DJ Mamy Rock...

I was thinking of posting about Ruth Flowers (aka DJ Mamy Rock) a couple of days ago, but got busy doing other things. DJ Mamy Rock is 69-years-old. Her past life was in Bristol in England. Her new life as a DJ is taking her all over the world. She has done Europe and is a real star there. She has recently taken Los Angeles by storm and will by all accounts sweep the rest of the US up in that perfect storm.

I watched an interview with her the other day on Sunrise (Channel 7) here in Australia. Apparently, her crisis post middle-age crisis was not really a crisis but rather a tag along with a grandson to a disco. It was here she decided that she could do as good a job, if not better, as the DJ working her grandson's party. The rest is history so they say. However, that history included some help from a French fellow, Aurelien Simon, who wanted to launch a granny DJ. It would seem that this was the perfect convergence of vision and person.

Having conquered Europe and seemingly the US, DJ Mamy Rock is going to be playing gigs in China and Japan. So, I am wondering whether there are any interested Indonesian club owners who might entice DJ Mamy Rock to make a trip to Jakarta for a show or two. Maybe she could do a gig at X2 or Red Square, but there are a stack of options for DJ Mamy Rock in Indonesia.

Perhaps, DJ Mamy Rock can keep heading south and do a few gigs in Australia. I might even be tempted to head out and have a look if she were to make it to Sydney.

Hopefully at 69 I will still be standing up more often than sitting down.

Here are some YouTube clips of DJ Mamy Rock in action.

Government of Jakarta, huh?

I have read some stupid things today, but this takes the cake. What is the Government of Jakarta thinking when it states that it thinks working cooperatively with the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) during the holy month of Ramadan to "secure" entertainment venues. Secure in this context must mean compliance as opposed to safeguard. Unfortunately, this news story I read in Indonesian (here, so if you can read it...if not, then you will have to take my word for it).

At this stage it is supposedly only a plan, but the fact that it has been suggested shows some serious lack of foresight by the government and a real lack of understanding. The Government of Jakarta has sufficient law enforcement resources at its disposal that it just does not need to make use of the thugs at the FPI to do quasi police work.

As I said, this is the stupidest thing I read today. The FPI is the same bunch of goons that go round each Ramadan and forcibly close entertainment venues irrespective of whether the venue is operating pursuant to the rules and regulations.

These closures are done using extreme violence and are designed to damage as much property as possible, they are designed to inflict physical harm on patrons at these venues, and they are designed to strike fear into the general populace. So, I ask again, what is the government thinking by seemingly granting the FPI legitimacy to break the law and harm the citizens of Jakarta?

The Governor of Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo, really needs to think again on this one. If he stays this course it only serves to provide ammunition to his critics who have already nicknamed him Fuzzy Bodoh (bodoh in Indonesian means stupid).

The plan to use the FPI is just a stupid, stupid, stupid idea!

School Discos -- A Real Eye Opener...

Another image uncovered on my daily travels. I obviously went to the wrong school when I was growing up! Most, no all, of the school events that I can recall were really tame affairs.The chance of going to a school function where there were girls with short skirts was not going to happen. Going to one where the skirt was up around her waist was a dream not ever going to happen.

How times have changed!

The funniest part of this photo is the kid in the center of the screen with the jaw drop happening and the mobile phone camera out! Times, and technology, have certainly changed from when I was in High School.

The FPI and Promises of a Raid-Free Ramadan...

Now, here's a deal...the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) has informed the government of Jakarta that they will not undertake any raids of nightspots or entertainment venues provided that the government uphold the prevailing laws and regulations that apply during Ramadan. In particular, the FPI have been referring to a 2004 bylaw which regulates trading hours for bars, clubs, and other entertainment venues, such as pool halls.

The problem with this claim by the FPI is that it just is simply not going to be the case for the whole month. Hopefully, I will be eating humble pie come the end of Ramadan and stating unequivocally that the FPI have done as they said and kept their robes, balaclavas, sticks and stones in the cupboard and let law enforcement do their job. Truth be told, law enforcement do their job every year, but it has never been enough to satisfy the FPI in the past so it is hard to imagine that it will be any different this year.

Traditionally, and almost like clockwork, the FPI goons come out en masse and select an entertainment venue to trash based on a bogus claim that the venue is operating outside the provisions of the law.

If Ramadan is about restraint and purification of one's soul through reflection and prayer, then it would make more sense for the FPI to show a little tolerance and restraint, and rather than smashing up bars and clubs spend a little more time on reflection and prayer.

Meanwhile, here are a few photos for your viewing pleasure of various venues and random people in bars and clubs throughout Jakarta. And a couple of photos of the FPI in action throughout the archipelago.






These are the viewing pleasure photos...

t

50 Cent -- Quick Fire Sale...

It seems that 50 Cent wants to downsize from his current crib, a rather imposing 19 bedroom and 37 bathroom place, to something a little smaller. In fact the rapper is so keen to sell that he has dropped the initial asking price from USD 14.5 million to just USD 10.9 million. Unfortunately, for 5o this means that he is probably only going to break even. He bought the place for USD 4.1 million and has made somewhere in the vicinity of USD 6 million in renovations.

50's humble abode can be found in the suburb of Farmington in Hartford, Connecticut. Another selling point aside from the fact that each bedroom has almost two bathrooms is that the place was once owned by Mike Tyson. And, there is also a gym, a billiards (I prefer pool myself) room, racquet ball courts, and a disco room with stripper poles. Now, every home should have a disco with stripper poles. There is also a helipad.

Anyways, best of luck 50. If I had the cash, I would be interested.