Comments that in most societies would leave the audience aghast get a laugh and applause in Indonesia. Even when a member of the audience is the President of Indonesia himself. PDIP Matriach Megawati, when addressing her party’s convention first took issue with Tukang Bakso (meatball vendors). She said she told her daughter Puan not to... Continue Reading →
End of Week 17 of Work from home
Today is the last day of Week 17 of our working from home and I’ve decided to start writing in this blog again to chronicle what’s going on around us. While its easy to be snarky about the government’s handling of the pandemic, I’ll refrain from doing so and try to keep things to observations,... Continue Reading →
Mr President: Apart from professional help, you need honest feedback
Even the usually mild-mannered Endy Bayuni was forced earlier this week to rant against the President and his team’s egregious handling of the Coronavirus outbreak in the usually tepid The Jakarta Post. He counseled seeking professional help instead of relying on amateurs for something as serious and critical as the matter staring us in the... Continue Reading →
Did Jokowi also call for Pribumi privileges?
This is what I wrote in the Maverick blog today Did Jokowi say the P word as reported by CNN? These are sensitive times. Since newly installed Jakarta Governor made his Protect Pribumis speech at his inauguration the P word has gained new political impetus. One thing about the internet is that what is old... Continue Reading →
Jokowi rallying troops, but for what?
This is an interesting development if you subscribe to the theory that the November 4 demonstration has upped the ante for Jokowi versus the Dark Forces. On short notice Jokowi meets with 2,185 soldiers to thank them for the military's role in keeping the peace during the November elections. He then tells them that if they can work... Continue Reading →
Dream on Malaysia while Indonesia takes stand against “Islamic” crazies
I'll never forget how wistful my Malaysian cardiologist was when he found out that I was from Indonesia and that we now have Jokowi as the President. "He seems a good guy, isn't he?" he said of Jokowi as I lay prone and half naked on the examination table. "Yes he is," I said. "Ah,... Continue Reading →
Presidential Debate II: Muddling through the muddle
While watching the second presidential debate last night, one of my colleagues posted a trenchant commentary on the progress of the debate at-a-glance: To Unspun, it really summed up the debate last night: a muddle of unoriginal thoughts, lacking a focal point, confused but if you look closely you begin to see some patterns. The... Continue Reading →
Why Fauzi is being Foked on social media by the Jokowi crowd
The video below that is well produced and catchy with a huge dose of humor is yet another reason why the incumbent Jakarta Mayor Fauzi Bowo is losing out big time in the popularity stakes to challenger Jokowi and his running mate Ahok. Joakowi supporters and his camp are proving very adept at using social... Continue Reading →
Therefore vote Fauzi Bowo
Because his political party, The Democrats, are as unimaginative and uncreative in problem solving as him Because under them the traffic jams in Jakarta would get worse since it is an inevitably Because they have no vision and no determination to improve living conditions in Jakarta beyond their own greed And they get surprised when... Continue Reading →
Unspun 