The first two CD albums my bro and I bought were Pulp's Different Class and Radiohead's The Bends. They took a while to grow on me. I remember choosing the Bends cos it seemed to have so many stars and 5/5s on the cover I reckoned I couldn't go wrong. It must've taken me a good 2 months to "get it" though. Definitely a grower (at least to a 14 or 15 year old me) but then again I didn't have enough money to buy any other albums, so I was stuck with it.
But buying listening to something new, something that none of my pals had, was, err, cool!
I am still the same, I love listening to new stuff. Few or zero preconceptions, no expectations and the chance of stumbling across the best thing since the last best thing.
Today I used Last.fm to do some musical exploration. Last.fm is like a musical version of Facebook.
It saves all the songs you play, so you can look up what your most listened to track, albums or artists are.
Even better, you can look at what other users are listening to and even listen to their 'radio station' (i.e. their music collection).
I often listen to my bro's station to check up on what he's listening to and my own while at work and want a bigger selection than the iPod.
Apparently my bro and I have a really similar 'musical compatibility'. I always thought his taste and mine were pretty different, but then again it's all relative I suppose.
I checked out what my favourite DJ's been playing recently and bought a handful of albums. Unfortunately, I am too lazy/busy to listen to his show regularly now.
Anyone know of a decent DJ (especially Indonesian) with a Last.fm account? Would love to keep more up to date with Indonesian music (and music in general...).
Maybe I should subscribe to some music review websites. Any suggestions?
How do you find new music?
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Clowns without Borders
Love this blog.
Really inspiring to see the difference one bloke (a clown no less) can make!
Makes you wonder.
Really inspiring to see the difference one bloke (a clown no less) can make!
Makes you wonder.
Monday, April 20, 2009
China
Fantastic pictures of 19th century China.
Jackie Chan says Chinese people are pets (am kinda paraphrasing here).
Jackie Chan says Chinese people are pets (am kinda paraphrasing here).
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Eastward or Westward?
Woke up late.
Read too many blog posts throughout the day. I still have blog posts 'starred' in Google reader dating back to the beginning of January. Dunno why I feel beholden to read 'em as I am sure their authors have long forgotten them.
Tried to go to Century 21, closed. Tried to go to Macy's. Closed. Didn't even bother going to B&H, cos I know that's closed for about a week around passover.
So much for New York being the HQ of global capitalism! I want my money back! I am sure shopper's in Ireland aren't subected to shops being closed on Easter Sunday!
I walked all the way back from 34th street. A good hour or so walking. With the wind it was pretty chilly too!
Seeing how Hell's Kitchen melts into Meat Packing District into Chelsea into Greenwich Village into Tribeca into the dreaded Financial district (it really ain't that bad when you live here, and don't scoot in and out every day!).
Was thinking how women can verbalise stuff so well, especially when it comes to relationships. But just cos they verbalise all this stuff with their pals, doesn't mean they're not way off the effin beam when it comes to men.
Walked by a homeless guy telling people how different they are. "You got glasses". "You're fat". "You're wearing purple shoes". Etc etc. Sometime I think these guys are more lucid than us drones walking past 'em.
I remember I used to walk by a homeless bloke most days coming home from work in Dublin. He was an old chubby bloke, clean shaven looked like he could be you local bank branch manager. He slept beside our parliament building. One day he was telling the world about how someone told him that when he'd grow up he'd be OK, and then he asked well what now?
I and any number of hurried commuters should ask the same thing about ourselves.
I came home, and started thinking about holiday planning. My sis has been on to me about going home, but Ireland doesn't interest me. I just end up doing nothing back there (which has its advantages too!).
My uncle suggested I go visit him in Vancouver. My pals are having an anniversary in Germany. And above all I wanna go to Indonesia. I have an urge to visit Lampung this time around.
So I was wondering, how about an around the world trip. New York -> Vancouver -> Jakarta -> Duesseldorf -> New York. Probably too masochistic, even for me : ) And travelling eastward might be gentler when it comes to jet lag.
Which way would be best to go? Eastward or westward?
I have Brokeback mountain from Netflix. Have had it for a couple of weeks now, still can't bring myself to watch it...
Read too many blog posts throughout the day. I still have blog posts 'starred' in Google reader dating back to the beginning of January. Dunno why I feel beholden to read 'em as I am sure their authors have long forgotten them.
Tried to go to Century 21, closed. Tried to go to Macy's. Closed. Didn't even bother going to B&H, cos I know that's closed for about a week around passover.
So much for New York being the HQ of global capitalism! I want my money back! I am sure shopper's in Ireland aren't subected to shops being closed on Easter Sunday!
I walked all the way back from 34th street. A good hour or so walking. With the wind it was pretty chilly too!
Seeing how Hell's Kitchen melts into Meat Packing District into Chelsea into Greenwich Village into Tribeca into the dreaded Financial district (it really ain't that bad when you live here, and don't scoot in and out every day!).
Was thinking how women can verbalise stuff so well, especially when it comes to relationships. But just cos they verbalise all this stuff with their pals, doesn't mean they're not way off the effin beam when it comes to men.
Walked by a homeless guy telling people how different they are. "You got glasses". "You're fat". "You're wearing purple shoes". Etc etc. Sometime I think these guys are more lucid than us drones walking past 'em.
I remember I used to walk by a homeless bloke most days coming home from work in Dublin. He was an old chubby bloke, clean shaven looked like he could be you local bank branch manager. He slept beside our parliament building. One day he was telling the world about how someone told him that when he'd grow up he'd be OK, and then he asked well what now?
I and any number of hurried commuters should ask the same thing about ourselves.
I came home, and started thinking about holiday planning. My sis has been on to me about going home, but Ireland doesn't interest me. I just end up doing nothing back there (which has its advantages too!).
My uncle suggested I go visit him in Vancouver. My pals are having an anniversary in Germany. And above all I wanna go to Indonesia. I have an urge to visit Lampung this time around.
So I was wondering, how about an around the world trip. New York -> Vancouver -> Jakarta -> Duesseldorf -> New York. Probably too masochistic, even for me : ) And travelling eastward might be gentler when it comes to jet lag.
Which way would be best to go? Eastward or westward?
I have Brokeback mountain from Netflix. Have had it for a couple of weeks now, still can't bring myself to watch it...
Everyone's Askin
Everyone's asking me which part I voted for.
Dunno why everyone's so interested, so here you go, it is Gerindra.
Now I want to hear no more about it!
Dunno why everyone's so interested, so here you go, it is Gerindra.
Now I want to hear no more about it!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Savoury in Indonesian?
What's the word for savoury in Indonesian?
My Indonesian teacher says there is no such word in Indonesian. I suspect there is.
My Indonesian teacher says there is no such word in Indonesian. I suspect there is.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
What's the best food court in Indonesia?
The other week my Indonesian teacher and I were eating average Teriyaki dishes and doing class in a food court at the South Street Seaport pondering this question.
She said she liked the one in Pacific Place. I said I liked Ambassador Mal's.
She said she liked the one in Pacific Place. I said I liked Ambassador Mal's.
Obama’s Ersatz Capitalism
There have been lots of demonstrations in my neighbourhood recently.
Wall St. has been pretty noisy with protesters shouting "bailout people not banks" and the like.
Generally I disagree vehemently with the common garden lefty protester types. But oddly I agree with them this time.
In any case this article is a good one.
Wall St. has been pretty noisy with protesters shouting "bailout people not banks" and the like.
Generally I disagree vehemently with the common garden lefty protester types. But oddly I agree with them this time.
In any case this article is a good one.
Six Sigma Parenting
I was chatting with my flatmate and her sister last night.
I got thinking about questions that have been swimming around my mind for a while now.
Do parents plan too much of their kids upbringing?
With all the planning and extra curricular activities, is too much pressure put on kids nowadays?
And to what end? I did fairly well in school, have an OK job. But is working 12 hour plus days really something worth aiming for? To me that seems the natural outcome of super diligent parenting and educating.
I would rather aim for well rounded adults. Success ain't wealth and a fancy job title, far from it.
I got thinking about questions that have been swimming around my mind for a while now.
Do parents plan too much of their kids upbringing?
With all the planning and extra curricular activities, is too much pressure put on kids nowadays?
And to what end? I did fairly well in school, have an OK job. But is working 12 hour plus days really something worth aiming for? To me that seems the natural outcome of super diligent parenting and educating.
I would rather aim for well rounded adults. Success ain't wealth and a fancy job title, far from it.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Trouble with Education
While in Indonesia last August I read a fascinatingly mind bending book called The Trouble with Physics.
I never liked physics at school, but love reading the odd pop physics book. As with all these types of books you feel that the explanations often gloss over details and make pretty large leaps of logic, which I suppose is understandable. It reminds me of reading American economics text books back in the day.
In any case, The Trouble with Physics is about how physicists became besotted with string theory in the 80s (while the rest of us became besotted with Wham!) and how String theory has stayed in vogue (even though Wham! are way past their sell buy date and we are all listening to the Jonas Brothers now).
The author, Lee Smolin, critiques string theory and says it's a load of codswallop. It turns out that string theorists have created fancy theories that are not disprovable - they may as well be disciples of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!.
Smolin then talks about the Physics education system. The people that succeed are good at exams, diligent when learning the received wisdom. They are not people that think outside the box or rock the boat, because if you want an academic job you have to kowtow to your professors (I have seen this happen a few times).
And so 20 years on String theory is entrenched in theoretical physics departments everywhere. 20 years of research probably gone down the drain.
The scary thing is, the same problem exists in economics faculties (plus, economist's theories "proofs" are very very wishy washy) and probably in most academic institutions.
It's not unlike those almost alien-like hardcore religious people, with their labrynthine detailed knowledge of religious dogma.
The real danger occurs when people actually pay attention to these people steeped in string theory, religious, economic and [add social science discipline of choice] dogma.
I never liked physics at school, but love reading the odd pop physics book. As with all these types of books you feel that the explanations often gloss over details and make pretty large leaps of logic, which I suppose is understandable. It reminds me of reading American economics text books back in the day.
In any case, The Trouble with Physics is about how physicists became besotted with string theory in the 80s (while the rest of us became besotted with Wham!) and how String theory has stayed in vogue (even though Wham! are way past their sell buy date and we are all listening to the Jonas Brothers now).
The author, Lee Smolin, critiques string theory and says it's a load of codswallop. It turns out that string theorists have created fancy theories that are not disprovable - they may as well be disciples of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster!.
Smolin then talks about the Physics education system. The people that succeed are good at exams, diligent when learning the received wisdom. They are not people that think outside the box or rock the boat, because if you want an academic job you have to kowtow to your professors (I have seen this happen a few times).
And so 20 years on String theory is entrenched in theoretical physics departments everywhere. 20 years of research probably gone down the drain.
The scary thing is, the same problem exists in economics faculties (plus, economist's theories "proofs" are very very wishy washy) and probably in most academic institutions.
It's not unlike those almost alien-like hardcore religious people, with their labrynthine detailed knowledge of religious dogma.
The real danger occurs when people actually pay attention to these people steeped in string theory, religious, economic and [add social science discipline of choice] dogma.
Harvard’s masters of the apocalypse
No one gets fired for hiring a Harvard graduate, or so the saying goes. Same thing applies for lots of professional qualifications, CFA, CPA etc.
Thing is, what are you actually learning? It's all just cookie-cutter education, designed to help the HR drones to safely hire you without much worry and open the gates to earning lots of money (or so the theory goes).
People should spend their time studying what they are passionate about, rather what will earn 'em big money.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thug Culture
I need to learn about Preman in Indonesia.
Preman are the local thugs that you pay protection money to.
Indonesia's police have been more or less worthless, so it sort of sense that a locality's security is somewhat privatised. Even though you are paying money to some kind of local mafia.
In any case, vice president (and presidential candidate) Kalla has said Indonesia needs a Preman to run the country not a bureaucrat. Maybe something gets lost in translation.
As I said, I need to learn more about this.
Preman are the local thugs that you pay protection money to.
Indonesia's police have been more or less worthless, so it sort of sense that a locality's security is somewhat privatised. Even though you are paying money to some kind of local mafia.
In any case, vice president (and presidential candidate) Kalla has said Indonesia needs a Preman to run the country not a bureaucrat. Maybe something gets lost in translation.
As I said, I need to learn more about this.
Lampung
My pal, Ayu, has written up a little about her recent travels through Lampung.
Hopefully there will be more to come!!
Hopefully there will be more to come!!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Breaking up Indonesia
I remember when I first went to Bali.
I had been living with my ex girlfriend's family in Jakarta for a couple of weeks. They were great, in fact more than great, I think that family is directly responsible for my love of Indonesia.
Nevertheless Jakarta was a huge shock to the system : ) I do not mind eating rice for example, but having it e.v.e.r.y. day was tough going!!
Then we went to Jogja for a few days, and that was good. But we were staying at a friend's family's house, and being my first time in a Muslim country, the conservativeness was kind of getting to me (I had lived in Germany for years, the difference was huge!).
So when we reached Bali, we could be ourselves, eat Western food. I loved it.
Westerner's perceptions of Bali are weird.
I remember one of my friends complaining about a Westerner who thought Bali was an independent country.In Ireland, Bali is typically known as a honeymoon spot, which is kind of weird if you think about it.
For me Bali is just a wondiverous place and associating it specifically with honeymooning takes away from its depth and richness.
At least, Bali is known for *something* though, the point is its image is not subsumed in the Indonesian blamange.
Whenever Indonesia gets its tourist marketing strategy up to speed it will market each island individually. If Bali is known for honeymooning (yuck, really yuck!) Java will be known for the shopping malls of Jakarta and the Batika of Jogja and Solo; Sumatra for it's landscapes; Kalimantan for adventure and wildlife holidays; Manado for diving.
I am just pulling these ideas from thin air, but you get the idea. The marketing will be largely inaccurate (as with most marketing) but these ideas will stick in people's heads. You want to dive, head to Manado, you want to see wildlife head to Kalimantan, you want to shop head to Java.
The names Java or Sumatra or Manado can conjure up much more interesting visions than Indonesia. Indonesia has to drop it's unity in diversity if it wants to attract visitors.
I had been living with my ex girlfriend's family in Jakarta for a couple of weeks. They were great, in fact more than great, I think that family is directly responsible for my love of Indonesia.
Nevertheless Jakarta was a huge shock to the system : ) I do not mind eating rice for example, but having it e.v.e.r.y. day was tough going!!
Then we went to Jogja for a few days, and that was good. But we were staying at a friend's family's house, and being my first time in a Muslim country, the conservativeness was kind of getting to me (I had lived in Germany for years, the difference was huge!).
So when we reached Bali, we could be ourselves, eat Western food. I loved it.
Westerner's perceptions of Bali are weird.
I remember one of my friends complaining about a Westerner who thought Bali was an independent country.In Ireland, Bali is typically known as a honeymoon spot, which is kind of weird if you think about it.
For me Bali is just a wondiverous place and associating it specifically with honeymooning takes away from its depth and richness.
At least, Bali is known for *something* though, the point is its image is not subsumed in the Indonesian blamange.
Whenever Indonesia gets its tourist marketing strategy up to speed it will market each island individually. If Bali is known for honeymooning (yuck, really yuck!) Java will be known for the shopping malls of Jakarta and the Batika of Jogja and Solo; Sumatra for it's landscapes; Kalimantan for adventure and wildlife holidays; Manado for diving.
I am just pulling these ideas from thin air, but you get the idea. The marketing will be largely inaccurate (as with most marketing) but these ideas will stick in people's heads. You want to dive, head to Manado, you want to see wildlife head to Kalimantan, you want to shop head to Java.
The names Java or Sumatra or Manado can conjure up much more interesting visions than Indonesia. Indonesia has to drop it's unity in diversity if it wants to attract visitors.
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