Barack Obama's Indonesian Tranny Nanny

Some things are just good enough as they are. So, this is a simple cut and paste from gawker.com. I particularly liked the part about Glenn Beck, so much so that I highlight it so that you won't miss it.

Barack Obama's trip to his ancient Muslim homeland of Indonesia is splashing all sorts of tender boyhood memories across the newspapers, like his gay male nanny who later became a transvestite volleyball player. Glenn Beck just came in his pants.


On the occasion of his Indonesia trip, the New York Times canvasses the old neighborhood for memories of young Barry. And look what they found!


"His nanny was an openly gay man who, in keeping with Indonesia's relaxed attitudes toward homosexuality, carried on an affair with a local butcher, longtime residents said. The nanny later joined a group of transvestites called Fantastic Dolls, who, like the many transvestites who remain fixtures of Jakarta's streetscape, entertained people by dancing and playing volleyball."


Obama's association with a Muslim gay will no doubt add fuel to the fire for conservatives who argue that he is attempting to bring Sharia law, and its well known relaxed attitude toward homosexuality, to the United States.


The Times also found some boyhood friends who revealed Obama's childhood plot to become president and nationalize the banks:


"Mr. Obama asked a group of boys whether they wanted to grow up to be president, a soldier or a businessman. A president would own nothing while a soldier would possess weapons and a businessmen would have money, the young Obama explained.


Mr. Januadi and his younger brother, both of whom later joined the Indonesian military, said they wanted to become soldiers. Another boy, a future banker, said he would become a businessman.


"Then Barry said he would become president and order the soldier to guard him and the businessman to use his money to build him something," Mr. Januadi said. "We told him, ‘You cheated. You didn't give us those details.'"


Of course he cheated, Mr. Januadi. How naive can you be about this monster?


[Photo of statue of Obama as a boy in Indonesia via AP]


Send an email to the author of this post at john@gawker.com.

Maid Reliance

It is always fun to listen to people trying to work out how they are going to cope for the week or two that their maid(s) return home to the kampung. It is even funnier to know that those who are a little more well-to-do check into hotels in order to avoid having to do the washing, ironing, cleaning and the like. I, on the other hand, look forward to the maid being back home in her kampung for a week or two.

I was born and raised in Australia. I have been washing and ironing my own clothes for as long as I care to remember. I have been cleaning up after myself for that long as well. I am a good cook (almost became a chef) and I have the basics down on sewing and other things.

Now, that said, I enjoy having a maid and have enjoyed becoming even lazier than I was before.

It is interesting that people panic that their maid(s) will not return after the trip back to their kampung. For me and the missus this was never an issue. When it is all said and done our maid has a pretty cushy gig. It might be as boring as watching the grass grown on a hot summer afternoon but she is well looked after in terms of salary and benefits. And, she is free to pretty much come and go as she pleases.

Sometimes we impose on her to stay at home but that is so rare I cannot even remember the last time that we did it. Generally, it is a security thing in making sure someone is home, but since the missus "retired" there has not been much of an issue on that front.

The wife and I were having a bit of a chuckle this morning about our maid's style as we were sitting in the study. The maid has a mobile phone and it is one that allows hand's free operation and she seems to be all geared-up on that front. The chuckle was to watch the maid go about her business sweeping and mopping while nattering away hands free. It was pretty funny but I guess you would have had to been there to appreciate how funny it was to us.

I guess it was funny to me because I cannot remember the last time I used hands free or the speaker phone. She seemed happy enough though.

Anyway, long story short, the maid had her two weeks off back in the kampung and has returned to resume doing whatever it was that she was doing before. She has been with us a bit over 12 months now so it is time for a raise on the salary front. We are not going to tell her about the raise rather just surprise her with the extra and explain it at the time. It is not mega Rupiah to us but I am sure it will make a difference to her.

Maid-less in Jakarta

The annual exodus back to the kampong is in full swing and for some of us unfortunate souls it has been for a least a week before the official holiday period began on 12 October. For a first time expat in Jakarta a maid is a luxury to which one is never sure they will get used to. But by the first Idul Fitri and the mass exodus that follows the dependence is already obvious to all and sundry. The days of coming home to a clean house and your freshly ironed clothes already put away, a feed on the table, and most importantly the washing-up of the dishes all squared away, have all but disappeared overnight.

Having now spent many a year in Jakarta, having a maid is par for the course as is the fleeing home each Idul Fitri. Strangely enough I look forward to the maid being back in the kampong as I, for just one week (maybe 2 if I am lucky), get to organize my house the way I want it organized. It is liberating to be able to put stuff in places where you know where it is and there is no need to ask the maid to get it for you or find out where she has put it.

Nevertheless, once the 1 or 2 weeks pass and the maid has still to return, the panic sets in. The liberation of being in control evaporates and the terror of waiting or having to find a new maid dominates the mindset. I am more than happy for the maid to be doing her thing for 1 or 2 weeks provided that for the other 50 or so weeks she is providing domestic structure to my home in terms of washing, ironing, cleaning, and cooking.

One of the big issues with domestic servants is getting past the feeling or idea that it is exploitation of those less fortunate than yourself. However, when push comes to shove, the work is monotonous and probably as boring as all hell, but it is a job, it comes with food and board, and even with a minimal salary a conscientious maid can still send money home to her family. And, if you feel really guilty about it, you can always pay above the market rate to offset any guilt. For me, the maid picks up the slack, where the slack in this case is my laziness to wash and iron my own clothes, sweep and mop the floors, and do the dishes. Aside from that she has the run of the house during the day (and generally well into the evening too!) while I am not home...So, it is not the worst deal I could think of. I dread the day of having to head back home to my own kampong for good and being maid-less forever. May be this is the reverse culture shock that I have heard about :)

The Government has been talking about regulating the domestic servant industry for some time. The critical issue here is that any regulatory framework will make what is in essence an informal employment sector into a formal employment sector. The practical questions would be for the purposes of tax are the maids self-employed or will those that employ domestic servants have to set up a sole proprietorship that employs the maid in a domestic service capacity then withhold tax. It is likely to get very messy in a practical sense. Nevertheless, there needs to be some regulation with respect to treatment of maids and there needs to be legal recourse for maids to be able to get out of abusive situations. The issue with regards to regulation will be, degree. How much regulation is required to ensure the health and safety of domestic servants while not increasing the practical burden on families that employ domestic servants. But, I guess if it is the difference between washing and ironing my own clothes and generally looking after myself any burden, provided it is not cost prohibitive, would be worth the hassle free existence!

Well, another 6 days and the maid will be back, I hope...or it will be time to press the panic button!