Good Parenting Skills?

Being a parent is a great thing. I would not swap it for the world. However, there are always challenges and it is always a steep learning curve. There is always that realisation that you cannot always get everything right all of the time.

Yet, as some of these photos highlight, there are some things that just should not be done, particularly in this day and age of technology where our world is becoming increasingly smaller and better connected.

Just a few photos found while surfing the internet today...

A Review of "How to Catch Mr. Bule"

This is a simple "cut & paste" of a post made back in April 2008. I noticed that there has been renewed discussion of the merits of this book. The links have been updated, a picture added, and a postscript discussion.

As promised!

I scurried out this morning with the missus for an appointment with a doctor to confirm what a home pregnancy test had revealed on Friday! I know you are all wishing her well :)

Anyways, back to the book! After the appointment it was off for a wander in Metropolitan Mall and a swing by Gramedia. It did not take long to find the book and there were two great big piles of them. They were not flying off the shelf apparently but perhaps this is not a reflection of the quality of the book but rather that perhaps there are not as many Indonesian women in Bekasi looking to catch Mr. Bule. Long story short bought me a copy and then headed off to Hoka Hoka Bento for lunch.

As a side point, the missus did not believe such a book would ever be written. I said perhaps it might have been a good thing if it was written 12 or so years ago so she could have had the tools at her disposal to choose Mr. Right! Smiles all round...

So, how does the book hold up in comparison to other guide books like Lonely Planet's Indonesia on a Shoestring? Perhaps Lonely Planet is not such a good example now that it has been revealed that at least one of their authors did not even visit one of the countries he wrote a guide book on -- a total fraud! A travel guide might not be a fair comparison you say, but alas it is, and you will have to read the book to see why.

Nah, you won't! The book contains sections on living in foreign lands with Mr. Bule once you have caught him. So, it is a sort of Culture Shock (as advertised on Jakartass) meets Lonely Planet.

The book taps into all of the stereotypes that abound about inter-racial relationships between Indonesian women and bule men. But, it seems to be a genuine attempt at being informative about how to make the best of these relationships with a view to making them long-lasting. The 'empirical' evidence that the book is based on is word of mouth and personal experience. The author is married to a bule, Duncan Graham, and the author and Mr. Bule are currently residing in New Zealand (hence the culture shock meets lonely planet reference).

For all you out there who are offended by the word bule and the racist undertones that it has, will be pleased that the book offers up two other alternatives:

BULE = Beautiful Unlike Lots Elsewhere

or my personal favourite

BULE = Bald Ugly Lazy Easy (money)

For me, I could not help but have a little chuckle to myself when I read the advice that the author offers to Indonesian men who might be reading this little tome, which goes along the lines of if you, Indonesian men, want to get the attention of Indonesian women and stop them from preferring and finding bules then you, Indonesian men, need to treat Indonesian women better. This is a generalization and before you all jump on my head and beat the crap out of me in a figurative sense, these are the words of an Indonesian woman!

The chuckle however related to the idea that perhaps any Indonesian men reading this book were more interested in how they might be able to catch Mr. Bule as well rather than any interest in finding an Indonesian woman.

In the spirit of guide books there are chapters covering all the issues, at least as the author sees them, relating to the inter-racial relationships envisaged. These include chapters on communication, sex, gossip, extended family relationships.

The book is targeted at Indonesian women who are perhaps educated and professional but not so much to Indonesian women who might be looking to "escape" from the kampung. The book, at least for me, presupposes an equality between the prospective couple which you might not find with Indonesian women who have not had access to educational or work opportunities. However, some of the best advice relates to the idea that all bules are great. The author goes to some pains to point out that this is not the case and that bules are like everyone else; some good, some bad - avoid the bad!

Some of the other classic bits of advice relate to cultural issues like: don't be surprised if he (Mr. Bule) is not happy when you hit him up for cash to support your extended family like he is an ATM machine, don't be offended if on arrival home from a hard days work he greets his dog before he greets you (just the bule way apparently), don't worry that bule culture relies on alcohol but alcohol consumption is not always bad because sometimes in bule country it gets so cold that alcohol is drunk to warm up your body, and don't worry if your husband is watching a comedy show on TV and then all of a sudden breaks out in laughter and starts pissing himself laughing until he falls out of his chair and you just do not get the joke you should not feel alienated by this or become homesick, among many others.

Unfortunately, the book is only in Indonesian at the moment, but this is hardly surprising seeing that the target market is Indonesian women. So, if any of you bules out there want to know what it says precisely then you will have to read it yourself, or learn Indonesian, or get someone to read and translate it to you! Or you will just have to believe what I and others write about it!

For me it was in fact worth the 25,000 Rupes that I paid for it! I don't know that I learned anything but I did have fun reading through it! There were plenty of those WTF or are you kidding me moments. Yet, on reflection this was probably more so because of my personal experiences that are so different from those of the author than anything else, as well as the different ways that people view other cultures and their own...

Have a nice day!

Postscript to the original post...
I have discussed the racial connotations of the word bule in previous posts and how some "white" expatriates are offended by the term and others seem to want to co-opt it as a form of empowerment. In essence, there are some similarities between this debate and the debate that surrounds the word "nigger". However, seeing it is a debate happening in Indonesia and is far-removed from American pop culture, it simply is not a debate on the same scale. Although, as I recall from my travels through cyber-space, there have been many a heated discussion on the topic of bule. A good source for discussion, pros and cons, on the bule issue is Indonesia Matters.

However, as the title of the book suggests, the use of "bule" is common amongst Indonesians and most are unawares of the racial connotations. This is evidenced by the fact that Indonesian televisions programming includes shows like "Bule Gila" or "Crazy White People" among myriad of others.

Indonesia: Import Duties on Goods

It is obvious that since leaving hukumonline.com I have been pretty slack at keeping up-to-date with Indonesian legal developments outside of the specific areas that interest me most. As a result, I missed a Minister of Finance Regulation dated 29 October 2010 (in Indonesian). This regulation deals with the duties payable on goods over a certain value that are brought into Indonesia.

What is interesting about this regulation is that it seems to be targeting passengers and getting them to declare all goods on entry. Yet, the last time I traveled to Indonesia I am sure that I had to fill in a Customs declaration form that listed what I could and could not bring into Indonesia and what values they could be before I had to declare them and pay any duties that were payable on these goods.

Is this a case of gaining on the merry-go-round and then losing on the swing? The government will soon be facing a rather large financial black hole when the Fiscal Tax that Indonesians and other permanent residents paid for leaving Indonesia shores is removed. Is this regulation really a not-so-subtle attempt to fill that hole?

The basic framework for the regulation, No. 188/PMK.04/2010, are Articles 10B(5), 13(2) and 25(3) of the Customs Law (Law No. 10/1995 as amended by Law No. 17/2006) If you contact hukumonline.com they might forward you Indonesian Legal Briefs and Indonesian Law Digests that I wrote on this area many years ago. Generally, ministerial regulations are used to facilitate implementation of provisions in superior laws.

The regulation distinguishes between personal effects and commercial goods. This is done with a view to establishing what duties are payable. Personal effects are defined as any personal goods that do not satisfy the elements of being commercial goods.

In essence, anyone that must declare personal effects or commercial goods that they are importing / bringing into Indonesia are to do so. They have up to 30 days prior to the date of arrival or 60 days from the date of arrival to do so. There are some variations in specific circumstances for these time limits. For passengers of an airline this can be done on the day of arrival.

The regulation stipulates in Article 8 that the duty free limits are USD 250 for individuals and USD 1000 for families. For any value over these limits duty is payable. Additionally, it is permissible to import 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, 100 grams of tobacco and 1 litre of alcohol. As I recall, this is pretty much as it was when I last landed in Jakarta. The duty free limits for cabin crew and airline staff, presumably on official duties, are less than for other individuals.

The system is continues to be a red line (declaring goods) and green line (nothing to declare). The regulation lists in Article 13 all the goods that must be declared irrespective of value and sets a limit on cash that may be carried. The cash limit is IDR 100 million or the equivalent in foreign currency. Where a Customs Officer has any suspicions about a passenger, then that Customs Officer is entitled to conduct a physical inspection of the passengers personal effects. In the event the physical inspection uncovers goods that have not been declared, then the passenger / owner of those goods is required to pay the duty that is due. Receipts for any duties paid must be provided to the passenger paying them.

As far as I can tell the regulation does not expressly provide exceptions for goods that have been owned for more than 12 months. I will need to go and check associated regulations to determine this (I have not downloaded them onto my current laptop). However, off the top of my head I recall that there exceptions applied to goods that had been owned for more than 12 months.

For example, if you were an Indonesian student going to study in a foreign university and took your laptop with you. When you returned in 12, 18, 24, or 36 months time with the same laptop there was no need to declare this as a personal effect that was subject to duty.

An article from Kompas (in Indonesian) that includes some comments from the Director General of Customs at the Ministry of Finance does not provide any insight on this front. The example provided only suggests that a camera that is valued at USD 300 will be subject to duty on the USD 50 that exceeds the USD 250 duty free limit. Unfortunately, the Director General does not note any exception for second-hand goods or goods that have been owned for more than 12 months.

If I find anything relevant to a better understanding of what is subject to duty, outside of what I have noted here, I will post it as a postscript.

The regulation comes into force on 1 January 2011.

Drinking and STDs...

The owner of this wine and liquor store must surely have a sense of humour, right?

I guess this means that the link between excessive drinking and STDs is no longer anecdotal, is it?

The photo came courtesy of The Huffington Post this time (I have seen it before as it has done the rounds of the internet and email inboxes).

Free Days...

For anyone wondering what to do on your "free" days:

Via twitpic.

Mobile Phones and the STD Test Application...

After the Ugly Meter which seems to be nothing more than a little frivolity there is the possibility that scientists will hit the STD test jackpot so to speak. It is being reported that in the not too distant future STD testing can be done at home or with the help of your trusty mobile phone. The test will be as simple as providing a little urine sample on a computer chip and placing it into your phone and waiting for the phone to spit out the results.

Not all experts are of the belief that this technology is imminent in the consumer-ready sense. However, it seems that it is not something that is outside the realm of possibility. The experts have developed simple test kits for HIV. So, the future is nigh, so to speak.

However, the technology raises some interesting nocturnal entertainment possibilities, don't you think? Going out on the turps on a Friday and Saturday night and entering the one-night stand lottery need not result in a recurring case of STD. The reality will be that right next to the condoms in the wallet or purse will be the STD computer chips. It would be pretty funny to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. "So, I am really looking forward to getting down and dirty with you, but before we do would you mind if I watched you pee on this computer chip?" Sort of crushes the moment, doesn't it?

Nevertheless, the old adage of "it is better to be safe than sorry" might make it cheaper in the long run. All the same, I am wondering what happens when the mobile phone pipes up..."Warning, Warning, Warning, don't do it, Chlamydia!" or "Warning, Warning, Warning, do not go there...Gonorrhea!"

It is a good idea. Anything that keeps our young, and perhaps old, people healthy is a worthwhile cause. Yet, it is still one of those things that you find yourself shaking your head at, like will it still work once the beer goggles are on?

James Boag's Pure...

As simple beers go, this is a simple beer. It contains just four ingredients: water, barley, hops and yeast.

This was a refreshing drop; understated. The aroma was sweet with a noticeable honey and floral bouquet happening. The beer itself was not sweet though. This is a medium-bodied beer with a barely there malt taste. The expected bitterness was not really there either despite the beer being constructed from what seems the bare minimum of ingredients to make something that can be called beer.

James Boag is a Tasmanian Brewery that has been acquired by Lion Nathan, Australia's second biggest brewer. I have always been a little partial to the Boag's range of beers. There is something to be said for simple beers with all-natural Tasmanian ingredients. That said, it is not my favourite Boag's offering, but I would be more than willing to go a couple of more rounds with the naked green bottles that it comes in.

Barefoot Radler...

The Barefoot Radler is as the name suggests a Radler style beer. Uh huh? I hear you muttering. Unless of course you are German then you would probably know that radler is just German for what us folks in this part of the world call a shandy. In other words, it is beer mixed with some sort of carbonated soda, such as lemonade (sprite if you prefer). This Barefoot Radler was infused with some natural lemon and lime. My guess is that radler is used in preference to shandy as a marketing tool and a means of ratcheting up the price.

I bought a bottle of this down at the local bottle shop. It was not recommended by the staff or anything amusing like that. Rather it was a simple case of, "this looks a little different, might give it a try" and then grab bottle, go to counter and pay.

The lemon and lime aromas are full on, maybe the correct term is intense. The lemon and lime flavours are overpowering. So much so that you do not notice the alcohol at all. It really is as simple as crushing a can of Solo or something similar. In fact, I would argue if you want lemon or lime infused beer, then buy a full strength beer and infuse it with a lemon or lime of your own.

The marketing for this beer is that it is "phenomenally refreshing". I would agree that it is refreshing, particular when it is real cold, but I am not sold on the phenomenally part. This beer just was not up to expectation, and that was even the case knowing that a radler in essence meant that I was drinking a 4.2% alcohol volume shandy.

The Barefoot Radler is brewed by the Barefoot Beverages out of Thebarton in South Australia. I am reliably informed on the bottle that the beer is "carbon neutral", so if you are looking to decrease your carbon footprint through your beer consumption then this might be the beer for you!

I do not think that I will be buying this beer again.

Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale...

I actually drank this fine ale last night. I just did not get around to posting the review until now. Although, with a 7.2% alcohol volume this would certainly be one to warm you up on a slightly cooler cloudy day like today! This brew is, as the name suggests, from the Coopers range of beers. I will be undoubtedly, sooner or later, reviewing a few more of the Coopers range, as they are already in the fridge and awaiting my attention.

Surprisingly, this was a sweet tasting beer with a lot of caramel flavours with some honey aroma tossed in for good measure. There was also a bit of the espresso happening, not too strong but definitely noticeable. The extended top fermentation process serves to enhance the quality of the flavours. The beer is not really a sipper, it goes down too well to hang around, but for those of you out there that prefer to take their time, then as this beer warms up the flavours and aroma actually intensify. In fact, this is a beer that might be even better on tap and out of a glass rather than straight from the bottle.

On a less positive note. A lot of the reviews that I have read about this beer (after drinking it as I did not want to have any preconceived opinion to start) have been negative. Generally, people are less than happy with the traditional Coopers sediment that accompanies this brew. The unhappiness, is that the sediment is not the traditional Coopers perfection that makes most of their ales cloudy. Rather, the sediment in this one are clumpy chunks of spent yeast (not a pretty site in a glass to be sure), maybe if one drinks it straight from the bottle you can avoid seeing the clumpy chunks by pretending they are not really there.

But, when it is all said and done, I actually enjoyed this beer from start to finish.

Skinny Blonde Low Carb Beer...

I have never been much of a low carb anything, and certainly not a low carb beer. I think it was because I was traumatised as a young man when living and educating in the US of A at the University of North Carolina a t Chapel Hill. Great basketball school; nothing like hanging out in huge long line in the cold to get student tickets for a game against Duke in the Smith Dome. Go Heels!

But, I digress. Low carb beer in the US combines with low alcohol...it is very much a drinking the proverbial "cat's ...". However, the beauty of Australia and Australian low carb beers is that they come in full alcohol volume strength. So, less carbs and full strength. At 5% the Skinny Blonde is not a powerful brew, but it is a good drink.

The beer itself is the result of a couple of fellas sharing a few beers over a foosball game down Bondi Beach way. The fellas responsible obviously said something along the lines of, "bugger this for a joke, we can make better beer than this! In fact we already do with our home brews! We should go into business!" The rest they say, is history - Brothers Ink was born along with the Skinny Blonde.

I am not sure whether I should be reviewing the beer or the bottle. Let's start with the bottle. The label is that of a 1950s pin-up chick named Daisy. The most interesting part of Daisy is that when the bottle is cold Daisy is fully clothed. But, this is the fun part...as the bottle warms up so does Daisy, and her gear starts to come off. The hotter she gets the more gear that comes off. So, if anyone out there has wondered what that new trend was, it is Daisy getting rubbed up. No more beer label peeling now!

That was just the front label. The back label states that Daisy is unequivocally a natural born blonde with no preservatives or additives, no liposuction, no botox, and no breast augmentation. Now, if that does not convince you to drink this beer, then I am not sure what will convince you ;)

Ultimately, the label acknowledges that drinking the Skinny Blonde is not going to make you funnier, more charming, or even a great dancer. But, then again, they are in the eye of the beholder. I am always much funnier after a couple of beers (or when I finish my Masters Degree).

The beer itself is refreshing and probably a healthy alternative. There is not a lot of hops action and very little bitterness. It is probably at its best as a session beer. It is light so would work well with meat, maybe throw another snag on the barbie!

I reckon I will give the beer another shot in my fridge. The fading red bikini has nothing to do with it, I swear!

Banana Bread Beer...

Yes, I know what you are thinking...bananas and beer, not so a promising mix. I hear y'all the way from wherever you are.

But, let's face it, even if this beer is crap, it has novelty value that should last long enough to open the bottle and maybe even get to the bottom. Then again, it could really be bad and opening the bottle will be the first and last part of this experience.

First things first. It is not hard to work out that this is a "fruit" beer. However, it is pretty much a standard ale blended with fair-trade bananas, if the label is to be believed. If you do not believe me, then this is what the label says:

An inspired brew made with our natural mineral water & fair trade bananas, Tempting banoffee aromas & flavours are balanced by the silky richness of a masterful malt blend  & the peppery spice of the freshest, ripest hops.

The beer is brewed by the Wells & Young Brewing company out of Bedford in the UK. These folks are apparently 'independent family brewers'.

The bottle that I acquired was 500ml, so it was destined to take some drinking to get through it.

Well, what about the beer? The beer I found pretty enjoyable. It really did taste like liquid banana bread. The hops was not really noticeable, and as such this is a beer that at 5.2% alcohol volume is likely to creep up on you and then hit you over the head.

The flavour was refreshing; a little nutty and a whole lot banana-ry. Surprisingly, I did not find it very sweet. Although, I could see myself having another with a good dessert.

I could be tempted to try this one again for pleasure as opposed to just reviewing it.

Wahoo Premium Ale...

I am not sure whether I am going to be able to find 30 beers in my local bottle shop or in Woolworths that I am going to be able to review. But, every one needs a dream. After all, it is our dreams that keep us alive. So, with the dream in mind, I present my next review, Wahoo Premium Ale.

Gage Roads Brewing Co. out of Palmyra in Western Australia is responsible for this brew. It is a premium ale with an alcohol volume of 4.6%.

Cracking the bottle provided immediate access to some really refreshing lime aromas, perhaps a little citrus overall. I was thinking of pouring the beer into a glass, but let's face it I am a bottle kind of a fella. So, straight out of the bottle it was.

The malt and hops in this beer are understated. There was no lingering bitterness at all, which is not necessarily always a good thing.

The most memorable thing about this beer was the bottle that it came in. It was not the worst beer that I have ever tasted (Bali Hai has a mortgage on that title for the foreseeable future) however it was not a beer that said, "try me, again and again and again".

The artsy photo is all mine, including the Ted Hughes book of poetry, Birthday Letters (my current reading material).

Beez Neez Beer...

Beez Neez is brewed by the Matilda Bay Brewing Company. The name of the beer tells you what is in it, honey. There are the other standards such as hops as well. But, this is a wheat beer in the American Pale Wheat Ale style with an alcohol volume of 4.7%.

The use of honey dominates this beer. It is not a bitter beer and there was really no hops flavour. This is a wheat beer so there is a little of those malty flavours there. But all in all the beer really does not knock the taste buds over with that "wow" factor. And, I guess therein lies the problem, this beer was really nothing much to write home about. It is worth a shot, but it might just be a starter before moving onto other beers of choice.

Gonzo Imperial Porter...

Gonzo Imperial Porter is a beer produced by the Flying Dog Brewery out of Denver, Colorado in the good Ol' US of A. I post this here because I know that the Treespotter is a fan (not of my beer reviews, but of Hunter S. Thompson). The beer is an imperial stout and pours black by the looks of the photos I have seen.

However, there is a version of this beer that has been aged for three months in oak whiskey barrels, and pour with a very wicked 9.5% alcohol volume. I am not sure that I will be able to track down a bottle of this brew that I can afford, or whether any are in fact left. There were only 5,000 of them made with the name "Wild Dog".

The regular version of the beer won a Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup. Yes, folks, there are competitions for quality beers.

With a bit of luck I will get to Denver to taste one.

This is a review that came from my calendar of beers.

"Hunter S. Thompson would be proud. The winner of a Gold medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup in the American-style Imperial stout category, this namesake brew has enough hops, roast grain bitterness, and (let's not forget) alcohol to satisfy even the celebrated gonzo journalist.


Lots of espresso and bittersweet chocolate to start, then on to loads of resinous, pine sap hop aroma, and a volatile dose of alcohol. It's got bite, but a chocolate sweetness steps in to the rescue. This is no chugging beer. Try it with raspberries, dark chocolate truffles, or both."

It seems I still have a little bit to do in terms of working on the quality of my beer reviews!

Fat Yak Pale Ale...

To be perfectly honest, this is not the first time I have enjoyed a Fat Yak. Last Christmas up Fingle Bay way the local pub had this fine pale ale on tap. I had never heard of it before, and figured I should give it a shot. I have not seen it since. Well, not until earlier this evening in that fine liquor store also known as Woolworths. So, I purchased a bottle for AUD 3.85 (or there abouts).

The Fat Yak Pale Ale is an Australian Pale Ale and it is produced by the Matilda Bay Brewing company. Matilda Bay is based over in Western Australia. However, the Fat Yak is produced in their Dandenong, Victoria, operation.

The beer is a reasonable 4.7% alcohol volume (or the equivalent of 1.3 standard drinks) and the bottle encourages the holder to enjoy it responsibly. I am enjoying it responsibly, and I could probably enjoy it responsibly over and over and over again.

The beer is supposedly brewed in a garage. My guess is that this is just a marketing myth that is designed to get people into the idea that the operation is small-scale and that the beer is truly unique and different from anything else out there being brewed in other micro-breweries.

The beer does not drink like it is loaded with hops, which is kind of surprising considering that the label says that it is loaded with the stuff. Yet, it did have noticeable hops and malt flavours. I really do need to drink more and learn more. The flavours were a little bit of a mish-mash for me. There were noticeable caramel-malt flavours. Also, there was some citrus flavours combined with a fruity aftertaste, passionfruit, I think.

I enjoyed the Fat Yak. I would have no qualms about drinking it again.

Little Creatures Pale Ale...

This beer, according to the bottle, is out of the Little Creatures Brewing Company of Mews Road, Fremantle, Western Australia. The bottle also tells me that it packs a nice 5.2% alcohol volume or the equivalent of 1.4 standard drinks. In other words, just drinking two of these excellent beers is going to put me at the safe driving limit (as I recall it is like 3 standard drinks), but the best policy is to not drink and drive at all (good thing I am sitting at home then).

First things first. I really enjoyed this beer. I quite enjoyed taking it slow and trying to work stuff out. Stuff being what sort of things that I could say about it that would make it look like I knew what I was talking about.

The aroma and taste of the beer was flowery (in beer speak, it had a floral aroma so I have learned) and sweet. It was nothing like the Tooheys Old which was the last beer I can remember drinking. The beer was also fruity in a citrus kind of a way. The flavour that I picked up most was grapefruit (I drink grapefruit juice for breakfast). The malt and hops were noticeable but not overwhelmingly so.

However, it is worth noting that the taste lingers for some time after you finish the bottle. The ending taste is a little bitter, but in a good way. I really wish I had bought two, as I would have immediately opened another.

I would recommend this beer.

Thus endeth my first foray into beer reviews. Not good, I know. But, one has to start somewhere...I will learn my trade over time.

The Buddha Bar -- More Protests...

Some things come and go, and this is one of those; protests against the Buddha Bar in Jakarta. This really is making a mountain out of a molehill. The idea that it is in some way threatening interfaith relations and national unity do not bear out.

The only relationships that it seems to be threatening are those of the protesters who cannot seem to cope with the concept of a Buddha theme for a resto, cafe, and bar.

The current argument is that the name of the bar is an insult to Buddha and Buddhism. My guess is that Buddha would probably be telling the protesters to chill out and meditate a little, you know search for a little enlightenment, devote their human energies to something that is important and worthwhile.

The protesters have decided that if the governments of Jakarta and Indonesia are not going to revoke the business permits of the franchise holder, then the next best course of action is to congregate outside the French Embassy and demand that the French government do something about it because the trademark name is owned by a French company.

The biggest beef of the protesters is that using the name and image of the Buddha is an insult. This insult is further exacerbated by the fact that prostitutes hang out their. Now, for them to know that the bar is either frequented by prostitutes or overrun by them would require the protesters to have some intimate knowledge of the joint. Perhaps they are disgruntled customers?

One of the protesters even went so far as to suggest, "What's next? Christ Bar, Islam Bar, Hindu Bar?" Now, there is an idea. I would probably go for Jesus Bar myself. Let's face it, Jesus supposedly turned water into wine. Not just a little bit of wine but a lot of wine. So, the "Jesus Wine Bar" would seem to be aptly named. Now, for the Islam Bar. Why not? Not all bars have to serve alcohol. It could be a coffee bar. Maybe it could serve up coffees from places like Turkey and pastries from the Middle East. A Hindu Bar might need a little more thought...

There are so many important issues that need the dedicated attention of Indonesian citizens, this is not one of them.

Ho hum...

Malaysia, Caning, and Beer -- Part V

Sooner or later it seems Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno is going to feel the thud and sting of the cane. The case is an interesting test of Malaysia's claims to be a moderate Muslim nation and the acceptance of strict forms of Sharia law that impact on only certain groups within the Malaysian ethnic, cultural, and religious fabric. Shukarno has upped the ante in the case by refusing to appeal.

Once the sentence is carried out, she will become the first Muslim woman in Malaysia to be sentenced to a caning and then have the sentence imposed.

Shukarno's crime was to be a Muslim caught drinking beer in a nightclub in Pahang state. The religious court found her guilty of the crime and sentenced her to six strokes of the cane. I have written about the details of the case here.

The government stepped in and requested a review of the case because it believed the sentence to be too harsh and the press about the case could conceivably damage Malaysia's reputation as a moderate Muslim nation.

However, and perhaps in a sign of separation of powers, the religious high court in Kuantan has affirmed the lower religious court's decision and has stated in unequivocal terms that the sentence was correct and it must be imposed as handed-down.

It was also decided that a good ol' caning during the month of Ramadan was not in the spirit of the month where fasting, praying, and cleaning oneself of sins are paramount.

Islamic scholars in Malaysia have generally supported the sentence and have said in any event Shukarno is to be fully clothed and the cane is much smaller and lighter than the canes used in criminal matters. Perhaps this is meant to suggest that it is a lesser offense and hence there is a lesser punishment or it just won't hurt that much anyway, so let's get this over and done with.

Tila Tequila, Lights Out?

I have seen the name Tila Tequila around, but admittedly have never paid that much attention, anyway with a name like Tila Tequila I always figured she was probably an adult star / porn star. However, names can be deceiving. It turns out Tila is in fact Tila Nguyen, hails from Singapore with Vietnamese roots and makes her living singing and doing TV, MTV to be precise. Although in my defense she has appeared in Playboy.

Apparently, the Tequila alludes to the fact that she is allergic to alcohol and doesn't drink, so it is supposed to be a touch of irony. However, recent reports suggest that despite any Tweets to the contrary, Ms. Tequila lives up to her name and does not mind knocking back the odd tequila shot or five. It also seems that she does not mind taking a few slugs on the vodka bottle. Gossip, rumors, or eyewitness testimony to her appetite for liquor sort of puts paid to the idea that the girl is allergic to alcohol.

Her consumption of the wicked liquor has led to some trouble so it seems with her current boyfriend of San Diego Chargers fame, Shawne "Lights Out" Merriman, has been arrested and bailed for allegedly assaulting the diminutive Tequila. Lights Out comes in at a hefty 1.93 meters and some 120kgs so it is hardly going to be a fair contest.

Lights Out reckons there was no assault, rather he was trying to be protective and stop Tequila, who seemingly had a few too many tequilas from driving home. According to reports a scuffle occurred, Tequila eventually broke free, and then called the police. Tequila then signed off on a citizen's arrest warrant that alleges battery and false imprisonment, both of which are felonies as I recall.

So, it seems at the moment to be a he said, she said scenario. This means that the fun and games are just about to begin.

And they have. James Brennan, the owner of Stingaree (a celebrity spotting paradise apparently), and where Lights Out and Tequila kicked off their fateful evening, has said that in interviewing all of his staff the gist is that Lights Out was drinking bottled water and Tequila was living up to her name knocking back tequila and vodka until she was visibly intoxicated (I would guess this is code for pissed).

The reason for this post is self-serving as it lets me post a picture of Tequila in most of her glory.

Malaysia, Caning, and Beer -- Part III

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno is set to be contained according to her sentence sometime next week. The sentence was six lashes of the cane and a fine of 5000 ringgit. Her crime, being a Muslim and drinking beer in a nightclub in the eastern state of Pahang. I wrote about it here.

Shukarno has asked for the sentence to be carried out as soon as possible. Her request is based on two simple reasons; the sooner the sentence is carried out, the sooner she can get on with the rest of her life, and secondly, she wants others to learn from her mistakes so that they might avoid a similar caning in the future. Her regret is apparently the driving force for the desire for a public caning.

Although, there seems to be a bit of a caveat on the caning in that Shukarno wants it carried out in public rather than in the confines of a closed prison. This would certainly seem the most likely way of ensuring maximum exposure (pun intended). It is worth noting that Shukarno will be the first woman to be caned under Islamic Law. There must be a sellable story in that somewhere, particularly when one considers she lives in Singapore and not Malaysia.

It must also be noted that caning is not unusual as a form of punishment in Malaysia. There are at least forty crimes that attract a good caning. The criminal punishment statistics compiled by Amnesty International state that almost 35,000 people have been caned in Malaysia between 2002 and 2008. The majority of these canings were for immigration offenses. Simply, a few strokes on the buttocks and on your way back to wherever it is that you came from.

Amnesty International has been vocal in its opposition to caning. According to Amnesty International, caning is a cruel and degrading punishment, and as such must not be used as a form of punishment. Besides, cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishments are expressly prohibited under international law. AI has, in fact, asked the Malaysian government to vacate this sentence and to pass legislation that would prohibit the use of caning under any circumstances in Malaysia.

However, Malaysia in its defense of the soon-to-occur caning is that the cane (rattan / rotan) is smaller than the one used for men, the swing is shorter, and the purpose is to educate rather than punish, therefore Shukarno is not likely to endure too much pain when it is all said and done.

The problem, or perhaps issue, for me is that the idea of concurrent courts, General and Islamic, means that there is a two-tiered justice system where punishments depend on your religious beliefs, and therefore will differ from others who commit a similar offense or in this case where they commit no offense at all. It is not illegal for non-Muslims to drink alcohol in Malaysia.

Maybe there will be a video so that we can all get a public viewing of the manner of a Malaysian caning.