Kerja bisnis wirausaha music Berita

Google's $12.5 billion bid to buy cellphone maker Motorola Mobility has won approval from U.S. and European antitrust regulators, moving Google a major step closer to completing the biggest deal in its 13-year history.

Monday's blessings mean Google Inc. just needs to clear regulatory hurdles in China, Taiwan and Israel before it can take control of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and expand nto manufacturing phones, tablet computers and other consumer devices for the first time.

Getting government approval in China looms as the biggest stumbling block remaining. Google's relationship with China's ruling party has been on shaky ground since the company blamed hackers in that country for breaking ito its computers two years ago. The breach prompted Google to move its Internet search engine from mainland China in protest of laws requiring some results to be censored.

Google prizes Motorola Mobility's more than 17,000 patents - a crucial weapon in an intellectual arms race with Apple, Microsoft and other ivals maneuvering to gain more control over smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. Google announced the deal six months ago.

The deal will "enhance competition and offer consumers faster innovation, greater choice and wonderful user experiences," Don Harrison, Google's deputy general counsel wrote ina blog post.

Besides signing off on the Motorola Mobility deal, the Justice Department also approved two other moves in the mobile patent battles. The approvals cover the $4.5 billion purchase of Nortel Networks patents by a group including Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. and a separate Apple acquisition of Novell Inc. patents.

The Justice Department ended its investigations after concluding the new patent owners won't try to drive up the prices of competing mobile devices by demanding exorbitant licensing fees. The agency said it was particularly concerned about key patents held by Motorola Mobility and Nortel.

Apple Inc. and Microsoft promised to license the Nortel patents on reasonable terms while Google's commitments on the Motorola Mobility patents were "more ambiguous," according to a statement from the Justice Department's antitrust division.

Nevertheless, the Justice Department didn't find any evidence that Google's ownership of Motorola Mobility would lessen competition in a mobile device market that is becoming increasingly important as more people connect to the Internet on smartphones and tablet computers instead of desktop and laptop computers.

In granting its approval, the European Union also raised concerns about Motorola's aggressive enforcement of its patents. EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said regulators will "keep a close eye on the behavior of all market players in the sector, particularly the increasingly strategic use of patents."

In its statement, the Justice Department also vowed to crack down on any sign that mobile patents are being used to throttle competition. Microsoft said it was encouraged by the regulatory commitments.

Other key concerns centered on Google's Android operating system, free software that now powers more than 250 million mobile devices made by a variety of manufacturers, including Motorola Mobility. Competition could be hurt if Google gives Motorola Mobility the most advanced versions of Android or withholds the mobile software from other cellphone makers.

Google, though, has pledged to make Android available to all its mobile partners. Even if Google were to discriminate, cellphone makers still could rely on mobile software from Microsoft Corp., Research in Motion and Hewlett-Packard Co., among others.

The European regulators see no danger that Google will prevent other device makers from using its popular Android operating system after the takeover.

"Android helps to drive the spread of Google's other services," the Commission said. "Given that Google's core business model is to push its online and mobile services and software to the widest possible audience, it is unlikely that Google would restrict the use of Android solely to Motorola," which only has a small market share in Europe.

The government reviews in U.S. and Europe have come as regulators also have been conducting a broader inquiry into whether Google has been abusing its dominance in Internet search to hobble its rivals. Those investigations are still ongoing.

Assuming Google eventually takes over Motorola Mobility, the union will open new opportunities and pose potentially troublesome challenges for a management team that so far has concentrated on Internet search, ad sales and other software-driven online services.

Motorola Mobility's expertise in mobile devices and set-top boxes for cable TV will allow Google to play an even more influential role in shaping the future of hand-held computing and home entertainment. Even as it navigates the regulatory gauntlet, Google has begun testing a device for connecting electronic components within homes, according to a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.

Absorbing Motorola Mobility also threatens to crimp Google's earnings growth and drag down its stock price. That's because Motorola Mobility has been struggling on its own as Apple's iPhone and other smartphones made by rivals such as Samsung Electronics undercut sales of its products.

Google is making a huge bet that Motorola Mobility can do better. The $12.5 billion price is more than the combined amount that Google has paid for the 185 other acquisitions that it has completed since going public in 2004.

Google's stock rose $6.29, or 1 percent, to close Monday at $612.20. Motorola Mobility's gained 18 cents to $39.63, just below the proposed sale price of $40 per share. Google is based in Mountain View, California, while Motorola Mobility has its headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois.
Thank you for visit us,check more info

After two deadly pileups involving buses in the past two days, another bus rammed into a tree on Jl. Ngawi-Madiun in Tempuran village, Ngawi, East Java, on Monday morning, killing four people and injuring dozens.

"We are registering the number of fatalities and injuries. So far we have recorded four people dead and 32 others injured,” said Ngawi traffic police chief Comr. Toni.

“All victims are passengers of this Mira bus,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident took place at 3:30 a.m.

The Mira bus was travelling at 100 kilometers per hour on the road from Ngawi to Madiun when a truck coming from the other direction turned into the road to enter a storage building. In trying to slow down the bus, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a tree.

Victims were taken to Ngawi City Hospital and Soedono Hospital in Madiun.

Buses have become death traps for passengers due to reckless driving, with at least 17 people being killed and dozens injured in the past three days in bus-related accidents. On Friday, a bus plunged into a ravine after being involved in a deadly pileup that claimed 14 lives in Puncak, West Java.

Another tourist bus also rammed into several vehicles, including a horse-driven cart in Majalengka, West Java, on Sunday morning, claiming three lives and leaving at least 16 injured. (dmr)

Thank you for visit us,check more info

Zambia won the African Cup of Nations Sunday, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a nerve-racking final at Stade de l'Amitie in the Gabonese capital of Libreville.

Stophira Sunzu scored the deciding sudden-death penalty after Gervinho missed his spot kick for Ivory Coast.

It's Zambia's first African title and came, poignantly, in the same city where nearly the entire national team was killed in a plane crash in 1993 in the country's worst sporting disaster.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba had missed a 70th-minute penalty for the title favorite to send the dramatic decider to extra time and then a shootout.

After both sides made their first seven penalties, Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure had given Zambia a first chance at victory when his effort was saved. But Kalaba Rainford sent his effort high over the crossbar to give the Ivorians renewed hope.

But Gervinho faltered as well as the Arsenal winger missed the target, and Sunzu made no mistake when it was his turn, drilling his penalty to the right of Boubacar Barry for the title-clinching moment.

He raced toward the team's fans behind the goal to celebrate a highly emotional victory for the Zambians, who had pledged to return to Libreville and win their first major trophy to honor the 25 people who died in that plane crash nearly two decades ago.

The Gabonese fans were also won over, chanting "Chipolopolo," the Zambian team's nickname, at the end.

Drogba hit his regular-time penalty over the crossbar after Gervinho was fouled, and then looked up at the sky in frustration. Even though the Chelsea striker scored in the shootout, Ivory Coast failed to end a 20-year wait for a second African title despite being the continent's top-ranked team. It was the Ivorians first loss in six games at this tournament.

Zambia captain Christopher Katongo hit the post in the opening five minutes of extra time but the underdogs were hanging on at the end, as Max Gradel sent a shot agonizingly wide in the 88th for Ivory Coast.

Emmanuel Mayuka was denied a goalscoring opportunity for Zambia by Kolo Toure's desperate tackle with the forward clear on goal in a frenzied finish to the 90 minutes.

In the first half, Zambia's players appeared determined to entertain the fans at Stade de l'Amitie, trying backheels and tricks in freeflowing, almost carefree style.

Nathan Sinkala should have had Zambia ahead early as a slick move from a corner opened a chance for him in just the second minute, but his scuffed shot was saved by Boubacar Barry.

Musonda tried to shrug off an early injury in what was meant to be a memorable 100th cap for him, but he couldn't continue. The veteran defender was in tears as he left the field in the 11th minute and was consoled by teammates and opponent Drogba.

Zambia kept pushing forward, with Emmanuel Mayuka sending a looping header onto the roof of the net in the 14th and Rainford Kalaba's deflected free kick flying just wide of the right post.

The Ivorians began to find their feet as the half progressed, and Drogba set up Yaya Toure with a classy backheel. The midfielder pulled his right-footed shot wide by inches from in front of goal with keeper Kennedy Mweene rooted to the spot and beaten.

Zambia coach Herve Renard's intensity boiled over as he pushed his own defender Davies Nkausu as he shouted instructions to him on the sidelines. Nkausu nodded and agreed with his coach's forceful directions, patting the intense Frenchman on the shoulder.

Gervinho continued to trouble Zambia down his right wing as the second half began quietly before Katongo suddenly lifted the Zambians - and the crowd - with a weaving run. Ivory Coast's strong defense held firm after a series of corners. (nvn)
Thank you for visit us,check more info

Thank you for visit us,check more info
The Indonesia-Australia trade relationship is once again being put to the test. There have been strong rumors circulating about Indonesia’s plan to cut its live cattle and beef import quota from Australia to an amount that is only slightly over half of the 2011 quota.

Export permits may be issued for a total of only 283,000 head of live cattle for 2012. Interestingly, the news has attracted attention from Australian media more than Indonesian media. The plan for the quota cut is said to be related to the 2011 live cattle census.

How reliable is Indonesia’s census data? To the author’s knowledge, there has not been an official release regarding results from the 2011 live cattle census issued by the Indonesian government or Agriculture Ministry. However, according to various Australian news portals, the census concludes that Indonesia has 14.8 million head of cattle.

The results suggest a relatively significant jump from the usual historical trend. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statistics, Indonesia’s live cattle stocks amounted to 12.8 million in 2009.
Between 2005 and 2009, annual stock growth had been about 4 percent.

This implies that to have 14.8 million head of live cattle in 2011 as determined by the census, between 2009 and 2011 Indonesia must have increased its annual stock growth by nearly twice as much as during the 2005-2009 period, namely by about 7.5 percent.

It is true that the Indonesian government through the Agriculture Ministry has implemented various programs in order to achieve self-sufficiency in livestock; a target which has been announced and, yet, delayed, since 2005. The programs have included lowering productive female cattle slaughtering rates, an artificial insemination program and many others.

However, doubling growth rates over the last two years requires new or far more effective programs than the ones Indonesia has already had since 2005. It is not clear whether such a program exists. The artificial insemination program, for example, has been challenged by poor environmental conditions, resulting in high calf-mortality rates.

Despite the effectiveness of the Indonesian government’s programs, it could also be the case that data on live cattle stocks prior to the 2011 census were underestimated. This is a worry, if we think about the quality of policy recommendations derived from inaccurate data.

In addition to the necessity of data, there are some other important aspects that should be considered. First, what is the proportion of home-produced livestock? Domestic stocks that are heavily reliant on imported seeds would question the sustainability and the meaning of being self-sufficient. Indonesia’s plan to cut its import quota can be perceived as “a payback” by Australian industries following a month’s export ban earlier this year.

Worsening trade links between the two countries could limit a number of initiatives that could transfer knowledge and technology from Australia, one of the biggest livestock exporters in the world, to
Indonesia, a country that desperately needs to improve its livestock industry’s efficiency and productivity.

Second, trade barriers would reduce consumers’ welfare. It is not clear whether the import quota cut has taken into account the increase of middle-income families in Indonesia.

These middle- to upper-income groups normally prefer imported beef. Limiting their choice of consumption goods may impact on other sectors, such as the hospitality industry.

Third, an import quota cut may increase the price of poultry due to substitution effects, on which Indonesians spend more. Increased poultry prices could, in turn, have a more substantial effect on inflation rates.

Nevertheless, self-sufficiency in livestock, as well as in other agricultural commodities, has always been and always will be the Indonesian government’s target. Such a policy normally receives strong political support; however, Indonesians are resilient and the government recognizes this characteristic.

Indonesians normally learn something well during periods of economic hardship. So while cutting the imports of live cattle and beef might increase domestic prices, the government knows that Indonesians will make some necessary adjustments at an individual level. However, this may not be the best policy ever employed by a government.

For Australia, there are a number of strategies available to it. Obviously, market diversification is on Australia’s agenda. According to the Federal Agricultural Minister, Senator Joe Ludwig, Australia considers new markets and expanding existing markets including Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Egypt and Turkey.

With regard to Australia’s trade links with Indonesia, there are several investment options. Australia can invest in breeding units. In 2007, according to the Central Statistics Agency, there were only 10 breeding units in Indonesia. Australia can also assist Indonesia to meet its increased demand for effective irrigation and pen systems.

Indonesia’s land limitations increase the demands for better pen systems. In West Nusa Tenggara, a team from the Agriculture Ministry reported that 100 percent of farmers surveyed kept their cattle in confinement (i.e. cages).

This issue is important, given the fact that it is often argued that a free range life for any kind of animal means it lives closer to its natural environment doing what it does best and, therefore, produces better quality meat.

Australia can also assist Indonesia in improving live cattle welfare and health control, an area with which Indonesia still seems to be struggling. It can also assist the Indonesian government in the provision of credit and investment in infrastructure. The high slaughter rate of female cattle is said to be due to farmers’ limited capital.

Most of the above investment options may not provide Australia with the same profits as exporting live cattle. But Australia’s continued goodwill could also indirectly strengthen its trade partnership on other trade commodities and, potentially, offer a wider scope of socioeconomic-political partnership with Indonesia.

As for Indonesia, its protectionist trade policy may be able to help Indonesia achieve self-sufficiency in livestock, but at a high cost. According to Vanzetti et al (2010), improved research and development would provide greater gains but it is a long-term investment.

Greater integration between northern Australia’s live cattle trade and Indonesia’s cattle industry offers the potential of not only meeting Indonesia’s food security objectives but also increasing processed meat export opportunities in rich neighboring ASEAN member states, which could benefit both countries.

Thank you for visit us,check more info
Travelers wishing to celebrate in Bandung on New Year’s Eve are advised not to enter the city between
5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 following an announced traffic regulation by authorities.

The Bandung Transportation Office and City Police are planning to close traffic access from outside the city, especially from the south, during the designated hours in an effort to avoid gridlock in the city.

Bandung City Police chief Sr. Comr. Widodo Eko Prahastopo said the traffic closure would be enforced from Cimahi municipality and Soreang, Bandung regency, while access from Lembang, in northern Bandung, would remain open.

“Those from outside Bandung who wish to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the city should enter before
5 p.m.,” Eko said in Bandung.

Bandung City Traffic Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad Yamin said the traffic closure would have to be taken considering the expected overflow of traffic entering Bandung from various directions.

Several venues in Bandung have become the favorites of many New Year’s Eve revellers.

One of them is Bandung Square, located in the heart of the city, and Gasibu Square, adjacent to the
Gedung Sate gubernatorial office on Jl. Diponegoro.

“We will apply traffic diversions in order to expedite traffic flow. If traffic flow is smooth, there will be no need for traffic redirection,” said Ahmad.

Separately, Bandung Transportation Office head Prijo Soebiandono said his office may close several toll road exit gates into Bandung, except the Pasteur exit gate, depending on traffic conditions in the city.

“If the traffic can still move, we will not close the toll exits, but if traffic is congested, we will not allow cars to enter the city,” said Prijo.

The closure to toll exit gates, he added, would possibly be implemented at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

He said the police had the authority, through Law 22/2009, to enforce the closure on condition of the existence of alternative routes.

Jasa Marga Indonesian Highway Corp.’s Purwakarta-Bandung-Cileunyi section spokesman Iwan Mulyawan said closures of routes into Bandung could only be applied at the Pasteur toll exit gate, because 80 percent of 200,000 cars arriving from the direction of Jakarta entered the city through the turnpike exit.

“The traffic closure can be imposed if the traffic volume entering Bandung is extreme, or twice the number,” said Iwan.

Iwan predicted that the traffic volume entering Bandung during the New Year holiday would increase to between 10 and 15 percent, or 250,000 vehicles daily.

Traffic congestion in Lembang is predicted to rise on New Year’s Eve due to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono being highly likely to spend New Year’s Eve at the Indonesian Military (TNI) Air Force’s Special Commando Academy in Lembang.

Siliwangi Military Command spokesman Col. Benny Effendi said the presidential visit to the academy and a local dairy farm had been put on the agenda although it had not been determined whether or not Yudhoyono and his family would visit Lembang.

“They might stay there. The activities will be carried out in the military complex and secured by the Paspampres presidential security detail,” he said.

He added the planned visit would only be confirmed after Yudhoyono returned from Central Java on Wednesday.

After attending the New Year’s event at the TNI Air Force academy, Lembang Police chief Adj. Comr. Harsono said that Yudhoyono was scheduled to visit the Mount Tangkuban Prahu mountain resort on Sunday.

“From there, he will directly return to Jakarta via Subang,” Harsono confirmed by phone.

Harsono made sure police would not close the route to Lembang, a favorite tourist destination that is prone to congestion, even during a holiday like New Year’s Day.

“We are still conducting the Lilin Lodaya Operation. We will still be on duty with or without the presidential visit,” said Harsono.

Thank you for visit us,check more info
Whether having a Rp 5 million (about US$550) dinner for two at a posh hotel or staying at home with friends, Jakartans are looking forward to having a great New Year’s Eve this weekend.

The Ritz Carlton Jakarta in Mega Kuningan, Central Jakarta, reported on Tuesday that 70 percent of the almost 400 seats in the hotel’s restaurant had already been booked for New Year’s dinner.

“Many of our guests reserve the seats for their families or friends. For the most part the reservations are not for quiet dinners but for sittings of 5 to 30 people,” said Ritz Carlton Jakarta spokeswoman Hanny Gunawan.

The dinner’s price tag was Rp 688,000 per guest, Hanny said. “Should the guests want a more private nuance for their New Year’s celebration, they can choose other events, including private dinners for couples,” she said. The private dinner, which is only available for five couples, is priced at Rp 5 million. “So far, we have had two reservations,” she said.

Shanti Setyaningrum, assistant director of communications and public relations at Hotel Kempinski Indonesia, Jakarta, said that the hotel had prepared up to 250 seats for New Year’s Eve dinner. “So far, 200 guests have booked,” she said. Each seat is priced at Rp 648,000.

Shanty also said that the hotel received many orders for cakes and delights for New Year’s Eve celebrations. The hotel’s Kempi Deli offers sweet delights, including Minced Fruit Pies, Gingerbread Houses, Vanilla Kipferl, Cinnamon Stars, Almond Stollen, Buches de Noel, Macaroon Trees, Marzipan Lebkuchen and Chocolate Santas.

“Some of our customers choose to order the delights and enjoy them with their families at home or in other places,” she said.

While many Jakartans opt for special dinners in luxurious hotels, many others prefer more modest celebrations.

Annisa Karina Dewi, a resident of Rawamangun in East Jakarta, said that she had invited her girl friends to stay over in her home. “We plan to have a little party and spend the night watching DVDs,” she said.

She said spending New Year’s Eve at home was the best choice. “Not only is it cheaper, it is also safer. My parents don’t allow me to party outside during New Year’s Eve,” the 19-year old college student said. She added that an enjoyable party at home could be as much fun as watching a fireworks display.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Baharuddin Djafar said that the police had granted permission for four fireworks displays during New Year’s Eve. “The four displays will be held at Kelapa Gading [in East Jakarta], Ancol Dreamland [in North Jakarta], the National Monument Park [in Central Jakarta] and Bumi Serpong Damai [in Tangerang],” he told reporters.

According to him, all fireworks displays during the festivities would be monitored by police explosives experts to avoid any accidents.

“These guys are professionals; they know the scale of explosion a certain amount of explosives can create. They are needed at fireworks displays as these shows involve a huge amount of explosive material,” he said.

Baharuddin also reaffirmed the police’s stance in dealing with traffic violations during New Year’s Eve. “Do not ride on pickups or trucks. Do not overcrowd Metrominis [public minibuses] or ride on their rooftops,” he said, adding that any violations would result in vehicles being detained at the nearest police station for 10 days.

The police will not take the vehicles’ registrations or the drivers’ licenses. “We’ll just hold the vehicles as evidence of traffic violations,” Baharuddin said.

Revelers should be prepared for a wet New Year’s Eve as data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency website shows that there is a chance of light rain in all regions in Greater Jakarta on Dec. 31. (lfr/mim)

Thank you for visit us,check more info
Having worked on his 1961 Volkswagen Variant for two years, Yudha Bantono knows his car intimately.

The secretary for the Bali Volkswagen Division says his car, nicknamed “The White Shark”, is like a son or partner to him. Yudha was sharing his VW story along with hundreds of other VW fans in Sanur last weekend for the “Volkswagen Lost in Paradise” 20th birthday celebrations of the 416-member strong Bali Volkswagen Division.

Hundreds of VWs and their drivers from across Indonesia and as far away as Poland, Holland and Germany made the trip to Bali to share in the local club’s celebrations.

Across the field of Matahari Terbit off the Sanur bypass, families swapped VW stories and shared
the hard-to-find engine bits and pieces, taillights and rearview mirrors that keep these ancient VWs on the road.

And there are some stunners on show — under shade rests one of only two Karmann Ghia’s in Indonesia. This 1959 model low slung mustard and cream machine must be one of the sexiest looking cars ever built. The fingerprint of Volkswagen father Ferdinand Porsche is on every sensuous curve.

The Karmann Ghia is styled more like an early Porsche than a Beetle, but under the hood even the Ghia is powered by a VW engine.

Parked nearby is a Combi wagon with Surabaya plates — it looks like it’s about to expire with rust and its suspension appears to be failing.

“It’s got specialist hydraulics to lower the bus when camping, that paintwork was designed to look
distressed,” says an awed fan of the VW bus that has a surfboard strapped to the roof in homage of the role Combis played in 1970s surf culture.

These cars are loved and the passion people bring to their VWs is seen as club secretary Yudha shows off his White Shark.

Like a young boy with toys on Christmas morning, he bounces from panel to panel of the car, pointing out its original left hand drive steering wheel, its German made mark under the bonnet, its rare engine position, its perfection.

Bringing the car back from the dead demanded help from around the world, and Yudha turned to VW club members in Germany and Australia.

“It’s very hard to get parts for the Variant. A friend from Düsseldorf got these taillights and another friend from Australia located the rubber seal for the back hatch door. When I got the car, I felt like I had been given a prince to take care of — a prince that was dying of cancer. I am a vet and I felt it was my duty to heal this prince, this White Shark,” says Yudha who, like most VW owners, believes his car has a soul.

“A guy from Jakarta fell in love with my car — I could name my price. I thought about how much the car has cost [me] to rebuild and was considering selling. The next day I tried to start the engine and nothing. I called a mechanic and the engine started immediately — there was nothing wrong. I
am not a Hindu, but I took some cake to the White Shark and apologized for thinking about selling him. I gave him a kiss and said I knew he had a spirit inside and he started with no problem,” says Yudha of how close VW owners and their cars become. He points out that VW owners spend an enormous amount of energy caring for these classic cars and that spirit seems to come alive in the vehicles.

Volkswagen clubs are international with fans found in just about every nation, but more than the clubs is the global unity that goes along with driving a VW. Classic VW drivers always wave or toot horns when passing on the road, and that has offered Filip Habas and his family friendship and support on their epic road trip in a VW bus from Poland to Bali.

Filip is traveling with his wife, Agusta, and their two-year-old son Elios.

A VW specialist mechanic, Filip drove his VW bus 10,000 kilometers from Poland, across Russia and into Mongolia, where the family left the VW and took public transportation through China and Vietnam, linking up with VW fans along the way.

“We could not drive through China and Vietnam due to the bureaucracy and the cost — in China we would have to employ a driver and we travel cheap — we live in the car — its our traveling home. So we flew into Jakarta and went up to Bandung and got this bus — it’s my dream VW bus. With this we are driving around Indonesia,” says Filip who has met with many of Indonesia’s VW club members.

“We travel to different areas and meet the VW clubs — it’s like in Europe we meet people in VW shops and on the road. Driving a VW is like being a member of an international family. We have received help on the road from VW friends; they fixed the bus in Surabaya and again in Malang — every time it was VW fans that helped me,” says Filip of what he sees as “a family without borders”.

“VW club meetings like this one in Sanur are like miniatures of society. You can meet a coal miner, a dentist, a mechanic or a cook — there is a commonality of feeling among the wagon folk. My feeling is the reason people like VWs is because they make you happy — they are a shortcut to happiness,” says Filip.

That friendliness of VW drivers has an impact on the road, according to Made from Bali’s transport department who was on duty during the weekend anniversary celebrations.

Happy family: Fans of Volkswagens have a soft spot for another classic vehicle, the Vespa.Happy family: Fans of Volkswagens have a soft spot for another classic vehicle, the Vespa.“VW drivers are polite. We find they are not arrogant, they are disciplined drivers. I think they are safer drivers and at events like this they share driver knowledge and road ethics,” says Made.

Bali’s Volkswagen Division is also concerned for the environment, according to outgoing club president Wayan Artha.

“We have had events each month to mark this our 20th year as a club. One of our mottos for the year is ‘Go Green’. People say old cars pollute, so we planted 2,000 mangroves last month and we will certainly keep this site clean,” says Wayan, adding that the weekend event paid tribute to club founding members Putu Rumawan Salahin, Ida Bagus Sutama and Hendry who established the Bali VW Division back in 1991.

“I feel proud of the Bali VW Division and this event that has attracted 300 VW cars here — all the cars are here from the Beetle, the Combi, the Variant, the Safari and even Karmann Ghia. These cars are still on the road because they are so strong and long lived. VW’s are something beautiful to see,” says Wayan.

A club daughter and future VW driver, nine-year-old Esha believes VWs will be around for “maybe more than 1,000 years. I like VWs ‘cos they are cool. When I am old enough to drive, I want a Combi,” suggesting the folk of the wagon will be driving that shortcut to happiness for a long time yet to come.

Thank you for visit us,check more info
Up and coming stand-up comedian Ryan Adriandhy takes jokes seriously.

The 21-year-old, who won the Stand Up Comedy Indonesia (SUCI) competition, believes comedy is “a heavy thing”.

His jokes do not come out of the blue but through thorough observation, research and serious thinking that involves logic as well as a good memory.

He even makes a mind map, kind of like a graduate student preparing a dissertation, before performing onstage.

Apparently, that is what all good stand-up comics do.

“All [stand-up comedians] need good preparation. We write down the material and rehearse, we have scripts that take the form of mind maps,” Ryan told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

No wonder Ryan asserts that stand-up comedy is actually a very technical thing.

“If not, there shouldn’t be classes for stand-up comedy. They also have formulas for it,” said Ryan, who spent 13 weeks learning about stand-up techniques from experts in the competition organized by Kompas TV.

Every week, he had to come up with new material and new jokes that he had to put systemically in a mind map before presenting to judges and viewers.

“My brain was burned out,” he said.

Who would have thought that being a comic could be so serious and tiring?

Even Ryan never guessed until he became one himself.

The man never imagined he would take up the profession with the primary goal to make others laugh.

Ryan heard about stand-up comedy when he was in junior high. A relative who studied abroad brought him DVDs of famous comics like Robin Williams and Ellen Degeneres and introduced the young Ryan to comedy shows.

He immediately developed an affinity for the genre.

But, he didn’t know he had any talent until he won an English storytelling competition in high school.

Ryan won because he changed the storytelling format into stand-up comedy.

“The jury laughed, the audience laughed. I was in doubt at first but that moment convinced me that I was able to do stand-up,” Ryan recalled.

Unfortunately, the clueless Ryan failed to pursue his talent further as he could not find a place or community that could accommodate his new interest.

In the end, what Ryan did was channel his newly found passion into social media.

The bespectacled man routinely shared the newest video links from renowned comics and posted one-liner jokes to his Twitter account, making him known as a comedy connoisseur in the twitterverse.

Opportunity finally came when a friend of friend Pandji Pragiwaksono, the host of SUCI, informed him about the competition.

Without a second thought, Ryan signed up and entered the next round as one of the finalists.

In the grand finale he beat Nur Insan Akbar and won first place, earning Rp 50 million (US$5,500) in cash.

The judges lauded Ryan’s ability to create fresh and popular jokes.

The fast-talking comic said he got all the material for his jokes from daily observations. “I observe people’s manners. I can just sit for hours and pay attention to my surroundings and take notes of everything that I can develop into jokes,” he said.

Ryan admitted nothing changed much after he won SUCI except for the media exposure and the amount of his followers on Twitter.

However, talking to him in person, fans may be disappointed as he is not the type of guy that will make you laugh throughout an entire conversation.

“There is a big misunderstanding that comics should be funny in their daily life,” he said.

Despite his hilarious performances, Ryan is a serious guy offstage, especially when it comes to discussing stand-up.

During the interview, he explained everything he knew about stand-up comedy from theories and tips to becoming a successful comic in a serious tone.

“Don’t try to be funny, don’t tell jokes, just tell the truth,” he shared one of comic’s credo.

Ryan believes that a good comic is the one who stays true to the stage. “By being true to yourself, you make yourself more genuine … and the emotion can be felt more [by the audience],” he added.

Maybe comedy is indeed a serious thing as it deals with the truth. And for that, Ryan has prepared an answer. “Stand-up comedians are not trying to be funny, but trying to tell the truth in funny ways.”

With all this wisdom, Ryan sounds ready to make the profession his way of life.

And will he?

“Probably, if I can make a living out of this, it’s gonna be very fun,” he answered pensively.

But before things get more serious, Ryan said all he wanted now was to graduate from college as soon as possible.

The graphic design student at a private university in Jakarta is thinking of becoming a comic illustrator apart from being a professional stand-up comedian. Amid his busy schedule doing off-air stand-up, Ryan is working as an intern at a Jakarta-based illustration company.

But can he handle both jobs?

A description of himself on his Twitter account mentions that he is a beginning comic.

“I want to live creating something, not from working [for others],” he shared of his ambitions.

The statement may explain why Ryan takes stand-up comedy seriously, as he hopes to be able to live from it.

His seriousness can be seen in his continued involvement in Standup Indo, an off-air community for local comics.

Together with Pandji and the other finalists in the comedy competition, Ryan established the group ahead of SUCI to gather other aspiring comics in the country.

Ryan and his friends seem to be on the same mission to show the public that stand-up comedy is
indeed a serious business.

Thank you for visit us,check more info
In a bid to increase the number of green areas in the city, the administration plans to convert 20 hectares of land to parks.

Jakarta parks and cemeteries agency chief Catharina Suryowati said increasing the number of green areas in Jakarta had always been the main job of the agency every year.

“This year, we have converted about 10-15 hectares of land. And next year, I hope it can reach about 20 hectares,” she told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Catharina said the agency had purchased the land that was spread over 21 locations in the city’s five municipalities.

Among the locations are Cilangkap in East Jakarta, Mohammad Kafi in South Jakarta and Kebagusan in South Jakarta.

“We just don’t buy the land and merely convert it into green space. We also want it to become a place for people to interact,” she said.

She said that some of the parks would have at least a jogging track, space for people to exercise, a playground for children and a place for people to just hang out.

Some others would become more like small city forests, she added.

“Interactive parks of a size of between 200 and 1,000 square meters with additional functions are usually located in residential areas. While city parks are more than 1,000 square meters,” she said.

Catharina said the city currently had only 90 interactive parks, far less than the 500 the agency had
targeted.

The biggest problem, she said, was that so few residents wanted to sell their lands to the agency.

“It’s a difficult task, but we’re always trying to hit our target. My hope is that every year, the sub-agencies can turn at least two lots in residential areas into interactive parks,” she said.

The Jakarta administration has set a target of 34.51 percent of the city’s 662 square kilometers to be green space by 2030.

Currently, only 10.95 percent of Jakarta’s open space is utilized as green areas, which fails to meet an earlier spatial planning target of reserving 13.9 percent of the city for green areas by the end of 2010.

This year, the agency has closed 27 gas stations throughout the capital and turned them into green and public spaces.

The area previously occupied by the 27 gas stations constitutes 4 percent of Jakarta’s total green space.

Urban analyst and the coordinator for non-profit organization Jakarta Green Map (JGM), Nirwono Joga, said that JGM had found that there was about 16 percent of privately owned land in Jakarta that had the potential to be altered into green space.

“If the administration could acquire 10 percent of that, the target could be reached faster. But there has to be some kind of mechanism, like giving incentives to the owners, so they will happily sell or even donate their lands for green areas,” he said.

ABOUT US

OUR TEAM

Neila Jovan

Mathew McNalis

Michael Duo

OUR SKILLS

Marketing

Websites

PR

ACHIEVEMENTS

STRATEGY & CREATIVITY

PORTFOLIO

About Me

Link list 4

Blog Archive

Labels

Labels

more information

Like Us

About

more:

my info:

Advertisment

top

Our Promo:

Blog Archive

Recent Posts

sitemap

Header Ads

top blog

Popular Posts

Labels

Like Us

WHAT WE DO

ANALYTICS

CONSULTING

DESIGN

DEVELOPMENT

MARKETING

SEO

CONTACT US

Kerja bisnis wirausaha music Berita