Cupcakes

Since the fasting month I haven’t touched my mixer or turned on my oven. I am planning to make some pavlovas and apple-cinnamon muffin. Here are some pictures of cupcakes I have made: The strawberry-with-cream, the vanila-with-chocolate-frosting, and the oreo-cupcakes.

 

Back to Boston

As I am discussing ITB students’ position towards RUU BHP with the “MWA team”, I was kinda reminded with the position paper I made for the Harvard National Model United Nations in Boston, United States of America, (it was in February 2008). Maybe some of you want to read it a little bit of it.

Name : Amirah Kaca Sumarto
Institution : Bandung Institute of Technology
Committee : The 4th Committee – Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)
Representing : Mongolia

Topic A – Terrorism in Africa
According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, no man should be subjected to torture or violence for any purpose, not even for political purposes. For that reason, the People and the Government of Mongolia decisively condemned any form of terrorism in any country because it is against democracy, freedom and humanity that the People and the Government of Mongolia believes in. The government of Mongolia also supports any policy or action in fighting terrorism and therefore has joined the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Mongolia also opposes the practice of genocide and agrees on the previously-made Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Africa has been a breeding ground for various types of terrorism acts and a heaven for many escaping terrorists from other parts of the world. Mongolia believes that the solution of this problem consists of building more stable nations throughout Africa, banishment of potential terrorists groups and the cooperation between nations all over the world. Combating potential terrorists groups and organizations can be achieved by increasing the rate of security by African countries as well as the international community. In order to reduce the funding that terrorists cells get to operate, Mongolia proposes that the international community ban their main income sources such as by banning the diamonds resold by Hizbullah and Al-Qaeda from Sierra Leone RUF (Revolutionary United Front). It is a much more effective method instead of obliterating any suspicious African industries that many law-abiding citizens rely on for their living. Current genocides can only be treated by sending standing, voluntary, professional rapid response peacekeeping force that does not only depend on member governments contributions of brigades from their own armies. In order to prevent genocide, strong, independent Early Warning system to predict where and when ethnic conflict, genocide, and war are going to occur, and to present policy options to the Security Council on how to prevent or stop the conflicts is necessary. No country can protect any organization or group that has been defined as terrorists. If a country is found to support or fund a terrorist group, a military sanction should be given so that the terrorism can be blocked in a short amount of time along with trade or economic sanction which give slower but effective effect.

Topic B – Basque Separatism
Referring to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Right, Mongolia supports the right of all people and groups of self-determination including the Basque people. However, the expression of self determination should have been expressed in a diplomatic and peaceful way. Therefore, Mongolia does not agree to the act of violence or terrorism done by any group to express their political motivation. Mongolia itself has been through some periods of settlements and colonization by other nation and has successfully overcome it and declared its independence in 1924.
In order to accomplish a peaceful resolution to this problem, Mongolia proposes that there should be a referendum made and accepted by the three sides involved – the Basque country, Spain and France. A fair solution can only be achieved through talk between the previously-mentioned three nations under a free-conflict condition. Talk would not likely be effective if there is a clash or quarrel and a tensed condition between the countries. If any talk fails, Mongolia believes that the fate of the Basque country should be determined by its own people. A fair vote should be held by the people who are classified as Basques. Before the vote is held, the Basque country should have prepared the list of eligible voters. The result of the vote should be considered as the genuine will of the Basque people and should be accepted by all parties involved. If the Basque people voted on the separatism of Basque region from Spain and France, the first thing to do is for UN to create a properly aligned border between the newly formed country with Spain and France. After that, United Nations should give assistance to the new Basque government to organize and develop their countries until it becomes a stable independent state. Mongolia agrees on the idea that UN should facilitate talks between the conflicted parties. Usually, if there is no facilitated talk, expression of self-determination from a separatist group can take form as violence, or even terrorism. UN also needs to be aware on any oppression used by a government to stop the action of the separatist group that will produce a possible ongoing warfare between the conflicting sides. The Basques, similar to many other groups seeking separatism like Gaelic Irish, Lakota and Samic, are finding self-determination through their distinct culture and races. Just like the Basques who were oppressed during the General Franco dictatorship era, some ethical groups are also seeking independence after going through an unfair treatment done to their specific races. This factual reason made Mongolia recommends that there should be an assurance that no government should put aside or oppress any ethical group.

 

Bilangan Fu: the words don’t shine anymore

Finally, a new book by Ayu Utami is out. As a fan of her previous works (Saman & Larung). I couldn’t be any more excited than this. I bought the book “Bilangan Fu” in Toga Mas and finished it in less than one day. Surely it was engaging but reading “Bilangan Fu ” is more like reading Dewi “Dee” Lestari than reading Ayu Utami. I guess, “Bilangan Fu” is a bit more “pop” than Saman or Larung and it concentrate more on youthful self-fulfilling ambitions and surely the characters are lack of maturity and wisdom. Not only that, Ayu Utami put less politics and more spiritualism in this book. Another hint is, the book criticize propaganda monotheism and give support to Eastern beliefs. No wonder it sounds like Akar by Dewi Lestari. One thing that bother me, the character parang jati doesn’t sound at all like a person teknik geologi ITB  =P  I have to admit, he doesn’t even sound or act like an ITB students at all!!

Well the point is, I like Saman & Larung much better than this new book. Saman is so much thinner but for me it contains a world many times bigger than the one contained in Bilangan Fu. Bilangan Fu felt too weak, in characterization, writing style and editorial. I have to admit, I was left a bit dissapointed because I didn’t find the words shining like what I found in Ayu Utami’s previous book. However, still worth reading..

 

Attraction

Di Pagelaran LSS 2008,
Tari rakyat bubuka: penari jadi centil.
Tari menak bubuka: penari tampak anggun.
Tari Kandagan: penari berlagak gagah.
Tari Jaipongan Bentang Timur: penari terlihat menggoda!!!
That shows how women can be attractive in many ways..

(Jadi kangen masa-masa latihan nari & persiapan pagelaran LSS 2008 kemaren..hix.. Glad and sad it’s over at the same time)

 

Rosaline

“Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O any thing, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
Dost thou not laugh?” – Act I Scene I (Romeo & Juliet)

Romeo was in love, not with Juliet, but with Rosaline, his unrequited love.

At the first time, Romeo saw Rosaline as “The all-seeing sun / ne’er saw her match since first the world begun.” but soon after she was replaced by “Did my heart love ’til now? Forswear it, sight / For I ne’er saw true beauty ’til this night.” Romeo’s love for her was short. She was forgotten. Romeo forgot Rosaline just as fast and as easy as he fell in love for Juliet.

Just after one second, Juliet became the dove and Rosaline turned into one of the crows and her name is only appeared in the later petrachan sonnets only to be compared to Juliet. Romeo was like an animist who is awed by the bright light of sun and turned his back after worshiping the moon in the night.

As the forgotten, Rosaline just sat in the dark side of Romeo’s heart with her faint soft glow, just like the moon. Was she sad when she was forgotten? Did she regret being forgotten? Did she know she was forgotten? Did she really become “the pale and envious moon” killed by the “fair sun”? She was no longer the rose, because “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, even if the rose was named Juliet.

Maybe she was indeed lucky that she remained chaste and profoundly proud. At least she wasn’t a foolish lover or didn’t die in a dim manner or wasn’t a part of tangled stupidity. She was lucky, because she avoided love and she ran away from it.. Maybe she was lucky to be forgotten…

 

Goodbye Mocca!!!

I am writing this as I cry right now.. Why? Because my dearly beloved bunny Mocca died this morning. I remembered the first time we got her, Mum & Dad bought her when she was 2 months old. She was the most gorgeous bunny I’ve ever seen with its fluffy mocha-coloured fur (that’s why I said we should name her Mocca!!!). Unlike Bon-bon who has been with us for quite a while, at first Mocca was scared to be patted and touched. She used to keep running away if anyone coming near her but as time goes by she has learn to trust us. She wasn’t scared anymore to be touched or to be patted, she jumped on my lap to beg for food or jumped onto the bed I was sleeping on.
Lately I have been busy lately so I haven’t spent much time with Mocca and Bon-Bon. This morning I found Mocca dead!!!
I felt so hurt with the death because I thought I loved this bunny but in practice I did not. If I loved Mocca, I was supposed to take care of her, I supposed to look after her and I did not. Maybe my love for this animal was utterly bullshit. Love doesn’t only consist of feeling, it consist action. I consist of how far you will go or how much you will do for someone or something. In loving a rabbit, I have failed, how can I love any other?

 

Tentang Saya

Nama saya Kaca. Kebanyakan orang memang menemukan nama saya unik, tidak biasa, dan setiap orang memiliki respon mereka masing-masing. Sebagian tercengang atau kebingungan, sebagian tertawa dengan nada tidak percaya, sebagian memuji. Apapun yang terjadi, selama hidup saya, hubungan antara saya dan nama saya memang dapat dikatakan ‘a love-hate relationship’. Saat saya kecil, saya sering sebal karena nama saya sering dijadikan candaan tetapi sekarang saya malah bersyukur dan menganggap nama saya suatu berkah. Nama ‘Kaca’ selalu gampang diingat dan sulit dilupakan kebanyakan orang.

 

Complicated World

This world has plenty of very complicated problems.

Pandita has to think about “Security in Gaza Strip” and “Maritime Piracy” in the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC)

Dedie has to think about “Hedge Funds and Security Regulations” and “Public Private Partnerships” in Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN).

Nina has to think about “Free Elections” and “Migrant Workers” in Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee (SOCHUM)

Ibnu has to think about “Water Sanitation and Purification” and “Preparing for Deliberate Epidemics: Bioterrorism” in World Health Organisation (WHO)

Billy has to think about “Child Soldiers” in the World Summit of Children

Nia has to think about “Free Trade Policies and the Poorest States” and “Free Trade and the Environment” in the Futuristic World Trade Organisation (WTO)

And me, I have to think about “Terrorism in Africa” and “the Basque Seperatism” in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL).

I told you, it’s a very very complicated world and it is all of our responsibilities to change it. It is not impossible to change the world, for the better of course.

 

Missing Mobile

Maybe some of you have tried sending a message to my phone or even try to call me in the few last days and failed. I have lost my phones, both of them. My lovely Palm Treo 650 and my Nokia which I use for my CDMA (fren) number are both gone in the hand of a stealer. The story is pretty interesting really, coz I lost my phones in my car. The story started when I hit a motorbike or a motorbike hit me. The car and the motorbike was actually alright, but it’s just in my nature to panic like crazy. I got out of the car and the person was like yelling and telling me off and there was this person who just got into our conversation as well. I was soo panic and almost burst out in tears. The motorbike was alright and my car was alright too. Both of the people who talked to me went and I was on my way to go too. Suddenly, I realised that my phone went missing and burst out in tears again (crybaby!!! =P). I went back home.. and cried my heart out.
My Mum said everyone has to lose a mobile phone once in a while because it’s just everywhere and phone-stealers just keep getting better and better in their way of stealing so sometimes we just can’t avoid them. She continued with her old usual saying of “It’s okay as long as you are safe..” (That’s what she always say everytime I put scratch or bump or do anything to ruin my Honda Jazz). On the other hand, my Dad told me off for hasn’t been synchronizing my data for such a long time. “What’s the point of having a PDA if you don’t synchronize it regularly!,” he said.
Letting my Palm Treo go is sad but reliefing in the same time. It is sad just like a goodbye with an old friend that you know you will never meet again. It’s true that my Palm Treo has been the witness of everything I did for the past one year. I never have to delete any single message I recieved since I got it and it has records of everything I did for the past one year. It has more data than my laptop.
On the other hand, losing a phone is nice if you really think about it. I realised before losing my phone I always get annoyed with phone calls or messages and yes I almost got in some point when I feel like throwing my phone away. I used to put my mobile away in a drawer or just simply do not reply messages or do not answer phonecalls if I don’t feel like it but I don’t do that anymore because I consider it as a dishonest act. If I don’t feel like answering someone’s call, I should have just answer it and say that I don’t feel like talking to you, but of course I don’t have the heart to say that. The conclusion is that losing my phone is like a way of get the hell of those messages and phone calls without feeling guilty. It’s also reliefing because it’s like you drop your past. Whatever happened in the past just go and you will start a new time where you rebuild your life and network.
Those are my story, and today my time of missing mobile has ended. My Mum bought my dream mobile phone which is the lucious red Palm 680, therefore her old Palm650 (which is exactly the same type as my old mobile) belongs to me and I already got the same Nokia phone for my Fren number. Both of them are active now. Anyone is welcome to contact me again. It’s time to rebuild life and network for me.

 

Printing 3200 Photos

Yesterday (09/09/2007) I spent almost 7 hours in the “Seni Abadi” photo studio which is a small (not exactly small, but smaller than Jonas) located in the corner of Jl. Merdeka and Jl…. (I forgot) and next to the railway. Let’s follow my day chronologically:

I came to the photo studio at about 12 pm, sat down at the digital photo section which was on the left of the entrance door, talked to a smiling lady who welcomed me right away and asked her how much is it to print some picture. She told me that it was Rp.800 for each 3R (postcard) photo printed. I asked her to give me at a lower rate. She insisted that she couldn’t give a lower price, still with a smiling face, and said they only give lower price to special customers.

“I will print more than 1000 photos.”, I told her.

She paused and get the manager right away.

After a negotiation with the manager of the store, I got the price that I wanted… Firstly he gave me Rp.750,00, I asked for less.. He then give me Rp.600,00, I asked for Rp.500,00… and it was a deal right away.. =D

My job doesn’t stop there, because in my laptop I have so many photos that my Dad asked me to print, and they weren’t sorted. My next job was to sort out those pictures. It was meant to be really a tedious job staring staring at the computer screen for that long time, along with one of the staff there, sorting out the photos like deleting blurred ones and fixing red eyes and choosing each ones, but it wasn’t really. I got to have some flashbacks of “my life with my family” for the past four years and realising that my Dad SLR camera actually came into use (I kept thinking Daddy bought that thousand dollar SLR camera to look cool because he doesn’t knows much about photography – sorry Dad =P). I got to laugh together with the staff seeing my sisters making funny faces camera and had fun sharing stories about our family holiday skiing at Mt.Buller, Melbourne and my parents’ “2nd honeymoon” in Cambodia & Bangkok (in which they didn’t get any of us to come, sight), and the renovating of my grandmother’s house in a village at Klaten, and so on. Hours passed with a headache and hurting eyes for staring at the computer screen for song long and lots of fun.

I am glad finally about my Dad’s little obsession on documenting events. We sometimes get embarassed when our Dad kept insisting to stop and take photos so often on so many occassions, but hey it’s all worth it. Seeing those photos again make me tremendously happy to feel all the memories of what we had been through this time and realise how precious all those time we spent together (even though I somehow get irritated to realise how hideous I used to look 4 years ago).

One time my Dad asked me and Amanda (my sister), “If the house burnt down, what would you save first?”

We answered, “Money, passport, important documents, expensive electronics etc etc”

Then my Dad said, ” No, what you are supposed to save first are photos and other products of memories. Money you can regain, Important documents you can remake, expensive electronics you can rebuy. However, photos and other things with a value that cannot be found anywhere else cannot be regain..”

Fair enough, now I remember what to save fist when our house is on fire: My postcard and letter collection from friends, scrapbook made by my Aussie friends along with other albums, last not least the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” ( I will want to save the whole shelves if possible though)