Pig??!! Why it's such a big Deal?

 http://www.christienmeindertsma.com

 http://www.christienmeindertsma.com

Some religion beliefs that Pig is illegitimate. They won't eat or use 'em.. But today i saw a headline on Yahoo News about PIG 05049. A young designer found that one pig can be use in 185 products. PIG 05049 is a communications design developed in three years of research to track all the products made from a single pig. Meindertsma’s design includes the publication of her book, PIG 05049, which charts and pictures each of the products supported by the animal.  The surprise is in the fact that elements of production contributed to by pig farming include not only predictable foodstuffs – pork chops and bacon – but far less expected non-food items: ammunition, train brakes, automobile paint, soap and washing powder, bone china, cigarettes.

 http://www.christienmeindertsma.com

 http://we-make-money-not-art.com

The article is quite interesting especially the fact of how useful one pig live can be. But more on that article.. i also get to know with this talented young designer named Christien Meindertsma. She won the 2009 index award through her breaktrough communication design named "PIG 05049". Looking to her CV, i found that she's only 4 years older than me. And as  i look more about her, I quote from Regine on her weblog post, "Christien Meindertsma  is a designer with an investigative mind. She analyzes, surveys and in her latest project she went as far as dissecting a pig" . She use her latest design to help people in a highly mechanized and “packaged” world understand how things are made and where they come from so that the resources involved can be cared for by enlightened, informed people. Her character and her way to communicate her social awareness should be an inspiration for every youngster around the world. It's a good idea for us to know more about daily tools or gadget that we use everyday.


And so...as i read about her and 'PIG 05049', i was attracted to know about Communication Design too. According to wikipedia, Communication design is a mixed discipline between design and information-development which is concerned with how media intermission such as printed, crafted, electronic media or presentations communicate with people. A communication design approach is not only concerned with developing the message aside from the aesthetics in media, but also with creating new media channels to ensure the message reaches the target audience. Wow.. now i know that design is not just about beauty but also a way to communicate.. i guess my tasty art work should represent this.

So.. take your share guys.. A knowledge is a treasure worth every penny in the world  ^^


More of her CV and projects can be found at:
http://www.christienmeindertsma.com/index.php?/about/cv/

Kobe Beef anyone?!

http://www.zyra.org.uk/kobe.jpg

Hahaha well it's not a real treat offer for you guys.. but it's a question about living like Kobe "Cattle" beef. According to popular belief, the cattle are fed a beer a day, and they are massaged with sake daily and brushed for setting fur, and fed on grain fodder. So it's a very expensive cattle treatment isn't it?? Just imagine yourself born as one of cattle that can have this special day to day treatment.. Everything is exclusively for you. You probably living in such high maintenance and all that stuff with arrogant feeling. Yet you don't have any idea if finally you end up being slaughtered and sit nicely slice by slice on royal plate.

Yeah today's article is simply another analogy to remind us not to get doze by worldly goods. World and demon can definitely provide you with all the highly  expensive things in life but you'll end up being their slave. An eternal slavery at hell for sure.. So be good.. sit and think again when you find so many marvelous things comes to you. Use them wisely.. and remember not to be Kobe"Cattle" Beef  ^^ God Bless Us all..

Why are You not Happy ??!!

I've heard about this special man for quite sometime. When i was still in college, he travels to Indonesia to share his enormous life.. Today, a friend post at my Facebook remind me of  his wonderful story. He has been a light for many of those young people .. They call him Great Role Model!!

His name is Nicholas James Vujicic. He was born December 4th, 1982. The first-born child in his devout Serbian Orthodox family, Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia. His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. By the age of 8, started contemplating suicide. Yet, Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face. He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He regularly travels internationally to speak to Christian congregations, schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America).

What makes him desperate is the fact that he was born with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and legless but with two small feet, one of which has two toes. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Vujicic was one of the first disabled students to be integrated into a mainstream school. But his condition were being bullied by other kids.

Despite of his disability..Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God for being alive. A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability. This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs. By the age of 25, Nick hoped to become financially independent. He wishes to promote his words through television shows such as the The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!!



That was Nick.. but he's not the only person i know having this Tetra-amelia disorder. I was read a book about a Japanese guy named Hirotada Ototake. His life is also inspirational for me.. He is most notable for his 1998 memoir "No One's Perfect". The book tells a lot about his wonderful experience supported by his great family.. He did everything he wants to do without taking his disability as obstacle. He join marathon club at his school..he was actively doing sport as much as any normal kid would do. For some reason he live much happier than most of normal people on earth this days.

Both of them are tremendously a true inspiration. There's no other way to live this life than to be thankful and celebrate everything that we have.

I close this with a famous quote from unknown author:
"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along their way."

Quote from Nick Video:
" When you concentrating on what you wish you had and what you did not have.. you sort of ..forget what you do have "

thanks to:
Lia Sutandio FB post
wikipedia.com
youtube

Nick official website:

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

One Scene to Another

Today i want to share a story from the old Chinese belief. This Taoism parable belief that life has its ups and downs, and does not always go up. Here's the simple story about a man named Sei Weng.

He owned a beautiful mare which was praised far and wide. One day this beautiful horse disappeared. The people of his village offered sympathy to Sei Weng for his great misfortune. Sei Weng said simply, "That's the way it is."

A few days later the lost mare returned, followed by a beautiful wild stallion. The village congratulated Sei Weng for his good fortune. He said, "That's the way it is."

Some time later, Sei Weng's only son, while riding the stallion, fell off and broke his leg. The village people once again expressed their sympathy at Sei Weng's misfortune. Sei Weng again said, "That's the way it is."

Soon thereafter, war broke out and all the young men of the village except Sei Weng's lame son were drafted and were killed in battle. The village people were amazed as Sei Weng's good luck. His son was the only young man left alive in the village. But Sei Weng kept his same attitude: despite all the turmoil, gains and losses, he gave the same reply, "That's the way it is."

As told by Chin-Ning Chu, in "The Asian Mind Game: unlocking the hidden agenda of the Asian business culture -- a westerner's survival manual," New York:Macmillan Publishing Company, page 182. (1991)

That story remind us to be grateful all the time.. and i believe that life is one giant mystery that can not be seen one scene at a time.. It has the link to every part of our life stages to make everything a lot more meaningful.. When you're down, remember that the cycle will bring you up once again !!

a little joke :

Redeem yourself @ Your Lowest Point

A couple of nights ago.. since my insomnia got worse lately.. i found out that I've been growing with late night show even for such a comedy romantic like "Fun with Dick and Jane". An update comedy from 1977 that has been remake by 2005. A story about young couple living a good life but after a blink of an eye.. they financially got worse. No more health club membership..no more fancy garden...no more furniture..and in deep crisis to loose their only house. That's when the "Fun" begin.

Dick (played by Jim Carey) is 'promoted' to Vice-President of Communications by company CEO Jack McCallister and company CFO Frank Bascombe. He is also asked to appear on the show Money Life, where host Sam Samuels and then independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader dub him and all the company's employees as "perverts of the American dream" and claim that Globodyne helps the super rich get even wealthier. As they speak, the company's stock goes into a free-fall and is soon worthless, along with all the employees' pensions, which are in Globodyne's stock.This happen after he advice his wife to quit her job to spend more time with their son. So they both end up loosing the financial source at the same day.

Even when they try hard to fit in to the blue collar world, they still can't get no job anywhere. Even when Dick  give a shot to work in Spanish society.. end up Dick being mistakenly deported to the Mexican border.

They come to their lowest point when they receive letter of eviction. Dick decided to be the Bad Guy and try to rob convenience store .. Jane stand by her Man. From a prestigious family, they become criminal couple. By the climax of the movie, they encounter a drunk Frank Bascombe, who tells them that the crooked Jack McCallister signed off all of Globodyne's assets (totaling $400 Million), dumped the entire stock, and that he paid Bascombe $10,000,000 to keep his mouth shut (as it was McCallister's plan from the beginning). After Frank sobers up, they make a team and, through a devious and well put together plan, dupe Jack McCallister into reimbursing all of his former employees' pensions. The next day, Dick informs Jack of the act as the press and former Globodyne employees flock to him. McAllister is not sure what to say on TV as he has gained the reputation as a generous man who has aided those who worked for him, but the loss of his money has left him virtually penniless. The film ends with the wealthy Harper family driving along the highway and into the sunset. While Billy is teaching his parents Spanish words, another car drives up to them. In the car is Garth, his neighbor who tells Dick he's got a great new job at a company called Enron.

This simple movie actually received mostly negative reviews from critics. But i love how it can show the Enron scam.. This ironic comedy, show that in human life "things" happen and you can be anyone when you hit your lowest point. But how you redeem yourself is the "fun" part. This movie also showed the loyalty of a wife. Jane can choose to divorce Dick to marry other guy.. but she didn't.. She can choose to walk out on Dick when he decide to become a criminal but she choose to be the criminal partner. Dick can try to kill McAllister but he didn't. He can try to own the money for his own family yet he remember other former employees' pensions...

I'm not saying to be a criminal is the right thing to do.. but i guess i just want say that it can be worse.. isn't it?? There's so many option in life but choosing the right path, takes guts. We can judge others life but when we're on their shoes... we will understand them wisely.  I'm learning a lot from this comedy movie. I hope you can take your share to ... :) God Bless us.


*some are taken from wikipedia

Rejoicing the Suffering !!!

Today is Sunday.. the day for my Jesus..

The Preacher took Job, the Servant of God as his topic. Job is one man that has been loved by God for his endurance and his believes.. Even though Satan had put him into so much trouble.. He still believe in God.

The same story happen at 1800 .. A guy named Horatio Spafford lost his fortune after the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city he lived. Two years later he sent ahead of him his family: his wife and their four children to a cruise ship for a holiday to England. He lost his 4 daughters when the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel during the cruise. Luckily, his wife "Anna Spafford" survived. On his way to see his wife.. he wrote a hymn that we now known as "It Is Well With My Soul"

They were living in a very different Era. Yet they lived with such outstanding believes to keep continued their life with hope and faith... One thing that i need to learn a lot through this journey..Surrender and keep believing His wonderful plan He made for you and i... Happy Sunday ^_^ JBU

How They Did It ?!!

A few nights ago.. i still can't sleep while the clock ticking at 2.00 AM .. after rolling around on my bed.. I decided to turned on the TV.. Good thing i turned it on while the Oprah show still on that early morning..

The next 30 minutes for me is an inspiration... On that 30 minutes Oprah featured two successful young entrepreneur named Gurbaksh Chahal and Tony Hsieh.

Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (born July 17, 1982) is an American entrepreneur, best-selling author, TV personality, motivational speaker, and self made multi-millionaire. By the age of 25, he founded two advertising companies worth $340 million.

That means he's only 2 years older than me. Isn't that a surprise?? and i believe when you heard about his fortune... you'll say that it's because how lucky he is..that he has all the support he need to achieve it.. But i guess make it in America as an Indian young Boy never really mean lucky.. There's always the price that he paid for his fame and fortune he receive nowadays.

Tony Hsieh is the current CEO of online shoe and clothing shop Zappos.com. Prior to joining Zappos, Hsieh co-founded and sold the internet advertising network LinkExchange to Microsoft for $265M in 1998. Hsieh graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Computer Science. He is a second-generation Taiwanese American.On July 22, 2009 Amazon.com announced the acquisition of Zappos.com in a deal valued at approximately $887.9mm.He is said to have made at least $214 million from the sale not including money made through his former investment firm Venture Frogs. What a fortune!!!! Hahaha yeap.. we see, we read, and we heard their successful story.. But what can we learn from them??

Oprah asked them wisely about how they did it or if there's any secret 'ingredient' on how they did it the first time.

They answer it: " Don't do anything for money.. do what you love .. and the money will follow" and i quote how Tony Hsieh said: " It's better to do what you love for 10 years and didn't get a dime and you end up happier..but ironically the money will comes by it self .. " Oprah definitely agreed with both of them by saying "It's true but people usually don't believe that"

This is such an ingredient that has been a public secret nowadays.. so it's been said by many young successful young people around the world even young entrepreneur from Indonesia at Kick Andy's show describing their life at the same situation..

Do what you love and love what you do (money and successful story will follow)

and one thing for sure don't do everything for money because you will end up making bad decision based on short term judgment as Gurbkash said that night..

I want to have my life that way and i will asked God tonight to help me with the decision..



references:

Oprah Show
Inc Magazine
Wikipedia

Inspiring link on ecommerce optimization:
http://www.ecommerceoptimization.com/articles/zappos-ceo-tony-hsieh-shares-top-10-ecommerce-lessons/


To think about :
When we saw this article please be noted that they are not white people make it in the Big USA isn't it?? They are color people just like me and maybe yourself.. So why can't we make it like them..??!!

Blindfolded way with Him

Last Wednesday i cried real hard.. and feeling depressed after bad news came up about one of my Art work that has been ruined due to bad package handling. Thinking that i made that order until 3.30 AM in the morning and then i have to get up early just to get to work and post the package.. makes me angry. I suddenly felt upset 'cos i feel like my life is never easy with me in the last few years.. And I was desperately scared about the future that's just seems too far away from happiness.

I made a big mistake when i cried out and ask "Why" to Jesus again (meanwhile.. i already know the reason we shouldn't asked Why to Jesus when we have bad news...because we never asked Why when we are happy)

Yet i know I'm so lucky surrounded by people that loves me and cares for me.. My Dad hugged me.. My best friend called me to calm me down.. and today he sent me this email to remind me how much Jesus also loves me..

This email remind me a lot to learn to trust His Lead and believe that His plan is beautifully made for us since the beginning .. God bless you all :)