Kembali Ke Pojok: Journey

Mengapa garis pemisah jalur di jalan raya harus dibuat terputus-putus? Kenapa tak dibuat satu garis tegas memanjang? penanda pasti bahwa tak ada yang bisa pindah jalur. Tpi apakah memang harus dibuat setegas itu? Haruskan semua hal dibuat setegas itu? sepasti itu?

Aku menyukai hal yang pasti. Hampir semua pertanyaan dapat kujawab tanpa kata 'mungkin'. Jika aku tak punya jawaban, aku akan bilang 'tidak tahu'. Tak pernah kubayangkan bahwa ada saatnya aku akan membisu akan sebuah pertanyaan... tak pernah...

"aku ingin kamu jadi istriku" 

Tidak, itu bukan pertanyaan. Itu pernyataan sikap.

"tapi aku ingin kamu berhenti kerja, bisa?"

Ya, itu dia pertanyaannya. Pertanyaan yang membuatku membatu entah untuk berapa lama. Cukup lama untukku membayangkan ada mata Medusa atau Basilisk yang sedang memandangiku... apalagi yang bisa membuatku membatu selama ini.

Harmless conversation

There's nothing special on a dull Thursday night... Just a little harmless conversation between three friends over social media service. To be exact, three single girls in separate location with the same sudden interest toward a thing called 'endorfin' :)

Sometimes I think... Who needs boyfriend when you have ton of friends you can mess around with. At least it is better than another extreme proclamation like 'who needs boyfriend when there's work'...

Music : Feeling Good and iTunes Music Indonesia

I'm currently in the middle of an obsession toward one particular song, and unlike any other songs that I usually listen to, this song actually a jazz... The title is Feelin' Good, popularized by Nina Simone. I've been fascinated by the song for quite sometimes, and it has been covered by many singers, Muse for once, has covered it in one of the most popular cover song by an artist ever.

I don't know what attract me toward the song. But the moment I heard its opening phrase...

"bird's flying high, you know how I feel..."

I know I'm a goner. It's like having someone whisper on my neck and his breath tingle my spine. I don't really understand the meaning of the song. It feels more like the song that you will sing whenever you want to feel happy and good without paying attention to anything in particular. So, my playlist for the morning is just this one song but sung by many singers, from Nina Simone, Michael Buble, Muse, Rebecca Ferguson, to the current contestant of X-Factor USA, Carly Rose Sonenclaire. I love them all.

Another music related news. Apple finally open the iTunes music and movie store for Indonesia today.

I don't know whether to feel happy or down. I think as a user, I feel extremely happy. Finally, I can purchase the song I want to listen legally. iTunes library covers variety of genre from a wide timeline. It's not that difficult to find an old song there. 

On my professional side, I feel a little bit sad. Years ago, when I start my job at current office, my first project was an online music store. I feel quite a strong emotional bonding toward the service, eventhough I'm no longer in charge for it. So, after learned about the launch, for a moment I feel like there's somekind of evil aura haunted me from behind and threatening to throw me out of my place. It's like having a long time rival in the other school and abruptly he's moving to your school and snatched away your 1st place in class. Annoying to the level of infuriating.

I know that maybe I have to look at it on the brighter side. That maybe with the push of global player like Apple, finally Indonesia's music scene can move to a better condition. That maybe, starting from the higher economic level society, people will realize the importance of purchasing legal content. And with the fact that there is a widely known music store available, there's no longer excuses to buy or download the pirated one. In business side, well, there will always be enough business for us all.

I have purchased a song through it. I kinda feel foolishly dramatic when picking the first song I'll buy, I want to buy a song that I really like and appropriate to be a milestone of my digital lifestyle experience, buying a song through iTunes. So, after a long time browsing, I decided to buy Travis's Love Will Come Through. It is one of my all-time-favourite song, and accidentally, not part of my current songs library. I purchased it for IDR 5000 (approximately USD 0.5), a little cheaper than average song's price in US iTunes. The currency has already in IDR, for all store access from Indonesia has already changed its currency to IDR for a while. I browse through its library and found a genre of Malay and Indo Pop, featured singers and musicians from Malaysia and Indonesia. The library for this genre is still limited, but I think it just a matter of time until local artist put their musics in iTunes. Afterall, its the most reliable digital music store available right now.

Movie: Breaking Dawn part 2

First of all, I don’t even understand why I have the spirit to write about this movie while in fact, I had an incredible string of much better movies last month, to mention some of them, Skyfall, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt trifecta Premium Rush, Looper and 50/50. So, why Breaking Dawn pt.2? well, it simple, because finally this series is OVER!
Let’s see... I’m not the kind of hater or nay-sayers about the whole franchise. Actually, I’m among the earlier reader of Twilight saga and love it. But I have to make it clear that, the thing that I love about Twilight books is the conversation. I like the usage of somekind of what me and my friend called ‘middle-age demeanor’ that so trustingly embedded in Edward Cullen. And then, as infectious as swine flu, writers jump to ‘make-it-to-movie’ train and voila... 5 unbearable movies that make the series worse than it actually are.

Here the things, since the first twilight movie, I always thought that the cast is dead wrong. Not in term of looks, but in term of acting capability, well some sort in looks too, but not too much. I always get sick everytime I watched Kristen Stewart acts. She have that washboard face of her that actually look flat eventhough people try to rub an ugly thick carpet in her face. Seriously dude, where’s your expression???

And then come the teenage girl infatuation, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. Well, at least he has some expressions, eventhough I don’t know why he have to look mushy all the time. He's hot, but I never imagine Edward as somekind of boy with stupid smirk and mellow eyes. And the others, ah... I can’t say anything about the others, there will be too much disappointment from me about the cast, so, I think it’s kinda late to go all wishy-washy on the cast, they already there for the whole series.

Long Weekend in Bandung: Trans Studio Bandung & Braga

We have a very long-weekend holiday last week. In spirit of celebrating Islamic new year, the government decided to pronounce last Thursday and Friday as public holiday. As usual, I went back to Bandung, but at this time I spent it most with my friends.

We finally visited Trans Studio Bandung at Friday. By 'we' I mean me, Ayu and Sonia.  The place itself has been an upcoming destination in Bandung since its opening at 2011. We planned it for quite sometimes, but never really get the chance. We decided to visit it at Friday with the hope that it wouldn't be as crowded as in Saturday or Sunday.

On Saturday, I have a lunch-date with Poets. She told me that there is an exhibition at Gedung Gas Negara at Jalan Braga. It got my attention immediately, because the building has been vacant for a long time and the last time I checked, it is in a very bad shape. The exhibition itself is part of an event hold by Ikatan Mahasiswa Arsitektur Gunadharma ITB. And Poets as part of Bandung Heritage Society also prepare some material to be exhibited in the event. We agree to meet at Braga Huis at lunchtime and then head to Gedung Gas Negara to watch the exhibition.

The exhibition was awesome! The theme of the exhibition are architecture, heritage and art. There are materials showed the architectural analysis on Braga area and also other old colonial buildings in Bandung. From the exhibition, I knew that there were actually 2 colonial time architect by the name of Schoemaker, they are brothers, Richard Schoemaker and C.P Wolff Schoemaker. The name Schoemaker has been tied to most historical buildings in Bandung. Bandung Heritage society also exhibit some materials regarding historical building preservation and some studies on urban planning. I found Poets's name on some of the materials and feels oddly smug because I come with her, just WOW. 

I left the exhibition at 5 p.m. The committee said that the exhibition has surpassed their expectation of attendee, there were more than 1500 people came in 1 week. I feel deeply grateful for the committee from IMA-G ITB for holding the event in the building. It just feels nice to finally see people with so much passion for heritage preservation. And most of all, I love people that love Bandung :)

Virtually New York

I always get fascinated by New York City. I love songs about New York, from the classic "New York, New York" to the modern one like "Empire State of Mind". Most of my favourite movies take place in New York, from "Breakfast at Tiffanys" to "You've Got Mail" to the recent "Premium Rush". I've never been to New York, but New York is the only city in the US that I want to visit.

And then, there's this magical thing from the 21st century called internet, that enable people from developing asian country with limited budget like me to wander around New York city without visiting it. I like to wander around New York through Google maps street view. Checking out Apple store at 5th Avenue, wondering about how nice it will be to reading a book on a bench under a big tree in Central Park, watching people jogging or toddler playing in the meanwhile. Sitting on the steps of Met Museum and taking picture of all those people hanging around there. Gazing up from the intersection of Time Square to the those giant billboards around it. And maybe walking along 5th Avenue toward the Empire State Building. Well, I've done that virtually and hope can do it literally in the future. 

In the mean time, I find this blog,  Humans of New York. It's a fascinating blog. When I'm wandering around New York through Google Maps street view for its scenery, then I will know a little about its people through this blog. The photographer, Brandon, take picture of stranger in the street of New York City and write short caption or description when post it to his blog. It's like The Sartorialist of common sense, not so fashionable, not so glamour, just real. The picture he take give people a story, and will make us wonder what does it feels to meet those many people, have a little chat while asking to take their picture. I admire his brave in engaging with stranger and his passion that transfer those photos into a fascinating stories. And I also envy his opportunity to meet those varieties of people, including the toddlers. 

I've been following his blog for quite sometimes, and I recommend this blog to people that always has a dream to visit New York City someday, and maybe to those that has interest to meet thousands of people with different stories, virtually. 

Terbang

Jalan ini terasa terlalu lurus. Papan penunjuk jarak jalan tol berlari melewatiku, 80? 100? 120 km/jam? Aku tak punya kemampuan untuk memperkirakan seberapa cepat mereka berlari ke arahku, atau mobil yang kutumpangi ini yang melaju melewati mereka? ada satu hukum yang menjelaskannya bukan? Newton? 1 atau 2?

Ah, aku tidak ingat. Dia selalu menceritakan semua hal rumit itu dengan senyum lebar dan mata berbinar, seperti orang jatuh cinta. Tapi apalah itu disebutnya jika kau jatuh cinta pada hukum fisika?

Aku menutup mata, masih sekitar 20 kilometer lagi sampai ke bandara, dan 12 ribu kilometer sampai Paris. Paris? bukan... dia bilang dia bukan akan ke Paris, Marseille lebih jelasnya. Aku tak pernah dengar nama kota itu sebelumnya. Satu-satunya kota di Perancis yang aku tahu adalah Paris dan mendengar namanya selalu membuatku berpikir, mengapa ada yang mau menamai satu kota dengan nama seorang pria romantis pengecut, atau dalam abad yang berbeda, nama seorang perempuan kaya manja? Yah, aku sendiri pun tak tahu mana yang memakai nama itu lebih dulu.

Dia akan berangkat ke sana tak lama lagi, sekitar dua jam lagi jika tidak salah, untuk satu tujuan... belajar fisika. Aku tak pernah habis pikir kenapa seseorang mau belajar fisika atas kemauan sendiri. Fisika memang menyenangkan, lebih mudah dimengerti dibanding Kimia, dan jelas lebih matematis, tapi tetap saja, aku tak pernah begitu mengerti apa yang bisa dilakukan dengan mengetahui bagaimana menghitung jarak lontar peluru ataupun dari menghapal semua hukum-hukum berbahasa aneh itu. Toh kalau sampai suatu saat aku melontar peluru, aku tak akan punya waktu untuk menghitung terlebih dahulu, itu pun kalau sampai suatu saat aku punya kesempatan untuk melontar peluru. Tapi dia menyukai Fisika seperti aku menyukai makanan.

Complication

It was on a depressed Wednesday night, after a very tough day, I had this little chat with my friend about marriage. He's already married his college sweetheart. Me on the other hand, is a lost girl. The one that don't want to be bothered with the whole dating or marriage thing whatsoever. I ask him one question that keep hanging in my mind...

"how can you let a stranger become a crucial part of your life, let your guard down for him/her and give her/him almost unlimited access to every part of you?"

Because that's what I thought about marriage. It's about letting someone in and hopefully, he'll stay there forever. But that person, eventhough you date him/her for as long as you remember, is still a stranger. You're not born with him/her, not grow up with him/her, not always together with him/her and above all, you have all the right to choose to be with him/her. So what's make a person so sure to accept someone unconditionally and make him/her a part of their life?

It took almost 2 hours after the conversation to get the answer from my friend. It's not really an answer, he gave me the basic reasoning. He said, there's a hint of worry and doubt in my question. The theme is classic, insecurity. Which is common for girls my age. Most girls -basically- are vulnerable and fragile, and they seek security and comfort in a relationship. On the other side, a man has an acute need of being needed. That even a jerk like Barney Stinson still want to be needed by girls because... well... he's good in bed. So, the bottomline is, when those two needs collided in overlapping timeline, finally meet, clicked and matched with each other, my question will be irrelevant. At that point, a couple will realize that what they want and need is take a step further and build a life together. No more question, no more reasoning. Just know that it's right.

It take me sometimes to think about his answer, and come to realization that my girl friends also said similar thing to me with different packaging... 'you just haven't meet the man yet'. I always take the answer like that lightly, but when I talk similar thing to a boy and he gave me different packaging of the answer (with all reasoning and so-called psychological analysis), I get it immediately. Sigh, maybe my brain is hardwired for complication, you have to explain a simple thing using quantum mechanic vocabulary if you want to get my attention. I'm that complicated. But maybe, sometimes I'll look at this subject with simpler mindset. Maybe, when the urge to be a relationship is high, when most of my close friend won't hang out with me anymore because of 'family-issue' and my family has barked loudly in my ears every now and then, I'll be forced to look at thing with simpler perspective. Maybe, someday it's not about trust issue anymore. Maybe, it just about having someone to spend the rest of your life with and prevent human race from extinction. We'll see.

Can you save me?

Lunafly - Superhero

Music: TVXQ - Catch Me

I've been restraining myself from doing this post, but actually, I think I have to do it anyway. It almost 2 years since TVXQ release an album, the last one is Keep Your Head Down, which is great and now they're back with Catch Me.

Before I talk about the album, let me introduce you to the group. TVXQ or Dong Bang Shin Ki in Korean, is South Korean boy group debut under the biggest entertainment agency in South Korea, SM Entertainment. Me, myself, has been their fan for almost 6 years. In the beginning, I was a fan of Japanese music, Japanese Rock music in particular and coincidentally, the people around me also japan-maniacs. One of my friend at the time, recommend me to listen to Tohoshinki (TVXQ's japanese name). Me, never put interest to a boyband before, dismiss the recommendation almost immediately, quoting: "even their name sounds ridiculous!".

Books: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Another mythology novel! Actually, after reading The Song of Achilles, I've been reading another book... Essays in Love by Alain the Botton. But suddenly September become such a storm in my work life and I hardly find a proper time to read the book. By the time October rolls, The Mark of Athena is released and honestly, I prioritize to read this book first because, well, I can finish it in a very short time, like... 8 hours straight.

The Percy Jackson series target the teenager audience and it is feel every bit teenager as a teenager book should be. For those who are following the the Heroes of Olympus series, we already know that the first two books (The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune) set as the introductory stories that led to the quest in The Mark of Athena. This is when finally two-powerful culture entity collide, different value clash and loyalty tested. 

Starting in the very moment after Percy Jackson raise as praetor in the previous book, the ship Argo II sail from Half Blood Hill and arrive at New Rome with diplomatic mission, to unite Greek and Roman and fulfill the New Great Prophecy/Prophecy of Seven.

The highlight of this book is Percy and Annabeth together again! I love it for that. I love how the author intensify the bonding between Percy and Annabeth, and how importance that development to the flow of the story. The scene when Percy and Annabeth meet the first time in New Rome after months of separation is every bit as I imagine it could be. Annabeth reaction is so good but not unexpected judging by how she and Percy relationship like. 

Annabeth has the hardest path in this story. Bearing a personal quest that has been trusted to the children of Athena for centuries, bring Athena back home. Putting the transformation conflict between Athena's Greek personality to Roman's Minerva as the main driver of the story is brilliant. It means that the author also understand the conflict that once happened eons ago. The story develop more adult and serious vibe because of it, and it also lead to the key to end the Greek-Roman feud.

On the not so nice side, there are 7 POVs in this book, and honestly, it's too crowded. I like the 'Percy Jackson and The Olympians' format much better (with just one POV - Percy), 3 is fine, but 7? it's quite confusing and the emotional exploration of each character feel a little bit so-so. 

I'm also hope that there are some personality/morality clash between Percy and Jason, to think that they are very powerful demigod and a leader from different spectrum of culture. But the main ripple of the group is more like 'love-line' problem between Frank-Hazel-Leo which I found a little bit boring. I love the bromance and competition-to-protect between Percy and Jason, but still, having their bonding so smooth is quite a disappointment for me to think that Percy even had quite a clash with his sister Thalia in The Titan's Curse before.

In my conclusion, this is a better development than the previous 2 books in the series. It set another path to more complicated task ahead and ultimately to the main issue, fulfilling the prophecy. Rick Riordan has stated in his website that the next book will be released at fall next year and the title will be 'The House of Hades'. There are 2 children of Hades/Pluto in this story, and the fact that the story is about the Door of Death, I think it will be interesting. More truth to come in the next book and I'm really looking forward to it.

Books: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Myth -greek and roman- has always be in my list of interest. But I never really seek for a book that directly told about the myth itself, I've just read the modern adaptation or else.

The Song of Achilles is beyond my expectation. Trojan War is a bloodbath. Men sailed to Troy with the promise of glory in the packaging of bring back the most beautiful woman in the world. If I've ever hate a person in greek mythology, that person would be Helen, and thank God that this book is not about her. Told from the point of view of Patroclus, a close companion and most beloved of Achilles, the greatest warrior of them all. Madellne Miller beautifully interpret the relationship of Achilles and Patroclus: they are friends, comrades, and lovers. The story stretch from the self introduction of Patroclus, to his exile to the kingdom of Phtia where he meet Achilles, they are just 9 then. And then the goes to the span of 18 years their time together, the time in Phtia, to mount Pelion, Scyros and of course the sail and battle of Troy. Madeline miller build a love story around one of the most well-known war in the world. She mold the story of Iliad creatively to support her interpretation and I love it. I finished reading this book in 3 days. Eagerly trying to reach the end, cut short my beauty sleep to just 4 hours in those days and it all worth it.

I highly recommend this book, especially to all myth-geek out there. I hope Miller will write other interpretation of Greek/Roman mythology, Odyssey can be next, but I really hope it would be Heracles. So many people told the story of Heracles but I never found one interesting, too much embellishment. Maybe if miller write the story it will be refreshing to the character. I'll wait for it.

Feel So High

It just one calm Sunday afternoon with Ayu and Zakki. We visited a little cafe called Carlo the Hut at Senayan City. It feels a little bit odd, because we visit Senayan City for God knows how many times, yet we never come to this little place. The cafe is homey, with unplastered brick wall, flowers -daisy, a lot of daisies, wooden furniture, comfy sofa, great food, and music...

There's one particular song that caught by my ear and stay on my mind for days after I visited Carlo the Hut. I was pretty sure that it is Des'ree, I googled it and found out that the title is 'Feel so High', and it turns out as Des'ree's first single. I like Des'ree, and I love the song. There's somekind of serene optimism and innocent carefree-ness that I feel when I listen to it. Who said that a girl have to always whining about everything. We can serenade a lovely tune and keep positive mindset about the world. This song is one of the proof for that, love it :)

I'm living for tomorrow not today, gotta make my plans so in caseI'll be prepared when I see you smiling

Cause I feel so high away, I'm reaching out for your skyI've boundless energies, I feel I could run a million miles

Kembali ke pojok: The girl in the corner

Another sequel of this one, just toying with some plot idea :)
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Namanya Andani. Orang berkata dialah yang akan terjadi jika Anna Wintour berpenampilan ala Audrey Hepburn, manis dan sederhana dari luar, rumit, demanding dan keras kepala di dalam. Setiap pagi pukul 7 tepat dia sudah sampai di kantor. Melenggang cepat melewati lobi, meninggalkan hentakan bunyi high-heels beradu lantai marmer. Dia selalu menyetir sendiri. Perilaku aneh untuk orang yang sanggup membeli tas Dior. Alasannya simpel, dia tak suka membiarkan orang lain melihatnya melamun, dia tak suka terlihat lemah.

Andani memasuki ruangannya di lantai 21, dan menemukan seseorang sedang menunggunya disana, Rako, partner kerjanya selama 7 tahun terakhir dan sahabatnya untuk waktu yang tak bisa dia ingat. Jika banyak yang mengatakan Andani menyebalkan, maka Rako itu mengerikan. Usianya baru menginjak 33 tahun, tapi dia sudah mencapai level partner. Andani saja baru di level principal, padahal dia 4 tahun lebih tua darinya. Di firma konsultan ini, para staf hanya akan memasang wajah masam saat Andani muncul, tapi mereka akan pucat pasi dan menunduk saat Rako yang hadir. Setidaknya begitulah dia jika di kantor, Andani lebih tahu bagaimana Rako diluar kantor. Pagi ini, diluar kebiasaannya, Rako sudah menunggu di kantornya dengan segelas kopi dan senyum di wajahnya.

Reblog: Taufik Ismail tentang Chrisye

*transkrip ini didapat dari http://kambing.ui.ac.id/onnopurbo/library/library-islam/knowledge/ketika-mulut-tak-lagi-berkata.txt

Penyair Taufiq Ismail menulis sebuah artikel tentang Chrismansyah Rahadi(1949-2007) atau lebih dikenal sebagai Chrisye di majalah sastra HORISON. 

Chrismansyah Rahadi (1949-2007): KETIKA MULUT TAK LAGI BERKATA

- TAUFIQ ISMAIL

Di tahun 1997 saya bertemu Chrisye sehabis sebuah acara, dan dia berkata, "Bang, saya punya sebuah lagu. Saya sudah coba menuliskan kata-katanya, tapi saya tidak puas. Bisakah Abang tolong tuliskan liriknya?"

Karena saya suka lagu-lagu Chrisye, saya katakan bisa. Saya tanyakan kapan mesti selesai. Dia bilang sebulan. Menilik kegiatan saya yang lain, deadline sebulan itu bolehlah. Kaset lagu itu dikirimkannya, berikut keterangan berapa baris lirik diperlukan, dan untuk setiap larik berapa jumlah ketukannya, yang akan diisi dengan suku kata. Chrisye menginginkan puisi

relijius.

Signature

signature (noun): something (as a tune, style, or logo) that serves to set apart or identify; also : a characteristic mark [Merriam Webster Dictionary]

This morning, someone (a.k.a Tiffa) ask me via twitter, ‘Is Coraline Tim Burton’s movie?’. And my answer is : No, it’s not. But then, she ask one of her friends and the answer is : ‘it’s the same one with the maker of nightmare before christmas’. Nightmare Before Christmas is Tim Burton’s, so it means Coraline is Tim Burton’s? No, it’s not. Coraline is directed bya Henry Selick, the one who apparently direct the animation for Nightmare Before Christmas. So, Tiffa’s friend’s statement is right, as long as he/she wasn’t intended it to be Tim Burton.

Anyway, I want to talk about other thing based on it. People will jump to conclusion that Coraline is Tim Burton’s because of it similarity with Nightmare Before Christmas that is Tim Burton’s. And Tim Burton’s work is always known for its slightly dark aura and unconventional storyline, which also we can find in Coraline. So, naturally, people will perceive Coraline as Tim Burton’s work. I feel bad for Henry Selick though, it’s his work but people perceive it differently. Not that Tim Burton’s at fault, but his style is so strong that people remember it clearly to the point they just have to watch and recognize it. Dark and unconventional, that is Tim Burton’s signature.

We find this kind of signature in other things. The physical things like New York City and the Liberty Statue, The prefix ‘i’ to every digital device by Apple, the famous tune when you switch on your Nokia phone. To characters attached to human being and their works: Muhammad SAW and trustworthiness, Gandhi and his opposition to violence, the simple line ‘saya turut prihatin’ from Indonesia’s current president, SBY everytime he made a speech, appearance of ‘11.11’ in Joko Anwar’s work....

What is yours?

That question popped up in my mind immediately. What’s mine? Is there something unique in me that will always be remembered by others as mine?

Some of us own a signature that more to our physical trait or material attribute. Like how my friends really like to affiliate me with those chinese vampire creature because my house is located near chinese graveyard. To some point, it’s okay to be known by that kind of signature, but you know, like Steve Jobs’s boring black Issey Miyake shirt is just a little part of his profile, one day I want to be known for a greater cause too. Something that will always stays on people’s mind about me, something that valued, something that makes me be remembered by others when I’m gone. In Indonesia, we have the right proverb to express it:

“gajah mati meninggalkan gading, harimau mati meninggalkan belang”
[elephant dies leaving ivory, tiger dies leaving skins]

I’m still searching for it. And you, what unique point you want to be known as? How do you want to be known when you’re gone?

Kembali ke pojok : Late Night Gibberish

Seri kembali ke pojok ini adalah lanjutan dari yang ini. Atas permintaan sekenanya dari Gusti Ayu Meliati, akhirnya saya coba bikin sekuel. Pertama kali bikin sekuel.
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picture taken from here

“008?” katanya kemudian sambil nyengir. Saras langsung menarik tangannya cepat dan memandang Rako dengan wajah tertekuk.

Sudah puluhan tahun dari serial superhero lokal konyol dengan brand panggilan telepon international itu tayang di televisi, dan dia -yang dengan menyebalkannya punya nama yang sama- harus merasakan komentar refleks yang sama tiap kali ada orang yang mendengar namanya. Dalam hati dia ingin balas berteriak ‘basi! madingnya udah mau terbit!’, setidaknya AADC baru sepuluh tahun lalu.

Prometheus: How to make an Alien

Poster is taken from Wikipedia

These days, if you want to watch a movie, look who’s the director is, not the actors. This was what motivated me to watch Prometheus, because it is Ridley Scott’s. Scott is one of the earliest contender in thriller sci-fi genre. The world know him from creating one of the most visually horrible movie of all time: Alien. Remember all those disturbing scenes? not to mention that gigantic-pointy-head creature? yes, that’s all Scott’s brainchild. Now, Prometheus. The title is taken from the name of a titan in greek mythology, the one who gave fire to human race. 


In the movie, Prometheus is the name of a space ship manufactured by Weylan enterprise that travel the universe with a mission, to search the origin of mankind. Prometheus said to be the prequel of Alien, and yes, every bit of it is actually a step-by-step explanation of “how to create Alien”. So here’s I prepare you the recipe:

Ravenna, The Evil Queen

Movie poster taken from wikipedia

“mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all”


That line, maybe one of the most famous line from the fairytales universe. And the one that I loath the most, mirror? gah, fairest? gah! What is the point in asking a MIRROR how good looking you are? it’s like Narsiscus, spending his day groveling about his face and end up dying in the lake.

Okay, skip the cynicism, let’s move to the movie itself.

This year, there are two live action movie adapted from Brother Grimm’s Snow white, the first is satiric comedy Mirror Mirror (which I watched months ago) and the second is epic colossal Snow White and the Huntsman, which I watched last saturday. I just gonna talk about the second. 

First thing first, for me, the title of the movie is wrong, it should be “Ravenna, The Evil Queen”, because she’s the only great thing about the movie, anything else just mediocre.

On The Road

With all the buzz around Cannes film festival and the release of film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, I take the bait. I want to read the book and just bought the digital version of On the Road.

Dubbed as one of the best English-language novel of the 20th century, On the Road always said to be a story that define a generation, to be specific American youngster in the 50s. Honestly, I don't really have interest about USA post WW II. All the things that I've read that comes from before 90s -except the classic literature- is history related, this is the first. I've read the first chapter, and not really impressed, maybe after I read further... we'll see. My goal is to finish the book before I watch the movie, and maybe if it's good enough I'll write some review... we'll see. 

I've betrayed my own reading list by reading this one, I should have read Partikel first. but I'm in sinister mood, so it's better to read something more psychological and morally challenging that factually challenging like Partikel. Next one maybe.

I wanna do something that matters, say something differentSomething that sets the whole world on its earI wanna do something better with the time I've been givenI wanna try to touch a few hearts in this lifeLeave nothing less than something that says "I was here"

[Lady Antebellum - I Was Here]

L'arc en Ciel 20th Anniversary World Tour

May 2nd, 2012 is perhaps one of the day of the year that certainly I will always remember. It's the time when, finally, I watch L'arc en Ciel live!

I know L'arc en Ciel since I was in 2nd grade of middle school. Some of my friend at the time were into this band. And the simple and britpop worshiper me, didn't understand the fascination. It was not until I was in highschool I actually listen to their music, and I love it!

Some people called them freak and weirdo, oh... yes, they're quite a weirdo, but that's what make them uniquely remarkable. L'arc en Ciel is the one that mainstreaming rock music in their homeland, Japan. Bring rock music to a wider audience through anime and movie. And among others, they are the one that introduce japanese rock music scene to the world. I bet on my hat that every non japanese j-rock fans starting with listening to L'arc en Ciel.

"orang sunda itu... pas muda gak mau ngerantau jauh-jauh atau lama-lama, pasti pengen cepet-cepet balik lagi ke tempat lahirnya, pas jadi orang tua hariwangan (gampang khawatir), gak mau anaknya pergi jauh-jauh..."
[papah]

ya pas deh... yang ngerantaunya bertanya-tanya... 'kapankah saya kembali ke bandung?'
di sisi lain, sang orang tua, punya anak ngerantau 120 km lebih ke utara dikit aja bisa di-rewelin-nya setengah mati... :D

Orang bandung itu, dari lahir ampe mati pengennya di bandung...
Sederhana banget ya... :)

Nova Supernova

I got my order of Supernova series by Dee from kutukutubuku.com yesterday. Dee just launched the 4th installment of Supernova series, titled Partikel (in english: particle). It's thicker that the previous books, nearly 500 pages, almost twice Petir. I've opened the book and scan to the connection plot to the previous book, Petir, which is on the last chapter. And it's not so much describing the connection. It means that Dee actually mean it when she said that the connection of all Supernova books will be clear in the last episode: the 6th book - Inteligensi Embun Pagi. To consider that it takes 6 years from Petir to Partikel, I think I have to endure another 10 years until Supernova series completed. Oh God, I hope it won't be that long!

I really prefer buying books online than go to bookstore these days, part because it's cheaper (they gave me 15% discount) and part because I don't like crowded bookstore on the weekend. I'm still reading One Click, an unauthorize biography about Amazon.com and Jeff Bezos, and in the book, Bezos said that those two reasons above is exactly why people like to shop books online. Well, actually it's because we don't have to wear books, so that online book shopping will give you nearly zero unsatisfactory level.

Kembali ke pojok: Love is a four letter word

Aku merasakan suka cita dan bahagia yang dengan perlahan memenuhi ruangan ini. Melihat sepasang manusia yang saling menatap dengan takjub, dengan ekspresi yang kaya akan syukur dan bahagia. Ikrar akad nikah mereka baru selesai diucapkan, dan dengan diucapkannya tiga huruf dalam satu rangkaian kata berbunyi ‘sah’, mereka berdua memasuki kehidupan baru. How simple!

Aku menatap dan tak lama pun ikut tersenyum. Aku pun merasa bahagia, for such an undefined thing, aku bisa merasa bahagia. She’s my best friend, and he’s my colleague at work, and yes, they know each other through me. Siapa sangka? ironis, dan menurutku, aneh. Karena aku tak percaya cinta, maaf - kuralat, aku tak mengerti cinta.

Kedua mempelai lalu berkeliling, menerima salam, kecup dan peluk bahagia dari semua yang datang. Aku masih berdiri di tempatku, tersenyum sambil menatap mereka bahagia. How lucky they are. Mereka lalu mencapai tempatku berdiri, dan bersama-sama keduanya memelukku.

No Extra Part

Someone asks me a question today: "what is the best movie for this year (so far)?"

And the answer instantly popped up in my mind: Hugo.

As we all know, it is Martin Scorsese's, and as you may know that he, as far as I know, never make a crappy movie. Hugo is a piece work of art and creativity, and I don't care that people tell it is not commercially succeed, Hugo still outstanding.

Minion Glee Club

A little entertainment and laugh in the morning is good for your health... :D

The Hunger Games

Image via Wikipedia

It was around 2006 when I watched this Japanese movie titled Battle Royale, the one with all that post-war near apocalyptic world, where the government will be crazy and desperate enough to throw a full game of setting teenager out in secluded island and kill each other until only one remain and declare as winner. Fast forward to the beginning of 2012, with all the commotion about the upcoming movie, The Hunger Games, I force myself to read the novel with a pang of underestimate feeling caused of its similarity to Battle Royale.

Set in the alternate future of what today is North America, is the country of Panem. With its 12 districts that enslaved by the all and mighty Capitol. Each of Panem's districts is said to has specific characteristic that distinct one to another, which is also the characteristic that been assumed by most of the population of the district itself, from the fact that every character's ability  in the books is being defined by which district they comes from. On the other hand, all that districts share the same characteristic : poor, enslaved and dictated by the capitol, and has a life quality that maybe seems similar to what it's been told about the life in North Korea today.