Rhoma Irama, the Professor? Eh, doubtful...

Source: solopos.com

A recent scandal over the Indonesia's political paronama is currently having a part of the internet on a buzz, and me in a fit of giggles! Well, it's a nice, albeit absurd, change from the usual graft scandals nowadays. I think I can safely say that newspaper readers in the country have gotten really really tired of those graft headlines. Still, we have a quite long way to go before the country is completely clean (sort of) of any hussy-hissy business.

Causing ruckus (again)

Rhoma Irama was originally an entertainer. A dangdut entertainer to be exact. Dangdut is one of Indonesian folk music, probably the most popular of the bunch. Mr. Irama has been highly successful in his career, earning him the nickname "King of Dangdut". Yes, just like Michael Jackson is the King of Pop for some.

Source: kapanlagi.com

In most cases, a popular entertainer can hardly refuse the temptation of being a politician. What a politician needs most is popularity. Mr. Irama has it. He is not an exception to the rule. Therefore, he's decided that he would join this year's presidential race. That's why the people of Indonesia are now being presented one of the most....baffling candidate for the race. He's certainly an intriguing lad, isn't he?

So, when I opened my newspaper this morning it wasn't much of a surprise. Apparently, like in the first picture above, Rhoma Irama has added "Prof." to his name in order to boost up his popularity in the upcoming election. This has caused controversies.

A PR Move?

A team of investigators quickly worked to find out the question on people's minds: "Is the title for real?" When Mr. Irama was questioned about it, he answered, "The title was inaugurated for me in 2005 by the American University of Hawaii." Shortly after that, there were reports coming up that the aforementioned university was not enlisted on Webometrics.  In other words, the university was never legally accredited as a competent university, with allegations such as giving unaccredited decrees to some of Hawaiian politicians and government staffs. According to shivathespy.blogspot.com, the university allegedly doesn't have any listed student!

From another perspective (a.k.a. Mr. Irama's PR staffs), a Doctor Honoris Causa (HC) was honored to him in regards of his achievements in the music industry. It was never spelled out "professor". Hmm... One has to wonder, though, why it was still written as "professor".

For all I know, this could be one genius strike of PR move. In all probability, Mr. Irama can't really compete with the currently hero-of-the-people candidate Joko Widodo. What better way to have it all out by being the troublemaker? That's a sure way to catch attention. And it worked 'cause he has got the media buzzing.

Money in Exchange for Titles

Another perspective from this whole fiasco is that hopefully, people's eyes will be opened by how much money dictates the rules, even in the so-called "upstanding" academic sector. Following the revelation that the American University of Hawaii might not be completely competent and legally authorized giving out titles, there re-surfaces a suspicion made by Iran's Department of Public Affairs concerning this particular university - commercializing illegal diploma.

It's been said that a Bachelor of Economics can measure up to 15 millions rupiah worth (approximately US$1500).

Well, I'm pretty sure that there's almost nothing surprising. Graft and money play has been a public secret since only-God-knows-when. But, it's rather vindicating to see these matters being exposed in the popular media. Let's just cross our fingers, and hope that someones will be taking actions! (If only I was a few year older and free from my academic duties... *sigh*)


This writing is heavily referring to some articles posted in solopos.com.

Discerning UN: Waste of time?

So, it's almost April again. That means it's the time of the year when students are busily preparing for their national examination. I'm writing particularly for Indonesian students, such as myself. Indonesia has a centralized examination system, where students are obliged to take a SAT-like examination, as the main measurement of their 12-year-education. Its difference from SAT is, while SAT is only taken for Americans who want to continue to university, UN (Ujian Nasional) has to be taken by every student. Those who don't - or God forbid, fail - are already dropping out of their social standings.

Source: gurusragi.blogspot.com

The previous year's UN (2013) has been steadily gaining critics and mockeries, especially from its implementation and internal affairs. From what I've gathered, there were so much at fault during the distribution of the materials, resulting in postponed dates of tests. Furthermore, a lot of the budget prepared especially for UN has been untraceable, prompting suspicion of graft. It doesn't help that the country is still in the process of getting rid of corrupt politicians, getting more desperate as the days past. Indonesian active users in the Net have obviously taken notice of this matter. As you can probably see if you type in related keywords in your search engine, many have something to say.

I have something to say too. I spent 5 years of my education (Junior High 'till the second year of Senior High) in an international curriculum. I am now finishing the third and last year of Senior High in a regular or national curriculum. I can see the differences as clear as the day and night. This is a piece of my thought.

The international curriculum here applies to the Australian curriculum, which in my opinion is able to act as the representative for Western education system. This is what I know of the process: learn something new, then apply, learn again, then apply. It goes on. I took 6 subjects during the time, which are English Speaking and Listening; English Reading and Writing; Business; Mathematics (Basic and Advanced); Computing; and Science. There are not many theories since applications are what's important.

On the other hand, the national curriculum is probably 80% theory and 20% application. Perhaps, the application is even less than 20%. Since UN (a written test) is hanging like a death sentence over like 3 years of education, teachers are pressured to teach according to the materials dictated in the UN, including the exact questions which are probable to be included in the test. This, of course, prompts this kind of thinking: "I don't need to learn deeper because it is not included in UN."

I've always been a rebellious kind, like to do things on my own terms. That itself can either be a good and a bad trait. However, I found that I surprisingly excelled at the international curriculum materials. I was learning things bit by bit, but I was free to explore everything I learned to the bottom. There were oral presentations which have really brought out my confidence in public speaking. Better yet, a lot of writing assignments - no problem at all for a literature fan like me. It doesn't help that the courses were conducted in English. I really felt like I had this connection so that I was eager to learn everything no matter how difficult they were - just because they were in English.

Nearing the end of the 5-year-tenure, I didn't know how good I had it all because I started to complain about how lacking in theoretical science the international curriculum is. Especially because I had an ambition to enter a medical course. Thus, when there was a choice to add one year of national curriculum to my education, I eagerly took it.

Thus, that's the story of how I woke up to a bitter reality - that the international curriculum is a bit behind in terms of exact sciences and theoretical calculations. I had to catch up with my peers. That was not a pleasant experience.

Tricky... Go left for a diploma or go right for knowledge. Source: kusdiyono.wordpress.com

From what I can see, there are two sides. The good thing about UN is that you know so much about one subject. The downside is you don't know where or when that knowledge applies. In most cases, they just end up being forgotten after the UN chaos is over. So, whether UN is a waste of time or not, you decide yourself. As for me, I prefer to be an optimist and look for the benefits that UN has provided: increased knowledge, lots of theoretical case solving, discipline, and standardized measurement system, for examples. And, using the attitude that I learned in the international curriculum to counteract all the drawbacks: resourcefulness, research skills, oral presentation skills, or even assertiveness!

Farewell My Contact Lenses

Credit: Flikie Wallpapers

You know how they say “Ignorance is a bliss” like it is a laughing matter. Today, my ignorance may very well cost me my vision. Literally. I have not been aware that I was on the brink of being blind until the last minute!

I have been using contact lenses for a long time, longer than I could remember. The reason is because I have never felt comfortable wearing glasses. They slide down your nose, get foggy whenever the weather’s humid, gross you out when you’re sweaty, and moreover, they can be squashed beneath your body if you accidentally fall asleep without putting them off. For your information, yes, it did happen to me several times. I like being practical, so I like wearing contact lenses.

So many people are afraid of the risks of wearing contact lenses. I remember how freaked out I was when putting them on my eyes for the first time. That was also the moment when I found out that you can touch your eyeballs. Still, one small scratch on your lenses – or even one errand strand of eye lashes, and too long fingernails – can cause irritation and infection, ranging from mere eye itches to fatal blindness. Furthermore, contact lenses are one cause of discomfort, particularly for people with dry eyes.

Experienced contact lenses wearers like me would of course prefer to have a 20/20 vision. Needless to say, I can only hope for some miracle, or the technology of Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) to restore my natural vision, without the interference of glasses anyway.

I am quiet reckless in wearing my lenses. I didn’t consult any eye doctor for the right prescription or for the kind of contact lenses I should use. There are a variety of contact lenses in the world, ranging from whether one has more moisture absorption or less, what color the “iris” is, and what prescription you need. I selected one from a limited variation in the optic near my house. It was grey with the prescription of (-) 1.25.

So far it’s fine. There had been absolutely no problem – very surprising considering that I almost never used any eye drops, even after 7 plus hours of usage!

The problem only came recently. It was a long holiday for Christmas and New Year, approximately 20 days. I was required to attend some events that would have made me uncomfortable wearing glasses for long periods. So I attended while using my contact lenses. They weren’t new, just the pair that I had used for a period of 4 months – although I used it back again after 20 days without contact lenses.

Long story short, blue hazes started to cover my eyes, and the lights had haloes of rainbow around them! What I first thought was the effect of laser lights (the events I attended used a LOT of laser lights), didn’t disappear even though I had arrived home – far away from the influence of laser lights and smokes. What the heck happened?

The blue haze disappeared after I rested my eyes in sleep, sans the contact lenses of course! The next day, I attended the same event. It was all good and clear until the middle of the event, when laser lights and smokes were abound. The lights suddenly had halos again, and I saw blue in practically anything I saw! I started to panic.

My hypotheses at the moment were:

1. The blue of the “iris” – yes, my contact lenses were colored blue – started to seep into my real iris! Oh my!
2. The lenses had been used for too long – well, the instruction said they were for 6 months usage, but it was recommended to remove them after 4 months period.
3. The lenses couldn’t stand laser lights. I thought there was something, some radiation, in those lights that perhaps distorted the chemical composition of the lenses.

Credit: optometry.co.uk

So, I went and disposed the contact lenses. I bought a new one that wasn’t BLUE for a change. In fact, it was gray.

Fast forward to today, which is the first day of school. Obviously, I needed my contact lenses to function maximally. So, I put on my brand new contact lenses.

Voila! There was an opening ceremony. I mindlessly sat on the seat that directly faced the sunlight. The blue haze – even though I noticed it was more gray than blue this time – appeared again. And the halo as expected accompanied the haze. I was, for a lack of a better expression, lost.

My curiosity prompted me to do an internet research. After some painful moments of skimming through online medical papers and “heavy” documents, I found what I was looking for.

“Tight Lens Syndrome”

According to Summit Medical Group (2013), tight lens syndrome is what happens when the soft contact lenses are narrower than the cornea. As the result, it sticks tightly – and uncomfortably – to the cornea, and is very ill-fitted.

The symptoms are as described in my experience: discomfort, blurred vision, rainbows or halos around bright lights. Bingo! My fear is unrealized of me being the only one who’s experiencing this kind of thing.

The problem is that the lens cannot move on the eye. Therefore, there will be a lack of oxygen. Meanwhile, preventing oxygen to come in is the worst possible thing you can do to your eyes, bar stabbing a sharp stick to it, though. The consequence is you developing what is called “Cornea Ulcer”. Basically, your cornea will be scarred, even to the point of being blind!

Horrified, I made a vow to myself to stop using contact lenses, at least until I consult an eye specialist. I would never know that I was on the brink of being blind without knowing this syndrome.

So, what’s the point of my story here? Hopefully, everyone of you will have the initiative to act whenever there is something wrong with your health, no matter how small or dire that “something” is. I get lucky. You have to get lucky too...

Healthy Eyes (Credit: healthandfashion.co.uk)

Aloof and Dignified - Analysing Kryptonian Culture

As I was browsing the Internet today, I saw that many websites hosting what is popular in today’s culture; such as BuzzFeed, Yahoo, and The Daily Beast among others; have been in a race to decide “The Best .... in 2013”, “The Worst .... in 2013”, and even “The Top 10 .... in 2013”, since the start of the year. I get the appeal. The general public adores this kind of thing, me included. Often times, I found my mouse clicking the link just to amuse myself in an otherwise boring day.

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest one in the land?

Going through my exploration, an article on screenrant.com reminds me why 2013 is such a great year for me. Three guesses what. Man of Steel.

Are you in disbelief yet, with your jaw hanging off the floor? Or are you currently laughing out loud at your computer, phone or tablet screen, thereby making you look like a retard to those oblivious folks around you?

It is true that this Zack Snyder’s movie has this girl completely fanboy-ing. I always like the myth of Superman, even though teenagers today prefer edgier superheroes like Iron Man or Captain America. I enjoy a good Marvel vs. DC debate with my sister. She is an avid supporter of Iron Man. She was also completely crazed out when the third Iron Man movie came out last March. I had to be patient enduring all her rants. So, when Man of Steel came out two months later, it was a payback time.

However, this entry will not discuss about whether or not the movie was good or not. There have been many blogs and sites that have done that since its release. No. I am here to write about one personal musing that unexpectedly came into my mind when I was wrapped up in my college search.

Huh? What’s the relation?

I am in a state of unrest, very much afraid, that the choice I will make is the wrong choice. I open my eyes to the world around me. I see that everything is so complex, even down to the smallest people. There are so many kinds of jobs – so many paths to choose in life. What kind of person do I want to be? What do you want to be? That is the ultimate question.

Then I thought, “It would be so much easier if every person had been chosen and briefed for their respective destiny. Time would not be used idly. The person would launch right away toward the road of destiny. Without any fear of getting lost.”

Ultimately, this is exactly what happened in Man of Steel.

Planet Krypton, as depicted in the popular culture

Krypton is the planet where Superman (Clark Kent/Kal-El) came from. Their civilization was captured very interestingly in Man of Steel. It is a civilization more advanced from Earth by thousands of year. Science and technology reign supreme on the planet. In scientific mindset, everything must be done efficiently. It’s no wonder that Kryptonian lifestyle has been engineered to be rather meticulous.

The jarring difference mentioned primarily in the movie is the way babies are born. There is no natural birth on Krypton. Advanced genetic engineering has chosen the best DNA accordingly, forgoing the process of natural selection. A baby is analysed, chosen and tasked with a particular “destiny” according to their best talents. They cannot go outside their designated purpose.

Krypton's Genesis Chamber, where babies are superficially "coded"

As the consequence, there are people like Zod. General Dru-Zod is the villain of the movie. Nevertheless, I can’t help but admire his steadfastness and devotion toward his job, which is ensuring Krypton’s survival – through whatever means, including destroying planet Earth. There are also people like Jor-El, the brilliant scientist. His scientific mind has been nurtured from the beginning. Everyone has their purpose.

Wouldn’t it be great if our Earth is heading toward the future?

Free Will vs. Destiny

Let’s do some hypothesizing here. If everyone was already chosen for one specific purpose, it would create a more efficient human labor. There would be no confusion in choosing what you are going to do. There would be no more wrong university major for the job. Moreover, there could be possibly no more unemployment. Everything would be running in order. The planet could quickly prosper because of it.

Everyone had been trained for their purpose since their childhood. There would be more experts popping up all over the world. Maybe, everyone would be an expert!

On the other side ...

Free will is a special gift from our Creator. A gift not given lightly since only us, humans, who own the gift. It is what differentiate us from animals. Why do we have free will? Humans are known to make mistakes anyway. Isn’t the very purpose of genetic engineering is to remove flaws?

“We’ve had a child, Zod. A boy child. Krypton’s first natural birth in centuries, and he will be free, free to forge his own destiny.” – Jor-El to Zod

“Every child was designed to fulfil a predetermined role in our society; as a worker, a warrior, a leader and so on. Your mother and I believed Krypton lost something precious, the element of choice, of chance. What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had intended for him or her? What if a child aspired to be something greater?” – Jor-El to Kal-El

Quotes are taken from moviequotesandmore.com

In the end, Krypton, with all of its scientifically advanced culture and superior lifestyle, lost its way. A society known for its aloofness and dignified way of living, no longer knows how to be genuine - expressing warmth, joy, and even pain. The element of choice is both wondrous and terrible. Used correctly, the choice you make will bring you far greater than your wildest dreams. Used irresponsibly, the consequences are dire.

Therefore, I am willing to endure all the confusion that a person has to go through in their life. I know that there’s something out there for me.

Isn’t our aspiration what makes humanity thrive in the first place?

Martin Luther King once said, “I have a dream.” This speech alone went down to history as one of the greatest inspirational speeches in the world. Whenever humanity needs power, you can play back the speech again.

The element of choice is what I look for every morning I get up from my bed – facing the new day with a renewed sense of hope. We thrive in unpredictability because we believe that everything even better than before will follow.

Controlling fate?