Whoever wrote this is a genius. It's DAMN HILARIOUS. I couldn't stop laughing my butt off.
Travel Warning
The Republic of Indonesia Foreign Affairs Department
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Jakarta.
This information is current as of today, Sat Feb 09 2008 13:53:20 GMT+0700
(WIT).
The Republic of Indonesia.
October 05, 2007
This Travel Warning updates information concerning the security situation in The United Sates of America and urges Indonesian Citizens to evaluate carefully the risks of travel to that country.
This Travel Warning supersedes the January 9, 2007 Travel Warning for The United Sates of America.
Due to the possibility of snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways attacks directed against Indonesians or other Western citizens and interests, the Indonesian Foreign affairs Department urges Indonesian Citizens to evaluate carefully the risks of travel to The United Sates of America.
The Latest multi killings by snipers, psychopaths and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways, New York, Virginia Tech, Columbine High School, Oklahoma, New York 911, and now the lastest Norther Illinois University killings etc, in which cowboys, terrorist and sick kids kill students and al Qaeda kill more than 2500 people in New York City (Twin Towers), are a reminder that snipers, terrorist and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways remain active in The United Sates of America.
Similarly, during the three prior years, there were significant snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways attacks in The United Sates of America, many in Los Angeles and in New York, Virginia Tech, Columbine High School, Oklahoma, New York 911, and now the Northern Illinois University killings as well as mayor city down areas.
Major Airport terrorist warnings in US major cities indicate the seriousness of these threats.
During 2007, the American police and security forces disrupted a number of cells linked with Al Qaeda. The existence of additional disturb people, organized crime, gun owners intending to carry out future attacks in New York, Virginia Tech, Columbine High School, Oklahoma, New York 911, etc, and now the North Illinois Campus shooting and/or other areas of The United Sates of America cannot be ruled out. Snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways attacks in The United Sates of America could occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those frequented by Indonesians, as well as identifiably Indonesians or other Western facilities or businesses in The United Sates of America.
Such targets could include but are not limited to places where Indonesians and other Westerners live, congregate, work, study, shop, or visit, including hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, identifiably Western businesses, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools, or public recreation events.
While past snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways attacks have involved the use of vehicle-borne explosives or suicide bombers carrying explosives in backpacks, snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways may use other forms of attack in the future. Snipers and Gun Slingers at Universities, Schools, High Ways may target individual Indonesians citizen residents, visitors, students, or tourists, and tactics could include but are not limited to kidnapping, shooting, or poisoning.
The Foreign Affairs Department urges Indonesians in The United Sates of America to avoid crowds, maintain a low profile, and be vigilant about security at all times. Indonesians are advised to monitor local news broadcasts, vary their routes and times in carrying out daily activities, and consider the level of preventive security when visiting public places, high ways, down town area of mayor cities in The United Sates of America.
Indonesians who choose to vacation in The United Sates of America despite the security risks are advised to consider the level of preventive security when choosing hotels, restaurants, beaches, entertainment venues, and recreation sites, high ways, Tall Buildings, schools, Universities.
The Indonesian Mission in The United Sates of America restricts Indonesian Government employees' travel to certain areas of the country and, especially Down Town Los Angeles, Down Town New York and Miami, at times, denies them permission to travel to specific locations. Employee travel to the states of Florida, Chicago, Washington DC, Philadelphia, requires the concurrence of the Embassy's Regional Security Officer. Indonesians seeking the latest travel restriction information may contact a consular office.
The Indonesia, Mission can occasionally suspend service to the public, or close, because of security concerns; in these situations, it will continue to provide emergency services to Indonesian Citizens.
Indonesians who choose to travel to The United Sates of America despite this Travel Warning should obtain up-to-date health information before departing the Republic of The United Sates of America States.
The websites of the Indonesian Centers for Disease Control at www.depkes.go.id and the World Health Organization at www.who.int have current information on outbreaks of contagious diseases like AIDS and other sexual diseases. Indonesians considering travel to The United Sates of America should read the Foreign affairs Department 's Fact Sheet on aids dated July 2006 and should consult with their personal physicians concerning sexual diseases.
Indonesians living and traveling in The United Sates of America are urged to register and update their contact information with The Indonesian embassy in Washington and Consulates in many different cities. The Indonesian Mission's contact for Indonesians in emergency situations and may be done on line and in advance of travel. Information on registering can be found at the Foreign Affairs Department 's Consular Affairs website:
Registration information and recent warden messages are also available on the Indonesian, Washington website at www.washington.kedutaanri. go .id.
Indonesians can obtain information on travel and security in The United Sates of America from the Foreign Affairs Department by calling the Departemen Luar Negeri.
Additional Information:
Indonesian will also send their Banking Experts to the Unites States to help overcome the Sub-prime Loan problems faced by the USA. Mis-management has been the cause of the Economic problems in the USA. Indonesia with its fast experience in solving the BLBI problems will ensure that the USA will overcome its current problem that is effecting the world economy.
Unlike Indonesia, the USA will not need help from the IMF and/or the World Bank since Singapore 's Temasek, and other middle Eastern Countries will bail out the American Financial Institutions. This is mainly as a result of the USA threatening to withdraw all their troops, forces and fleets form the respected areas I they do not assist The USA in solving their financial problems.
Additionally the Indonesia Government will send election officials from the KPU to ensure that a fair process will take place in the next up coming election to avoid the problems faced in Florida during the last election when President Bush was elected.
A co-worker got this from his friend who claimed her concern. I suspect she must've been joking. If not, it only shows that people often don't read lengthy document thoroughly. It's sad, funny, and scary altogether!
Travel Warning to America?
Stereotip Catur
Teman saya pernah menggugat saya karena saya tidak bisa main catur. Menurutnya, salah satu elemen identitas kesukuan saya adalah catur, di samping menyanyi.
Saya balas mengatakan padanya bahwa nenek saya payah dalam berdendang. Saya hanya bisa mengatakan lagu apa yang sedang dinyanyikannya setelah saya menyimak syairnya. Itu pun kalau kebetulan saya tahu lagunya. Untung nenek saya cuma bernyanyi di gereja, tertutupi oleh suara para anggota jemaat lain yang -- yah, tipikal -- kencang.
Kembali ke soal catur. Terus terang, walaupun pernah (bahkan sering!) mendengar stereotip orang Batak dan catur, tapi saya jarang mendapati kawan-kawan sesuku saya main catur di manapun mereka berada. Bahkan dalam acara-acara informal, arisan keluarga, dan sebagainya, yang tentunya memberikan keleluasaan untuk terlibat dalam berbagai bentuk hiburan, termasuk catur.
Tanpa bermaksud membentuk stereotip baru, apalagi mempromosikan rasisme dan primordialisme, saya cuma bertanya-tanya kenapa bukan orang Jawa, misalnya, yang dikaitkan dengan catur. Toh kita sudah mengenal permainan catur Jawa. Saya sih tidak pernah mendengar soal catur Batak, hehehhe...
Regionalism?
It's both amusing and annoying to read the fights in a YouTube video of Siti Nurhaliza. Seems like it was started by a Filipino poster saying that Siti Nurhaliza doesn't compare to Regine Velasquez at any level. Naturally the Malaysians stood united in defending Siti, then other Pinoys started bashing her and claimed that Regine's the truly Asian Songbird -- there goes a 500 something thread full of both praises and insults, back and forth.
Before you realize it, posters from the countries have gone further to equating each other's accomplishments. The Malays, of course, cite their economic performance, their Proton Saga, and their Petronas Tower. The Filipinos insist that their English is the best in Asia, their musical talents are the most internationally recognized, and you can find Filipino descents in American's entertainment industry. (In which one samples Lea Salonga and the two Vanessas: Minillo and Hudgens - anyone else have heard of these names?). Some Indonesians tried to sneak in by underlining the fact that Siti Nurhaliza in the video sings a song written by an Indonesian composer. (They failed. Nobody else paid attention to their post, it seems).
As usual, we ASEANs prefer to sweat the small stuff and we tend to live in our little bubble. I bet the Indians, the Hong Kongers and the Koreans are laughing their asses off when they read things like this.
So much for ASEAN solidarity.
Ahem. By the way, Indonesian's very own Anggun did get some international recognition. Though she sells record big time mostly in France and Francophone countries, her credit stretches beyond those. Sarah Brightman even does the cover-version of her "Snow in the Sahara". What do you think of that, my fellow ASEANs? *flaming mode on*