Ariel Peterporn & the Lost Girls

Seldom have I realized that our beloved nation, Indonesia, is in fact a big country. A big, populated country of 30 millions internet users, of most are probably tweeps. For nine hours yesterday, #Ariel Peterporn was a trending topics and everybody from the rest of the world (including USA porn actress, Vicky Vette) were asking frustratingly: who the hell is Ariel Peterporn?

Ariel is the cool leading singer of Indonesia’s pop band, Peterpan (get the pun?). His Casanova status was established when he impregnated an ex, married her (we are the largest Moslem populated country in the world after all) and in due course, divorced her. His flings with many other top notch celebrities in Indowood, was infamous throughout the country. His hottest flame, however, is the long time lover, Luna Maya. She, being the famous model/ actress/ host with one of the fattest paycheck in Indonesia, was so popular that her face appears everywhere from giant billboard to truck bumper graffiti.

Their cat-and-mouse high profile relationship has been media’s favorite. They’re the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt of Indonesia, in the matter of media speculation and gossip buzz. No wonder when their “catch me if you can” ad for Lux soap was released, it was a huge success. It has all the right formula and you just cannot help but say “aww” when you see it.

Right when their stardom couldn’t have shined any brighter, a sex video was released upon the hungry masses by Anonymous. The two minutes low resolution video showed the Ariel and Luna look-a-like in many flagrante delicto positions. No official statement has been released and the unfortunate couples now are hiding from public scrutiny and possible scenario of stoned to death by Moslem law (I’m not kidding here, this is what will happen if they live in Aceh). I will not publish the link to the explosive sex videotape here, like what many blogs already did. I believe I’m not the only one who says “Yes, I’ve seen it. Yes, it was hot. But no, I won’t keep it in my hard disc or see it again just for fun”.

Like it wasn’t enough, the probably same sick pervert who published it, also published another sex video in youtube, this time it looks like Ariel with another hot actress, Cut Tari. I couldn’t tell you just how many puns was made of her considering she’s hosting a gossip news show called “Insert”. The smoking hot actress and KFC representative is unfortunately married and allegedly can be seen in the video wearing a wedding ring.

Apart from the fact that it could be those three celebrities or could be not, their names are now forever smeared in dualistic public eyes. Paris Hilton may get away with it and even made even more famous by her sex video. However living in this country where moral righteousness is an expected virtue from a public figure, it will be hard for them to just get on with their life. Remember that charming soap ad? You can’t find it anymore on TV now days.

To put it into the nicest possible term, everybody fuck in this country. How could we not, being the 4^th most populous nation on earth? The problem is if you get caught doing it, which precisely what happened to these three sexual personage. The question now is: can they recover their career? Gossip, like leggings or mullet hair style, comes and goes but sex video last forever. Ask Edison Chen if you don’t believe me. The moral of the story is this: always make sure to cleanly delete your hard disc after video making, especially if it’s a dirty one and you’re famous.

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J'adore Don Draper Part.2 : Here's Why

Donald Draper, fictive ad-man extraordinaire, recently been nominated as the number one of 49 Most Influential Men by AskMen.com. I just couldn't agree more.

Don Draper may be a fictional character on AMC's Mad Men, but he's just as real as any other public personality you can think of. Celebrities are brands, with carefully constructed images, and most of us are just as likely to have a beer with Don Draper as with anybody else on this list. What matters is that Draper's hardass 1960s persona represents something about male identity that is enduringly captivating but has nonetheless vanished. The man that Don Draper is -- value-driven and thoroughly masculine -- is the product of a bygone era; without him, there would be no contemporary figure to represent it. Yet, as removed as his persona may be, it is also contemporary and familiar. He's a postwar archetype, both a brilliant career man and a temptation-swayed philanderer who sincerely wants to be a family man. Like most men, us and our fathers both, Draper is permanently conflicted over how to reconcile his morals and his desires.

Draper illustrates old-school values even though he often fails to meet them himself. His human flaws are what make him so relevant to men today. He is by turns a chain-smoking, drinking-in-the-office emblem of a bygone age, and an unusually real, earnest human being who illustrates the struggles modern men know all too well.

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More Reason to Take Coffee Break

..if the coffee itself is not already an excuse, I mean. Listen to these three charming fellow reading passage from some of the best classic books such as Pride & Prejudice, Great Expectations or High Fidelity. I don't think drinking coffee will ever be the same after this.

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Michelle & Carla's Fashion Showdown

I know I’m supposed to be more aware of the outcome of G 2O Summit and watching Obama kickin’ ass in his first international forum. However, I found his wife also particularly interesting. Her not-so-conservative style has been much complimented and debated. Even in this summit, she made splashes in the news regarding her ‘warm touch’ to the Queen and even this fashion showdown between Michelle and the badass First Lady of France, Carla Bruni- Sarkozy. Who do you think wear it better?

Michelle in Thakoon floral- print coat v.s Carla in Dior gray trench coat with her trademark, black flat

(not much choice there, considering her hubbie’s limited height).

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"President" Ilham Anas

A photographer from Bandung made a splash in the internet because his resemblance to current USA President, Barack Obama. President Obama’s almost iconic status inevitably delivers a spawn of imitators including Mr. Ilham Anas. So far, Mr. Anas has been invited to Indonesia’s popular talk show, Bukan Empat Mata as well as becoming a star in in a Filipino medicine ad (supposedly “Mr.Obama” having a dinner with “Mrs. Gloria”). I won’t be surprised to hear if Mr.Anas will move to States someday soon and make a career out of it. Gather ye’rosebuds while ye’may...

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Halloween Extravaganza

Nobody take costume party as seriously as Heidi Klum, The Goddess of Kali.
or her hubbie, Seal, in:

"Mr. Hopefully-Soon-to-be-President- Barack Obama"

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Suri's Wall of Fame

I have to admit something. I'm a huge fan of this petite socialite. I know she hardly talks in full sentences nor known for some outrageous remarks or diva-esque attitude. Yet. But look at her. Just so adorable. I don't care if her papa is a sofa-hopping-scientologist. I can't wait to see her all grows up, become a talented and famous actress and leading women of the world what they should wear in her apparent fashion style. Never mind that I shudder of envy a little bit because I am now in my twenties and never wore a Burberry dress.

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Au Revoir, Paul Newman

I'm heart broken. I just read the marvelous article about Paul Newman few weeks ago in Vanity Fair September Issue and now he passed away. The article couldn't be more timely and just the perfect tribute to celebrate the life of Paul Newman. Do read it here. I daresay it is one of the most beautiful article I ever read because I cried a little when I read about Paul Newman's death on the internet. To think that we won't be able to see the piercingly beautiful blue eyes again...

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Remembering Heath Ledger

Million of girls swooned when you first appeared,

a Knight in shining armour.

A son of American Mel Gibson,

then shocked the world,

by shagging with Jake inside a tent.

A talent so great,

a life cut short,

a tragedy.

You'll be terribly missed.

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Cendana Saga: The Divorce Battle of Bambang vs Halimah

The top news on Indonesia newspapers are about the critical condition of the former Indonesian president, Soeharto. One day it says he is getting better and the next says his lungs filled with liquid. Despite all his past deeds, I feel sorry for him. He’s practically alive because of all the beeping machines. When the first news of his failing appeared, my initial reaction is: well, there’s going to be another court call for him. No wonder he is getting “ill”. But looking at him bounded by all of those tubes, I remember my recently deceased aunt. She was ill for a long time and the suffering must be unbearable, although to her credit, she hardly showed any sign of pain. Poor old man.

His presidential was one of the strongest in the world. He crafted a dynasty of his own, notoriously christened as ‘Cendana’ (from the street where he and his whole family lives). Not unlike The Borgia or Medici story who deserved to be made into HBO mini-series, it has its own fair share of scandal from illegitimate children, affaire de coeur and all unimaginable monetary misdeed and crimes ever existed in civilization. However, recent press craze (other than the ill Soeharto) is about the chaotic divorce process between Soeharto oldest son, Bambang Trihatmodjo from his wife of twenty seven years, Halimah. Unlike the quick and relatively quite divorce of Bambang’s sibling, Tommy Soeharto with his wife; this one is being monitored closely by every angry housewives all over Indonesia archipelago.

The ‘angry housewives’ situation emerges because of the third party, the Camilla of Cendana, is a relatively famous singer named Mayangsari. A fair skinned ‘younger’ Javanese woman, forever trying to climb into music stardom. Apparently she doesn’t have to work very hard for stardom. It came to her lap from the immense publicity of her intimate pictures with the Prince of Cendana. The avalanche from that moment on has been unstoppable. The next thing we know is that she has successfully “married” (married under the law of religion or ‘kawin siri’) and was pregnant with baby girl before public could even say ‘slut singer’.

May became the month when you couldn’t click the local channel without seeing Mayangsari brimmingly proud face. Much like the public addiction to news about Sarkozy snogging his latest smoldering flame in France, this scandalous affair becomes even hotter when Halimah and two of her children came to Mayangsari’s ill-gotten fancy mansion and rammed their car into the gate. The son reportedly punched Bambang on his face when he came out from the mansion to calmed his other family down. Mayangsari was said to hid behind a fridge (must be quite a fridge) while according to an eye (ear?) witness, various thesaurus version of ‘slut’ was shrieked to her direction. The press went mad. And so was the public.

The divorce is a fierce battle of Mordor and stealing as many headlines as Soeharto’s critical condition. I guess if the wealth comes from the Forbes’s 33rd richest man in Indonesia, both side just want to win plenty. I am a bit concern, tou’, about how much of Bambang’s wealth actually still subsist after one Jaguar, one BMW, one Mercedes-Benz, three manors in Jakarta and another one rumored to be in Mayangsari’s hometown; each worthed about few million dollars. I mean, if you think about it, 200 million dollars is not much if you have to spend it building manors all over Java island plus the divorce settlement. No wonder the old man got ill.

Oh well, just so you know.

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Oscar Peterson (1925-2007)

“Some people try to get very philosophical and cerebral about what they’re trying to say with jazz. You don’t need any prologues, you just play. If you have anything to say of any worth then people will listen to you”, said The Maharajah of keyboard, Oscar Peterson. Jazz Universe lost another maestro when Oscar Peterson passed away on Sunday, December 23. God Bless His Soul. Links about his death and works can be find here.

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Farewell Mas Basuki Wes Ewes Ewes...

Indonesia mourn the loss of one of the funniest guy on TV, Basuki. His thick Javanese accent and naturally funny face shall be miss, together with the days where the whole family could watch a TV together after dinner, laughing the vernacular honest TV show about Betawi family in the midst of modernity . It was The Brady Bunch era of Indonesia’s TV history.

Mas Basuki was a part of my early childhood memory. How I enjoyed watching “Si Doel” back then. A quick dinner and all six of us (included the house maid and dogs) hurriedly positioned ourselves in front of the TV, just in time for the opening song (“Anakkkkk Betawaiiiii….ketinggalan zamannnnn”). It always cracks us up when Mas Karyo (Basuki in a role of struggling Javanese door-to-door salesman who rent a room in Betawi family’s compound and have a on-off relationship with the landlord’s daughter) has a verbal fight over a fence with Mandra (the thick Betawi accented uncle of Doel who works as blue oplet driver). His mimic, body language and honest words gets through us everytime. I really want a re-run of that show, definitely the best long-running series Indonesia ever had or ever will have.

Terima kasih banyak Mas Basuki. Wes ewes ewes…you’ll be missed!

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There's Something About Dewi Persik & Anisa Bahar

Recently I am hooked with one of the most popular invention ever created by human being. TV cable. No, I am not turning into couch potato. Well, just potato perhaps considering a rapid development I found out with utter panic on tummy area. But I got what I deserved, spending so much time being a lazy snacking goddess.

Back to the TV. For my defense, I lived my uni year with almost no access to TV. Not that I have any regret. I did just fine with stack of illegal DVDs and books but I miss TV from time to time. The news (and certain silver-hair-blue-eyed news caster on CNN), my beloved Travel & Food Channel (Tuscany!Nepal!India!) and last but not least the gossip channel. I am a sucker for the latter. Not a day passed without me clicking “Daily 10” or “E! 101 Celebrity Slimdown”. Secretly, of course (when there are people around I always put on the most serious look I could pull on and watch BBC). I thank God for cable. And of course my Father, for paying.

But to my horror I found myself recently unblinking for half an hour in front of TV. The cause? Dewi Persik and his likely-soon-to-be-ex-hubbie, Syaiful Jamil. I still slap my poor sore cheek from time to time since I hardly believe I could watch the drama with full concentration (I have attention span of a cockroach). Everyone in the planet who have read US Weekly or checking on celeb goss knows that sometimes those celebs are just desperate for publication. They would do anything to get to the front page or at least, PerezHilton.com

Some of the techniques to raise his or her fame in celebdom typically employed:
*going out on a date (usually one of the couple is in the higher caste of celebdom) to the most happening venue in town. They usually caught lips-locking or holding hands in public while avoiding paparazzi. After ended up in E! Daily News, their representative would deny that their clients are dating. “They’re just friends” is the common answer
*they’re going into rehab after a stint of caught-drunk-while-driving. I am not quite sure it effective to their alcohol-damaged brain but it surely works for putting them on the spotlight. Better yet if they got into jail, like a recent blonde heiress *hint hint*. Wearing accessories from Alcoholic Anonymous also helped
*flashing public with certain body parts while getting out of cars
*wear an extremely beautiful dress or exceptionally horrendous dress on Red Carpet. Both would end up in Fashion Police
*held a public conference and admit that they’re gay
*make a bold and shocking statement (preferably something to do with sex, race, politic or did I mention sex?)
*etc (hey, if I know them all I would representating Paris Hilton by now)

But none of those celebs are willing to appear everyday for few weeks with tears on their eyes and ask forgiveness from their soon-to-be-ex-spouses (or in the case of Anisa Bahar, her once-not-her-daughter-but-now-that-she’s-famous-please-call-me-Mama-darling) on national broadcast. I honestly believe they would do better in sinetron than in dangdut, seeing how good they weep in front of camera. Seriously. Nicole Richie could learn something from them (instead of getting knocked-up with tatooed rock star, you poor thing). I was stupified in front of TV for that long not for nothing! Dewi Persik should consider an entirely new career after the divorce. If there is going to be one, that is.

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