Pole Dancing! the new exercise..

Keeping fit is one of the two most common words in a woman's dictionary. Today, the health industries have come up with many new and improve exercise programs that are interactive and gratifying. Now, exercising is NOT just only about treadmills, aerobics or sits ups, it is about endurance, coordination and last but not least…sensuality.


Recently, pole dancing has become an increasingly popular form of exercise, in which women (and sometimes men) use the pole as a workout prop. This is because; Pole dancing offers the capacity to be sensual as well as simultaneously increases the upper body strength. However, the term pole dancing has been rendered pejorative as it is usually connoted with the word striptease. As a result, some women find this activity to be offensive. An article in the recent BBC website said that 'The phrase pole dancing conjures up images of seedy strip clubs and women dancing for money'.

However, polestar Australia, an industry that offer pole dancing lessons said that:
'Pole dancing is a lot more strenuous than it looks:a good session on the pole can burn more calories than a good session in the gym and will certainly provide more muscle tone. Some moves are trickier than others and may take a while to master-but this is the aim of the class.'

The pole dancing exercise focus more on toning the body rather than just learning a skill to seduce men. It is more artistic than sleazy. According to Fitness First Australia over at Bondi Junction; 'The pole section develops endurance, strength, power, stamina, and mobility, especially in the upper body areas. The calories burn and the girls will rapidly see improved muscle tone.'

Pole dancing consists of many elements such as tricks, spins, poses, linking moves and floor working. The muscles that are being trained are of the arms, shoulders, and the torso region. This is to maintain good control, stability, balance and posture.

I have always been intrigue with the art of pole dancing. I think it is the combination of high heels, personal balance and eroticism. Yum! Definitely a sport to try!

Barack Obama- The New American Hero?

U.S Senator Barack Obama has become the new American Political Phenomenon. During his 2006 congressional election, he charmed the nation into believing that he is the perfect candidate for the 2008 presidential election. Just recently, the senator appeared in Oprah sharing his vision for the better future of America, he was calm, collected, funny and sincere- a true gentleman. Newsweek magazine calls Senator Obama "a political phenomenon unlike any previously seen on the American scene."



After reading much about the senator, I must say that his achiements in life is astounding, by 22 he graduated from Columbia University and by 30 he graduated from Harvard Law. Today, he just finished writing his second book, The Audacity of Hope, which ostensibly predicted to be the next international best seller. A proud Christian father of two, his image portray a true wholesome American family.

However, as impressed as I am with Obama, I can't help but wonder, are the Americans so desperate for a hero that they are looking to create a president out of a first term senator? a reader from Time Magazine (October 2006 issue) commented that ' I fear Obama would be this generation Jimmy carter, a man whose humility we appreciate and whose inexperience we're willing to overlook simply because we desire a change from the lies and arrogance of his immediate predecessors. The presidency is no place for on-the-job training'. I was jolted by this comment and for a split second I too, doubted the senator.

Having raised in Indonesia most of my life I have experienced first hand the impact of bad government. After the Suharto regime there have been many unrest and major economy slump. Since then, there have been strings of Indonesian presidents who tried to rise to the occasion. However, they have not been able to amend the nation. My point is, if the nation has lost its faith on one president, the next successor will have a bigger burden in terms of gaining the nation's trust.

Some say that, Bush Presidential campaign is a dissapointement. Eventhough, Senator Barack Obama has exuberant charisma and the capability to be the next American Hero but is he the right person at the wrong time?

Borat- the movie..

The man that we know as Ali G has create a new shameless comedy about being a journalist from Kazakhstan. He has a peculiar sense of humour but offensively entertaining. Love it or hate it, this is a must see movie of 2006.