There's no such thing as a free lunch...Or is there?

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It's official. The next president of Indonesia is former army general Prabowo Subianto. Quite how the next five years will pan out is anyone's guess but hopefully the foreign pundits who always bring up his dodgy human rights record will be proven wrong. Nonetheless, on policy making, Prabowo's popularist move to literally offer the poor 'a free lunch' every day of the week does not augur well for the future. Such a policy - if it ever came to fruition - would cost a phenomenal amount of money and likely lead to huge inefficiencies (food waste) and poor incentives (make people lazy). Another concern is Prabowo's strong nationalist bent. Thus, in the possible event that he finds himself with his back against the proverbial wall in the face of stern economic challenges, there is a big chance that he will simply scapegoat foreigners. But he will have to be careful. Construction of the new capital city, Nusantara, for example, is highly dependent on foreign in
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Contradictions in Jakarta

It’s never nice getting the flu – especially when you’ve got things to do. So to keep going I’ve taken some pills that the wife has given me.

God knows what they are, but I reckon they’re pretty strong. The strange thing about Indonesia is that the legal drugs available from drug stores are probably stronger than the stuff that is made illegal like E. 

 Anyway, the main side effect of the drug is to make me feel sleepy. No other choice then but to glug back a ton of coffee for a caffeine rush. 

But the effect is really weird. It’s like taking uppers and downers at the same time. Everything’s a contradiction. I’m sleepy but feel really awake. The lights are bright but everything’s in shadows. And even the ugly little chick in the far cubical looks attractive today. 

Things are rushing by but time seems to be standing still. Conservatism rules but the latest Indonesian film is called “I’m sorry, but I’ve just impregnated your wife”.


I’m overloaded with work but have nothing to do. White cigarettes are for wimps and kreteks (clove cigarettes) are for real men. WTF!! Marlboro Kreteks !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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