Fahrenheit 451

It was a pleasure to burn.

Ditengah kemajuan teknologi modern yang cepat dan juga mudahnya informasi didapat melalui internet, masih diperlukan kah sebuah buku?

Fahrenheit 451 adalah novel dystopia karangan Ray Bradbury tentang kebebasan berpikir dan bertindak, dimana di dalam buku masyarakat diajarkan untuk berpikiran sama dan menjadi konsumtif.

Novel ini berfokus pada tokoh bernama Guy Montag yang berprofesi sebagai firefighter dimana ironisnya pada masa depan, firefighter bukanlah petugas yang memadamkan api, namun petugas yang diperintahkan untuk membakar rumah berisi buku - buku.

Bradbury sangat pintar menyusun kata demi kata sehingga menjadikan buku ini sangat menarik.gue suka cara penceritaan dan pemilihan dari setiap kata-katanya. Walaupun jujur aja, gue sendiri gak sepenuhnya paham dengan apa yang ingin Bradbury sampaikan dengan kata-kata itu.

Buku ini ditulis pada tahu 1950 untuk mengkritik era Mccarthy di USA, dimana pada era tersebut pemerintah melarang dan juga membakar buku-buku yang dianggap mengajarkan paham komunis. Meskipun sudah sangat lama, tapi menurut gue sih isi dari buku ini masih relevan dengan kondisi masyarakat saat ini dan menjadikannya buku modern-classic.

Drunken photo model injures seven in car rampage

Jakarta Police have arrested an adult magazine photo model, Novi Amalia, 25, for allegedly hitting seven people while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs on Thursday evening.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters on Friday that Novi, who was reportedly half-naked, was driving her red Honda Jazz recklessly on Jl Sukarjo Wiryopranoto in Central Jakarta, when she hit a cyclist and a street food vendor at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“She went on and hit two police officers identified as Adj. First Insp. Sugianto and Chief Brig. Yanto in Taman Sari, Central Jakarta,” Rikwanto said.

Novi, who fled the scene, then crashed into a public minivan and injured its driver. She then went on and hit another public minivan and a motorcyclist. Rikwanto said that all victims sustained minor injuries.

Witnesses testified that Novi was on her way to Ancol beach in North Jakarta when she began hallucinating. While driving, she took off her clothes and threw them on to the street, Rikwanto said.

Novi was wearing only her underwear when arrested by the police, Rikwanto said, and she refused to put on her clothes. “She also threw her wallet and her cell phone out of her car window,” he added.

“Novi has undergone examination for drugs. She tested positive for consuming methamphetamine,”

SMA 6 and SMA 70 to seek peace

Hundreds of students of the neighboring SMA 6 and SMA 70 high schools in South Jakarta showed up at Menara 165 building on Jl. TB Simatupang in South Jakarta on Thursday Morning.

The high schools have a long history of rivalry but on this occasion fighting was not on the agenda.

Ingrained animosity and hostility was put behind them and instead of weapons the students were brandishing imaginary lassos and riding on imaginary horses to the tune of South Korean rapper Psy’s hit song Gangnam Style.

The event was part of the popular “Emotional and Spiritual Quotient Way” motivational training (ESQ) and was attended by more than 500 students from both schools.

Deputy Education and Culture Minister Musliar Kaslim suggested that the schools participated in the training to reduce hostility between the students after the recent incident that claimed the life of SMA 6 student, Alawy Yusianto Putra.

According to Musliar the experience aimed to encourage remorse from the students.

“(The event hopes) to develop awareness and self conscience. I’m sure none of you want to be harmed and ganged up on by your friends,” he said during an address to the participants of the training, as quoted by kompas.com.

SMA 70 principal Saksono Liliek Sutanto said that the event had been planned following the violent incident, and added that it was provided for free and would be divided in three sessions.

Today’s session was attended by students of the tenth. Eleventh and twelfth graders will also have the opportunity to participate.

The ESQ program was created by an Indonesian entrepreneur and motivational speaker Ary Ginanjar Agustian in 2000 based on Islamic teachings.

Psych test for suspects in student brawl

The police say they have given psychological tests to the high school student who was named a suspect in the death of a student from a rival school last month.

Jakarta Police psychology unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Arif Nurcahyo said that the suspect Fitra Ramadhani, 19, had undergone the tests at city police headquarters on Thursday.

"We are currently analyzing the result of the tests. The result is expected to show why Fitra took part in the brawl and stabbed [the other student]," Arif said.

Arif said that Fitra cooperated with authorities in undergoing four hours of written tests and interviews.

Three suspects from SMK Kartika Zeni vocational school implicated in the brawl that claimed the life of SMA Yayasan Karya 66 high school student Denny Yanuar were also psychologically examined, police said.

KAI Launches woman only trains

State-owned railway company PT KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (KCJ) officially launched on Monday a KRL Commuter Line train for women only, in an attempt to improve its service for female passengers.

KCJ spokesman Makmur Syaheran said that requests had mounted for the company to provide women-only trains, ever since the launch of women-only carriages in 2010. The special train will operate every day except on holidays with 10 trips per day, including during rush hours, running from Bogor to Kota and 
Bogor to Jatinegara. 

“At first, we’re providing one train with eight carriages. However, we are planning to add more trains to this service by early next year, so we have at least one women-only train on every commuter route, 
including Bekasi–Jakarta and Parung Panjang–Tanah Abang,” Makmur told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Widyaningsih, 33, said that a special train for women was essential for female passengers to avoid harassment from men — something she had often experienced. “I feel much safer using this train because I don’t have to jostle with men and fear harassment. I really hope KAI will realize their plan to add more women-only trains,” Widyaningsih, an administrative employee, said.

Dwi Faziah, who travels by train every day from Kalibata, South Jakarta to Kota, West Jakarta, said that the women-only train was not really necessary to improve commuter services. “Using a women-only 
train is nice and more convenient because it is not as crowded as regular trains. 

However, improving services on the regular commuter trains — such as ensuring the schedules are kept and adding more journeys — is much more important,” Dwi, who works as a shopkeeper in Mangga Dua, Central Jakarta said.

Jakarta to raise parking fees

Officials are drafting a gubernatorial decree to raise parking fees throughout the city within the next two weeks.

The Jakarta administration hopes to raise parking fees before the expected end of Governor Fauzi Bowo’s term on Oct. 7, Jakarta Transportation Agency chief Udar Pristono said on Thursday.

“We are working on it. I hope it won’t take long now that we have the new parking bylaw,” Udar said.

The Jakarta City Council approved on Wednesday a bylaw that amended a 2004 ordinance on parking.

Among other things, the bylaw imposed zone-based parking fees based on the amount of traffic in specific areas.

Udar said that the bylaw was enacted to better manage traffic and to increase the city’s share of revenue from parking fees.

“We’re going to have a better administrative system for parking revenue, although the main purpose of the regulation will still be traffic management,” Idar said.

The council is expecting the administration to collect to Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) a year in parking fees, up 66 percent from a current figure of Rp 21 billion per year.

Separately, Jakarta Parking Management Agency chief Enrico Vermy said that parking fees would go up under the gubernatorial regulation.

“In other countries, higher parking fees are used as one of many ways to control vehicle numbers,” Enrico said.

On-street parking fees are currently set at Rp 2,000, while off-street parking costs between
Rp 2,000 and Rp 3,000 per hour, although Enrico said that many people were paying much more.

The city proposed increasing parking fees based on vehicle types in 2011, wanting to increase car parking fees from Rp 1,000 to Rp 4,000 per hour, motorcycle fees from Rp 500 to Rp 2,000, and bus and truck fees from Rp 2,000 to Rp 6,000.

Enrico also said that the city would gradually and systematical extend its on-street parking ban.

“The main issue is providing substitute parking spaces when the ban is implemented in certain areas.”

According to the administration, there are 10,478 on-street vehicle parking spaces and 2,072 off-street parking spaces operated by the city, while private operators manage 300,000 spaces for vehicles and 197,000 for motorcycles.

New measures introduced in 2012 parking bylaw
• Under the proposed zone system, parking spaces would be classified as either Zone A, for commercial and office districts with higher demand for parking spaces and frequent traffic jams, or Zone B, with lower demand for parking spaces and fewer traffic jams.

• Parking operators are required to insure all vehicles parked on their premises and must pay for loss or damage incurred by vehicles under their supervision unless the vehicles are already insured by their respective owners.

• Parking fees are to be reviewed at least once every two years.

Jakarta prepares for first all green building

Jakarta is due to add yet another high rise to its skyline, but this building will conform entirely to green building certification standards.

Once completed, the GKM Green Tower will be the city’s first-ever commercial building to meet such standards.

“The GKM Green Tower will not only be the product of a green building concept and be green in color; it will also boast an entire green implementation process — starting with the materials used until the construction process, all of which will be environmentally friendly,” said Rudi Komajaya, president director of PT Lestari Kirana Persada, GKM’s developer.

The 31,000-square-meter building, which is located on Jl. T.B. Simatupang in South Jakarta, will have 22 above-ground floors and three basement floors and more than 80 percent of the total land will be developed as garden.

Rudi said the building would use renewable energy to allow it to be more energy efficient.

“The building will have its own waste water management system in addition to a rain harvesting system, which will allow us to save water and recycle it,” he said.

The building would also apply a photovoltaic system, using solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity, and use as much natural light as possible during the day, he added.

Construction on the building, which is being conducted by Total Bangun Persada, is expected to be completed in September next year. PT Pandega Desain Weharima is the architectural firm that provided the design for the building and Wiratman and Associates are acting as structural consultants.

Currently, the GKM Green Tower is in the process of being granted platinum level certification, the highest level of green building certification, from the Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI). 

“We have invested around US$25–30 million in this building. Yes, it’s expensive because we’re trying to meet all the categories required for green building. But in the long term, we will see lower operational costs,” Lestari’s president commissioner, Hendra Gunawan, said.

There are six categories for receiving green building certification from the GBCI: energy efficiency and conservation, indoor air health and comfort, appropriate site development, material resources and cycle, water conservation, and building environment management.

Hendra said units in the building would only be rented or sold to tenants who agreed with their green-building management code. “We will require tenants to have at least one green building officer who can assist them in maintaining the units,” he said.

A green-building professional, Totok Sulistyanto, said only three buildings in Jakarta currently had GBCI platinum certification, namely Grand Indonesia, the BCA Tower and the Public Works Ministry.

“If the GKM Green Tower is completed and acquires the certification, it will be the first new ‘platinum’ building,” he said.

Bumbu Indonesian Restaurant

Bumbu Restaurant overlooking the pool specializes in fine Indonesian cuisine using local spices and ingredients with a perfect service. The restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the Sheraton Bandara (airport) hotel, some 30 kilometers from the town center. Traditional gamelan music helps to create a serene Javanese atmosphere. This is the place to enjoy the diversity of Indonesian cuisine, from soto Madura (a lightly spiced soup with thin slices of chicken, spring onions and tomatoes) to Ayam Bumbu Bali (heavily marinated chicken, Balinese style), Daging Rendang (full-flavored beef stewed in coconut milk and spices) and Sate (barbecued pieces of meat and vegetables on skewers). A full range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is available.

Bumbu Restaurant:

Hotel Sheraton Bandara
Bandara Soekarno Hatta

Jakarta Barat

DKI Jakarta - Indonesia

PH 1: (021)559-7777

Open Monday - Saturday from 05:00 - 11:00

Garbage clog flood gates daily

Head of Jakarta Public Works Agency Ery Basworo said on Sunday that his office cleaned out garbage that was clogging four city flood gates each day, the total weight of which amounted to 70 tons.

“We have deployed 10 trucks to move the garbage from the flood gates to the dump every day. Each truck has the load capacity of seven tons,” he said as quoted by beritajakarta.com.

He said that at least two trucks carried the garbage from Manggarai sluice in Central Jakarta every day, another three from Pesing Kaliangke sluice in West Jakarta, three from Perintis sluice in North Jakarta and another two from Pluit sluice, also in North Jakarta. 

Ery said that as the water debit increased during rainy season, more garbage would be accumulated and would become stuck at the flood gates.

Bekasi feeder bus to use Transjakarta lanes

Starting Monday, the City Transportation Agency will begin a trial project integrating the Transjakarta feeder bus service connecting Pulo Gadung and Bekasi with Transjakarta Corridor II connecting Harmoni and Pulo Gadung and Corridor X connecting Cililitan and Tanjung Priok.

The agency’s head, Udar Pristono, said on Friday that the agency would allow the feeder buses to use Transjakarta’s shelters and designated lanes to shorten commutes since currently the buses could only run between Pulo Gadung to Bekasi without stopping at Transjakarta shelters.

The shelters involved are the Pedati Prumpung shelter, the Stasiun Jatinegara shelter, the Bea Cukai Ahmad Yani shelter, the Utan Kayu Rawamangun shelter, the Pemuda shelter, the Kayu Putih Rawasari shelter, the Pulomas Bypass shelter and the Cempaka Putih shelter, all on Corridor X, as well as the Cempaka Timur shelter, the Pedongkelan shelter, the Asmi shelter, the Pulomas shelter, the Bermis shelter and the Pulogadung shelter, all on Corridor II.

Java Soulnation Festival Headline

Dedicated to the sounds and beats of soul, hip hop, R&B and rap, Jakarta’s Java Soulnation Festival comes back to the city late this month. Produced by Java Festival Production and targeting a younger crowd, Soulnation runs from Sept. 28 to 30 at Istora Senayan in South Jakarta. 

This year’s line up features a wide range of local and international musicians. We introduce the three acts that have been selected as ‘‘special show’’ highlights of the festival. 

Scissor Sisters 

Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10.30 p.m. 

Bono of U2 once called Scissor Sisters “the best group in the world,” intrigued by the infectious melodies that have made the American band one of the most interesting acts of the past decade. 

Formed in 2001 in New York, the band is famous for its flamboyant live performances, that includes the openly gay band members stripping on stage and throwing inflated condoms into the audience. Throw in a couple of successful hits that feature catchy and danceable melodies, and you have a winning formula. 

“I don’t think we’re afraid to play anything. Pop should be meaningful again — it shouldn’t be a dirty word,” vocalist Jake Shears said. 

Scissor Sisters released its self-titled debut album in 2004. Showered with awards, especially in the United Kingdom, which the members call their “spiritual home,” both fans and critics were curious to see if the follow-up album could live up to its predecessor. It could. “Ta-Dah,” released in 2006, fared remarkably well and gave Scissor Sisters its most successful hit single to date, the irresistible “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’.” The albums “Night Work” (2010) and “Magic Hour” (2012) confirmed the band’s success on an international level. 

James Morrison 

Sunday, Sept. 30, from 7.30 p.m. 

English musician James Morrison, 28, used to busk in a local pub as a teenager, finding a way to escape from the troubles of his childhood, which was, as the singer stated in interviews, greatly affected by poverty, illness and low self-esteem. 

After he was fired from a job as a van cleaner, Morrison hooked up with an old friend who owned a recording studio and invited him to record a couple of songs. The rest, as they say, is history. Morrison’s gravely voice and great songwriting ability led him to major labels within a week. 

In an interview with BBC, Morrison stated his troubled upbringing helped him become the musician he is today: “I had a tough time but it’s positive. I know so much more because of it and I’ve been to that point where it’s so bad, it can’t get any worse.” 

Morrison released his debut album “Undiscovered” in 2006. Its first single “You Give Me Something” was an overnight success. He became the best selling male solo artist in the United Kingdom in 2006. The singer’s sophomore album “Songs for You, Truths for Me” followed in 2008, while Morrison’s latest effort, “The Awakening,” came in 2011. 

Robin Thicke 

Sunday, Sept. 30, from 10 p.m. 

Having grown up in a family involved in show business, it seemed like R&B singer Robin Thicke was predestined for a career in the entertainment industry. 

Starting out as a songwriter, Thicke eventually recorded his debut album “A Beautiful World” in 2003. Despite being praised by critics, the album was commercially a failure, and Thicke was left disappointed. 

He didn’t give up and tried his luck again three years later with “The Evolution of Robin Thicke,” which was a more honest and personal attempt. From this point on, Thicke’s career took off. 

Three albums and several hit singles later, among them “Wanna Love You Girl” and “Magic, ” Thicke is still growing as a singer, songwriter and has recently joined the music reality TV show “Duets” as a judge. The American program premiered in May.

For full schedule and ticket information Click Here

Bicycle lane construction at KBT

Jakarta Transportation Department is still trying to put in effort to finish the construction of bicycle lane alongside Jl Inspeksi East Flood Canal (KBT). The construction will be done in 3 phases spanning to 3 budget years. Head of Jakarta Transportation Department, Udar Pristono, said on the first phase the construction will be done in the northern side of KBT as long as 6.7 kilometers or starting on Jl Basuki Rachmat, Cipinangbesar Selatan until Jl Soekanto in Malakasari. The budget prepared for the construction is Rp 1.7 billion. "The construction on the northern side is targeted to finish in 2013 until Marunda area. Then, the construction will continue on the southern side of KBT until 2014. Currently the construction of bicycle lane on Jl Basuki Rahmat until Jl Soekanto is still underway and will finish in December," stated Pristono, Thursday (9/13). The bicycle lane is being used often by motorcycles because it has not finished yet. If it is finished, concrete will be installed so motorcycles cannot pass. Bicycle lane must be sterile from vehicles other than bicycles. With bike lanes along KBT, at least there are three benefits that can be felt by the residents. They are tourist place, sport facilities and lanes for bike to work community. For the information, bike lanes along KBT will also be completed with bike parking lot. Currently, there have been three out of twelve bike parking lots in the location. For one parking lot, it can accommodate 10 bikes. Even, to add biker convenience, there will be tree planting around parking lot.

Katy Perry: Part of Me (Special show only)

Good news for you if you're a Katy Cats, because tomorrow Katy Perry's documentation movie will be shown but the bad news is its only shown for limited time & limited seats only. The movie it self will only shown for 2 days (15 - 16 September) at Plaza Senayan XXI, so if you're a Katy Perry die hard fans make sure you're not missing this only chance to watch Katy Perry's move at the cinema.

Here's some info about the movie

Plot: A backstage pass, front row seat and intimate look at the fun, glamorous, heartbreaking, inspiring, crazy, magical, passionate, and honest mad diary of Katy Perry.

More of a music documentary than a concert video, Katy Perry: Part of Me chronicles Perry's year-long California Dreams World Tour in 2011 with an abundance of personal interviews, film of Perry interacting with her fans, and concert footage from California and around the globe. Absolutely bursting with energy, Perry's a fascinating singer, songwriter, and performer who's faced a fair amount of adversity in her career, and whose upbringing was very different than that of most pop stars. This film plays at times almost like a video diary.

Jembatan Cinta to be repaired soon

The Love Bridge connecting Tidung Besar Island and Tidung Kecil Island at Seribuselatan Islands, which currently severely damaged, is going to be repaired by Jakarta Provincial Government with budget limit until Rp 7.45 billion. The repair is expected to finish in the near future, so the bridge could help attract the visit of tourists to Seribu Island. The bridge is currently in a state of disrepair because the stepping boards are full of holes, some even got lost, and infested with termites. Such condition is worsened because the bridge was often caught on fire due to burned cigarette butts being littered haphazardly. Head of Seribu Island Public Works Sub-Department, Sorimuda Harahap, said the repair will start on mid September and finish on December 15 with budget limit reached Rp 7.45 billion. The auction winner is currently waiting for the objection period to end which will span for 5 days. “The bridge will be repaired not because it was caught on fire, but because its repair has been planned since 2011,” stated Harahap, Tuesday (9/11). Harahap explained that the Love Bridge will be repaired with concrete material instead of wood material. “Love Bridge has length 800 meters and width 2 meters. Last year, the bridge has been concreted as long as 174 meters. This year, the remaining 626 meters long will be repaired by using concrete material also,” he uttered. Regarding the bridge which said to be damaged because of burned cigarette butts being littered haphazardly, Harahap denies it. He told the bridge was not burned, but only because there was smoke on the edge of the bridge. “The bridge was not burned, but only puff of smoke along 80 centimeters,” he finished.

Harmony between 2 religion

The conflicts between religions become a heartbreaking matter in Indonesia. However, the existence of Al-Muqarrabien Mosque and Masehi Injil Sangihe Talaud Mahanaim Church on Jl. Enggano, Tanjungpriok, North Jakarta, can become a reference of how two big religions live in harmony and peace and separated by only a few centimeters of wall.

These two places of worship for Moslems and Christians live side by side since half a century ago. Due to the close proximity between each other, calls of prayer from the twos can be heard together without any dispute.

“These two worship places may be the only ones which really close and only separated by a wall. There are lots of worship places near each other, but only these two are next to each other,” said the Imam of Al-Muqarrabien Mosque H. TB Achmad Khotib (74)

According to him, these two worship places are symbol for unity between the two religions. “When it is time for Christmas or Eid ul Fitr, we respect and help each other in terms of security or parking,” he explained.

The mosque which was built by Muslim sailors in 1959 has two floors with capacity 1,500 worshippers. It often renovates and once received Rp 20 million from Jakarta Government Bazis to support the renovation. “The people admire the cooperation between the church and mosque because we keep nurturing and maintaining the value of tolerance, as taught by the mosque’s founders,” Khatib asserted.

Meanwhile, Head of Mahanaim Church Pilgrims Tatalede Barakati stated that not only the buildings are next to each other, but also the worshippers formed a spirit of togetherness. “The most memorable one was when the church was about to be attacked by a group of people in 1984 Tanjung Priok riot and 1998 riot. The Muslims protected us instead,” he told.

Since Christian sailors built the church in 1957, praying activities there are never disturbed. “We are like siblings with the walls as connector. We sit next to each other without any problem ever arise between the caretakers from the two worship places,” he uttered.

Just like siblings, the values of tolerance and harmony are embedded deeply not only just in the leaders but also to the worshippers. The church even cancelled their morning mass schedule to respect the Muslims which were celebrating Eid ul Fitr at that time. “We gave the Muslims a chance to conduct their prayer first, while our mass schedule moved to the afternoon,”