'Twas the beast killed the beauty
I watched Terry Gilliam's
Time Bandits for the first time ever on Sunday night. Young Kevin's parents just had to have the latest gadgets, ultimately to their cost.
Every Monday in the Jakarta Post, Zatni Arbi has a column on the latest computerised gadgets, such as phones with which you can play games, take pictures, send e-mails, calculate how much you've saved by doing everything on the move, calculate the calories in that burger or beer in front of you and, I almost forgot, make phone calls.
Today's article was actually of interest to me as I needed some ink for my printer. He cites a recent survey (which) found that the ink cartridge of some models could cost much more than the printer itself.
Finding myself in Jl. Sudirman, I took the still-ever-so-comfortable busway, I even had a seat, down to Ratu Plaza to check out the computer stores for an HP black cartridge. Prices ranged from Rp.280,000 to Rp.220,000, only a little less than a colour cartridge. Obviously I went for the lower extortionate price. And got a bonus of a mug and an entry into a 'free' draw for a holiday for 3 at Disneyland ~ which one, they didn't know. I argued that I'd prefer a discount or possibly a second mug instead of the prize draw. I've only once won a raffle which was in aid of a children's hospital. It was a giant teddy bear, pink as I recall, which I gave straight back.
Why must we fill our lives with tat? I didn't have a choice of cartridge as they aren't, even for similar models, standardized. What's wrong with straight talking and straight selling?
With
renewed Christian-Muslim violence in Ambon, the bus tragedy in West Sumatra has been relegated, no doubt to the inside pages.
Illegal logging has been blamed, generally with the connivance of the local government.
The survivors are in hospital in Lubuk Sikaping. Interestingly, this is going to be the centre of an eco-tourism project with the additional benefit of increased local expenditure and employment opportunities. Later this year, Hotel Rimbo (= hutan = jungle) will open. Initiated and funded by an Australian friend with his local wife, this project has prevented further deforestation. How? By them saying that if they ever hear a chainsaw, the project will immediately cease. I'll be posting a link to their website once it is in hyperspace, hopefully within the next month. (interested folks are welcome to
write to me.)
And now, back at the fleapit, tonight I watched a DVD of the original
King Kong. It's been 'colorized' which, perhaps unusually, I consider an enhancement and a worthwhile addition to my library. Did you know that the Beast was captured in the jungle of an island south-west of Sumatra?
But, that was then. There ain't no jungle now.
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