Category Archives: zz–english
Mathematics in Islam
On 23rd February 2007, the BBC News issued an article on Advanced Geometry of Islamic Arts. It was mentioned that a study of medieval Islamic art has shown some of its geometric patterns use principles established centuries later by modern mathematicians. According to the researchers, Islam has applied the concepts of geometry on their arts since 15th Century. This indicates intuitive understanding of complex mathematical formula, even if the artisans had not worked out the underlying theory.
Enjoying Pho in Ho Chi Minh City
In order to attend an ASEAN meeting, I had the opportunity to visit Ho Chi Minh City in March 2010. On the sidelines of the meeting, I had the opportunity to taste the Vietnamese typical food called Pho (Vietnamese pronunciation: [f??]). It is a Vietnamese noodle soup, usually served with beef (pho bo) or chicken (pho ga). The soup includes noodles made from rice and is often served with basil, lime, bean sprouts, and peppers that are added to the soup by the consumer.
Book Review: Indonesia – Russia Relations
Book title: Sahabat Lama, Era Baru: 60 Tahun Pasang Surut Hubungan Indonesia-Rusia.
Book language: Bahasa Indonesia
Author: Tomi Lebang
Publisher: PT Grasindo Widiasarana Indonesia
Year: I, Juli 2010
Pages: 180 + xx pages
Price: IDR 55.000,-
The Russian Federation is one of a respected superpower and leader of the Eastern Bloc countries in the cold war era (1947-1991). Geographically, Russia is the largest country in the world (17.8 million km), consisting of 11 time zones (compare with Indonesia which only has three time zones). Politically, Russia is a permanent member of UN Security Council, members of Group 8 (D-8), G-20 and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), an alliance of powerful nations in the world besides the United States.
Brazil Wept
When the match Netherlands vs Brazil has just begun, I wrote on the twitter “Brazil will be lost because wearing uniforms away.”
What I wrote on twitter unlikely to become reality. Brazil played well in the first 30 minutes and winning 1-0 in the 10th minute goal by Robinho.
In the twitter, fans continue tweet for the Brazilian Samba team. Meanwhile, via Blackberry Messenger, various groups are also supporting Brazil. Brazilian supporters seem overly confident and predicted his favorite team would win easily. Some estimate the Netherlands will suffer the same fate with when Germany beat England 4-1 in round 16.
From ASEAN Center Moscow With Love
Russia officially became a full dialogue partner of ASEAN at the 29th AMM in Jakarta, July 1996. Since then, an ASEAN-Russia relation is growing rapidly which is marked by a variety of cooperation in various sectors. The development of ASEAN-Russia relations is also visible from the holding of the first ASEAN- Russia Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 2005. While the 2nd ASEAN-Russia Summit will be held in October in Ha Noi, Vietnam.
The development of ASEAN-Russia relations is interesting to learn considering that during the Cold War, ASEAN member countries split in the East-West axis. Indochina countries that are socialist countries namely Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are very close to Russia (before USSR). Meanwhile other ASEAN member countries have close ties with Western countries led by the United States.
Solo, Batik and the Spirit of Java
When people are talking about the city of Solo, many are asking where is Solo and how far from Yogyakarta? Even when we are talking about the culture of Java, many relate it to Yogyakarta. For the Javanese, those questions are a bit strange, but not for foreigners. For them, the Solo is Yogyakarta. They’re not entirely wrong. Somehow, we should acknowledged that Yogyakarta more popular than Solo.
Geographically, Solo the sort name for Surakarta lies some 60 Kilometers east of Yogyakarta. We can go to Solo using personal vehicle, bus or train. We can also go to Solo using the aircraft and landed at Solo’s Adisoemarmo International Airport. So far there are 8 flights a day from Jakarta. There are also some direct flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
From Russia With Love
Moskow atau kadang ditulis Moskwa merupakan ibu kota Rusia yang saat ini berpenduduk sekitar 11 juta jiwa. Kota ini telah sejak lama menjadi pusat pemerintahan, tidak saja di masa Uni Soviet dan Kekaisaran Rusia, tetapi juga sejak masa Kerajaan Muscovy, Rusia pra-Kekaisaran. Posisinya yang strategis di tepi sungai Moskow menjadikan kota ini sebagai plihan yang tepat untuk dijadikan ibu kota negara.
Bloggers and the Formation of the ASEAN Community 2015
On May 22, 2010 at the Hotel Inna Simpang, Surabaya, Directorate General for ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Community Blogger Surabaya (Tugu Pahlawan.com) has organized seminars and Dissemination Implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015. Acting as a speaker was Ambassador Hazairin Pohan, while the speaker of the bloggers were dr. Raden Ajeng Purwaningsih (Ajengkol) and Abdul Ghofur (Gempur). Present as the participants were the bloggers from Surabaya, Bangkalan, Mojokerto, Malang, and Gresik.
60 Years the European Union
On May 9, 2010, 27 European Union (EU) member states celebrated its 60th year of its birthday. We must admitted that the founders of the EU are actually people who are knowledgeable and farsighted. Beginning with the Robert Schuman proposal, former French foreign minister and one of the founders of the EU, on May 9, 1950 to establish cooperation between European countries in the form of community, 60 years later the proposal materialized with the integration of the European Community, known as the EU.
Enjoying the Exotic Domas Crater
Tangkuban Perahu Mountain tourist area in Lembang, Bandung, known as an area that presents the natural beauty of the mountains with few craters that are still active such as Kawah Ratu, Upas and Domas. From the summit of Mount Tangkuban Perahu at an altitude of 1860 meters, we could see the Kawah Ratu like a giant bowl with ground indentations on the walls. An Incredible natural scenery.
To enter this area, tourists must pay an entrance fee of Rp. 13,000, – per person, four-wheeled vehicle parking Rp. 1500, – (for bus tariff of Rp. 8500, -). 4 wheel vehicles and motorcycles can be parked right up to the summit of Tangkuban Perahu. While there is parking for buses at the bottom, about 500 meters from the summit of Mount Tangkuban Perahu.
Amprokan Blogger Bekasi
Why should you write blog about Amprokan Blogger Bekasi in English? Do foreign bloggers need to know about blogger activities in your region? Well, actually it is not about blogger activities itself but related to bloggers Bekasi activities in promoting their region globally. As mentioned by an IT expert, the information about Bekasi in internet is still limited. So the bloggers Bekasi need to flood the internet with information about Bekasi, particularly in English. The more bloggers write about Bekasi the more internet users could get information about Bekasi.
Kimberly Process and Trade Diamond
Do you still remember the Blood Diamond movie (2006), starring Leonardo DiCaprio? The story is about the portrait of the diamond trade and conflict a civil war in Sierra Leone, Africa in 1999. As an area that have many diamond, ironically Africa has become an arena of conflict of interest. Western countries has exploitated the diamond mines in those region. As a result, though endowed with the wealth of the rich diamond mines, diamond sales have no effect on improving the welfare of African people. That funds from the sale of diamonds used to finance the war and ongoing conflict.
