San Francisco palm expert Jason Dewees, of Flora Grubb Gardens, recently visited Tokyo, the Seto Inland Sea and Yakushima, and documented his horticultural findings on the International Palm Society’s travel forum. Together we created Palm Sundae several years ago in Northern California. Above is one of his photos.

Packed with photos, Jason’s post is an expert traveler’s guide to urban trees and plants with a palm focus, as well as Seto Inland Sea palms and exotic plants found on Yakushima, Japan’s wettest place whose high mountains feature ancient Cryptomeria trees (commonly called cedar in English and sugi in Japanese). In Tokyo, Jason identified two main types of palm trees: Trachycarpus fortunei, self-seeding in roadside plant beds, in small parks, as well as in the wooded areas of Meiji Jingu, and Tracheycarpus wagnerianus in residential gardens. Jason also discovered and photographed in Tokyo potted and in the ground Rhapis palms, both common and unusual.

Over the weekend, I was in Houston for a wedding when my friend Adam called me and asked me if I was interested in receiving a copy of Postcolonial Reconfigurations by R.S. Sugitharajah and I happily obliged. I cannot wait to get some free time to start reading these essays.

(Exclusive to my blog, this hasn’t been published elsewhere)

DANCING ON LAND-MINES

Love Marriage
By V.V.Ganeshananthan
Publisher: Phoenix
Price: Rs 350
Pages: 310

Set in a land where death is alive and has renewed lifetimes, Love Marriage, is a work of fiction that deals with the ethnic strife in Sri Lanka. By tackling the complex issues of violence, politics and identity in the war-ravaged island, Love Marriage, with its deceptive title, joins the prestigious league of Funny Boy and Cinnamon Gardens (Shyam Selvadurai), Anil’s Ghost (Michael Ondaatje), and Bodies in Motion (Mary Anne Mohanraj).

Using several dozen short chapters to embody the scattered narratives, the author succeeds in creating a split-screen effect through which we watch the protagonist Yalini caught in the crossfire between tradition and modernity. Born to Jaffna Tamil immigrants in the US, she enters the world during the gruesome 1983 Black July riots. As the state-sponsored Sinhalese mobs massacre lakhs of Tamils in the Sri Lankan capital, the separatist, secessionist movement in the island embarks on a path of no-return. After locating Yalini’s birth in such troubled times, V.V.Ganeshananthan traces the Tamil struggle through her story, and the stories of her Sri Lankan ancestors.

Interwoven into this saga, are the many marriages that make up their family tree, and the many single women who never attain the privilege of entering into such arrangements of convenience: the burnt and disfigured grand-aunt Thevayani, the jilted Mayuri, and the schizophrenic Uma. Faced with such a plethora of possibilities, Yalini strives hard to figure out what could work for her. The source of these stories/ scandals is her mother’s brother, Uncle Kumaran, a terminally-ill Tamil Tiger smuggled into Toronto for treatment. The genesis and the growth of Eelam liberation struggle are recorded through his credible/ incredible confessions that traverse continents. One can see through the gossamer veils of fiction that LTTE Chief Pirabakaran is depicted in this novel as Nadarajan and the London-based rebels’ ideologue Anton Balasingam has been conveniently transformed into Victor Rajadurai.

In order to keep the plot moving forward, Yalini makes futile attempts to stop Kumaran’s daughter Janani from marrying Suthan, a young man who works for the Tamil Tigers in Canada. Janani, however, believes that her marriage to Suthan is the only manner in which she can continue to contribute to the movement to which her parents dedicated themselves. The novel ends with Kumaran’s funeral and Janani’s marriage.

This novel’s Tamilness is its strength, but the novelist goes overboard with her enthusiasm and provides ethnic-lit description of culture and (marriage/death) ceremonies making us wonder where the author ends and the anthropologist takes over. This weakness gives rise to the digressions on Proper and Improper marriages, and the cataloging of the whole spectrum of marriages that lie between Arranged Marriage and Love Marriage. Why delve so deep into man-woman relationships that are relentlessly marriage-bound, in a novel that tries to capture the pain of exile and the importance of political engagement? Is the only connective thread, that both a love marriage and a liberation struggle emphasize the right to make choices, sufficient to hold it all together?

This fine first novel discusses an exhaustive array of cultural and political issues—even as the novelist chronicles the Tamil peoples’ suffering and struggle, she also puts forth a powerful indictment of genocidal state terrorism  (“a government that gets away with everything because it is a government”) through an evocative description of the burning of the Jaffna Public Library, and the discovery of the Chemmani mass graves.

Within the framework of fiction, V.V.Ganeshananthan documents every major massacre that took place in the island’s north. Diaspora memory, like its imagination, is burdened with responsibility. Here, despondency is self-destructive. Here, hope has to outweigh the 14.4 million kilograms of military grade explosives that have been air-dropped into the Tamil homeland. Here, dreams have to outlast death. Love Marriage gracefully captures this unique situation of the Tamil Diaspora whose last refuge lies in the land of recollection.

Limba romana e atat de bogata incat am exportat-o pe  banda rulanta. O incercare de top 10 pentru denumiri internationale care, fara sa stie purtatorii, sunt… d’ale noastre, neaose, suculente si pline  de inteles.
1. Pe primul loc, bineinteles, ce alt nume ar putea figura  decat renumita statiune croata Pula . Am intalnit persoane care isi fac concediile in Pula (inclusiv oameni care chiar  merg in Croatia pentru asta).   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pula,_Croatia

2. Tot Pula se numeste si moneda oficiala  a statului african Botswana. Prin asta se explica  saracia lucie din savana… luand in calcul faptul ca populatia e preponderent  feminina, se ajunge la cateva subdiviziuni de Pula pe cap de locuitor.

Cursul de schimb il  gasiti pe http://www.x-rates.com/d/BWP/table.html

3. In alte zone de pe continentul african, oamenii o duc si mai rau. Daca botswanezilor le e de ajuns o Pula pentru a-si asigura traiul (mai ales ca-s  negri, si stim noi ce se vorbeste despre ei), 3,4 milioane de mozambicani  locuiesc in regiunea Nampula, avand capitala in orasul cu acelasi nume. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nampula_Province

4. Printre distractiile mai putin cunoscute, dar mai apropiate de noi, se poate numara o excursie cu intreaga familie in micul si linistitul Camping De  Muie, pe insula olandeza Tholen. Puteti sa le scrieti sa-i felicitati pentru  denumirea inspirata, sediul lor din St. Maartensdijk e amplasat tot pe strada…  Muie. Sau vizitati-i pe MailScanner soupçonne le lien suivant d’être une tentative de fraude de la part de “www.campingdemuie.nl” http://www.campingdemuie.nl

5. Futai USA Inc. este (ah, asta imi aduce aminte de o imprecatie dintr-un vers de Parazitii) cel mai mare producator de umbrele din lume, vezi  Doamne. Cica aproape toate umbrelele din lume contin piese Futai. Firma  taiwano-americana mai face si crose de golf… desi nu vad legatura. http://www.futaiusa.com/about_futaiusa.htm

6. LABA inseamna pentru toti italienii Libera Accademia di Belle Arti. Saracii ofera chiar 30 burse de studiu “per i Master della LABA”. LABA – La  natura dell’ arte.  http://www.laba.biz

7. Daca tu ai impresia uneori ca esti in rahat, ce parere ai de cei 32.000 de insi  din orasul Rahat -locuit in exclusivitate numai de arabi-, din statul Israel ?  Ei se simt bine acolo, de  vreme ce rahat inseamna pe limba lor ceva gen “convietuire fericita”..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahat

8. Pentru ca din nou ne-am indepartat de plaiurile mioritice, am putea sa vizitam si Curu.  Nu, nu e suficient sa te uiti in spate, Curu este o  rezervatie naturala in Costa  Rica . 75% din Curu lor este impadurit, si  totusi costaricanii il considera unul din cele mai frumoase locuri din   tara . N-as vrea sa le vad pe celelalte, in cazul asta.  http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/curu/

9. Am ajuns si in indepartata Japonie, unde pe crestele muntilor cresc falnicii Sugi. Sugi este chiar arborele national al japonezilor, asteptam cu  interes aclimatizarea lui pe coastele insorite ale Croatiei de mai sus (vezi pct.1). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugi

10. Cui nu-i plac conditiile rudimentare oferite de campingul olandez de  Muie, ii recomandam cu caldura cazarea in hotelul parizian de Buci. http://www.bucihotel.com/

In concluzie, fiti mandri de graiul ce-l graiti, dar  prudenti: n-ai de unde sa stii ce inseamna “buna ziua” in limba uzbeka.

***primit pe mail

Am primit acum cateva zile un mail… m-am amuzat foarte tare… sper sa o faceti si voi.

Cititi CURIOZITATI/COINCIDENTE si nu le considerati VULGARE !

Limba romana e atat de bogata incat am exportat-o pe banda rulanta. M-am aventurat in a face un top al denumirilor internationale care, fara sa stie purtătorii, sunt … d’ale noastre, neaose, suculente si pline de inteles.

1. Pe primul loc, bineinteles, ce alt nume ar putea figura decat renumita statiune croata Pula . Am intalnit persoane care isi fac concediile in Pula (inclusiv oameni care chiar merg in Croatia pentru asta).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pula

2. Tot Pula se numeste si moneda oficială a statului african Botswana . Prin asta se explica saracia lucie din savana … luand in calcul faptul ca populatia e preponderent feminina, se ajunge la cateva subdiviziuni de Pula pe cap de locuitor. Cursul de schimb il gasiti pe:

http://www.x-rates.com/d/BWP/table.html

3. In alte zone de pe continentul african, oamenii o duc si mai rau. Daca botswanezilor le e de ajuns o Pula pentru a-si asigura traiul (mai ales ca-s negri, si stim noi ce se vorbeste despre ei), 4 milioane de mozambicani locuiesc in regiunea Nampula, avand capitala in orasul cu acelasi nume.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nampula_Province

4. Printre distractiile mai putin cunoscute, dar mai apropiate de noi, se poate numara o excursie cu intreaga familie in micul  si linistitul Camping De Muie, pe insula olandeza Tholen. Puteti sa le scrieti sa-i felicitati pentru denumirea inspirata, sediul lor din St. Maartensdijk e amplasat tot pe strada… Muie. Sau vizitati-i pe
http://www.campingdemuie.nl

5. Futai USA Inc. este (ah, asta imi aduce aminte de o imprecatie dintr-un vers de Parazitii) cel mai mare producător de umbrele din lume, vezi Doamne. Cica aproape toate umbrelele din lume conţin piese futai. Firma taiwano-americana mai face si crose de golf… desi nu vad legatura.

http://www.futaiusa.com/

6. LABA inseamna pentru toti italienii Libera Accademia di Belle Arti. Saracii ofera chiar 30 burse de studiu “per i Master della LABA”. LABA – La natura dell’ arte.
http://www.laba.biz

7. Daca tu crezi ca esti in rahat, ce parere ai de cei 32.000 de insi din orasul israelian Rahat ? In Rahat, ce-i drept, locuiesc numai arabi (ca sa vedeti unde i-au trimis filosemitii de americani), si ei se simt bine acolo, de vreme ce rahat inseamna pe limba lor ceva gen convietuire fericita”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahat

8. Pentru ca din nou ne-am indepartat de plaiurile mioritice, am putea sa vizităm si Curu. Nu, nu e suficient sa te uiti in spate, Curu este o rezervatie naturala in Costa Rica . 75% din Curu lor este impadurit, si totusi costaricanii il considera unul din cele mai frumoase locuri din tara . N-as vrea sa le vad pe celelalte, in cazul asta.
http://www.nicoyapeninsula.com/curu/

9. Am ajuns si in indepartata Japonie, unde pe crestele muntilor cresc falnicii Sugi. Sugi este chiar arborele national al japonezilor, asteptam cu interes aclimatizarea lui pe coastele insorite ale Croatiei de mai sus.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugi

10. Cui nu-i plac conditiile rudimentare oferite de campingul olandez de Muie, ii recomandam, cu caldura, cazarea in hotelul parizian de Buci.
http://www.bucihotel.com/

In concluzie, dragi cititori, fiti mandri de graiul ce-l graiti, dar fiti prudenti.

N-ai de unde sa stii ce inseamnă “buna ziua” in limba uzbeka.

This was only one show. But I am already okay with one show. At least for this year that is. First-timer, I won’t deny it. Hehe. I was like a little girl on Christmas Eve. I was just so giddy! (Thank you again, Jeffie and Pao Pao for the invites!)

*This is me trying to take shots of the show. But i couldn’t*

I was just in awe and before you know it, it was done. So, boo. No great photos during the night. Hehe.

*Watched Marlon Rivera’s show with Pao and my brother. *

Met the nicest people, Jeff and his friends are sooo funny and nice. Saw Rica with her officemates, Nante with his officemates, Sir Ron Capinding and my brother introduced me to Mr. Frederick Peralta!!! Wow. Just wow. And as though things couldn’t just get better, we capped the night off with a fabulous and delicious meal at Sugi with Marc. Oh, such a great joy!

*This was actually my plan B outfit*

Although I was not able to wear what I originally intended to wear, I think the plan B outfit worked well. Most asked me why I wasn’t in a dress. haha. Well, I’m not predictable! Hahaha.

My main point, is that I would wear this pair of shoes no matter what. So, it worked out well. hehe.

This is one night to definitely remember!

Top: White bubble tube top, F&H

Bottom: Black skinny jeans, Flea Market

Necklace: Dark Gray, Kota Kinabalu Sunday Market

Pashimna: Blue, India, gift

Bag: Blue Clutch, ForMe, gift

Shoes: Dark gray peep toes, StellaLuna

Nu ştiu alţii cum sunt, dar eu cand văd câte una ca tine, ma loveşte purgaţia instantaneu. Mă bucur să văd că ai evoluat de la curvă prin străinătăţuri la curvă de birou. Deşi sunt convins că pentru tine e doar ceva de moment, considerând asta mai mult un pas înapoi decât o evolutie. Succes in căutările de peşte!

Film: Thiruda Thirudi (2003)

Language: Tamil

Slide Show Link:

Click Here

by Tanaka Juuyoh

What do you know, it’s sakura season again.

The cherry blossoms are sweeping up the the coasts of Honshu, they’ve already bloomed in Osaka and Kyoto, and a few hesitant flowers are starting to open their buds here in Kanazawa. In a week, the banks of the Saigawa river will be awash in petals and people. AJET will be hosting its own hanami – literally ‘flower viewing’ – on April 18th by the river, for those who fondly remember riverside picnics or just feel like getting tipsy under the pretty trees.

Unfortunately all such prettiness has its price. We’re finally, finally nearing the end of hay fever season.

Hay fever, or kafunshou, is the most common springtime ailment in Japan. The main culprit is the cryptomeria cedar.

by Chris 73 (Wiki Commons)

Planted in great swathes during Japan’s post-war boom, cedars kept the construction industry flush with cheap timber. Then in the 1970s, the economy started to recover. Suddenly it was cheaper to import lumber, and all those cedar forests were left to fend for themselves. They not only flourished, they ran rampant. In Greater Tokyo alone, cedar accounts for over 70% of the city’s forests  (that’s about 22,000 hectares). Now every March, as more and more of these trees seed and mature, massive clouds of pollen are released to torment those 20 million-odd unfortunates who suffer from pollen allergies.

Several JETs have reported, and I myself can confirm after a week and a half spent sneezing and sniffling and coughing like a consumptive, that sensitivity to local pollen tends to increase the longer you stay in Japan. So what can you do about it?

During this season of particle plague,  most chemists and drug stores will have a special kafunshou display set up, prominently close to the front doors. Look for the kanji: 花粉症. Here you will find a wealth of pills, sprays, tissues, masks, eye drops, eye baths and anything else you could possibly imagine to treat this rather torturous ailment. Most medicines in Japan are quite good about illustrating the symptoms they treat on the box, however, here are some symptoms to look for if you want to be sure:

kyuusei bien – 急性鼻炎 – acute rhinitis  (aka breathe in and suddenly it feels like your nose is on fire; I love kanji ^_^)

hanamizu – 鼻みず – runny nose  (literarlly ‘nose water’)

hanazumari – 鼻づまり – blocked nose

kushami – くしゃみ – sneeze

namidame – なみだ目 – teary eyes

nodo no itami – のどの痛み – sore throat

arerugii – アレルギー – allergy

zuomo - 頭重 – heavy-headedness  (literally atama ga omoi – 頭が重い)

pusoidoefedorin – プソイドエフェドリン – pseudoephedrine  (for those who want to know when they’ll be falling asleep at their desks ^_~)

Dosage is usually clearly spelled out on the back of the box.

For example, the dosage for this particular med, Pabron  (パブロン, worked very well at drying up my nose to the consistency of sandpaper), reads thus:

On the top line, １回量 (ikkai ryo) means one dose, which equates to two capsules. The second line, 服用回数 (fukuyou kaisuu) means ‘dosage frequency’, which states two doses in one day (１日２回, ichinichi nikai). Essentially, take two capsules twice a day. The little note at the top advises you to wait twelve hours between doses. The big red cross is for people under 15 years, so if you have kids, don’t give them Pabron.

If you’re still unsure, ask your supervisor to read over the information leaflet inside the box.

And if all else fails, there is a simple home remedy that I was told: find some local honey and start spreading it on your toast at breakfast. The idea is that by introducing the smidgens of pollen that remain in the honey into your system, a day at a time, you’ll slowly build up a tolerance. It might do you the world of good, and it certainly won’t do you any harm ^_~

- Lauren

shiu k va place doar sunt al dracului de buna

Am doar cateva amendamente, inainte sa dau nota… Nu esti buna, nu stiu ce vierme cu lant de manelar si sprancene in forma de acoperis de casa ti-a spus tie asta, dar nu esti si nici nu prea vad cum ai putea deveni vreodata buna. Ai mobil, asta e un must-have al anului in pozele de genul asta, sutienul nu numai ca e la vedere, chiar el e vederea, deci ai punctat si la capitolul asta, esti in pozitia de nastere a rasei Baltata, ceea ce iarasi iti aduce un plus la capitolul imagine… Da, cam astea ar fi de spus, 3, treci la loc. Sau, mai bine, ia-o matale pe poteca din kitsch-ul ala de perete si du-te… Te sunam noi.;)

Ciocolata mea pe bancheta

NIci nu ne-am fi inchipuit ca si altceva in afara de ciocolata ti-ar putea apartine. Si zi, te-a pus sa te descalti ca sa te lase sa te urci in masina? Vezi sa inghiti tot, daca se pateaza pielea, te-ai lins pe bot de ciocolata, e a ta doar daca prestezi bine. Gata, mars la produs!

Din prima zi cand a venit pe lume, micuta Floarea a fost pe placul tuturor. Fiecare satean o incercase si stia cum sa-i alinte crupa in asa fel incat Floarea sa faca ce vor ei. Intre timp, iapa s-a mutat la oras, dar obiceiurile vechi mor greu…

I’m trying to shake my fish teppanyaki addiction, so at the next Japanese restaurant we went to, I ordered Tofu Teppanyaki instead. My gamble paid off! It was so good.

Appetizer: It tasted like the eggplants were grilled then sauteed. Yummy!

Yum!

Tofu Steak Teppanyaki

I always order ripe mango shake! I didn’t like theirs though. It tasted like it was diluted.

Ripe Mango Shake

It’s at Sugi in Greenbelt.

Try to go before 12 noon. The place fills up really quickly!

Asa arata un gnom level maxim. Preciousssssss…da’ ochii de unde i-ai luat, Smeagle?

Gata, stiu, de la taticul tau….

Hot Update (aatblog, 07 Feb 2009):

Karena pada akhir desember 2008 Melen dan Koala retired untuk fokus ke Kuliah mereka, maka untuk kompetisi 2009, Fnatic turun dengan starting line up sebagai berikut :

1. Fnatic. Ritter – Captain/picker/support/ganker roles
2. Fnatic. BaHaMuT – Carry
3. Fnatic. Lakuci – Carry
4. Fnatic. Sugi – Support – ( ex. eMporium team )
5. Fnatic. VeLeNo – Any roles- ( ex. eXc )

Source berita : Kompas 2008

Berjalan di sebuah area kompetisi game strategi Defense of the Ancients di Jakarta bulan lalu, Romi tiba-tiba dihentikan rombongan anak muda. ”Anggota Fnatic, kan? Potret-potret dulu, dong,” kata anak muda itu. Layaknya selebriti, Romi melayani para penggemarnya berfoto. Hanya penggemar game yang tahu apa itu Fnatic dan apa yang dikerjakan Romi sebenarnya. Romi bersama empat orang temannya, kini menjalani profesi yang terbilang aneh di Indonesia: menjadi pro-gamer atau professional gamer. Sesuatu yang belum akrab didengar di telinga kebanyakan orang.

”Kami sudah lama menjadi gamer, baru beberapa bulan ini kami dikontrak perusahaan Fnatic,” kata Romi ”melen” Gunawan (25) yang masih kuliah di Fakultas Ekonomi Jurusan Manajemen Universitas Tarumanagara.

Anggota lainnya adalah Ariyanto ”Lakuci” Sony (22), kuliah di Fakultas Ilmu Komputer Jurusan Komputer Akuntansi Universitas Bina Nusantara (Binus); Ritter ”RitteR” Rusli (20), kuliah di Fakultas Ekonomi Jurusan Manajemen Universitas Tarumanagara; Sugiarto ”BaHaMuT” Cahyadi (21), kuliah di Fakultas Ilmu Komputer Jurusan Teknik Informatika Binus; dan Farand ”Koala” Kowara (19).

Awal bertemu

Pemain pro-gamer juga punya orangtua biasa yang selalu mengomel jika anaknya berlebihan main game. Seperti anak-anak lainnya, anggota Fnatic dulu juga bermasalah.

”Orangtua saya dulu juga ngomel, tetapi sekarang sudah mendukung,” kata Ritter. ”Kalau saya enggak ada yang melarang main game soalnya saya indekos, he-he-he,” ujar Romi.

”Saya juga punya pengalaman yang sama. Bahkan, kalau sampai pukul 24.00 malam belum pulang, saya dijemput orangtua di warnet, disuruh cepat pulang, malu banget,” kata Ariyanto.

Romi dan kawan-kawan dulu bertemu saat bermain game di warung internet atau warnet sejak tahun 2005 di Jakarta. ”Waktu itu kami sudah main Defense of the Ancients (DotA). Sebenarnya kami berasal dari dua kubu bersaing waktu itu. Tiap kompetisi kami sering bertemu sebagai musuh,” kata Romi.

Ariyanto dan Sugiarto berasal dari tim ”Emporium”, sedangkan Romi dan Ritter dari Tim ”Big”. Dua tim ini selalu berseteru, tetapi tiba-tiba mereka memutuskan bersatu.

”Kami kemudian bersatu bulan September 2006 di bawah bendera Xcn atau Executioner. Xcn ini tim ><di pemain game Indonesia, istilahnya Xcn ini seperti Fnatic-nya Indonesia-lah,” kata Sugiarto.

”Kami bersatu karena ingin melawan negara luar,” papar Ariyanto. Di bawah Xcn, mereka beberapa kali juara, di antaranya juara I Asian DotA Championship (2007), juara I Game Extreme Leagua (GXL) di Singapura (2007), dan juara II Electronic Sport Thailand Championship (ESTC) (2007). ”Setelah itu, kami ditawari Fnatic bergabung, kami pun pindah ke Fnatic sejak Agustus 2008,” katanya.

Fnatic merupakan perusahaan dengan label yang sedang keren saat ini: e-Sport atau electronic sport. Basisnya di Australia, tetapi memiliki kantor di beberapa negara di Eropa, seperti Inggris dan Belanda. Dominasi Fnatic di tiap pertandingan game sudah tak terbantahkan lagi.

Di bidang game strategi online, Fnatic merajai daratan Eropa dan dunia. Tim Indonesia merupakan satu-satunya yang dimiliki Fnatic dengan konsentrasi game DotA.

Dengan masuknya Indonesia di Fnatic, nama Indonesia masuk enam besar negara penghasil gamer profesional terbaik. Sejajar negara-negara besar yang unggul dalam teknologi dan sumber daya game yang dipercayai Fnatic, yaitu Amerika Serikat (World of Warcraft), Korea Selatan (Warcraft3), Norwegia (Counter-Strike), Swedia (Call of Duty4), dan Spanyol (FIFA).

Baru bergabung sekitar tiga bulan, di bawah Fnatic, berbagai gelar juara telah disabet tim DotA Indonesia, di antaranya juara I World GameMaster Tournament (WGT) yang digelar Asus di Jakarta, juara I WGT di Singapura, juara I Make Games Colourfull (MGC) di China, dan juara I Indonesia Game Show (IGS) di Jakarta.

Fnatic merupakan perusahaan profit yang ternama. Karena itu, para atletnya diberi fasilitas baik. ”Semua kebutuhan main game disediakan, termasuk kebutuhan ke luar negeri untuk bertanding. Kami terima gaji per bulan,” kata Romi.

Fnatic mendapat keuntungan dari sponsor, misalnya MSI Notebook, Steelseries, dan Bestpoker.com. ”Banyak juga barang elektronik yang menggunakan merek Fnatic, jadi Fnatic juga memperoleh pendapatan dari lisensi merek,” kata Ariyanto.

Di Indonesia, sistem seperti ini belum ada. ”Padahal, kami juga serius menekuni dunia ini. Kami profesional, seperti halnya pemain sepak bola, kami atlet cyber,” ujar Romi.

Di negara maju seperti Korea, perusahaanlah yang mencari pemain untuk dijadikan ikon produk mereka. ”Di Indonesia, para pemain yang berjuang mencari perusahaan sponsor, itu pun selalu gagal,” kata Ritter.

Bagi Indonesia, pro-gamer Fnatic ini telah membuka lembaran sejarah baru perkembangan profesi gamer profesional yang bergaji bulanan. Ternyata, game bisa membuka peluang kerja jika ditekuni.

Dukungan pemerintah

Mereka sadar, publik Indonesia, termasuk pemerintah, belum terbiasa memandang game sebagai peluang. Menjadikan pro-gamer di Indonesia sebagai cita-cita mengandung risiko tinggi karena iklim tak mendukung.

”Kalo bisa, pemerintah dukung pro-gamer karena pro-gamer bertarung keluar negeri itu membawa nama Indonesia juga,” kata Ariyanto menekankan.

Mereka pernah bertanding di Singapura dan terkejut melihat tim negara lain semangat membawa panji-panji negaranya. ”Kita lihat tim negara lain datang berseragam dengan atribut negara. Lha, kita datang santai saja karena kita pikir tak ada kaitannya dengan negara,” kata Romi.

Terasa sedih menyadari kalau mereka datang sendirian. Tak ada dukungan dari negara, padahal mereka juga mendambakannya. ”Iri juga kalau melihat perlakuan pemerintah di luar negeri terhadap pro-gamer,” kata Sugiarto.

Melihat minimnya dukungan, apa mereka akan terus menekuni pro-gamer? ”Lihat-lihat dulu, sampai sekarang kayaknya belum bisa kalau hanya mengandalkan pro-gamer saja. Kita masih terpola untuk bekerja di sektor formal, harus ngantor, sedih juga sih sebenarnya,” kata Ariyanto.

Profile Fnatic DotA team

Team Leader:
Fnatic.RitteR

Full Roster / Members :
Ritter ‘RitteR’ Rusli
Romi ‘melen’ Gunawan’
Sugiarto ‘BaHaMuT’ Cahyadi
Ariyanto ‘Lakuci’ Sony
Farand ‘KoaLa’ Kowara

Date founded:

4 years ago (RitteR, melen)

Achievements:

1st MGC China 2008

1st WGT Singapore 2008

1st WGT Indonesia 2008

1st ESWC Indonesia 2008

2nd ESTC Thailand 2008

1st GXL Singapore 2007

1st ADC Season 1 2007

Brief History:

When competitive DotA in Indonesia was young, the players of Fnatic DotA were scatteredon different teams. They used to compete locally in LAN cafe’s until stumbling upon each other in local competitions. Melen and Ritter were on the same team (Big Magic) and eventually met up with Lakuci who was on team Evolve. BaHaMuT came into the picture later, previously being on Emporium. With the desire to become one of DotA’s best teams in the world, they banded together under the XcN organization. After such short success and recognition in the international scene, Fnatic took them under their wing. Since then they have continued strong performances in online tournaments and went on towin three consecutive LAN events in arow.

Players Profile

Fnatic.Melen

Name: Romi Gunawan
Date of birth: 23 October 1983
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
How long have you been playing DotA: 4 years
Relationship status: In a relationship
Habits: Good is clean, bad is sometimes late
Role in team: Support player
Brief description about yourself: I’m helpful

Favourites:
Teams: MYM
Players: MYM|Merlini
Hero: Lina and Earthshaker
Item: Kelen’s Dagger of Escape and Boots of Travel
Tactic: Any tactic
Hobby: Watching a movie, hanging out, tasting culinary food everywhere
Food: Soup thing
Drink: Mineral water
Song: Mandarin song

Fnatic.Ritter

Name: Ritter Rusli
Date of birth: 18 February 1988
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
How long have you been playing DotA: 4 years
Relationship status: In a relationship
Habits: Good is I like to read. Bad is I always forget to bring my mouse/headset/keyboard back from the lan cafe.
Role in team: Leader, any role
Brief description about yourself: Iliketo hang out with my friends, try new food, and if I go overseas, Iwilltry many food hohoho… I love dogs.. I take care of many dogs.Lovet hem so much
Role in team: Leader, any role
Brief description about yourself: I liketo hang out with my friends, try new food, and if I go overseas, Iwilltry many food hohoho… I love dogs.. I take care of many dogs. Lovet hem so much

Fnatic.Lakuci

Name: Ariyanto Sony
Date of birth: 4 December 1986
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
How long have you been playing DotA: 4 years
Relationship status: In a relationship
Habits: -
Role in team: Carry
Brief description about yourself: Hi my name in Ariyanto but everyone calls me Achoonk and I love playing DotA in Fnatic.

Favourites:
Teams: Fnatic
Players: ToFuBoi
Hero: Obsidian Destroyer
Item: Butterfly
Tactic: -
Hobby: Playing DotA, going out with friends, sports
Food: Fried rice, KFC, McDonalds
Drinks: Sweet ice tea
Songs: Japanese Rock Visual Kei Band

Fnatic.BaHaMuT

Name: Sugiarto Cahyadi Date of birth: 3 May 1987
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
How long have you been playing DotA: 3 years
Relationship status: Single
Habits: Lazy
Role in team: Carry Brief
description about yourself: Hi I’m BaHaMuT. My nickname is from Final Fantasy

Favourites:
Teams: Fnatic
Players: LightOfHeaven
Hero: Queen of Pain
Item: Guinsoo, Orchid
Tactic: All tactic
Hobby: Playing DotA Food: All delicious food
Drink: Green tea
Song: -

Fnatic.Koala

Name: Farand Kowara
Date of birth: 21 April 1989
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
How long have you been playing DotA: 2 years
Relationship status: Single
Habits: Good is innocent. Bad is eat too much
Role in team: Anything Brief
description about yourself: I am just an ordinary guy looking for a wonderful reality

Favourites:
Teams: Fnatic
Players: Ritter
Hero: Puck, Shadow Fiend, Queen of Pain
Item: Kelen’s Dagger of Escape, Guinsoo
Tactic: Late
Hobby: Playing games, watching movies, reading comics
Food: Japanese and Italian food
Drink: Canned green tea =D Songs: Japanese pop songs, Jay Chou!!!

]]> http://blogpacatos.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/catpitzi/ Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:59:07 +0000 auga http://blogpacatos.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/catpitzi/

Sfat: daca vrei sa omori definitiv si iremedial aparatul genital al companionului tau, imbraca-te asa si fa-i o surpriza fierbinte. Reactia va fi neasteptata, nimicitoare si dureroasa pentru tine. De obicei se manifesta in zona faciala, careia i se ataseaza temporar falangele companionului.

Fata, de-te mai ashea ca nu se vede buda!

Ashea ma, vezi??

NU`mi plac/e :

că`n momentu` de faţă nu`mi plac o gramadă de lucruri

că am început astfel postu`

că tre` să mai scriu încă 47 de ” nu`mi plac “-uri

că tu te uiţi urat la cuvintele pe care le scot eu din tărtăcuţa mea bogată

că Ionuţ nu vine să plecăm odată de aici

că nu mai am stare

că am draci şi nu ştiu de ce

că am aşa multe lepşe restante

că am mai zis lucrul ăsta ^ de `enşpe mii de ori

că mă tot lamentez. nu`mi place. nu tre` să fac asta. nu`i văd rostu`. pe româneşte : FUCK OFF, Ale !

că un pulică îmi tot dă comentarii total de`am plua şi am vreo 23 la spam

că nu am cu cine să mă cert momentan. mama doarme. bebe`i pe drum. şi eu ? frec menta de`am pixu` cu Noxy pe mess. Cu el nu mă cert..încă. îi las satisfacţia asta lui d3v. NU de alta, da` n`am de ce, plus că mi`a promis un PT

nesimţirea mea. lately, n`are limite. Într`un fel, îmi place aşa. Astfel m-am obişnuit

că`s aeriană. Nu ştiu ce mama dracu` trebuie să fac

că vorbesc aşa de urât

că mama doarme şi mie`mi vine să urlu. Nu pot pentru că a`şi trezi`o , lucru nu prea indicat, având în vedere că e moartă de oboseală.

vremea de`a plua. Plouă. Bate vantul. Fulguieşte. Noroiu`i cât gardu`… God damn it !

gândul că mă duc la Kaufland şi acolo interactionez fără voia mea cu toate bovinele.

că ţigănuşii ăia iar vor veni ” imi dai 5 mii ??”. Azi chiar n`am chef de ei. De obicei îmi golesc buzunarele de tot măruntul şi li`l dau lor. Azi, sper să nu încerce careva să mă abordeze în halul ăsta.

ghetele. M`am săturat de ele. Profit cât pot de mult de adidaşii mei. Îi ador. Pe ei şi pe pijamaua mea.

ziua de azi. e de cacat. a inceput în felul ăsta şi , mai mult ca sigur, va continua astfel

că`mi exprim eu doleanţele pe blog. Chiar nu pricep de ce mama dracului fac eu lucrul ăsta aici, cu voi.

Garrone`ul. S`a terminat. Adică, mi l`au terminat. Îmi pare rau dupa el. Ar fi mers o duşcă bună fix acum !

hainele. Am pe mine o pereche de pantaloni de trening şi un hanorac. Acum tre` să mă mişc naibii de pe scaunu` de la birou şi să mă duc să`mi iau out fit`ul “de stradă”. Uffff

iarna-toamna asta. vreau vară

alexxutzu că mă tot amăgeşte cu Jamaica

faptul că tastez muuult prea repede şi asta mă face să mai “mananc din litere”

foamea care nu`mi dă pace. Se încăpăţânează pur şi simplu să nu mă mai părăsească.

dorinţa mea de a manca “ceva” şi , pe cealaltă parte, faza e că nu ştiu în ce constă acel “ceva” dat dracului .

constănţeanu că nu mi-a aprobat până acum 2 comentarii. de ce ? pentru că în ele eu n-am scris ceea ce vroia el să audă Na !

că trebuie să mă epilez periodic. aş fi putut trăi liniştită şi fără păru’ ăla în plus. în schimb, epilatul la băieţi mi se pare cam . . ummm. . . gay

rasismul

discriminarea

cenzura

Dragoş care zice ceva de supt. ceva cu un sân de-al meu. kinky boy.

când mă întrerupe cineva. îmi vine să-i mutilez mecla în acele momente.

întârziaţii. ce plua mea, mă, voi n-aţi auzit cu ce se mănâncă punctualitatea?! hai că vă învăţ eu

cei ce se holbează la sânii şi la fundu’ meu. chiar mă simt prost în acele momente pentru că-mi imaginez ce le trăzneşte prin căpăţână doar holbându-se la mine.

ceapa

pilaful. o mâncăare scârboasăăăăăăă

puiul. m-am săturat de el. gata. mi-a ajuns. Ionuţ, în schimb, e nebun după el

mensturaţia. aş vrea să dispară. nu-mi plac acele 4 zile din lună.

concepţiile învechite conform cărora o femeie trebuie să-i crească pe copii şi să stea la cratiţa. Fuck it. N-ai să mă vezi aşa. No, not me!

incertitudinea mea în ceea ce priveşte ce facultate voi urma. trebuie să mă gândesc de ţâşpe mii de ori înainte de a face o alegere. În funcţie de asta îmi voi alege, dacă pot să zic aşa, viitorul.

bătrânii care-mi vin cu faze gen ” tinerii din ziua de azi . . .” crepa-o-ai momâio. ce, tu n-ai fost ca mine ?

alea de-şi încoardă râtu’ şi după aia fac poză-n oglinda din baie. ce vrei să-mi areţi ? că ţi-a intrat tamponu’ şi nu-l mai poţi scoate ?

orele de engleză. e prea linişte la ele. nu pot să mă mişc sau să râd că o şi aud pe profa ” Raţiu, da’ n-ai de gând să încetezi odată? “

mâncare. n-o ştiu găti. de fapt, nu-i aşa greu. îmi trebuie doar puţină răbdare să mă uit la mama cum se face. fuck, la vara am de lucru.

El pentru că nu a mai postat de multişoooor.

postul de faţă. e de-a dreptul…nasol. ( hai să nu fiu chiar aşa dură cu mine. am găsit un termen acceptabil, zic eu. mai bine nasol decât ” penal” )

Leapşă primită de la Available Zone, dată mai departe la Dedeea

S`a trezit si adultu` Noxy ca o vrea. Ia`o nene, e gratis ) !

Ahad, 31 Januari 2009, Guru-guru SMA Islam Al Izhar Pondok Labu mendapatkan pencerahan dari Prof. DR. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, mengenai kiat kiat mengajar yang efektif dan bisa diterima peserta didik.