The Stream

Some may not realize the stream. that a smooth sailing life may not be the life worth living, we may be drifting within the stream along with other drifters, which then made us look like, relatively, we're not moving. and that we're just like everyoneelse. We might feel the breeze of the journey, that feels refreshing, but as the stream goes to shallow waters, you would gradually sense the mud dragging your feet, and suddenly bumped into gravels and rocks underneath. Things around you changed as you tumbled over and tossed aside. Somehow then, you know you're in a stream, but somehow you choose to endure. Unlike them, you might have been taught to swim ashore, but you choose not, and teased those you passed by as cowards for not taking the journey further as you go along.

But, honestly, you may not know exactly where you're going, and that the jokes have not been on them. They were given the choice to tell you, but some of you shut your ears. "Be it!" you said. Though they were wet and might seem like a stand still as you flow over, they walk each and every steps across the stream for a land much promising ahead of them. Then, as you slowly flow over a deep calm water, and unable to feel the breeze, you're caught up banging your head up and down, right and left, denying the reality that you're now trapped with no base to stand. As you're adrift in a boundless ocean.

It's a Cycle of (dot) (dot) (dot) ?

Today, is the day when Venus crosses the sun. Some astro scientists said that it's the second coming of its twin-like cycle of appearance after June 2004 transit, the next one sould be 105 years from now.

The importance of the event varies amongst the observer. But Surely, it helps us to understand of how big is big, and how small is small through this once (or probably twice) in a life time chance to directly compare the size of a planet next to us to the sun. Venus is said to be about the same size as earth by radius. And yet how lucky we are to be 'placed' here on earth. And it gives a sense of gratitude to be here at the right distance, as compared to being in unimaginably hot Venus. And that we could imagine how small the earth could be, seen from Mars and other planets further from the sun. and how 'insignificant' we (the human) are.

It's interesting when scientist could predict the cycle of planetary objects to appear and to where its course is heading. Yet, still, no one knows what cycle 'a week' represents. As we know, a month is a cycle of moon re-appearing in its original phase. A year is said to be the time when the earth completes its course around the sun. and a day is a cycle of sun rising and setting. If a month is not entirely made of similar amount of days. and thus a year does not always consists of an exact 365 cycles of sunrise and sunsets, and that a year is when the moon has changed its phase 12 times. and yet a year is not always made of 52 weeks as 365 (366 on leap year) could not be evenly devided by 52. Should they then be considered as separate measures? Still, what is a week? What inspires the 7-day count? Who started it? If some religious activities carried out in 7 day interval within a week, does 'A Week' originate from a religious trait then? Still, of what?

This may sound differently to different readers, but i just want to make sure the emphasis is that there are probably a lot more things around us that we have no idea what it is, and it's not about something unusual, it's about something as casual as 'a week'.

This is only a ponder. no other means intended.

try looking around

There's no other time in my lifetime than now that a prophet is greatly missed. Try to find something that is purely pure. Try to step on something that is free of dirt. Somehow, making a so called good decision would also include compliance towards things that is against the heart. In contrary, things become slightly more difficult as we know more, and knowing less is highly tempting, but somewhat expose to understanding is prevalent, the course is undeniable. Hence, a quarell in peace is inevitable. Do we then live accordingly? Has the society become hard enough to be blamed? Or that truly, mistakes are of human. and surrender to AlMighty is the only way out.

Bismillah. if that's the only thing to do that's assuring.

Major-ed in Advertising with 'Sarjana Sosial' title -- might not be an easy responsibility

The knowledge of influencing others using tiny space in the mass media, to certain extent, contradicts the Bachelor of Social Science or Sarjana Sosial title I was given, and I'm still in a process of understanding how both could function in tandem.

I always think that It's not going to be easy to play both roles at the same time. The former usually normalize the manipulating nature of persuasive communication to intentionally change the minds of the society, or at least certain people, while the later, usually pursue the betterment of social life based on the reality of the society. Somewhat the inner spirits of both are different. Not sure how to explain them. But, if we have classified rigid associations of good and bad, we'll eventually be able to measure both and each will have a tendency to be higly associated with one. However, Advertising is a grey matter, that is usually also gray in colour, and to determine whether an ad is of a good intention or not is not easy, the objectives may not resemble the true subject's intention of an object. If you know what i mean.

Moreover, what is culturally accepted on both worlds may not necessarily projects the true nature of advertising and society. Indonesia might be the land where creativity scarcely gained from within, as many ads depicts worldwide trend which come from what revolves around the social life of the advertising agencies, and do not necessarily reflect on the society it is produced in. I could not endeavour deeper on the execution, as things are usually depicted straight forwardly. The industry has somewhat turned into becoming budget conscious and invest less on image quality, and good direction, and good script.

Advertising could work as the mover and shaker of the society to walk through towards its betterment. but how much trust do we have on the parties involve in the making of an ad? dont we still count expose on even a PSA ads?. how many ads are there that're actually produced to support the society's improvement per se?

The big questions also come from the product that is advertised. are they as good as it is portrayed or as misleading as the packages do? Should I support a mass consumption of a certain manufactured product, or should I enhance the livelihood of people by consuming more of a product? Some ads are meant to create associative effect towards certain things, usually the brand, thus the repetitive nature of it. Will I then supporting the removal of human natural instinct to know and to think before consuming something, or such event could occur naturally on any type of communication? Or should I work in support of the people to re-ignite their instinct to get to know about everything they consume? should I remove the mindset of branding and reinstate the instinct?

I'm in the brink to find the best job to do without having to be consciously guilty of the later effect, Which I think both will have implications on the people eventually. If I could lay down a bit about the choices now, I'm almost certain that producing my own goods and selling them should be the ideal perfect job for me. I consider F&B. For that,  I have endeavoured online to find any food that is easy to make but profit the most, that suits the tastebuds of the locales, and would sustain to more than 5 years. But then, just by the time the decision is made regarding what food to sell, I started reconsidering of what the society have accepted as food, and some counter arguments about what should be eaten, and what not. and it is not easy. should I incorporate processed product? or should i also administer the production the ingredients as well? or should i just follow what the government have allowed to be produced & consumed. Should I just do what's right, trust my guts, and see how it goes?

I know this type of self-discussion would not help me in any point in the industry, but somewhat the power of it is too big to be used for only commercial purposes. and somewhat there is something called as good propaganda, despite the negative association of the word. but then, that's how advertising works. it creates associations. couldn't we then change the scenes and let advertising be culture-laden, and associate it more as a complementary of the society than its enemy? I guess we should.

All in all, getting to this point has not been easy. There were tonnes of stories within and prior to getting in that were all part of the lessons in life. and who else would cherish it if not me. and therefore, First, I have to congratulate myself. Alhamdulillah. I'm now officially holding Sarjana Sosial title.

the syahadah

Asyhadualaailaahailallaah, wa asyhaduannamuhammadarrasulullah.
I bare witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bare witness that Muhammad (SAW) is the Messenger of Allah

A muslim who prays 5 times a day would have mentioned it at least 9 times daily; once during tahyaatul akhir at Subuh, and twice on each Dzuhur, Ashar, Maghrib, and Isya.
Not to mention those who perform the sunnah prayers, and those who listened to adzan and then answer the call.
In society nowadays, the syahadah is commonly viewed as a vow which marks a person's inclusion into Islam. If it is so, we could imagine how many times a muslim have re-newed his vow everyday.

Anyway, I stumbled upon this...
Surat Al-'Isrā' (The Night Journey) - سورة الإسراء
http://quran.com/17
Please read the translation, there are hints to understand of what this whole life is all about.

May this post benefits us in any way possible. In God All Knowledge Resides.

Shall we start (again) ?

it's been two months since i came back home in Medan. plans were not as previously planned. and life has apparently began to shift its course towards the way i never expected before. it's weird to start looking your previous courses of past incidences and beginning to be hinted to see it differently now (i feel old though). and compare that to some kids nowadays that would've probably known these earlier and get treated better. But somehow i guess that's just a tease--to think that way. because it feels so right to understand it the way it is now, yet somehow it gets me insecure, as it probably just a phase where you're about to begin another new course of life.

I'm technically officially 'unemployed' --the term which doubt the state of mind of a free man, which also describe the definitively blue collared world. For now, the mission is (not to save the world, hehe) to overlook the possibilities of what might be the best  thing to do (or, to pursue), which incorporates the meanings gained from previous incidences. Looking at the scenes now, there's nothing more reassuring than being a businessman, gaining wealth, to prospere ownself, and hopefully be the medium for others' prosperity too and opening other chances. Coming here, and seeing apparent 'reasons' somewhat opens (closes) possibilities that here may be it (thus there may be not) . which later lead to the 'what' question, which doubtly give more assurance.

one thing though, despite the region is known for its recklessness, on business side, this area is thriving peacefully, it's like no matter how much good there is, there's always people buying it, or that no one gets too poor, as there's always good man helping out. All praise be to God if this is what happens. And prices are reasonably good. the food especially. you'll taste less food with MSGs sold. you'll find more of a mother/daughter/family of a working man cooking their best recipe, with good ingredients, with probably less margin in profit, but more enthusiasm in preparing their food. hence the reasonably good price. It's just that, observing how things were, here, everything has a tendency to be -quote unquote- seasonal. only those who gain the best product+service+price survive. the rest are mostly late comers, or followers. but the competition somewhat had gone into a better direction, a positive non-violent co-existence. although it might need a bit more time before it is proven to be called so, the progress are way better. I'm sensing an ending to Javacentric mind set amongst the youth, and more part-of-the-world and being-proudly-local kind-of attitude here. which i think is good, as we now will observe less about insecurity of not being more of the urbanites, but more about what's better be done to preserve the peace, within ourselves. well, this might be doubt with the fact that even those in the capital are becoming apparent followers of a-now-highly accessible 'world culture' youtube, twitter, 9Gag, and what not. might as well develop your own and directly communicates with those outside than being an adopters, though it's still easily reluctant to be marked copycats here right? bad news spread faster and more expose to what once a 'priviledge'. the culture reproduction facility.

yet again, these kind of spirits are most likely conveying more of a bad news for some of the nation-wide 'culture producer' giants. they're dwindling. as no definite recipe could carry the overall intentions, and no definite character could cater to the indefinite audience. and that the minds are now in critical mode against them. we could sense the game, the subtle messages, the role, the missions, and even further to their state of finance. But what's more important for those supporting such medium are that, this should go to a better direction. Money is better spent on research to improve product, to target less generic market, to support the local economy, to finance more on true consumer satisfaction, to gain more trust, and building performance, rather than to advertise. it  is now becoming unreasonably 'expensive' as more inlets are provided than the true outcomes. I'm poised to see this from a better perspective, as some of us have become more in line with the 'Order' of universe. if you contribute more for a good cause, you'll get more to replace your expenses. if the intention is bad, the outcome are usually now perceived as bad too arent they. The audience have had enough with the (now apparent) ruling media and its intrigue. and prefer a better peaceful non tendencious way. besides, who truly 'rules'. God is.

the scene is becoming more sentimental, which means more people use their feelings more, or in other word their emotional projections to judge you. as you're getting distant, it gives more time for them to think and permanently becoming part of their attitude in the future. and if the industry is still holding on the century old theories and data and money-minded-mechanisms, somewhat we're prepared to see more national channels to merge (if not, closed down), and the flourishing of genuinely local channel/content. in a long run, hopefully, someone will flame the true spirit of nationalism, despite the diversity of localism, by igniting the true feeling of being a fellow countryman, regardless of social characters. Hopefully one day, Indonesia, will be another household name of a nation regarded with full respect whose people lives harmoniously inspiring the world to be in harmony. Indonesians, prepare.

All in all, so far, here, is good.

Revisiting, the necessary precautions, especially for some of you who work

It's been almost 2 months since I wrote this note on My Facebook Notes and been noticing updates on this matter since then. Somewhat I get a sense that the concern only goes to those in Europe and US, not here. At least that's what the media here portrayed, or chose to portray. but I can't let myself be swayed on this. I was somewhat urged to stand on neither sides of the stories, as it may come gradually, systematically, or unexpectedly. One thing, the spending here hasn't change, which somewhat speaks greater volume on how I see this will eventually come, and that the market is highly reluctant to any  news on how the resolution will be carried out, and somewhat bailouts are more favorable than any austerity measure. to the market that is.

Anyway, here's what I wrote then (originally posted on September 22)

This economic grim somehow may spread over to other sectors in matter of months. Somehow there has been efforts to undertone the likelihood of our economy to face any crisis. But, honestly, looking at how we spend our income and what we spent it on, I reckon we will start looking at a downturn soon. Productivity somehow relates close to spending here. Blame on the lifestyle that's been endorsed by the people themselves. As there will be lower absorption on products worldwide, I'm not sure at how well we could rely on our own people's money to buy those products. Not to mention, a heavy reliance on imports these days.

Remember, eastern part is undergoing a water crisis due to prolonged drought. that means corps failure. But looking at how some portions of well-off society spending half, one or two millions for personal entertainment, means a gap in the mind, means potential psychological warfare amongst us. Not to mention the ongoing distrust towards the performance of some supposedly anti-corruption body, as well as towards leadership issues of the central government.

What fueled the riots in 1998 ? didnt you see it now? Back then feels like we were on track on 5-yearly development growth. But what happened then? A prolonged drought of belief and dissatisfaction towards leadership wasn't it? I wonder why the youngsters didnt react the same way now... but wait, try shutting your TV down, turn off you social media, stop listening to music and start looking around, what would you see? I see glimpse of unspoken anxiety covered with high pitched laughter, yet somehow the uncertainty is clear.

Have you seen anybody that fits the picture to be the next president in this country? Or should I change the question, will any characteristics of any ideal president that you want still pose any great meaning to your life, so to speak? Or such only were good words that we dont see any relevance to our daily life, which is running on lacking of more, thus the inability to comprehend any virtues that's going on.

Now the question. If we, the society, are in heavy reliance on entertainment, I mean the purchased ones, will you then be willing to reduce and donate some portion of it to our fellow people in crisis? Or that is perceived as affecting your life in some ways, that you'd procrastinate and wait for others to do first? I hope you won't. Back then, the crisis was aimed towards some well-off society, but now you're the well-off ones, do you then realise of what's coming? This understanding happened as I started cutting my entertainment cost, and paying close attention to local media and looking into what's been seen as attractive, and yet I see some parts of our society that are still left marginalised. Hence I'm not sure that we learned enough of how the western role model have been doing by cultivating the minds of the people. Look at austerity measures taken in greece and ireland that created havoc. Despite the very logical reasoning behind the measures --cutting on spending to reduce debt is very logical, right?-- but looking at how their people reacted felt somehow it is not logic...wonder why? me too.

Now reflect on us. Are we ready to do such measure? it sounds scary right? But there is no better time for you to take a preacution than now, as we're still in a relatively safe period, and that you still receive your salary each month. Please make sure that you have enough in reserve for months as you'll never know how this situation will turn out to be. Save your income for a better use, or find other alternatives for spending / investing.

This is only a ponder. No other means intended.