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January 7th, 2009

   

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“All whaling vessels please proceed to waters of East Timor”Photos post

Photo by Fat Old Sod at the Xanana Republic Gazzete, used with permission.

The title of this article is a quote from Twitter user @BILL_ROMANOS on December the 31st celebrating a discovery made by Australian and East Timorese researchers whose recent study made overwhelming findings concerning sub aquatic life: the biggest concentration ever reported of whales and dolphins, among other cetaceans, was found 50 km (30 miles) off the coast of East Timor.

With this, East Timor, as a young country with a troubled history, now has a fresh breath of hope for its promising eco-tourism industry. Once again, the strategic Wetar-Ombai strait shows its value. Although it is most famous for being a route for “US nuclear and Australian navy submarines travelling through the Indonesian islands“, this time the strait that separates the Pacific from the Eurasian plates is recognized as “a major migratory route for marine wildlife moving between the Pacific and Indian oceans“.

Cathal Foster (PT) writes about it:

A expedição, que foi o primeiro grande estudo de cetáceos em Timor-Leste, veio confirmar aquilo que os biólogos marinhos apenas suspeitavam: as águas profundas dos estreitos de Wetar e Ombai, ao largo de Timor - que podem ter até três mil metros de profundidade -, são uma importante rota migratória e corredor para a vida marinha, ligando os oceanos Pacífico e Índico.

The expedition, which was the first big study into cetaceans in East Timor, confirms what biologists had suspected: the deep waters of the Wetar and Ombai straits, off the coast of Timor – which may be up to 3,000 m (1,864 miles) deep - are an important migratory route and a corridor for marine life, connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans.

This discovery is grabbing the attention of several digital citizens who have begun linking their blogs or tweets to mainstream news:

The amazing diversity of species, that choose the waters off East Timor's coast as a favourite “hotspot”, is occasionally mentioned by bloggers. Fat Old Sod, at the beginning of November 2008, posted some “Mega Fauna” pictures he took from an aircraft trip over Timorese waters:

Mega Fauna basically means anything bigger than, and including, turtles. (…) We saw at least 6 species of whales, easily over 4000 dolphins, manta rays in formation, BIG hammerhead sharks cruising on the surface and we just stopped counting the turtles once we got to Com and beyond because there were too many.

Photo by Fat Old Sod at the Xanana Republic Gazzete, used with permission.

An anonymous comment on the post titled Whale and dolphins hotspot found in East Timor (PT) states:

Mais um grande ponto para a futura indústria do turismo em Timor.
Bem regulamentado poderá ser mais uma grande fonte de rendimento para o país.

Another great step for the future tourism industry of Timor. If well regulated, it may be another big source of income for the country.

Levi Novey, however, is concerned:

It highlights the need for greater protection of biodiverse ocean areas like these from unregulated fishing – a challenge given East Timor’s desire to develop their fishing industry.

The fishing regulations appear to be an issue for the preservation of the fauna found, as they are commonly ignored, giving space for illegal fishing to occur in those waters. Fat Old Sod caught fishers red handed with his camera:

We also got pictures of some illegal fishing boats from Indonesia which we have handed on to the appropriate authorities with times, name of vessel, location etc.

Edy, a Timorese citizen, commented on the discovery, raising some interesting points on the conditions those waters offer to marine life:

(…) the marine environment in that area in (sic) certainly more secure, cleaner, and quieter for those mammals to gather even perhaps can be used as their marine habitat to reproduce and expand. Giving the fact that in that maritime area there is less fishing activity in industrial scale and it’s not considered strategically good enough for commercial ship’s and military navals passage hence almost inexistence in that area any noise that can be prejudicial for whales and other species. Therefore it’s a hotspot for those marine animals to live in abundance. Any habitat of other species when given time, space, less disturbances from human greedy commercial and military activities will certainly find its own way to live, survive, reproduce and expand in greater numbers to the benefit of all living things in this planet we call Earth.

Back in his post Whale Of A Time, Fat Old Sod says how lucky he felt to be asked to fly over the spot, take pictures and be witness to such a special thing:

I knew we had great marine life here but I never knew it was so prolific. The two scientists I was with told me that it was an absolutely exceptional survey. And when a scientist starts to use long adjectives you know you've seen something special!!

Photo by Fat Old Sod at the Xanana Republic Gazzete, used with permission.

For more breathtaking pictures of marine life in East Timor, check these web addresses:

Peru: Blogger Wishes for the New Year

“What are your hopes for the Peruvian blogosphere in 2009?” That question was openly posed to the community of Peruvian blogosphere on Juan Arellano's blog Globalizado [es]. As a result, 28 bloggers from Peru and the diaspora responded with a wide variety of thoughts and opinions on their personal blogs and others in the comments section. Many were optimistic, yet some were bothered by the commercialization of the medium. Still, others hoped that the more human-side of the bloggers would start to appear. Here is a short summary of some of those answers.

Many were discontent with the state of the Peruvian blogosphere, such as Jonathan of the blog Maskus Planet [es] , who left a comment saying [es]:

Mucho ruido y poca creatividad. Mucho deseo de emular a los periódicos o querer hablar de todo un poco. El valor de los blogs es su subjetividad, conocer al autor a través de lo que escribe, de las ideas que comparte, de las ideas que tiene. Me gustaría que para el 2009 la blogósfera sea más subjetiva, más temática, con más sabor, como si estuvieras leyendo una historia contada por un amigo, y no los remedos de periódicos o de agencia de noticias que veo abundan y se pierden en una masa gris.

A lot of noise and very little creativity. There is a lot of desire to emulate newspapers or want to talk about a little of everything. The value of blogs is their subjectivity, to get to know the authors through the writings, the ideas that they share, the ideas that they have. In 2009, I would like for the blogosphere to be more subjective, more theme-related, with more flavor, as if one was reading a story told by a friend, and not mimic the newspapers or news agencies that are everywhere, which gets lost in the grey matter.

However, Silvio Rendon of Gran Combo Club [es] doesn't mind the business aspect of the blogs, but hopes that there will start to be competition:

espero que surja la tendencia contraria, que se entienda que la blogósfera peruana no es sólo un grupo determinado de personas, sino algo mucho más amplio, con rotación, surgimiento de nuevos blogs y caída de otros, con pluralidad temática y de opiniones, y con orientación hacia la calidad de contenidos. Y si va a haber presencia y lógica comercial en el medio, sería deseable que exista más competencia entre más empresas, que rompa con los oligopolios que hoy acaparan la blogósfera.

I hope that a contrary tendency emerges, that understands the Peruvian blogsophere not only as a determined group of individuals, but something much deeper, with a rotation, the emergence of new blogs and the fall of others, with a variety of themes and opinions and direction towards the quality of content. And if there will be a commercial presence in this medium, it would be desirable that there would be more competition between the companies, and that the oligopoly is broken that holds the blogosphere captive.

On the other hand, Francisco of Apuntes Peruanos [es] is a little more cynical about the state of the blogosphere:

En esta “blogosfera” pasa algo curioso: poco a poco se ha creado una mitología y un credo. Hay héroes, luchas, ideales en debate. Y hay un credo basado en una extraña idea: “Los blogs son lo más importante”. Los blogs, no el individuo, ser humano detrás del artilugio, no el entorno que nutre a este individuo. Menos aún las ideas, o las dudas, Así, se ha pasado de la revolución del blog a la dictadura del blogger-tarado, todo en simples pasos.

In this “blogosphere” something interesting is taking place: little by little a mythology or creed is being created. There are heroes, struggles and ideals up for debate. There is a creed based on a strange idea: “The blogs are the most important thing.” The blogs, not the individual, the human being behind the device, not the setting that nourishes this individual. Even less important are the ideas or the doubts. That is how the blog revolution has evolved from the dictatorship blog to the idiot blogger, all in those simple steps.

Guille of Pueblo Vruto [es] is also not very optimistic:

creo que el 2009 será el año del domesticamiento de los blogs. Solo sobrevivirán los blogs que de alguna forma se “institucionalicen” ya sea convirtiendo el esfuerzo o hobby personal en una ocupación “seria” (independientemente de la remuneración), asociándose en grupos o cárteles, o siendo acogidos o absorbidos (portales, periodicos on-line, organizaciones sociales y políticas, etc).

I think 2009 will be the year of the domestication of blogs. The only blogs that will survive will be those that “institutionalize” themselves somehow by converting a personal hobby or effort into a “serious” line of work (independent of the financial compensation), by associating themselves with groups or cartels, or by being absorbed (portals, online newspapers, social and political organizations, etc.).

Carlos of Peruanista [es] thinks that the business aspect of the blogs is negatively affecting the blogosphere:

La blogósfera peruana se ha llenado de comerciantes que no escriben para comunicar, sino para atraer visitantes y ganar dinero. Bien se podría mantener un balance entre hacer blogs y hacer dinero, porque nadie debe trabajar de gratis. Pero cuando se trata de negociar los blogs, es obvio que en Lima algunos están financiados por grupos empresariales y políticos. Desgraciadamente la influencia del dinero, la corrupción, los intereses políticos y empresariales, ya están infectando el mundo de los blogs peruanos.

The Peruvian blogosphere has been filled with marketers that do not write to communicate, but rather to attract visitors and make money. There can be a balance between making blogs and making money, because no one should work for free. However, when it has to do with the business of blogs, it is obvious that in Lima some blogs are being financed by business and political groups. Unfortunately, the influence of money, corruption, political and business interests are all infecting the world of Peruvian blogs.

The complete summary posts can be found on the Globalizado [es] (1, 2, 3), as well as Arellano's personal thoughts at his post title, “yo, blogger? [es]

Egypt: Bloggers on the Fence

Sitting on the fence requires objectivity, tolerance, and integrity. Mona Eltahawy chose to sit on the fence and Amr Gharbeia asks people to choose a solution.

In her post: “On Fence Toughtest Stance in Mideast“, Mona Eltahawy stated that:

it’s too easy to take sides in the Middle East conflict. Few other parts of the world inspire such passion or leave such little room for doubt. For many, choosing sides is just an afterthought to their birthright: If you’re an Arab, go join the Free Palestine demonstrations; and if you’re Jewish, go join the Save Israel marches.

Don’t forget, you can always throw God into the mix. Lay claim to your holy sites and you’ll have religiously sanctioned wrath to fuel your rage.

Then she asks:

what’s the point of choosing sides when both sides are losing? The real challenge when it comes to the Middle East is to sit on the fence and to understand that as with most chapters of this interminable conflict, civilians pay the most expensive price.

The best unbiased advice she could give is:

From that perch up there on the fence, keep your eyes firmly on Israeli and Palestinian civilians and ask about the responsibility of leaders to their people.

The civilians of Gaza are victims of both Hamas and Israel.

The former have been more concerned with firing ineffectual rockets at southern Israel where they targeted the very group of people they are now accusing Israel of hurting the most in Gaza — civilians.

Israel has launched a punishing bombardment and invasion of Gaza that will be used as the latest proof that it is the neighbourhood bully. Its actions are bound to turn Hamas into the very heroes they don’t deserve to be and possibly unleash a new wave of unconscionable suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.

And all for what?

And she warns:

For those of us from the region, the easiest thing might be to follow our birthright to bias but the hardest thing is to scream “Enough” at a time when both sides seem bent on mutual destruction and when to criticize your side ensures accusations of being a sellout.

Finally she insists on:

staying on that fence and being a sellout for peace.

Stay on that fence with me and scream and yell for a ceasefire.

Enough violence.

Amr Gharbeia created a poll on his blog asking voters to choose one of nine options to end the conflict and the results showed that the majority of people just want peace and democracy:

يخرج السكان اليهود من الأرض و تعود بالكامل للمسلمين، و من يبقى يصير من أهل الذمة
26% (50 صوتا)
يخرج السكان اليهود من الأرض و تعود بالكامل للعرب، و من يبقى منهم يصير مواطنا من الدرجة الثانية
8% (16 صوتا)
يعود اللاجئون العرب و يعيشون مع اليهود في دولة ديمقراطية على كامل تراب فلسطين تعطي العرب تمييزا إيجابيا لفترة ما
34% (66 صوتا)
تقوم دولة فلسطينية في حدود تقسيم الأمم المتحدة 1937
5% (10 أصوات)
تطبق القرارات الدولية و تقوم دولة فلسطينية في حدود ما قبل يونيو 1967 مع عودة اللاجئين
12% (23 صوتا)
تقوم دولة فلسطينية طبقا لما تصل إليه المفاوضات التي سقفها الأعلى حدود ما قبل يونيو 1967. عودة اللاجئين خاضعة للتفاوض
8% (15 صوتا)
تقام دولة في الضفة الغربية و أخرى في غزة
2% (3 أصوات)
تسيطر الأردن على الضفة الغربية و مصر على غزة و يستوعب اللاجئون في البلاد الأخرى
2% (4 أصوات)
يهجر العرب خارج أرض إسرائيل
5% (9 أصوات)
The Jewish settlers leave, Palestine becomes a Muslim country, and the Jews who stay behind are treated as Dhimmi (50 votes/26%)
The Jewish settlers leave, Palestine becomes a Muslim country, and the Jews who stay behind are treated as second degree citizens (16 votes/8%)
The Arab refugees and the Israelis live together in Palestine in a democratic country - a positive privilege for the Arabs (66 votes/34%)
Establish the Palestinian state according to UN resolution in 1937 (10 votes/5%)
Establish the Palestinian state according to the international community's decision before 1967 in addition to the return of the refugees (23 votes/12%)
Establish the Palestinian state according to the international community's decision before 1967 - the return of the refugees is subject to further negotiations (15 votes/8%)
Establish two countries; one in the West Bank and one in Gaza (3 votes/2%)
Jordan oversees the West Bank, Egypt is in charge of Gaza, and the refugees find another home (4 votes/2%)
The Arabs are forced to leave Israel (9 votes/5%)

Syria: Gaza On Our Minds

Syrian bloggers are in a frenzy since the bombing in Gaza started almost two weeks ago. To many Syrians this comes from a deep long rooted identification with the cause of the Palestinian people. But for some, there's also a very personal side to it.

Ruba is a half-Syrian half-Palestnian blogger based in Syria. Her father is a respected academic from Gaza. In a very emotional and personal post, she shares with us some of her memories from her visits to the Strip:

Next morning, we went back home, to find shrapnel, bullets, hand grenades… the house was a mess, the windows were shattered, everything inside was burnt. Neighbors gathered around dad, they were screaming details of what had happened the night before… they told him a helicopter flew over at night, several masked soldiers went down on hanging ladders and worked their machine guns, leaving holes in the wall… they threw hand grenades inside, creating havoc and panic around the neighborhood.

My dad, being a freedom fighter who feared God only, wanted to send a message that said: I am not afraid (apparently he was used to this kind of stuff).

He brought in new furniture, put up new windows, and once the house was kind of livable, my brother and I were kept inside as a sign of defiance. We were locked up inside the only room that didn’t breathe smoke, guarded by my many male cousins for a month.

While Rime Allaf shares with us her way of trying to get through the day knowing that somewhere in Gaza someone is being killed at every other moment:

Since Israel began its latest, most barbaric and savage attack yet, since the bombs started falling on the prisoners of Gaza and slaughtering children in the hundreds, in the most minimal gesture of solidarity I can demonstrate, I have been wearing my Palestinian scarf on top of my coat, and I have made my own Gaza badge to wear on television interviews. (More on that soon.) Most English-language media, nearly indistinguishable from Israel, would call this defiance.

And then she calls for the real change:

I herewith call:

For Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to become head of the Arab League;

For Arab leaders and their supporting cliques to be exiled in Gaza after Palestinians get back their homeland;

For the Quartet (all officials, ministers and presidents included) to spend an eternity in some refugee camp kissing Tony Blair while Israel exercises its right to defend itself;

For Barack Obama to imagine playing golf in Jabaliya as his children attend an UNWRA school while Israel “retaliates”; and

For all Israeli war criminals to skip The Hague tribunal and to go straight to hell.

Bangla Blogs: Praying For Peace In Gaza

“What's happening in Gaza is impossible to tolerate,” writes blogger Aprio, encapsulating in those few words the Bangla blogosphere's sentiments towards what most of them see as ‘Israeli aggression against Palestinian civilians'. Rakib says that the current situation in Gaza is a ‘terrible humanitarian crisis' .

Ahmed Munir writes:

ফিলিস্তিন জাতিকে ধ্বংস করতে বদ্ধ পরিকর ইসরাইল এবার আঘাত হেনেছে গাজা উপত্যকায়। স্ব-দেশে পরবাসীতে পরিণত হওয়া ফিলিস্তিনী জনগণ অসহায়ের মত গত সাতদিনের টানা ইসরাইলি হামলায় তাদের শত শত স্বদেশীর মৃত্যু প্রত্যক্ষ করছে…তথাকথিত হামাস দমনের নামে ফিলিস্তিনি জনগণের বিরুদ্ধে জাতিগত শুদ্ধি অভিযান চালিয়ে যাচ্ছে ইসরাইল। বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে অসম ও সবচেয়ে নৃশংস এই যুদ্ধ।

Determined to annihilate the Palestinian race, Israel has now attacked the Gaza region. Turned into refugees in their own land, the Palestinians can only watch helplessly as the incessant Israeli attacks on Gaza over the last week continued to kill hundreds of their fellow people… In the name of curbing Hamas, Israel is carrying on a calculated program of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian population. This is the most unequal and violent of conflicts.

Farukh Wasif feels that this is a carefully planned program launched by Israel to rid the Gaza strip of Palestinians. He writes:

এবারের হামলার উদ্দেশ্য শুধু হামাস বা ফিলিস্তিনি প্রতিরোধ-আন্দোলন নয়, বরং গোটা ফিলিস্তিনিদের মনোবল এমনভাবে ভেঙে ফেলা যাতে তারা হাঁটু গেড়ে বসে প্রাণভিক্ষা চায়। তাদের সম্পদ ও সাংস্কৃতিক কেন্দ্রগুলোর সর্বোচ্চ ধ্বংস ঘটিয়ে, তাদের দৈনন্দিন জীবনযাত্রাকে অসহনীয় করে তুলে তাদের গণহারে দেশত্যাগে বাধ্য করাই আসল ল্ক্ষ্য। তার জন্যই ফিলিস্তিনীদের শহর-গ্রাম অবরুদ্ধ করে তাদের বিদ্যালয়, হাসপাতাল ও কর্মস্থল অকেজো করা হয়

This time the attack is not against the Hamas or the Palestinian resistance but against all Palestinians, to destroy their mental strength and courage so that they are reduced to kneeling and begging for their lives. By destroying their property, cultural centers, by making their lives intolerable, the plan is is to drive them out of the land en masse. That is why the attack has been targeted on their habitats, schools and hospitals.

What then is the role of the Hamas in the ongoing conflict? Is any amount of blame for the current situation to be laid at their door? Some of the bloggers, while not actively supporting the Hamas' philosophy or ideals, express empathy towards their ‘rebellion against oppression'. Aprio says :

আমি হামাসের সমর্থক নই কিন্ত আমি মনে করি ‘রোগ’ টি হামাস নয়, হামাস তার সিম্পটম মাত্র… যে কোন জাতিকে দীর্ঘদিন অবরুদ্ধ করে রাখলে, সামরিক নিয়ন্ত্রণ এবং মৃত্যুভয়ে সন্ত্রস্ত রাখলে সেখানে কোন না কোন ‘হামাসের’ জন্ম হবেই।

I am not a supporter of Hamas but I feel that Hamas is not the disease, it is only a symptom of a disease… any nation or people, if they are oppressed for a long period of time, if they are kept in constant fear of death by military power, then in that situation there is bound to be birth of a ‘Hamas' sooner or later.

Ahmed Munir cannot but feel the irony in Israel's role of the ‘aggressor'. He writes :

পরিহাসের বিষয় হচ্ছে ইসরাইল ইতিহাস ভুলে গেছে। নিজেদের উপর দ্বিতীয় মহাযুদ্ধের সময় নাৎসি হলোকাস্টের স্মৃতি তো তাদের ভুলবার কথা নয়। গণহত্যার মাধ্যমে যে কোনও জনগোষ্ঠীকে ধ্বংস করা যায় না, আজকের শক্তিশালী ইসরাইল রাষ্ট্রই তো তার প্রমাণ। সুতরাং ইতিহাস বলে ফিলিস্তিনিরা এমন মৃত্যুর প্রত্যাঘাত দেবেই। এ মৃত্যুর প্রতিধ্বনি শোনা যাবে গোটা মধ্যপ্রাচ্য এমন কী পৃথিবীব্যাপী। এখন যেটা প্রথমত প্রয়োজন তা হলো শান্তি, কেবলমাত্র শান্তি।

The funny thing is that Israel has forgotten history. They should have been the last people to forget the memory of the holocaust, the attempted cleansing of their race by the Nazis during the 2nd World War. The powerful Israeli state is itself the proof that it is not possible to annihilate a race by committing mass murder. Thus history tells us that the Palestinians will come back with a stronger response to these deaths of their people. The echoes of these killings will be heard across the Middle East and the world. Now what is needed urgently is peace, only peace.

There is also a simmering upset among a section of the bloggers who feel that Bush and his Israel appeasement policy is finally responsible for the continuation of this crisis in Gaza. Sawkat Ali writes :

স্বয়ং ইসরাইলে এ হামলা বন্ধ করার জন্য রাস্তায় হাজার হাজার মানুষ বিক্ষোভ করছে। তারপরও আমেরিকা এ হামলাকে বৈধতা দেযার চেষ্টা করছে। ওসামা-বুশ সব একই পথের পথিক।

In Israel itself, thousands of citizens are protesting against this attack on Gaza. Even after that America is trying to justify and vindicate this attack. Osama and Bush seem to be going down the same road.

Blogger Satyanneshi too has the following scathing comment on the role of the US in this crisis. He writes:

বিশ্ব বিবেকের কন্ঠস্বর' বিশ্বঈশ্বর আমেরিকা বলছে এ গণহত্যা জায়েজ। অথচ মানবতার বিরুদ্ধে অপরাধের ধূয়া তুলে এই ঈশ্বরই সাদ্দামের ইরাক দখল করে নিয়েছে।

The keeper of the world's conscience, the ‘God of the world' America is saying that this mass murder is necessary. However, this very same ‘God' coolly used the ruse of “crimes against humanity” against Saddam to enter and capture Iraq.

Ahmed Munir too feels that it is the US which is keeping this conflict alive. He feels that America's future response to the Gaza conflict will make clear to the world if the Obama government is indeed sincere about resolving the conflicts in the Middle East. He says:

নতুন মার্কিন প্রশাসন যুদ্ধবাজ বুশ প্রশাসনের চেয়ে কতটা ভিন্ন সময়ই সেটা বলে দেবে। ইরাক কিংবা ফিলিস্তিনের দিকে নতুন দৃষ্টিতে তাকাতে না পারলে ওবামার পরিবর্তনের বুলি কথার কথাই থেকে যাবে।

Whether or not the new US government under Obama is any different from the Bush government, that only time will tell. If the new government is unable to look at Iraq and Palestine with new eyes, then Obama's promise of change will only remain as empty words.

Bloggers like Aprio are calling for people to unite and stand by the Gaza victims. Others like Trivuz have also launched a protest group on Facebook . Trivuz is also urging people to show their support for the Gaza victims by boycotting Israeli products and brands.

Bruneian blogger amuses readers with daily doses of humour


Kurapak and his crew during a local radio interview

Kurapak literally means 'speak' in Bruneian Malay. Mr. Kurapak amuses his 3,000 daily readers with his daily doses of humour appealing to Bruneian readers. Some of these stories are old local jokes that has been shared by his dad many years ago but Kurapak has made a twist to these stories, making them appealing to the current young generation.

A talented website designer who started blogging per chance when he set up his father's blog, finally decided to set up his own blog based on jokes and humour. Although the jokes may be universal, Kurapak made them palatable to the Brunei audiences by using words and phrases that Bruneian readers can relate to.. such as ‘maniss' which means .. that is sweet! Or ‘buleeh' which means.. sure can do!

A reader described Kurapak's blog as a Bruneian blog in Brunei language that we all can love and laugh at. Rano Iskandar,founder of Ranoadidas.com , Brunei's Number 1 Social News describes Kurapak's blog as:

A good mixture of English and Malay language. I think there are not many blogs that are written in Malay. His posts are hilarious at times and I don’t know where he find his sources. Good work! This friend of mine also runs Brukiosk but Kurapak is the in-thing now. It’s probably the best layout/design among the nominees and he’s very talented as well!!

AnaBanana, Graphic Design, Lim Kok Wing University College of Creative Technology , Cyberjaya:

I have to admit that Kurapak is an excellent blog. I am not a big fan of blogs but Kurapak certainly caught my attention. Its not like any other blogs that I've come across. It is very entertaining and certainly has a very good sense of humour. Very, very funny! Excellent work, Alin! You deserve all the winning votes.

Azlan AKA Mr.JetLag, an observer and blog reader:

Kurapak and the author of the blog must be congratulated and celebrated. It is one of the few blogs that I have encountered which has captured the hearts and minds of its readers, including mine…it's very ticklish and addictive. The jokes are cunningly improvised and reflects the “naughtiness” (in every sense of the word..a positive one that is) of the author himself. Without this blog the world will be dull and boring. The punchlines are excellent and brilliantly executed. It certainly brightens your day. I am certainly a proud reader of this hilarious blog. You have my support. Your sense of humour is unrivaled. Keep it up! Long Live Kurapak!!

Random Clicker:

its so damn funny!. It is basically a collection of random silly funny stories about random things…..Reading this blog takes me back to the days when i was a kid.

Spiritual Garden impression of Mr. Kurapak

Spiritual Garden, one of the nominees for Best Brunei Blog 2008,

he only blog that which makes me scratch my head because of my poor Malay. A very popular blog loves by public when a stress-free moment is needed.

Alin was my ex-classmate back in the ITB days for only 3 months. He was already a very funny and chirpy person that made us laughed like orang gila ( a crazy guy). Kudos to his creativity in story telling to perk up those jokes that we might have heard it hundreds of time.

He brings sexy funny back.

All his posts are spontaneous, being written as he goes along. His style of slang language familiar with the Bruneian readers made his jokes fresh and easy to relate to the readers. It does not matter if the grammar to his posts are inaccurate. Talking to him, he stated that:

all i know is becakap with my own way, my own slang, just be my self saja, thats why masa awal-awal me takut nada orang terima bahasa yang me gunakan, tambah-tambah lagi both my english n malay are broken. apanya orang tua-tua? speaking kapal yow!

All I know is to speak my own way, my own slang, just be myself, that's why during the early days, I was afraid that no one will accept the language that I use, in addition to my lack of grammar in English and Malay!

Is he funny in person? Kurapak does not claim himself to be funny but friends see him rather animated like cartoon. One of his favourite posts is Asmara pohon Piasau which literally means love at the coconut tree.

Haji Osman, 57 tahun baru saja 2 tahun pincin dari jabatan kerajaan and masa ani begiat mejual piasau since ia tedapat dusun piasau turun temurun dari datok moyangnya. So routinenya hari-hari, as you know macam biasalah, manjat piasau di dusunnya atu yang behampiran rumahnya. *macam tida kali ah ia manjat, spiderman pun minta ampun*

Iatah ada this satu patang, cuaca cerah-cerah mandung, ia ke dusunnya kan manjat ngambil piasau yang kan di delivernya isuk. Sudahnya memanjat sampai keatas, tangah-tangahnya bepayuk ke puhun atu, ada berita gumbira. Liatnya di bawah pukuk atu ada couple buipren girlpren beasmara, so ia pun meliat free show dari atas pokok. So iski lah ia tapi inda ia bunyi-bunyi sal takut ia kanapatan skodeng dari atas.*kalau me pun diam-diam tu*.

Tick tock tick tock, habis selasai babak asmara, iatah yang girlpren orang atu becakap arah boiprennya atu sambil kana dangarkan olih Hj Osman yang masih bepayuk kepuhun.

Girlpren :
Baby, macam menyasal jua me tadi atu, takut me karang me pregnant wah. sapa tah kan betanggung jawap?

Boipren : Ishh.. you ani ih.. tadi you jua yang mau, jangan tah beuri wah, tani serahkan saja arah yang diatas.

ppppphhhuuuukkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!

belungsur Haji Osman, dari atas pukuk ke bawah ala ala bomba emergency and tarus di taingnya boipren that girl.

Hj Osman : Hoiii manisss, kau nyaman-nyaman di bawah, aku ko suruh betanggung jawap!!

Boipren & Girlpren dalam hati : M.P.B.(mun paham biskal ih salah mun paham bisai)

The above story accounts the episode when a pensioner who saw a couple making out while he was up on the coconut tree. The girl regretted the incident told the boyfriend of her concern if she gets pregnant. The boyfriend stated.. let's leave it to the guy upstairs…which actually mean..leave it to GOD! But since the pensioner was up on the tree, he overheard the conversation and slide down and was apprehensive that the couple had a great time but leaving him to be blamed if the girlfriend got pregnant! LOL!

No wonder Mr. Kurapak is the overall winner for best blog in Simpur Blogging Nation Blog Award 2008.