Life is Healthy

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 05/04/2010 10:06 AM

JAKARTA: The Health Ministry will open an Integrated Service Unit and Electronic Procurement Unit to comply with the 2009 Public Service Law.

Ministry spokesperson Tritarayati said the service unit provided services to process licensing for pharmacy supplies, pharmacy wholesalers, medicine ingredients and the import or export of narcotics.

“For efficient service we will provide 11 booths,” she said.

The unit is located at the ministry’s office on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, which is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

For those who wish to supply goods for the ministry’s procurement, they can access www.lpse.depkes.go.id.

The ministry also has a hotline for complaints about hospitals and health community centers. The line, called the Quick Response Center, is available at 021-500567 or 021-30413700 or email info@puskom.depkes.go.id and kontak@puskom.depkes.go.id. — JP

So do we: Two students show pins stating "We hate corruption and drugs" in a Declaration Against Corruption and Drugs event at Daarul Rahman Islamic Boarding School on Jl. Senopati in South Jakarta, on Monday. JP/Nurhayati

Here's an inspirational video on the joy of outdoor sports.



If you have an iPhone or iTouch, check out 17 more free videos about the joy of sports (running, soccer, basketball, martial arts, tennis, football, etc) [The Joy of Sports iTunes link]

It was with some sadness that I said goodbye to my barbell yesterday. My daughter, Cassie, adopted it because she can give it the love and attention I no longer can.

I remember the day I bought that barbell in June 2008. I felt so he-manish when I walked into the sporting goods store and handled the 20-pound curve bars. When I found one that felt good, I had no idea how to add weights, but the sales associate (Doug…very cute…very nice) showed me a variety of attachable plates and how to use them. I bought six of them, two of which I kept attached to the barbell.

When I brought the barbell, with its two attached plates and four unattached 2½-pound discs, into Cassie's house, Claire was thrilled to see HER “wheels.” She always played with them at my house, so she was super excited to have them in her house. I told her they were for the barbell and she told me, “No, Grammy, they are wheels for my car!” Who am I to argue with the imagination of a 2-year-old?

*Sigh*

My barbell. It challenged me and sculpted my shoulders like no other hand weight or machine ever did, and I’ll miss the emotional high I got watching myself lift. And before you write that off as vanity, I totally believe it’s empowering to watch yourself work out. It also helps you catch flaws in your form. It might feel weird at first, but for me, seeing my body working from all angles helped me – and still helps me – see my body as it really is and not 20-170 pounds heavier I usually imagine it is. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with checking out your buffness. Be proud of your definition! Show it off, even if you’re the only one looking.

The reason for this change in barbell custody is that, as I wrote in my last Refuse To Regain blog (see “I Can’t Want To. I Can’t Like That.”), last week my doctor confirmed what I’d suspected for awhile: my arms are hypermobile/hyperflexible. This means that weight lifting with free weights and machines ultimately caused – or at least accelerated – the damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments in both my shoulders and biceps. Therefore, I’ve traded my hand weights and barbell for Thera-bands and will continue to strength train under the supervision of a physical therapist.

BUT…you won’t catch me boo-hooing. No way! I was afraid I’d have to give up strength training completely and watch my arms waste away and turn into sticks. Besides, Thera-bands kick ass. If you don’t believe me, get yourself a 3-foot length of the blue or red stretchy bands and check it out. While Thera-band won’t prepare me for powerlifting competitions, that was never my goal anyway. As long as can pick up my grandkids and keep my bones healthy, I’m as strong as I need to be.

Antara News, Saturday, May 1, 2010 21:55 WIB

Karawang, W Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday asked state-owned workers insurance company PT Jamsostek to increase its assistance to workers, saying the aid would also help the development of the business world.

"I hope that Jamsostek can continue assisting workers in an effort to alleviate their financial burden as well as to improve their living standards," the President said when inspecting a factory owned by PT Mesindo Putra Perkasa in Karawang, West Java.

Yudhoyono said he supported Jamsostek`s call for the manpower and transmigration minister to approve a number of projects designed to increase assistance for workers.

Earlier, the president also visited a plant owned by PT Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia also located in Karawang. He had a lunch with 340 employees of the company.

The president`s visits to the two plants were part of his activities to mark International Workers` Day which fell on Saturday.

During the visit, Yudhoyono was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Industry Minister MS Hidayat and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar.

During the action, police arrested a man suspected of being a provocateur. The man was spotted while making oration outside the rally material. He also set fire to photographs of a number of state officials.

Supriyadi Siregar, one of the demonstrators from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Jakarta, said he did not know the identity of the arrested man. "The police immediately brought away the provocateur," he stated.

In their action, the demonstrators chanted yells while demanding the government of SBY-Boediono to put more concerns on the fate of workers. Meanwhile, some demonstrators who claimed to be the members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) expressed their refusal to a mass layoff and the dismissal of labor unions.

Based on beritajakarta.com observation, before heading to Merdeka Palace, the demonstrators conducted a long march from Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle. They came from various mass elements; some of them were the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union or Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI), the Alliance of Indonesian Fishermen, the Alliance of Indonesian Peasants, and Jakarta Workers Forum.

The demonstrators delivered several demands to the government; among others, the existence of social health insurance, the life pension guarantee for formal workers, and the abolition of outsourcing system.

In the meantime, Central Jakarta Traffic Police Chief Comr. Slamet Asenan said in order to avoid severe traffic congestion during the rally; traffic at some locations was diverted.

Traffic from Harmony heading to Merdeka Palace was directed to Jl Juanda, and the traffic from Gambir railway station was transferred to Jl RVeteran Raya; while three was no traffic change on Jl M.H. Thamrin.

Translator: halim