Do farmers need the Internet?

Yesterday the former president of Indonesia Megawati publicly suggested that farmers in Indonesia should learn to user the Internet to know the market price and marketing their crops.

This obviously doesn't sound right.. Come on.. here in Indonesia? farmers? The Detik Forum made tonnes of critics on this dumb idea.

Imagine the (operational) cost of maintaining computer and Internet connection in Indonesia just to know the price of tomato; or maybe the better question is, "where can I find the market price for tomato in one area?"

I bet those farmers (mostly happen to be less formally-educated) end up in porn sites instead of searching for information. Such info like market price can easily be gathered via phone call (how hard is it to call a dealer in the nearest town and ask him how much a kilo of tomato is worth today?) than dialing to ISP (if there is one around).

Perhaps this idea derived from the success story of India and those are successful farmers that can afford computers. I think what Mega said was ok, but still she needed to explain more things like how those things are going to be done, any plans whatsoever. It just seems that she suddenly popped that idea during lunch hour thinking what to say; without much preparation.

I did some searching and found out that countries have implemented this idea successfully. Indonesia is just moving on. And I think that the Internet can be an excellent source of information on how to do things (like seeding, planting, etc) and also knowing possibly better alternative ways to do those things like plantation solutions and technology.

But for this years, the farmers can still get their critical info (commodity prices) from the radio every morning. Other more important things should be prioritized before like providing seeds, and taking out those middle persons who bullies the farmers.

Greenpeace & PHS

Greenpeace activists block palm oil shipment from Dumai which carries palm oil from Permata Hijau Sawit in the protest against forest destruction blamed on plantations.

References:

• Greenpeace Blocks Shipment of Indonesian Palm Oil
• Palm oil blockade

I've got not much knowledge of palm oils, but I know one thing that biodiesel is one of feasible solutions since petrol, that it can be reproduced. However, after some little reading, It seems that many environmentalists are against palm oil; that the cost of biodiesel is far more devastating towards the environment.

References:

• Palm Oil, Biofuel and Deforestation
• No More Sustain Land for Palm Oil!
  

40.1 KBps of download speed

This is the fastest download I've had at home with Speedy.

I feel much faster downloads with Ubuntu instead of Windows. I've had up to 35 KBps in Windows whereas 37-40 in Ubuntu. I guess I've never known if Windows is secretly sending or downloading something behind that I don't know of.

Loosing more

Can't believe it has been more than 12 years I've been around you; and that you have been faithfully taking care of us all. Thank you for everything, it has been great times with you.


Come to think of loosing people in my life, first uncle, then JHH, then pak Par. The world is changing rapidly... -_-

All the best for everyone. ^_^ God bless.

Funny Naruto cartoons

Check this out.
Or maybe this cute Deidara & Tobi.

Cute Naruto & Sharingan

While waiting for Naruto 377 episode, I've been browsing Naruto thingy on the Internet and found some funny things. Came across naruto-xx.blogspot.com and saw the cute picture of some Naruto characters.

Did more browsing and saw some Naruto geeks with their cosplay.
Want to experience some Sharingan?



Some funny MasterCard commercials:

Babel tech dept.

Found a funny cartoon in reverendfun.com

Original page here.

PHG visit to Sahabat Anak Orphanage

With minimum organisation of some people working in PHG Medan office, we manage to gather some cash to help the orphans in Panti Asuhan Sahabat Anak.

This is one of those in needs; I mean indeed.. they even sleep on ground without pillows. Can't live without helping them.



Panti Asuhan Sahabat Anak holds 35 orphans (October 2007) of which most of them were the kids who lost their family during the tsunami incident in Indonesia. They live in a very limited space, limited supply of food.

For those who wants to help, please visit them at:
Panti Asuhan Sahabat Anak
Jalan Pantai Timur, Gang Makmur No. 4
(Depan Perumahan Taman Hako Indah)
Medan, Indonesia

Contact Person: Talizomboi Laia +62 81370966468

Special thanks to:

• Jeanny Puansari
• Rosman Hindra
• Wihendry

Jimbaran Dinner (Anton & Lidya)

A wonderful family dinner @ Jimbaran, Medan. Everyone close to the family were invited; there were about 30 of us.

Wonderful dinner, wonderful time. Anton's family took their time to propose Yen2's. They're getting married in 3 months.



All the best. ^_^

Farewell Dinner Djoni H. H.

Djoni H. H. resigned as the church administrator and heading to Batam for a job. It has been a great pleasure to have worked with him; a decent and distinct person of low profile and with neutral position in almost every event.



I miss him already.. ^_^
A good friend indeed. All the best, brother.. and God speed.