Me: My Last Friday Pray in Houston

[houston] jan 27
... tomorrow i will leave houston to london and today is friday and will be my last friday in houston for this trip. as usual i came early to masjid mustapha conventry, bear creek, west houston. today, imam was someone from arab with clear good english (and off course well understood on arab). he explained related the beginning of the second suraah, al baqarah of the holy book quran. in this suraah, Allah explains the characteristic of the believers in four ayaahs, the unbelievers in two ayaahs and the hypocrits in thirteen ayaah!!!

he continued explained in the hypocrit characters, which the schoolar - the ulaama - has divided into two big hypocrits: hypocrit in belief and hypocrit in practice. the most danger is the first one, as it is in belief, they may be apparently a good muslim but deep down in their heart - a strong hatred to muslim and the book - quran.

the place for the hypocrites, as the book stated, was on the botom of hellfire. may Lord and only Him can give us guidance to true-path.

while on the hypocrites by practices, we may frequently practice it as our daily character, as like promise but easy to break, unfaithful, lazy to go to pray, ... etc.

Me: ... do you know what a suffer is?

[houston]
this post is dedicated for mann family, who has experience d unbearable loss of 7 members of family on this tragic accident. the suffer was increasing that their grand pa was passed away after received this tragic news. all seven kids were death on deadly accident in floride, when 15-year old girl drove without license and hit a school bus and was hit by a truck.

it was tremendous sadness and suffer ... loosing eight persons of the loves one at once. The victims were:
Cynthia Mann and Elizabeth Mann, both 15;
Ashley Keen and Johnny Mann, both 13;
Miranda Finn, 9;
Heaven Mann, 3; and
Anthony Lamb, 20 months

and their grandpa was William Scott, 62

i felt sad for them
for our reflection that we are all from the Lord, and only to Him we will return.

see my other posts related a human:
My Indonesia: happy new year and innalillah
Me: Good Bye, my friend

Me: ... 21days gone and finally

[houston]
today is my 21days away from my love one. today was also my end of the long 6week course for my new assignment as central coach. after couple years as manager who has authority, moves as central coach is challenging role. ... for me it likes moving as a king become a priest, and this course has improved me as human part in soft skill (i hope so).

the 21days were gone, but i'll spend couple days in houston and leave to london in next saturday, stay several days in aberdeen. return back to jakarta two days after my birthday. long way to go ... at least there is progress toward back home.

bob and alen, as facilitators for the whole season have tremen- dously delivered the contents, experiences and sharing to us. the class was so so diversed, ravi of trinidad, richard of dutch, greg of london, wendy of alabama's girl, richard, jim and steve of american (from diversed city and experience also), also bob and alen of scottish. ... so diversed.

following was my page of class year book, with attached my class mate's comments:

• "small in stature - huge in mind"

• "i have never eaten so much ham
  or recieved so much google desktop spam
  i stand up and told i'm "one"
  i hope we will have some fun
  but now i'ts time to say goodbye to uncle sam"

• "you don't speak to much, but when you do we all know that we should listen"

• "calm, cool and collective" your approach to engage other is amazing. your techniques to draw individuals in and hold their attention is great. you have special talent in this"
  

• "can you teach me power point 101? good luck in your new role"

• "enjoyed working with muiz. always very engaged in during the course and managed to nearly always answer all questions in the weekly exams!?"

• "we need a memory joggler"

• "smile and the world smiles with you"

• "our computer expert has arrived"
  

... and one of my comments was related to hotel, where the foods was always awful during lunch(for me) was:

• "is this a holiday inn? it is?! oh why i taste it on the food. all cooks must be on holiday"

my other posting related my this six week trip and more:
Me: ied mubaraq alone in alien country
Me: i'm alone but not lonely
My Family: when i'm away
Me: ... super ginko giloba or brain implant
Me: my reading book [1]
Me: papa is coming to town
Me: ... finally, i'm going home
Me: Jumat Praying in Conventry Mosque
Me: holiday inn select and surrounding
Me: ... finally, i can voip talk with my family
My Family: ... kids, sleeping but wonderful

My Indonesia: ... pornografi [responding gusdur's comment]

Kutipan dari
detikcom tentang komentar Gus Dur terhadap penggodokan Rancangan UU Pornografi dan Pornoaksi yang sedang digodok oleh DPR.

"Jangan buru-buru bikin RUU Pornografi, soalnya nanti kalau terburu-buru dibelakangnya mengubahnya sulit. Belum tentu itu jalan terus, pasti ada perubahan-perubahan kan,"

Sebagai seorang awam dalam hal agama atau bernegara, saya menganggap bapak kita - yth Kyai Haji Abdurahman Wahid, mantan Presiden RI yang nyaris-lulusan sastra Arab di Irak dan Kairo cukup mengagetkan terutama melihat titelnya. Walaupun kalow mengingat sepak terjang komentar beliau, yang selalu/sering anti-kenormalan atau asal-nyleneh merupakan hal yang "normal" (bagiku) atau normal (bagi pengikut fabatiknya --- bahkan pernah aku temui di salah satu pengikutnya, silsilah Gusdur sampai ke Nabi Muhammad saw!!!).

Oke, kita coba kembali ke konteks permasalahan tentang komentar beliau. Hal tersebut merupakan hal yang pantas disampaikan ketika kita baru merdeka dan tidak melihat masalah pornografi/pornoaksi tersebut sesuatu yang penting (karena lebih banyak masalah yang lain). Sedangkan kita bisa merasakan dan melihat atau membaca, semua hal tersebut mengancam anak-anak kita atau generasi mendatang. Kasus SMA Cianjur (lihat komentarku di blog ini) seharusnya membangunkan komunitas bangsa Indonesia tentang issue besar di komunitas anak-anak muda kita. Semua yang kita lihat merupakan hanya puncak gunung es, masalah yang sebenarnya bisa 10x lipat dari yang kita lihat. Akibat dari perilaku tersebut jauh lebih besar lagi.

Walaupun dalam hal tertentu aku tidak akan dapat terbebas dari "temptation to see those wicked things" sebagaimana beliau, dengan segala kekuatan iman beliau. Oleh sebab itu, selayaknya seseorang ketika memberi komentar harus memikirkan tidak hanya "what if situation" untuk diri sendiri tetapi untuk anggota masyarakat yang jauh lebih rendah (dari ilmu, iman dsbnya).

Dengan tanpa hadirnya Playboy edisi Indonesia, anak-anak kita sudah tercemar dengan berbagai pornografi dan pornoaksi yang menggeliat dengan kencang setelah reformasi. Dari majalah atau tabloid kuning, DVD dan VCD atau tayangan di TV yang begitu mudahnya digelar atau ditayangkan dari jalan protokol sampai ke gang-gang kumuh atau dari jam anak bangun pagi sampai tidur lagi. Undang-undang merupakan rambu-rambu, untuk mengendalikan manusia dengan segala pikirannya. Semua hukuman atau denda tidak akan diberlakukan untuk anggota masyarakat yang tidak melanggarnya.

Undang-undang... atau peraturan (lebih umum) merupakan aturan yang adil bagi yang melanggar atau tidak. Bagi yang melanggar, mereka melakukan dengan kesadaran dan memahami semua konsekuensi yang akan dihadapi, sedang bagi yang tidak melanggar sesuatu yang adil karena dilindungi dari pengaruh dari semua yang diatur. Misalnya, Perda DKI tentang larangan merokok di ruang publik di Jakarta, adil buat yang tidak merokok karena terbebas dari asap yang tidak diinginkan dan adil buat sang perokok karena mereka memahami konsekuensinya terhadap hukum maupun kesehatan. Hal tsb, berlaku juga untuk Rancangan Undang-Undang ini.

Aku sebagai seorang ayah membayangkan apabila anak-anak kita tercemar dengan hal tersebut dan bagaimana perasaan kita. That's all, Gusdur.

Thank's God, it was only two damn years ... I was always thankful for the lessons from him ... at least the bad one. Be quiet ... and you may gain more respect.

Gusdur, following is policy to govern sexually provocative in sex & games of e3 2006 expo. The expo will be held next may in america ... just imagine gusdur. hope this will open up our eye wider...

"Material, including live models, conduct that is sexually explicit and/or sexually provocative, including but not limited to nudity, partial nudity and bathing suit bottoms, are prohibited on the Show floor, all common areas, and at any access points to the Show. ESA, in its sole discretion, will determine whether material is acceptable."

Read my other comments related Indonesian society:
My Indonesia: ... sick society or what [in response to Cianjur case]
My Indonesia: i'm on your side for this time, bambang [in response oil price hike]
My Indonesia: sederhana dan kebanggaan
My Indonesia: Jika Aku Presiden - Gaji dan GNP
My Indonesia: Jika Aku Presiden - the Cruel meet the Soft
My Indonesia: Jika Aku Presiden - Pemberantasan Korupsi

Me: ... I'm alone but not lonely

[houston] january 19
3:00am wake up too

thousands miles miles away from my loves one
i'm alone

week after week lives in an alien country
i wake up this morning and found a message
a message that like a hot soup for my soul of love
so hot that make me warm in freezing houston

that's from the love one

>
> i sit here alone feeling so empty and lonely
> i think of you often every minute of the day
>
> i miss you forever
>

i smile to see the message
i think of her more and more and swap my lonely feeling away
i think of someone out there thinks of me, loves me and does care for me
i miss her much more than before

i'm alone but not lonely
darling, i love you much more than you can think of

3:50am --- i start sleeping again

World: interesting easy video and fantastic

[houston]

people is dancing around the world, amateur shooting someone in difference place with the same rhytm dancing. Awesome




david belle - a parkour from russia, show crazy acts by professional in our backyard. don't try this at home.


Ping Pong Reload
... interesting ping pong with matrix technology


My other easy things you can see:
World: Weird Pictures Taken by Me
Me: Have You Ever Wondered

World: Next US President and Prophecy (2)

[houston]

Yesterday, in MSNBC, there was live interview with the first lady of USA, Laura Bush. She shared his political opinion related to her plan to visit Liberia on the new Liberian President which is also first President woman for Liberia. She quoted that America will be soon to have also President woman. In this case, Laura shared that currently Dr Condolize Rice (US Foreign Affair Secretary) is the best candidate for US as the next 2009 Presidency candidate.

This statement seems like completing one propechy of Nostrademus as I quoted previously. Hillary v Rice in the 2009 US Presidency candidate, and the winner will be Nostrademus.

You can see my previous posts related/similar on this post also:
World: Terorrist on War [bahasa]
World: Next US President and Prophecy

Me: Have You Ever Wondered? [EZThought]

[Holiday Inn - Atlantic Avenue Long Beach]
quoted somewhere from a bulletin in this hotel. copyrights belong to unknown or it may have been a public domain already.

Why are there interstates in Highway?

Why isn't "phonetic" spelled like it sounds?

Why are there floatation devices under airplane seats instead of parachutes?

Why are cigarettes sold at gas stations where smoking is prohibited?

Do you need a silencer if you're going to shoot a mime?

If a 7eleven shop is open 24hours, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the door?

If nothing ever sticks to Teflon, how do they get it to stick to the pan?

What does Geronimo say when he jumps out of a plane?

If olive oil comes from olives, where does baby oil come from?

See my previous post related to EZthought:
World: Weird Pictures Taken by Me

Me: Good Bye, my friend

[houston]
--- dedicated for my friend, late hari santoso, who passed away on duty in bravo flowstation after got heart attack today, january 10 at 7:00pm local time (GMT+7). may Lord bless you with forgiveness and heaven and also bless for your family with strength and faith, my friend ---

05:30am
i was on the hotel to prepare to celebrate the feast of sacrifice (idul adha) when i got a message that my friend, hari santoso, got heart attack in bravo flowstation (one of offshore oil and gas facilities in my area). it was about 6:30pm in jakarta or 5:30am in houston, medical evacuation chopper was on the way and i prayed for his condition. i'd called bravo but it was busy day there, then i just proceeded to go to the mosque.

06:30am
i'd arrived in the mosque mustapha - isgh bear creek, where i used to join for friday praying, i expected early arrival there but it was no activity inside or outside there. i kept calling bravo flowstation, expected get any update news of my friend's condition.

07:15am
somebody -- a pakistani -- stopped his car and approached and offered me for any help. later he told me that this mosque would not conduct any praying today, but all houston will conduct on convention hall in downtown - and it was impossible for me to go there with less than an hour with current traffic. i planned to drive back to hotel.

08:00am
nyoman called me on the way to hotel and informed me that my friend had passed away. medical team in offshore had done everything possible to keep him alive, but Lord had different scenario. he passed away ... inna lillahi wa inna ilaih rajiun -- indeed, all comes from Lord and to Him we will return --. i parked my car to listen his story and to settle my feelings. it was about half an hour just stay there. some drivers were watching me (i worn a moslem shirt and peci - a moslem cap) while i was staring at nothing.

today was the hardest time for me to face my friend passed away. i remembered when we had family gathering in lembang - and he was one of initiator and executor to make this gathering succesful.

hari, good bye --- may Lord give us His merciful, forgiveness and heaven.

Me: Ied Mubaraq Alone in Alien Country

houston] 10 Dzulhijjah - January 9 pm

I was on the way back to my hotel after picked up my Avis Chevrolet Impala. I switched on the radio and found a song that familiar in my ear. Somebody said it was a broken heart song, but i'm not sure she was right on this... the song was "I don't have a heart" of James Ingram and for sure this was old song but i felt new for me recently.

Your face is beaming
You say it's 'cause you're dreaming
Of how good it's going to be
You say you've been around
And now you've finally found
Everything you wanted and needed in me

(Chorus)
I don't have the heart to hurt you
It's the last thing I wanna do
But I don't have the heart to love you
Not the way you want me to

Inside I'm dying
Seeing you crying
How can I make you understand
I care about you
So much about you
I'm trying to say this, as gently as I can

(Chorus)

You're so trusting
And Open
Hoping that love will start
But I don't have the heart
Oh no, I don't have the heart

After he completed the song, I switched off my radio and felt really alone on this alien country. I picked the car for preparation that tomorow I should go early to Bear Creek Masjid (17250 Coventry Park, Houston, TX 77084) for Ied praying. On the way to go back to my hotel, I felt so so very very little in front of the Almighty, my Creator --- I repeated tasbih, tahmid alone in the car.

This time, I felt different environment to celebrate the feast of sacrifice (iedul adha) and always the first time. This was the first time i did fasting in this country and also did without taking sahur meal (who would prepare meal, if I was alone) while attending the course. Tomorrow will be my first time also to celebrate the feast alone, but I will found so many brotherhood of moslems there.

This time, all feelings were melting into my heart, broken hearted, alone, found new brotherhood, faith, etc.

"For my brothers and sisters, who have chances to present in Arafah valley, followed with other ritual to Muzdaliffah, Mecca and Mina - I pray for you for Lord to bless you with Hajj Al-Mabrur and Lord accepts all good deeds and dua"

"For all moslems, I pray for us, that we can follow good example of Ismael and Abraham as good humble of the Creator - follow and accept without reserve."

World: a letter from a malcolm x [related to ied mubarrak on next tue]

[houston]

The following is Malcolm X’s (al-Hajj, Malik al-Shabazz) letter to his assistants in Harlem during his pilgrimage to Makkah in April of 1964 (quoted from http://www.islamonline.net*)

Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient holy land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the holy scriptures. For the past week, I have been utterly speechless and spellbound by the graciousness I see displayed all around me by people of all colors.

I have been blessed to visit the holy city of Makkah; I have made my seven circuits around the Ka'aba, led by a young Mutawwaf (guide) named Muhammad; I drank water from the well of the Zamzam. I ran seven times back and forth between the hills of mount al-Safa and al-Marwa. I have prayed in the ancient city of Mina, and I have prayed on mount Arafat.

There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.

America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem. Throughout my travels in the Muslim world, I have met, talked to, and even eaten with people who in America would have been considered white - but the white attitude was removed from their minds by the religion of Islam. I have never before seen sincere and true brotherhood practiced by all colors together, irrespective of their color.

You may be shocked by these words coming from me. But on this pilgrimage, what I have seen, and experienced, has forced me to rearrange much of my thought-patterns previously held, and to toss aside some of my previous conclusions. This was not too difficult for me. Despite my firm convictions, I have always been a man who tries to face facts, and to accept the reality of life as new experience and new knowledge unfolds it. I have always kept an open mind, which is necessary to the flexibility that must go hand in hand with every form of intelligent search for truth.

During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass, and slept on the same rug - while praying to the same God - with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.

We were truly all the same (brothers) - because their belief in one God had removed the white from their minds, the white from their behavior, and the white from their attitude.
I could see from this, that perhaps if white Americans could accept the Oneness of God, then perhaps, too, they could accept in reality the Oneness of Man - and cease to measure, and hinder, and harm others in terms of their “differences” in color.

With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-called “Christian” white American heart should be more receptive to a proven solution to such a destructive problem. Perhaps it could be in time to save America from imminent disaster - the same destruction brought upon Germany by racism that eventually destroyed the Germans themselves.

Each hour here in the holy land enables me to have greater spiritual insights into what is happening in America between black and white. The American Negro never can be blamed for his racial animosities - he is only reacting to four hundred years of the conscious racism of the American whites. But as racism leads America up the suicide path, I do believe, from the experiences that I have had with them, that the whites of the younger generation, in the colleges and universities, will see the handwriting on the walls and many of them will turn to the spiritual path of truth - the only way left to America to ward off the disaster that racism inevitably must lead to.

Never have I been so highly honored. Never have I been made to feel more humble and unworthy. Who would believe the blessings that have been heaped upon an American Negro? A few nights ago, a man who would be called in America a white man, a United Nations diplomat, an ambassador, a companion of kings, gave me his hotel suite, his bed. Never would I have even thought of dreaming that I would ever be a recipient of such honors - honors that in America would be bestowed upon a King - not a Negro.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.

Sincerely,al-Hajj, Malik al-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
* Taken from The Autobiography of Malcolm X, co-authored by Alex Haley.

My Family: ... when I'm away

[sq lounge - singapore]

when i'm away
i'll miss them more
i'll be lonely for weeks
... i was staring the frozen pictures of them
... we were playing in my dreams
... we were talking in a distance call

but i'll keep in my heart
that i need them more than they need me


2004 - Independence Parade Show in Nirwana Estat


2003 - Cheerful faces of my heroes


2005 - Cheerful faces of my heroes


2003 - They were on playground at Ancol


2004 - Posed on the staircase of Monas


2002 - Welcome posing for new brother


2004 - Two years later

See other post related my kids:
my family: ... and winner is (2)
my family: selamat ulang tahun anakku (1)
me: finally i can voip talk with my family
my family: ... and winner is
my family: kids, sleeping but wonderfull

Me: Super Gingko Giloba or Brain Implant

[Kris Lounge - Changi Airport]

I think I may need super gingko giloba or brain implant or just upgrade my OS brain to latest update. I was on the hall of Changi Airport accessing my email after setting up alarm on my phone at 9:00am. Later, I'd just realized that I missed the flight SQ-12 to LAX when I saw it was passed 10minutes from latest boarding time and my alarm had not sounded yet. What a pitty, I had updated different time zone on my wrist watch on the flight but not on my mobile phone. I didnot realized it until the F52 gate was closed for boarding. I was not alone, I saw a young couple who missed the same flight also ... I think they may need not only upgrading their OS but also upgrading their brain instead. [Besides that, I did quick react by reporting to the officer so I got my replacement flight on SQ-20 direct flight to LAX, while they were still struggling to get seats]

Not because this one thing that I felt upgrading my OS brain might help. The story was started the day before. It was the "damn-hectic-busy" Thursday, where I had to do real multi tasking jobs - I meant, real multi tasking - with the same deadline and I had to do it perfectly. I had to arrange face to face for appraisal of my subordinates in the correct process (it means to have discussion more than 45minutes each and I had five subordinates on the schedule for that day), I had to get appraisals discussion from my boss, besides my other day-to-day operation things in my mind - while I had to arrange my flight itirenary on the last day (after the route was changed and I need to go to London also). All was done at 5:30, great - seems nothing wrong so far.

Later, I had just realized that I had to settle all expenses before my departure to give the free space on my Amex Card... which was another one thousand dollars before it reached the limit. I unpacked my bag, pulled out my T41, updated the expense - printed and leaved it to Secretary desk... returned to home, arranged last dinner with family (for this month) and purchased new jacket for my trip. So far so good, ... until when I checked my bag --- my T41 was not there. It was 9:30pm after tired day, I had to drive to the office to get my T41 or disturbed my next trip without my notebook in my bag. Because I was so tired, also my wife was - I requested her to accompany me to drive and it meant all my kids had to join us for sleeping only (They were afraid if we leaved them alone). At 10:00pm or 30 minutes driving, I arrived at Arkadia and fortunately I met Security Officer, Dasuki whom was bringing two notebooks with him and one of them was mine. I got the notebook and driven back home. Tired ... pack the bag ... and sleep tiredly and soundly.

Back to what happened in Changi, I was enjoying my lunch on the lounge and everything had been settled which cost me SGD 500++, when the couple was entering the lounge. I did not know and did not want to - which flight they would be, but I believe they would wait longer than me. I set all my devices to Singapore time zone and set alarm properly, hope that I'll be boarding shortly at 2:30pm (60 minutes before the gate close).

From all "bad" things with my partially corrupted data in my head (i think i just need additional partition and reformat in my head later), I met helpful and nice people there, Dasuki was one, an indian singaporean girl in transfer officer and Syahrul Hamid in the lounge desk. They were very helpful for me.

My Indonesia: Happy New Year and Innalillah

dedicated for victims of corruptors who suffer or die or dying in hungry - for recent victims in cirebon who passed away - dear late asifah (13) and makhali (6), may the Lord give you a new world with full of happiness and love.

[Jakarta]
Pagi hari, biasa saya mulai dengan membaca koran pagi - speed reading - sekedar untuk mencari headline dari berita di setiap halaman. Pagi itu saya menemukan berita di halaman tengah bagian bawah tentang dua korban meninggal di Cirebon karena busung lapar.

Memang menyedihkan mengawali hari di awal tahun baru dengan berita yang cukup memilukan. Seorang anak berumur balita dan belasan tahun meninggal dengan mengenaskan di negara yang kaya, dengan koruptor-koruptor gemuk yang bebas bergentayangan. Saya membayangkan mereka adalah adik anak bungsuku atau kakak si sulung, menyedihkan saya yang berkecukupan pun tidak dapat membagi sesuap nasi buat mereka. Bagaimana perasaan sang ibu yang mengandung dan menjaganya, menanti kepastian sang Khalik memanggil kekasih kecilnya kepangkuanNya kembali, kekasih kecilNya yang diabaikan sang kaya dan sang penguasa. Bagaimana perasaan adik dan kakaknya melihat saudaranya meregang nyawa dengan sisa tenaga yang tak bersisa.

Kembali ke sebelah timur lagi dan menemui puluhan nyawa meregang tenggelam dan terkubur lumpur tanpa tahu siapa yang menyebabkan kemarahan sang alam, dan mengapa alam membalas ke mereka yang (mungkin) tidak ikut andil menghancurkan dan merusak alam.

Di luar sang takdir kematian yang harus kita yakini, saya menyesalkan kejadian tersebut selalu berulang - mereka bukanlah korban yang pertama dan bukan pula yang terakhir. Jika pemerintah berdiam diri atau kurang gesit mengatasi hal tersebut di atas, termasuk menghukum koruptor dan penggundul hutan, korban akan berjatuhan dan mungkin murka Tuhan akan menghampiri mereka.

Apa hukuman yang pantas untuk sang koruptor --- satu kata, "mati" dan itu dengan proses yang sama ketika korban marasmus meninggal, pelan dan pasti menuju kematian. How about sang penggundul hutan --- satu kata, "mati" dan dengan cara sang korban mati tenggelam bercampur lumpur.

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun, telah meninggal para korban kerakusan manusia di bumi yang kaya di tahun yang baru