Journal Responses

By Andreas Tirtohartono
9preIB/2
1st Newspaper article

International Herald Tribune (Wednesday, 30th July 2008)

Page 3

To soar above earth’s bonds (be careful) by John Schwartz

Glenn Martin, 48 years old, a jetpack inventor from New Zealand, showed his jetpack
invention in the gigantic annual air show. He developed this jetpack for 27 years. He got this
inspiration from his childhood dream to fly. This jetpack can fly for 30 minutes in 5 feet high.
It was made of metal, plastic and propellant. Since college, he started to make his jetpacks. The
first trial was fail since the jetpack was stuck in a tree. The chipped rotor was broken. Luckily,
he had the spare parts. His wife, Vanessa, and his son, Harrison, are the ones who have ever
tried his jetpack. After he finished his college, he worked to a company and most of his salary
goes to his jetpack experiment. According to Glenn, riding this jetpack is relatively safe.

Many people witnessed the first public flight enthusiastically and in my opinion, this
invention is really cool since it makes your dream come true. This invention is a breakthrough in
the technology development. Now, we can fly like birds and view the exciting scenery from the
sky. This invention is outstanding because the jetpack is now no longer in a fiction story because
Martin proved that it’s not only a dream. He was very persistent in reaching his dream even
though there were many skeptic witnesses. In the future I believe that Martin and his crew will
finally break the record as the first man flying in a longer range of time. Someday maybe we
don’t need airplanes anymore, since we can use the jetpack instead. With the hard work and
persistence, later this jetpack can be smaller, faster, easy to controland fly longer.

New Vocabulary

1. Levitate : rise and float in the air in defiance of gravity powers claimed by
spiritualist(s)
a. His jetpack levitates high in the sky like a bird flying.
2. Addict : habitually or compulsively
a. Mr. D was addicted to drugs and it caused a serious health problem.
2nd Newspaper Articles

International Herald Tribunes (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)

Page 12

Looking for savings, U.S airlines close lounges

U.S airlines industry faced financial crisis because the fuel price has been increasing up
to 80% since last year and US economy was weakening. Generally, the airline had to rent the
space for the lounge and pay the staff. So, now they decided to close some of their airport
lounges to press their expenses. Some airlines join with the other airlines to open some lounges
which can be used for passengers from both airlines, for example Star Alliance and Sky team.
Star Alliance operates a lounge at Heathrow, while northwest, a member of the Sky Team like
Delta operates lounge in Honolulu. Many business traveler complaints since they had to walk
away from one terminal to another.

I don’t agree that closing lounge can solve the problem because some of their alliance
lounges have a different terminal lounge. It makes the passenger move from one lounge to other
lounge and it’s wasting time. My suggestions to cope with this problem are by giving ticket price
discount or their passenger will not use their services, give door prize for the passenger.

New Vocabulary

1. Alliance : Association; community in qualities

a. Star alliance cooperates with another alliance to open some new lounges in New
York and Washington D.C.
2. Reel : Stand unsteadily
a. My uncle reeled like a drunken man
3rd Newspaper Articles

24th August the Jakarta Post, Sunday 2008

PDI-P lawmaker fired after confessing

Agus Condro the PDI-P lawmaker admitted to receiving a bribe. He received Rp 500
million in an alleged bribe for voting Miranda Swaray Goeltom as senior deputy governor of Bank
Indonesia in 2004. In addition, Agus also mentioned other names who were involved in William
Tutuarima, Budiningsih, Mateus Formes and Muhammad Iqbal. PDIP’s central board decided to
fire Agus from the party and revoke his name from the list of legislative candidates. In
addition, Aguswould have to face KPK’s investigation for what he has done.

Indonesia has a clear regulation and consequence for the election, for example like the
candidate who was proved to run money politics will be disqualified from the election and put
into jail. However, the investigation on the case takes a long time and consumes a lot of money.
This makes people question the effectiveness of the law system in Indonesia. Moreover,
Indonesia now becomes a country with the second highest rank of corruption case in the world.
Indonesia is supposed to give stricter consequences for breaking the regulation and revisits its
law system.

New Vocabulary

1. Revoke : Repeal; cancel; withdraw

a. Mr. Kumar revoked his action towards Mr. Hasan because he broke their
agreement.
2. Hesitate : Show signs of uncertainty or unwillingness in speech or action
a. He hesitates to believe in Mr. George’s opinion.
4rd Newspaper Article

International Herald Tribune (Saturday-Sunday, 23-24 August 2008)

Page 3

U.S agrees to withdraw combat troops from Iraq by 2011

The US agreed to remove combat troops from Iraq cities by next June and the rest of
the troops by the end of 2011. However, the time table of withdraw the troops is only an
aspiration goal instead of fixed date. The US officials said that the meeting for the fixed time
table will depend on the security situation in Iraq. Senator John Mc Cain, the president nominee,
argued to withdraw troops by 2013. On the other side, senator Barrack Obama argued to
withdraw troops by mid 2010.

In the mean time, secretary of state Condoleezza Rice met Maliki and other Iraq
leaders to confirm about how both sides valued the timetable. She stated that both countries
should make decision on the events not timetables. The draft agreement contained 2 dates:
June 30, 2009 for withdraws of America forces from cities and villages and December 31, 2011
for combat troops to leave the country altogether

According to me US do not have a true intention to remove its troops from Iraq since we
know that Iraq have rich natural resources. Maybe the US thinks to take all of Iraq natural
resources. Except senator Barrack Obama will be the president. US will remove its troops
directly. In order to keep the world peace both countries should make an agreement for
conflicts between them. The United Nation (PBB) should help to solve their conflicts.

New Vocabulary

1. Presence : the fact or condition of being present

a. US presence to ignore Iraq wish to them.
2. Concession : a grant of land or property especially by a government in return for
services or for a particular use
a. US concession to have all the Iraq natural resources.
1st Magazine Article

Times, September 8, 2008

Page 14

Jordan Valley

The Christian, Jews and Muslims believe that crossing over Jordan Valley is a metaphor
for liberation and resurrection. It was the river where John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be
the Messiah. So, Jordan Valley is sacred but today, Jordan River is covered by human sewage.
For Palestinians, Jordan Valley is a necessary part for establishing the national water system
and vital for its future. On the other hand, for Israelis, Jordan River is a motivating ideology
among idealistic Jews. And, for people who live near the river, it is an opportunity to nurture the
region’s fragile peace. The bad condition of Jordan River has caused Jordan Valley reduce 500
million birds migrating-rating each year from Europe to Africa and also reduced the depth of
the Dead Sea.

My opinion, instead of fighting for the river, the government in those countries can work
cooperatively to reduce the water pollution by holding a cleaning up program and providing water
filter if possible. People nearby the river should be explained about the importance of keeping
the river clean. At the end, Jordan Valley and River will have a bigger possibility to be famous
tourist site.

New Vocabulary

1. Plight : Unfortunate condition or state

a. The plight of Iraq was caused by the civil war.
2. Obscure : not clearly expressed or easily understood; unnoticed
a. Is the meaning of what I said obscured to you?
3. Slime : sticky substance produced by an animal or plant
a. Across that river is a land full of slime.
4. Crap : full of rubbish
a. The river was full of crap because many people who live in the riverbank don’t
aware of the importance keeping the water clean and clear.

2nd Magazine Article

 Computer Shopper, October, 2007

Page 17

Vista Security is “best ever”

Microsoft Windows Vista is the most secure operating system that Linux, Mac and other
Windows. According to the report, Vista has fewer known security holes. Jeff Jones, a security
strategy director told that Windows Vista security bug is not as bad as Windows Xp bug
because he told that now there are more researchers, better trained and with better tools and
techniques. From the report, Linux have lower security than Mac but Vista is higher than Mac so
Vista has the best security system. But he told that by the end of May 2007 some Windows
Vista bug is already fixed.

Well we know that Vista have the best security system but will every computer could
launch the system. When the security level is high so it will need more memory and higher
system requirement if not the system will be to slow for loading or can’t. Vista security is to
complete. If we want to install program then the system will ask for permission. My conclusion
Vista security system is too much. Even unimportant things are included.

New Vocabulary :

1. Resilient : readily recovering from a setback

a. Windows Vista had the most resilient security system
2. Severity : strict in judgment, discipline
a. Windows Vista had high severity to the security system
3rd Magazine Article

Chip Malaysia, February 2008

Page 45

Mini-Sized Recording

JVC Sales & Service Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. introduced their new Everio Hard Disk Drive
Digital Camcorder Line. The types are GZ-MG330, MG335, MG435 and MG465. They concluded
that theirs is the world’s smallest HDD digital camcorders. The weigh is only 360g include the
battery for 30 GB and 60 GB. The colors are sapphire blue, ruby red, diamond silver and onyx
black. The features are laser touch operation, a touch-sensitive illuminated scroll bar to simplify
operations. With laser Touch, JVC hopes to minimize the risk of smudging or damaging the
screen face with touch screen interface.

Well people only think on new ideas. Their point is not far from small, weigh and size.
This point is the important point to attract public. What they care is the public desire. They
didn’t think on the quality inside of the thing. They think the quality outside (design). For
performance they think on the speed, capacity but they didn’t think on the temperature, bug,
etc. So my conclusion is innovation that people make is only the outlook not in look.

New Vocabulary :

1. Illuminate : Light up; bright

a. He is trying to illuminate people thinking.
2. Smudge : Blurred
a. My camera is very smudge so I couldn’t take any image.
4th Magazine Article

PC WORLD, December 2007

Page 116-117

Vista Service Pack 1 beta

Windows service pack 1 beta is designed to improve Vista’s performance, reliability and
security. Sp1 allowed 3rd party technologies to work on, switch back and forth between the
programs and many more. Sp1 improve and fix many problems in the existing windows. Sp1 gave
users faster and stable performances.

Windows Sp1 seems will be the best software than Linux and Mac. In Sp1 many changing
happens to improve the performance and make it stable from the existing windows. So I
conclude that when something is release at the first, it’s not as perfect as the second, third,
etc. Because they still try to publish it then they will know the bug which make them to produce
more quality.

New Vocabulary :

1. Protocol : a code prescribing strict adherence to correct etiquette and

precedence
a. The protocol for this system is not perfect.
2. Embedded : firmly in surrounding mass
a. He embeds all the important data for the system.
Novel Responses

SPY KIDS ADVENTURES

Superstar Spies

Written by Elizabeth Lenhard

Carmen Cortez and Juni Cortez, the most outstanding spy kids from OSS, This time,
Carmen and Juni mission is to guard Daphne (The famous artist) along her tour concert. Carmen
and Juni began their mission. After the concert, Daphne suddenly lost her necklace. So Daphne
told that her necklace called C-3 is a necklace that can hypnotize the audience to obey what
Daphne words.

Then Juni and Carmen real mission began. First they analyze all the place and possible
suspect like Daphne manager, trainer, and friends. Last, Juni suspicious with Nigel (Daphne
manager). Nigel who notice, run away to Juni and try to catch him but Carmen tried to help Juni.
But, she catches by Nigel. Juni called his parents (Senior OSS agent) to help him. Carmen gave
message to Juni to save Daphne then she and she also told that she is in the studio.

Juni called Daphne and Charlotte (Daphne’s manager) to go to OSS hiding place few
blocks from Daphne’s house. Juni, Mom and Dad came to rescue Carmen. In the studio, Nigel
talked to Carmen which made her believe that she didn’t do it. Carmen told to Dad that Nigel is
right and Daphne is in a danger. According to her analysis the one who have the C-3 is Middie
Prole.

Dad started to come closer with her and tried to influencing her by helped her to win
the election. Dad told her that he will buy the votes and he wish that next time, she supported
him. Suddenly appeared Juni, he recorded the conversation and asked Middie Prole to tell where
is Daphne or he will published on the newspaper. So she brought them to Daphne. The case was
clear that Middie Prole provoke Charlotte to give a lesson to Daphne how to be a superstar
without C-3. But, Middie Prole takes it and used it unwisely. Daphne decided to burn the C-3 so
it will not make any problems.

Middie Prole realizes her action but she already hypnotizes the people in the campaign.
She already knew her destiny. Suddenly, Juni came and said; “you’re under arrested”, “we Cortez
family are agent from OSS”.

After I read all of the novel, I think the way the writer make us excited are in the
gadget like spy watch, jetpack, etc also the glamour life. The writer includes the total changing
characteristic on the main character (Daphne) and critical thinking on the suspect of the crime.
The writer makes the suspect not visible but it’s over when the suspect admits by itself. The
writer also doesn’t include mature things so readers will not have bad thinking. But the writer
makes readers imagined to over. Last, the writer success to make the readers interested on the
novel.
New Vocabulary

1. Impersonate : to assume or act the character of

a. Juni likes to impersonate her sister when her sister is in a bad mood.
2. Leaning : Tendency or partiality
a. Daphne leaning to distract the audience.
3. Gleeful : Joyful
a. Albert goal for his life is change his angry characteristic to be a gleeful boy.
4. Huddle : crowd together; nestle closely
a. John was cold so he huddled up against his brother in bed.
5. Accent : particular mode of pronunciation
a. I felt Mr. Backer accent is completely different from us.
6. Unison : together
a. Albert and Alex are asking question unison.