Indonesian Culture Is a Result of Thousands of Years of Welcoming Outside Influences and Incorporating Them Into a Larger Story

In the United States, much like in Australia, people like to describe their country as a “melting pot,” a proud reference to their history of immigration and being open to all cultures and religions. It might surprise some non translation services people (and many Americans and Australians!) to learn that they have some serious competition on that score  in the country and culture of Indonesia.

Many folks assume Indonesia has a very monochromatic culture, with one people, religion, and general way of life – but Indonesia is an incredible example of a natural process of cultural diversification throughout history – which is to say that Indonesia does, in fact, have a distinct culture and identity, but it’s an identity forged from a long list of influences throughout history.

Crossroads of the World

This is all the result, really, of Indonesia being right smack at the crossroads of several ancient trade routes. This brought just about every other civilisation, first from the ancient world and later from the European and Western cultures, storming through the country on a regular basis. Not only did this result in exposure to all of these different people and their beliefs, it brought all manner of goods into the region that would otherwise remain unknown. The influence of these two factors continues to show itself in modern-day Indonesia, a country that is today defined by the concept of fusion more than anything else.

Fusion of Religions and Cultures

Indonesian culture often reflects a combination of concepts and symbols. A whole religion in Indonesia,  Abangan, which is an Islamic sect whose local practices and laws incorporate many facets of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist religions, making it an extremely unique belief system. Much of Indonesian folklore and art also reflects this fusion of ideas and styles; Balinese Dance, for example, are often constructed around stories involving Hindu Kingdoms, Buddhists, or Islamic societies, with no clear preference for any specific example.

There are still pockets of indigenous cultures in Indonesia, where ancient ways that existed before outside influences are still maintained. Today these cultural pockets just add one more element to the amazing tableau that is Indonesian life.

Indonesian Food

Indonesian Food is perhaps a bit more coherent, because of the natural climate and agricultural factors that limit the local diet. Rice is by far the main food staple in the country. Almost everywhere in Indonesia you will find rice as the main dish, usually served highly spiced and with meat, fish, and vegetable side dishes. Rice is a huge part of Indonesian life as it is not only their main food source but also one of the country’s main economic factors.

However, even here the influence of other cultures is clear: The famous Rice Table, a form of buffet very popular in Indonesia and often associated with Indonesian cooking, is actually a European invention, brought to the country by the Dutch in the 17th Century!

Taken from One Hour Translation

Why Listening Music Key Good Health

It's the weekend and at some point you'll probably relax to your favourite music, watch a film with a catchy title track - or hit the dance floor.

There's no doubt that listening to your favourite music can instantly put you in a good mood. But scientists are now discovering that music can do more for you than just lift your spirits.

Research is showing it has a variety of health benefits.

Fresh research from Austria has found that listening to music can help patients with chronic back pain.

And a recent survey by Mind - the mental health charity - found that after counselling, patients found group therapy such as art and music therapy, the most useful.

Here, we present six proven ways that music can help you and your family's health

1. CHRONIC BACK PAIN

How it helps: Music works on the autonomic nervous system - the part of the nervous system responsible for controlling our blood pressure, heartbeat and brain function - and also the limbic system - the part of the brain that controls feelings and emotions. According to one piece of research, both these systems react sensitively to music.

When slow rhythms are played, our blood pressure and heartbeat slow down which helps us breathe more slowly, thus reducing muscle tension in our neck, shoulders, stomach and back. And experts say that apart from physical tension, music also reduces psychological tension in our mind.

In other words when we feel pain, we become frightened, frustrated and angry which makes us tense up hundreds of muscles in our back. Listening to music on a regular basis helps our bodies relax physically and mentally, thus helping to relieve - and prevent - back pain.

The research: A new study from Austria's General Hospital of Salzburg due to be published in The Vienna Medical Weekly Journal could hold the key to back pain. In the study, 65 patients aged between 21 and 68 with chronic back pain after back surgery were divided into two groups.

One group received standard medical care and physiotherapy. The other group also listened to music and received visualisation classes for 25 minutes every day for three weeks. Results found that the group who listened to music and used imagery experienced better pain relief than the group who did not.

Clinical psychologist Franz Wendtner who led the study says: 'Music is an important part of our physical and emotional wellbeing - ever since we were babies in our mother's womb listening to her heartbeat and breathing rhythms.

'Listening to music for about 25 minutes everyday for at least ten days can help prevent back pain and also make you sleep better.'

Which type of music is best? Experts believe any type of classical music such as Mozart or Beethoven can help relieve muscle pain. Calm, slow music is also thought to help.

2. IMPROVES YOUR WORKOUT

How it helps: Experts say listening to music during exercise can give you a better workout in several ways. Scientists claim it can increase your endurance, boost your mood and can distract you from any discomfort experienced during your workout.

The research: Dr Robert Herdegen of America's Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, looked at the effects of 12 men riding a bicycle for ten minutes while listening to music on one day. He compared it to the same men riding bicycles without music for ten minutes the following day.

On the days that the men exercised listening to music, they travelled 11 per cent further - compared to the days they didn't listen to music. Researchers also found that the men's levels of exertion were at their lowest when listening to music.

Other studies show that listening to music releases endorphins - our natural 'feel good' hormones that lift our mood and give us motivation to carry on longer with exercise.

Which type of music is best? The best type of music for exercise is thought to be high energy, high tempo music such as hip hop or dance music.

3. MEMORY LOSS

How it helps: For many people suffering from memory loss the spoken language has become meaningless. Music can help patients remember tunes or songs and get in touch with their history. This is because the part of the brain which processes music is located next to memory.

The research: Researchers from Norway's Sogn Og Fjordane College compared the effects of live, taped and no music on three different groups of people suffering from post traumatic amnesia - or memory loss.

The patients were exposed to all three conditions, twice over six consecutive days. Results showed that when patients listened to live or taped music, two thirds of them showed significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and enhanced orientation, compared to the group that didn't listen to music.

Which type of music is best? Research shows that people with memory loss respond best to music of their choice.

Taken from DailyMail

Role of The Mass In A Democratic Society

The Mass is one of the means for citizens to issue their thoughts and opinions as well as having an important role in a democracy. Meanwhile, the essence of democracy is the opportunity for aspiration and voice of the people (people) to influence a decision of Democratic. In also required the participation of the people, who emerged from the political consciousness to get involved and contribute to the system is governance

Mass is the fourth pillar of democracy after the executive, legislative and judicial. control over the mass as the third pillar and the underlying performance of checks and balances.

possibility of freedom of the mass capital agency  by capitalism and the political interests, encouraging the birth of citizen journalism.

The face of democracy itself visible on both sides. First, democracy as a reality of everyday life. Secondly, democracy as he imaged by Western media. On the one hand there is the image, on the other hand there is the reality.

The process of democratization in a country not just rely on the parliament, but also the mass media, which is a means of communication in both the government and the people, and the people with the people. The presence of the mass media, both print and electronic category has wide variety, both in terms of issues and a range of circulation or broadcast.

Access to information through the mass media is in line with the principles of democracy, where the transformation is complete and absolute open for the country adopts democracy, so that there is equitable distribution of information. However, in practice, many factors which hinder the process of communication, mainly due to the limitations of the mass media in reaching inland locations.

The existence of community radio is one answer to the search for solutions of the problems of access and deployment of communications, a common media jobs. In the development of community radio has a lot to prove its importance in the complicated problems of access to information and communication as well as the role of social control and run four other mass functions.

Psychological Impact of Online Games Against Children

Along with the times, our lives can’t be separated from internet. In adittion to the media channel of information, the internet also has a role as a medium of entertainment, such as online gaming products. Online game itself much in demand of various ages, ranging from children, teen, and adults. In addition to its functions as a medium for refreshing, the psychological impact on the online game users, especially for young children.

         Online game is currently very flourishing in the community especially among teenagers and children. Effect of rapid globalization affects children who was in the play, which is a problem in this discussion is not about his online games but the reliance on jamming activity for some children’s games.

Online games have addictive properties or opium so much time children spent playing games online. Online game phenomenon emerged since at 2000’s, but it seems that this year is the culmination of the online gaming phenomenon. Online games can cause addiction to the players. It addiction has a psychological impact on children. The view of psychology online games can hinder social development of children.

In my own, online gaming has implications for the psychological and cognitive development of the players. There are some the positive impact on the children playing games online :

Ø  Online games can serve as a forum for children to socialize with other players. Even the players who are from different countries. It can also train child in learning a foreign language.

Ø  It broaden children, especially in terms of strategy. Some games also exist that provide general knowledge quiz that can enrich a child.

Ø  It can also serve as a medium of entertainment for children.

Ø  It can also train children to work together as team or group. An example is the dota game.

Although the game can be declared a positive impact on children, playing games also negatively impact kids. There are some the negative impact on the children playing games online :

Ø  Children learn from what they see. Violent online games can cause children to follow the characters of the game. In addition, online games often teach children to say rude and disrespectful things.

Ø  Children who are constantly playing games online can ignore the surroundings and prefer the virtual world.

Ø  Online games can cause addiction so that children like to longer in front of the computer.

Ø  It can also teach children to bet or gamble despite the money game.

Ø  It can cause emotional tension between parents and children addicted to online games.

Seeing the negative impact caused by online games on children, of course needeed a solutions to reduce and even overcome the negative impacts. Parents need to pay attention and create a good communication between parents and children. Parents need to give a sense to the child that the online games is only intended to as a pastime, not a priority.