The Risky Journal

Female-led superhero movies are rare US’ export commodity. CBS Supergil Poster Since the booming of superhero movies in 2000, for instance, only Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005) featured female as the lead hero. Unfortunately, citing many reasons, the feline antihero and the female assassin successfully failed in the market. The failure of female superhero movies re-affirmed the existing myth in Hollywood that female superhero movies are cursed (or, are allegedly set to fail according to this website ). This is interesting because according to the statistics released by the Motion Picture Association of America, 52 percent of moviegoers are women . Therefore, I was excited when I found out that a Supergirl series was being made . And, after watching the first episode of the series, I actually think that this time, female superhero characters will not fail. Supergirl series first aired on Monday, October 26, 2015 at CBS. This is the latest installment of DC Comics charact...

App-based motorcycle taxi, known as ojek, in Jakarta is the capital’s newest sensation. When you hit the road, you will find it extremely easy to see motorists donning green helmet which displays Gojek or Grabbike logo on it. They boast that they have thousands of drivers in the capital. Gojek and Grabbike are two smartphone applications that enable users to order ojek with a rational price. They break away from the conventional ojek which usually charge irrational fare. They calculate fare based on distance through google map. For instance, I once tried to take an ojek from my office building to a train station which is only 5 km away. If I took a taxi, it would cost me around Rp 40 thousand. However, it was a Friday evening, meaning that only miracle could help me get a taxi in Sudirman area, the main business district in the capital. After waiting for an empty cab for more than an hour, I gave up. The notorious 'Macet' in Sudirman Area during peak hours credit:...

In one week, Muslims all around the world will welcome the holy month of Ramadan. In this month of devotion, evaluation and reflection, Muslims are all expected to increase their prayers so that after the month ends, they will become better persons. The Holy Quran has taught Muslims that during the Holy Month, they should have more worshipping activities. Muslims are essentially taught to be closer to the Creator. However, my two year stay in Jakarta has taught me a different face of Ramadan The capital city has taught me that Ramadan is the month of discounts and sales. Starting next week, malls around the city will probably start offering discounts that are so hard for us to ignore. Thus, during Ramadan, instead of swarming mosques, people will swarm malls. Sales and discounts have clouded our memories of a promise that God once made. We suddenly forgot He once said that our one good deed would be counted as ten good deeds during Ramadan. We suddenly forgot th...

News Giant Battle Credit: Pulsk.com As the presidential election draws closer, observing some major media in Indonesia has become a very interesting activity to do. By doing such a thing, one can really learn how media actively engages in the nation’s political environment. This post was written as a simple result of observation in some online media. I observed the twitter accounts of television stations Metro TV and TVone. Metro TV belongs to the Media Group owned by businessman Surya Paloh, who happens to be the chairman of the National Democratic Party (NasDem). In this presidential election, the party sides with presidential and vice presidential candidate Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Jusuf Kalla, or known as JK. Meanwhile, TV One belongs to the Viva News group owned by businessman Aburizal Bakrie, who chairs the Golkar Party. The party chooses to support presidential and vice presidential candidate Prabowo and Hatta Rajasa. I once wrote in this blog about m...

Credit: Todayonline.com It has been a week since the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) announced that instead of nominating its chairperson as it used to do, the party would endorse its most famous member, Jakarta Governor Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo, as a presidential candidate in the upcoming election. Public is split into two: those who support the nomination and who are against it. The supporters deem that Jokowi, who won the second runner up in the 2012 World Mayor Prize, needs to join the race to reach the nation’s top office because he represents a fresh figure and a young leader. Public also deem him worthy enough to grace all people of Indonesia with his humble characteristic, a rare trait among many nation’s contemporary political elites. However, Jokowi's participation is met with lots of criticisms. Jokowi, who was elected as the Jakarta Governor in 2012, still has three more years until the end of his term at the capital city. His participation i...

First of all … I am a Muslim (not a very devout one, but still I am a Muslim). I don’t believe that Jesus is God’s son because according to Al Ikhlas verse 3 “God neither begets nor is born.” I, however, believe that Jesus ( frequently mentioned in Al Quran as Isa al Masih ) is a messenger of God, just like Abraham and Muhammad (pbuh). I know my Christian friends will not be angry by reading these lines. This is the part where we are different right? If not, then there will be no Christian and Muslim, right? (More diverse more festive; what’s so good about black and white?) Therefore, there lies my ideological foundation of my religion. Up to now, despite various temptations, nothing has succeeded in making me discard that. As Christmas is approaching, the Muslim world is brewing with annual , ongoing , never ending and relentless (I think I am running out of adjectives here [each adjective leads to different stories]) debates about whether Muslims are allowed to extend...

I still remember not a day went by in September without news on various mass organizations staging protests on Miss World 2013 held in Indonesia. They demanded that the beauty pageant be cancelled, citing that it is not appropriate with Indonesian culture. Following the rains of demonstrations and protests, theorganizer cancelled the beauty pageant’s venues in Jakarta and held it solely inBali Island . But, apparently, Indonesia will host another international beauty pageant! Mister International 2012Ali Hammoud On my way home from my office, I always pass a billboard informing me about Mister International 2013 slated to be held in Jakarta on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. But something is missing. There is no news about people protesting the show. Where are they? Those who disagreed about Miss World held in Indonesia argued that it is not aligned with Indonesian culture. They mostly disagreed with the bikini contests, which is a part of the competition. The ev...

Between Muslim and American Identity Kamala Khan, New Ms. Marvel. source: huffingtonpost I woke up this morning with a big surprise. As a part of my daily routines, I always check on my Feedly account and at around 8 am I read a post in Hufftington Post about a new character in Marvel universe. Marvel will welcome Kamala Khan, a Muslim woman and Pakistan immigrant to the US, as the new Ms. Marvel. Yes, it’s a Muslim woman who is bestowed the title of Ms. Marvel. As someone who really loves superhero universe and American Studies, this event is a pivotal key in the ‘outgoing’ superpower country’s culture. Ms. Marvel is a fiction character in Marvel comic books. Carol Danvers is the most notable character donning the mantle of Ms. Marvel. The hero has various abilities including superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, energy projection, energy absorption and flight. Therefore, Ms. Marvel, in my opinion, is one the most powerful character in Marvel Universe. ...

Akil Mochtar A shocking news surprised me when I woke up in the morning today. Akil Mohtar, the Constitutional Court’s Chief Justice, was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a raid early on Thursday morning. Akil, who was elected as Chief Justice in August 2013, allegedly received briberies to settle election dispute in Gunung Mas regency.  Former Golkar Party politician Akil was arrested along with Golkar Party lawmaker Chairun Nisa and businessman CHN at the chief’s official house in South Jakarta. Shortly, Gunung Mas regent Hambit Bintih and another businessman DH was apprehended in a hotel in Central Jakarta. The anti-graft body’s investigators confiscated money worthy of SGD 324,000 (IDR 3 billion) from Akil’s house. The Constitutional Court, so far, has always been considered as the cleanest body in the judicial branch in Indonesia. This highest court deals with constitutional disputes and those about regional, local or national election disp...

Beberapa hari yang lalu saya menemani salah seorang penerima beasiswa Fulbright dari Amerika untuk mengurus surat keterangan jalan di Markas Besar Kepolisian Republik Indonesia di Jakarta Selatan. Kolom demi kolom dia isi dengan seksama hingga pada akhirnya dia berhenti di suatu kolom dan bertanya kepada saya.  “Why do they ask me to mention my religion?” kata Megan, sang penerima beasiswa tersebut. Welcome to Indonesia Megan! Anda baru saja mengalami sedikit cultural shock. Megan berasal dari Amerika, sebuah negeri yang terkenal akan prinsip pemerintahan yang memisahkan agama dari urusan pemerintahan. Bagi pemerintah Amerika, agama benar-benar menjadi urusan yang sangat sacral antara seorang individu manusia. Seorang manusia boleh saja tidak beragama apabila dia merasa hal itu benar baginya. Dia tidak akan mendapatkan sanksi dari siapapun – baik dari Negara ataupun dari masyarakat – karena memilih untuk tidak beragama. Agama benar benar menjadi urusan masing masing indi...

The information about SBY to receive the award as stated in the ACF's web:  http://www.appealofconscience.org/ In other countries, citizens would be pleased and honored if their leaders or president s received an international award to recognize their efforts in promoting peace and tolerance among people of different religions and faiths. But, that is likely to happen in Indonesia. For the last couple of weeks, rights activists throughout the archipelago have been expressing their frustrations of news about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will receive the World Statesman Award from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in the end of May. The foundation, established by Rabbi Arthur Schneier  in 1965, is the place where leaders of all faiths gather to promote peace, tolerance and ethnic conflict resolution. It annually recognizes world leaders who, according to the foundation, have promoted peace, tolerance and conflict resolution.  Past awardees ...

The political tension in the country is heating up ahead of the 2014 general elections. The General Elections Commission (KPU) has recently announced a list of legislative candidates that have been registered by the 13 political parties competing in the election next year. Singer Irwansyah runs as legislative candidates for the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra According to a report by The Jakarta Post , the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is the only political party that does not have celebrity figures in its list. The report says that there are 44 celebrities registered in the list of 12 other political parties. There is actually nothing wrong with celebrities trying their lucks in politics. They, as much as you and I, have constitutional rights to join the political race in this country. But, wait … is there really really nothing wrong with that?   I lied. Do I really want to be led by celebrities? Do I want celebrities to sit in the parliament to d...