tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57646365367316682332024-03-08T20:26:35.447+08:00IndonesiaAbu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-37837060870949399252009-09-02T22:58:00.001+08:002009-09-02T22:58:04.070+08:00BELOGIn village in Bali there once lived a silly but happy boy called Belog. 'Belog' means 'Blockhead' in Balinese, and Belog was well known around his village because of the foolish things he was always doing. The people of the village never grew tired of telling each other stories about Belog's simple-minded behaviour. One favourite story goes as follows.<br /><br />One day Belog's mother accidentally dropped her last box of matches into a puddle of water. The matches got wet and would not light. She needed now matches to light her stove, so she called out her son and said, 'Belog, please go to the shop and buy some matches. The matches that I have are wet, and I cannot light the fire to cook our meal.' She gave Belog some money and then added, 'Now do make sure that the matches you buy are dry and can light easily!'<br /><br />So Belog took the coins for the matches from his mother, and happily walked to the village shop. He walked inside and asked the owner for a box of matches. Then Belog carefully counted his coins and paid for the box and began to walk home.<br /><br />No sooner was he outside the shop than a thought struck Belog. He opened the box and looked inside. They look like good matches to me,' he thought. 'But how can I be certain? I'd better try one.' Belog toll out one of the matches and struck it. It caught fire easily.<br /><br />'Ah, that match is all right,' he said. 'But what about the others?' So Belog took out all the matches one by one and lighted them to see that they were good. Then he replaced the matches in the box. 'This is a good box of matches,' Belog said to himself. Then he returned home.<br /><br />'Here mother.' said Belog, with an honest and foolish smile on his face. 'I bought a good box of matches. They all work. I tested all of them!' Then Belog handed his mother the box of used, burnt matches.<br /><br />His poor mother. What could she say? After all, Belog was her only child, and she loved him dearly.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-88704661111957363212009-09-02T07:28:00.000+08:002009-09-02T07:29:26.604+08:00jgmwikts89Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-50094498732437437312009-08-31T23:54:00.004+08:002009-09-01T18:03:51.968+08:00Understanding Internet Security Threats (1)Understanding Internet Security Threats, That Are Commoly Introduced Into The Wild Internet.<br /><br />When we are surfing the internet at home or at the office, the computer is exposed to the wild internet where many types of threats might cause the computer to function incorrectly. Unlike a large scale network infrastructure of a corporate that has proper information security management, your computers at home might be vulnerable to the threats.<br /><br />Definitions of Programmed Threats<br /><br />Computers are designed to execute instructions one after another. These instructions usually do something useful - calculate values, maintain databases, and communicate with users and with other systems. Sometimes, however, the instructions executed can be damaging or malicious in nature. When the damage happens by accident, we call the code involved a software bug. Bugs are perhaps the most common cause of unexpected program behavior.<br /><br />But if the source of the damaging instructions is an individual who intendet that the abnormal behavior occur, we call the instructions malicious code, or a programmed threat. Some people use the term malware to describe malicious software. <br /><br />There are many different kinds of programmed threats. Experts classify threats by the way they behave, how they are triggered, and how they spread. In recent years, occurrences of these programmed threats have been described almost uniformly by the media as computer viruses and (in the more technical media) worms. However, viruses and worms make up only a small fraction of the malicious code that has been devised. Saying that all programmed data loss is caused by viruses.<br /><br />Experts who work in this area have formal definitions of all of these types of software. However, not all the experts agree on common definitions. Thus, we'll consider the following practical definitions of malicious software:<br /><br />Security tools and toolkits<br /><br />Usually designed to be used by security professionals to protect their sites, these can also be used by unauthorized individuals to probe for weaknesses, rootkits are a special case: these are prepackaged attack toolkits that also install back doors into your systeem once they have penetrated superuser account security.<br /><br />Back doors<br /><br />Sometimes called trap doors, these allow unauthorized access to your system. Back doors, also called trap doors, are pieces of code written into applications or operating system to grant programmers access to program without requiring them to go through the normal methods of access authentication. Back doors and trap doors have been around for many years. They're typically written by application programmers who need a means of debugging or monitoring code that they are developing.<br /><br />Most back doors are inserted into applications that require lengthy authentication procedures or long setups requiring a user to enter many different values to run the application. When debugging the program, the developer may wish to gain special privileges or avoid all the necessary setup and authentication steps. The programmer also may want to ensure that there is a method of activating the program should something go wrong with the authentication procedure that is being built into the application. The back door is code that either recognizes some special sequence of input, or is triggered by being run from a certain user ID. It then grants special access.<br /><br />Back doors become threats when they're used by unscrupulous programmers to gain unauthorized access. They are also a problem when the initial application developer forgets to remove a back door after the system has been debugged and some other individual discovers the door's existenceAbu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-31535391913597768302009-08-31T04:12:00.005+08:002009-08-31T15:25:07.586+08:00Why Dayaks Like HornbillsOne day, a Dayak named Ketupong went into the jungle to hunt birds. He saw one with strange red eyes. He raised his blowpipe to his mouth. "Psst" - the dart hit the bird. He bent down to pick it up. Suddenly it changed into a beautiful dress made of bird's feathers. He put it in the bamboo container he used for his darts. It was so finely made and soft that it could be folded up into a small space.<br /> "Have you seen my dress?" He turned round to see who had spoken to him. There was a lovely girl standing behind him. He did not know where she had come from.<br /> "Yes," he said, "here it is. But I shan't give it to you unless you promise to marry me." He had never seen such a lovely girl before and his mother was always telling him to get married.<br /> The girl agreed, provided that he never asked her to tell him her name. They were soon married. The next year, they had a son. Ketupong and his wife (he just called her "wife") were very happy together. They loved their son dearly. However, Ketupong often noticed that his wife was looking up at the sky. "What are you looking at?" he asked. But she only shook her head.<br /> Then he saw his wife weaving two coats. They were a bright green color with an unusual pattern like bird's feathers.<br /> "Who are you making those coats for?" he asked.<br /> "They are for you and our son," she answered. "When they are finished, you can wear them to fly up into the sky."<br /> "I don't want to fly," he said.<br /> "Silly, she smiled. "Don't you know who I am? I am Inchin Temaga, daughter of Singalang Burong. My house is in the sky."<br /> Ketupong was surprised. He had heard of Singalang Burong. He was the Dayak God of War, a great general who had never lost a battle. "In that case, my wife must be a fairy," he thought to himself.<br /> Suddenly, his wife's body became covered with feathers. In a few minutes, her arms changed into wings. She rose into the air. He tried to stop her but it was too late. She flew up, up, into the sky. "Come back! Come back!" he cried. Her voice came floating down, "If you want to visit me, wear the coats I have made for you."<br /> Years went by. All this time, the son was sad that he could not see his mother. He looked so unhappy that his father did not know what to do.<br /> "Take me to my mother," the boy cried. "I want to see my mother again."<br /> "But how can I?" asked his father. Then he remembered the coats which his wife had left behind. So they put on the coats. They immediately felt much lighter. Soon they were able to fly up into the sky. They saw a great palace in front of them. They palace gates opened and a man wearing a splendid Dayak was dress appeared. He was Singalang Burong.<br /> "Welcome, Ketupong!" he roared. "My daughter and I have been waiting for you. Why have you been so long?<br /> Then Inchin Temaga appeared. She was not very pleased to see her husband as she had heard that he had remarried. "Go back to earth!" she told him. "I know that you now have another family there. Our son can stay here with me. My father can teach him a lot. He can follow you later."<br /> So Ketupong had to return to earth. Singalang Burong was very pleased to see his grandson.<br /> At about that time, one of Singalang Burong's men was killed by a giant named Jubang. Singalang Burong showed his grandson the correct way to pay respects to the dead. He told him to pack all the dead man's belongings into a box. "The box cannot be opened," he said, "until we have taught the giant a good lesson. We must cut off his head." The next day the boy went with his grandfather to look for the giant. On the way, Singalang Burong taught him how to use magic and how to look for good and bad signs.<br /><br />Soon they reached the longhouse where the giant was staying. They decided to wait outside until it was dark. When they entered the longhouse, Singalang Burong gave a terrible shout. He threw his spear at the giant. The giant fell to the ground. He then leapt forward and cut off the giant's head with one blow of his sword. All the other people living in the longhouse, who were the giant's prisoners, were set free. When Singalang Burong and his grandson returned home with the giant's head, everyone was happy. They held a feast which lasted three days and nights. After the feast was over, Singalang Burong pointed to the carving of a strange-looking bird on top of a tall pole. The bird's beak was pointed in the direction of the giant's house. "What's that, grandfa?" the boy asked. "It's a horn bill. It is one of the sacred birds of the Dayaks, we believe that it will help us to beat our enemies in battle."<br />"Why do you use a hornbill, grandfa?" <br />"Don't ask so many questions," said the old man. " Probably because it's such a large and strong bird. Anyway, its head and tail feathers are very beautiful."<br /><br />Later when the boy returned to earth, he taught his father and everyone living in his father's longhouse what he had learned from his grandfather.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-30472010435444885532009-08-31T01:32:00.003+08:002009-08-31T15:40:27.232+08:00BlowpipesBlowpipes are used as weapons in many parts of Borneo. It is believed that the Muruts of Sabah first used them more than a thousand years ago. They would not have been able to live without these weapons. They did not know how to plant rice at the time but they planted tapioca on the hillsides near their houses. They only way for them to obtain enough to eat was to hunt wild animals and birds with their blowpipes and poisonous darts.<br /><br />It is said that the first blowpipe was made from bamboo. It was sharpened at one end. The point was then hardened over a fire. This weapon could be used both as a blowpipe and spear. However, bamboo blowpipes were not very accurate. The hole in the centre of the bamboo was too big, which made it impossible to shoot the darts straight. So blowpipes were made of hard wood, sometimes nine feet long, with a small hole bored down the centre. These wooden blowpipes were more accurate than bamboo blowpipes, but it was difficult to make the hole. Than a clever man thought of the idea of using a hot iron to make it. Even then, it sometimes took several weeks to make a blowpipe. Sometimes a sharp knife was tied tightly with rattan to the end of the blowpipe, and a metal mouthpiece was fixed at the other end.<br /><br />Blowpipe darts are similar to arrows. They are usually made from wood or bamboo. They are about ten inches long and very thin and light. One end is sharp and the other end is shaped like a cork. This cork-shaped end helps to make sure that the dart travels in a straight line. The darts are dried in the sun and later hardened by fire. The pointed end is often dipped in poison which is made from the sap of a tree and the fangs of a poisonous snake. It looks like a black sticky paste.<br /><br />Poisonous darts are placed ready for use in a bamboo container, which is hung above a fire so that darts are kept dry.<br /><br />When an animal is killed with blowpipe, a hair is pulled out from its fur and stuck on the blowpipe, and a drop of blood from the animal is rubbed on the weapon.<br /><br />Muruts can shoot very accurately with blowpipes. They can even hit a small bird from thirty yards away.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-62390608825011661762009-08-29T14:26:00.003+08:002009-08-29T14:32:23.894+08:00PendetPendet is a traditional Balinese dance, in which an offering in theform of a ritual dance. As a religious dance, Pendet is usually performed during temple ceremonies.<br /><br />Pendet is typically performed by young girls, carry in their right hand a small offering of incense, cakes, water vessels, or flower formations set in palm leaf with these they dance from shrine to shrine within the temple. Pendet, thus, may be performed as a serial and continue intermittently throughoin, the day and late into the night during temple feasts.<br /><br />The original Pendet dance is performed by 4-5 young girls in temple yards. Pendet dancers bring flower in small bokor, they spread the flowers around the temple. This dance is a symbol of welcoming God in some ritual ceremonies in Bali. Pendet actually has simple dance movements. These movements are the basic dance movements of Balinese dance. Pendet has undergone later development with variations and now is not only performed in ritual ceremonies but also in some social events. Pendet since has been known as a welcoming dance.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-6286659108450491332009-08-28T08:55:00.002+08:002009-08-28T08:57:01.965+08:00Malaysia, Negri yang Lupa akan Sejarah BangsanyaSebagai warga Indonesia, wajar saja jika saya merasa harga diri Bangsa ini sudah tak dihargai lagi oleh Negri jiran. Rentetan klaim yang dilakukan Malaysia terhadap pulau-pulau perbatasan dan warisan-warisan budaya Indonesia, mempertontonkan seakan Malaysia ingin menunjukkan hegemoninya atas Indonesia. Rasa superioritas yang teramat berlebihan.<br /><br />Ada baiknya Malaysia mengingat kembali sejarah Sriwijaya, Majapahit, "Ganyang Malaysia", atau hutang budi Malaka terhadap Pati Unus. Dengan menengok kebelakang, diharapkan langkah kedepannya akan lebih bijak. Jangan pernah berpikir jika hari ini bisa mengajukan klaim atas Ligitan, Sempadan, Ambalat, wayang kulit, reog, sampai tari pendet, maka besok bisa Kalimantan, Sumatra, Monas.<br /><br />Ahh tapi kita tahu bahwa Malaysia tak seberani itu, baru saja TNI melakukan latihan perang, mereka langsung hengkang. Mengingatkan kita akan Nurdin M Top dengan hit & run-nya.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-14871913419033549962009-08-22T02:54:00.003+08:002009-08-22T14:07:10.294+08:00Lampung & Krakatau Volcanic IslandAncient Chinese travel chronicles refer to a place in the most southerly part of Sumatra called "Lampung" or "place of southerly winds". The province is generally flat with the highest mountains of Gunung Pesagi, Tanggamas, Seminiung, Sehincan and Raya all being dormant volcanoes. Bandar Lampung, the Provincial capital, was formerly two separate towns, Tanjungkarang and the port of Teluk Betung, which after the infamous eruption of Krakatau were both completely covered in volcanic ash. In the course of development, however this town have merged together to become one single city.<br /><br />Tourist Office: Jl. Ahmad Dahlan no. 79, Gunung Mas, Bandar Lampung 35211<br />Phone. (0721) 263401, 361430<br />Fax. (0721) 266184<br /><br />Getting there:<br />Domestic airlines have daily flight from Jakarta. Rajabasa bus terminal is one of the busiest in Sumatra, with a constant flow of departures. The trip from Jakarta takes eight hours which include crossing Sunda Strait between Merak in Java and Bakaheuni Lampung by ferry. Three trains a day run from Palembang.<br /><br />Place of Interest<br /><br />*Bandar Lampung has a Museum and a Monument of Krakatau Eruption.<br /><br />*Krakatau Island<br />Krakatau is an inhabited island and located on the southern part of the Bay of Lampung. Krakatau is reachable in three hours by boat from Canti, a fishing village near Kalianda, South Lampung. Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) is still growing, first emerging from the sea in early 1928, 45 years after legendary eruption in 1883.<br /><br />Krakatau Island is currently among three destination in Indonesia that has been qualified in the New 7 Wonder of Nature campaign held by the New 7 Wonders Fondation (two other candidates is Lake Toba and Komodo National Park).<br /><br />*Pugung Archaeological<br />Pugung Archaeological site in Pugung Raharjo village, 40 kms northeast of Bandar Lampung is a site of megalith and prehistoric relics as well those of the classical Hindu-Buddhist period.<br /><br />*Merak Belantung Beach<br />Merak Belantung Beach is 40 km south of Bandar Lampung, on the way to the seaport of Bakauheni, the beach is ideal for swimming and wind surfing. Cottages are available.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-5983222220860113172009-08-21T09:28:00.003+08:002009-08-21T10:33:49.607+08:00BalineseThe Balinese population of 3 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java (eg. the Municipality of Banyuwangi).<br /><br />The origins of the Balinese came from three periods: The first waves of immigrants came from Java and Kalimantan in the prehistoric times of the proto-Malay stock; the second wave of Balinese came slowly over the years from Java during the Hindu period; the third and final period came from Java, between the 15th and 16th centuries, at the time of the conversion of Islam in Java, aristocrats fled to Bali from the Javanese Majapahit Empire to escape Islamic conversion, reshaping the Balinese culture into a syncretic form of classical Javanese culture with many Balinese elements. The Balinese people generally got a large proportion of their ancestry from there.<br /><br />Balinese culture is perhaps most known for dance, drama and sculpture. The culture is noted for its use of the gamelan in music. The island is also known for its form of wayang kulit or shadow puppet theater. It also has several unique aspects related to their religions and traditions. Balinese culture is a mix of Balinese Hindu religion and Balinese custom.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-38560195309588915032009-08-20T20:55:00.003+08:002009-08-20T21:03:38.972+08:00NgabenNgaben, or Cremation Ceremony, is the ritual performed in Bali to send the deceased to the next life. The body of the deceased will be placed as if sleeping, and the family will continue to treat the deceases as sleeping. No tears are shed, because the deceased is only temporarily not present and will reincarnate or find his final rest in Moksha (freeing from the reincarnation and death cycle).<br /><br />The proper day of the ceremony is always a matter of consulting a specialist on ceremony days. On the day of the ceremony, the body of the deceased is placed inside a coffin. This coffin is placed inside a sarcophagus resembling a buffalo (Lembu) or in a temple structure (Wadah) made of paper and wood. The buffalo or temple structure will be carried to the cremation site in a procession. The procession is not walking in a straight line. This is to confuse bad spirits and keep them away from the deceased.<br /><br />The climax of Ngaben is the burning of the whole structure, together with the body of the deceased. The fire is necessary to free the spirit from the body and enable reincarnation.<br /><br />Ngaben is not always immediately performed. For higher caste members it is normal to perform the ritual within 3 days. For lower caste members the deceased are buried first and later, often in a group ceremony for the whole village, cremated.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-64994513073782014902009-08-20T10:45:00.004+08:002009-08-20T16:23:46.604+08:00The Irrawaddy Dolphin in Mahakan RiverGenetically the Irrawaddy Dolphin is closely related to the Orca. The species name brevirostris comes from the Latin meaning short-beaked. They have a large melon and a blunt, rounded Lead, and the beak is indistinct. The dorsal fin, located about two-thirds posterior along the back, is short, blunt and triangular. The flipper are long and broad. It is lightly coloured all over, but slightly more white on the underside than the back. Adult weight exceed 130 kg (287 lb) and length is 2.3 m (8 ft) at full maturity. These dolphins are thought to reach sexual maturity at 7 to 9 years. Its gestation period is 14 months, giving birth to a single calf every 2 to 3 years. Length is about 1 m (3 ft) at birth. Birth weight is about 10 kg (22 lb). Weaning is after two years. Lifespan is about 30 years.<br /><br />The Irrawaddy Dolphin in Indonesia almost known as "Pesut" and founded in Mahakam river systems, including Semayang, Melintang, and Jempang lakes, in East Kalimantan. A survey reported approximately 100 dolphins in Semayang Lake and the Pela River and adjacent Mahakam River.<br /><br />In Semayang Lake, Irrawaddy Dolphins perform daily migration from the lake to the Mahakam River, returning to the lake in the evening. They may be found at distance up to 1.300 km upstream in major rivers, and indication of movements of considerable extent (Reyes, 1991).<br /><br />Kreb (in IWC, 2000) described her research on this species in the Mahakam River, and its associated lakes and in nearby coastal waters of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The middle section of the Mahakam River and tributaries between Mum Kainan (180 km from mouth) and Melak (350 km from the mouth) was identified as primary dolphin habitat. The distribution changes seasonally an is influenced by water levels and perhaps variation in prey availability. Dolphins move into tributaries during high water and back into the main river when water levels recede. Most sightings were made at confluences and river bends.<br /><br />Threat's<br /><br />Incidental catch: Irrawaddy Dolphins are accidentally caught in fishing nets in Mahakam River.<br />Habitat degradation: Irrawaddy Dolphins from Semayang Lake were formerly observed in the Mahakam River up to Tenggarong and Samarinda. Since the 1980's, probably due to the intense activity related to the timber industry, they are no longer observed near these towns but only above Muara Kaman (Reyes, 1991). Habitat degradation may limit the distribution and abundance of Irrawaddy Dolphins, particularly in fresh water. Dams (Baird and Maunsouphom, 1997), gold mining using mercury abstraction techniques, increased sedimentation as a result of deforestation and other changes in river catchments, overfishing, harmful fishing techniques (poison and electrofishing), vessel traffic and noise pollution are all potential threats to this species. Coastal development with concomitant eutrophication is also cause for concern (IWC, 2000).<br />Overfishing: Reduction of fish populations in Indonesian rivers by illegal fishing methods is a serious threat.<br /><br />Status<br />The Irrawaddy dolphins are classified by the IUCN as a critically endangered species.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-62665712009521652792009-08-20T10:14:00.002+08:002009-08-20T10:14:31.644+08:00Kecak DanceKecak a form of Balinese music drama, originated in the 1930s and is performed primarily by men. Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of 100 or more performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "cak" and throwing up their arms. Taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the dance tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sinta, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka, "Ravana".Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-44802663129875268702009-08-14T19:18:00.003+08:002009-08-15T10:03:23.514+08:00Social Networking Sites as a Breaking News SourceSocial networking sites offer people online a gathering spot to casually share their opinions and interests with other like-minded participants. Recent event however have indicated how effective these online communities are for breaking news on a national and international level.<br /><br />Although interest or opinion may vary from group to group there still remains a common interest in national or word news. Considering these social platforms connect people from all over the world on a 24/7 basis you're looking at their considerable potential as information sources.<br /><br />What we're focusing on here is the ability of these social sites to gather and circulate late breaking news. Compared with the more traditional syndicated news networks it can be argued that social network sites are in fact more efficient and expedient in delivering news to the public. Take that CNN! By passing information along through word of mouth using the speed of the internet news that travels this fast is hard to beat.<br /><br />Let's examine 5 reasons why a social network online can outperform the more traditional news broadcasting networks.<br /><br />News Collected as it Occurs<br /><br />Social platforms do not 'assign' people to gather news or information but instead are merely designed to share information or interests. Site members do however possess an insatiable and natural curiosity. Just through sheer numbers members combine to create a catch basin of global proportions. As a result the are capable of collecting information of little or great consequence anywhere in the world on a 24/7 basis.<br /><br />Information Transmitted Fast<br /><br />Any information picked up either through heresy or observation is usually immediately 'released' on the internet. To date there is no more efficient means with which to dispense information to the general public quicker than the net.<br /><br />As is often said in basketball, 'Nothing but Net!'<br /><br />Syndicated networks for the most part still have certain 'hoops' thru which they must 'jump' before releasing information. This may tend to slow their process.<br /><br />No 'Red Tape' or Protocol<br /><br />Without the traditional 'red tape' or protocol that syndicated news networks contend with online communities hold an unfair advantage. The legalese involving fair play, accuracy, and ethics do encumber syndicated networks. The lack of such restraints however concerning online communities does 'allow' for information to be dispensed much faster to the general public.<br /><br />Word Gets Out Quicker<br /><br />News tends to flow from person to person and often time is simply brodcast to the masses. The net result is that information spreads virally and this word of mouth effect should not be overlook for its efficiency and speed. There is no 'formal' channel through which information is directed which means word is spread continuously, not at scheduled intervals. This process 'increase' both speed and just as importantly exposure.<br /><br />No Regulated Responsibilities<br /><br />Within any social network community there is no delegation of duties, responsibilities or authority. You are looking at a world-wide community with the capability of filling any role that may seem appropriate at any given time. From observing an event or translating its meaning to distributing the information this flexibility and spontaneity enables news to be collected and spread like a wild fire.<br /><br />This lack of structure is built for speed but on the other hand can lead to occasional inaccuracies in reporting facts.<br /><br />Social networking sites have both the channels and the manpower to deliver late breaking news at lightning speed. Using word of mouth to spread information social sites possess the ability to transmit news unencumbered by any red tape further accelerating the transfer of this information. It is not suggested that online communities replace syndicated news networks as news source but merely that they can compliment them if needed. Social network sites based upon their prominence on the internet possess the potential to be much more that they were designed for and this should not be ignored.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-53447845289969248002009-08-14T19:11:00.005+08:002009-08-14T19:18:33.634+08:00TenggereseThe Tenggerese are the descendants of the Majapahit princes. Their population of roughly 600.000 is centered in thirty villages in the isolated Tengger mountains (Mount Bromo) within the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru national park in East-Central Java. They are traditionally believed to be the descendants of Roro Anteng and Joko Seger.<br /><br />The Tenggerese generally profess Hinduism as their religion, although they have incorporated many Buddhist and Animist elements.<br />Their priest are called Dukun or Resi Pujjangga, who play a middle role in their religious worship. They are believed to possess spiritual knowledge called Ilmu of the gods and the spirits, which they carefully guard from ordinary Tenggers. Membership of the priesthood is hereditary and generally passes down from father to son. Each village has only one of these three priest, together with three assistants, namely Legen, Sepuh, and Dandan.<br /><br />Both Muslim and Christian missionaries have attempted to convert the Tenggere. However, the Christians have met with hardly any success; they only managed to convert a few hundred to Christianity. Even so, due to the negligible number of them, most of them either reverted back to Hinduism or converted to Islam. The Tenggere Muslim have a more successful conversion, though they frequently mix original Hindu-Buddhist ideas and spirits to their Islam and celebrate Tenggerese festivals at the same time.<br /><br />Festivals<br /> <br />The main festival of the Tenggerese is the Yadnya Kasada, which lasts about a month. On the fourteenth day of the Kasada, the Tenggerese go to Poten Bromo and ask for blessing from the main deity Hyang Widi Wasa and the God of the Mountain by presenting annual offerings of rice, fruit, vegetables, flowers, livestock and other local produce. They will also see the examination of the medicine men memorizing prayers. The medicine man who passes the exam is decided to be spiritual leader of Tengger tribe.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-27191487760190837402009-08-14T15:20:00.003+08:002009-08-14T16:31:16.709+08:00Mount BromoMount Bromo (2,392 m) isn't the highest mountain in Java - that honor goes to nearby Mount Semeru at 3,676 m - but it's probably the most famous one. Bromo is in fact only one of the many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it's easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constanly belches white sulphurous smoke. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.<br /><br />When timing any activities in the area, bear in mind that sunset is soon after 5 PM and sunrise is correspondingly early at around 5.30 AM. This means you'll usually need to get up by 3.30 AM or so to get there in time for dawn.<br /><br />A legend connected with Mt Bromo tells of the origin of the Tenggerese people. According to the story, it was during the closing years of the 15th century, when the East Javanese empire of Majapahit was in decline, that a princess of the kingdom, named Roro Anteng and her husband Joko Seger, retreated to the Bromo region and established a separate principality, which they named Tengger, a combination of the last syllables of each of their names. The region, it is said, developed and prospered, yet no descendants were born to the ruling couple. In despair, Roro Anteng and Joko Seger climbed to the top of Mt Bromo and prayed to the gods, asking for their help. The gods consented to the request on the condition that the last child born be sacrificed in the crater of the mountain. This Agreed, the royal couple returned home happily and it wasn't long before the princess gave birth to their first child. In fact, the gods turned out to be more than generous and in the following years 24 more children were born. However, when the princess learned that the twenty fifth child, named Kesuma, was to be the last and thus the one to be sacrificed, she could not bring herself to fulfil her part of the bargain. In anger, the gods threatened fire and brimstone from the smoking volcano and eventually there was no alternative but to throw the child into the crater. Shortly after the sacrifice had been made, the child's voice was heard, ordering the Tengger people and their descendants to perform an annual ceremony at Mt Bromo, to commemorate the event and to appease the anger of the gods.<br />To this day, the Kasodo ceremony, held on the 14th day of the Tenggerese month of Kasodo (December), is the biggest event of the year for the people of Mt Bromo.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-30947665644480433122009-08-13T11:47:00.001+08:002009-08-13T11:54:13.171+08:00Proboscis Monkey, Long-Nosed MonkeyProboscis monkey, also known Bekantan, or Indonesian nickname is monyet belanda meaning 'Dutch monkey' the Indonesian word for Dutchman, as Indonesian noticed the Dutch colonisers often also had a large belly and nose.<br /><br />Proboscis Monkey is endemic Borneo's mangrove, lowland, riverine and swamp forest. Proboscis Monkey have the longest noses of all primates. In alderly animals, it can reach 17,5 cm, although its function is not known for sure. Both males and female have the large noses. The male is much larger and heavier than the female. A male is 2 to 2,5 feet (66-72 cm) long and weighs 35-51 lbs (16-23 kgs), while a female is 1,2-2 feet (53-61 cm) long and weighs only (15-24 lbs) 7-10 kgs. Their tails are as long as their body. <br /><br />Like other similar monkeys, the Proboscis Monkey climbs well. It is also a expert swimmer, often swimming from island to island, and has been picked up by fishing boats in open ocean a mile from shore.<br /><br />Proboscis Monkey lives in small groups of 10 to 32 animals. Group membership is very flexible, and animals are known to move from group to group quite often.<br /><br />Status : Due to ongoing habitat loss and hunting in some areas. Only about 1000 are known to still exist in the wild. Proboscis Monkey is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.<br /><br />See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proboscis_MonkeyAbu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-16908230490829932732009-08-12T12:08:00.003+08:002009-08-12T12:50:47.650+08:00The Lament of The Reed-FluteListen to this reed, how it makes complaint, telling a tale of separation: 'Ever since I was cut off from my reed-bed, men and women all have lamented my bewailing. I want a breast torn asunder by severance, that I may fully declare the agony of yearning. Every one who is sundered far from his origin longs to recapture the time when he was united with it. In every company I have poured forth my lament, I have consorted alike with the miserable and the happy: each became my friend out of his own surmise, none sought to discover the secret in my heart. My secret indeed is not remote from my lament, but eye and ear lack the light to perceive it. Body is not veiled from soul, nor soul from body, yet to no many is leave given to see the soul'.<br /><br />This cry of the reed is fire, it is not wind; whoever possesses not this fire, let him be naught! It is the surge of love that bubbles in the wine. The reed is the true companion of everyone parted from a fried: its melodies have rent the veils shrouding our heart. Whoever saw poison and antidote in one the like of the reed? The reed tells the history of the blood-bespattered way, it tells the stories of Majnun's hopeless passion. Only the senseless is intimate with the mysteries of this Sense; only the heedful ear can buy what the tongue retails. Untimely the days have grown in our tribulation, burning sorrows have travelled along with all our days; yet if our days have all departed, bid them be gone-it matters not; only do Thou abide, O Thou incomparably holy! Whoever is not a fish is soon satiated with His water; he who lacks his daily bread, for him the day is very long. None that is inexperienced comprehends the state of the ripe, wherefore my words mest be short; and now, farewell!Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-53125972759462835972009-08-11T22:47:00.002+08:002009-08-11T22:48:05.341+08:00Ujung Kulon National ParkThis national park is located at the western-most tip of Java, Indonesia. It includes the Ujung Kulon Peninsula, the volcanic island group of Krakatoa and other islands including Handeuleum, Panaitan and Peucang. In addition to it's natural beauty and geological interest. The area was designated a World Heritage Site in 1992 for containing the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Java. It is also one of only two homes of Javan Rhino. A population of 50-60 live in Ujung Kulon. Additional species in the park include Javan gibbon, banteng, Javan leaf monkey, crocodile, green turtle, green pea fowl, jungle fowl, barking deer and mouse deer.<br /><br />Peucang Island<br /><br />Peucang island's beach is superb for swimming and shallow snorkelling reefs are also found all along the shore.<br /><br />Panaitan Island Area<br /><br />Panaitan's hills rise from pristine forest with wildlife of deer, pigs, monkeys, crocodiles, large phytons and a wide variety of bird. Panaitan island's rugged coastline and wide sandy beaches shelter several scuba diving reefs and create exceptional surfing water.<br /><br />Permits for Ujung Kulon National Park are available at the town of labuan, where there is a National Park office. There is also an office at Taman Jaya. Accommodation is available on Peucang islandsAbu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-11050510640949861312009-08-11T12:46:00.002+08:002009-08-11T12:47:13.902+08:00The Javan Rhino in Ujung KulonThe Javan rhino probably the rarest large mammal species in the world. Weight ranges between 900-2,300 kg, and the body length between 2-4 m. This rhino can reach up to 170 cm.<br /><br />Only one population of Javan rhino survives in Indonesia, in Ujung Kulon on the island of Java. The Javan rhinoceros has been protected since 1931 in Indonesia. Ujung Kulon National Park, located on south-western side of Java, was set aside for the conservation of the species.<br /><br />The Javan Rhino can live approximately 30-45 years in the wild. It historically inhabited lowland rain forest, wet grassland and large floodplaints. The Javan Rhino is mostly solitary, except for courtship and child-rearing, though groups may occasionally congregate near wallows and salt licks. Aside from humans, adult have no predators in their range. The Javan Rhino usually avoids humans, but will attack when it feels threatened. Scientists and conservationists rarely study the animals directly due to their extreme rarity and the danger of interfering with such an endangered species. Researches rely on camera traps and fecal samples to gauge health and behavior. Consequently, the Javan Rhino is the least studied of all rhino species.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-4647015559551607312009-08-11T10:10:00.002+08:002009-08-11T10:10:52.855+08:00Baduy People and Their Forbidden TerritoryThe Baduy, who call themselves Kanekes, are a traditional community living in the western part of the Indonesian province of Banten. Their population of between 5,000 and 8,000 is centered in the Kendeng mountains. Their homeland in Banten, Java is contained in just 5000 ha of hilly forest area 120 km from Jakarta. <br /><br />The Baduy are divided into two sub group; the Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy) and the Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). No foreigners were allowed to meet the Inner Baduy, though the Outer Baduy do foster some limited contacs with the outside world. The community of villages in which they live are considered mandalas, derived from the Hindu/Buddhist concept but referring in the Indonesian context to places where religion is the central aspect of life.<br /><br />The Baduy observe many mytical taboos. They are forbidden to kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, get drunk, eat food at night, take any form of conveyance, wear flowers or perfumes, accept gold or silver, touch money, or cut their hair. Other taboos relate to defending Baduy lands against invasion: they may not grow sawah (wet rice), use fertilizers, raise cash crops, use modern tools for working ladang soil, or keep large domestic animals. <br />There is evidence that they were originally Hindu, and adopted this many centuries before foreign influence including Arab (Islam), European (Christianity), etc.<br /><br />The population of about 400 Baduy Dalam consists of 40 families Kajeroan who live in the three villages of Cibeo, Cikertawana, and Cikeusik in Tanah Larangan (forbidden territory) where no stranger is permitted to spend the night. They are probably the purest Baduy stock. The Dalam follow the rigid buyut taboo system very strictly and thus they have made very few contacts with the outside world as they are considered as "People of the sacred inner circle". The Dalam are the only one of these two major clans that have the Pu'un, the spiritual priest of the Baduy. The Pu'un are the only people that visit the most hallowed and sacred ground of the Baduy which lies on Gunung Kendeng, in a place called Area Domas. Unlike the Luar, the Dalams are hardly influenced by Islam.<br /><br />The Baduy Luar make up the remainder of the Baduy population, living in 22 villages and acting as a barrier to stop visitors from entering the Sacred Inner circle. They do follow the rigid taboo system but not as strictly as the Dalam, and they are more willing to accept modern influence into their daily lives.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-61203834412315328542009-08-10T23:18:00.001+08:002009-08-10T23:19:29.245+08:00Dayak PeopleThe Dayak or Dyak are indigenous to Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroup, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable. Dayak languages are categorised as part of the Austronesian languages in Asia. The Dayak were animist in belief; however many converted to Christianity, and some to Islam more recently. Estimates for the Dayak population range from 2 to 4 million.<br /><br />History<br /><br />The consensus interpretation in modern anthropology is that nearly all indigenous peoples of South East Asia, including the Dayaks, are descendants of a larger Austronesian migration from Asia, thought to have settled in the South East Asian Archipelago some 3,000 years ago. The first population spoke closely-related Austronesian language, from which Dayak language are traced. About 2,450 years ago, metallurgy was introduced; it later became widespread.<br /><br />The Dayak people of Borneo posses an indigenous account of their history, partly in writing and partly in common cultural customary practices. In addition, colonial accounts and reports of Dayak activity in Borneo detail carefully-cultivated economic and political relationships with other communities as well as an ample body of research and study considering historical Dayak migrations. In particular, the Iban or the Sea Dayak exploits in the South China Seas are documented, owing to their ferocity and aggressive culture of war against sea dwelling groups and emerging Western trade interests in the 19th and 20th centuries.<br /><br />Coastal population in Borneo are largely Muslim in belief, however these groups (Ilanun, Melanau, Kadayan, Bakumpai, Bisayah) are generally considered to be Islamized Dayaks, native to Borneo, and heavily influenced by the Javanese Majapahit Kingdoms and Islamic Malay Sultanates.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-77260982611088816432009-08-10T21:47:00.002+08:002009-08-10T21:47:37.887+08:006 Things About Dayaks1. The Dayak people represent a group of Proto-Malayans inhabiting the inner part of Borneo. They are related with the Batak of Northern Sumatra, Toraja of South Sulawesi, and various tribes Timor, Celebes, Sumatra and Moluccas. During their history, the Dayaks experienced many external influences, especially of Hinduism, a religion that many ethic groups of Borneo converted to. Still, Dayaks are highly conservative, and each village is organized in clans composed of various families that admit the authority of a sole chief; this structure allows a tight collaboration in field labor and other collective works. During the harvesting period, festivities accompanied by dances are kept.<br /><br />2. Dayaks usually make their villages on the banks of the rivers and lakes. They make branch huts. The large houses are destined to host a whole clan. Sometimes, these houses can be 200 m (660 ft) long. The whole clan works to make these houses built from trunks, bamboo, branches and leaves. Their interior is divided in compartments destined for the life in common of the men, workshop for crafts and shelters for each family.<br /><br />3. Dayaks worship a superhuman power, called semangat, that rules the lives of humans, animals and plants. This invisible life force dwells many places: all the human body parts, cut hair, shadows, names, the water in which a human or animal bathed, traces imprinted in the mud.... Semangat can enter any body, and it is somehow like a soul that can be destroyed by other more powerful souls. The soul of any man is inherited from a forebear, that's why the cult for the forebears is crucial. Wooden earvings are supposed to host the souls of the dead. All the souls submit to divine powers: the sky, whose image is the hornbill bird, and the land with water, symbolized by the infernal snake.<br /><br />4. Like all Proto-Malayans, Dayak are a mix between Mongoloid and Asian Blacks, with the predominant genetic background being Mongoloid. Dayaks, both men and women, are famous for their heavy metal rings worn as earrings, that deform their ear lobes.<br /><br />5. Men are assigned to four classes: children, teenagers, young men and old men. Each class has specific tasks. Young men are before all warriors that have to defend the village against neighboring tribes. When defeating the enemy, Dayaks beheaded them and preserved their heads as trophies in the communal houses. That's why they inspired dread amongst other people, being famous as "head-hunters".<br /><br />6. Dayaks use machetes during their journeys through the jungle. They use blowpipes and envenomed darts for hunting small game and birds. Only Proto-Malayan, and some tribes of Amazonia are known to use this weapon.<br /><br />Dayaks collect rubber from the rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica). They exchanged rubber on the coastal areas for tools, farm equipment, seeds and western products.<br /><br />Dayak fishermen used canoes made of wood boards, joined by resins or rubber for a total impermeability. These people used reds, fishing baskets or wood barrels with a funnel-shaped orifice.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-30865189004731505152009-08-10T12:08:00.002+08:002009-08-10T12:08:42.201+08:00Wayang KulitWayang kulit, shadow puppets prevalent in Java and Bali in Indonesia, are without a doubt the best known of the Indonesian wayang. Kulit means skin, and refers to the lether construction of the puppets that are carefully chiseled with very fine tools and supported with carefully shaped buffalo horn handles and control rods.<br /><br />The stories are usually drawn from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata or the Serat Menak. The island of Lombok has developed its own-style of Serat Menak called "kazangiloonga".<br /><br />There is a family of characters in Javanese wayang called Punakawan; they are sometimes referred to as "clown-servants" because they normally are associated with the story's hero, and provide humorous and philosophical interludes. Semar is the father of Gareng (oldest son), Petruk and Bagong (youngsent son). These characters did not originate in the Hindu epics, but were added later, possibly to introduce mystical aspects of Islam into the Hindu-Javanese stories. They provide something akin to a political cabaret, dealing with gossip and contemporary affairs.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-69004151639142334262009-08-10T11:09:00.002+08:002009-08-10T11:09:47.607+08:00Banjar PeopleBanjar or Banjarnese is the name of an interior and coastal native ethnic group which settled in the Banjar region and in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, the fourth biggest city on the island of Borneo.<br /><br />Sub-ethnicities<br /><br />The division of Banjar People into 3 ethnicities is based on the location of the fusions between Malay, local Dayaks (Dayak Bukit, Dayak Maanyan, Dayak Lawangan, Dayak Ngaju, Dayak Barangas, Bakumpai), and Javanese.<br /><br />1. Banjar Pahuluan, who lives in the valleys by the upriver of Meratus mountain ranges. They live on agriculture.<br />2. Banjar Batang Banyu, who lives in the valleys by the river of Negara. They take pride of their position as the people of the ancient capital. They are also prominent merchants.<br />3. Banjar Kuala, who lives in Banjarmasin and Martapura. These people are the people of the new capital.<br /><br />Relation with Dayaks <br /><br />The relationship betwee Banjar people and the neighboring Dayaks are always in good term. As some of the Dayaks who converted to Islam fuse themselves into the Banjar culture and call themselves Banjar. The surrounding Dayaks think of the Banjars as their brothers and sisters. This is further strengthened by the fact there are many inter-marriages between the Banjars and the Dayaks, even in the level of royalty. For example: Biang Lawai, a wife of a Banjar King was of Dayak Ngaju ethnicity. This means that the Banjarnese Kings and Queens have Dayaks lineage in their blood.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5764636536731668233.post-76311221648175500932009-08-09T20:26:00.004+08:002009-08-10T02:03:26.632+08:00Music of IndonesiaIndonesia is culturally diverse and every one of the 17,508 islands has its own cultural and artistic history and character. This results hundreds of different forms of music, which often accompanies dance and theater. The musics of Java, Sumatra, Bali, Flores and other islands have been documented and recorded, and research by Indonesia and International scholar is ongoing.<br /><br /><br />Gamelan<br /><br />The most popular and famous form of Indonesian music is gamelan, an ensemble of tuned percussion instruments that include metallophone drums, gongs and spike fiddles along with bamboo flutes. Similar ensembles are prevalent throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, but gamelan is from Java, Bali and Lombok. There are rivalries between different regions' variation of gamelan, espicially Java and Bali.<br /><br />Central Java<br /><br />Gamelan is intricate and meticulously laid out. The central melody is played on a metallophone in the center of the orchestra, while the front elaboration and ornamentation on the melody, and at the back, the gongs slowly punctuate the music. There are two tuning system. Each gamelan is tuned to itself, and the intervals between notes on the scale vary between ensembles.<br /><br />The metallophones cover four octaves and include types like the slenthem, demung, saron panerus and balungan. The soul of the gamelan is believed to beside in the large gong or gong ageng. Other gongs are tuned to each note of the scale and include ketuk, kenong and kempul. The front section of the orchestra is diverse and includes rebab, suling, siter, bonang and gambang. Male choruses (gerong) and female (pesindhen) solo vocalists are common.<br /><br />West Java<br /><br />West Java, or Sunda, has a diverse brand of gamelan. Gamelan degung, gamelan salendro and tembang sunda are three primary types.Abu Hasanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02829512872470832689noreply@blogger.com0