For Some, Apple is a New Religion

This picture taken from the MacWorld 2007, showing some spectators that gathers and inspects the new iPhone prototype, encased in a glowing sealed display. Notice the glowing face of the attendants, it almost feels poetic, like some scraps taken from a sci-fi film where the brightest Earth's scientists were gathering to observe their latest alien specimen, or something like that.

For some, Apple is a new religion. I may not entirely agree with such statement, but with an iPod in my pocket, and a MacBook at my desk, i may close enough to be called a devotee. Does that mean that i would had those iPhone? Oh, yes, should i have the budget.

The Legacy Shall Live!

Random:

I'm using three computers at the office. I develop mainly at my MacBook. However, the database i'm using, as well as the application server, lived on the server, running under Windows. In addition to that, i'm also using a Desktop PC, which i'm using to browse the internet, and mainly, to exhibit my foreign exchange trading. Thus, if you come by at my office, you'd see two screens on my desk. One usually displayed an Eclipse IDE, and the other usually displayed a candle-stick chart.

I called my MacBook, "Cerpelai", my desktop PC, "Musang", and my server, "Tupai". Thus, the legacy. They shall live!

Me and OSS 2: A Small Step to begin A Grand Voyage

The date was February 2006. A little more than a year ago when i start doing a commute daily trips for a total of forty kilometers (25 miles). Finally, i get out of PHP universe (and swore a silent oath that i'd never go anywhere near it anymore) and once again embraced my first love, Java. It took me a mere four months when i started to feel bored of what i was doing. That's another negative traits of mine. I get bored easily. Again, on my defense, on the project i'm working in, i was doing a clean-up jobs. And you who ever been into a software industry surely knew that clean-up jobs is a pain in the ass. You dwelved into codes that has been written and re-written by god knows how many programmers before. Each with their own style and their own conventions, and the one who paid me expect me to patch things. Oh, i hate that kind of jobs. But i kept holding on to that company until a year later.

Why, you said? Again, it's because of that simple thing again. That same small thing that has kept me in chains for more than two years at the campus.

The date was May 2006, i went to Padang for a training session with the end-users. And that's where i met her. The one who captured me by heart, by a slight look of her eyes, and one who finally pushes me to walk through the door.

I loved a silent company. I often went to movie theater by myself, enjoying a Starbuck coffee by myself, in short, i just love going anywhere, without anybody to hold me down. The prospect of having a girl clinging into my arms, dragging me to a nearest department store where there is a 70% discount, it's not something that i would look forward to. But, this one, from the moment i laid eyes on her, i just knew that she's a silent company. And she was. She knew how to treat me, and though there were still some sparks among us, but it's a difference unavoidable because two individuals are meant to be different. Suffice to say that she was the almost perfect puzzle-piece that fit into mine. Almost, you say? well, if you asked me, there's no way in this puny world created by Allah, that there would be a perfect thing. He made her as an almost perfect because of course, He wants me to learn to respect others. Thus re-shaping myself to further compliment the piece that was hers. Oh, i could go on about all this melancholy debacles. But i had to stop.

Anyway, in only two weeks, i spilled anything to her, revealing any secrets that i have been hidden for so long. And though i can't be sure about it, i believed that she also did the same to me. She pushes me, encourages me, but never really pushes me. My friend used to say that i was like a wild horse, run amok, run wild without any directions, and trusting fate that who knows maybe when i stop to rest, i found my prairie, a heaven on Earth. He couldn't be more wrong. But of course, as a wild horse i was, i refused to had a rein attached to me. She knows about it. She still let me runs around, but slowly, she built fences that guide me to her pictured prairie. A prairie she knows i wouldn't refuse.

Some accomplishments were made, both in my relationships with her, and in my pursuit of happiness (yes, i used this word). And that's where i was right now. Just a step beyond the door. Adventures waiting, wealth promising, but there wouldn't be any wealth, without blood and tears. But now, i'm ready to spill any blood, any tears, anything. Now that i had a princess awaiting for me, right at the end of this road.

To be concluded...

Me and OSS 1: A Seven Years Itch

OSS stands for Open Source Software for those of you unaware about what was OSS stands for. This is a semi-autobiographical blog contents that spans over the last seven / eight years of my life.

My first acquaintance with the world of computing and programming was of course on my very first day at the Faculty of Computer Science, University of Indonesia. I was as excited as a kid who went into a candy store, and permitted to grab anything. It would seem at the moment, that i've been given a key that opens a door so tremendously opened to a brand new world of excites, of funs, which are all free to be explored and found and conquered. Alas, it took me almost eight years to really step into that door.

I was generally known as a smart kid when i was still a brat grown to a mere adolescence in a small-small city. During that time, i get used to a whole lot of compliments from my families, friends, even strangers. Some even say that i had a genius trait in my blood. Looking back at the time, i was so ashamed about those compliments and my lack of subtlety upon receiving them. On a bright side, it taught me a valuable lessons which most likely than not, i'd apply to my kids later on. Never. Never give them too much compliments.

Like i said, i get used to compliments the whole time, that i thought life would like a walk in a park. Easy. I go to good college, graduated with honors, notice the plural, admitting to a huge multi-national company, and retired rich. That's life as i'd imagined before i went to college, before i went into a big city, before everything falls apart.

I couldn't escape quickly enough from my past. That's a mistake in my part. Huge mistake. I told you before, it took me seven whole years to finally realize that i was not as good as i thought i am. Back to where i wrote my first computer program in Java, i thought, hey, if programming was this easy, i shouldn't give much effort to it. Wrong! Well, in my defense, i hadn't sure whether to pursue and build dreams based on computer science, pure mathematic sciences (which my ONLY favorite subject in High School), or something more absurd, such as being a writer, or a film-director. I hadn't sure of anything back then. Which turns out that i tried to learn so many. The result? i knew A of anything, more subjects than my peers, but what i had wrong was that some of my peers, they knew A-Z of one single peculiar thing, thus made them specialized. And look where they are right now. Surely, higher than i am. This whole not knowing to do are what would kept me at bay.

I graduated, not on time, but not too shabby, still, not on time. Five years to be exact. I got to work at my campus, doing a crappy things with PHP. I never liked PHP, and i despised it even more right now. It's just a plain hate, and in my opinion, one doesn't need a reason to hate something (or someone). I just hate them. But, life was easy at the time. It's like robbing your campus blindly. That's how it's like. I got paid for doing small things. Fortunately, i don't get paid much anyway. I'm working there for a little more than two years. Oh, how i wish i had that time back in my laps again. That two years of idling should get me more knowledges, but not. I knew about some of the hot frameworks at the time, i learned Flash even though i was no designer, learned Ruby, Ajax, and many more. But like i said, i learn A of anything, and never get into the B.

The fact is, there is a small thing that kept me at the campus. Nobody knows about it. The only person who knew about it was my girlfriend. And i wish to keep it that way. Because it's so goddamn embarrassing. It's suffice for you to know that during that two years at the campus, i hadn't sent any application letters, either it's for a job or a scholarship. It's because of that small thing. No plural here. Just a small thing.

And then came a sudden realization. The project of which i am working at the campus was finished. That leave me jobless, and jobless means of course, no money.

A couple of months later, a friend recommend me to a certain software consulting company based on Java. And that's where slowly but surely, i've decided my path, and ultimately, step into the door of which i already had the key the whole time.

To be continued...

Film Review: L'Appartment (1996)

This is a part one of two from what i like to called as Monica Belucci's contemplation. I mean, who wouldn't love her? with that bosom and milky white skin? um, anyway, the first film i would like to review is L'Appartment.

I had had a sense of deja vu at some time on the film. It turns out that i've seen the Hollywood remade of this film starring Josh Harnett and lovely Diane Kruger. But, there'd be no question on which of the two i liked best. It's this film, hands down.

Pay attention to the timeline of this film as it weaves its story in a flash-back, back and forth fashion. All i could tell is Max (Vincent Cassell) and Lisa (Monica Belucci) are what you'd call a perfect couple meant to each other. But when Lisa went AWOL without any notice, explanation, or whatever, we knew that Max would've been devastated, but eventually, as he tries to pick up the pieces and moving forward, Lisa came back knocking at his door. Well, it's an over-simplification, by far, of course, but suffice it to say that it's enough to made sure the audiences were rooting for Max and Lisa to be back together again.

It's not your everyday romantic drama story, anyway, as it features at least one antagonist to took a role similar and close enough to be named as villain. To be quite honest, she (Romane Bohringer) is the one who drives the film forward, spins it in motion, a spotlight at the center stage. She was torn among three characters, and she delivers nicely. She's the one who really sets her mark on my brain as the film ends.

There's a huge substantial different between this film and its Hollywood remade counter, the ending. I wasn't prepared for the ending, and it wasn't the kind of ending i would expect, or i would like to see. And well, it was rather unpleasant. In my part, it was rather unfortunate how a film this beautiful, with its magical camera-works, imagery, and superb story-telling suffered from the - again, in my part - rather un-satisfactory ending. But on a second thought, the ending was also why i loved this film more than the Hollywood remake.

My rating: *** / ****

Summer 2007 Preview: Summer of Sequels

Even though that i've only known (and experienced) either sunny weather, or rain, i celebrated summer holidays with my own way. Movieplex. Generally begins on May, the summer season is a season where big-budgeted films (not necessarily smart, but features nifty eye-candy, big paid actors, and those that could qualified as a guilty-pleasure in my part) best experienced on a big screen.

Generally begun on May, this coming 2007 is a yet another year full of sequels.
Spider-Man 3 hit early on May 4, 28 Weeks Later on May 11, Shrek the Third on May 18, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End a week later on May 25. Further out, Ocean's Thirteen on June 8, neck-in-neck with gruesome guaranteed horror flick, Hostel: Part II, June 15, another super-hero flick, but this one features one of my favorite Marvel character, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the trailer was awesome, Evan Almighty coming a week later, June 22, though i dont generally concord with the idea, and as much as i liked Steve Carrell, i doubt he would accomplish what Jim Carrey had in Bruce Almighty. John McClane coming back, with luscious Mary Elizabeth Winstead as his daughter, Live Free or Die Hard coming June 26.

Please note that i only mentioned sequels.

Michael Bay's Transformer hit on July 6. And if one talks about Michael Bay, who needs plot? Blow things apart, that's what he does best, and he better keep at it on this film. Super annoying teenager witch, Harry Potter hit the theater with his fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the week after, oh, did i mentioned that he's super annoying? for those of you who haven't read the book, the book (and the film) would be a legit proof that he's a super annoying teenager witch.

Further out, the last closure of Bourne trilogy, The Bourne Ultimatum hit on August 3. And i tell you this, Jason Bourne (JB) could kick James Bond (JB)'s whimpy ass any time, any where. The duo, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker back again in Rush Hour 3. But really, who cares? They're back on August 10. And that's conclude the summer of sequels (excluding Transformer) release date. There were still many high-profiled line-ups that i haven't mentioned, such as Hot Fuzz, Simpsons the Movie, Stardust, Hairspray (remake), Ratatouille (Pixar's), 1408 (Stephen King's adaptation), Black Sheep (awesome New Zealand's horror), Nancy Drew (you who grew in 80's must know this girl, if you don't, then you don't read books much), Mr.Brooks, and more.

Except for Pirates, Bourne, and Transformers, nothing excite me much. Well, you see Pirates and Bourne both had their FINAL installment (Pirates could give a fourth sequels though) which wraps up things, like how the heck was Captain Sparrow escapes that Kraken at the end of its second installment, and how does Jason Bourne settle things with Thread Seventy-One? Transformers? well, this Hasbro's toys was my unfulfilled dream to have when i was a child.

Got My First Mac

Ow yes, i finally got my first Mac. As of today, April 10th 2007, i'm using a luscious and sexy MacBook White, 2.0 GHz

Me and Coffee

I'm an avid coffee drinker. I drank coffee at least twice in a working day, one during breakfast, and one at the afternoon whenever the heat of the day makes me rather lazy and no inspiration coming. But, fortunately, unlike Garfield, i never had such symptoms after coffee. Okay, my hearts beats faster, my fingers are twitching, but that's because the strong coffee taste (i like my coffee to be black, and rather sweet) had helped the tiny little guys at my brain work harder and i've got so much inspiration and ideas that my fingers are trembling because there were so much to do, so much to accomplish. Believe it or not, that's what i felt.

Anyway, my office was a couple hundred meters away from Starbucks. And i've been a regular for the last month or so. The first time i went to Starbucks, i was overwhelmed with variety of coffees they offer. After mumbling with the menus, i went safe with your everyday cappuccino which turns out to be bad (at least i dont like it). But after several tries and errors, i had my own coffee.

I once ask the cute girl behind the counter (just because she's cute, really) that i would like my coffee to be black, but sweet. She helped me a lot, and have i mentioned that she was cute? Anyway, i've got my recipe which rather cheap actually but went well with my preference. It was cafe americano with an extra espresso, a whole milk, an extra sugar, and a sparkle of cinnamon or chocolate depending on my mood. It smells strong, but once it touches my lips, it tastes sweet, but only for a while, because once it hit the throat, the caffeine took hold of the rein, and the bitter of the coffee kicked in. And it felt good.

Film Review: Naga Bonar Jadi 2 (2007)

I give up the chance to see Jakarta Undercover (featuring luscious Luna Maya, which was my favorite in term of outside appearance) because i'm not so sure to spend some 25 thousand rupiahs to see that film. It was an entirely different matter with Deddy Mizwar.

So far i'm concerned, there was only a single rule in order to make an Indonesian film to be considered as high gain, and monetarily lucrative. Marketing. Sadly, you could safely bet that the producers who had more money to spend in marketing were those same producers who has been populated our tv screen with bloated series of Indonesian shit-netron. Thus, when one talks about Indonesian films nowadays, it would fall to either a teenage (a coming-to-age) love story, or a stupendous ghost-story. The marketing team to each of this kind of movies were literally shoving their ideas to your throat that no matter how you despised them, you could find yourself humming the tune of its soundtrack.

Well, anyway, Naga Bonar Jadi 2, in my opinion, was coming out of the blue to the theater, i've heard before of course, that Deddy Mizwar would made a sequel to Naga Bonar, a legendary pickpocket who become a General during the independence wars. Once it got out of the theater, i was like, 'Eh? they finished it already?'. Long story short, as i told you earlier, i grab the first chance of seeing it in a big screen. And man, i wasn't disappointed. And so does another couple of hundreds people at the theater who gave a standing ovation when the film was over. It was that good, really, and even though that it's still April, i would be so furious if this film wasn't get nominated for Best Picture at this year's Indonesian Film Festival (if there's still a Festival anyway).

Naga Bonar had a boy, played magnificently - though in my opinion, lacked the proper Batak accent - by Tora Sudiro, and he was a successful businessman. He had three aides (i would inherently named them Three Stooges) that bustling about wherever he goes, and of course, one love interest. Tora and his Three Stooges were about to sell Naga Bonar's land which was more than just a land for him. That was a short description of one plot. Another plot was Naga Bonar as a retired soldier, somehow saw and felt the lack of nationalism in our generation. There was a scene involving the Sudirman statue which made me wanted to cry. Yet another plot was .. the quest for love. Luckily, it was a minor plot.

The story went rather long, dragging in most parts actually, but the occasional funnies kept me at the theater. I say funny, mind you, not stupid slapsticks. The film was also filled with occasional critics to the social and political conditions here which i found it blessing, kept at the very minimum level, not more than two lines per critic. But the real meat of the film of course, the chemistry between Naga Bonar and Naga Bonar Jr. (Bonaga). They're perfectly matched on screen, their awkward-ness, their subtle understanding of each other's characters, their unsaid but expressed love, in a simple manner, this is what exactly the film was about, how to love when you can't say the word. Deddy Mizwar, Tora Sudiro, and Wulan Guritno were ones who drove this film, and they stood at the pinnacle of their careers. You may've remembered that i used to comment on how Wulan Guritno's one rare superb actress. Yes, she was good.

This film also bloated with many cameos. Of course, if you're an actor, how could you say 'no' to Deddy Mizwar? My favorite cameo moment was, i'm sure that anyone who seen this film would agree, when Julia Perez appears on screen.

It's my obligation to recommend this film, because therefore, you would be named as one that against Indonesian teenage horror films - not that they're generally unwatchable, but we need to see more genre variations to the Indonesian films - and supporter of a good quality films. How unfortunate that Deddy Mizwar was already at the dusk of his career.

Next stop, April 19th, Joko Anwar's Kala. From the trailer, the film featuring at least one Mexican-standoff. It was enough to pique my curiosity.

My Rating: *** / ****