NGLANGGERAN GUNUNGKIDUL TO BE ONE OF WORLD’S GEOPARK, UNESCO SAID

On its visit to Gunungkidul on October 12, 2010, team from United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stated that Gunungkidul regency, Yogyakarta province has two candidates to be considered as one of the world geopark: ancient mountain Nglanggeran and karst region of Gunungsewu.
Full commitment from all stakeholders are required in order to make the dream come true because Gunungkidul is blessed to have the two wonderful location, said Shafeea Leman, one of advisors from UNESCO Global Network of National Geopark.
In addition to UNESCO, the team is also consist of some geology experts from Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Veteran, Yogyakarta. They also visit Kalisuci cave located at Semanu sub-district.
Shafeea, a professor from Universitas Kebangsaan Melayu, said that his visit to Nglanggeran is to directly watch the two locations those are proposed to be considered as one of world’s geo park in Indonesia.
“What is needed is our commitment because the process of submitting the two location to UNESCO takes only one to two years, such as Malaysia that submitted Langkawi as geopark. Through this thoroughly commitment, then we can manage the region properly,” said Shafeea.
He also noted that Nglanggeran has met some requirements that is needed to be made it as geopark, such as community involvement to manage Nglanggeran area and to prevent the region from any exploitation.
This point, community involvement, is still weak in some geoparks that have been registered under UNESCO. Therefore, UNESCO urged such geoparks to more involve communities in managing and maintaining the geopark.
Meanwhile, geology lecture from UPN Veteran Bambang Pratisto stated that Indonesia invited the team from Malaysia to make comparative assessment because Malaysia has had geopark, Langkawi.
“And we choose Nglanggeran because this region is feasible to be a geopark. Uniquely, it is the community that directly involve in managing the region, not the government,” said him. He added that in general, Gunungkidul has proper geologically requirement to be considered as geopark region.
Besides, the Head of Tourism Development of Culture and Tourism Department Birowo Adhie said that his department will complete the requirement needed by UNESCO.
“Officially, we do not yet submit the region to UNESCO. It needs internal coordination from regional government and community involvement to realize all of this,” he added.
(Source: depkominfo, kalisongku, Wahana Outdoor) Read More..

DRIVE GREENER TO SAVE GASOLINE AND MONEY

Twenty percent of all the earth's greenhouse gases is released from automobile exhaust, contributing to air pollution and global warming, producing a single car releases into the air 4 tons of CO₂ and 318 kg of other air pollutants.

How Can You Make Your Driving Greener?
Maintenance
Reguler engine maintenance increases gas consumption by 25%.
Drive smart & efficiently
Less driving means fewer emissions.
Every 1 liter of gasoline saved keeps 2.4 kg of CO₂ out of the atmosphere.
Walk, ride a bicycle, carpool, or take public transportation more often.
Increasing speed from 100 km/h to 120 km/h increases gas consumption by 20%.
Planning ahead your route and time helps save gasoline and money.
Go easy on air conditioner
Air conditioning increases gas consumption by 20%.
Use air conditioner only as needed.
Reduce idling
Turn off the engine, idling wastes gasoline and money.
Drive smoothly
Driving at a constant speed saves gasoline and money.
Avoid sudden acceleration and hard braking.
Check tire pressure regularly
Properly inflated tires are safer to use and help improve gas consumption by more than 3%.
For accurate results, measure tire pressure when the tires are cold.


Read More..

SAVE ELECTRICITY

DID YOU KNOW?
Forty percent of your home’s electronic energy is used while your electronic devices are turned off, adding up to 10% of your electric bill. This is caused by ‘phantom power’ sucking electricity from the wall socket. Many electronic devices, appliances, power tools, cell phone chargers, and other gadgets draw power even when they’re on standby, switched off or not in use, just by being plugged in.
Therefore, UNPLUG devices when not in use or plug all devices into a power strip, then turn off the power strip with a single switch.

REDUCE AIR CONDITIONER USAGE
AC accounts for 16% of your electric bill. Setting the temperature 2^oC warmer saves on your electric bill. Clean your AC once every 3-6 months. Buy energy efficient AC.
Whenever possible, keep cool without AC: strategically planting trees around the house reduces AC needs by 30%-58%; opening opposite end windows to pull out air through the house improves cross ventilation; block sunlight during hot hours of the day with awnings, blinds, or curtains; use fans, which use only 3% of electricity, to move air throughout the house.

USE REFRIGERATOR WISELY
Refrigerator accounts for 15%-20% of your electric bill and it’s the biggest energy-consuming kitchen appliance in a home, almost 5 times than the average television. Ideal fridge temperature is 2.5^oC to 4.5^oC, ideal freezer temperature is –18^oC to –15^oC. Placing refrigerator away from heat source and closing the doors quickly saves electricity. Read More..

PLANT A TREE!

Half the world's forests have already been cleared and burned, and 80% of the remaining have been seriously degraded. Help reduce global warming! Planting trees is the most effective and one of the cheapest ways for you to help balance the CO2 you generate daily.
Why should you plant a tree? A single tree absorbs about 1 ton of CO2 during its lifetime, provides shade and releases water vapor, lowering air temperature and cooling the earth surface.
Every tree reduces the greenhouse effect by giving off oxygen during photosynthesis and absorbing up to 60% of CO2 and other air pollutants. Every tree provides oxygen enough for 3 people to breathe. A tree reduces topsoil erosion by capturing rainfall in its crown to slow down water run-off. Trees in forests store 50% of the world's carbon. Trees also reduce 50% of urban noise pollution by acting as a buffer. Read More..

THE VIRGIN BEACH: WEDIOMBO

Looking for a virgin beach? Visit Wedi Ombo! It is an amazing tourism destination located at Jepitu-Girisubo, just 75 kms from downtown Yogyakarta province and 39 kms southeast of Wonosari, the capital of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The beach structure and location offer an unforgetable experience. A relatively clean and unexploited white-sand beach is another reason. In addition to very beautiful nature, this beach also offers peace and serenity. Surrounded by karst hill, it has several places of interest such as karst caves, underground channel, dry forest, camping ground and wild animal conservation park. Seen from the hill, the whole scene of the beach is very beautiful.
The location of this beach is far lower than the surrounding lands. You have to get down by the stairs in order to reach the beach and enjoy the panorama.
One other interesting thing in this beach is that many trees surrounding the beach are kept uncut. These trees make the beach greener, cooler and healthier. It is very cool to sit under the trees enjoying the beauty of the beach.
Have hobby in fishing? Wediombo is a perfect place to fish, especially Panjo fishes. You can fish directly from the beach or, more extremely, from the height of the coral cliff. We have to walk eastward through the shore; climbing steep and slipper cliff and sometimes the waves hit us. Although not easy to reach the cliff, but once you get the top, the difficult way you experience before is paid off. The cliff, facing directly to the deep ocean, offers wonderful place to fish. Big fishes are sometimes caught by the hobbyists.
Wanna enjoy something more special and unique? Visit Wediombo beach when an annual ritual ceremony, called Ngalangi, is held. This ceremony takes place once a year in which the objective is to express the gratitude to God for what have been granted in the past and asking for good fortune for the future. The fortune is mainly good catches in sufficient quantity to fulfill daily needs.
The procession of the ceremony is unique; it begins by spreading gawar - the fishnet made from wawar tree. This kind of fishnet was used to catch fish before the present nylon fishnet. The gawar is spread out from Kedongkowok hill to the area of the rise and fall of the tides in order to trap the fish that are washed away by the waves. Read More..

BOMBS EXPLODED AT JW MARIOTT HOTEL AND RITZ CARLTON HOTEL, INDONESIA

On Friday, July 17, 2009 at around 07.40 a.m. (GMT+7), two bombs are exploded at two international hotels in Indonesia: JW Mariott and Ritz Carlton. Nine people were killed and more than fifty other were injured. Whatever is the motive, we all condemned those who involved in this terror. Indonesia Police must work hard to find out the executor and, more importantly, the actor behind it.
This bad day reminded us to the same event in the same place. In August 5, 2003, suicide bomber detonated a car bomb otuside the lobby of JW Mariott Hotel killing twelve people. At the time, Azahari was one who is responsible for the attack. He was finally shot by Indonesia anti-terror unit.
I am sure that Indonesia Police will, with their past excellent experience in revealing those who are responsible for the bombing, be able to uncover the doers.
At 02.00 p.m., President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) stated that Indonesia government condemns this coward action. In addition, he also said that, currently, there was a group of individuals who are trained to fire their gun with SBY picture as their target. The president showed some pictures, gathered from intelligent, showing these actions to support his argument.
We are shocked to what the President has said and showed, especially when he said that it is the first time he emotionally revealed to the public that his live was threatened.
He also cited some events that may have correlation with the bombing, such as disappointment of presidential election result, plan to boycott presidential election, plan to make riot as happened in Iran, and so on. In my opinion, President statements are too early. Although I agree to some of President statements, it is best for him to focus more on the problem, that is, how to investigate the case thoroughly. Read More..

INTERMEZZO

It’s my life (Bon Jovi): Iki lho nggonku isih urip
The day that never come (Metallica): Nglanguuut tenan
A little love (Bryan Adam): Tresno sak tumo
I’ll never falling in love (Bobby Gentry): Wis kapok tenan aku.
All out of love (Air Supply): Katresnan sak pol'e
Help me make it through the night (Sammy Smith): Kancanono aku melek
Goodbye (Air Supply): Lilanana pamit mulih
Alone (Kenny G): Nelongso temen awakku
Lost in love (Air Supply): Katresnan kebablasan
Making love out of nothing at all (Air Supply): Nge****k gratisan
Wherever you will go (The Calling): Sak karepmu
Grease (Bee Gees): Kinclong
How deep is your love (Bee Gees): Duwekmu kok jero 'men
I started a joke (Bee Gees): Wiwit mbanyol

Dressed for success (Roxette): Ojo minthal-minthul
In the morning (Bee Gees): Esuk uthuk-uthuk
Right here waiting (Richard Marx): Tak enteni randhamu
Saturday night fever (Bee Gees): Meriang ning nekat ngapel
Stayin' alive (Bee Gees): Dawa umur
You are not alone (Michael Jackson): Ayo tak kancani
Words (Bee Gees): Nggedebus
Highway star (Deep Purple): Jago trek-trek'an
Country Road (John Denver): Dalan gragalan
Smoke on the water (Deep Purple): Umob (album: Nggodog Wedang)
Soldier of fortune (Deep Purple): Bejo dadi serdadu
Get on top (RHCP): Ganti awakmu neng nduwur
Mama (Genesis): Mbok'e
Carrie (Europe): Muliho, jupuken sik
Another day in paradise (Phill Collins): Suk'mben ing swarga
In and out of love (Bon Jovi): Mlebu-metu, mlebu-metu, metuuuu
Againts all odds (Phill Collins): Genep (gak ganjil)
Until it sleeps (Metallica): Keturon
All night long (Lionel Richie): Lek-lek'an/wayangan ngebyar
Wind of change (Scorpion): Angin owah
Still (Lionel Richie): Isih (durung entek)
Stuck on you (Lionel Richie): Kecanthol mbek awakmu..
Welcome to my life (Simple Plane): Sugeng rawuh
Truly (Lionel Richie): Tenane!!!
Fool again (Westlife): Guoblog!!
Frozen (Madonna): Njendel (album: Lengo klentik mangsa mbedhidhing"')
Burn (Usher): Kobongan
Like a virgin (Madonna): Kaya sik prawan ae...
The lady in red (Chris de Burgh): Menstruasi
Don't cry for me, Argentina (Madonna): Aja nangis cah Sragen...
Never tear us apart (Inxs): Ojo mbok pisah
Billy Jean (Michael Jackson): Tuku kathok Levis
At the beginning (Donna L & Richard M): Mulo bukane
Black white (Michael Jackson): Ireng putih (album: Seragam sinoman)
Close your eyes (Tiffany & Tommy Page): Ndang modar-o
Killing me softly (Roberta Flack): Di-ithik-ithik sak-modar-e
Don’t know much (Linda R): Ora mudheng babar blas
Release me (Engelbert Humperdinck): Cul'na aku
Truly madly deeply (Savage Garden): Edan, jero tenan….
My way (Frank Sinatra): Sak-karepku (album: Ndableg)
Not me, not I (Delta Goodrem): Sumpah! Dudu aku…
I don't like to sleep alone (Paul Anka): Kelonono aku
Never gonna let you go (Sergio Mendes): Tak cencang awakmu
Fragile (Sting): Grabah Kasongan
Hands clean (Alanis Morissette): Wisuh
Read More..

TIPS MENGATASI VIRUS KOMPUTER

Beberapa virus yang menyerang file dokumen (terutama Microsoft Word) akan mengubah extension dari file yang kita simpan dari seharusnya berakhiran .doc menjadi berakhiran .exe. Sebenarnya tidak semua file yang berakhiran .doc hilang sama sekali dan berganti berakhiran .exe, tetapi file tersebut tetap ada tetapi telah disembunyikan oleh si virus. Hal ini tidak dipahami oleh para pengguna komputer pada umumnya yang komputernya telah terserang virus. Apabila si pengguna tidak menyimpannya di media penyimpan seperti flashdisk, hal ini tidak terlalu merisaukan. Yang menjadi masalah adalah jika si pemilik komputer tersebut menyimpan file ke dalam flashdisk dan membuka file tersebut di komputer lain. Contohnya adalah para mahasiswa yang memiliki komputer di rumah, tetapi tidak memiliki printer. Mereka umumnya mengerjakan tugas-tugas perkuliahan di rumah. Setelah itu mereka menyimpan file tersebut ke dalam flashdisk dan dibawa ke rental komputer untuk dicetak. Namun, sesampainya di rental komputer file yang akan dicetak telah berubah bentuk. Bahkan ada yang file aslinya hilang. Mengesalkan bukan? Tugas-tugas kuliah terpaksa harus ditunda atau pulang ke rumah untuk mengambil backup-nya. Bagaimana cara mengatasinya? Berikut adalah tips yang cukup ampuh agar file tidak berubah dan tetap dapat dibuka di komputer lain. Tips ini telah saya praktekkan dan saya anjurkan kepada para pengguna yang komputernya telah terserang virus.

Ketika menyimpan dokumen pada Microsoft Word (dengan File>Save atau File>Save As atau CTRL+S), simpanlah file ke dalam Rich Text Format (berakhiran .rtf). Untuk mempermudahnya, gunakan saja perintah File>Save As, kemudian klik Save as type dan klik Rich Text Format (.rtf), kemudian klik Save.

Tips ini juga berguna untuk menghindari agar komputer kita tidak terserang virus. Sebagai contoh, ketika kita mengerjakan tugas atau mencari bahan kuliah dari warnet atau komputer lain yang mungkin saja telah terserang virus, kita biasanya menyimpan file ke dalam flashdisk. Sehingga ketika kita membuka file tersebut di komputer sendiri, virus tidak menular.

Di bawah ini adalah tips agar komputer kita dapat aman dari serangan virus:

• Pasanglah antivirus. Ada banyak sekali antivirus yang beredar, bahkan tak jarang yang dapat kita peroleh secara gratis di Internet. Saran saya: Gunakan antivirus yang tidak terlalu membebani komputer, karena akan memperlambat kinerja komputer. Beberapa antivirus lokal tidak kalah bagusnya dari antivirus asing. Hindari menginstal dua atau lebih antivirus ke dalam satu komputer karena dapat menimbulkan masalah pada komputer.


• Biasakan seminggu sekali atau bahkan setiap hari untuk download update antivirus terbaru. Ini penting karena virus baru bermunculan setiap hari. Bahkan ada virus terbaru yang tidak mempan dengan tips yang saya berikan di atas (mengubah file type menjadi Rich Text Format).


• Partisilah harddisk Anda menjadi dua atau tiga. Simpan semua data penting di partisi kedua (biasanya drive D:) atau ketiga (drive E:). Hal ini sangat membantu ketika virus sudah terlalu menyebar atau ketika komputer rusak dan perlu diinstal ulang, maka file yang ada di partisi tersebut tetap aman.

Demikianlah tips dari saya, semoga bermanfaat. Read More..