Thursday, April 28, 2011

Curhat Kate Middleton


Hari ini, mata dunia akan tertuju ke Westminster Abbey, London ketika Catherine Middleton mengucapkan janji sehidup-semati dengan pewaris kerajaan Inggris, William Arthur Phillip Louis Wales. Sejak royal engagement bulan November 2011, wanita 29 tahun ini selalu menjadi bahan pemberitaan media. Bahkan bulan lalu, sebulan sebelum royal wedding, Kate dikabarkan depresi.
Karena itulah, saya menemuinya (dalam khayalan :p) untuk mendengarkan curhatnya.
Sarah     : Hai, apa kabar, Miss Kate?
Kate      : Buruk, Miss Sarah. Saya capek dengan pemberitaan-pemberitaan ini. Saya muak dengan blits kamera yang menyala di mana-mana.
Sarah    : oh, come on Miss, blits kamera itu hal yang menyenangkan. Anda tinggal pose, pose, pose dan besok, wajah Anda sudah muncul di cover majalah seluruh dunia.
Kate       : Masalahnya, saya bukan model
Sarah     : Lho, dulu Anda pernah jadi model di kampus kan?
Kate      : Itu masa lalu, Miss. Sekarang ini saya ingin benar-benar total menjalani hidup baru sebagai Princess.
Sarah    : Seorang Princess tidak merokok lho Miss. Akan ada kesalah-pahaman publik, apakah Anda ini Princess atau Prince
Kate       : Bedanya tentu di jakun. Saya tidak punya.
Sarah     : Teori anatomi Anda mantap sekali, Miss
Kate       : Saya banyak belajar akhir-akhir ini, Miss. Seorang Princess harus punya otak yang berisi
Sarah    : Juga otot Miss, banyak Princess kena anoreksia dan bulimia karena terobsesi dengan bentuk tubuh barbie
Kate       : Saya sudah punya tubuh barbie lho, Miss. Hanya saja, saya perokok dan Wills tidak suka itu. Jangan bilang-bilang ya? Saya hanya depresi karena tekanan ini begitu berat.
Sarah     : Oh, tentu saja tidak akan, karena saya tidak kenal Prince William. Btw, Anda bilang sedang depresi, kenapa? Saya pikir, jutaan wanita lain di dunia sangat ingin berada di posisi Anda sekarang
Kate       : Oh... mereka hanya tidak tau rasanya...
Sarah     : Depresi kan cuma saat ini Miss, nanti juga senang-senang pas sudah jadi royal family
Kate       : Oh, silahkan dicoba Miss, Anda boleh menggantikan posisi saya
Sarah    : Oh tidak bisaaaa... saya lebih tertarik pada Prince Harry dan dia juga sudah punya Chelsy Davy, jadi dipastikan saya tidak akan pernah jadi anggota keluarga kerajaan Inggris. Saya kembali ke fitrah saja Miss, dengan pribumi. Cowok Indonesia ganteng-ganteng lho, Miss
Kate      : Ohya? Aduh, menyesal juga tidak sempat ke sana untuk cari jodoh.kalau tidak, saya tidak seperti sekarang.
Sarah    : Jangan bilang begitu dong, Miss. Anda calon Ratu Inggris nantinya. Dan sekarang kan dinobatkan menjadi Princess tercantik no. 3 di dunia, bahkan mengalahkan almarhumah calon mertua Anda, Princess Diana.
Kate       : Tetap saja, saya tidak mengalahkan Grace Kelly
Sarah     :Oh, jadi Anda berambisi menjadi Princess tercantik, gitu?
Kate      : Tadinya sih, tapi ya sudahlah. Toh calon suami saya Cuma ada di urutan 5, setelah adiknya. Paling tidak, peringkat saya lebih tinggi dibandingkan dia
Sarah     : Oh iya, katanya Anda melakukan operasi plastik, Miss?
Kate      : Oh, tidak tentu saja. Itu hanya rumor. Plastik itu berbahaya. Bukankah Anda pernah menulis di twitter bahwa plastik itu senyawa polimer yang susah terurai? Mau jadi apa mayat saya nanti kalau plastiknya tidak bisa diurai? Kapan bisa jadi tulang-belulang?
Sarah    : err, kalau masalah itu, serahkan saja pada belatung di liang lahat Anda nanti. Btw, Anda follow saya di twitter?
Kate       : Tidak. Hanya suka membuntuti. He-he-he
Sarah     : Kenapa Anda tertawanya seperti itu?
Kate      : Oh dear, cara tertawa kami diatur. Tidak boleh hahaha. Makan juga diatur; jumlah kunyahan, cara mengunyah, cara menyuap. Gaya duduk, gaya berdiri, bicara, salaman....
Sarah    : Itu resiko cinta Anda btw. Oh iya, saya lihat di internet, katanya seluruh warisan keluarga Anda habis untuk royal wedding?
Kate       : oh iya, sampai semua sapi dan sawah di kampung harus dijual
Sarah     : eerrr, sebenarnya Anda ini orang Inggris atau Sukamaju sih?
Kate       :  Anda tidak tahu ada desa Sukamaju di Inggris?
Sarah     : -_-* oohh, saya baru tau... hhmm, semoga pernikahan Anda dengan Prince William bahagia. Last but not least Miss, apa pesan Anda bagi wanita-wanita di luar sana?
Kate      : Well girls, sorry for breaks your hearts. Tapi percayalah, kalian tidak akan suka jika berada di posisi saya saat ini. Menjadi calon istri seorang pewaris kerajaan besar sungguh tidak seindah yang dibayangkan. Hidup serba teratur. Tau-tidak, ketika kalian menemukan pria yang tepat, dia adalah Prince-mu dan kamu akan menjadi Princess tanpa harus dikekang. To be honest, menjadi pusat perhatian itu tidak enak. Oh iya Miss, boleh minta pin BB?
Sarah     : lho? Untuk apa Miss?
Kate      : Untuk bbman kalau saya depresi lagi... dan tau-tau ada sepupu dari kerajaan Yunani, Spanyol, Denmark, Monaco...
Sarah     : Aduh, terima kasih Miss... bye!
Kate       : Miss, balik dulu doooong...
-klik-


Lempung, adsorben logam berat alami

Masalah pencemaran logam berat di lingkungan merupakan isu global saat ini. Logam berat (logam yang memiliki berat jenis > 5 g/L) secara alami ada di lingkungan, tetapi dalam jumlah yang sangat sedikit, sesuai dengan jumlah yang memang dibutuhkan oleh lingkungan itu sendiri. Dalam beberapa hal, logam-logam ini diperlukan pada mekanisme alam. Contoh sederhana logam besi (Fe) yang tidak bisa dilepaspusahkan dari darah.

Sayangnya, saat ini kadar beberapa logam berat (khususnya the big three heavy metals; Pb (Plumbum, Timbal), Cd (Cadmium) dan Hg (Mercury, Raksa)) sudah di atas ambang batas. Peristiwa seperti di teluk Minamata dan penyakit itai-itai (contoh gambarnya di sini )di Jepang bisa jadi terulang kembali.
Karena itulah, saat ini banyak ilmuwan yang melakukan penelitian untuk mereduksi kadar logam berat di alam. Termasuk saya, yang mengambil masalah ini menjadi skripsi untuk meraih gelar sarjana sains bidang kimia, tahun lalu.

Bahan penjerap yang saya pakai adalah lempung (tanah liat) dari desa Ouw, pulau Saparua, Maluku Tengah. Fyi, adsorpsi (penjerapan) dan absorpsi (penyerapan) itu ada bedanya. Pada adsorpsi, penjerapan terjadi hanya pada permukaan tetapi pada absorpsi, terjadi penyerapan adsorben hingga ke inti adsorbat :)

Nah, lempung ini sehari-hari digunakan masyarakat sekitar untuk membuat kerajinan. Lain halnya untuk ilmuwan. Lempung dijadikan bahan penelitian.
Lempung di alam

Karena pada penelitian sebelumnya, dikemukakan bahwa daya tukar kation lempung relatif tinggi, maka mulai  dilakukan eksperimen untuk menukarkan kation-kation alami yang sudah ada pada permukaan lempung (Na, K, Ca) dengan kation logam berat.

Tapi sebelumnya, lempung harus diaktivasi agar pori-pori permukaan terbuka, pelepasan kation alami lebih mudah sehingga jumlah situs aktifnya meningkat. Aktivasi ini dapat dilakukan dengan senyawa asam, basa maupun garam. Selama ini, aktivasi dengan asam merupakan cara yang paling baik karena logam larut dalam suasana asam. Tapi, pada penelitian yang saya lakukan, digunakan garam amonium nitrat dan hasil yang diperoleh lumayan mengejutkan... penjerapan yang terjadi hingga 99%.
Lempung setelah diaktivasi
Proses persiapan (pencucian lempung alami) hingga aktivasi memakan waktu sekitar 2 bulan. Ini karena saya yang (okee, hanya dalam penelitian ini) sangat perfeksionis. Saya ingin lempungnya benar-benar bersih dan bebas pengotor renik :) Setelah itu, baru dilakukan kontak dengan logam Cd dari Cadmium Sulfat. Awalnya dengan variasi waktu kontak dan dilanjutkan dengan variasi pH, konsentrasi logam dan suhu reaksi untuk mengetahui energi aktivasi, kemudian dilakukan analisis dengan Atomic Adsorption Specthrometry.

Dengan hasil penelitian ini, dapat dipastikan bahwa salah satu hasil alam Maluku bisa menjadi "sesuatu" yang bisa membantu "perang" kita dengan pencemaran lingkungan :)

Abdul & The Coffee Theory - Happy Ending @ Dahsyat

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Cantik itu...

Sampai kiamat, kata cantik tidak akan pernah menemukan definisi eksaknya. kita boleh bilang cantik itu adalah wanita yang sedap dipandang mata (oke, diperjelas, karena pria tentu saja tidak cantik; tapi tanpa sadar, MEREKA yang menjadi patokan bagi wanita untuk merasa cantik atau jadi itik buruk rupa). frasa sedap dipandang pun ternyata abstrak maknanya. saya berani bilang, apa yang sedap di mata saya (seprei polkadot misalnya) belum tentu sedap di mata orang lain.

untuk memperkuat opini, saya iseng mewawancara beberapa teman pria. dan inilah jawaban mereka, yang menurut saya, mengguncang :p
  • cantik itu pintar dan nyambung diajak ngomong apa aja
  • cantik itu bisa bikin saya ketawa. sense of humor itu penting lho. fisik mah relatif
  • cantik itu self confidence. gimana orang mau nganggap dia cantik kalo dia sendiri enggak?
  • cantik itu kalo dia pake barang branded. kelihatan mahal dan mewah (well, ini tipe matre sepertinya, ckckck -_-*)
  • cantik itu body aduhay dan pipi chubby (errr, dia ga lagi ngomongin saya kan? :p)
  • cantik itu warna kulit yang eksotik, item manis gitu deh
  • cantik itu putih, tinggi, langsing, terawat (ini pasti cowok korban sinetron, hehe)
  • cantik itu yang punya hidung mancung kayak orang Arab
  • cantik itu cewek yang suka anak-anak (wheww, calon ayah yang baik :'))
  • cantik itu cewek yang suka menolong, supel dan punya pendirian
  • cantik itu cewek yang spontan, apa adanya dan jadi diri sendiri

See girls? cantik itu ga semata-mata soal fisik. cantik juga berkaitan dengan sikap dan isi otak kamu. cantik itu adalah hal yang relatif.
untuk satu orang, kamu mungkin ga cantik, tapi untuk orang lain, kamu bisa jadi lebih cantik daripada Jeniffer Aniston :)
Jadi, tetaplah menjadi diri sendiri dan jangan coba-coba berusaha jadi orang lain, karena justru rasa ingin berubah itulah yang merusak kecantikan alami.

kita, semua wanita, diciptakan CANTIK! itu harga mati... kita jadi nggak cantik justru karena kita nggak percaya kalo kita cantik. 
seperti apapun wajahmu, bentuk tubuhmu, gaya berpakaianmu, yakinlah, kamu cantik!

be confident girls, you're amazing just the way you are :)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Ketika Saya Bertemu R. A. Kartini



Raden Ajeng Kartini membawa makna tersendiri bagi wanita Indonesia. Dalam keterbatasannya, dia mampu melakukan perubahan dan menobatkannya sebagai tokoh emansipasi bangsa. Karena itulah, meskipun beliau sudah tiada, tapi semangatnya tetap ada di hati para wanita Indonesia.
Mungkin semangat itulah yang bikin saya bisa ‘wawancara’ sama beliau... di khayalan saya tentunya, hehehe... cekidot!
Sarah     : Selamat siang... hmm, enaknya saya panggil apa nih? Mbak, apa Eyang?
Kartini   : Mbak aja kali yee... saya masih kelihatan ABG kok
Sarah     : Errr...
Kartini      : Kenapa dek Sarah? Apakah kebaya ini bikin saya kelihatan tua? Bukannya kebaya lagi gahuuul buanget sekarang? Anak-anak TK juga pake kan pas karnaval?
Sarah     : Eh, iiiyyaaa mbak Tini, you’re so 21 kok, kan emang meninggalnya umur segitu kan?
Kartini   : kok tau?
Sarah     : Saya baca buku dong, mbak
Kartini      : waaaah, very nice of you, Sar. Itu baru namanya wanita Indonesia. Kita harus inovatif dan kreatif. Ndak mau kalah sama keadaan. Buku itu jendela dunia lho, dengan baca buku, kita bisa sampai ke berbagai penjuru dunia meskipun kita cuma duduk manis di dapur.
Sarah     : selain membaca, saya juga suka menulis mbak :)
Kartini   : bagus bagus. Sekarang menulisnya masih pake kapur?
Sarah        : ooh, terakhir tulis pake kapur, saya kelas 5 SD mbak. Sekarang sudah pake pena. Yang lebih happening lagi pake keyboard, mbak.”
Kartini   : lho, keyboard itu kan alat musik, dek
Sarah     : maksud saya keyboard notebook atau laptop mbak. Jaman mbak masih hidup mah belum ada.
Kartini   : ooohh, oke. Berarti, seharusnya lebih banyak hal yang bisa kalian lakukan dong sekarang.
Sarah        : seharusnya begitu mbak. Cuma, wanita jaman sekarang malah terbuai dengan kebebasan mereka
Kartini      : begitu ya dek? Hmm... saya jadi sedih. Kenapa mereka begitu? Apakah karena sudah terlalu dimanjakan dengan segala sesuatu yang tersedia?
Sarah     : salah satunya
Kartini      : seandainya kalian hidup di jaman saya. Waktu itu, kami dijadikan seperti boneka. Tidak bisa melakukan hal-hal yang sesuai dengan keinginan kami. Kami dipingit sampai pada waktu untuk menikah. Bahkan rasanya tidak diberikan hak untuk belajar dan menjadi lebih baik.
Sarah     : waah, saya nggak sanggup hidup di jaman mbak Tini
Kartini      : itulaaah dek, wanita jaman sekarang sepertinya terjebak dalam kebebasan mereka. Tidak lagi ingat kodrat mereka sebagai wanita. Banyak yang bekerja terlalu keras sampai ndak ingat anak dan suami, banyak yang hanya duduk santai menunggu hasil tanpa mau bekerja, banyak yang hanya bolak-balik nongkrong di mall, belanja sampai lupa diri... hhhhmmm... banyak yang mereka lupakan. Termasuk arti emansipasi itu sendiri.
Sarah     : err, sebenarnya, saya juga begitu kadang-kadang mbak L
Kartini      : sebenarnya mudah saja dek, menjadi wanita baik. Ingat kodrat. Kita boleh mengikuti perkembangan jaman, kita boleh bersuara lantang dan melakukan perubahan. Tapi harus ingat juga bahwa kita wanita, yang seharusnya menyeimbangkan dunia ini dengan kelembutan dan pengertian. Itu hal yang sangat sulit ditemukan pada pria lho dek.
Sarah        : saya terharu sekali mbak, nyaris nangis. Mari kita akhiri saja wawancara ini. tapi sebelumnya, saya minta nasihat dari mbak untuk wanita Indonesia, terutama saya
Kartini      : saya tersanjung sekali 21 April selalu dirayakan oleh kalian, wanita Indonesia. Tapi sebaiknya, bukan di hari itu saja kalian merasa menjadi wanita, apalagi hanya dengan simbol memakai kebaya dan berkonde. Itu sama sekali tidak menunjukkan apa-apa. Aksi nyata kalian yang dibutuhkan negara ini. perjuangan kita masih jauh. Dan sesungguhnya, kita ndak boleh kalah. Kita harus tunjukkan pada dunia, kita sanggup membuat perubahan, kita bisa menang melawan tekanan dari orang lain dan diri kita sendiri. Karena kita sebenarnya kuat, lembut dan ndak egois. Itulah wanita Indonesia yang sebenarnya... teruslah berkarya, Kartini-Kartini mudaku...

Hmmm, sekalipun ini imajiner, saya beneran hampir nangis saat menulis ini...
Terima Kasih Raden Ajeng Kartini, semoga saya dan wanita-wanita lain di Indonesia mampu melanjutkan perjuangan dan cita-citamu :’)

Follower Tidak Biasa

Lokasi           : kamar saya
Waktu           : jam 7 pagi, suatu sabtu yang dingin
Kondisi Saya : males bangun, mata sepet, muka berminyak, rambut acak-acakan dan kebelet pipis

Saya iseng ambil handphone dan mulai agak-agak semangat saat melihat beberapa notification dari UberSocial, Facebook dan BBM. To be honest, itulah ritual pengumpulan nyawa saya setiap pagi, setelah berdoa, tentunya :)

Saya melihat satu per satu dan membalas yang perlu dibalas. Sampai akhirnya saya memutuskan untuk melihat profil Twitter saya. Tadinya saya cuma pengen tau jumlah tweets saya. well, gini, saya sering mengirimkan tweet bernomor cantik ke orang-orang. Kebetulan hari itu jumlahnya mendekati 11.111.
Ternyata memang tweets saya belum sampe segitu banyak. Tapi ada hal lain yang lebih menarik perhatian; Follower saya bertambah 5 orang!
Itu prestasi!
Hehe, kasian banget ya saya? Follower nambah 5 aja senengnya kayak dikasih duren sepohon. umm, ga usah tanya apa hubungannya, saya juga bingung :p

Saya iseng melihat satu-satu dan... jiwa saya langsung terkumpul 100% dan sinar mata setara lampu philips 18 watt saat melihat user bennylikumahuwa
SAYA DIFOLLOW OM BENNY LIKUMAHUWA!!!
Musisi jazz legendaris yang pernah saya tulis di postingan sebelumnya. It feels like flying without wings kata Westlife dan menurut Christopher Nelwan, seperti ada kupu-kupu menari dalam dadaku.
Bahagia, haru, menggila dan autis!

Tapi, sebelum saya sempat melakukan gerakan-gerakan akrobatik untuk mengekspresikan kebahagiaan saya, satu pemikiran muncul di benak
"Jangan-jangan, ini account palsu. ga mungkin gue difollow om Benny. dia ga kenal gue. siapa gue?"
Lalu ada pemikiran lain, "eh, mungkin aja lho Sar. Miracle happens."
"But it's so rarely happened to me."
"Ngaco! dicek aja dulu, tau aja itu bener om Benny."
"Masa sih? om Benny ga kenal gue tauuu..."
"Lo mau nyesel kayak dulu kasusnya Okto Maniani yang ga lo follback terus unfollow lo?"
"Errr..."
"Waktu itu kayak gini juga lho kasusnya, lo kira account palsu."

Lalu, saya memulai investigasi. Saya lihat profilnya om Benny. Followernya 600 lebih dan cuma follow 28 account. Saya lihat list Following-nya dulu. Nama saya ada di urutan pertama! Setelah itu, ada seorang lagi dan sisanya portal berita. Ada mas Indra Lesmana, Denny Sakrie dan Henry Budidharma. Dan akhirnya Barry Likumahuwa dan tante Ria Likumahuwa. Oke, agak senang.
Saya beralih ke Followernya dan langsung amazed melihat banyak nama musisi besar di sana, termasuk Glenn Fredly.
ini foto pertama saya bareng om Benny, ada Dimas juga :)

ini yang paling baru, saya unyu bgt ya di sini :p

Saya spontan berselebrasi; lompat-lompat ga jelas dan teriak-teriak horeee kayak anak TK dikasih permen.
The Jazz legend himself following me on twitter!!! ga senang gimana coba?
Tanpa pikir panjang, saya follow back dan nge-tweet terima kasih. Senang tak terhingga, meskipun hati masih bertanya-tanya, "kok bisa yaaa?"
hehe...
danke om Benny :)

Monday, April 11, 2011

BarryliciousLikumahuwasinesitis akut (banget)

okeee...
itu nama penyakit...
silahkan pingsan, silahkan munt*h, silahkan diare, silahkan potong nadi... hahaha...

tapi saya baru saja dinyatakan positif terkena penyakit ini dan dipastikan sudah sampai pada stadium lanjut.
padahal, saya sudah memastikan imunitas tubuh saya dapat menghalangi masuknya virus ini. tapi apa daya, si virus bereplikasi dengan cepat dan menyerang saya tanpa ampun.

BarryliciousLikumahuwasinesitis ini menyebabkan euforia berlebihan setiap mendengar cabikan bass dari album BLP, intro bass yang jadi track no. 1 di album Generasi Synergy dijadikan alert SMS, foto si bassist yang ditemukan secara tidak sengaja (hhmm, cuma nge-google cari tanggal lahirnya dan dapet satu halaman blog yang isinya biografi dia dan ada foto itu, terus saya copy deeeh :p itu ga disengaja looohh) dijadikan wallpaper bb sampai lompat-lompat ga jelas pas difollow papanya di twitter.
ini wallpaper BB saya :p

to be honest, i have never been Barry Likumahuwa's fan. saya suka musiknya, saya senang liat penampilan komunikatif dan ramahnya di panggung, saya tau dia musisi talented. tapi untuk mengidolakan dia banget sama kayak alay-alay di acara musik pagi sih enggak. beberapa kali ketemu di Ambon Jazz Plus Festival, papasan di venue dan hotel, satu bus bareng, sempat menyapa dan ajojing suka-suka pas dia on stage sama BLP pun saya cool aja. biasa banget malah.
i appreciate him as a stage-man, not in person :)

tapi, kenapa saya bisa begini?
mari kita salahkan sebuah benda kecil bernama Compact Disc! bukan CD biasa, ini CD album Generasi Synergy BLP yang dia kasih ke saya sebagai hadiah karena saya mampu menjawab usia papanya.

saya dateng ke klinik musik yang diadakan oleh komunitas seni Ruma Beta dan malam itu performernya om Benny sama Barry Likumahuwa (liat postingan ini). seperti biasanya, menikmati musik dan seru-seruan dengan dua sahabat yang sempat hadir bareng saya. bahkan kami sedang merencanakan skenario untuk minta foto bareng para performer. saya sih nothing to lose, karena sebagian performer yang hadir sudah punya foto bareng saya (ga kebalik tuh ya? haha, for the sake of narsisme :p), tapi sahabat-sahabat saya pengen banget foto. terutama bareng kak Glenn. kebetulan banget ada adik salah satu sahabat yang berulang tahun hari itu dan dia minta hadiah dari kakaknya fotonya kak Glenn, hehehe...
saat itulah, Barry bikin kuis yang hadiahnya satu-satunya CD Generasi Synergy yang dia bawa. dia kasih pertanyaan dan ada 3 orang yang bisa jawab. makanya pertanyaannya diganti. hahaha. saya dari awal sudah pesimis, karena saya buta musik dan yaaah, pokoknya dipastikan ada orang yang jauh lebih bisa menjawab laaah. pertanyaan kedua juga susah banget (menurut saya). padahal gampang banget menurut orang lain, karena cuma nanyain nama alat musik yang om Benny mainkan malam itu. iya, saya ga tau namanya. hahaha.
pertanyaan ketiga, saya bisa. karena Barry sama kak Glenn sepakat nanyain umur om Benny. yaah, yang eksak-eksak gitu saya bisa laaah, percuma banget pake gelar sarjana sains, hahaha. saya sih ga tau pasti om Benny lahir tahun berapa, tapi saya tangkap dari cerita om Benny kalo pas tahun 1967 itu umurnya 21 tahun. maka otak saya mulai berproses... sayaaaang banget, sebelum saya memberanikan diri angkat tangan, sudah ada tangan lain teracung :(
yaaah, emang belum rejeki saya...

eeeeh, ternyata jodoh ga ke mana-mana *halaaah! :p om itu jawabannya salah. maka, dengan mengumpulkan segala keberanian pluuus, siap-siap malu kalo sampe jawabannya salah, saya ngacung dan langsung dihampiri kak Glenn. om Benny angkat dua jempol ke saya pas saya jawab "65". Horeeeee! the CD is mineeee!!

padahal sih, pas saya cari tau, umur om Benny belum genap 65. hehe. apakah ini sejenis kolusi?? hanya Tuhan dan om Benny yang tau, hahaha... *pingsan

setelah acaranya selesai, saya, Lady dan Party menerobos ke stage dan minta foto bareng. hehehe. kami menuju Matthew, om Benny dan akhirnya Barry. saya jadi pengen foto bareng dia juga, karena sudah berkali-kali ketemu tapi ga pernah berani minta foto bareng. barulah malam itu saya berani, haha.
saat saya berdiri di samping kirinya itulah, si virus menyerang. Barry Likumahuwa himself standing right beside me, smiling and suddenly being soooo cute, hehehe. ternyata, tinggian dia dari saya, hahaha... thank God. dua kali saya foto bareng dia. dan dia tetap ramah, meskipun ada sedikit insiden dengan blackberry saya. oh la la... ternyata bukan hanya saya yang nervous, tapi juga Party yang tugasnya motret dari BB.

jadi, sekarang saya ngefans Barry Likumahuwa dan papanya jugaa... mungkin ga lama lagi mamanya :) hehehe...

dan saya berani bilang, senang mengidap penyakit ini. semoga saja tidak menular. amiiin.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Perfect Chinese Tatto








Tattoo on Head Design








3D Tatto Design







The Pictures of Beautiful's Tattoo




The Costs Of Tattoos

Once you have made the decision to get a tattoo, you’ll find yourself facing a very important task – the budget.  Tattoos have long been known to be very expensive, with the bigger ones costing up in the thousands.  Although you may be able to find some designs and studios that are within your budget, you’ll still face some very important decisions.

The cost of a tattoo is the most common question people ponder before they get a tattoo. Although they can be very expensive, they are still within your reach.  Most people who know they are getting a tattoo will save their money up.  Even though you may have an average job and don’t make a lot of money, a tattoo can still be well within your reach if you save your money up for a few months.  This way, you’ll have more than enough to spare when you finally get the tattoo you have been saving up for.

In the world of tattoos, you get what you pay for.  If you’ve got your own design that you want tattooed, tattoo artists will normally charge you anywhere from 30 – 250 dollars an hour.  If you want the tattoo artist to design a tattoo for you, you’ll probably end up paying more.  Depending on the size and location of the tattoo, you can easily spend thousands.  Tattoos that cover the entire back for example, can cost you as much as fifteen thousand dollars!

The best thing to do is to find a studio and design that you like, and then look into how much it will cost you.  You should always look for the cleanest and most sanitary studio first.  Once you have found a sanitary tattoo studio, you should meet the tattoo artists and talk to them a bit to see how friendly they are.  When you look at the prices of the tattoos, you should never sacrifice quality for price.  Even though a studio may cost you more, the quality will normally be better than other tattoo studios in the area.

Although you may be able to find a tattoo studio that will do their work for a cheap price, you should never rush into getting a tattoo strictly for the price. Even though a cheap price may sound good, the quality of the work could be lacking.  Tattoo studios that charge expensive prices normally do so because they have the best artists and the best quality work.

Once you have chosen a studio and had your tattoo done, you should always make sure to tip your artist.  If he does exceptional work, you should make it well worth his time and give him a nice tip.  Tattoo artists who do high quality work love to get tips – and they will always appreciate your business if you treat them as good as they treat you.

Popular Tattoo Designs

Tattoos are a common thing these days.  They are more popular than ever before.  Research has shown that nearly 1 in 4 people have at least one tattoo.  There are many designs to choose from, giving people a chance to be creative.  Below, we will take a look at some of the most popular tattoo designs.

Tribal tattoos are among the most popular designs.  They have been around for hundreds and hundreds of years and they are always evolving and becoming more and more complex with their designs and styles.  Tribal tattoos can either be the traditional black style that cover the arms and the legs or the more colorful styles that can cover every area of the body.  The colorful, more modern look is becoming more and more popular when compared to other styles.

The “old school” styles of tattoos are also popular.  Anchors and things like that are making a great comeback these days and not just with sailors.  These styles were very common and very popular back in the 60s.  They are rapidly gaining their popularity back, as females and males are getting anchors and swallow designs tattooed on them more and more.

Lower back tattoos are the most common for women.  The lower back is one of the most sexual and sensual areas on a women, making the ideal spot for a tattoo.  Tribal designs are the most popular, although flowers, dragons, and other symbols make great tattoos as well.  The lower back offers plenty of natural curves as well, which can make for an innovative tattoo.  Often times, women tend to include tribal that spreads, covering the base of their hips as well.

Dragon designs are another popular type style of tattoos.  They were popular in the past, and are now starting to get their popularity back.  There are a lot of different dragons to choose from, including the mythical dragon and ancient Chinese dragon.  Dragons are great on the chest for males and the back for females.  Dragon tattoos can be virtually any size, although most males tend to have them cover one side of their chest or the upper region of their arms.

Celtic tattoos are also popular as well.  They are mostly seen with those who have a Celtic heritage, although some with no Celtic heritage have them as well.  They offer a variety of symbols and designs, providing universal meanings for everyone.  Often times they are mixed with tribal tattoos to create a more innovative tattoo.

There are several other types of tattoos out there, although the above are the most common.  Tattoos can be very creative and innovative; it all depends on what you want.  If you’re looking to stand out and be truly creative – you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.

Tattoo Removal Options

The removal of a tattoo is often thought of as being a very painful process.  Although the process may have been very painful in the past, the technology of today offers methods of removing tattoos.  Currently, there are two options to remove tattoos that are rapidly becoming more and more popular – laser technology and light based technology.

Both surgeries used light energy to destroy the ink in the tattoo.  The ink in the tattoo will absorb the energy of the light, breaking it up.  Once the ink starts to break up, it can easily be passed through and out of your body through filtering.  In most cases this is extremely safe, as the ink is broken down into micro size to where it can easily pass through the body with no complications.

The process is actually similar to the surgery in which hair is removed.  The surgeon or doctor who performs the surgery will hold a wand to the skin that is being treated.  As he does this, the pulses of light are aimed at the tattoo, breaking up the ink.  The wand is normally held right up against the tattoo, as this makes the pulses of light much more effective.

Normally, the feeling that you’ll experience is best described as an elastic or rubber band flicking constantly against your skin.  If the tattoo is big, the pain could certainly be a bit more intense.  The area where the tattoo is at is also important, as sensitive areas may cause you quite a bit of pain and discomfort.  If the area in which you have the tattoo doesn’t have a lot of muscle or tissue, you’ll more than likely want to be numbed as much as possible before starting the procedure.

Both laser and light based treatments are somewhat similar.  With both tattoo removal procedures, the doctor that is doing the procedure will always apply a cooling gel to the tattoo area that is being treated to cool the skin and conduct the energy of the light.  This cooling gel helps to draw the light, and at the same time protect your skin.  The gel will feel cool to the touch, although it will help your skin when the light pulses start to break the ink apart.

If you’ve been thinking about having a tattoo removed you should consider both light and laser based procedures.  Keep in mind that they are both expensive, and both impose risks.  Depending on how big your tattoo is and what the procedure involves, you may need to spend a night or two in the hospital.  Even though both procedures do offer ways to have your tattoo removed, you’ll need to think long and hard before you make a final decision.

Lower Back Tattoos

On a woman’s body there are a few places that can be thought of as sensual.  Although this varies from culture to culture, many consider the most sensitive areas to be the nape of the neck and the infamous lower back.  With that being said, it’s really not hard to see why lower back tattoos have become so popular over the years.

Although women have several areas for tattoos, the lower back is one of the most erotic and sensual areas women can get tattooed.  Lower back tattoos are easy to cover up as well, which is great for those who aren’t allowed to have tattoos at work.  Unlike other areas of the body, the lower back is completely covered up by a shirt.  With the lower back – you only show the tattoo off when you want.

The ease to show or hide lower back tattoos has helped to increase popularity, as well as the desire, or sensuality.  When a woman tells someone, especially a man, that she has a lower back tattoo – the mind often wonders.  Lower back tattoos create a sensual and tantalizing appeal.  Normally, these tattoos are done around the waist line.  While part of it may be hidden by a women’s birthday suit – there may very well be a part of it showing as well.  For lovers, a lower back tattoo can be very sensual and sexual, a secret that is shared only between the two.

The various designs and shape of the tattoo will often times enhance both the look and the appeal of the entire lower back area.  The design of the tattoo is normally a small and shallow curvature that enables it to fit perfectly to the curves of the female back and natural curves of her hips.  The lower back tattoo helps to accentuate an already breathtaking part of the female anatomy and enhance an area that is well known for its sensuality.

Popular designs for lower back tattoos include flowers, vines, and stars.  Winged creature designs work good as well, as the wings of the monster can stretch his wings across the entire lower back region.  Angels, dragonflies, and birds also seem to work quite well.  You can add natural designs to the creatures as well, including plants and flowers.  The lower back is a great area for tattoos – giving you unlimited possibility to use your imagination.

Although there are a lot of options and designs available, you should always choose one that you can enjoy for the rest of your life.  You should always give thought to a design, and not pick something just because it’s appealing at the time.  Instead, you should look into the thought and meaning of the tattoo and decide if it’s something you can see yourself with for the rest of your life.  The meaning behind a tattoo is important, both now and later on in life.  When you look at designs, you should always pick the one that literally calls out to you.

Before you decide to get a lower back tattoo, you should always look at several designs first, and then decide the best one for you.  If you can’t find a design that you like, you can always have a professional tattoo artist design one for you.  This way, you can have a tattoo design based on what you want.  Although a custom design may cost a bit more money – it’s truly worth it if you want a unique and creative design that enhances the look of your lower back.

Temporary Tattoos

This day and age, more and more people are deciding to get permanent tattoos, leaving their mark of choice on their skin.  If the tattoo is applied by an experienced artist, the risk involved will be minimal.  As sad as it is however, many people who get tattoos end up going to studios that use unsanitary equipment - resulting in infections or other serious problems.

Years ago, temporary tattoos were found in quarter machines, bubble gum wrappers, and even toy sections of the local store.  Children loved to get these temporary tattoos, as they presented a way for children to have a tattoo - one that was completely safe and would wash off.  Now days, even adults are beginning to think that this is the right idea.  The temporary tattoos of today are no longer just for children, as most last a long time - making them perfect for adults.

The best thing about temporary tattoos, is the fact that they are indeed temporary.  With temporary tattoos, you don’t have to worry about infections or unsanitary equipment, as there is no piercing of the skin involved.  Temporary tattoos are safe, and remove easily with soap and water.  This is very cost friendly as well - as permanent tattoos require surgery to remove.

If you have been thinking about getting a permanent tattoo, you should first give a temporary tattoo a try.  Tattoos that are temporary provide an excellent way to test out designs, and see if a tattoo is right for you.  If you don’t like it, all you have to do is wash it off.  Then, you can purchase another one and see if you like it better.  There are literally thousands of temporary tattoos out there, with designs that are sure to please everyone.

If you decide to get a permanent tattoo instead, you are pretty much stuck with it.  To get rid of a permanent tattoo, you’ll need to have it surgically removed, which can cost you thousands of dollars. You’ll also face the risk of infection, along with a permanent scar. Permanent tattoos are great though - providing you are happy with the tattoo.

In most cases, temporary tattoos look just like a permanent tattoo.  To use them, simply lick the tattoo or use water and apply to your skin.  When you have it where you want it, simply apply pressure for a few seconds.  They are easy to apply, and last until you wash them off.  If you decide to get a longer lasting temporary tattoo, it will last for a longer period of time.  This way, you can decide if a permanent tattoo is going to be worth the investment.

You can find temporary tattoos in local stores or on the Internet.  They are very affordable as well, even cheaper if you buy them in bulk.  Tattoo artists also sell them, and normally have a large selection on hand.  This way, you can look through the available selections and find the tattoo that best fits your style.

All in all, temporary tattoos are easier to apply than permanent tattoos and they pose no risk to your skin or your health.  Those that are afraid of needles tend to like them as well, as they give you the chance to have a tattoo without going under the needle. Before you rush out and get a tattoo, you should instead give permanent tattoos a try.  They won’t cost you a lot of money - yet they will give you the chance to see how you look with a tattoo - and decide if a permanent tattoo is really something you want.

The Meanings Of Flower Tattoos

These days, more and more women are getting tattoos.  As more women decide to get tattoos, flower designs continue to rise in popularity.  The best thing about flower tattoos is the fact that there are many different colors and types of flowers – providing many different meanings as well.  The flowers can mean a few different things, although specific types of flowers such as the rose and the Lilly may have a more specific meaning.

In general, flower tattoos have a connection with nature, bringing up thoughts and images of life and vitality. Anytime we look at a flower, we see the duration of life, simply flowers connect with us in the sense that we both grow.  Flowers emerge from the earth and continue to grow on a daily basis.  Then, the flowers bloom, knowing that they will later dry up and start to wilt away.

Having a tattoo with a flower brings back the entire process known as life.  Keep in mind however, that different colors and flowers on tattoos will symbolize other things as well.  White flower tattoos symbolize purity, while red flower tattoos can symbolize a burning passion.  There are many colors and designs available, giving plenty of meaning to those desiring flower tattoos.

Roses are the most common flower design for tattoos, symbolizing love.  During the turn of the 16th century, roses were tattooed on those who were sentenced to death.  If they were to escape from the gallows, the rose tattoo would serve as a symbol to easily recognize them.  These days, roses symbolize both love and passion.  Roses have long been known as a romantic flower, popular for special occasions with the ones we love.

In the western regions, rose tattoos are a symbol of love and purity.  In the Eastern regions however, love and purity are symbolized by a lotus flower.  Tattoos that feature lotus flowers also bring a little more meaning to the table.  Lotus tattoos are also known to symbolize fortune, peace, beauty, and goodness.  Even though roses are the most popular tattoos in North America, Lotus flower tattoos are more common in other regions.

Other examples include the acacia flower tattoo which is the symbol for love and friendship.  There are some people with Irish heritage who choose to get tattoos with the flower known as the Bells of Ireland.  This flower is well known throughout Ireland, with the tattoo symbolizing good luck.  Irish who have this tattoo are known to be lucky, or have an insane trend with luck.

Those who think of themselves as being the perfect lover may want to get a tulip tattooed on their arm.  Tattoos with tulips represent passionate love and fame for being a great lover.  If you happen to be shy and timid, you may want to go with a violet flower tattoo instead.  Violets are common tattoos for those who are shy and timid, and enjoy taking things slow.  Those wanting to symbolize wisdom and virtue on the other hand, would be well to get an Iris.  Magnolias are also common with flower tattoos, as they symbolize an individual’s love for nature.

Flower tattoos are very common and popular designs these days, giving plenty of meaning behind their beauty.  The flowers can be large or small and as bold as you wish them to be.  No matter which flower you have decided to use with your tattoo, you can ensure that the flower says the meaning you are looking for.

Physchology And Tattoos

In today’s society a lot of people tend to misjudge tattoos.  A lot of people who see someone with a lot of tattoos will automatically think negative thoughts.  Those who have tattoos are just like anyone else – except for the fact that they wish to stand out and broadcast who they are, simply because they have a strong sense of who they are.  Those with tattoos aren’t afraid to show them, as they put them on their body to let others know who they are and what they are about.

Most who decide to look into the psychology of those with tattoos seem to associate them as criminals and study them like they are common rats in the cage.  Contrary to this opinion that many experts have, those who have tattoos aren’t in any type of cage.  Instead, they are out there expressing their freedom.  Whether they are going by what they believe, showing that they belong to a certain group or clan, or paying homage to the dearly departed – there are always meanings behind tattoos.

The psychologist who studies those with tattoos will normally try to get into their frame of mind, which is hard to do.  For hundreds of years tattoos have always been a question from a psychological standpoint, with most people associating tattoos in the past with criminals.  Even though criminals may have tattoos, there are just as many if not more people out there who are some of the friendliest people in the world who have them as well.

To look at tattoos from a psychological standpoint can sometimes be hypocritical.  Although those who don’t have tattoos will try and figure out why someone would want them, it can still be considered a psychological point of view.  Those who have tattoos had a reason for getting them, or they wouldn’t have got them in the first place.

No matter where you look these days it’s a common thing to see someone with at least one tattoo.  This doesn’t mean that society is dwindling in any way, nor does it mean that mankind is becoming a bunch of clones following after one leader.  Tattoos have built there own reputation over the years, gaining in popularity.  Over the years more and more people have decided to get them – which only goes to show the phenomenon that is tattoos.

When you decide to look at the psychology of tattoos, you must first understand some of the meanings.  A tattoo can tell you a lot about the individual and his past.  Although some tattoos may be a bit frightening, that individual may have got the tattoos in his past and turn out to be nothing like that now.  Like others out there – the tattoos that were obtained in the past may be left as a reminder for the future.

Picking Your Dream Design

Tattoos are very common these days, with nearly 1 in 4 people having at least one.  Tattoos represent an art form, and allow people to broadcast who they are.  Even though they are popular, most people will end up regretting them.  In most cases, those who regret tattoos didn’t think about their design or take the time to choose the best tattoo for them.  Even though it is possible to get a tattoo removed, the process is expensive and quite painful.  To prevent this from happening, you should always take some time and find the perfect tattoo – your dream design.

Instead of trying to save some money, you should never choose a studio or artist based on how cheap they are.  Cheaper artists and studios normally lack in work quality, which is why they are able to charge cheaper prices. Instead, you should look for the best studio and artist that you can find close to your area.  Even though it may be expensive – the quality and design will be well worth it.

For some, their dream design is a person.  This can be a loved one or someone who has passed on.  You can always use a design or symbol that means something to you and reminds you of them or you can always use their face.  Good tattoo artists can make magical tattoos with meaning, whether it is someone’s face or a symbol that brings out meaning.

Sometimes, it can be hard picking out your dream design.  If you have an idea in mind but are still not sure what you want, you can always research.  You can get tattoo books, theme books, magazines, or just research online.  By looking at designs you may find something similar to what you are interested in.  Once you have found it, all you need to do is sit down with your tattoo artists and come up with your dream tattoo design.

If you have a basic idea for something small in mind, you can always have it tattooed then come back later and have more added on.  The best thing about tattoos is the fact that they can always be added to later.  This can be a great thing if you want to try a smaller tattoo first, and then decide whether or not you want to get it bigger.  If you start with a fraction of your dream design, you can always finish it up later on.

Whenever you get your dream tattoo you should always take time selecting the design.  Tattoos will stay with you forever, which is why you should pick them carefully.  If you put the necessary time and thought into it now, you won’t regret it later.  Your dream design should be very important, and hold meaning.  This way, every time you look at it – you’ll be reminded of that special moment in time and you’ll never forget about it.