are destroyed by IT.

I support companies that respect social values and reflecting it in the form of work creation and big employment. It is time to reshape the definition of “sustainable” companies or “green” companies. They should not just focus on the physical environment but also most importantly “social” environment and social values. Socially green company should have direct impact to more people than “environmentally green” electronically automated company. We should buy products from “socially green” company….

Support local products!! Support Indonesian products!!!

8.15 in the morning

8.15 in the morning. the circled area is under the shade. especially the right side (lower right side of the panels) will be under shade the whole day.

New Show....

Those PV panels have been installed there since months ago, and since the beginning there is already this obvious mistake in installation of the panels. Part of the lower panels are in shade and in the morning the shade is even worse because the building I am in is in the east direction of the panels.

The bosses (in my office) have just realized days ago and when there are visitors, he always asks me to step aside and have a look on those panels from my window side. Just like what he did just now. The visitor does not always understand the situation, actually.

Anyway, the decision to install such massive solar panel was not really "correct".

Part of Yes Man that I like

got it from someone...I also like this part..

Pirates of Somalia

Beside the financial crisis, western countries have another difficult job. It is the Pirates of Somalia job. Many ships have been captured and so far there is no appropriate solutions. Analysts said that military solutions will not work and actualy do not work that well. Below attached articles are in Bahasa Indonesia. They were taken from Kompas daily newspaper (hope you can read bahasa). They are telling about the root of the problems and possible solution for that.


This article mentions the fact that military operations cannot handle the pirates. There problem is not on the sea, it is on the land of Somalia. Western countries (especially UK and US, as mentioned in the second article) should accomodate all components Somalia to create long lasting peace there. If not, the pirates will just operate longer and there will be more casualties and more money has to be spent or burned to the air.

The second article clearly mentioned that actually western countries, Kompas mentioned UK and US, are the responsible parties in this. Maybe, it is time to admit their policy failure and make corrective actions as soon as possible especially on land of Somalia.

I am wrong

It is time to admit the mistake. My prediction did not come true. I hope this will be a totally new era for the world. Like it or not, the US is very influential in the world politic and economy. I admirer the fastness of votes calculation. I hope KPU (komisi pemilihan umum, the electoral committee of Indonesia) can do the same.

There is a positive progress in the US. People did not lie in the voting booth. I might change my views towards the Americans, especially the Democrats.

Obama or McCain? oder McCain or Obama?

I say, McCain will win the election. Why? Because the white American will actually make up their minds in the voting booth. Obama might have better pre-election results (that should politically correct - e.g. not against black candidate) but he still is not 100% white. In the voting booth everyone is nameless. One will not feel guilty if his choice is politically correct or not. One can deny his/her logic and suddenly support the white ego and make racial choice. I do not say that all white Americans are racial but Tom Bradley in 1982 was the first victim of this hypocrisy (you conclude it yourself). McCain will win and if I consider the educated Americans then he will only win with very small winning margin.

I do not really care who will win because anyhow Indonesia should not be politically too dependent on one or two countries. In the current economic turmoil, Indonesians should be strong and supports the nation 100%. Buy Indonesian products, do not make any speculation of foreign exchanges (especially US$ and those who do it should be sent to jail for good), reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, efficient use of energy, keep working hard and if possible keep exporting "unique" products that cannot be substituted by any products from other countries (don't say exporting oil ya? oil is not a product).

What if I am wrong and Obama win the election. No problem, everyone makes mistakes including myself. I might change my views towards the Americans.

Mainstreaming and Integrating Climate Change to Development

I just heard it from one of the Directors of Bappenas (Development Planning Agency). Climate Change (CC) adaptation and mitigation will be mainstreamed and integrated to the development plan. I think that will be a hard work. CC adaptation and mitigation is not just a matter of new infrastructure development. CC requires a change of lifestyle and it is just a small change but a huge change. It might really change the way people live their lives. I think integration of CC into development planning is always positive, but it needs scientific background to move. One cannot just rely on International opinions. Indonesia should know better about its environment and its people better that anyone else. Any strategies implemented for CC adaptation and mitigation should be localized and this is including technology.

I am afraid that government in general only understands CC adaptation and mitigation as side projects of business as usual activities. It will not just be other infrastructure projects. CC should be the basic or the fundamental of development plan. All should be adjusted and targeted to CC adaptation and mitigation. My opinion, so far people’s awareness on CC is still low. Government should be able to interpret CC to day to day impacts so that people easily understand the consequences and move. Besides doing scientific research on the effects or impacts of CC, government should also do more CC impacts campaigns.It is great that we change our selves before trying to change other people. Government should change before trying to change other people. Let’s change. Change is good as long as it is good.

Border Conflict Cambodia-Thailand

Cambodia is somehow depending on Thailand. As far as I know, even vegetables are imported from Thailand. There are many Thailand products in the Cambodian super stores. Tourists coming to Cambodia are usually doing the South East Asia tour. That means they are not specifically coming to Cambodia. They do longer tour starting from, most probably, Thailand and afterwards they go to Cambodia. Local tourists from Thailand are also many. In the weekends, many are coming to Cambodia to visit ancient temples (not just the Angkor temples). In the Northern part of Cambodia, the Thailand influence is very big. The “small” incident in the Northern border area of Cambodia can really make a big wave to Cambodia’s economy. The recent opening of Trans Cambodia-Thailand might not able to mend the recent wounds. This road should be the economic gate for both countries. Thailand is somehow in a better position because its trading partners, I believe, are more than Cambodia’s.

There was also a plan to extend grid from Thailand to Cambodia. As far as I know, the project will be financed by the World Bank. Electricity is still a big problem in Cambodia. They are really relying on fossil fuel. Many village independent power producers are relying on diesel generators. There are only few that are using biomass despite big potential from rice husk. The grid is supposed to electrify Siem Reap province and support the tourism development in that area. As you might already know, Angkor temples are in Siem Reap province. Many are coming to Angkor areas. There are millions of them.

The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand might turn Cambodian into more difficult situation, especially in the energy sector. People will have to rely on fossil fuel longer. Oil price might go down now, but end product price might go down a bit slower than the raw one. In the medium term, people of Northern Cambodia might have to draw more money from their pockets or else they will be in the dark.

In the conflict stays longer, Cambodia might opt for electricity import from Vietnam. Importing from Vietnam is already planned for the Southern part of Cambodia. Vietnam electricity is somehow “cleaner” because of many hydro power plants. But this option only viable if there is a national grid. So far, even Phnom Penh is still operating in an “island grid” mode. Grid extension and construction costs a lot of money.

I personally think that International Community, especially ASEAN, should do something about this conflict. ASEAN should not let “small” things like this jeopardizes a nation’s economy. I think this temple conflict is a small thing. UNESCO should also cancel the status of the area to reduce the conflict and later reenact the status after there is tangible solution for this border conflict. Thailand people and Cambodian are basically coming from the same descendent. They are practicing same religion also. Therefore, this conflict should be easily solved.

Let’s support the ASEAN Charter that states “UNITED by a common desire and collective will to live in a region of lasting peace, security and stability, sustained economic growth, shared prosperity and social progress, and to promote our vital interests, ideals and aspirations”.

Breakfast = Break Fast?

This September, Muslims around the world are in the fasting month Ramadhan. Ramadhan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control (www.submission.org).

In Ramadhan Muslims do fasting. They do not eat, drink, and sexual intercourse with their husbands/wifes during daylight (from dawn till dusk). They are allowed to break their fast when the sun is already set. That is the true meaning of "breakfast" from Muslims.

If nowadays breakfast means having meal in the morning, then it means people only do fasting at night. Sorry to say, there is no challenge doing fasting at night. So, I propose to change the name of morning meal to "Sarapan" instead of "Breakfast" so that it does not confuse people.

Election - Why so little participation?

24 August 2008 was the election date for Bupati (Head of Regency) of Bogor. In total there are approximately 2 million registered voters. In my neighborhood, there are 370 registered voters. This election has left me some important notes:

1. Many eligible voters are not registered. There are some complaints to the local election committee. All are complaining about their missing vote rights. Many are not registered and thus their names are not listed in the master list. The election regulation does not allow people to use their rights without the invitation. This year we have two important elections; first is governor of West Java election and the second is head of Bogor Regency election. People that have voted for West Java Governor have lost their rights to vote for Bogor Regency Bupati. This actually did not happen to my Rukun Tetangga (RT – smallest neighborhood group) but it happened to other RT. The fault is not on the RT’s administration but on the Demography Office. People in that office did not cross check with other data and just inputting new data. This has made people lost their voting rights. This condition became worst because Regency Election Committee (Komiter Pemilihan Umum Daerah – KPUD) gave all data just one day before the election day (That’s 24 hours before election day) and 24 hours is the limit for unlisted voters to ask for their rights to the local election committee. I suspect all of these have been a big scenario. The experts from each candidate (usually only special candidate) can read the supporters’ strength of other candidates in each area. Using their influence, campaign committee can push the right button in the election committee (KPUD) to erase as many voters as possible in specific areas and influence the chance of specific candidate to lost the election in that specific area. This happens everywhere including the U.S. (I remember “The Stupid White Men”).
2. Registered voters did not vote. Those that were invited to vote did not vote. They simply just throw away their rights and ignore their obligation. I am on the opinion that this is not a mature action. Nowadays many people can only complain and ask for their rights. Many are not answering for their obligations. I am on the opinion that, when you already pay your dues then you can ask for your rights. It is very natural; you’ve got to work before you get your bread. Jakarta people said – ke laut aje (go to sea) – for those kind of people (sorry I try not to say the “f” word like “go “f” yourself). OK..lah…go “f” yourself. Those kind of people have no single right to say about the new bupati’s policy or regulations
3. Lack of program dissemination by candidates. This can also influence the level of voters participation in a negative way i.e. potential voters do not vote. Many voters that came to the voting place said that they do not know the candidates and their programs. The day the vote is the first time they knew about the candidates. Candidate should have visited their potential voters. Do some campaigns and interact with potential voters. If it is possible do a debate and really show the content of their heads (I heard there was a debate session during campaign phase). Maybe my area is not important enough for those candidates therefore they did not visit and interact with the people there.

Other reasons? Let me think more…

Speed Up Your Speedy Access

Some months ago our Telkom Speedy (http://www.telkomspeedy.com/) access was upgraded. Telkom has just improved their infrastructure and they gave free speed upgrade. The connection in my office use Unlimited Office that cost IDR 750.000 per month. The speed was 256 kbps (not KB/s). After upgrading, the download speed is 1024 kbps or 1 mbps while the upload speed is only around 128 kbps.

After upgrading, there is significant speed increase for internet connection. I usually have problems listening to SKY FM UpTempo Smooth Jazz Internet Radio with my freeware Screamer Internet Radio (http://www.screamer-radio.com/). Usually the streaming is stopping because the software is buffering the audio file. After upgrading, that problem never occurs.

But, I am still not satisfied. I often download freeware from the Internet and the highest download speed is only around 100 KB/second (kilo byte per second). At first I thought kbps is the same as KB/second but yahoo answer and many other sources told me that they are not the same. Kilo bit per second (kbps) is not the same as kilo byte per second (KB/second). In one byte there are 8 bits, therefore 100 KB/second is the same as 800 kbps. I did not understand this unit when I filed a complain to Telkom Speedy. I tried to test my connection speed to http://www.speedtest.net/ and found that my download speed is only around 500 kbps (although the actual can reach 100 KB/second or 800 kbps).

Browse the Internet then I found in a forum that if one change a parameter in the registry (global receive window - RWIN) to a bigger value, the download speed can increase significantly. Further browsing the Internet, I found this tiny freeware called TCPOptimizer from http://www.speedguide.net/. This software had made the tweaking process easier. Just slide the bar and all will be adjusted automatically. I then tried to test the speed again and it is significantly improved. Download speed is becoming almost 900 kbps although upload speed is still the same (around 100 kbps). Maybe if slide the bar further to the right, the speed might be a little higher than what I have now (more than 900 kbps). So, if you have Internet connection problem (slow download speed) try this TCPOptimizer. You can download it for free at www.speedguide.net. Hope it's useful. Bonus of highspeed Internet is nice streamin performance. Youtube or Internet Radio work flawlessly.

How the School Kids Celebrate Independence Day

Met those kids in Lombok on the way to Bayan. If you go to Lombok Island, try to drive early in the morning from Senggigi to Tanjung. Along the coastline you can find many beautiful sceneries. Take motor bike or if you will bicycle. Do not forget to bring camera. If the sun allows, there are many beautiful sites to take photographs.

Bad "Recruitment" Practice

Recent months are the time for registered parties to “recruit” candidates for legislative election 2009 (DPR/house of representatives). Why I use the word recruit? It is just very strange that candidates are not “native” members of the party or somebody that has “career” in the party. One of my neighbors has just been recruited by party #1. He will represent West Java. He is actually labor activist therefore he has vast networks of labor unions in West Java. Usually, labor activist would represent labor party (is there any Labor Party in Indonesia?) but in his case he is not.

Second person that I know is my sister in Law. Her husband is an activist in one of the big parties in Indonesia. He has career in that party and he has he political knowledge and skill. He represents his party in South Sumatera, where he was born. I believe this recruitment system. Somebody from inside the party that has skill, knowledge, and maybe consciousness should represent the party in the election. However, in the case of my sister in law, her recruitment is becoming very strange recruitment process. Due to his activist husband, one party (other than the party of her husband’s) offered her a candidacy spot for regency level election. She is an architect, so far does not have any experience with politics (except politics in the work), and I believe does not have the skill for political job. On the way to work, I saw a banner saying that this party is opening for registration for candidates of 2009 election. What a funny idea of recruitment, especially for such important position.

There are things that I can learn from those two different cases:

• Parties just want to recruit somebody that potentially can collect many votes despite his/her background and maybe his/her consciousness
• Parties do not do internal candidate development (maybe the established parties do it)
• Parties want it instant. As long as they won the voters’ heart, they do not care who is on the podium and do the oration
• Parties do not care with the background of the candidates (either he/she has the knowledge, the skill, objective and maybe some consciousness about good things for the people)
• Parties do not develop their supporters/voters from the grass root (or maybe they do not have the capacity to do that)
• Democracy in Indonesia is still in the premature stage (education is needed).

I am afraid that 2009 election result will just be the same as the results of past years. Corrupt parliament, incompetent people’s representatives, power hungry people’s representatives and bunch of people that only cares for his/her own business and do not have the vision and strategy for development and progress.

However, despite of all those things, I will vote. I will choose well. One vote does matters. One vote can change the whole thing. The crucial thing is that one has to know very well to whom his/her vote should go. Let’s welcome 2009 election with hopes and excitement.

Clean Up the Parliament

It has been a common knowledge in Indonesia that one of the three most corrupt institutions is the parliament (DPR - Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat). The media has always been critical about this issue and an example of one of their interesting work is the picture above. The picture was taken from Jurnal Nasional daily newspaper dated 4th July 2008.

Let's clean up our selves. Start it from our families. I believe that a family is like the smallest cell in our body. One cell brokes, the whole tissue will not function and the body will be sick. Healthy family will bring healthy nation. Support the family development. Focus on families.

The Lives of Others

Actually I rarely watch "serious" movies. I always think that movie should act like a pressure release valve. It should be able to refresh me. I always want to enjoy the movie without thinking too much except for the peculiarity of the scenes, the illogical plot or scenes etc. It should not be too hard to understand that it is impossible to survive (with so little scratch) after a car rolling 5 times, just for an example. So I enjoy "light" movies more than "heavy" movies.

But, this "The Life of Others" has quite an effect to me. It showed me a beautiful film making. It is totally different from the usual hollywood movies. It is different because it uses German as the language (hoch Deutch that I understand a little). It is different because the plot is simple but beautiful. It is sad because the leading actor finally found out that his wife was a former Stasi informant (I knew it from my boss). I think the film can describe the East German very well. I think the movie really gives a hard lesson to the former East German officials. The important thing is that the film showed me changes on human. Changes always happens and changes always find a way to affect you.

Love it. Looking forward to watch "different" movies again. British movies also I find them good (maybe because of the language). Oh before I forget, US film industry try to remake the film in English (forgot the source..). I think that will not bring the atmosphere that the original movie had.