Archive for August, 2007

Seorang muslim = teroris?

Monday, August 27th, 2007

Kaget sekaligus sedih membaca berita pagi ini. Padahal berita yang dibaca hanya berita olahraga. Loh? Kenapa sedih?

Di berita itu disebutkan Mido, pemain klub Middlesbrough Inggris asal Mesir, dicemooh para supporter tuan rumah Newcastle United karena alasan yang tidak masuk akal, yaitu membawa BOM! Padahal kita tahu sendiri tidak mungkin seseorang bisa lolos membawa bom ke dalam sebuah stadion yang dijaga ketat dengan sistem keamanan yang berlapis.

Lantas kenapa dia dituduh membawa bom? Apakah karena dia seorang muslim? Apakah setiap muslim praktis sudah pasti adalah teroris?

I really don’t agree with that.

Memang sejak peristiwa 9/11 posisi umat Islam di mata dunia berubah drastis. Muslim di Amerika seolah-olah harus membuktikan ketidakbersalahan mereka setiap saat kepada orang-orang yang mereka temui. Gara-gara peristiwa tersebut setiap muslim dicap bersalah karena melakukan teror yang mereka sendiri tidak pernah membayangkan sebelumnya.

Hal ini tentu merupakan kenyataan yang amat menyakitkan bagi sebagian besar muslim yang rata-rata adalah moderat. Mereka adalah para muslim yang lebih mementingkan nilai-nilai keluarga dan kedamaian dalam hidup. Mereka beragama untuk mencari ketenangan jiwa dalam agama yang diyakininya, berharap kehidupan mereka akan lebih baik dengan nilai-nilai agama yang selalu menjunjung tinggi kedamaian dan kebaikan.

Tetapi apa yang mereka dapatkan adalah tuduhan yang tidak mengenakkan. Bagi seseorang yang sangat menjunjung tinggi nilai-nilai kebaikan (virtue), dituduh sebagai teroris yang mewakili nilai-nilai keburukan (vice), merupakan sebuah penghinaan besar. Seolah-olah apa yang mereka lakukan selama ini yaitu berbuat baik dan bekerja keras dianggap sebagai kejahatan. Kenyataan pahit ini sungguh menyakitkan.

Mari berpikir positif. Hal ini lebih baik dianggap sebagai cambuk bagi setiap muslim untuk berbuat lebih baik lagi dan bekerja lebih profesional lagi dan bertindak lebih elegan lagi untuk membuktikan kepada mereka yang menuduh sembarangan bahwa kita tidak seburuk apa yang mereka anggap. Mari kita sama-sama bekerja keras untuk kehidupan yang lebih baik.

Let’s show them that we are good, too! I mean real good. For real.

Nyabu, yuk!

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

image courtesy of conversassoltas.blogspot.com

Eits, ini bukan ajakan untuk mengkonsumsi narkoba yah! :)
Soalnya kasus pelawak Gogon tertangkap menggunakan Shabu-shabu lagi hangat-hangatnya. Nah, daripada mengkonsumsi narkoba, mending kita makan Shabu-shabu beneran. Selain sehat, berprotein tinggi, dan tentunya sangat lezat.

Shabu-shabu yang sering kita temui di restoran Jepang, Korea, Thai, atau restoran asia lainnya merupakan hidangan hot pot dimana makanan akan dimasak langsung di meja makan dengan cara direbus dengan kaldu sebelum disantap.

Dalam sejarahnya sendiri Shabu-shabu merupakan sebuah cara bagi para prajurit Mongol ketika dipimpin oleh Genghis Khan untuk bersantap bersama. Mereka berkumpul mengelilingi sebuah panci yang dipanaskan dan kemudian mencelupkan irisan daging yang mereka miliki masing-masing ke dalam panci berisi air kaldu. Cara ini tentunya sangat efisien sehingga mereka tidak perlu memasak sendiri-sendiri yang tentunya pemborosan waktu bagi para prajurit yang harus lekas maju ke medan perang. Ceileee!

Ada banyak sekali cara untuk menyantap hidangan ini. Anda tentunya bisa bereksperimen sendiri. Tidak perlu takut salah. Tetapi tips berikut ini mungkin bisa memberi sedikit petunjuk bagaimana menikmati Shabu-shabu yang sedikit lebih menyenangkan :

  1. Masukkan bahan makanan yang membutuhkan sedikit waktu lebih lama untuk matang seperti wortel dan lobak terlebih dahulu ke dalam panci yang sudah agak mendidih. Setelah itu baru masukkan semuanya kecuali irisan daging.
  2. Dalam menyantap daging, ambil sehelai irisan daging mentah kemudian celupkan ke dalam kaldu yang sudah mendidih. Celupkan perlahan-lahan sehingga terdengar suara “swish-swishhh”, yang merupakan asal muasal kata “Shabu-shabu”. Ketika daging sudah agak matang bisa langsung disantap.
  3. Hidangan yang baru diambil dari hot pot terasa terlalu panas di lidah hingga membuat lidah serasa terbakar? Ada baiknya anda memesan semangkuk telur mentah. Manfaat dari telur mentah ini adalah untuk mengurangi suhu makanan dengan cepat begitu dicelupkan ke dalam mangkuk berisi telur ini. Tetapi kalau tidak suka telur mentah, baiknya makanan didiamkan sejenak hingga dirasa tidak terlalu panas untuk dimakan.

Last but not least, selamat Nyabu!

12 Cara Untuk Menghilangkan Stress

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

Koleksi pribadi aja nih, dikutip dari sebuah website. Males di-bookmark soalnya bakal nggak dibaca :)
12 Proven Ways To Relieve Stress Today!

by Whozylee Aris

Do you feel that you just don’t have the time to properly de-stress each day? The good news is you can incorporate simple stress busting routines into all that you do!

Stretch those muscles!

Lean your right ear down to your right shoulder and stretch the left side of your neck as you do. Now, switch sides and do the other side. Now, look down and drop your chin towards your chest. Now slowly, let your head roll to the right and then to the left. Repeat slowly until you feel yourself loosen up.

You can do this same exercise for your shoulders, too. Try a few shoulder circles, as well. This is simple to do and when you take the time to do these several times a day, your range of motion will increase and you’ll feel considerably more relaxed.

Enjoy a relaxing massage

Treat yourself to a professional therapist massage and be sure to ask for a calming essential oil such as lavender or chamomile. Buy yourself some of the same oil to take home, and when you’re having a stressful moment, put a few drops of oil onto your tissue or pillowcase and then just breathe into it deeply. You can also use some of the oil to be infused into the air with a diffuser. Just smelling the oil will relax you even if you don’t get to have a massage!

Wear a Smile

Always begin your day with a broad smile on your face. Purpose in your heart to be lighthearted on this day and every time you see someone pass them a big, sincere smile. You will be surprised how easily this action will affect your mood.

Share in a good joke or two and try to make someone else laugh. Feeling lighthearted is a good thing! Just ask Martha Stewart!

That Small Inner Voice — Talk to yourself

Gently close your eyes and repeat positive affirmations. Tell yourself over and over what you want to believe to be true, such as: ‘I am calm’ or ‘I am confident and sure…’ Keep in mind that what you believe to be true will be felt by your body!

In Support of Good Posture

Take in a few, good deep breaths as you sit up very tall. Put your feet flat on the floor. At the same time angle your thighs slightly toward the floor, arch in your lower back slightly, gently push your sternum (chest bone) back and then relax your shoulders.

Take in another good deep breath and hold your position for a minute or two. Don’t allow your posture to slouch at all during this time - hold your position upright and support your good posture.

As your good posture continues to align, you will relieve all muscle tension. Do this exercise twice daily and you will find yourself naturally supporting your good posture each day.

Have Some Fresh Air and Take a Brisk Walk

If you must be indoors most of your day, taking a break to breathe in pure air and to exercise your limbs will be an instant refresher. Doing this will give you back good concentration and you will feel more limber.

Spend only 20 to 30 minutes each day taking in fresh air and walking and you will improve both physically and mentally. If you have a dog, take them along with you. They need to be refreshed just as you do.

Take up a Relaxing Hobby

Spend an afternoon at your local craft store and select a new hobby. A good hobby that really interests you will breathe new life into your day. You will be more relaxed and enjoy having a new interest. Whether you choose painting, playing an instrument, knitting, or even kite flying, choose something that will encourage calm and serenity.

Try a Relaxing Form of Eastern Meditation such as Tai Chi

Take time to focus from within and you will cultivate a spirit of self control over the anxiety-ridden external world.

Take a good book to bed with you each night and spend 30 minutes relaxing before you turn out the light. This will be calming and as you close yours eyes each night remind yourself of your many blessings.

Give Lots of Hugs and Kisses Daily

Even on your busiest days, stop and hug and kiss someone who is special to you. Your children, especially, need to know how much they mean to you. A show of affection will go a long way.

Spend time each day with a beloved pet. Studies have shown that when we care for a pet we release anxiety and tension, naturally.

Spend quality time with your loved one. Remember those special times with your spouse before the children came along. Nurture moments with just the two of you and you will relax, naturally

Replace that Uncomfortable Office Chair with an Ab Ball

Next time you leave for your office, stop, first into a fitness store and buy an Ab Ball. This ball will allow your core muscles to have a great wake up call. Just sit on your Ab Ball and then bounce on the spot! You will feel instantly refreshed and your co-workers will want to do the same!

Just as it is time to take your lunch, first bounce on your Ab Ball to get your gastro-juices going! You will firm up your body in no time and best of all you will have fun!

Breathe in the Gift of Life

We can all go for weeks without a crumb of food, days at a time without water, but, we can only go for minutes without good, pure oxygen.

The average person breathes very shallowly and this makes it almost impossible to be relaxed.

Sit yourself down, purposefully, and take in a slow deep breath in through your nose until you have properly filled up your lungs.

Hold in the air in for a moment and then very slowly exhale through your lips. Breathe deeply in this way for 4 - 5 times, a few times a day.

You will feel instantly refreshed!

Listen to the Gift of Music

As much as possible, always set your mood with background mood music. Some like traditional blues, some like jazz. Try the newer nature sounds, so you can be working to background sounds of tin pans, flutes and ocean waves crashing on the beach. Whatever you choose, make sure it relaxes and does not energize you. There is a time to be energized and a time to relax. For relaxation, select the mood music over the rock and roll or the hip hop.

Safari, Browser Windows rasa Apple :)

Sunday, August 12th, 2007

Apple Safari 3.0.3

Udah pernah nyobain?

Kabarnya browser ini jauh lebih cepat dari Firefox sekalipun! Ditambah lagi GUI-nya yang intuitif khas MacOS X. Hanya saja versi yang ditawarkan masih public beta. Dari segi keamanan kabarnya masih cukup rentan akan serangan.

Jangan-jangan ini salah satu strategi Apple untuk menarik hati pengguna Windows agar beralih menggunakan MacOS X! :D
Tapi tetap tidak ada salahnya untuk mencoba.

Download di sini. Gratis.

234 Super Premium Jakarta Crossover Jazztival

Saturday, August 11th, 2007

234 Super Premium Jakarta Crossover Jazztival

Featuring:
Koop
Cro-Magnon
Stax Groove
DJ Daz I Kue (Bugs In the Attic)
DJ Afronaught + MC (Bugz In The Attic)
DJ Masaya Fantasista (Jazzysport)

Deep Sound Community
DJ Glen (Melting Pod)
DJ Ebby (Melting Pod)
DJ HGH (Melting Pod)
DJ DXXXT (FFCUTS)
DJ Egga (FFCUTS)

The Hall, Senayan City
Friday, September 7, 2007 7pm-2am

Dateng yuk :D
Jarang-jarang tuh DJ Bugz In The Attic maen di Jakarta!

Recommended banget buat penggemar Deep House, Nu Jazz, dan sejenisnya! :D