Another Tuesday

Today marks my 12th post of this whole #28postsfor28. The 28th post seem so far, yet I don’t have anything in my draft post anymore (and I already skipped two days). Ha-ha.

What I learn from the past week is, I noticed my curiousness toward many things. I used to get into something for many times and then get bored easily. That’s why I watch a lot of TV series and never considered favorite genre for movie or book. I don’t feel sorry for that kind of habit since I managed to take every bit of everything as a knowledge and I love that. I think that is why I managed to maneuver through my major at college just fine. I get to taste a little bit of everything and have a choice to learn it deeper or leave it forever :))

What I’m into lately:

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Learning about Smart Cities in Future Learn

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Watching all clips of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

the-vaccines

The Vaccines

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Playback all Harry Potter movies and realized that you are wrong Mrs. Rowling, Hermione Granger should only be with Ron Weasley. They are end game. Period. By the way, go explore the new website of Pottermore!

Multitasking, while enjoying Fall TV Series premiere. Best time of the year~

Hope you get a beautiful nightmares tonight. Good night, fireworks :)

Your May’s Guide

Just finished up my task this week after 3 straight night shift. Can we insert a confetti emoji here? :)) May came so fast, so here what’s I really up into lately.

On Finding Something You Get Fond Of

A Beautiful Mess

I know the website and the sister for quite a long time. I super love their colorful happy website layout and falls in love with all of their filter-perfect-photos. But just until last month I bought their book (signed dearly by Elsie and Emma, with a half price off, super love ❤) and suddenly madly in love with all of their products. Start to install their photo apps and start subscribing for their Happy Mail (shipping for international customer is $2).

I have this certain fascination towards stationary for a long long time. If I ever got a chance to be making an event or a pop-up bazaar (besides an open air cinema and drive-through cinema), I will definitely make something like this. It will be heaven! People will be equipped with welcome package contains of stationary kits. There will be a pop up card DIY station, the postcard station where you can send anything to anyone through a standing red blue and white mailbox, and all those beautiful paper bliss that force you back to writing with your hand. In Instagram era, hand lettering is associated with brush and fancy gouache paint, but I think you don’t need that to create something meaningful. Pen and pencils are just alright, it is the thought that matters.

Our stationary local products nowadays are so surprisingly good, in terms of quality and design. I believe it can definitely match up with anything out there. Some of my favorite are Pola, Kelly’s The Wrapping Paper Company, Kyub and others~ They might not as witty as Emily McDowell, but there are so many local brands out there who get really serious stuffs under their sleeves.

Circa Waves

Finding Circa Waves these days is like finding a gemstone. While ‘older’ bands try new form of music, blending rock with R&B and electronic beats; the band comes as a representative of garage rock meets classic alternatives. Reviving the sound of the early 00’s indie scene. I was beyond excited the first time I heard them (BBC’s Radio 1 Live Lounge, they cover Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do).

These four lads from Liverpool are young, formed the band in 2013, did support act for 1975 and The Libertines, gaining fans from gigs to gigs. Their debut album Young Chasers (2015) is pure joy, each song is perfectly made for summer music festivals with infectious melodies and rousing choruses. The must notable tracks are T-Shirt Weather, Stuck in My Teeth, and Young Chasers.

And should I just say that YouTube Mix is amazing? It’s kind of the Nokia’s former Radio Mix, with videos :)) Watched all my favorite 2000’s video clips, right when they’re all still played on MTV.

On TV Series

Haha, how I kept finding time to watch TV series? There is undeniably good question afterall. Weekend marathon is one thing, multitasking is another thing. Just keep your player switch to ‘Always on Top’. Problem solved :))

True Detectives

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You know, it is so hard to find someone who can narrated anything as good as Morgan Freeman. But let’s welcome Matthew McConaughey. Damn that voice tone. In 8 intense episodes, Nic Pizzolatto (creator) and Cary Joji Fukunaga (director) delivered a hauntingly beautiful masterpiece with terrifying fear, wrapped in a supernatural element. Finished season 1 in a day, it is toxic, brilliantly acted, and beautifully directed. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s performance is just grand and dazzling. After that kind set of cast, everybody will doubt whether the 2nd season will top up its predecessor.

Game of Thrones season 5

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Four episodes of its newest season leaked before premiere day, Game of Thrones might secured its place again as the most pirated show of the year. The storyline is going on much more different direction than the books, but I found it somewhat more interesting. Book nerds, go bites the dust already.

Superheroes TV Galore

I just watched Avengers Age of The Ultron last week, and really realized that Marvel is doing great to brand themselves on superheroes summer movies. Year after year, sequels and the crossover. But it is hard sometimes to pack a great plot on 2 or 3 hours movie. So, sometimes it is just another bang bang, explosive sounds, and everything burnt that matters. DC on the other hand, is lying low with TV Series. Arrow is a successful series with right amount of heroism and brutality, layers of past after past, and did I mention about League of Assassin and the Ra’s Al Ghul?

DC’s other project, The Flash, gains new demographic they needed. With much more “superheroes power” simply called the meta-human, the show is more popular with the younger age. So many easter eggs on the show, which related to further show extension. Now, CW is already aired Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow’s first look trailer, and a crossover would likely to happen anytime soon. I gave up Gotham after 3 episodes and maybe it is the time to give the show second chance.

By the way, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD is sucks, but Marvel’s Agent Carter is a five thumbs up. Peggy Carter is a character from Captain America’s movie (which I never watched any of it) and her series is packed with woman empowerment (bonus point, they got Jarvis on the show, like the real Jarvis).

Daniel: How can you just sit there and take that?

Peggy: Daniel.

Daniel: I’m gonna tell that senator what really happened. Hell, I’ll tell Truman himself.

Peggy: It really doesn’t bother me.

Daniel: Well, it bothers the hell out of me. I saved that jerk’s life.

Peggy: I don’t need a congressional honor. I don’t need Agent Thompson’s approval or the president’s. I know my value. Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t really matter.

That scene when Peggy doesn’t get any recognition for saving the city is so powerful and it just screams greatness ❤.

So, what have you been lately?

Have a gorgeous Sunday, lover of the light.

Hello again, May

Let’s talk about random things for a moment.

Save Rock and Roll. My friend mentioned the album not too long ago and I remember that I haven’t written anything about this serious serious love. Fall Out Boy disbanded at 2008, and made a comeback through the album titled Save Rock and Roll at 2013. The title is maybe causing you weird feeling and can’t help wondering how overrated that title would become. I mean come on, the song Save Rock and Roll is hardly a rock song after all, and they are singing it with Elton John. Then they opened Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013 and did a duet with Taylor Swift on that show.

But, every single thing about this album is screaming greatness. I love all the tracks. I kind of know that from the very first sentence that came out of Patrick Stump’s mouth on that album. It is ‘Put on your war paint’. They closed the album with the track Save Rock and Roll and as I listened to every word on it, I finally got it why the title should be like that. The Elton John part is essential, and all the duets (with Big Sean, Foxes, Courtney Love, Tommy Lee) are making sense after all. The satirical message, and how people see music, the culture, and they’re just wanted to sing a song that they can’t stop singing. They need to name the album this way.  And for the bonus point, they’re making a short movie through all the songs on the album, titled The Young Blood Chronicle at their Youtube channel.

My favorite song is called Young Valcanoes and maybe Rat-a-Tat got it to second place tied with Save Rock and Roll. To conclude it all, the world of rock and roll is much better with Fall Out Boy in it.

***

Gwen Stacy and The Amazing Spiderman 2. Oh Gwen, you melted mine. Emma Stone is so adorable that you don’t want to lose her in the first place. She loves Spice Girls, can you be more in love with her? It is not just a spoiler, it is a 41 years old spoiler. The Night Gwen Stacy Died was published in 1973 and such an influential event for comic book reader that time. Superheroes comic was originally made to make you happy. No matter how surreal it is, you wanted all the characters to have happy endings. This event marked new age of comic book history which guided the direction of comic book to a darker storyline.

I don’t fancy the movie so much, but I like the romance scenes (no wonder it Mark Webb after all) and the music (Hans Zimmer needs to form The Magnificent Six just to create the wonderful sound on this movie, scored on that one). And tough Jamie Foxx did a marvelous job to portray Electro, I just need to give a hands down to Dane DeHaan and his Harry Osborne. Sorry James Franco, this one is winning. Before playing Green Goblin, he was flying and crushing things in Chronicle (2012). One of the movies that I genuinely love and surprised me because I came to cinema without knowing anything about it (that is why I never read reviews before watching a movie). Overall, the movie is crowd pleaser, not more or less.

***

Peter Dinklage, Peter Dinklage, Peter Dinklage. David Benioff and D. B. Weiss contacted Dinklage to play Tyrion Lannister, long before the deal between HBO and George R.R. Martin was made. They know, that only Dinklage is good enough to play this wonderful role. Tyrion Lannister, on the other hand, is one of the strongest character ever made in history, one of my favorite that I look into. Last week episode titled The Laws of Gods and Men just marked another reason why Dinklage deserves that role. The scene of Tyrion on the court room is just spectacular. The speech is exactly what is written in the book, but it is Dinklage’s acting that delivered it through us all. The camera moves very slowly, telling a story by itself. My heart ache, and I started crying. Not because the pain, the sadness or the betrayal, it is much greater than that. Tyrion Lannister is just a person I wanted to be, I want to be as strong as he is. And Peter Dinklage should gets another Emmy by that speech alone. And yes, I will recite my favorite part.

TYWIN: “You admit you poisoned the king?”

TYRION: “No. Of that I’m innocent. I’m guilty of a far more monstrous crime. I’m guilty of being a dwarf.”

TYWIN: “You’re not on trial for being a dwarf.”

TYRION: “Oh? Yes I am. I’ve been on trial for that my entire life.”

***

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End-of-year Lists

It is like end of year already? How many days has it passed yet?

You know, ever since I got new job that 2.5 hours far from home (these days, you just couldn’t count distance by length, you count it by time), I appreciated time more than ever. And seeing many faces of people on my way home, meeting many amazing people on street, really make me realize that you are your own limit. Remember seeing people whines about how 24 hours is never going to be enough for a day. But seeing limits, seeing people surpassing limits, seeing how many things that you can accomplished for surpassing limits, do give me loud bangs. There is no such thing as ‘busy’, it is a word we made up to avoid other things, to not taking responsibility of anything else. It is understandable, but I know I won’t be using the word for quite long time from now. Because, I will be doing as many as I can do.

But first of all, here is my end-of-year lists that I want to share.

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I super love this blog. You know how much I dig DIY, inspiration, or lifestyle blogs like my latest crush, Brit+Co. (I even have their apps on my phone). So, finding a local blog like this, is beyond amazing. Living Loving runs by two beautiful, creative, and talented housewives where they shared everything from some décor stuffs, recipes, DIY crafts, etc.

I am still feeling the same about television these days. Nothing good came up on TV. Then I came upon this http://remotivi.or.id/. The website is reviewing many programs on TV that is worth to watch and also programs that falls beyond the lines. Good articles. Oh, they are running on petition to ask KPI to ban commercial TV who broadcasts black political campaign.

Recently falling in love with Grouplove’s Never Trust a Happy Song. My personal favorite will be Cruel and Beautiful World, Chloe, Tongue Tied, Colours, and maybe the rest of the albums. Even though I’m not such a fan of their 2nd album, Spreading Rumours, this band is worth listened to. Plus, they make real good artwork.

And for the record, for anyone who hasn’t been listening to AM by Arctic Monkeys, you might lose a chance to hear gold. No matter how I missed the band old setlist and Alex Turner messy hair and awkward move, this gang are really a music prodigy.

As much as I love American Horror Story, Coven is by far my most favorite theme of all seasons. Witch. Voodoo. Witch hunter. It is so undeniably amazing. Jessica Lange teamed up with Academy Oscar veteran like Kathy Bates, Angelina Besset, even Patti LuPone. Not to mention, they play lots of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac music. And personally for me, I like seeing Taissa Farmiga back on the show doing Frankensteiny version of Romeo & Juliet things with Evan Peters. But I do miss seeing such an absurd and powerful scene like Sister Jude singing The Name Game in Asylum.

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Hank Green and Bernie Su are back with their latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s book—Emma Approved. From the book title Emma, Jane Austen said that she wanted to write a character that no one but herself will much like. But, like how the duo portrayed Lidya Bennet on their Emmy winning series—The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, I love this version of this 2.0 Emma. Stubborn, over confident, ambitious, yet lovable. See the video on, Pemberley Digital channel on YouTube and check this great article if you want to know more about the guys on Pemberley Digital.

Survivor: Blood vs Water finished its season couple of weeks ago. I really am not expecting anything since the disappointing reunion show at last season and the return of Redemption Island. Turns out, I’ve seen original games, great set of cast,  exciting Tribal Council. My verdict, there should be at least three people who is definitely going to get back on the game.  Even though there is still disappointment not to see any Survivor Auction or most favorite player being called out, it is still a really good season. Tyson Appostol played a lovable villainy games I’ve seen since Parvati taking the title back at Micronesia. Hello, Coconut Bandit.

Have a safe flight, everyone :)

Upcoming September

Some healthy suggestions for the upcoming September.

Joss Whedon’s Cabin in The Woods (2011) is surprisingly fun! It beats up thriller genre movie upside down, ripping it into pieces. A fresh, deep, thriller-slash-science-fiction-slash-black-comedy movie you need for the weekend getaway.

If you happen to know the awesome Darren Criss, you probably know A Very Potter Musical. As Zac Efron might say, “At Hogwarts, we’re all in this together”. Sure appealing :))

As cheesy as Jane by Design kicks in, I’m sure disappointed that the show has been canceled for the 2nd season. It’s kind of surprise since Jane by Design would be a perfect fit for Cosmo Girl reader :P If you happen to want a light comedy series in Devil Wears Prada-esque, this is might be a perfect choice. Gorgeous dress(es) and great indie playlist(s) might also add the excitement (my favorite so far would be Winter Air by Annasay).

Pokemon + Tim Burton = awesomeness. Love, love, love. The credit goes to Vaughn Pinpin.

And you might want to check out B.yond W.rds, a side project by the talented Puty. She writes in beautiful lines and takes amazing B&W pictures. It always amazes me how people could produces such beauty.

Though London 2012 is officially over, there must be some spaces left to see the gorgeous photos from last Olympic events. Here’s one of my favorite from Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Feeling bored? Try Doodle God, addicting~. Sure it is a predictable game, but you won’t get Kahlil Gibran’s quotes or even non sense proverb in other games.

The Adventure Project. I’ve been in love with the organization and the lovely Becky Straw (another girl crush and blog struck :D) for a long time ago. I really do share the same philosophies as the fellow in The Adventure Project. In order to really create a sustainable change and tackle poverty, we have to change the way we give. We have to create jobs. The proverb was right “teach a man how to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime”. By giving the tools and resources, they can generate income and take care of their own family. I love the campaign and how they engage to their stakeholder.

The Jakarta Globe, one of English daily newspaper focusing in Jakarta region, also started a few actions for good. Count Me In gathers some of non-profit social organizations in greater Jakarta and help them spread the cause. So, there will be no more ‘I want to help but don’t know where to start’ kind of people. They connect you with the most inspiring social organizations and giving you a chance to volunteer on various social events. They also send frequent newsletter about upcoming events and how to participate in it. Some of the organizations are the famous Sahabat Anak (a non-profit organization that provides education and children’s rights advocacy to encourage Jakarta’s street children), Taman Bacaan Pelangi (a social project to establish children’s libraries in remote areas of eastern Indonesia), Yayasan Hidung Merah (an arts and education program to empower Indonesia’s underprivileged youth through the use of circus and other arts), etc.

As another beautiful month passed, what change have you made to yourself?