I regularly collect bits of info and news scraps which I don't feel able to turn into a full post, let alone a rant.
Here's my latest list.
Here
1. For the past four years, Indonesia Anonymus have been demonstrating a keen social awareness and concern in their blog and now they've published a book, Kopi Merah Putih - non-Indonesian speakers can make a visual translation to the left - which is available through the major local media group Gramedia, both online and in store.Apa isi buku ini?
Buku ini berisi obrolan dengan beragam topik: dari ngobrol soal listrik sampai soal pendidikan. Dari soal subsidi sampai soal bajaj. Buku ini juga ngobrol tentang pisang, toko kecil, HIV/AIDS, kartu kredit, pedagang asongan, sampai sinetron. Banyak topik yang serius (tapi kami sajikan secara ringan agar enak dibaca), ada juga topik bercanda. Namanya juga ngobrol.
In keeping with this blog's tradition of being non-profit, net income from the book's royalty (if it sells, that is!) will be directed to charitable activities in education.
2. Son No.1, who has a travel company which sends a few hundred tourists to Indonesia each year, sent me the link to the Indonesian Ecotourism Center.
Ecotourism is responsible travel to protected natural areas, as well as to unprotected natural areas, which conserves the natural & cultural environment and improves the welfare of local people.
3. Indonesian 'hobbits' were distinct human species, say researchers.
Controversy has been rife ever since the discovery of the species on the Indonesian island of Flores, formally named Homo floresiensis, was announced in 2004. The single skull was unusually small, indicating its brain was no bigger than a chimpanzee's.
2004 was the year of the last election. This may prove that the 'hobbits' evolved into politicians.
There
4. Arnold Schwarzenegger is quoted as saying that he thinks "gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman."
As Governor of the State of California, he has now said that maybe the time is right to consider the legalisation of marijuana. He was a noted toker in years gone by - unlike Bill Clinton, he acknowledged inhaling - and spoke in response to a new public opinion poll showing that 56% of registered voters in California favour legalising and taxing marijuana, in part to help the state out of the worst budget crisis in its history.
A legalisation bill has recently introduced in the state assembly by a San Francisco liberal Democrat called Tom Ammiano.
"I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in the effort to be the first state in the nation to enact commonsense policy on marijuana," an elated Ammiano said.
His proposed system of legalising and taxing marijuana would raise an estimated $1.3bn a year in tax revenue alone, according to state legislative analysts. The savings in law enforcement and incarceration costs could be many billions more.
Makes sense to me. After all, tobacco is heavily taxed, yet far worse, lethal in fact, in terms of human cost.
5. My ex-stepson, Morgan, is making a career as an artist, with a strong community focus working with elementary school students.
6. My father, Ron 'Eastbournass', celebrates his 90th birthday tomorrow.
Happy Birthday, Dad.
