Keep asking questions

"Another reason why it is important to keep asking questions even thought there are no clear answers, is in order to remind ourselves of our ignorance. Science is built not only on knowledge. It is also built on ignorance. It is very, very important to always remember what we don't know."

- Dr. Yuval Noah Harari,

History Professor in Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Think your country sucks?

Think again.

As if it's not enough listening to heartbreaks from Syria, Egypt, and many other war-torn countries, internet once again show me that sufferings come in many form. This time, in the form of a drug called the Devil's Breath from Locombia, I mean, Colombia.

"Do you know why they call it Devil's Breath? Cos it steals your soul."
- Luis Eduardo, victim.

For those who aren't sure which one is Colombia,
it's the one connected to Panama like a fetus.

The locals call it burundanga. For English speakers who can't pronounce it, it's also called Scopolamine.

Odourless, colourless, and tasteless, it can be blown to victim's face without him even knowing he's been drugged. Worse than that, its effect resemble something that come out of Harry Potter world: Victim will be 100% conscious, but without any willpower nor memory. You know when you remember you have $10 in your wallet, but now can't find it and don't remember that you spent it? Well, it's like that, except it's your whole bank account. One of the victims who thought they're being robbed, and reported to the police, were actually shown a video that he himself withdrew all the money and gave it to some strangers. I shudder at the thought of other things bad people can do with this substance.

Worst of all, the plant Borrachero from which this drug can be produced grow freely everywhere in Colombia. The flower is beautiful and the tree looks like any other tree, but one can actually pick any parts of the plant, dip it into hot water and get high from drinking it. It's not so bad, isn't it? Cos weed does the same thing? Well, except you can't get overdose with weed. One single seed of the plant (which is not bigger than 1 cm) can produce 70 mm of Scopolamine, when 1 gram (that'd be 15 seeds) of it can kill 10 to 15 people.

Colombia by itself is a crazy country. Murder, drugs dealing, and prostitution are merely some of the occupations in the country. But, imagine all that with a sprinkle of Scopolamine.
Flashfloods don't sound so bad anymore, eh, Singapore? We choose expensive fuels anytime over this, eh, Indonesia?

If you're interested to know more, here's a thorough 35-minute documentary about the drug and its victims:

Of course, as it is with everything else, it can be used for good things as well. I hope in the near future the higher minds will use the properties of the drug for medical purposes instead, or for anything else mediocre minds like mine can't think of. No, please not euthanasia. Maybe to tame big cats (cheetah as pet, anyone?), or to cure spacesickness as NASA is planning to do.

Bidadari Pagi / Dewi Malam

Puisi dan lagu dari film 'Jomblo'.
A poem and a song from the Indonesian movie 'Jomblo'.

Bidadari Pagi Engkau bidadari pagi Engkau ratu di hari Rabu Engkau adalah embun yang hendak melahirkan… dan menetes di saat mentari bersemi Engkau adalah sepi yang datang… diantara petir badai menderu Engkau adalah sejuk …. yang angin bawa di februari Engkau adalah sinar yang mentari lahirkan setelah fajar pergi Engkau adalah tangis yang ku bawa ketika membayangkan kita berdua Engkau adalah… Engkau adalah alasan…. mengapa duniaku….ADA

Dewi Malam Dewi malam ku pinta Seorang wanita pada pasir Dengan butirnya Wajahmu terukir Pergi menghamba jawab Pada air di dalamnya Ku rasa hangatmu mengalir Kau datang dengan angin tak terasa Kau datang menghembus membelai muka Kupinta pintamu tuk beri nama Dengar mereka sebut namamu Dewi malamku, Dewi malamku Mengasihimu dan menyayangimu Aku rela pergi jauh tuk itu Aku mencintaimu dan memilikimu Aku rela mati rasakan itu semua Rasakan itu semua

Jared is Jared

Oost Indië

As an Indonesian, I know that many of the Indonesian words came from other languages. Sanskrit, Arabic, and the more modern English. And one that should not come as a surprise: Dutch. We were after all colonised for more than 3 decades by the Netherlanders.

However, it's still surprised me whenever I find out that a word is actually from Dutch.

Here are some of them that I find very interesting that they're actually not originally Indonesian (for the full list, drop by Wikipedia instead):

Word	Meaning	Original word
Baskom	Washbasin	Waskom
Beha	Brassiere	Beha
Bioskop	Cinema	Bioscoop
Dasi	Necktie	Das(je)
Ember	Bucket	Emmer
Handuk	Towel	Handdoek
Kaisar	Emperor	Kaizer
Kamar	Room	Kamer
Kantor	Office	Kantoor
Kulkas	Fridge	Koelkast
Laci	Deskdrawer	Laatje; La(de)
Mantel	Coat	Mantel
Montir	Mechanic	Monteur
Om	Uncle	Oom
Oma	Grandma	Oma
Opa	Grandpa	Opa
Pabrik	Factory	Fabriek
Rekening	Account	Rekening
Resleting	Zipper	Ritssluiting
Rokok	Ciggarette	Roken (to smoke)
Selang	Water hose	Slang
Suster	Nun/nurse	Zuster
Tas	Bag	Tas
Telat	Late	Te laat (too late)
Wastafel	Sink	Wastafel
Wortel	Carrot	Wortel

The one that amuses me specifically is "te laat". But now that I know the original word, it actually makes more sense.