Ghosts work here…

Indonesian culture is full of superstitions.  Like cultures everywhere,  these views can cause their adherents to do,  or not do,  various things.  One village on Java Island has had a spate of  pocong sightings  which has frightened people into staying inside their homes.   Turns out the local police has hired people to portray the ghostly figures in an effort to create social distancing to protect the population from exposure to coronavirus.   Hey,  whatever works,  right?

UPDATE:   Many natives have returned to their villages in Central Java from large towns to escape the lock-down.   Instead of threatening them with fines or even jail time,  the Regent  has pledged  to send violators to abandoned or haunted houses.

 

 

 

Balls vs. brains…

Indonesia’s government  has devised a brutal,  but probably effective way to discourage people from riding on the rooftops of trains,  which is a long-standing common practice.   It would appear that stringing concrete balls on chains is more appealing to the government than adding additional cars to carry fare-paying customers.  Of course,  this venture won’t solve the problem of passengers hanging onto the sides of the rail cars.

Glad he’s gone…

Mumbai  is happy His Oneness has left.  After having basically been confined to their homes,  they have been freed by his departure,  and a  local blogger tells you why. We share their pain and hope to avail ourselves of a similar remedy in a couple of years.   The President  also managed to screw up tourist vacation plans.  But you’ll be proud to know that Robert Gibbs  stood up for reporters.

The Financial Times reports  on the deals His Oneness ostensibly made.   Of course,  they were arranged in advance of the trip,  as they always are.   I don’t think  the question raised by National Review editors has really been answered,  but it’s a dead certainty that Obama  learned nothing from India,  except admiration for its horses and camels.

His speech to the Indian Parliament proved how little he knows about that nation.  He nattered on about Gandhi,  apparently unaware that  his hero wanted Indian villages to stay isolated while  learning to do more themselves.   Fortunately,  technology and the entrepreneurial spirit has allowed many Indians to escape from the dollar a day too many of them still earn.   I was unsurprised that His Oneness didn’t reflect on that,  because  I know he  loathes entrepreneurs particularly and business in general.   The BBC grudgingly mentions that a minority found the speech great oratory without substance.

We shall shortly see whether Indonesia welcomes His Oneness as the  prodigal son returning,  or whether some of the shiny has been worn away.