Donnie Yodha

Ah… it’s interesting that there’s actually someone visiting this blog!

Anyway, welcome to this blog. As you see, you’re here because either you’re lost or you don’t know what you wanna do with your life. But it’s alright, life’s like that. If we know what to do with our life, we can all be Bill Gates already.

You’ll find one or two nearly useful things here while the rest would be total gibberish. Apart of that, there’ll be some comic strips to cheer up your days or even sink it deeper in the bottomless frustration blackhole. Either way, you’ll be alright. Trust me.

This is not really a blog, not really a webcomic. A blogomic? Who knows…

Nuff said, just make yourself comfortable with constant companion of Tim (for Timbul) and Bill (for Gembil). If you happen to stay long enough or come back here some other time, I’d like to say thank you!

Cheers,
DonnieYodha

I guess my hiatus is long enough to retain my reputation as a procrastinator major campaigner. I’m running out of excuse for not writing anything in this blog. What should I write now… hmm… guess I still owe one or two book reading reports. Well then…

Freakonomics
This book really does freak me out. Never before a literature about economics and statistics can thrill me and keep me on the edge of my seat, literally. Ok, it’s not a conventional economics or statistics book, but it truly shows how powerful tool statistic can be. The author used principals of economics and statistics to explain what happens in the criminal world of crack cocaine operation, or how legalization of abortion in USA probably play a major role on the drop of crime rate, or what happens behind the decline of Klu Klux Clan power, or why we shouldn’t trust any real estate agents (not that I trust them before, anyway), just to name a few.

Steven D. Levitt made me realize that there is such person who actually really loooves to sit down behind a desk and analyzing piles of data. Fortunately for us, he’s not a typical economist, thus, there’s no brain crushing mathematical formulas on his book (another reason why I like the book). The way he used his logic and his method on seeing and analyzing seemingly ordinary things is amazing. He can reveal interesting facts behind things that normally avoiding our attentions.

Good thing that he met this journalist, Stephen J. Dubner, so that this book can be materialized to enlighten dimwits like me and maybe you.

Tom Clancy’s Powerplays: Bio Strike
This was the first Tom Clancy novel I read. I knew about his reputations as a writer of manly masochistic books about war, high-end weaponry technologies, politics and international intrigues. I even managed to take a peek at some of video games based from his novels like Rainbow Six or Splinter Cells. I wonder why it took me so long to finally read his book.

Unfortunately, this one I read was not the best on his collections. The critics’ reviews were not so good, the readers’ reviews even worse. Too bad I realized it only after I finished reading the book.

There were some inconsistencies in the storyline and setting, for example there were some confusion on location reference where a South American country president died (from Peru to Brazil and then back to Peru again… No, trust me, it doesn’t seem to be intentional). Also at least a mistake on date reference, an event was described to be happened in the year of 2000, while it should be 2001, unless they involved a time machine in the storyline—which was not the case. The bright side of this is… if a book that bears Tom Clancy’s name on its cover can afford to make mistakes, this is a good news for a newbie amateur like me… *grin grin*

One more thing to note, the pace was so slow, if you compare it to Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, the latter seems to be moving on speed of light.

Well, apparently this book was not really written by Tom Clancy himself. His name is more like a brand used by the publisher to boost up the book’s value. Maybe only the initial idea was from him, or maybe even nothing actually came from Tom Clancy.

Aaaaanyway, yeah, I still learned one or two things from this book, especially about writing setting and background description. The book was so detailed, too many details at some points they became unnecessary and utterly confusing.

There were a lot of characters in the book, some were quite important, most were just ignorable bystander. I needed to read carefully so that I wouldn’t confuse which is which. A particular character I like was Lathrop, a freelance spy cum mercenary cum vigilante. A mysterious character with unclear determination, is he one of the good guys or just a regular crook with thirst for money in disguise? I guess some of us are easily falling in love with curious character who sometimes dangerously flirts with the darkside.

Yap, not that I return to my lazy usual self, but I was a little bit occupied with some other things. One of them is.. YES! Gagas Media is interested to TGB! In fact they’re going to publish it! All those efforts are not wasted!

It’s still too premature for a champagne pop (I’ll use 0% alcohol, obviously… not haroomm). A lot of works to be done, revision, marketing plans, revision, and revision… Will it be done on time? We’re trying our best. It should hit the street pretty soon.. sooner than you think

Well, wish me luck…

Honestly I don’t know why I like to post some apocaliptic themes. Maybe it’s how the unconscious part of my desperate mind works.

But really, we need help to save ourselves, because it seems we are incapable of doing it. Day by day we slowly, willingly and happily kill ourselves, the humanity, homo sapien species, or whatever you want to call it. Gas guzzling industries, over fishing, mad deforestation, pollutions, wild climate changes, breeding lawyer and politician, just to name a few…

Normally, we are not afraid to consequence that we can’t see. Thus if the effect of those few softdrink cans we threw to the ditch can only be seen 50 years from now, why should be worried, right? Afterall it’s all just prediction, right? Global warming is just a myth, right? Wrong. But unfortunately having awareness is not enough to change someone’s lifestyle, let alone to change the ignorants’ lifestyle. We’ll probably be extinct in 200 years if nothing’s starting to change. Maybe that’s not so bad, but unfortunately before we extinct, we’ll make all other creatures extinct first… those poor things.

Probably the reason why mammoth extinct…
Bill: Mammoth extinct? Naaw, that’s crazy talk! They’re breeding! Renewable resource!
Probably the reason why homo sapiens extinct…
Bill: Water running out? Naaw, that’s crazy talk! It’s renewable resource!

On the upside, advancing modern technology is intended for the better of humanity (in the surface, that is). Better products, faster production time, better ways to meet people’s demands, more entertainment options, a lot more choices to indulge oneselves.  Modern technology is definitely good for economy as it finds the most efficient ways to achieve something, so it’s just natural that innovation progresses are mostly driven by economic rewards. It’s good, nothing’s wrong with that, it’s fine, perfectly fine.

And then comes automation, which also seems alright… Until those people from Hollywood started to twist my mind and injected me with that completely logical idea, that technology will someday turn back to us, in an ugly way. Terminator franchise, The Matrix trilogy, I Robot, Doraemon, to name a few. We—especially Japanese—are crazy about automation and artificial intelligence. It’s fun yes, to see those Sony’s electronic puppies run around or that little astronaut like thing from Honda walking and running. But it’s only on the surface, if we look deeper to factories, automation plays major roles. Look at car assembly line, those giant robotic arms swinging around efficiently, soldering, cutting, doing precission works in a split second. It’s kinda scary to think that those things may one day replace human (which they already do… how many people around the world are losing jobs to automation? A lot). Fast forward until those machines getting enough AI and having conscience of existence, they might just think to completely replace us as the dominating species in the planet… Which might not necessarily be a bad thing for planet Earth, since we’ve done more harm than good to her :-p

Rob-01: Excuse me, Sir… I am, Rob-01, at your service.
Rob-01: Just let me know what you need and we’ll get it done. We can do anything.
Rob-01: Automatically..
Rob-01: You’re no longer necessary. Not even need to exist.
Tim: Huh?! Weird dream…

Technology is advancing in a breakneck speed. So fast, it left me standing still on its wake. No, don’t get me wrong here, I’m not complaining. Who am I to complain, anyway? All those new inventions are supposed to make life easier for us—human—in doing our routines. The new technologies supposedly help us to eliminate our difficulties and solving our problems.

Let’s first just talk about one thing, the internet. It has revolutionized the way we look at the world. The implication is tremendous, everything now seems to be working in light speed. I remember those old days when my grandma used to send me one of those snail mails, it took ages to get delivered just thinking of it made me gave up any effort to send a reply. Now there is email, barely a second after we click send button, someone on the other side of the world can read it already. Information can be dissipated to the mass in a very short period of time. Information is a public domain these days.

Now if we see few other things: fully automatic manufacturing assembly lines, car that can park itself, automatic vehicle cruise control, nano technology, cloning, DNA based customized medicine, and don’t forget… eerie iPod and scary Google, and the list goes on and on without an apparent end… All those things which in my younger days seemed like could only exist on Star Trek or Mission: Impossible (and I’m talking about the original series). It’s all here, the future is now! Well, almost…

But the main point, is it true that advancement in technology always and only brings good things?

Tim: Technology is advancing… Wireless communication devices, video call, superthin color LCD, WiFi…
Tim: Virtual reality… 10 years ago all were just science fictions.
Tim: Now everything is here before our eyes. Even cars can park themselves. Amazing…
Some strange voice: Excuse me, Sir…

Children must be left alone in their world, let them grow and enjoy their childhood, but for how long? Sooner or later they must face the world and all of its unlimited supply of problems. And now it seems like the time is coming sooner and sooner and maybe too soon for them to realise, even by themselves, that the world is not as pretty as it should be.

The timing for adults to tell the reality to children, though, is very tricky. Tell them too soon, they’ll be weirdos. Tell them too late, they might become victims or even worse, they might be perverts and criminals themselves (well, not pervert and criminal per se, just exaggerating…). Ah.. it’s not easy being children nowadays…

Bill: Then… after a long struggle, Tarzan finally defeated the evil king.
Tiwuk: Then what?
Brindil: I know! Tarzan became a king and the kingdom turned to be rich and prosperous!
Bill: Yes, Tarzan became a king, but his kingdom fell into deep debt because of corruption. The people were starving and demonstration is a newfound hobby.
Tim: Why are they running and crying?!
Bill: Well, I only taught them a bit about harsh reality of life.

A glimpse on what I’m doing now… maybe worth the time and effort spent, maybe not, but that’s not what matter most.
What do you think?

Dewita, one of the main characters in Turangga Gila Bola.

Oil price is soaring all time high (and that’s not because of not enough supply!), the US of A is in the brink of depression (if not already is…), rice paddy price is ridiculously high (an real ordeal for Asian countries who live basically on rice).

Now I’m thankful coz I can still eat, but for how long? This really worries me… For the first time in my life I’m hoping that I’m only paranoid.

TIM: Hey kids!
Brindil & Tiwuk: Uncle Timbul! Mom and Dad told us to stay with you today!
Bill: Expensive rice, short supply of meat, no food… let’s eat children!
Brindil & Tiwuk: AAAAAAA!!
Bill: What? I’m only joking…
Tim: Your description is too realistic!

What can I say… maybe I’d voluntarily be a style victim and be a faithful follower of everchanging hairstyles if there is actually something I can do with my hair. So, blessed all of you who can style your hair the Beckham’s way or even to join the style of some bewildered devil from the bottom of hell pit.

Bill: Teeheehee.. there’s always those who fall victim to current hairdo trends. Afro, punk, Beckham…
Tim: But tell me really, Bill… who are the real victims? Them? Or us who has to bear this visual pollutions?
Bill: Well, good question…

There are seemingly endless problems for the world. Not by chance a lot of people also predicted the end of human civilization as we know it, as far back as thousands of years ago. Nevertheless, until now the world is still spinning round and round without cease, not even a second. Some problems solved, a lot new more created. Maybe it’s the fate of the world to be filled with problems, filth, difficulties, troubles, crisis and politicians.

Make sense, really. Maybe that’s why it is called the world anyway. Else, it’d be called heaven. But one question remains for me… how to cope with it?

Bill: Wars, disasters, crimes, ever raising prices, inflation, corruption, poverty, racism, retrenchment…. Wonder how to stay sane?
Tim: ZzzzzZZZzzzz…
Bill: I get your point, Tim. Maybe you’re right… maybe.

• 2-3 spoon-full ground arabica coffee (I used a bag of Kaldi Coffee brand, a friend’s souvenir from Taiwan)
• 3 teaspoon-full creamer (I used free Nescafe from my office pantry)
• 2 teaspoon-full sugar (also free from the same pantry)
• 2 teaspoon-full Milo (like wise…)

Pour a regular mug of near boiling hot water to ground coffee, leave it soaked for a while. Filter the solution. Mix the rests. Smell the aroma. Enjoy and refuse to share.

Zach: Ah.. a cup of coffee.. just what I need!
Bill: Thought you wanted to have coffee?
Zach: All I need is the intention. The thought of going to the pantry and actually making coffee already cast away the drowsiness…

I always believe to the concept of karma. Although I don’t exactly call it karma. But for the sake of it, let’s just call it karma here.

The concept of good deeds will be punished by positive incentives and bad deeds will be pusnished by negative incentives is a universal norm. I guess in any major religion, a similar concept is being taught, albeit different names or how it’s being delivered.

There are many occurences that brings me into believing this concept. One example, one day I almost hit a woman when I rode my bycicle. Lucky I didn’t, but it shocked her badly I guess… looking from her reaction and the subsequent series of yelling and cursing. I didn’t stop, I didn’t apologize. I just rode faster and away from the scene. Not too long after that, I found myself in a ditch, sprained my ankle and got quite a number of bruises all over my body. Yes… karma is a bitch sometimes.

But there are times when I have to admit I’m falling in love with karma. I’m not only talking about when I do good things and I’m rewarded with good things, but apparently karma works in much bigger scope. Say, someone did bad things to you, and I just let it go (more to the fact that I couldn’t do anything about it…), if I really and I mean REALLY let it go, no holding any grudge, most of the time something great will happen in to you.

And then, there are times that karma just scare the crap out of me… Here’s a true story, not that I’m particuarly proud of what happened, but it’s a reminder that karma can be pretty harsh. Back to my junior high time, during the final exam period, there was this big scary bully who forced me to help him out during the exam. It turned out that he sat right in front of me, so he told me to not to cover my answer sheet and let him copy the answer. It was a dilemma. If I did, I risked myself of being expelled from school for cheating (yes… giving answers to others can be categorized as cheating…). If I didn’t, he would stab me. Yes, STAB ME! By the way, he highlighted his intention while beating me up inside out. I was scared, so I let him did what he felt like. Good thing (ironically), the teachers were afraid of him as well, they didn’t do anything about it. So… both of us got through the exam and graduated that year. I tried to let go, but I can’t hide the fact that I was angry, sad, afraid and nothing I could do about it. And I  still felt the same until a few days back… Until I knew what happenened to him. Apparently he did some petty crimes and became a regular pickpocket on the Jakarta-Bogor commuter trains. On his last attempt of escape, he fell and met the unforgiving hands of death. A pitiful end. Now I feel sorry for him, honestly.

Anyway, the moral for me is… must be careful on what I do for whatever I’ve done may inflict some inconvenient feeling to someone out there, and then… the karma awaits. Lurking in my every moves…

Tim: Splashed a puddle of water near a bus stop to a couple of people…
Bill: Did you stop and say sorry?
Tim: And get scolded? Nah.. I just ride away. It’s an accident, anyway.
Next day
Tim: A bloody car hit my bike and sent me to a ditch! That shithead didn’t even stop to say sorry!
Bill: Ah.. karma just came and he said ‘Hi’…

Disclaimer: I have nothing against ugliness and I am not a superficiality worshipper.

In the place where I’m from, people often said handsome like a prince, pretty like a princess, charming like a lady, georgeous like a queen, charismatic like a king. It’s just unheard people said enchanting like a peasant, alluring like a beggar, amiable like a duck farmer…

It leaves me wondering for years… why oh why royalties, riches and nobles tend to have better facial and physical structure compared to commoners…

It’s logical to think that royalties, riches and nobles have better access to more nutritious food and good healthcare. Thus, they are healthier, fitter and better looking. Ok, that’s one aspect which is probably true. But, let’s think again… if you feed an ugly person with the best food, supply him with complete nutrition and vitamins, provide him a top notch health care… do you think it will change the fact that he is ugly? No sire, no. He will just be a fit and healthy ugly person. He will look better, of course, but not really a handsome prince charming.

So… where did the royalties and nobles get their good looking inheritance? In my humble opinion, it’s a result of hundreds, no, thousands of years of refinement. Here’s my explanation, the royalties not only have access to good food and better healthcare, but they have ultimately better access to whomever thay want to procreate with!

The royalties can pick the best from whatever available. They tend to marry with those from the equal heights. The already good looking proceate with another good looking, big chance the offspring will also be good looking.

But if there are few resources from the noble families, they can always look for other sources. Yes, it’s a game of chance, even combination of ugles can result nice offspring. Sometimes in the lowly commoners community one or two beauties emerged. However, more often than not, the royalties and nobles will have better chance to get their hands on these rare beauties from the lowly communities. They can easily pursuade them, either by force or not.

This will leave the commoners with less options. The best crops have been harvested by the riches, nobles and royalties. They will have to do with whatever available. Chance is, only the less pretty ones are left. In consequnce, the offspring will be… well, less good looking as well.

If this happens in the course of thousands of years, the results can be imagined. The royalties will look even more like royalties, the commoners will become… well… more like a commoners.

Now, that’s my unimportant study of why royalties are good looking and lowly commoners are looking miserable…

Footnote: Yes, I’m a commoner…

Last week was a busy week according to my standard. I finished 2 books, Traveler’s Tale and Ayat-Ayat Cinta (translated as Verses of Love?). Both were good reading materials, full of information, knowledge and moral messages.

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Traveler’s Tale, successfully brought me to places and cleverly described those places I’ve never been. Just enough to help me to visualise and imagine, not too much to overwhelm me with unnecessary details. Light reading as it might be, it took me to a complex relationship between four friends who just couldn’t seem to differentiate friendship from love relationship. Well, just as most of us can’t either. The writers used a lot of references and analogies which helped me as a reader to relate with the characters and all those screwed up situations they’re in. It was good and I enjoyed it so much.

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As for the Verses of Love, wow… I just couldn’t stop. From page one to the last page. I read it all through the night with a couple of short breaks to the fridge and toilet (which successfully transformed me into a walking dead the next day). I unashamedly admit that I bursted to tears from time to time. Yes, the writer was that good. No wonder it’s a bestseller in Indonesia. Apart from the thick religious backdrop, it’s totally very romantic with some twist and some unexpected turns. In my humble opinion, the writer successfully romanticized a life of an ordinary student who happened to have a bit of extraordinary destiny. Like most of fiction works, indeed it has some plot holes, but it didn’t stop me from loving the book from end to end. 

Now, I’m trying to read something a little further from fiction… Freakonomics. With some luck, I’ll be able to finish it this week. And with a lot more luck, maybe I’ll be able to retain some of those information in my head…

Arsenal is such an interesting team… Against all odds they beat the crap out of AC Milan in Champions League, 2-0 famous victory in San Siro. Away game? Dominating the game? Stealing two goals without reply from a major Italian side? That’s a feat any Premier League fans would be proud of. Yes, they are the first, did I say first? FIRST English side to have won in San Siro.

Anyway… that’s just one side of the story. Glorious in Europe they might be, but the domestic form is far from the mighty reputation any European side would cower from. Arsenal could only scrap uninspiring draw in their last three Premier League games… against less powerful clubs. Even with the lowly Wigan Athletics, who are struggling to stay aloft from degradation zone…

Ok, they still lead the table, for now. But a mere 2 points gap with second placed Manchester United is nothing to be taken easily, especially if they have a game in hand. Not to mention the revival of Chelsea. I hope it won’t be a disappointing anti-climax after such a magnificent run from the Arsenal youngsters. It’s about time to get some silverware back in the drawer. It’s about time for Emirates Stadium to have what it deserves.

Allez Arsenal!

After another indifferent week, finally something great happened last night. I couldn’t believe it, but it did happen. I talked face to face with Adhitya Mulya, yes, that ADHITYA MULYA! The person whom, in my opinion, has a tremendous share in the awakening of pop literature in Indonesia.

It really was a great experience. I learned a lot from the maestro himself. Adit is, just as expected, an honest and down to earth person who is not afraid to express any opinion which he believe is right. What amazed me more is that he’s genuinely willing to impart and share his knowledge. So, I just tried my best to be a sponge and absorb those priceless wisdom.

Well, Mr. Aditya Mulya, thank you for your time! One thing I regret, though. I forgot to ask for his signature on his first 2 books I carried around the whole day…

After a series of productive daydreaming sessions plus several episodes of relentless napping, I finally come to a decission. I know what I can do to leave a footprint in history of human civilization. Something that will stand shoulder to shoulder with great piramids of pharaohs or monumental discovery of American continent. That would be… (blaring sounds of trumpets) writing books! Or a book… or several pages of article… maaaybe two or three short paragraphs… (I hate to put too high of an expectation…).Yes, writing a book will do. Since I’m a big fan of comics, maybe it’ll be a good idea to create one. So, as a first step, I go around and get some opinions. I know some supportive comments will boost my confidence and propel my progress. HEY GUYS, I’M GONNA DO COMIC BOOK, ISN’T THAT GREAT OR WHAT?!

Mediocre artist: Let alone comic artist, being a REAL artist is hard enough …
Boss: Doing comic book?! I pay you to do your job! Not some stupid things like that! Want to get fired?

Some govt. bureucrat: Making comic? Well, well, well, I expect younger generation to have much greater dream.
Unknown boy: I want to be a president when I grow up!

Doggie: Wuf!
A couple by the beach: Get lost!

Hot chick on the street: No prospect. I don’t have time to talk to such a loser. Oh, sorry, I’m not talking about you. Gotta go!
Random granny: I’m glad you’re not my grandson …
Lost baby: Stupid!

Homeless person: If doing comic book don’t make you rich, I guess you’d rather do like I do.
Peeing dude: @#**#^! Can’t you wait till I finish? Moron!

Bigger educated thug: In my humble opinion, you should think more about that decision, Mister!
Smaller thug: Get over it, Jack! His wallet is more important.
Bigger educated thug: That’s exactly my point. See, if he really becomes a comic artist and turns out to be poorer than he already is… Our 5-year plan will get affected. It’s not good for business.
DY: @#**#@!

Well, reality has rarely been a great friend of mine…
Nevertheless, it won’t stop me from doing it! NO, NEVER! I say I will produce a book, a comic book and I will prevail!
OK! Next step…
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Oh, napping time already.

A couple of days past, my boss (the official boss) asked me to scan some pictures from a magazine (not that I complain, but yea, in reality, I have to accept that at times I have to do some things that are totally unrelated to my job scope… at least I don’t have to prepare some coffee or mop the floor… yet). Oh, back to topic, apparently it’s a catalogue of ultra luxurious watches. He pointed some pages to scan and I did so obediently.

Just as a point of talking, I asked whether he wants to buy some watches. Yap, he said it’s for his wife, a gift or something like that. Then he asked me if I know how much it cost. I blatantly said no, because I really didn’t know. He laughed. Oh, yes, he did tell me the price. I calmly smiled and walked out from his room retaining my coolness. The truth is, I was intensely trying not to get fainted. THE FRIGGIN WATCH COSTS MORE THAN A YEAR SALARY OF MINE! @#*@%!!

No, don’t get me wrong. I’m not actually mad or upset. It just strikes me that the gap between me and him is so great, oceans apart. If anything, it should only pushes me to put more efforts in moving forward. Maybe someday, I can give something that precious to my precious ones. Not necessarily that expensive, though… (-_-!)

A couple of weeks ago…

I was just lying-around-doing-nothing-but-breathing-and-daydreaming at an unoccupied field near my home. A regular weekly activity and integral part of time-wasting program which was a built-in to my system.

Yap, just lying there, doing nothing… aah, life is beautiful. A bunch of clouds floating freely without burden blown by gentle wind from the sea. Hahh… If only a human being can be like that his whole life. But still, clouds bring rain, wonder what would a free roaming person could do…

What use is a free roaming man…
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Damnit! Last month I hit 27 … Three more years and I’ll be 30. What have I done so far? What are my achievements? Close to nothing…

Tiger dies leaving it’s hide! The point is, I want to do something that will last even after I’m gone! Not necessarily to be something big, but an achievement, something to be proud of. Hmm… what would it be? Hmmm… I wonder….

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Oh well, maybe I’ll get an idea after a short nap…

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