January 27, 2009

Female Genital Mutilation


This practice is performed in Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania etc.

FGM is carried out with knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades. Anaesthetics and antiseptics are not generally used.

The FGM instruments



Types of FGM :

Type 1: Sunna circumcision in which the prepuce (the clitoral covering) is removed, along with part or all of the clitoris. This is called Clitoridectomy, Sunna, meaning removal of the clitoris in the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed. It is called "Sunna Kashfa" (Open Sunna) in Sudan. This is found most commonly in West African countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal.


Type 2: Excision: The entire clitoris and prepuce are removed, along with all or part of the labia minora. This is called "Sunna Magatia" (Closed Sunna) in Sudan. It is most commonly found in Burkina Faso and Sudan


Type 3: Infibulation (a.k.a. Pharaonic circumcision. This involves removal of the clitoris and prepuce, followed by sewing up of the vulva. A small opening is left to allow urine and menstrual blood to pass.






Why? to prevent women's promiscuity by reducing sex urge -.-'



A report from an eyewitness in Somalia:

"The child, completely naked, is made to sit on a low stool. Several women take hold of her and open her legs wide. After separating her outer and inner lips, the operator, usually a woman experienced in this procedure, sits down facing the child. With her kitchen knife the operator first pierces and slices open the hood of the clitoris. Then she begins to cut it out. While another woman wipes off the blood with a rag, the operator digs with her sharp fingernail a hole the length of the clitoris to detach and pull out the organ. The little girl, held down by the women helpers, screams in extreme pain; but no one pays the slightest attention.The operator finishes this job by entirely pulling out the clitoris, cutting it to the bone with her knife. Her helpers again wipe off the spurting blood with a rag. The operator then removes the remaining flesh, digging with her finger to remove any remnant of the clitoris among the flowing blood. The neighbor women are then invited to plunge their fingers into the bloody hole to verify that every piece of the clitoris is removed."

Afterwards the girl's leg will be tied together until the wound healed, which can take months.



As we can see from the photo here, the infibulation (FGM type 3) leaves an opening big enough only for urine and menstruation flow. The woman will be cut open by the husband on the wedding night using his fingernails or a dagger. She may be sewn up again, if the husband leaves on a long trip.


Warning! video with graphic content.
http://www.respect-ev.org/mambots/content/mgmediabot2/players.php?mode=popup&params=type,flv|path,images/stories/videos/Watch_this_EN.flv|popup,true|popupcaption,Video%20Excision|popuppreview,images/stories/play_btn1.gif|width,320|height,205

Petition against FGM:
http://www.respect-ev.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=73

January 18, 2009

My birthday wish list

Burberry's belt for man. There's the woman version too, but can't find any pics.. Anyway, both look similar..

AND

AND


AND

Thanx, friends! hihihihi

*ehm ehm Dessy dear, are you there?* :D
Note the 'AND' not 'OR' !!

Why should I bother to ask?

Yesterday I met with a few friends and we were talking about the Pater Noster prayer.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen


One friend said this prayer is not enough, because it's so not personal, and we should ask Him to grant us our wishes or solve our problems.

She quoted from Mathew 7:7.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."

In my opinion, these two highlighted phrases contradict each other. Why? It was said, if we ask, then we will receive. But on the other side, God's will be done.

A shallow example, I asked my dad for a BMW convertible. My dad gave me a Suzuki instead. My dad's will be done, it's his money, his authority. I shouldn't complain, you may say, at least I got the car. Yes, I did, but that wasn't the one I asked for. So if in the end I don't have any say, why should I ask?


You may say, but if you didn't speak up that I wanted a car, I wouldn't even get the Suzuki. Really? If he's really a good dad, he should know that I need a car, without me even asking. I believe God will give us what we need, but not necessarily what we want.

Let me tell you my story. I was born with impairments. And I had to go through lots of surgeries in my childhood. As a child, I was afraid of surgeries, and I prayed to God every night, "God, please send me your miracle, heal me so that I don't have to go through this surgery." But I still had to go through those surgeries, God didn't work his miracles on me.

Ok, I don't hate God or anything. In fact, I am very grateful because he gives me nice parents who can afford those expensive surgeries and who never think twice about giving me the best health care. I learned that God provides me with what I need. But is it what I asked for? I don't think so.


We, human beings, are selfish. We're always asking for things, complaining about our problems.But we forget to be grateful for what we have. It would be nice if we start appreciating what we have, instead of whining and complaining about things that we don't have. It helps, you know, to see things from a positive point of view.

Anyway, my point here is, why should I even bother to ask, if in the end He already knows what's best for me, and that His will be done? In this case, it would be better if this phrase 'ask and you will receive' didn't exist. If He didn't promise me anything in the first place, then I too would have nothing against His authority.


January 17, 2009

It's time for another revolution



I think this is a very nice commercial. It grabs people's attention, provokes thoughts, sparks discussion. Many people here in Germany describe it as tasteless, as Fidel Castro, Lenin, Mao, etc are shown here.

Revolutionary: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change

It's quite contradictory, as you see how they bring the protagonists and the antagonists together. Well, be it Gandhi or Lenin, they're indeed striving for a change. So, I think we can call them revolutionists, no matter how the revolution turned out in the end.

Though what Marx said ''Che, it's about what people need.'' is a bit inappropriate, judging on the history of most of these so-called 'revolutionists', the adv. company still did a great job.

Anyway, the cast in order of appearance:

Fidel Castro
Mao Zedong (Tse-tung)
Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin
Mahatma Gandhi
Ho Chi Minh
Rosa Luxemburg (a notorious german democratic socialist) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Luxemburg
Martin Luther King
Che Guevara
Karl Marx

just to make things clear, I am NOT a fan of marxism, socialism, nor communism.

(eh, susah loh nemu iklan model gini di Indonesia >.<' )

January 15, 2009

Ncik? ato mbak?

Asli deh.. Saya ngga suka dipanggil ncik.

Kenapa saya tiba2 bilang gini?
Ceritanya kemaren saya ngobrol sama orang ga dikenal di chatroom. Saya panggil dia 'mas'. Si 'mas' disana ga terima dipanggil begitu, karena ceritanya dia cina (ups, tionghoa). Terus dia minta dipanggil 'engko'.

Halah, saya jadi mikir, kenapa sih buat nama panggilan aja perlu ada dikotomi rasial ya di Indonesia? Orang jawa minta dipanggil mas, orang tionghoa minta dipanggil ngko, dll.
Berhubung sekarang domisili saya sekarang lagi di Jerman, saya jadi bayangin, lucu juga kali ya kalo bayangin orang Jerman manggil orang Asia, Afrika dengan panggilan yg beda2. Untungnya disini cuma ada 'Herr' sama 'Frau'. Mau warna kulitnya apa juga panggilannya ya tetep itu. Sama spt bahasa inggris, semua orang cuma dipanggil mister, ma'am, atau miss, mau warna kulitnya putih, item, kuning, ungu.

Yah untungnya saya juga jarang2 sih dipanggil ncik, apalagi amoy (hih merinding) di Jakarta. Banyakan mbak2 di mall manggil saya 'mbak' juga :D Jujur, kuping saya juga lebih seneng kalo denger papa mama saya dipanggil 'bapak' dan 'ibu'.

Sekarang pertanyaannya, apakah panggilan yg beda2 ngikutin suku dan ras ini disebabkan oleh bahasa Indonesia yang terlalu kompleks dan kaya, atau karena pikiran kita orang Indonesia yang masih terkotak-kotak? Atau malah saya aja yg ngeyel?

January 14, 2009

ok, this is really long..

Rules:

1. tag 5 friends (not the one who sent it to you!) -- I don't know how to tag people.... :(
2. answer all truthfully
3. take it in public!
4. tell all tags on their profile that they have been tagged

Info

[x] I am shorter than 5'4.
[x] I think I'm ugly sometimes.
[ ] I tan easily.
[ ] I wish my hair was a different color.
[ ] I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
[ ] I have a tattoo.
[x] I am self-conscious about my appearance.
[ ] I have/I've had braces.
[x] I wear glasses/contacts.
[x] I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
[x] I've been told I'm attractive by a complete stranger.
[x] I have more than 2 piercing. -- used to have
[x] I have piercing in places besides my ears. -- again, used to
[x] I have freckles. -- do sunspots count?

Family/Home Life
[ ] I've sworn at my parents.
[ ] I've run away from home.
[ ] I've been kicked out of the house.
[x] My biological parents are together.
[ ] I have a sibling less than one year old.
[ ] I want to have kids someday.
[ ] I've lost a child.

School/Work
[x] I'm in school
[x] I have a job
[ ] I've fallen asleep at work/school.
[] I almost always do/did my homework.
[x] I've missed a week or more of school.
[ ] I failed more than 1 class last year.
[x] I've stolen something from my job. -- toilet paper!
[ ] I've been fired.

Embarrassment
[ ] I've slipped out a "lol" in a spoken conversation.
[x] Disney movies still make me cry.
[ ] I've peed from laughing.
[x] I've snorted while laughing.
[x] I've laughed so hard I've cried.
[ ] I've glued my hand to something.
[ ] I've had my pants rip in public.

Health
[x] I was born with a disease/impairment
[x] I've gotten stitches/staples.
[x] I've broken a bone.
[ ] I've had my tonsils removed.
[ ] I've sat in a doctor’s office/emergency room with a friend.
[ ] I've had my wisdom teeth removed.
[x] I had a serious surgery.
[ ] I've had chicken pox.
[ ] I've had measles

Traveling
[ ] I've driven over 200 miles in one day
[x] I've been on a plane.
[x] I've been to Canada.
[ ] I've been to Mexico.
[x] I've been to Niagara Falls.
[x] I've been to Japan.
[ ] I've celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
[x] I've been to Europe.
[x] I've been to Africa -- Tunisia :D

Experiences
[x] I've gotten lost in my city.
[x] I've seen a shooting star.
[ ] I've wished on a shooting star
[ ] I've seen a meteor shower.
[x] I've gone out in public in my pajamas.
[x] I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
[ ] I've kicked a guy where it hurts.
[x] I've been to a casino.
[ ] I've been skydiving. -- how I wish I had.....
[ ] I've gone skinny dipping
[x] I've played spin the bottle.
[ ] I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
[ ] I've crashed a car.
[x] I've been skiing.
[x] I've been in a play.
[ ] I've met someone in person from myspace.
[ ] I've caught a snowflake on my tongue.
[ ] I've seen the Northern lights. -- argh !! don't remind me..we were in the ideal location and time to see the aurora in Norway, but it was raining...................
[ ] I've sat on a roof top at night.
[ ] I've played chicken.
[x] I've played a prank on someone
[x] I've ridden in a taxi.
[ ] I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
[x] I've eaten sushi.
[ ] I've been snowboarding.

Relationships
[ ] I'm single
[ ] I'm in a relationship
[ ] I'm engaged.
[ ] I'm married.
[ ] I've gone on a blind date.
[ ] I've been the dumped more than the dumper.
[x] I miss someone right now.
[x] I have a fear of abandonment.
[ ] I've gotten divorced.
[x] I've had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
[ ] I've told someone I loved them when I didn't.
[x] I've kept something from a past relationship.
[ ] I've had a crush on someone of the same sex.
[ ] I've had a crush on a teacher
[ ] I've been kissed in the rain.
[x] I've hugged a stranger.
[ ] I have kissed a stranger.

Honesty/Crime
[x] I've done something I promised someone else I wouldn't.
[x] I've done something I promised myself I wouldn't.
[x] I've snuck out of my house.
[x] I have lied to my parents about where I am.
[x] I am keeping a secret from the world.
[x] I've cheated while playing a game.
[x] I've cheated on a test.
[ ] I've run a red light.
[ ] I've been suspended from school.
[x] I've witnessed a crime. -- yaaay, I was even the victim..
[x] I've been in a fist fight
[ ] I've been arrested.

Drugs/Alcohol
[x] I've consumed alcohol
[ ] I regularly drink.
[ ] I've passed out from drinking.
[ ] I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
[x] I've smoked weed
[ ] I've taken painkillers when I didn't need them.
[ ] I've eaten shrooms.
[ ] I've popped E.
[ ] I've inhaled Nitrous.
[ ] I've done hard drugs.
[x] I have cough drops when I'm not sick.
[ ] I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.
[ ] I have been diagnosed with clinical depression.
[ ] I have been diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorder.
[x] I shut others out when I'm depressed.
[ ] I take anti-depressants.
[ ] I'm anorexic or bulimic.
[x] I've slept an entire day when I didn't need it.
[x] I've hurt myself on purpose.
[x] I've woken up crying.

Death and Suicide
[x] I'm afraid of dying.
[x] I hate funerals.
[ ] I've seen someone dying.
[ ] Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
[ ] Someone close to me has committed suicide.
[ ] I've planned my own suicide.
[ ] I've attempted suicide.
[ ] I've written a eulogy for myself.

Materialism
[ ] I own over 5 rap CDs.
[ ] I own an iPod or MP3 player.
[ ] I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga.
[x] I own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 a piece.
[ ] I own something from Hot Topic.
[ ] I own something from Pac Sun.
[ ] I collect comic books
[x] I own something from The Gap.
[x] I own something I got on e-bay.
[ ] I own something from Abercrombie.

Random
[x] I can sing well.
[ ] I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
[x] I open up to others easily.
[x] I watch the news.
[ ] I don't kill bugs.
[x] I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for the sake of being able to rhyme.
[x] I curse regularly.
[x] I sing in the shower.
[ ] I am a morning person.
[ ] I paid for my cell phone ring tone.
[x] I'm a snob about grammar. -- am trying to change
[ ] I am a sports fanatic.
[ ] I twirl my hair.
[ ] I have "x"s in my screen name.
[ ] I love being neat.
[ ] I love Spam
[ ] I've copied more than 30 CD's in a day
[ ] I bake well.
[x] My favorite color is either white, yellow, pink, red or blue
[ ] I've worn pajamas to school.
[ ] I like Martha Stewart.
[ ] I know how to shoot a gun
[ ] I am in love with love
[ ] I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS. -- WHY would anyone type like that?
[ ] I laugh at my own jokes.
[ ] I eat fast food weekly.
[ ] I believe in ghosts.
[ ] I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
[x] I've not turned anything in and still got an A in a certain class.
[ ] I can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
[ ] I am really ticklish.
[ ] I love white chocolate.
[x] I bite my nails. -- my worst habit :)
[ ] I play video games.
[x] I'm good at remembering names.
[ ] I'm good at remembering dates.
[x] I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.

January 12, 2009


While I was looking for poster of the 'footprints' poem, I stumbled across a very nice video from Leona Lewis. Enjoy..

Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand
Hochgeladen von FresHipHop

Footprints in the sand

Today I was looking for a birthday present for a friend, who's currently facing some problems in her life and study. Then I remembered I used to have a nice framed poem hanged on my bedroom's wall back home in Jakarta. This poem never fails to touch me, so I ordered this poster for her on some online store, since it's quite difficult to find english poems here in Germany and I don't like the german version :( Anyway, thought I'll share..


One night a man had a dream.

He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. How could you leave me when I needed you the most?"

The Lord replied " My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of suffering and when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

** Dita, if you happen to read this, could you please forward this poem to Nico? I hope it can comfort him a bit..

January 11, 2009

Why do girls like flowers?


I got this flower from a friend yesterday, and I think that it's very sweet of him because I actually just met him twice before and still don't really know him.

Honestly, I think we girls don't really like the flower itself, since it can't be eaten nor worn and it withers easily. But it just makes us feel kinda special that someone took the time and effort to buy the flower for us :)

January 9, 2009

Paris Danse Danse!!

My 4th time in Paris, and still falling in love.. Simply charming.

View of the Eiffel tower from Trocadero




Inside the Paris Opera House (the inspiration of Gaston Leroux's the Phantom of the Opera)



Moulin Rouge, we drank come champagne while watching cabaret and the can can dance show ;)


Avenue des Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe

Seine River, New year's eve





The famous Foie Gras on our 3-course-french-dinner (I'm so broke!)


Dessert.......... (and please please, it's de-ser, not d-zurt) :D



Why do all good things come to an end?

Holiday is over, back to the daily routines, college, presentations, exams are coming... *sigh*
We went on a 10-day-trip to the Switzerland (Zürich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Jungfraujoch the top of Europe at 3454 metres asl) and Paris.

Lucerne




Lucerne at night















View from the Jungfraujoch






It was so cold, my ears, nose and toes were freezing and I've worn 3 pairs of socks!

January 6, 2009

My deepest condolences to a dear friend


I heard the news on Jan 1st 2009 that Nico's dad passed away and that he's flying home in the evening. As I heard the news I couldn't stop myself from wondering how he's doing. I just talked to him 3 hours before my Switzerland holiday. Really like him as a friend, as he is a very outgoing and extrovert guy, and it's fun to have silly or in depth conversation with him. Never seen him sad before, I just hope he's alright and that he'll have the strength to go through it all. Hang in there, Nic..