Saturday, February 4, 2017

Our Own Parts

I am known as an 'innocent' man among those who have been my companions for long. Obeying traffic laws, being strongly opposed to smoking, and throwing garbage in the proper place are some traits that cling to me and would probably be the first things that come across their minds when they are asked to picture my behavior.


Flashing back to some point in the past, I recall someone, who is probably a very close relative of mine, told me that it is no use doing some good deed (most likely that action of keeping the environment clean and visibly satisfying) while there are tons of others are doing exactly the opposite of what I do.

This apparently nice idea – which is actually pernicious – is, as I see it, simply is the root of the great deals of cases of development inhibition occuring in our society. This way of thinking appears to be mildly damaging. However, it would generate continuous actions that, if you think about it, certainly cause terrible harm. In addition, when an enormous number of people take it as a life guide, the result will unavoidably be ghastly. If everyone keeps ignoring this and doesn't take action to resolve it, it will eventually lead to the demise of our own taxon.

We must adopt the view that what we do is worth the value of what we do: nothing more and nothing less. The result of our actions, in a sense, is actually free from any influence from the outside. This means we shouldn't try to alter people, some (or most) of them perhaps being stubborn and incorrigible. What we need to do is direct our energy, thoughts, and so forth toward what we can do to improve life quality.

It is true that we are just a minuscule part of the gargantuan community of humans; we have too many limitations to do the huge task of changing the world at the drop of a hat. However, when we do our own parts in the best way possible, it is actually enough to achieve our ultimate goal.
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Monday, December 12, 2016

Longman Language Activator – Book Review


Longman Language Activator
by Pearson Education

A ubiquitous, classical question that lingers in many people's minds is "How can I improve my English?" In certain cases, one of the areas that they really need to improve on – but that they might not realize they have to – is vocabulary. Our world is a vast entity where a massive number of things exist and occur. Thus, we need to be able to express an idea or thought as clearly as possible. For this reason, expanding your English vocabulary bank would surely turn you into a more effective communicator.

And congratulations, folks! The Longman Language Activator has been 'born' to serve that function. In the preface (p. vii), it is mentioned that Lord Randolph Quirk called the Longman Activator, which includes the Longman Essential Activator (intended for lower-level students), 'the dictionary the world has been waiting for', and in my view, it definitely is.

How will this dictionary help you enrich your vocabulary? The Longman Language Activator will take you on a journey to words and/or phrases in generally the same meaning area, so that you know their differences, if any, and express what you want to say or write more exactly and/or accurately. For instance, under the "to eat" section (p. 345), there are "eat", "have", "chew", "swallow", "lick", "consume", "dig in/tuck in", and "chow down". In addition to clear, easy-to-understand definitions, this dictionary contains plenty of examples in case you need help in understanding. It also features pronunciations to make sure you pronounce the words and phrases correctly (British/American) as well as labels to ensure you use them appropriately (British/American, formal/informal, etc.). Grammar and collocation information, which I find extremely important, adds to the appeal of this book, and the alphabetical order organization as well as a useful index at the back of the book make it convenient for readers to use.

One thing that could be improved is its coloration, as this book is printed in black and white except for the cover and the "Using the Activator" section. Its 'sister' (the Longman Essential Activator) is more pleasing to the eyes as it is beautified with color. What is more, the second edition of the book was published in 2002; it has been 14 years since then, so it might need to be revised/updated.

Without a doubt, the Longman Language Activator – along with the Longman Essential Activator, I believe – is absolutely a must-have for English learners and teachers who would like to take their English to the next level. This book is definitely worth every cent/penny you spend.
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Sunday, December 4, 2016

Indonesian or English Expressions?

It is no surprise that a humongous amount of Indonesian language has entered my ears and my eyes--and my brain--considering the fact that I have spent most of my life in this wide-stretching, equator-passed country. Surprisingly, there are a huge number of Indonesian expressions that are strikingly similar to or even exactly the same as English ones if translated, sometimes with the help of thinking figuratively. I have compiled a 'mini' list of these expressions and hopefully it will quench your language thirst, expand your linguistic knowledge, or even just kill your time in a nice fashion. Cheers!


Note:
• The Indonesian expressions display a range of formality levels.
• I believe there are many, many more of such expressions out there. So if you know any, please poke me, and I will add yours to the list. Huge thanks to those who have contributed to helping me build up the expression bank!

  1. backfire – menjadi senjata makan tuan
    • Don't be careless! Otherwise, our plan will backfire!
    • Jangan gegabah! Kalau tidak, rencana kita akan menjadi senjata makan tuan!
  2. backstab – menusuk dari belakang
    • Several days ago I found out that Lousia had backstabbed me. I thought she was a good friend!
    • Beberapa hari lalu saya menemukan bahwa Louisa menusuk saya dari belakang. Saya pikir dia seorang teman yang baik!
  3. (be put) behind bars – (mendekam) di balik jeruji besi
    • Don is guilty of car theft, so now he's behind bars.
    • Don telah melakukan pencurian mobil, jadi sekarang dia berada di balik jeruji besi.
  4. bitter pill to swallow – menelan pil pahit
    • For Chelsea, losing to Manchester United was a bitter pill to swallow.
    • Chelsea menelan pil pahit dengan kalah dari Manchester United.
  5. black and white – hitam dan putih
    • It is very difficult to make a decision since it is not a black and white issue.
    • Sangat sulit untuk mengambil keputusan karena ini bukan isu hitam dan putih.
  6. crocodile tears – air mata buaya
    • Don't believe Martin. He is a playboy. Those are just crocodile tears.
    • Jangan percaya Martin. Dia itu playboy. Itu cuma air mata buaya.
  7. empty vessels make the most noise – tong kosong nyaring bunyinya
    • That gubernatorial candidate speaks the most but actually he is the least skilled of all. Empty vessels make the most noise.
    • Calon gubernur itu paling banyak berbicara tetapi sebenarnya dia yang paling tidak mampu dari semuanya. Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya.
  8. experience is the best teacher – pengalaman adalah guru terbaik
    • The internship at that oil and gas company has been very meaningful to me. I really believe experience is the best teacher.
    • Magang di perusahaan minyak dan gas itu sangat berarti bagiku. Aku sungguh percaya pengalaman adalah guru terbaik.
  9. get out of bed on the wrong side/get out of the wrong side of bed – salah bangun tidur
    • Clark must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed. He has been grumbling all day.
    • Clark pasti salah bangun tidur. Dia ngomel-ngomel seharian.
  10. give someone an inch (and they'll take a mile/yard) – dikasih hati minta jantung
    • I don't want to help Frederick anymore. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
    • Saya tidak mau membantu Frederick lagi. Dikasih hati minta jantung.
  11. golden opportunity – kesempatan emas
    • It is a golden opportunity to become a famous person. You must accept the job offer.
    • Ini adalah sebuah kesempatan emas untuk menjadi orang terkenal. Kamu harus menerima tawaran pekerjaan itu.
  12. guinea pig/lab rat – kelinci percobaan
    • No, I don't want to be a guinea pig! What if I die after taking those pills?
    • Tidak, saya tidak mau menjadi seekor kelinci percobaan!. Bagaimana jika saya mati setelah mengonsumsi pil-pil itu?
  13. green – hijau
    • Are you sure you will assign this huge task to Britney? She is still green.
    • Apakah Anda yakin Anda akan memberikan tugas besar ini ke Britney? Dia masih hijau.
  14. half-heartedly – (dengan) setengah hati
    • Eric's work results are always bad because he does his job half-heartedly.
    • Hasi kerja Eric selalu buruk karena dia melakukan pekerjaannya setengah hati.
  15. have a sense of humor – punya selera humor
    • My uncle has a great sense of humor. It is always fun to talk with him!
    • Paman saya mempunyai selera humor yang tinggi. Berbicara dengan dia selalu menyenangkan!
  16. have the last laugh – ketawa terakhir
    • I accept the defeat, but I will have the last laugh.
    • Gua terima kekalahan ini, tapi gua yang akan ketawa terakhir.
  17. hidden agenda – agenda terselubung/tersembunyi
    • Tracy is visiting her house too? Hm... He must have a hidden agenda.
    • Tracy mengunjungi rumahnya juga? Hm... Dia pasti ada sebuah agenda terselubung/tersembunyi.
  18. in black and white – hitam di atas putih
    • You must insist this agreement be in black and white.
    • Kamu harus bersikukuh perjanjian ini harus hitam di atas putih.
  19. lightning fast – secepat kilat
    • Maria can run 8 meters per second. She is really lightning fast.
    • Maria bisa berlari 8 meter per detik. Dia benar-benar secepat kilat.
  20. like a broken record – kayak tip pecah
    • Your brother sounds like a broken record. He is always talking about the same things.
    • Kakak laki-lakimu kayak tip pecah. Dia selalu ngomong hal yang sama.
  21. like talking to a brick wall – kayak ngomong sama tembok
    • I've asked her to go to school many times, but it's like talking to a brick wall. Basically she won't do that.
    • Gua udah berkali-kali minta dia pergi ke sekolah, tapi itu kayak ngomong sama tembok. Pada dasarnya dia ga mau.
  22. lose face – kehilangan muka
    • The sex scandal made the singer lose face.
    • Skandal sex tersebut membuat sang penyanyi kehilangan muka.
  23. make yourself at home – anggap saja rumah sendiri
    • Please sit down and enjoy the snacks. Make yourself at home.
    • Silakan duduk dan nikmati makanan ringannya. Anggap saja rumah sendiri.
  24. money laundering – pencucian uang
    • Those men in white are accused of money laundering.
    • Pria berpakaian putih itu dituduh melakukan pencucian uang.
  25. oil and water don't mix – bagai air dengan minyak
    • Stephanie and Aldo always have quarrels when they are together. Oil and water don't mix.
    • Stephanie dan Aldo selalu berseteru jika sedang bersama-sama. Mereka bagai air dengan minyak.
  26. (one's) blood is up – naik darah
    • Vanessa's nephew has been incredibly noisy, so her blood is up.
    • Keponakan Vanessa sangat berisik, jadi dia naik darah.
  27. (one's) other half – belahan jiwa
    • Patrick believes Melissa is his other half. He wants to marry her soon.
    • Patrick percaya Melissa adalah belahan jiwanya. Dia ingin menikahinya dengan segera.
  28. opportunity only knocks once – kesempatan cuma datang sekali
    • You should accept that job offer. Opportunity only knocks once.
    • Kamu harus mengambil tawaran pekerjaan itu. Kesempatan cuma datang sekali.
  29. over my dead body – langkahin dulu mayat gue
    • You want to use my car? Over my dead body!
    • Loe mau make mobil gue? Langkahin dulu mayat gue!
  30. pig in a poke – kucing dalam karung
    • Martin just bought a pig in a poke. The new smartphone he ordered online turned out to be defective!
    • Martin baru saja membeli kucing dalam karung. Ponsel pintar baru yang dia pesan secara daring ternyata cacat!
  31. play with fire – bermain dengan api
    • You want to sell drugs? Don't play with fire!
    • Kamu mau jual narkoba? Jangan bermain dengan api deh!
  32. save face – menyelamatkan muka
    • He tried to save face by making a public apology.
    • Dia berusaha menyelamatkan muka dengan meminta maaf kepada publik.
  33. silence is golden – diam adalah emas
    • Taylor was punched by Annie because he gave her criticisms. Silence is golden.
    • Taylor dipukul oleh Annie karena dia memberi kritikan. Diam adalah emas.
  34. sleep with – tidur dengan
    • The mayor was arrested because he had slept with his mistress.
    • Walikota itu ditangkap karena ia telah tidur dengan selingkuhannya.
  35. someone’s eyes are bigger than their stomach/belly – seseorang lapar mata
    • Timmy gave most of his huge meal to his mom. His eyes are bigger than his belly.
    • Timmy memberikan sebagian besar makanannya yang sangat banyak kepada ibunya. Dia lapar mata.
  36. spoon-feed – cekokin
    • Let him work by himself. Don't spoon-feed him.
    • Biarin dia kerja sendirian. Jangan cekokin dia.
  37. still water runs deep – air beriak tanda tak dalam (Note: Most of the elements of these two expressions are antithetical, but the whole phrases convey exactly the same meaning.)
    • Don't judge a person by how loud they are. Still water runs deep.
    • Jangan menilai orang dari berapa banyak mereka berbicara. Air beriak tanda tak dalam.
  38. take my hat off (to) – angkat topi (untuk)
    • Our sales have increased by 25% in the last three months. I take my hat off to you!
    • Penjualan kita telah meningkat sebesar 25% dalam waktu tiga bulan terakhir. Saya angkat topi untuk kamu!
  39. take part (in) – ambil bagian (dalam)
    • My neighbor is taking part in a charity event next Sunday.
    • Tetangga saya akan ambil bagian dalam acara amal Minggu depan.
  40. the apple doesn't fall far from its tree – buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya
    • Like his father, Andrew is enthusiastic about table tennis. The apple doesn't fall far from its tree.
    • Seperti ayahnnya, Andrew antusias terhadap ping-pong. Buah jatuh tidak jauh dari pohonnya.
  41. the grass is always greener on the other side – rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau
    • My little sister always thinks other girls are a lot luckier than her. The grass is always greener on the other side.
    • Adik perempuan saya selalu berpikir gadis-gadis lain jauh lebih beruntung daripada dia. Rumput tetangga selalu lebih hijau.
  42. there's no smoke without fire – tak ada asap tanpa api
    • He said he is not guilty, but there's no smoke without fire.
    • Dia bilang dia tidak bersalah, tetapi tak ada asap tanpa api.
  43. throw in the towel – lempar handuk
    • The badminton players thought they couldn't' win the match, so they threw in the towel.
    • Pemain-pemain bulutangkis itu berpikir mereka tidak dapat memenangkan pertandingan tersebut, jadi mereka melempar handuk.
  44. turn over a new leaf – membuka lembaran baru
    • Sonya has turned over a new leaf; she has stopped being a drug abuser.
    • Sonya telah membuka lembaran baru; dia telah berhenti menjadi penyalahguna obat.
  45. two-faced – bermuka dua
    • Never believe Vanness. He is a two-faced liar.
    • Jangan pernah percaya Vanness. Dia pembohong bermuka dua.
  46. when in Rome, do as the Romans do – di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung (Note: the English expression uses a specific example, while the Indonesian one uses generalization.)
    • You can't wear that kind of clothes in this country. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
    • Kamu tidak boleh memakai pakaian seperti itu di negara ini. Di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung.
  47. wholeheartedly – (dengan) sepenuh hati
    • One of the keys to success is working wholeheartedly.
    • Salah satu kunci kesuksesan adalah bekerja dengan sepenuh hati.
  48. with a heavy heart – dengan hati yang berat/dengan berberat hati
    • With a heavy heart, George said goodbye to all of us.
    • Dengan hati yang berat, George mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada kita semua. 
  49. with all your heart – dengan sepenuh hati(mu)
    • Klinsman sang Ge Qian with all his heart.
    • Klinsman menyanyikan Ge Qian dengan sepenuh hatinya.
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Ask Yourself

No, I wasn't galvanized to write this post by Justin Bieber's song Love Yourself. This post is a fruit of me looking at what has been happening in my life.


I just got in a relationship recently. It is a phase that is blissful; I have found someone that I have been waiting for. Being in love is one of the greatest things humans can experience, I believe.

However, it doesn't mean there are no rocks on the road. Once my respected high school teacher told me something that sounded like "Living a relationship or marriage life is not a piece of cake; it is not easy to 'unite two heads.'" Arguments or disagreements must occur between the two loving ones. I have encountered these and I learned something from seeing about this kind of situation.

From my vantage point, when a problem comes up, humans tend to see anything that is not them. We automatically think of other people associated with it and try to find the 'mistakes' that they have made. I think it is a trait that should urgently be changed. I found asking myself an amazing way to deal with a problem. Instead of 'looking outside', spattering ourselves with questions such as "Does the problem exist because of me?"; "What mistakes have I made?"; and "What have I done wrong?" would be a much better option.

Most of us deal with many people on a daily basis. Friends and family are some who you can have skirmishes with. So, you could start to solve them by being wiser, using the 'magic mirror'. Or let's take it to a much higher level: think about an issue your country is facing. Is it really the government's failure? Or is it you who don't care about your own country?

I'm not saying that we are always the ones to blame for anything bad happening in our lives. It is just that we need to not forget to take ourselves into account when considering something. It is always good to reflect on ourselves, isn't it?
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Saturday, July 23, 2016

The Problem of Tolerance


Recently, in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the food stall of an aged woman named Saeni was inspected by officials of Banten, one of the biggest provinces in Indonesia. They confiscated all of her food – and perhaps drink(s) too – since it was considered illegal for people to sell food and/or drink during certain hours in the fasting month for Muslims. This was recorded on a video and it became viral on social media; the public responded by giving her a big donation – around 265 million IDR, equal to approximately 19,925 USD.

The underlying idea behind this attention-drawing event is that people should express tolerance to those who are fasting. However, there are people who are opposed to this with the thought that, actually, Muslims are the ones who have to pay respect – to those who aren't fasting – which makes a lot more sense since, as far as I know, fasting is not about avoiding temptation, but resisting it. But, say, it is really about 'avoiding temptation'. So we are faced with a clash – one side wants to fulfill their daily sustenance needs (and this means bread and butter for Saeni), while the other wants to experience as fewer things that can drive them to consume food and drink as they can.

In the wake of this controversial matter, a meme challenging the Minister of Religious Affairs to keep Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport open on Silence Day and ban Christmas trees in malls has spread on the Internet. If you think about it, they reflect the same kind of issue. Most Balinese are Hindus, but there are Balinese who aren't. I believe so many foreigners, as well as non-Hindu Balinese (including Muslims), want to enter and leave Bali through the airport on the religious holiday, when Hindus don't work – perhaps they want to visit their families or partners that they haven't met for ages. The question is "Who is to tolerate who?" The same thing can be recognized in the second case, although it is more subtle. Would a Muslim hanging out in a mall be agreeable to occupancy of items promoting Christianity, which clearly teaches doctrines contradictory to Islamic ones, in some space where they should be able get through? The honest answer is "no". And this gives rise to the same question "Who is to tolerate who?"

I reckon we can find many other examples easily. You live next to a church and the choir is chanting a hymn while you are trying to meditate, needing silence. You are exhausted and trying to catch forty winks at noon before continuing to work at 1, but the mosque near your workplace is emitting loud sounds through its speaker(s) – it's very likely to happen in Indonesia. You are discussing the possibility of a new contract with your important business partner while the smoke and ash of burning incense from a temple is making your eyes ache and distracting your concentration. Who is to tolerate who?

There is no win-win solution to this kind of thing. One has to swallow a bitter pill, whereas the other rejoices in the fulfillment of their wish. The end result might be in favor of the majority of inhabitants of the region.
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Friday, July 15, 2016

Why Dinosaurs?

Other than Jay Chou, another thing that might arise in my friends' minds when they think of me is surely dinosaurs. The fascinating beasts that come in all kinds of shapes and sizes have never ceased to intrigue me to date.

A Tyrannosaurus skeleton

As with most dinosaur fans all around the world, my liking for dinosaurs started early in life. In my childhood, I got a bunch of dinosaur books which were laden with numerous visuals designed to attract young readers. At one of his TED Talks, world-renowned paleontologist Jack Horner says, when asked what is behind children's love for dinosaurs, he usually replies that "dinosaurs were big, different, and gone" – although actually they are not gone, as Jack clarifies subsequently. I think it partly explains why these bizarre creatures captivated me as a little kid, because, as American paleontologist Steve Brusatte says in an Earth Unplugged video, "there's just something about dinosaurs, there's some magic to them, there's some indescribable essence to them."

Aside from the above mentioned reason, why dinosaurs? Why not Pokémon GO, which is arguably the most popular game nowadays? Why not anime and manga, of which a huge number of fan bases are scattered on the globe? Why not superheroes, like those created by Marvel and DC?

I would start with the most 'important' one: learning about dinosaurs means learning about the world as a whole, including ourselves. It takes us on a deep journey into prehistory, the time before we, humans, appeared on the scene, so that we can actually understand how our world works. We must take dinosaurs into account to really understand evolution, including how we came to be who we are. It is a pity that many people are ignorant of or even deny the theory of evolution; dinosaurs are a great tool to teach this (and science, in general – Steve says dinosaurs are "just an automatic gateway into science" in a science festival video) to the public and eradicate the misleading thought.

Knowing dinosaurs has also turned me into a more humble person. It has made me realize that we are just 'tiny' things – with a lifespan of around 70 years – existing in this vast, super old (around 4.6 billion years old), changing world and our species, Homo sapiens, is just a newcomer. Terrorism that is invading our planet – and seems to be getting more and more cruel and violent day by day – claiming an enormous number of lives, I believe, is a product of false understanding or a wrong view of the world. Together, as the human race, we need to strive for a better world for our continuous existence. I firmly believe and am very confident that dinosaurs can play an exceptionally important role in attaining world peace.

Dinosaurology is also extremely important as it significantly contributes to our knowledge of "how the earth has changed over time" (a phrase by Steve from his Earth Unplugged video The Dinosaur Expert that keeps reverberating in my head) and this relates to climate change, which is a global issue we are currently facing. Understanding this in should help us solve this urgent problem. Studying dinosaurs means studying the past in the present for the future.

Last but not least, seriously, what is more engaging than dinosaurs? Gigantic behemoths possessing extremely long necks and tails, big-headed vicious-looking predators equipped with lines of big serrated teeth, rhino-like animals boasting eye-catching head ornamentation, club-tailed creatures with body coverings reminiscent of tanks, and many more – not to mention 10,000 or so species of our feathered relatives: birds, the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs. Nothing, right?

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

May All Beings Be Happy

Is it possible?


This saying kind of "tingled" my brain perhaps several years ago. Let's dissect this idea.
According to Macmillan Dictionary – one of my favorite dictionaries – "being" means "a living thing". Therefore, "all beings" are all living things, which include all humans, animals, plants, as well as microorganisms, such as bacteria.

Now let's take a look at the second most important word in the phrase: "happy". The same dictionary defines "happy" as "feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc." (I don't think anybody would disagree with this definition)

Now that we, hopefully, understand what the sentence means, let's move on to the question that has made me ponder: Is it likely that all beings will be happy?

Lions and zebras. I believe everyone knows the relationship between these two types of animals. To put it simply, lions try to hunt zebras and zebras try not to be hunted by the "kings of the jungle". Do zebras want to be feasted on by lions? Of course not; that's why they run as fast as they can when lions are chasing them. Do lions want to let zebras eat grass peacefully? Definitely not since lions have to fill their rumbling stomachs or otherwise they will die. So I guess it is pretty clear that either lions are happy or zebras are happy. It is utterly impossible that both kinds of beings are happy (please let me know if there is a zebra approaching a lion in order to be devoured by the predator, or if somewhere on Earth a lion, while being surrounded by a dozen zebras, fasted until it died).

It is just one out of, I believe, a huge number of predator-prey relationships on this planet – birds and worms, grizzly bears and salmon, Tyrannosaurus rex and hadrosaurs, you name it. Parasitism (such as, the relationship between fleas and your neighbor's beloved dog) is another happiness-is-just-for-one-of-them association.

It appears that we live in an unfair and nasty world. But that's how nature works. Species strive to continue their existence with a broad spectrum of behavior, even if it requires members of other species to suffer or even die.
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