Demo Gods and Runaway Freight Trains…
Ok, I’m typing fast: don’t cringe at my typos, bad grammar or composition (you should be used to these by now hahaha). I am dead tired, and I am fighting a cold (so far it’s a 50/50 battle).
These last few days have been VERY BUSY. Reviewing photos, reworking photos, resizing photos, new sharpening routines for optimal results for various visual media. I also bought anew low-tech tech toy: a Mini DVI to VGA cable that allows my hyper-sexy MacBook to use a 2nd visual graphics device like a 2nd monitor.
I’ve been VERY BUSY because my photographic career has been gathering more and more momentum. If my photographic career has energy, that energy is changing from potential to kinetic energy!
Even more, my photographic work is turning into a perpetual energy machine; fueling itself with the energy needed to continue. My Photographic work and efforts have taken on the exponentially increasing momentum of a runaway freight train! I feel like an engineer trying to keep my train on the tracks, despite the twists and turns.
*~ And So Far I Am Successfully Keeping My Train On Track! ~*
Today I gave a presentation to the Indonesian Government. Running a slide show to display photographs using an InFocus projector, I turned into what Bill Gates (of Microsoft, of course!) calls “The Demo God:” a person who knows his product, and the needs of his client so well, failure is impossible.
For days, I narrowed thousands of photos down to a very select body of work, specific to their project needs. The presentation went *~ extremely ~* well. The directors seemed highly impressed, and (even better) seemed to like every photo presented to them for their use. Not only are they going to purchase far more photos than I had thought, they asked for additional photos for a separate project as well!
*~ AND THEY ACCEPTED MY PRICE! Hmmm, maybe I should have asked for more? ~*
Now now, do not bother to ask my price. I tailored the price based on a number of factors: rarity of the photos (as no other photographer has them, that I am aware of) the time and effort to obtain the photographs (going to Kalimantan, to remote areas of the island, including to Dayak tribes), the fact the photos are being used for books, brochures, government reports and web, etc., etc. Anyway, I can say this: I should more than double my salary for Jan 2008 (based on my teacher’s salary), even more depending on how many other photos they want from the next set (see below).
The director also inquired about a possible exhibition… (more to come about this later…)
Anyway, I’m alive and well. I need to thank my friend, KiKi, for helping me narrow down the selection to a razor sharp group. We spent days editing and reworking the photos.
*~ Hmmm, maybe I should pay her an assistant’s fee? NO WAY! Silly me! (j/k) ~*
Time to get back to work. I must finish another batch of photos (showing samples of housing in poor areas). I tried to finish this batch today at StarBucks, but some files were on the backup drive, so I was forced to wait to be home. fun fun fun
*~ YES I do backups of EVERY digital asset! ~*
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today: none. too busy to learn more *~ cry ~*
Take care, and wish me further luck. So far 2008 is starting off good. 
*~ Rodney ~*
Ice Cream With a Toxic Waste Chaser…
Today started like a typical Rodney Saturday during a holiday. I woke up late, after a night of watching pirated DVDs, took a shower and went to Starbucks.
*~ And thank “you” for the free Fappuccino and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie! ~*
Strange… in America, I never really liked oatmeal raisin cookies, opting for choc chip instead. But here, I LOVE the oatmeal raisin cookies at ‘Bucks! Anyway…
After a few hours of web surfing and research. Yup, I’m “working” on the research for photo projects even on a holiday Saturday. *~ cryyy ~* I met up with The-Twin-Who-Is-No-Longer-Evil and went to Pondok Indah Mall for some special shopping. While there we decided to take in a movie: National Treasure. It turned out to be very fun! I love the action, and I liked that guy, Riley, the tech geek, who used a wonderful hybrid mixture of pocket pc + Apple MacBook, wireless headset and iPod, all networked with Bluetooth (except for the iPod) to do his tech wizardry!
*~ Ahhh, reminds me of the days when Ed and I used to do similar tech pranks ~*
I also LOVED teasing the Twin as all the latest movies (e.g., National Treasure and I Am Legend) showed the heroes using Apple desktop computers and Apple MacBooks! The Twin has been mulling over the idea of getting a MacBook for months. I have one, her sister, Princess, has one, half the people in the cafes had them, and now she’s beginning to feel left out. *~ hahaha ~*
One of the things that surprised me was the price of tickets, only 25,000 Rupiah! PIM is a very high-class mall in a very exclusive area of Jakarta, yet their tickets are lower price than most of the rest of the city (and half the price of Studio XXI at EX Plaza, my favorite place). If PIM was not an 1hr drive away, it could become the favorite movie theater of mine.
After shopping for the special items, and getting the Twin’s evil cat some premium cat-food at a grocery store, we went for dinner, then McD for some soda and ice cream.
*~ No wonder that evil cat is still alive, she keeps feeding it quality food, Kyaaa! ~*
I inhaled the ice cream and reached behind my seat for the mini trashcan she keeps in the back of the car. I opened it, reached in to push papers down, and EWE! My fingers go into some yucky liquid that’s been stewing and fermenting in her hot car for days! It was like some toxic soup of bacteria and viruses! *~ YUCK! ~*
I screamed like a banshee at her! She laughing so hard that I wanted to get revenge, so I tried to wipe that mix of toxic chemicals off my hand by using her shirt or hair, but she scream at me! Then she squirt my hand with hand sanitizer!
*~ OMG! Now I have a sick mix of man-made chemicals on my chubby fingers. *~ Cryyy! ~*
Photography is coming along as planned. I am finding the research I am doing is leading to more and more questions as I dig deeper and deeper. I received news the Ministry of Health would like to see some of the Kalimantan photos for possible use in their documents and maybe a book. Seems like a cool opportunity, so I accept. I’m sending my contact copies by email. The Ministry can pick and choose the ones they wish to use.
About 2 months ago I encountered a “wet market” full of activity. It was so packed and busy and SMELLY. When I think back on how the chicken was being processed, with literally dozens of flies buzzing about the raw meat sitting on a wood log in the sun, I am shocked I’m so addicted to Ayam Bakar (grilled/bbq chicken).
At that time, I only wanted to escape that place, as the smells of raw fish, chicken and veggies (and lets not forget that toxic water flowing down the middle in a dug-out trench covered with wood boards so people could walk). But, today I think that place was pretty interesting. I am thinking of returning during the week to check it out, with camera in hand. After the Twin’s toxic soup encounter, chicken sampled by flies is not too hard to stomach!
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Soup: Sop
Canister: Teromol (I think)
For: Untuk
Toxic: Mengandung Racun
Chemicals: Bahan KimiaTeromol untuk Sop Bahan Kimia Mengandung Racun = Twin’s car trashcan!
I’m tired. I’m going to watch more episodes of Heroes (on pirated DVD of cos–I love pirated stuff!) until I drift off into ZZZ
Take Care!
PS: X-tine, get well soon! *~ Smile ~*
Smack Down! …
I’m about to smack the evil twin! We are moving at a snail’s pace in “macet” (heavy traffic jam) during a heavy rain…
*~ Oh great… Lightning ~*
So, I begin to blog! We start to drive, and she is hitting EVERY pot-hole she can find!
Rodney: “Hey, you missed one. Can you try harder to hit EVERY SINGLE HOLE??? GRRR!”
Twin: “SORRY! hahahahahahahahaaaaaa!”
Rodney: !@#$
This has happened over and over and OVER! I told her I’m going to put NickNick (her evil cat) in a specially-designed-by-Yendor torture chamber if she not stop!
Ok, we are moving more normally now. We’re heading to SinCity (a.k.a. Senayan City–a mall) to eat yummy munchies and see a movie (which one is still under debate). Today is the last day of classes until…..sdfasdf[asdf
*~ She just ran over more holes while I’m typing! Kyaaa! ~*
Ok, let me try again… Today is the last day of classes until Early January 2008! I am sooo happy! I need the break. I’m seriously burnt out! These last couple of weeks has been nuts, crazy, insane, but also productive!
There are a number of teachers on holiday already, extending the already long holiday. So, some teachers may need to cover other classes. I just want to get out after my kid class! So, I tell her asfasdfaewev *~ more bumps! ~*
GRRR Ok, retry this way:
Rodney: “Meet me at 6! Don’t be late! They looking for teachers!”
Twin: “Ok Ok, I’m leaving now (5 PM)!”
Rodney: *~ thinking: she’s always late…sigh, I’ll get asked to cover another class!~*
6:00 PM
Twin: *~ SMS: “I’m sooo close, but macet!” ~*
Rodney: sms-reply “Hurry! They already asked “Is Rod avail to cover blahblahblah!”
Twin: “ok! Ok! stand outside”
Rodney: “It’s raining!!!!!!!!!!”
I go stand outside up the side stairs, in the rain and lightning, to hide from the office staff who are now looking out the door asking people “Have you seen Rodney?” Kyaaa!
*~ SCREAMMMM we almost get hit by some stupid driver! ~*
How can she see out of the windows of this car? Her windshield wipers are like 3yrs old. That’s 21 in dog years! (I won’t mention the blue warning light that always is on when she starts the car… )
Anyway, We are almost there now. I’m just looking forward to a fun two weeks resting, shooting, shooting, shooting, movies, and shooting and resting.
Just remembered: I’ve been missing beef ribs soooo badly. Sure, there is Hard Rock Cafe and Chilis here, but their beef ribs are beyond expensive, even by american prices, and they are not that good! But, I’ve come across a place, Ayam Bakar, that has intensely, orgasmic beef ribs. OMG!
*~ I sucked on the sauce-covered bone as if the antidote was in it! ~*
And cheap! Only 15,000 rupiah for a huge portion. I’ve had this for the last couple days for my lunch. I’m drunk off the ribs. So tender, they fell off the bone. I wish I still had Cassie, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, because she loves the bones. But this time I sucked the bone until my teeth marks made long vertical lines up and down the thing hahaha!
I will tell more about it later. My Twin (no longer called “evil”… I’m being ‘nice,’ damn it) is complaining “write something nice about meeeee”. OMG, does she not realize she is driving!?!? And she constantly turning her head to me to see what I’m typing. *~ Kyaaa! ~*
Anyway, back to more important things: RIBS! They are dirt cheap, as I mentioned. They are like restaurant food at street vendor cheap in price. I will write more about the food I’m encountering as I avoid more and more western places to eat, adding more Indonesian items to my diet.
*~ A street vendor is dancing w/peanuts in one hand & money clinched in the other ~*
Ok, more about food another time.
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for Today:
Kaki: Leg
Lima: Five
Harga: PriceKaki Lima: Street Vendor
I’m told Kaki Lima means Street Vendor because they move around so much and fast, as if they have five legs Hahaha.
Take care! There’s A LOT more to tell, but we are almost at SinCity (I’m starving: for food and movies)! I will post tomorrow.
*~ OMG! 2hrs in macet. She wants the A/C off cos she’s cold. CRYYYY ~*
*~ Rodney ~*
The Shell Game…
Today was another day of JiFFest, or was it?
The Evil Twin, her sister, Princess, and I met today at Blitz MegaPlex (a new mall, which I hate) for a free international movie. But instead of a fun day of movies, we ended up playing The Shell Game!
We met at Starbucks (of course) and proceeded to the theater. We got in line, got our tickets and and sat in comfortable chairs at a nice big table. Surfed the internet on Merlin (my MacBook) and watched some movie trailers. Soon I grab some popcorn and drinks…
*~ Bare with me, All this info makes sense soon hahaha ~*
I got an sms from X-tine saying she saw I Am Legend, and that Will Smith was great. Hmmm I have to see that!
Soon it’s time to queue to rush in for seats (free JiFFest movies do not have pre-assigned seats. It’s like being back in USA hahaha).
Suddenly the evil twin says “This is not the right queue!” and we had to go to the other door behind a LONG line! I had just walked past that new door when coming from the men’s room, and it was only a queue of 1 at that time. Now it was a double line of dozens of “me-first” thinking people! *~ Kyaaa! ~*
But, what choice is there? We get in the long-ass line, and stand there and stand there and stand there. 25 minutes later she says “These tickets are for the wrong movie! Let me check… “ *~ WHAT??? GRRR! ~*
She checks with the theater people. She discovers…
*~ We’re at the wrong theater! Kyaaaa! ~*
We waited in this long line, left our yummy, soft seats, standing with constantly-growing-stale popcorn, warning drinks FOR NOTHING!
We were at the wrong theater?!!!!!? What is that about?? Princess and I try to strangle the evil twin! DIE, as you deserve to!
*~ Evil: I’m sorryyyyyyyyy! ~*
So, do we stay in queue for what turns out to be an Indian documentary, with Indonesian subtitles. Worse is the fact that it will only last 15 minutes ! Should we stay or go?
*~ YES, we stood in line for longer than the documentary would’ve lasted! ~*
*~ You did the math properly! TEN Points to Gryffindor! ~*
Then the evil twin tries to take her sister’s hotdog while we debated staying or leaving, kyaaa!
Evil: “Let’s go to food court…”
Rodney: “What?! I’ve all this popcorn and Tea! I want a movie!”
Princess: chomping on her hotdog
R: “Does she always make a mess like this of plans?”
P: “Always!”
E: *~ Tries to take princess’ hotdog ~*
P: “Heyyyyy!”
R: *~ Smacks evil’s grasping claws away ~*
E: “Errummmmm!”
R: “Stop that! God, you always taking her food! I surprised she’s not dead from starvation or dis-formed from malnutrition!”
E: *~ Whining ~* “It smells good! I want to try ittttttt!”
P: “She always taking my food! She is just like her lazy cat!”
R: “I believe it! Lazy to move, unless food is involved!”
P: “Hahaha, ya!”
E: “Grrr! Come on, lets go!”
R: “I want a movie! Let’s see Legend! YOU PAY! YOU OWE US!”
E: “GRRR!”
So, the princess and I DEMANDED our free movie! We decided to take X-tine’s advice and watch I Am Legend.
*~ Evil: I not bring much cash. Can I borrow? ~*
I want to scream! But she promised to go to ATM right after movie to give the money back… Hmmm… OK!.
We watch the movie. It turned out to be a good movie, except for the gas-filled man sitting next to Princess, who kept staring at her legs and BURP-ing ever few minutes between talking to his friends.
*~ Luckily I’m not next to him: I’ve ugly legs! ~*
*~ Waiting Waiting Waiting… I’m hungry! ~*
DRIP DRIP DRIP! There’s water dripping on my head! GRRR!
I move to another table, princess joins me, and the evil twin joins us….
DRIP! WHAT!? AGAIN???? More water?! It’s like Chinese Water Torture!
So, we had a shell game with movies, a shell game with theaters, and a shell game with tables. All is well and fine
Bahasa Indonesia Lesson for the Day:
Drip: Tetesan
Shell: Kulit
Game: Permainan
Take Care!
PS: I forgot to mention I’ve turned on an option where all comments must be approved by me before they appear on the blog.
Well, on “your” web browser it will seem it’s posted, so you know the submit was successful, but in fact it’s waiting for me to approve it.
I did this because several people, who I not even know, were sending rude comments. While I do allow negative comments, it does not mean I “have” to, especially when it’s rude comments about people I know, or friends or former friends (Yes, I defend even the former friends).
I’m writing a software update which adds functionality where you will only need one ‘approval’ from me and then all future comments from you will be auto-approved (pls be patient!). -
- Rodney
A Watched Pot Never Boils…
December 19 is the last day of classes before the two-week Christmas break. God, I can’t wait! Waiting for the holiday is like watching a pot and waiting for the water to boil! This week has been a pain in many ways. One of the biggest pains is the fact JiFFest 2007 (Jakarta International Film Festival 2007) is currently happening, but I cannot attend because I’m working! *~ Cry! ~* If you are interested in such events, click the photo!
Movies Movies Movies! It began this past Monday and ends December 16. I’ve missed most of the movies!
*~ Kyaaaa! Movies are my drug of choice! ~*
BUT it is ok. My Evil Twin and I will take in movie after movie starting Friday morning, through Friday afternoon (then I must rush to teach a class at Bank Indonesia from 4-6PM) then more fun after. The weekend should be literally saturated with Movies! I think my friend Jackie would love them too. Too bad she can’t join.
A student, who found out I love movies, also gave me a brochure for JiFFest. *~ Thx! ~*
It will be a great time! Back home in VA, I never could get to the film festivals. The Evil Twin, being true to her evil-cat-loving nature, always teased me last year with the huge buffet of yummy movies I was missing. “Ya, Naruto, and then there was the horror movie XYZ… ” I used to scream “That’s just not playing fair!” She’d laugh her evil cat-laugh, Grrr. But this year I can enjoy them! One of the great things about JiFFest is most of the movies are dirt cheap or FREE!
*~ Multiple Movie-Gasms! Yes, men CAN have multiple ones! ~*
My friend, X-tine, is feeling down because her bf is far away and it’s her birthday soon, so I invited her to join The Evil Us’s. She’s joined us the last couple of weekends to see Hitman and The Heartbreak Kid (omg, X-tine and The Evil Twin were laughing at me so much during The Heartbreak Kid). It will be great of X-tine can join this weekend.
I got word from my personal ninja, Jing, that she and The Bookends (a.k.a., her older twin sisters) may come to Jakarta sometime before the next Ice Age. The twins sisters are called the bookends because they always stand on either side of her, like a pair of matching bookends with Jing sandwiched in the middle hahahaha.
So, I need this weekend of free and almost-free movies, a iced mocha frappuccino (hopefully free if Amanda’s working) and time with some friends to escape reality, if only for a weekend. I can make it to Dec 19 and the long holiday! I Can, Damn it!
Speaking of the holiday. I was hoping to babysit my friend’s dog, but it fell through. The !@#$ house owner does not like dogs or cats indoors grrrr. I plan to stay in Jakarta. I am researching some usual families or individuals that I hope I can follow as they go about their daily life so I may create more photo essays for my “Micro-history” project.
Take care. I’m going to bed!