Monday, July 31, 2006

T dan D

Tabah hati

Tahan

Tenteram


Tulus hati

Tekun

Tawakal


Bangkit hati

Bisa

Bersih


Bangun hati

Bangga

Bernas

R dan H

Retak hati

Remuk

Redam

Ringkih hati

Runtuh

Rusak

Hampa hati

Habis

Hancur

Hilang hati

Hangus

Hitam

Terputus

Terputus

tak tersisa lagi

untukku

Aliran hangat

yang memenuhiku dan dia

terputus tiba-tiba

terbuang sia-sia

Oleh gunting prasangka

Oleh jurang jalan hidup berbeda

Aliran hangat dua arah

nyatanya salah kaprah

walau di bibir dan di mata

manis dan elok katanya

Aliran hangatku

rupanya tak cukup

terasa pahit baginya

Terputus tiba-tiba

tak adil

sisa waktupun tiada

sedikit saja

tuk memperbaikinya

belum terlambat

Dari penuh

jadi hampa diriku

Sesuatu hancur

dalam diriku

Hancurlah sumber

energi jiwaku

Berkorban kehampaan

tapi ku tak rela

Mungkin ia juga rasa

hampa yang sama

Tak tersisa lagi

untuknya pula

Karena tak sadar

aku rela mati untuknya

Sunday, July 30, 2006

PersonalDNA Personality Test

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Miami Vice

Rating:★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Action & Adventure
Ricardo Tubbs is urbane and dead smart. He lives with Bronx-born intel analyst Trudy, as they work undercover transporting drug loads into South Florida to identify a group responsible for three murders. Sonny Crockett is charismatic and flirtatious until-while undercover working with the supplier of the South Florida group-he gets romantically entangled with Isabella, the Chinese-Cuban wife of an arms and drugs trafficker. The intensity of this case pushes Crockett and Tubbs out onto the edge where identity and fabrication become blurred, where cop and player become one-especially for Crockett in his romance with Isabella and for Tubbs in the provocation of an assault on those he loves.
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Crime/Gangster and Adaptation
Running Time: 135 min.
Release Date: July 28th, 2006 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, language and some sexual content.
Distributors:
Universal Pictures Distribution
Production Co.:
Motion Picture ETA Produktionsgesellschaft , Forward Pass, Inc.
Studios:
Universal Pictures
Filming Locations:
Miami, Florida
Produced in: United States



Movie Lists
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• New Movies
by coolpeak1
• Movies I Want to
See
by laterose13
• Movies I Want to
See (2006)
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by KLDavis99
• Must See of '06
by alex_worden2k2
Add to My Movies
mail this to a friend Email this page
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Go To:
Actors
Jamie Foxx Detective Ricardo Tubbs
Colin Farrell Det. James "Sonny" Crockett
Gong Li Isabella
Naomie Harris Trudy Joplin
CiarĂ n Hinds Agent Fujima/ FBI Agent Fujima
John Ortiz Jose Yero
Jon Jacobs Nicholas Ugo
Elizabeth Rodriguez Gina Calabrese
Barry Shabaka Henley Lt. Castillo
Luis Tosar Montoya
Domenick Lombardozzi Det. Stan Switek
Justin Theroux Det. Larry Zito
Back to Top

Directors
Michael Mann Director
Back to Top

Writers
Michael Mann Screenplay
Anthony Yerkovich Source Material (from television series: "Miami Vice")
Back to Top

Producers
Anthony Yerkovich Executive Producer
Michael Mann Producer
Pieter Jan Brugge @role
Michael Waxman Co-Producer
Gusmano Cesaretti Co-Producer
Bryan H. Carroll Co-Producer
Wayne Morris (IV) Associate Producer
Sarah Bradshaw Associate Producer
Maria Norman Associate Producer
Back to Top

Camera, Film & Tape
Dion Beebe @role
Back to Top

Editors
William Goldenberg @role
Paul Rubell @role
Back to Top

Casting
Francine Maisler Casting
Back to Top

Production Management
Sarah Bradshaw Unit Production Manager
Michael Waxman Assistant Director
Back to Top

Art Department
Carlos A. Menendez @role
Seth Reed @role
Victor Kempster @role
Jim Erickson @role
Back to Top

Wardrobe, Hair & Makeup
Janty Yates @role
Michael Kaplan @role
Back to Top

Sound
Elliott L. Koretz Sound Designer
David Ronne @role
Elliott L. Koretz Sound Supervisor
Back to Top

Music
John Murphy @role
Back to Top

Visual Effects & Animation
Robert Stadd (II) Visual Effects Supervisor
Back to Top

Publicity
David Fulton (II) @role
Back to Top

Accounting
Cynthia Quan @role
Back to Top

Worldwide Distributors
Universal Pictures Distribution Theatrical Distributor
Back to Top


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Thursday, July 27, 2006

Fw: You and Me


Fw: You and Me
Originally uploaded by vadis.

*If I knew you and you knew me;*

*If each of us could clearly see,*

*As with an inner sight divine,*

*The meanings of your heart and mine,*

*I'm sure that we would differ less*

*And clasp our hands in friendliness;*

*Our thoughts would pleasantly agree,*

*If I knew you and you knew me.* *- Nixon Waterman*

Friday, July 21, 2006

FireHeart - Legend of The Paladins Illustrations 05




And here's more!

FireHeart - Legend of The Paladins Illustrations 04




All scanned and processed sketches.

FireHeart Operator Logos - Soo Vintage!

FireHeart & Accell Operator Logos
For Monochrome Handphones (Nokia 2100 etc, Samsung, Siemens, Ericsson, etc)
Untuk Ponsel Layar Hitam-Putih.
Exclusively in www.duniamobile.com
(Site Language is in Bahasa Indonesia)

Masukkan nama 'vadis' di kolom 'cari'.
Insert the maker's name 'vadis' in the 'search (cari)' box.
Logos available per 21/7/2006:
1. Robert the Ranger
2. Cristophe the Knight
3. Alexis the Archmage
4. Andreas Marvellini the Dwarven Priest
5. Accell: Superstar Bear
Let's just say... FireHeart is everywhere! - BJ Vadis

The 10 Most Annoying Alarm Clocks


#10 - Climbing clock . It hangs above your head and starts climbing while it rings. Don't wake up fast enough, and you won't be able to shut it up without a ladder.

# 9 Wake Up Puzzle . You have to build the puzzle to make it stop

# 8 Wake or Curse . You can ask it what the time is and it will answer. But if you don't wake up quickly enough it will curse you.

# 7 High Tech . This one has a vibrator, 95 db alarm and police style rotating light that you cannot ignore.

# 6 Find The Pin - You need find the right pin to stop it's ringing. Not going to stay sleepy after this mission.

# 5 Chicken and Egg Problem - The egg laying alarm clock. It will only quiet down after you put all the eggs back.

# 4 GI Joe . You will wake to the sound of your commander's wake up call. Don't mess with it.

# 3 Floating Around - Will float around the room until you'll catch it.

# 2 Kaboom - This acoustic grenade will wake the neighborhood with it's ultra loud sound level.

# 1 Hide and Seek - The winner is the hide and seek alarm clock. Once it begins to ring it falls down to the floor and finds a random place to hide. Chase it down or else you're doomed.

Regards
yuni-prudential

are u smart enough?

Posted by: "d3WI" dewi_lau@yahoo.com dewi_lau

Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:44 pm (PST)

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?


2) Which country makes Panama hats?


3) From which animal do we get catgut?


4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?


5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?


6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?


7) What was King George VI's first name?


8) What color is a purple finch?


9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) How long did the Thirty Years War last?






(Continue to check your answers) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.

.

.


All done? Check your answers below and see how many you got right!




ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ:

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years
2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get catgut? Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October
Revolution? November
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs
7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert
8) What color is a purple finch? Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand
10) How long did the Thirty Years War last? Thirty years - of course!!!

What do you mean you failed!????

marriage quotes ;p

Posted by: "d3WI" dewi_lau@yahoo.com dewi_lau

Wed Jul 19, 2006 7:43 pm (PST)

"Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with."
Kathleen Mifsud

"The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it."
Ann Bancroft

Any husband who says, "My wife and I are completely equal partners," is talking about either a law firm or a hand of bridge.
Bill Cosby

"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."
Rita Rudner

"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut after."
Benjamin Franklin

"My wife dresses to kill. She cooks the same way."
Henny Youngman

"My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met."
Rodney Dangerfield

"A good wife always forgives her husband when she's wrong."
Milton Berle

"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."
George Burns

"When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking."
Elaine Boosler

"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight."
Phyllis Diller

"My mother buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping."
Rita Rudner

"The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret."
Henny Youngman

At a party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" The other replied, "Yes, I am, I married the wrong man."
Anonymous

"Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a big gut, and still think they are beautiful."
Anonymous

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Barry White


Say the name Barry White and you'd be hard pressed to follow it with the name of any other recording artist with such a huge, cross-sectional following. He was at home appearing on Soul Train, guesting with a full band on The Today Show, and appearing in cartoon form in various episodes of The Simpsons. During the '70s, Dinah Shore devoted a full hour of her daily syndicated Dinah! show to White. While there was a period where Barry White wasn't releasing records or making the pop charts, he did stay active touring and appearing on other artists' records including Quincy Jones' "The Secret Garden (The Seduction Suite)," Regina Belle, and rap star Big Daddy Kane's "All of Me." It's surprising to find out that such an illustrious career almost didn't happen because White wasn't interested in being a recording artist.
Born in Galveston, TX, Barry White grew up singing gospel songs with his mother and taught himself to play piano. Shortly after moving from Texas to South Central Los Angeles, White made his recording debut at the tender age of 11, playing piano on Jesse Belvin's "Goodnight My Love." He made his first record when he was 16 with a group called the Upfronts. The song was called "Little Girl" on a local L.A. label called Lummtone Records. Later he worked for various independent labels around Los Angeles, landing an A&R position with Bob Keane, the man responsible for the first pop recordings by Sam Cooke. One of his labels, Mustang, was hot at the time with a group called the Bobby Fuller Four in 1966. White was hired for 40 dollars a week to do A&R for Keane's family of labels: Del-Fi, Mustang and Bronco. During this time, White flirted with the idea of being a recording artist, making a record for Bronco called "All in the Run of a Day." But he chose to stick with his A&R duties. One of the first groups he worked with was the Versatiles who later changed their name to the 5th Dimension. White's first big hit came from an artist familiar to dancefloor denizens -- Viola Wills, whose "Lost Without the Love of My Guy" went Top 20 R&B. His salary went up to 60 dollars a week. White started working with the Bobby Fuller Four. Bob Keene and Larry Nunes -- who later became White's spiritual advisor and true friend -- wanted to cut a female act. White had heard about a singer named Felice Taylor. They had three hit records, "It May Be Winter Outside," "I'm Under the Influence of Love," and "I Feel Love Coming On." They were huge hits in England. White started making 400 dollars a week.


When Bronco went out of business, White began doing independent production. Those were some lean times for White. Veteran arranger Gene Page, who would later arrange or co-arrange White's hits, helped him out, giving him work and non-repayable loans. Then three years later, Paul Politti, who also worked at Bronco, contacted him to tell him that Larry Nunes was interested in starting a business with him. Nunes had started cutting tracks for a concept album he was working on. Meanwhile, White had started working with this girl group who hadn't done any singing professionally. They rehearsed for almost a year. White wrote "Walkin' in the Rain (With the One I Love)" with lyrics that were inspired by conversations with one of the singers, Glodean James (who would later become White's second wife). White christened the group Love Unlimited.


Larry Nunes took the record to Russ Regan, who was the head of the Uni label owned by MCA. Love Unlimited's From a Girl's Point of View became a million-seller. Soon after, Regan left Uni for 20th Century Records. Without Regan, White's relationship with Uni soured. With his relationship with Uni in chaos and Love Unlimited contract-bound with the label, White decided he needed to work with another act. He wanted to work with a male artist. He made three song demos of himself singing and playing the piano. Nunes heard them and insisted that he re-record and release them as a recording artist. They argued for days about it. Then he somehow convinced White to do it. White was still hesitating up to the time the label copy was made. He was going to use the name "White Heat," but the record became the first Barry White album. That first album was 1973's I've Got So Much to Give on 20th Century Records. It included the title track and "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby."


White got a release from Uni for Love Unlimited and they joined him over at 20th Century Records. Then he had a brainstorm for another concept album. He told Regan he wanted to do an instrumental album. Regan thought he had lost it. White wanted to call it the Love Unlimited Orchestra. The single, "Love's Theme," went to number one pop, was a million-seller, and was a smash all over the world. The song earned him a BMI award for over three million covers.


For the next five years, from 1974 to 1979, there was no stopping the Barry White Hit Train -- his own Stone Gon, Barry White Sings Love Songs for the One You Love ("It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me," "Playing Your Game Baby"), Let the Music Play (title track, "You See the Trouble with Me"), Just Another Way to Say I Love You ("I'll Do for You Anything You Want Me To," "Love Serenade"), The Man ("Your Sweetness Is My Weakness," "Sha La La Means I Love You," "September When We Met," a splendid cover of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"), and Love Unlimited's In Heat ("I Belong to You," "Move Me No Mountain," "Share a Little Love in Your Heart," and "Love's Theme," with lyrics). He also scored a soundtrack for the 20th Century Fox film The Together Brothers, enjoying a resurgence on home video.


His studio band included such luminaries as guitarists Ray Parker, Jr. (pre-Raydio, co-writer with White on "You See the Trouble With Me"), bassist Nathan East, Wah Wah Watson, David T. Walker, Dean Parks, Don Peake, bassist Wilton Felder of the Crusaders, Lee Ritenour, drummer Ed Greene, percussionist Gary Coleman, and later keyboardist Rahn Coleman. His hit streak seemed, well, unlimited. Then it all derailed. Russ Regan and another ally, Hosea Wilson, left 20th Century Records and White was left with management that he thought of in less than glowing terms.


White left after fulfilling his contract with two more album releases, Love Unlimited Orchestra's My Musical Bouquet and his own I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing. White signed a custom label deal with CBS Records. At the time it was touted as one of the biggest deals ever. He started a label called Unlimited Gold. The roster included White, Love Unlimited, the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Jack Perry, and a teenaged singer named Danny Pearson who charted with a song called "What's Your Sign Girl." He also did a duet album with Glodean James called Barry & Glodean. Aside from the gold album The Message Is Love, most of the albums weren't huge sellers. After eight Barry White albums, four Love Unlimited albums, four Love Unlimited Orchestra albums, constant touring, and dealing with the rigors of the music industry, White decided to take a break.


Then in 1992, White signed with A&M, releasing the albums The Man Is Back, The Right Night & Barry White, and Put Me in Your Mix (which contains a duet with Issac Hayes, "Dark and Lovely"). The Icon Is Love became his biggest-selling album since the '70s releases, going multi-platinum. It includes the platinum single "Pratice What You Preach." The production lineup includes Gerald Levert and Tony Nicholas, his godson Chuckii Booker, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and White and his longtime friend Jack Perry. While some later efforts buried his vocals in whiz-bang electronic effects, on The Icon Is Love, White's deep steam engine baritone pipes are upfront in the mix. Staying Power followed in 1999, showcased in the best tradition of soul music where the focus is the singer and the song. The album earned White two Grammys. White's career took him from the ghetto to international success with 106 gold and 41 platinum albums, 20 gold and ten platinum singles, with worldwide sales in excess of 100 million.


White, who suffered from hypertension and chronic high blood pressure, was hospitalized for kidney failure in September of 2002. He was undergoing dialysis treatment, but the combination of illnesses proved too much and he died July 4, 2003 at a West Hollywood hospital. By the time of his death, Barry White had achieved a near-universal acclaim and popularity that few artists achieve and even fewer within their own lifetime. ~ Ed Hogan & Wade Kergan, All Music Guide
 
Written by Ed Hogan


 
Albums:
 Can't Get Enough (2004)  
 Let The Music Play (2003)  
 Barry White's Greatest Hits (2003)  
 Love Songs (2003)  
 Soul Seduction (2001)  
 Your Heart & Soul: The L... (2000)  
 The Ultimate Collection (2000)  
 Staying Power (1999)  
 Boss Soul: The Genius Of... (1998)  
 Just For You (1992)  
 Put Me In Your Mix (1991)  
 The Man Is Back (1989)  
 The Right Night & Barry ... (1987)  
 Dedicated (1983)  
 Change (1982)  
 Barry & Glodean (1981)  
 Beware! (1981)  
 Sheet Music (1980)  
 The Icon Is Love (1979)  
 The Message Is Love (1979)  
 Just Another Way To Say ... (1979)  
 I Love To Sing The Songs... (1979)  
 The Man (1978)  
 The Man (1978)  
 Barry White Sings For So... (1977)  
 Barry White Sings For So... (1977)  
 Is This Whatcha Wont? (1976)  
 Is This Whatcha Wont? (1976)  
 Barry White's Greatest Hits (1975)  
 Just Another Way To Say ... (1975)  
 White Gold (1974)  
 I've Got So Much To Give (1973)  
 Stone Gon' (1973)  
 Stone Gon' (1973)  
 
 
 
 
 Album Available on LAUNCHcast Rate Album
 
 20th Century Masters: Mi... (2003)  
 The Ultimate Collection (2000)  
 The Very Best Of Barry W... (1998)  
 Golden Collection... (1998)  
 All-Time Greatest Hits (1995)  
 Back To Back: Their Grea... (1995)  
 Best Of 2 Super Artists ... (1992)  
 Just For You (1992)  
 Greatest Hits, Vol 2 (1981)  
 Greatest Hits (1975)  
 
 
 
 
 Album Available on LAUNCHcast Rate Album
 
 Heart And Soul (2001)  
 Staying Power (1999)  
 Staying Power (Radio Edit) (1999)  
 Come On (1995)  
 Come On (1995)  
 Practice What You Preach (1994)  
 Practice What You Preach (1994)  
 Dark And Lovely (1992)  
 Put Me In Your Mix (1992)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

From a Willow, To a Swallow

From a Willow

To a Swallow

By Andry Chang


Oh, where?

Where did you go?

Here no more

Like wind, you came and gone


Your graceful wings

Oh, how I miss you

Your heavenly sings

Why can’t I keep you?


Are my branches

Too thin and brittle?

Are my leaves

Too few to shelter?


Falling you fear

You seek stronger branches

Cold you fear

You prefer bountiful leaves


Yet, I’ll survive

And I’ll be wiser

Grow stronger with time

From the loneliness I bear


If you again need me

Fly back to me to stay

For you I’ll be here

Until time fades away

Monday, July 17, 2006

PEMBATASAN KARTU KREDIT MELANGGAR HAK KONSUMEN

Posted by: "Faisal Noerdin" f_noerdin_747@yahoo.com f_noerdin_747

Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:39 pm (PST)

Sekarang ini BI sedang menggodok peraturan untuk membuat suatu peraturan yang membatasi jumlah kepemilikan kartu kredit oleh nasabah. Apabila peraturan ini jadi ditetapkan maka, seseorang hanya bisa memegang 2-3 kartu kredit saja. Hal ini tentu saja melanggar hak-hak konsumen sebagai nasabah kredit suatu bank atau lembaga penerbit kartu kredit.
Memang benar banyak kasus ditemui, banyak konsumen yang tidak bisa mengatur pemakaian kartu kreditnya, adapula konsumen yang memiliki banyak kartu kredit hanya sebagai sarana gali lubang tutup lubang, dan ada pula konsumen yang memiliki niatan yang tidak baik dengan memiliki banyak kartu kredit.

Namun jika peraturan ini jadi ditetapkan, tentu saja akan sangat merugikan bagi konsumen yang baik, dalam arti konsumen yang bisa mengatur keuangannya atau penggunaan kartu kredit - kartu kreditnya sesuai dengan keperluannya. Banyak konsumen yang memiliki 4-5 kartu kredit yang digunakan sesuai dengan keperluannya, dan disesuaikan pula dengan promosi yang dikeluarkan oleh bank penerbit kartu kredit. Konsumen-konsumen seperti ini biasanya mengatur pembelanjaan kartu kreditnya dengan baik, seperti : kredit 1 digunakan untuk pembelian tiket travel penerbangan, kartu kredit 2 untuk pembelanjaan sehari-hari, kartu kredit 3 khusus untuk berbelanja di hipermaket tertentu karena memang dikeluarkan oleh hipermaket tersebut dengan fasilitas promosi diskonnya, kartu kredit 4 untuk membayar tagihan-tagihan seperti telepon, listrik, dll. Ada pula konsumen khususnya level-level marketing manager, memisahkan salah satu kartu kreditnya khusus digunakan untuk keperluan perusahaan/kantor,
yang digunakan untuk tugas-tugas kantor dan juga untuk menjamu client-client perusahaan.

Peraturan yang sedang digodok sekarang ini jelas-jelas akan melanggar hak konsumen. Padahal sebenarnya BI dengan bekerjasama dengan bank/lembaga penerbit kartu kredit bisa melakukan hal-hal yang lebih baik. Banyak kasus yang terjadi, bahwa seseorang yang katanya sudah di "Black-List" oleh bank tertentu karena mengemplang pembayaran tagihan kartu kreditnya, masih bisa mendapatkan kartu kredit lagi dari bank yang berbeda, bahkan lebih dari satu-dua buah lagi. Bagaimana ini bisa terjadi...??? Apakah tidak ada koordinasi yang baik antara sesama bank penerbit kartu kredit dan BI...??? Seharusnya hal-hal seperti inilah yang harus dibereskan oleh BI dan bank-bank penerbit kartu kredit, tertutama oleh BI sebagai regulator perbankan, bukan malahan membuat peraturan baru yang kontradiktif yang malahan melanggar hak-hak konsumen.

Untuk kasus pemalsuan kartu kredit yang banyak terjadi, BI seharusnya mempercepat penerapan penggunaan Chip-Card seperti yang telah digunakan di negara-negara lain terutama di Eropa.

Berat Beban Kita

Bukan berat Beban yang membuat kita Stress, tetapi lamanya kita memikul
beban tersebut. -
## Stephen Covey ##

Pada saat memberikan kuliah tentang Manajemen Stress, Stephen Covey
mengangkat sebuah segelas berisi air dan bertanya kepada para
siswanya:"Seberapa berat menurut anda kira segelas air ini?"

Para siswa menjawab mulai dari 200 gr sampai 500 gr. "Ini bukanlah
masalah berat absolutnya, tapi tergantung berapa lama anda memegangnya."
kata Covey.

"Jika saya memegangnya selama 1 menit, tidak ada masalah. Jika saya
memegangnya selama 1 jam, lengan kanan saya akan sakit. Dan jika saya
memegangnya selama 1 hari penuh, mungkin anda harus memanggilkan
ambulans untuk saya. Beratnya sebenarnya sama, tapi
semakin lama saya memegangnya, maka bebannya akan semakin berat."

"Jika kita membawa beban kita terus menerus, lambat laun kita tidak akan
mampu membawanya lagi. Beban itu akan meningkat beratnya." lanjut Covey.

"Apa yang harus kita lakukan adalah meletakkan gelas tersebut, istirahat
sejenak sebelum mengangkatnya lagi".

Kita harus meninggalkan beban kita secara periodik, agar kita dapat
lebih segar dan mampu membawanya lagi.

Jadi sebelum pulang ke rumah dari pekerjaan sore ini, tinggalkan beban
pekerjaan. Jangan membawa pulang beban. Beban itu dapat diambil lagi
besok. Apapun beban yang ada dipundak anda hari ini, coba tinggalkan
sejenak jika bisa. Setelah beristirahat nanti dapat diambil lagi.

Hidup ini singkat, jadi cobalah menikmatinya dan memanfaatkannya...!!
Hal terindah dan terbaik di dunia ini tak dapat dilihat, atau disentuh,
tapi dapat dirasakan jauh di relung hati kita.

Start the day with smile and have a good day........

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

10 Kiat Menjadi Pendengar Yang Baik - posted by Jimmy Okberto

10 Kiat Menjadi Pendengar Yang Baik

1) Pusatkan perhatian anda pada orang yang sedang berbicara dan
dengarkan apa yang dia katakan. Jangan biarkan pikiran anda melayang
ketempat lain. Hanya dengan cara seperti itu anda bisa belajar menjadi
pendengar yang baik

2) Pandanglah mata lawan bicara anda dengan wajar. Ini memberikan kesan
bahwa anda memperhatikan apa yang diucapkannya dengan sungguh-sungguh.

3) Berikan respon yang bersahabat. Respon kecil yang mungkin tampak
sepele bisa membuat dia merasa dihargai. Sekali-kali anda bisa
mengangguk, menggelengkan kepala, tersenyum, tertawa atau memberikan
komentar pendek seperti OH YA?, HEBAT!, LUAR BIASA! dsb

4) Berikanlah kesempatan lawan bicara anda untuk menyelesaikan apa yang
ingin dikatakannya. Hindari kebiasaan memotong pembicaraan orang lain.
Selain tidak sopan, kebiasaan itu bisa membuat dia merasa kesal dan
tersinggung.

5) Bila anda merasa bosan atau tidak berminat dengan topik
pembicaraannya, alihkan dengan perlahan-lahan. Jangan sesekali mengubah
topik pembiacaraan secara mendadak seperti pengemudi yang belok tanpa
menyalakan lampu righting terlebih dahulu

6) Buatlah lawan bicara anda bergairah untuk terus berbicara. Bila anda
berhasil memancing gairah orang yang semula kurang antusias, maka anda
telah berhasil merebut hatinya. Namun dalam hal ini ada kekecualian bila
lawan bicara anda adalah tipe orang yang suka memonopoli pembicaraan.
Orang yang bertipe seperti itu biasanya akan selalu bergairah untuk
terus berbicara meskipun anda sudah tampak terkantuk-kantuk.

7) Kendalikan diri anda untuk tidak tergoda ingin mengalahkan lawan
bicara anda. Anda bisa memadamkan gairah orang lain hanya dengan
menunjukkan bahwa anda lebih oke daripada dia. Biarkan dia merasa bangga
dengan prestasi atau pengalamannya meskipun anda punya prestasi dan
pengalaman yang lebih hebat darinya.

8) Dalam kasus-kasus khusus, belajarlah untuk meringkas apa yang
diuraikan oleh teman anda sebelum anda memberikan komentar atau nasihat.
Bersikaplah seperti seorang dokter yang mendiagnosa dulu penyakit
pasiennya dengan teliti dan memberi resep obat. Bayangkan bila ada orang
yang menceramahi anda panjang lebar, padahal tidak ada hubungannya
dengan apa yang anda ungkapkan.

9) Belajarlah peka terhadap motif orang lain. Mungkin dia sedang
mencurahkan isi hatinya tanpa keinginan untuk dinasehati, apalagi
disalahkan. Jadi anda cukup berperan sebagai pendengar saja. Mungkin dia
sedang menceritakan pengalamannya agar anda memujinya. Pujilah dengan
spontan dan tulus. Mungkin juga dia sedang mengajak anda masuk dalam
komunikasi yang lebih akrab dan terbuka. Kalau anda mau, mulailah
melakukan komunikasi dua arah.

10) Belajarlah mendengar dengan tulus. Semua kiat tersebut
diatas tidak akan membuat anda menjadi pendengar yang baik bila anda
tidak melakukannya dengan tulus dan berpura-pura menjadi pendengar yang
baik. Semoga berguna bagi anda GBU always

Sunday, July 09, 2006

The Bouquet Catcher

It’s
a real boring wedding party I’m invited into. I came a bit late, and
they already run out of food. The wedding singer is terrible, and I can
only help myself with a few cakes and a glass of water. If it’s not my
ex-classmate in High School’s wedding, I would have left for home at
once. But, my friend, the groom practically “begged” me to stay for the
photo session, so for the sake of our friendship I consented to stay.



“And
now, if there’s any bachelors or anyone among the guests who are young
and not married, please gather up because the ‘Bouquet Toss’ is about
to begin,” says the M.C. “And you know the catch. The lucky catcher MIGHT be the first to marry after Leah and Herman here.”



Aha,
excitement at last. Thank goodness I live in a country where men are
allowed to catch wedding bouquets; else it’ll be a total drag, seeing
only the girls having all the fun.



So
I move forward near the cake, and join a group of young men and women
already standing there, with their hopeful faces. And then the M.C.
talks again through the microphone, “Well, I guess there are so many
unmarried people here. To make things more interesting, the catcher of
this lovely bouquet will also get a gift: this beautiful diamond ring.
As this ring is designed for women, I must ask the gentlemen to leave
the group – unless he’s not sure about his gender.”



The M.C.’s
announcement is boo-ed by the men, and I among them. One by one, the
men leave the group and stand at the back just to watch. The women are,
of course, happier because they now have greater chances to catch the
bouquet now the tall, strong men are gone.



“Herman, Leah, stand with your backs to the audience and throw backwards, not forward!”



The M.C. completes all the irritation in this party. He’s really pretty good in making idiots out of people.



“Okay, girls, ready! Bride and groom, on three, toss the bouquet! One, two... three!”



The
bride and the groom toss the bouquet as high and as far as they can.
The bouquet flies to the back of the group and some hands catch it.
Then I see a commotion there, as though some people are fighting for
the bouquet. But eventually I see who gets it. It’s a man! The girls
are scolding at him.



One even mutters, “How shameless he is! He tripped me to get the bouquet!”



“He overpowered me! There’s no way I can beat him!”



The
master of ceremony then announces with an upset tone, “Well, mister. I
hope you’re satisfied now. You can go home with the bouquet stem.
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s one who doesn’t sure about his gender. Now
we’ll toss another bouquet as soon as we find a spare.”



I’m
not recovered from the shock of seeing that just now, when I see the
man goes away, practically whistling merrily and juggling the
ruined-to-the-stem bouquet, ignoring the angry stares and “boo”-s from
the guests.



Hey, I know that guy!



With
that thought I go after him. He goes into men’s room, and I go in there
too. And there I see him, washing his face with lots of water.



“Johnny? You’re Johnny, right?”



The man is indeed Johnny as he turns around and replies,



“Yeah? I’m Johnny, all right. Who’re you??”



“Don’t you remember me? I’m Sandy, your classmate in High School. Remember? Sandman? The skinny boy, the computer freak who preferred playing computer games than dating? Your old buddy!”



“Ah, yes, yes! I remember now. Wow-wee! Sandy!
You look... different! I didn’t recognize you!” says Johnny, grabbing
my two hands warmly. But through his grip, I can feel that he is
shaking all over.



“And
you too, Johnny Boy. That’s what happened when we don’t grow taller
anymore – we grow broader. Hey, I think you’re shaking, man. What’s
going on? I mean, I saw you out there just now, man.”



“Oh, you did, didn’t you? Well, what do you think about that, huh? Are you thinking like them?”



“Well, er...
honestly, I was pretty shocked out there, man. That was really out of
the line. But I think you must’ve had your own reason.”



“You’re
right, Sandy. I was really out of control back then. I let my instincts
took me over. I was really irritated by that dumb M.C.
and his stupid rules. We live in a country where men may catch wedding
bouquets, right? So there I was, at the back of the row, just watching.
And swoosh! The bouquet landed in my hands anyway. And all of a sudden
the women were all over me, trying to snatch it from my hands. I thought,
I won’t ever let go of this! If they want a re-toss, just do it, I
don’t need the ring. Just give me the glory of catching the bouquet one
more time!”



“Wait, Jon. You said, ‘one more time?’ Does that mean you’ve caught another bouquet before?”



“Yup,
I have, four times already and so many attempts. And this one doesn’t
count,” says Johnny, casually takes the bouquet stem and throws it into
the trash can near the water taps.



“What? That’s... that’s amazing!”



“Yeah,
I know. It takes an awful lot of luck and determination to do that, but
for me, it’s fun. I should’ve applied for the world records, but as I
can’t supply ample proofs or recordings, I buried that thought.”



“But,
what made you catch bouquets? I mean, a lucky man only catch one or two
bouquets during their lifetime, but this is too much. This must be more
than just luck and fun.”



“You’re
right, Sandman. There’s something more. You see, I’m still a bachelor
now. I haven’t had any girlfriends until I was twenty-seven, and so far
I’ve had relationships with three women, but all ended in heartbreak.
And this time, I met this wonderful lady, and we are so close together.
I think she’s the one I want to marry as soon as possible. But another
problem arose. My business is in shambles now, and I’m afraid I wont’
be able to raise enough money to hold a decent wedding party. You know
wedding parties are very expensive here. Well, how about you, Sand?”



“Well,
I’m just like you – a bachelor with a wonderful girlfriend. I’m now
working as a lawyer in a small firm, and things are running smooth so
far.”



“Good for you, then. Where’s your girlfriend anyway? Is she with you?”



“Oh, she’s still at work now. I’ll pick her up after this party.”



“Mine
is with her parents in another wedding party. Well, I guess I’m a
little obsessed with this bouquet-catching thing. See my scar here? I
hurt my hand in my second catch, and I once sprained an ankle in my
fourth catch. The first and the third went rather smooth, really. You
see, every time I catch a bouquet or fail to do so, I pray to God,
hoping that I’ll find the right lady, have a relationship which will
last through marriage, and grow old together with her. Although things
are rough for me, I believe God will show me the way. And I won’t stop
looking for it. So, I catch wedding bouquets just to remind myself,
even if I’m in shambles, not to ever give up and keep on going. Forget
the superstitions, forget the traditions. I’ll keep working hard until
I don’t have to work anymore, and I’ll keep catching bouquets until I’m
married or not quite young anymore.”



It
feels like lightning strikes me. I cannot speak a word. Although he
knows that catching a bouquet won’t guarantee him to be the next to
marry among the guests here, but I’m convinced that to get what you
need, you mustn’t sit and wait, but act and strive for it.



“Hey, Sandman! Snap out of it!”



“Oh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, Jon!”



“Tell
you what, here’s my card. Call me anytime you want, maybe we can meet
and talk more often. I hope you’ll get married very soon.”



“Thanks.”



“Well, I must go now. There’s no point for me hanging out in here any longer. See you around, Sandman.”



“You take care, Johnny Boy.”



As I see my friend Johnny goes out from the men’s room and goes for home, I take out my cell phone and dial a number.



“Hi!
Yeah, Julie, are you free tomorrow night? Oh, it’s just I want to take
you for a night in the city. Oh, yes. Say, how about Empire Grille? Great. Just wear your best dress and we’ll make it a night to remember.”





Six months later....



“Hey, Julie, toss it to up-left, okay? Don’t toss too high or to far.”



“Okay, okay, honey. Want to make it easy for your old buddy, huh?”



“Well, he deserves an easy break today.”



“Okay, here goes the M.C. now.”



“Everybody ready? One, two... three!”



I
and Julie toss the bouquet together from the stage. It goes up-left as
planned, but it flies too high and too far away. Some men leap high to
catch it. The women can’t jump high because of their long dresses and
high-heel shoes. Finally one man who leaps the highest catches it. But
he loses his balance in mid-air and falls on the floor, still clutching
the bouquet tightly in his hands. He seems straining in pain.



“Ah, it’s Johnny! Is he okay?” I say.



“I hope so,” says Julie.



And then shortly we hear an announcement from the M.C., “May our lucky winner come to the stage now.”



Johnny the bouquet catcher walks up the stage limply, and the M.C. gives him the prize. Then I and Julie shake his hands to congratulate him.



“Congratulations, Johnny Boy. You did it again. What a superb catch. This is the fifth, I presume?”



“It’s the sixth, actually. But thanks for the prize.”



“Is your ankle okay? I hope you’re not injured.”



“Oh, that’s okay. Just a little pain, I guess. It’ll be gone in a minute.”



Then, out of curiosity, I ask Johnny, “How’s your girlfriend?”



“Oh,
she dumped me two weeks after we met in that chaotic catch and I’ve
been single ever since. But I assure you, I won’t stop catching
bouquets until I get married or too old for this. See you!”



Julie whispers on my ear after Johnny left the stage.



“It’s rather weird, really, being obsessed into bouquet-catching, but I hope he will find his soul mate soon.”



“Yes, good luck to you, Mr. Bouquet Catcher.”





Written by : Andry Chang


June 20, 2006

The Bouquet Catcher

It’s a real boring wedding party I’m invited into. I came a bit late, and they already run out of food. The wedding singer is terrible, and I can only help myself with a few cakes and a glass of water. If it’s not my ex-classmate in High School’s wedding, I would have left for home at once. But, my friend, the groom practically “begged” me to stay for the photo session, so for the sake of our friendship I consented to stay.

“And now, if there’s any bachelors or anyone among the guests who are young and not married, please gather up because the ‘Bouquet Toss’ is about to begin,” says the M.C. “And you know the catch. The lucky catcher MIGHT be the first to marry after Leah and Herman here.”

Aha, excitement at last. Thank goodness I live in a country where men are allowed to catch wedding bouquets; else it’ll be a total drag, seeing only the girls having all the fun.

So I move forward near the cake, and join a group of young men and women already standing there, with their hopeful faces. And then the M.C. talks again through the microphone, “Well, I guess there are so many unmarried people here. To make things more interesting, the catcher of this lovely bouquet will also get a gift: this beautiful diamond ring. As this ring is designed for women, I must ask the gentlemen to leave the group – unless he’s not sure about his gender.”

The M.C.’s announcement is boo-ed by the men, and I among them. One by one, the men leave the group and stand at the back just to watch. The women are, of course, happier because they now have greater chances to catch the bouquet now the tall, strong men are gone.

“Herman, Leah, stand with your backs to the audience and throw backwards, not forward!”

The M.C. completes all the irritation in this party. He’s really pretty good in making idiots out of people.

“Okay, girls, ready! Bride and groom, on three, toss the bouquet! One, two... three!”

The bride and the groom toss the bouquet as high and as far as they can. The bouquet flies to the back of the group and some hands catch it. Then I see a commotion there, as though some people are fighting for the bouquet. But eventually I see who gets it. It’s a man! The girls are scolding at him.

One even mutters, “How shameless he is! He tripped me to get the bouquet!”

“He overpowered me! There’s no way I can beat him!”

The master of ceremony then announces with an upset tone, “Well, mister. I hope you’re satisfied now. You can go home with the bouquet stem. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s one who doesn’t sure about his gender. Now we’ll toss another bouquet as soon as we find a spare.”

I’m not recovered from the shock of seeing that just now, when I see the man goes away, practically whistling merrily and juggling the ruined-to-the-stem bouquet, ignoring the angry stares and “boo”-s from the guests.

Hey, I know that guy!

With that thought I go after him. He goes into men’s room, and I go in there too. And there I see him, washing his face with lots of water.

“Johnny? You’re Johnny, right?”

The man is indeed Johnny as he turns around and replies,

“Yeah? I’m Johnny, all right. Who’re you??”

“Don’t you remember me? I’m Sandy, your classmate in High School. Remember? Sandman? The skinny boy, the computer freak who preferred playing computer games than dating? Your old buddy!”

“Ah, yes, yes! I remember now. Wow-wee! Sandy! You look... different! I didn’t recognize you!” says Johnny, grabbing my two hands warmly. But through his grip, I can feel that he is shaking all over.

“And you too, Johnny Boy. That’s what happened when we don’t grow taller anymore – we grow broader. Hey, I think you’re shaking, man. What’s going on? I mean, I saw you out there just now, man.”

“Oh, you did, didn’t you? Well, what do you think about that, huh? Are you thinking like them?”

“Well, er... honestly, I was pretty shocked out there, man. That was really out of the line. But I think you must’ve had your own reason.”

“You’re right, Sandy. I was really out of control back then. I let my instincts took me over. I was really irritated by that dumb M.C. and his stupid rules. We live in a country where men may catch wedding bouquets, right? So there I was, at the back of the row, just watching. And swoosh! The bouquet landed in my hands anyway. And all of a sudden the women were all over me, trying to snatch it from my hands. I thought, I won’t ever let go of this! If they want a re-toss, just do it, I don’t need the ring. Just give me the glory of catching the bouquet one more time!”

“Wait, Jon. You said, ‘one more time?’ Does that mean you’ve caught another bouquet before?”

“Yup, I have, four times already and so many attempts. And this one doesn’t count,” says Johnny, casually takes the bouquet stem and throws it into the trash can near the water taps.

“What? That’s... that’s amazing!”

“Yeah, I know. It takes an awful lot of luck and determination to do that, but for me, it’s fun. I should’ve applied for the world records, but as I can’t supply ample proofs or recordings, I buried that thought.”

“But, what made you catch bouquets? I mean, a lucky man only catch one or two bouquets during their lifetime, but this is too much. This must be more than just luck and fun.”

“You’re right, Sandman. There’s something more. You see, I’m still a bachelor now. I haven’t had any girlfriends until I was twenty-seven, and so far I’ve had relationships with three women, but all ended in heartbreak. And this time, I met this wonderful lady, and we are so close together. I think she’s the one I want to marry as soon as possible. But another problem arose. My business is in shambles now, and I’m afraid I wont’ be able to raise enough money to hold a decent wedding party. You know wedding parties are very expensive here. Well, how about you, Sand?”

“Well, I’m just like you – a bachelor with a wonderful girlfriend. I’m now working as a lawyer in a small firm, and things are running smooth so far.”

“Good for you, then. Where’s your girlfriend anyway? Is she with you?”

“Oh, she’s still at work now. I’ll pick her up after this party.”

“Mine is with her parents in another wedding party. Well, I guess I’m a little obsessed with this bouquet-catching thing. See my scar here? I hurt my hand in my second catch, and I once sprained an ankle in my fourth catch. The first and the third went rather smooth, really. You see, every time I catch a bouquet or fail to do so, I pray to God, hoping that I’ll find the right lady, have a relationship which will last through marriage, and grow old together with her. Although things are rough for me, I believe God will show me the way. And I won’t stop looking for it. So, I catch wedding bouquets just to remind myself, even if I’m in shambles, not to ever give up and keep on going. Forget the superstitions, forget the traditions. I’ll keep working hard until I don’t have to work anymore, and I’ll keep catching bouquets until I’m married or not quite young anymore.”

It feels like lightning strikes me. I cannot speak a word. Although he knows that catching a bouquet won’t guarantee him to be the next to marry among the guests here, but I’m convinced that to get what you need, you mustn’t sit and wait, but act and strive for it.

“Hey, Sandman! Snap out of it!”

“Oh? Oh, yeah. Sorry, Jon!”

“Tell you what, here’s my card. Call me anytime you want, maybe we can meet and talk more often. I hope you’ll get married very soon.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, I must go now. There’s no point for me hanging out in here any longer. See you around, Sandman.”

“You take care, Johnny Boy.”

As I see my friend Johnny goes out from the men’s room and goes for home, I take out my cell phone and dial a number.

“Hi! Yeah, Julie, are you free tomorrow night? Oh, it’s just I want to take you for a night in the city. Oh, yes. Say, how about Empire Grille? Great. Just wear your best dress and we’ll make it a night to remember.”

Six months later....

“Hey, Julie, toss it to up-left, okay? Don’t toss too high or to far.”

“Okay, okay, honey. Want to make it easy for your old buddy, huh?”

“Well, he deserves an easy break today.”

“Okay, here goes the M.C. now.”

“Everybody ready? One, two... three!”

I and Julie toss the bouquet together from the stage. It goes up-left as planned, but it flies too high and too far away. Some men leap high to catch it. The women can’t jump high because of their long dresses and high-heel shoes. Finally one man who leaps the highest catches it. But he loses his balance in mid-air and falls on the floor, still clutching the bouquet tightly in his hands. He seems straining in pain.

“Ah, it’s Johnny! Is he okay?” I say.

“I hope so,” says Julie.

And then shortly we hear an announcement from the M.C., “May our lucky winner come to the stage now.”

Johnny the bouquet catcher walks up the stage limply, and the M.C. gives him the prize. Then I and Julie shake his hands to congratulate him.

“Congratulations, Johnny Boy. You did it again. What a superb catch. This is the fifth, I presume?”

“It’s the sixth, actually. But thanks for the prize.”

“Is your ankle okay? I hope you’re not injured.”

“Oh, that’s okay. Just a little pain, I guess. It’ll be gone in a minute.”

Then, out of curiosity, I ask Johnny, “How’s your girlfriend?”

“Oh, she dumped me two weeks after we met in that chaotic catch and I’ve been single ever since. But I assure you, I won’t stop catching bouquets until I get married or too old for this. See you!”

Julie whispers on my ear after Johnny left the stage.

“It’s rather weird, really, being obsessed into bouquet-catching, but I hope he will find his soul mate soon.”

“Yes, good luck to you, Mr. Bouquet Catcher.”

Written by : Andry Chang

June 20, 2006

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