The Samsas took ‘Gregor is now a beetle’ as a fact, not even had the slightest rumination like ‘there’s a monster inside Gregor’s room and it most probably has killed him’. Therefore instead of calling police or doctor or pest extinguisher, they kept beetle Gregor as a secret shame.
Gregor, despite tremendous unfortunate event that happened to him, could only think about how much he put his family in such inconvenient state. He wished, above anything else, to go back to work and provide his family a comfortable living and send his sister to a reputable music school.
A beautifully written bizarre story. As if mocking people who make a fuss over the superficials. The real tragedy is when your family member turns into insect over night. Anything else is solvable.
Mother Theresa once said: "If you're going on a march against war, count me out. But if you're going on a march to support peace, then I'm in."
Meaning we cannot fight fire with fire. Cannot fight terrorism with massacre. Cannot fight idiocy and dictatorship with rage. Wait. You probably can fight idiocy and dictatorship with rage.
I can't believe North Korea an their 'dear leader' Kim Jong Il remains untouched all of these years. Somebody has to put some sense in his brain. And his son's, Kim Jong Un, as well.
It's like they put more than 23 million Korean people into hostages. I mean, only 68% of the population is well fed. And well fed means eating half of the standard portion of meal. 1/3 of children and 1/4 of pregnant women are malnourished and starving. While the Kims have recently built a villa worth 150 million USD for the 'crown prince', Kim Jong Un. They have other 32 similar buildings all across the country.
And it is said they even have personal subway and yacht way. And undersea view facilities. I don't know if these are really real. I mean, it sounds too... heartless.
All medias are owned and controlled by the government. All of televisions and radios are listed and programmed to only received government's broadcast. I wonder if citizens could be granted permissions to leave the country. Not likely.
I should've felt grateful that I wasn't born in North Korea. Even Cendana could be seen as generous compared to the Kims. And we all thanked God the moment Cendana's reign was over.
On a sunny day, we met up again. Two friends who barely said a word to each other for almost a year. Awkward gestures, unsure what to do.
This could be a closure. Or a new shape of friendship. A kiss on the cheek.
"I personally don't believe in global warming. It's just a political twist of powerful countries not wanting developing countries, like Indonesia, emerge as new power in global industries. The world has its cycle and its own mechanism to make itself sustainable."
Always a little discussion. Now over pancakes.
"Well, politic aside. What's wrong with recycling and trying to make less and less solid waste disposal? What's wrong with planting more trees or building more environmental friendly homes? It doesn't matter whether global warming is really exist or not, living green doesn't hurt anyone."
"Poorer countries will always be dependent to richer countries. How could they manage to accelerate their economy if their industries and manufactures continue being held back by the reason of global warming? Those superpower countries only use global warming issue to secure their positions in the food chain."
"Cleaner technology will indeed improve the living quality of society. Reducing raw material, recycling product into its raw material will help. Reusing what you have at home instead of buying the new one is not only helping the environment, but also your wallet, and it prevents any more unnecessary disposal."
"Clean technology is expensive. Raw materials are usually cheaper than the recycled ones, clean technology is not exactly congruous to be implemented in developing countries. Tax cut or incentive for industries that use clean technology, they couldn't do that."
"That's the use of research, to discover new possible, cheaper, more environmental friendly both processes and materials. People need to work together and stop pointing at one another. We could start living green at home. People that live near industrial area could protest if those industrial activities interfere their healths. Government should make a strict policy about emissions and litters that could be harmful to water and soil."
"That could be done, again, in already are industrial countries. There's almost no textile plants in US. They move them to Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia because that kind of industry produce a lot of waste."
"And they buy it back to United States. Making coutures and expensive clothes..."
"... and sell it to people around the world, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia."
"But that's the purpose of industry. You add some value to raw materials, sell them and collect much more money than the producers of those raw materials do. I honestly don't see the bad in capitalism. You want to win big, you have to bet big."
"Developed countries have two faces..."
"We all do."
"Exactly. Raising up this global warming issue, making this sound important and urgent. While at the same time they don't want to sacrifice anything. They push developing countries into taking responsibilities of what developed countries have done. All the data about earth warming up, is only a bunch of curves of what's been going on in the past... let's say, 50 years, 100 years. Earth exists much longer than that. Its warming up and cooling down, it's all part of the cycle."
"If there's no global warming issue people won't stop using cheap technology that will intoxicate their own bodies. People will never stop dispose unnecessary wastes."
"Global warming issue ties down poorer countries and prevents their economic independence. Now is the mankind prosperity versus paranoid hypothesis. And you haven't finished your food."
"I have. I feel full already."
"You only ate a half of it."
"But I can't eat anymore. Or else I'm gonna be sick of too much carb."
"Why... I'm always the one to finish your meal."
Kafka said stories don't have to state morals. Sometimes stories are just about the beauty of details and well written lines.
Talks don't have to have conclusions. The beauty of it is just when you're there, with persons you care about, talking and sipping orange juice.
Like in 2007, each audience got back home with camcorder, luxurious watch, refrigerator, and plenty other things. She didn't have the usual Oprah's Favorite things on 2008 and 2009 due to the economic recession in the US (I bet any company would do multiple thinking before giving up hundreds of free products, even for THE Oprah).
Yet in her very last Oprah Show (she won't be doing this show anymore next year), we expect nothing but the best. Luckily, so did she. That's why in this season she had 2 episode of Oprah's Favorite Thing. Among the list: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Yes, baby, everybody gets the car!!
Maybe economic condition in the US gets better. Maybe Oprah's tired of giving away crappy things like downloadable CDs. Though, of course, as long as it's free and coming from Oprah, it's no crappy at all. This last two episodes of Oprah's Favorite Things (or Gifts) are extraordinaire.
Here's the complete list, as reported on TVSquad.
Limited-Edition 25th Anniversary Oprah watch by Philip Stein ($2475.00)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Netflix membership (5 years)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Hope in a Jar by Philosophy ($38.00 and up)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Williams-Sonoma mini croissants ($39.95)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
I've been sick for 3 days now, high fever followed by feels-like-never-ending-stomach-cramps. The genius Aji told me I probably caught 'masuk angin'. But yesterday night the pain was excruciating that my aunt finally took me to an internist.
And she said I caught bronchitis.
I don't really understand the connections between lungs and bilge, but long story short, doctor order, I have to put on total rest for the rest of the week. Meaning: no class, no jalan-jalan, no exam. She said I was under a lot of stress lately, which is weird, I never feel like I was.
Anyway, so today I spent the whole afternoon blog walking. I'm always kind of curious with the blog of Tavi Gevinson. I mean, this 14-year-old fashion blogger had shoots for TeenVogue Magazine last year. And, as reported by NY Magazine, had turned down request to appear on Oprah and The Tonight Show. Man.., this chick gets the guts.
Almost as gutty as Anna Wintour, who ordered Oprah to lose 20 lbs before The Queen of American Talk Show could put her face on the cover of Vogue.
Style Rookie, that's Tavi's blog, may not be entirely different from any other fashion blogs. But the fact that a 14-year-old girl is writing these articles: Whoaaa.. I don't remember what I wrote when I was her age, but I'm pretty sure it's not something I could be proud of.
She wrote about Briney Spears' cover shoot for Japanese magazine, Pop. Adding some fine piece of her mind about lolita fetishes, she mentioned about how Spears was sold under pretense of virginal yet sexy school girl. She also compared the princess with Courtney Love, who (as Tavi said it) popularized the trend Kinderwhore.
I think I'm a fan.
This is Tavi's response to the possibility of people get bored of her after some years, when she enters adulthood, as reported by NY Magazine.
“I guess that’s sort of a worry of mine,” she said. “That I won’t be relevant anymore, and then I just won’t be able to do things like go to Fashion Week.” She went on, “If I lost all my readers tomorrow, I would still blog, just because it’s a place for me to get my thoughts down. As I get older, no one will be able to do the ‘Can you believe it? This kid’s thirteen!’ thing. That’s fine. I’d rather get attention for any credibility I have, and if I don’t get attention at all maybe that will tell me I never had any credibility. In which case I’ll just watch the live streams. The main thing is the clothes."
Dandelion goes from south to north, every winter day in the middle of the year. Tells you stories about lovers' longing and persistent devotees. How people met and how they said goodbye. Dandelion flies past your chest, digging old emotions and blurry remembrance.
Wood engulfed by fire, in one burning summer day. And he saw she never cared. And she never asked. Dandelion blows with monsoon, leaving behind the cold and into the warmth. Taking away silent plea and unspoken affection.
Words that he could not find, things that she failed to understand. Distant and cruel. Come with nothing, leave with nothing. Dandelion fades as the result of frictions. Closure is the time passing. Mending your heart and guide it open. Until next time, Dandelion goes from north to south.
Leave a Comment