Teman Ngobrol

Malam ketika hujan masih menetes dengan intensitas yang ringan, kami berlima duduk membentuk lingkaran seakan mengurungi cangkir-cangkir kopi yang kami teguk perlahan-lahan, ditambah lagi dengan obrolan masa lalu yang bisa dikatakan sedikit bisa membawa suasana hati seakan sejenak berhijrah ke masa lampau, masa dimana awal-awal pengenalan satu sama lain, meskipun ada seorang dari kami yang baru saja saling kenal, namun arus obrolan seakan mengalir dengan lembut seiring dengan musik yang sedang kami dengar bersama-sama.

Pertemanan adalah sungguh sebuah topik yang apabila mau dibahas maka sama seperti mahasiswa tingkat akhir yang sedang menuntaskan skripsinya yang kadang kala menemukan berjuta kendala hingga pada akhirnya menghabiskan banyak waktu hanya untuk menyelesaikannya. Begitu luas dan melebar, saya sendiripun tak sanggup harus dari mana  menjabarkannya.

Minggu malam ketika tersisa beberapa jam saja untuk mengakhiri bulan pertama di awal tahun 2016 ini, sungguh suatu malam yang panjang dan penuh obrolan yang terlampau seru hingga membuat kami sama-sama seakan membunuh waktu, dan enggan menengok jam dinding yang tak pernah lelah berputar mengelilingi 12 angka itu.

Kadang dalam hidup, sering kita jumpai berbagai macam orang, yang entah sudah saling kenal atapun hanya sekedar tau saja dan malah bahkan tidak pernah kenal sama sekali. Boleh dibilang ini adalah warna dalam kehidupan, meskipun latar belakang kami berlima dari keluarga yang berbeda-beda, tetapi apalah artinya semua itu kalau kita punya kopi untuk dinikmati bersama? Semua akan terasa indah dan lebih bermakna.

Ada begitu banyak pembahasan yang kami bahas malam itu, mulai dari sekedar berbasa-basi menanyakan kabar yang sudah lama tak saling sapa, berlanjut lagi ke persoalan hidup masing-masing yang kian rumit dengan berbagai persoalan, hingga ke masalah politik yang belum tuntas di negeri ini yang ibarat kata baru dikeluarkan dari oven alias "masih panas" yang mengundang banyak pro dan kontra dari semua kalangan lapisan masyarakat, ada juga permasalahan politik dunia mulai dari dunia barat ke belahan dunia lain hingga pada akhirnya harus menyeduh kopi untuk kedua kalinya lagi.

Kita tidak pernah tau seberapa sering seseorang yang kita kenal akan masih bertemu dengan kita lagi, baik sekali dalam sebulan, sekali dalam setahun atau bahkan sekali setelah sekian tahun lamanya, karena masalah kehidupan dan urusan pribadi masing-masing, belum lagi bila jarak, ruang dan waktu yang bisa sempat mempersatukan kita lagi dalam sebuah pertemuan seperti begini. Mungkin ada dari kami yang terakhir bertemu tahun lalu, ada yang bahkan lebih dari itu, kita tak pernah tau rahasia kehidupan di masa depan nanti. Yang pasti adalah patut disyukuri  karena masih diberi kesempatan lagi dari Sang Pembuat Semesta ini untuk kembali bertemu dan bercengkrama meskipun tak seintens seperti dulu lagi, namun rasa cinta, kasih dan sayang dari persahabatan yang telah dibangun bertahun-tahun lamanya masih belum lekang oleh waktu hingga masih menghadirkan canda tawa yang jujur dan yang terpancar dari senyum tulus dari setiap wajah kami.

Pada dasarnya kita diciptakan dan ditakdirkan untuk mengisi kekosongan di hati orang lain lewat kehadiran kita dalam kehidupan mereka. Tidak salah bila beberapa jam saja bertemu namun sudah bisa untuk membunuh sejuta rasa rindu yang selama ini belum tersalurkan. Kadang bila rindu belum tersalurkan, ada begitu banyak rasa penasaran yang muncul lewat pertanyaan dalam setiap orbolan kita.

Tidak semua orang kita kenal ditakdirkan untuk hidup bersama-sama dengan kita, ada yang hanya sebentar saja kemudian hilang kabar, kemudian muncul lagi dan menanyakan kabar dan kemudian hilang lagi dan tak pernah ada kabar lagi. Ada yang datang ketika hidup kita bergelimangan harta namun pergi jauh ketika kita jatuh miskin, dan sebaliknya ada yang datang ketika kita dalam keadaan terpuruk dan memotivasi kita dan membantu kita untuk berdiri dan berlari mengejar impian, angan dan cita-cita kita. Ada juga orang yang selalu setia, baik kita dalam kondisi yang sangat terpuruk, menjalani hidup bersama ibarat berjalan bersama di kegelapan malam yang begitu suram, melewati setiap lorong gelap dan menghalau hujan dan petir, dan saling bergandengan tangan dan terus berjalan hingga menemukan titik cahaya fajar di ujung kota seberang sana.

Dalam hidup yang sedang kita jalani, rasa penak, capek, penyesalan, sakit hati, dan lain sebagainya seringkali menghantui setiap tetesan keringat perjuangan yang telah kita perjuangkan. Mungkin dengan begitu banyak persoalan yang kita hadapi, kadang kita merasa jenuh, rasanya ingin berhenti berjalan saja, atau cukup sudah sampai di sini. Sering kali apa yang kita dapati tak sesuai dengan apa yang kita harapkan lalu malah kita pergi mencari yang lain, atau memutuskan untuk berhenti mencari dan bahkan berbalik arah dan meninggalkan semua jeri payah yang telah kita perjuangkan, tapi malah hanya menyisahkan penyesalan yang mendalam yang kian lama kian terpuruk dalam lingkaran setan.

Ada satu hal yang masih kita punya yaitu "kenangan", yang tak bisa direbut oleh siapapun. Orang bisa mengambil apa saja yang menjadi hak kita, menyusahkan kita dengan segala macam cara, tapi mereka tak bisa mengambil setiap momen indah yang pernah kita lewati bersama di masa lalu.

Hari ini, bila saja kita masih sering bertemu satu sama lain, itu semua merupakan suatu bukti harapan kita di hari kemarin. Kalau saja harapan itu akan selalu ada tiap hari, maka akan selalu ada hal-hal baik yang sedang menanti kita di masa depan. Jangan pernah sepelehkan setiap moment yang pernah kita jalani bersama.

Bulan boleh berganti, kemarin Januari hari ini sudah Februari tapi apa yang kita lakuan hari ini, itulah yang akan menentukan masa depan kita. Selamat datang bulan Februari, semoga segala harapan indah di bulan ini bisa direalisasikan, selamat berjuang melawan setiap rasa ego kita masing-masing, kalahkanlah dirimu sendiri terlebih dahulu sebelum kau takhlukan dunia.

Written by @oldryronald

Yogyakarta. February 1, 2016

Persetubuhan Hujan

Malam yang tenang, sunyi dan sepi
Di bulan November yang penuh hujan
Tetesan maupun dengan derasnya jatuh berguguran
Bercucuran kemana-mana memenuhi mayapada

Angan-angan yang semu, bergejolak kesana-kemari
Mengehempaskan bayang-bayang kegelapan
Seiring berirama menari-nari di atas jendela
Persetubuhan hujan dan tanah kering menyatu padu
Lorong-lorong gelap dan penuh misteri
Menyimpan ribuan sejarah yang belom terungkap kata
Hanya bisu terdiam seperti patung
Seakan paham dengan semua kejadian yang terjadi

Angin malam berhembus dengan mesra
Dinginnya malam bercumbu dengan tetesan embun
Pahit manis kisah bersatu dalam secangkir kopi
Namun...
Kopi perlahan mendingin, menyisahkan luka yang dalam
Di jalan raya mobil menabrak hujan dengan seenaknya
Seakan tak mengerti arti perasaan

Beberapa orang menikmati hujan
Yang lain hanya mengutuknya
Mencerca dan terus bersungut-sungut
Seakan ingin segera menghentikannya
Di saat hujan turun, banyak yang berlarian panik
Bahkan ada yang membuat persiapan secara menyeluruh sebelum hujan
Beberapa orang larut dalam kenangan di saat hujan
Petani bersyukur dalam tiap tetesan hujan yang turun
Kegembiriaan mereka meluap-luap seperti banjir
Itulah hujan.
Hidup sangatlah tak berarti bila tak ada hujan
Terima kasih Sang Pencipta semesta
Telah menurunkan berkat yang begitu sempurna

Written by @oldryronald

Obamb cafe

August 26th, 2013

Rumah kopi



Ini adalah kali kedua saya mengunjungi tempat ini, cafe ini sungguh klasik dan sederhana namun begitu nyaman bagiku. Sembari menyeruput secangkir kopi Turkey yang super strong dan dibaluti iringan musik jazz yang begitu merdu dan menghangatkan suasana, percakapan menjadi semakin menarik dan sampai-sampai bisa lupa waktu.
Berkumpul bersama orang-orang yang begitu baik dan asyik adalah suatu peristiwa malam yang luar biasa,
ada gelak canda tawa yang tulus diantara kami dan ada kedamaian hati yang terselip di sana, seperti rasanya enggan tuk beranjak meninggalkan tempat ini.
Namun apalah daya, malam begitu singkat da tak bisa menepis setiap detik waktu yang bergulir dalam suasana yang penuh dengan keromantisan bagi para pencari kedamaian seperti kami.
Begitu cepat dan singkat waktu berjalan, ada segelintir kegetiran yang menyambar dan menghanguskan jiwa yang dimabuk kepayan oleh obrolan yang begitu bersahaja.
Cerita yang singkat ini, biarlah kutuliskan saja lewat semesta yang lambat laun makin larut, desauan hembusan nya angin malam dan dingin nya hati yang diselimuti sedikit rasa tentram.
Biarlah ini menjadi momen yang begitu berharga dan akan selalu kita kenang bersama, sembari menutup gelapnya malam, saya ingin berpesan pada jalan yang sepi dan sunyi, akan ada saatnya bila suatu kelak ku kembali lagi di kota ini, suasana yang sama, hening dan beku yang akan selalu menyapa ku dengan suasana yang selalu seperti ini, selamat malam semesta! <3

Secangkir kecanduan

Ku seruput kopi dari bibir mu
Ada sebuah kenikmatan yang tak terkata
Ada rasa cemas yang bersarang disana
Ada rasa bahagia yang berteduh di sana

Malam kian larut, kelam membungkus kota ini
Dalam gelap aku berkata dan bertanya
Adakah pahit kopi yang tak candu?
Disaat sakit dan senang bersama menyatu

Sembari ku hisap racun sebatang rokok
Ku kepulkan asapanya tinggi-tinggi
Laksana tingginya kerinduan malam
Akan hal yang belum tersampaikan

Kadang dalam tidur aku bermimpi
Sungguh sesuatu yang aneh
Suatu pertemuan yang tak terjamah
Antara aku dan sang pelipur lara

Pagi kian menjelang dan rindu kian merajang
Seoarang diri hanya terkapar di ranjang
Sungguh malam ini terlalu panjang
Terlalu pahit untuk dikenang


Written by @oldryronald

My Addiction to Coffee

I thought for a brief moment
about the taste on my lips, the lingering memory
of such tense emotions glancing off my most tender smile
I sigh, trying to breathe in the luscious aroma
as each second stretches into a thought of simple perfection
and my mind becomes lost in the innocence of my desire
The devil I think
could make only such enticing flavour, to make me so helpless
as my body yearns to consume it every waking hour
So wanting it penetrates my dreams and floods my gleeful slumber
with a desire so corrupting that I cannot discern
whether or not my mind is my own, or simply a victim to greed
Jealousy takes my hunger
and brushes it aside as my tongue lavishes itself in a feeling
that rides such a fine line between pain and perfection
as it burns my mouth, my tongue
yet it warms me down to the farthest reaches of my body
to the depth of my soul, it fills me with a flavour I cannot describe
I hold the thought, losing myself in the absence of clear logic
as the caffeine surges through me
and brings my body to life
as the rich mixture of addiction drips into my blood
to provide fuel for my chaotic desecration
and sinful yearning for more

Poetry by: Barry Hurd

10 Coffee Facts From the Amazing Fact Generator

Article written by: Jason English

 

1. After coffee beans are decaffeinated, coffee manufacturers sell the caffeine to soft drink makers and pharmaceutical companies.

Thinkstock

2. The average U.S. worker spends $1,092 on coffee each year.

Getty Images

3. Starbucks is named for Captain Ahab’s first mate. The founders had considered naming it Pequod's, after Ahab’s ship.

Getty Images

4. Chock Full O'Nuts coffee does not contain nuts. It's named for a chain of nut stores the founder converted into coffee shops.

Getty Images

5. According to legend, Honore de Balzac drank 50 cups of coffee a day to fuel his writing.

Getty Images

6. In 1932, Brazil couldn't afford to send its athletes to the Olympics in Los Angeles. So they loaded their ship with coffee and sold it along the way.

Getty Images

7. In 1674, the "Women's Petition Against Coffee" said it was turning British men into "useless corpses" and proposed a ban for those under 60.

8. Coffee was banned in Mecca in 1511. It was believed to stimulate radical thinking and hanging out.

Thinkstock

9. The first webcam watched a coffee pot. It allowed researchers at Cambridge to monitor the coffee situation without leaving their desks.

Quentin Stafford-Fraser/Wikimedia Commons

10. In 2008, Annamarie Ausnes received a life-saving kidney from an unlikely source: her Starbucks barista Sandie Andersen.

Getty Images

 The source was taken from: http://mentalfloss.com/article/33604/10-coffee-facts-amazing-fact-generator

How coffee affects your hormones

By Bryan Walsh | January 26th, 2010

Throughout its long history, coffee has endured both accolades and opposition.
Over the ages, some of the world’s greatest composers, thinkers and statesmen have extolled coffee’s virtues, while others have denounced it as a poisonous, mind-corrupting drug. Coffee has been praised by certain religions and prohibited by others.
Some governments have subsidized coffee crops; others have imposed steep taxes and duties on them. Doctors vali­date coffee’s health benefits yet worry about its contribution to cardiovascu­lar disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
Coffee is more popular than ever, which contributes to its contradictory status. In moderation, coffee poses minimal health risks for most people. In some cases, coffee even appears to be protective. But many North Ameri­cans now consume coffee in large quantities, which can significantly damage our neuroendocrineimmune system over the long term.

Neuro-what?

The neuroendocrineimmune system consists of the processes and structures that form our central nervous systems, our hormonal systems, and our immune systems, all of which are linked in complex relationships.
For example, many of us know that when we are stressed, we get sick more easily. Emotional and mental demands, especially if prolonged, cause our stress hormones to increase, which means our immune systems don’t work as well.
The complicated interplay of our neuroendocrineimmune systems suggests that there is no clear division between mind and body. What we think and experience is as much “us” as what our body does.

How do we know what we know?

It’s hard to get a clear picture of coffee’s health effects. Epidemiological studies, which try to find relationships between multiple lifestyle factors, can be hard to interpret.
For one thing, coffee drinking is correlated with other dietary and lifestyle behaviours such as alcohol and nicotine consumption and a sedentary lifestyle. In other words, people who drink a lot of coffee also tend to drink and smoke, and be out of shape.
On the other hand, people who avoid coffee often do so for health-related reasons. They’re also more likely to be health-conscious in other ways, making health-promoting lifestyle choices such as exercise. Comparing coffee drinkers with non-coffee drinkers thus misses a number of important variables.
Second, there are vast differences in coffee’s pharmacological constituents depending on the type of bean used in the study, the methods of roasting, and the varying ways of preparing coffee, not to mention the differences between commercially available instant coffee versus freshly roasted organic coffee.
There are also differences in individual sensitivity to caffeine, likely due to the genetic traits related to caffeine metabolism (see “Coded for Caffeine”, in the Spezzatino Coffee issue), as well as lifestyle influences. For example, the half-life of caffeine is shorter in smokers than non-smokers, while the half-life of caffeine is doubled in women taking oral contraceptives.
Finally, most research studies observe and measure the effects of a single dose of caffeine rather than the effects of chronic ingestion. Yet most coffee drinkers drink coffee daily.
As a number of studies have shown, single-dose experiments don’t necessarily reflect the effects of our regular routines. For example, researchers have shown that we can build tolerance to the cardiovascular effects of caffeine within two to three days. Therefore, research studies that show a given effect on the body from an acute single dose bear little relevance to the chronic ingestion of caffeine.
In my naturopathic practice, I use evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies. But I also draw on experience and a systematic understanding of how our nervous, endocrine, and immune systems interact in order to make educated guesses about coffee’s potential effects on my patients.

Caffeine and your brain

Caffeine is one of coffee’s primary constituents with psychoactive activities. It’s part of a group of substances collectively referred to as methylxanthines. These alkaloids are well known for their ability to increase cognitive abilities, improve energy, enhance well-being, and increase arousal and alertness.
As mentioned elsewhere in the Spezzatino Coffee issue (see “Lab to Lunch”), these effects occur largely because of caffeine’s ability to block adenosine receptor sites throughout the body. However, there are other neurochemical effects that are worth noting.
Once again, studies demonstrating the effects of caffeine on neurotransmitters (chemicals that allow the cells of our nervous system to communicate) don’t always give us a realistic picture.
First, the dose used in neurochemical studies generally exceeds quantities ingested during normal everyday life.
When animals are used, they are non-coffee drinkers. (It’s hard to make mugs that small, and without opposable thumbs… well, let’s just say there’ve been some unfortunate spills of hot liquid. Luckily, no legal cases against McDonalds are pending.) Therefore, researchers use a single dose of caffeine, which may not reflect the neurochemical effects of chronic consumption of caffeine.
Second, neurotransmitters are produced in different amounts in different areas of the brain simultaneously, and have very different effects on mood and personality depending on where in the brain they’re used.
Quick overview: serotonin is involved in mood and appetite regulation; gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) typically inhibits neuronal activity to cause relaxation and sleep; and acetylcholine is involved in muscle contraction.
Chronic caffeine intake has been shown to increase the receptors of serotonin (26-30% increase), GABA (65% increase), and acetylcholine (40-50%). This may contribute to the elevated mood and perceived increase in energy we feel after a coffee (which makes espresso a handy pre-workout drink). Despite increasing receptors, caffeine also inhibits the release of GABA, which contributes to our feeling of alertness.
Chronic caffeine intake also increases the sensitivity of serotonin receptors. In other words, receptors specific to serotonin are more responsive to serotonin present in the synaptic cleft — it’s sort of like installing a bigger satellite dish to catch more of an existing signal. One study showed a decrease in serotonin release, but an increase in serotonin reuptake, leading to an overall increase in serotonin levels. (Think of it as the brain’s natural recycling.)
In the human body, when neurotransmitter receptors increase in number, or if they increase their sensitivity, it generally suggests a reduction in functional capacity and activity of neurons associated with those receptors.
Either the brain needs more chemicals to do the job, or the neurons involved aren’t working as hard. This might mean that a certain neurotransmitter is in short supply, or that its activity needs to increase. In the case of caffeine and serotonin, this can partly explain the mood-enhancing effects of drinking coffee.
Caffeine has also been shown to increase serotonin levels in the limbic system, a relatively primitive part of our brain involved in regulating basic functions such as hormonal secretions, emotional responses, mood regulation and pain/pleasure sensations. This has a similar mode of action as some antidepressant medications.
The increase in serotonin levels, combined with the increase in serotonin receptors, cause the characteristic withdrawal symptoms (such as agitation and irritability) when coffee intake is stopped. The brain has come to expect more action in its serotonin receptors, and when its abundant supply of happy chemicals is abruptly cut off, it gets crabby.
Indirectly, chronic caffeine intake may impact neurochemistry by reducing cofactors – chemical partners – necessary for neurotransmitter synthesis.
For example, coffee inhibits the absorption of iron, a key mineral involved with the synthesis of serotonin and dopamine. Additionally, we need the activated form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, to synthesize serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Coffee consumption can decrease amounts of circulating B-vitamins, which could affect neurotransmitter synthesis in another way.
Thus, caffeine impacts whether certain chemicals are available; how receptive our brains are to them; and whether we’re even making those chemicals in the first place.

Caffeine and your hormones

Both scientists and lay people know the effects of caffeine consumption on hormones relatively well.
For example, quickly perusing the internet brings up numerous sites claiming that caffeine “wears out the adrenal glands”. But not surprisingly, this may not be entirely accurate. While we know many things about the impact caffeine has on human’s stress physiology, certain mechanisms of how it occurs are still relatively mysterious.
Caffeine strongly affects the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: the linked system of hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain, and the adrenal glands that sit atop the kidneys. The HPA axis influences the body’s ability to manage and deal with stress, both at rest and during activity.
The adrenal glands secrete two key hormones: epinephrine and cortisol. Epinephrine, or adrenaline, increases respiration rate, heart rate and blood pressure; while cortisol frees up stored glucose, which we need in greater amounts during times of perceived stress.
As you can imagine, for our early hominid ancestors, the ability to quickly access and use stored energy was a helpful feature. However, while this is an excellent acute response to an immediate stress (such as being chased by a bear), it’s a damaging response when the stress is chronic (such as the cumulative demands of our daily modern lives).
Studies in humans have shown that caffeine increases cortisol and epinephrine at rest, and that levels of cortisol after caffeine consumption are similar to those experienced during an acute stress. Drinking coffee, in other words, re-creates stress conditions for the body.
While scientists have some ideas about how caffeine increases HPA hormones, the exact mechanism still remains unclear.
Compounding the problem, people tend to consume more caffeine during stressful periods (as nearly every student during exam season knows well). They add stress to stress, potentially making things even worse.
Rat studies have shown that caffeine consumption during chronic stress increased cortisol, blood pressure, and other negative hormonal events. Chronically stressed rats who consumed caffeine ended up sicker, and died sooner, than rats experiencing chronic stress without caffeine consumption.
However, again, chronic caffeine consumption leads to a degree of physiological tolerance and thus among people who drink coffee regularly, blood pressure, heart rate, excessive urination, epinephrine production, and even anxiety and stimulation may not be as strongly affected.
Other hormonal effects of caffeine appear to be related to competitive actions for metabolism in the liver. Like a gridlocked city, the liver only has so many “roads”, or metabolic pathways, available. More “cars” (i.e. chemicals) on the “roads” slow things down.
For instance, the liver detoxifies caffeine using the CYP1A2 enzyme system, which is also responsible for initial metabolism of estrogen during Phase I clearance by the liver. This is one reason caffeine is likely metabolized more slowly in women taking oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy.
While research showing the effects of chronic caffeine consumption on circulating levels of estrogen isn’t yet available, researchers have suggested that caffeine consumption may lower the risk of breast cancer by upregulating the CYP1A2 isoenzyme and thus improving estrogen metabolism.

Caffeine and your immune system

The immune system is a vast and complex system that communicates extensively with itself and connects to every other system of the body.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll separate the immune system into two sections: the Th1 side (T-cell mediated system) and the Th2 side (B-cell mediated antibody system). The Th1 side is our innate immune system – the system that develops early in life – and is our first line of defense against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.
On the other hand, the Th2 system is acquired: as we are exposed to pathogens throughout our lives, we produce antibodies to them. Antibodies recognize foreign invaders if exposed to them repeatedly, and will launch a stronger and swifter attack if a second invasion takes place. Because of this system, someone will experience a reaction to poison ivy only after their second exposure.
The two sides of this system act as a seesaw: when one side is dominant, the other side is suppressed.
Research suggests that chronic caffeine exposure shifts the immune system to a Th2 dominance. This may help the treatment of Th1 dominant autoimmune conditions, but in the average person, it may elevate the Th2 system excessively, creating an overzealous Th2 immune response. A dominant Th2 system predisposes individuals to hypersensitivity reactions such as asthma and allergies.
To date, there have not been any correlations between chronic caffeine consumption and increased prevalence of Th2 associated conditions, but based on existing knowledge of caffeine and the immune system, the link seems plausible.
In my clinical naturopathic practice, we have seen certain autoimmune conditions improve with caffeine consumption, while others get worse.
If someone with rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition that causes joint pain and inflammation) says they get significantly more joint pain when they drink coffee, one could hypothesize that their Th2 system is dominant, and the caffeine is promoting destruction of their joints by further stimulating this already overzealous Th2 system.

Putting it all together

No known studies demonstrate statistically significant correlations between coffee over-consumption and the unwinding of the neuroendocrineimmune system. We just don’t know for sure yet how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
However, certain theoretical pathways can be created, and have been observed clinically. We can also make some informed speculation based on what we already know of the neuroendocrineimmune system’s interrelationships.

Effects on metabolism

Chronic coffee consumption increases insulin resistance, a situation in which the body cannot effectively deliver glucose into the cells of the body. In this situation, insulin, which helps transport glucose into the cells, cannot do its job well because the body’s cells are less receptive.
This typically occurs with a diet high in refined sugars and starches. Thus, the body must release ever-larger amounts of insulin to do the job. Like parents tuning out their screaming toddler, the body becomes less and less sensitive to insulin’s effects, which means more circulating glucose, which means more insulin release… and so on.
It’s a vicious cycle. And, unfortunately, it’s a cycle that currently occurs in the majority of North Americans. Combine the standard Western diet high in refined carbohydrates with stress and a high caffeine intake, and you have a potential recipe for metabolic disaster.
Insulin stimulates the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is a Th2 cytokine (a cell signaling molecule).
If IL-6 is chronically elevated (in this case, from high insulin levels), it may lead to a Th2 dominance and potential hypersensitivity from an overzealous antibody response. This can result in acquired sensitivities to foods and chemicals.
Interleukin-6 also stimulates the release of cortisol, which, as a glucocorticoid hormone, increases the body’s glucose level. This leads to an increased demand for insulin, which is problematic because of the insulin resistance that started the cascade in the first place.
Let’s recap: a diet high in refined sugars and starches leads to more circulating glucose.

• More glucose means more insulin needed to dispose of it.
• More insulin means cells tune out, which means even more insulin dumped into the bloodstream (especially if people continue to eat this high-carbohydrate diet).
• More insulin means insulin resistance — possibly aggravated by high caffeine consumption.
• More insulin means more IL-6 and more inflammation and hypersensitivity.
• More IL-6 means more cortisol, which means more glucose… and here we are, back at the beginning of a very nasty cycle.

Consider this as you cradle your extra-large coffee and glazed donut this morning during your white-knuckle commute to work.

Effects on brain function and mood

The elevated blood sugar and insulin don’t just stop at inflammation. They can create imbalances in the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and GABA, which can lead to sub-clinical mood problems such as mild depression (aka “the blues”), low motivation, irritability, and impaired cognition.
People with chronically high glucose, insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and stress typically have “fuzzy brain”, memory loss, lethargy, and/or a short fuse.
Coupled with the potential iron and B-vitamin deficiencies created by coffee, which, again, cause impaired synthesis of key neurotransmitters, this may result in mood states where people feel the need for coffee to keep themselves functioning properly.
Have you ever felt that you desperately needed coffee for a pick-me-up? Do you tell people, “I’m a grouch until I get my coffee?” If so, you may be experiencing this situation.
Caffeine in moderation is likely not an issue for most people. Indeed, it may actually have health benefits. (See the article on traditional Chinese medicine and coffee, in the Spezzatino Coffee issue) Problems occur when we drink coffee all day long and combine it with sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and chronically elevated stress.
We drink much more caffeine than our great-grandparents did. Not only has our coffee consumption increased, but the market is saturated (pardon the pun) with other sources of caffeine. There is much more refined sugar available to us, and our lives move at a much faster pace.
The industry standard size for a cup of coffee is six ounces. If you’re North American and under 40, I bet you don’t even own a six-ounce glass of anything – never mind finding a cup that size at the local coffee shop!
It’s the perfect storm: caffeine, stress, sugar, and sedentary living. This combination and its complex relationships with your neuroendocrineimmune system may be affecting you more than you realize.
Systems in our body are closely interconnected. Stimulation of one area can have far-reaching effects, especially if the stimulation is dramatic and/or prolonged.
Large amounts of caffeine likely have numerous negative impacts on the body that research has not yet elucidated, but if we piece the available studies together, such impacts appear to be very real possibilities.
Follow the evidence that your body offers you. Pay attention to how you feel when you drink coffee.
Do you feel good for a short period, then shaky and irritable? Do you notice more pain or other kinds of physical distress?
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms I’ve mentioned above, ranging from anxiety to inflammation, consider bringing a little decaf into your life.

Roast your own coffee

Brought to you by the creators of Precision Nutrition, Spezzatino Magazine is an encyclopedia of food, with each issue focusing on a single food such as: basil, grapes, wild game, tomatoes, fish, coffee, chocolate, and more.
In volume 8, our biggest and best issue yet, we focus on coffee.  (And this article comes directly from the magazine.)
Because you’re a PN reader, we’d like to share with you some additional goodies, including another article on how to roast your own coffee at home, which may be healthier than drinking the commercial varieties.   So click the link below, check out volume 8,  and get your free stuff.
Free Stuff – Roast Your Own Coffee Beans

Learn more

To learn more about making important improvements to your nutrition and exercise program, check out the following 5-day video courses.
They’re probably better than 90% of the seminars we’ve ever attended on the subjects of exercise and nutrition (and probably better than a few we’ve given ourselves, too).


Source: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/coffee-and-hormones

Last day of the first month of the year.

I spend the first half hour of every morning killing myself with cigarettes and coffee
only to spent the rest of the day trying to feel like I’m not dying.
This is what we do.
Build something up and then knock it down.
Write half a poem and then crumple the paper.
Repeat until you’re surrounded by overflowing garbage cans
and clutter the cats will bat around the room.
Create a life for yourself and then change directions.
Leave the state.
Move in with someone that doesn’t love you.
Compartmentalize.
Pretend that works until you move back.
Pivot, change directions again.
Build another life.
Change cars and phones and hairstyles.
Stop running;
Gain weight.
Become a different person:
Build something new,
Continue smoking,
Have another cup of coffee,
Set goals,
Immediately ignore them.
Become the thing you hate.
Accept that loathing into your life;
Hold it dear because nothing else is that close to you.
Build up walls.
Develop a hard outer shell.
Buy another pack.
Wheeze through your days,
caffeinated and dehydrated,
until someone comes along
to shock you with the realization
that sometimes destruction
is its own form of creation.
You have to break down to the foundation
to properly build anything lasting,
more permanent.
Something you don’t have the capacity
to walk away from.
Stub out that cigarette.
Breathe in your new surroundings and finally agree to stay.

Camping with friends

Friday 23rd November 2012

Pagi itu sekitar jam 11-an aku tebangun dari tidur, rasanya tidurnya pulas sekali sampai lupa kalo hari ini sudah ada janji camping sama teman-teman dan bakal menjalani suatu sejarah baru lagi dalam hidup, sungguh hari terlihat begitu suram dan aku pun tak begitu bergairah, sampe-sampe harus bolos kuliah karena telat bangun dipagi hari, oh man!
Sebelum tidur malam saya sudah menyetel alarm tapi kok gak mempan gitu yah bangunin aku? apa alaram nya yang gak bekerja atau mungin aku saja yang begitu kebo kalo tidur? ENTAH!
yah! yang pasti saya gak jadi ngampus dan kalaupun ngampus udah pasti telat! dan saya pun berpikir positif aja ---> itu takdir! oke sip!!
Karena telat sudah jadi alasan utama dan sekaligus satu dari sekian alasan lain nya makanya saya putuskan saja dengan cara saksama dan dalam tempo yang sesingkat-singkatnya untuk bolos aja (minta tirajam) well, setelah bangun dan sudah pasti langsung cakep maka saya putuskan lagi buat mandi biar lebih kece (baca: biar gak bau asem) LOL!
Dan setelah mandi yang begitu kital bahkan lebih cepat dari perambatan cahaya, saya pun langsung bergegas ke kampus, dan ternyata di sana belom banyak teman-teman saya yang ngumpul, duh! ini judulnya nasib dtang lebih awal!
Jadi kesimpulan di atas boleh terlambat asal jangan telat-telat banget dan boleh duluan asal jangan terlalu awal (ajaran sesat) :|
Pagi itu saya bersama teman saya yang super gokil namanya Daniel, panggil aja Dany atau Kangkung juga gak apa-apa (soalnya dia doyan makan kangkung) HAHAH *peace love and gahol*
tak lama setelah pukul 14 WIB, datanglah teman-teman yang lain, dengan berbagai obrolan yang begitu random, ada yang bilang kalo bawaan nya begitu berat, ada yang ngeluh kehujanan dijalan, sebagian lagi ngeluh capek dan lain sebagainya *tutup telinga*
Ada teman saya namanya Yeka, kadang di panggil OMES a.k.a Otak MESum (soalnya tiap obrolan nya selalu frontal, minta dibacok banget nih orang) nah dia adalah salah satu orang ter-reseh yang pernah saya kenal! tapi orangnya baek juga sih! Yang bikin saya dan yang lain nya kesel karena sampai udah mau berangkat juga eh malah belom keliatan batang hidung nya, akirnya semua harus nungguin dia dulu, kata orang AMBON apa gak CUKI MAI? LMAO!
Tak lama setelah itu dia datang dengan alasan classicnya, katanya sih ban nya pecah, yah udah gak apa-apa, yang penting bukan kepala ente aja yang pecah! HAHA!!
Pukul 14:30 kita semua langsung berangkat menuju SIUNG BITCH, I mean SIUNG BEACH! *Ooops typo*  see you again JOGJA ~~~~ \o/
Diperjalanan malah hujannya turun, sungguh menarik sekali dan semacam sebuah petualangan yang super kocok dan tentunya bikin jengkel, semua pada bawa rain coat hanya saya dan Daniel sendiri yang gak bawa apa-apa, ya sudahlah berserah aja pada takdir, kalo memang kehujanan dan basah kuyup trus masalah gitu buat lo?
Setelah hampir tiga jam diperjalanan akhirnya nyampe juga, dan setelah melihat pantai dan mendengar gemuruh bunyi ombak yang begitu besar rasanya semua penderitaan dijalan tadi hilang begitu saja, rasanya pengen lari-lari balik ke Jogja #eh maksudnya lari di sepanjang pantai sambil BILANG WOW PAKE GITU!
perasaan yang tadinya kesel sirnah dan diganti dengan suka cita yang begitu luar biasa! OH MAN!

Setelah sampai di pantai, aku dan teman-teman ku langsung bangun tenda, dan ada 5 tenda... 3 tenda nya untuk cewek dan 2 nya buat cowok! eskipun begitu capek tapi semua sudah terbayar sudah dengan melihat keindahan alam nya pantai Siung, sungguh luar biasa! OH MY GOD!
Waktu berjalan begitu cepat dan sudah agak larut, saat itu sekita jam 8-an malam smua tenda dan urusan tempat tinggal lain nya beres, malah perut mulai ngambek, semua makhluk hidup yang ada dialamnya minta dikasih makan racun #eh!
Aku dan Daniel langsung saja melipir ke warung samping pantai and GUESS WHAT? rupanya harga makanan di pantai super duper murah!! bahkan setara sama seperti di Jogja...
waktu itu dingin abis kehujanan makanya pengen ngisih perut dengan yang anget-anget gitu! makanya aku dan Daniel pesan indomie-rebus-pake-telor dan harganya cuman IDR 5k/porsi, gimana tertarik? (promosi terselubung)
Sambil nunggu ibu nya buatin mie nya, gak ada salahnya juga kali kalo nyicipin kuping macan, eh kuping gajah maksudnya, hih! dan setelah kami berdua makan, langsung balik lagi ke tenda, perjalanan nya gak jauh-jauh amat, pokoknya gak jauh deh kayak semua janji palsu yang pernah kau berikan padaku, eh eh eh (apa-apaan ini?) :|
Da suatu hal yang bikin saya ngakak mampus adalah teman saya Indah yang entah dia sadar apa gak, tapi hello? ini kan namanya camping kok bisa dia beli nasi goreng di pantai? duh! ngakak brutal!!

Pukul 22:00 dan tampaknya sudah tdak ada lagi rintik hujan dipantai, cuacanya lumayan dingin sedingin hatiku saat itu *eaaa* dan semua teman-teman pada keluar dan mulai lah sesi obrolan dibuka, dan dibuka pula dengan sesi ruang jujur, duh rasanya pengen lari (lari dari kenyataan) ini permainan apa modus kepo doang nih? curiga! dan meskipun begitu saya tertarik juga sih sebenarnya supaya bisa terlibat di dalamnya, dan waktu itu semua rahasia yang sudah bertahun-tahun dikubur, disimpan rapat-rapat dlaam hati keluar juga! HAHAH mampus!!
Pakde, iya sebut saya pakde (aku juga gak yau nama aslinya) tapi berhubung dianya yang paling senior diantara kita maka panggil aja pakde! Pakde datang membawa kayu bakar, asek!! kita main bakar-bkaran tenda, HEH! *ditampar orang-orang sekampung* kita buat api unggun! HOREEE!
Bukan saya kalo tidak punya ide-ide genius (pencitraan terselubung) waktu itu tidak ada bensin dan semua barang yang bisa di bakar malah basah, yang saya coba aja ngatur kayu nya menjulang ke atas seperti huruf A secara berselang-seling dan di bawahnya di biarin kosong (eh ambigu) lalu di bawhnya di taroh karto super mie yang belom masah trus bakar deh! WOW jadi juga ternyata, meskipun akhirnya mati juga tapi seperti yang sudah saya katakan tadi kalo saya kan genius (minta di iris) makanya saya pake plastik aja biar nyala apinya lebih besar dan YEAH apinya jadi juga! :))))

sesi jeprat-jeprit pun dimulai, yeah! HOREEE API UNGGUN nyala juga berkat saya! *KRIKKKK!!!

Pukul 00:00. Rasanya hanget juga berlama-lamaan di samping api, dan suasanya di luar juga gak begitu dingin, aku memilih untuk tidur aja di luar sambil ngorol panjang lebar, dan bercanda-gurau sama cewek-cewek cantik :*
Tak lama setelah itu rasa laper pun tiba, dan Pakde, saya dan Aa bangkit dari tempat tidur (baca: pasir) trus rame-rame buatin mie, kayaknya enak nih makan mie sambil ngobrol, yuk cus!
setelah itu lanjutkan lagi ceritanya, sungguh malam yang panjang, iya panjang banget karena aku pun nyaris gak tidur malam itu!
Yang lain pada tidur malah kita asyik-asyik makan *biarin!
Betapa sejuknya suasana mata dan hati dan tentu saja pikiran malam itu, sungguh malam yang begitu indah berada di alam terbuka dan melihat gemerlapan bintang di angkasa! OH sungguh tak terlukisakan!

 Saturday 24th November 2012

Pukul 05:00. Pagi yang begitu sejuk dan udarah yang begitu digin dan segar merasuk hingga ke jiwa dan menetramkan semua rasa, aku dan teman-teman semua bangun dan kita langsung ke bukit, di ufuk timur ada sebuah bukut batu yang menjulang tinggi tak tergoyahkan, meskipun sudah diterpa badai prahara beratus-ratus tahun lama nya tapi tetap kokoh beerdiri dengan gagah dan gigih! sungguh menakjubkan ciptaan TUHAN semesta alam!
I am sorry to say but I am feeling like I'm having sex with the nature, feels so captivating and it makes me feel alright, eye-orgasm, brain-orgasm and also ear-orgasm! OMG!
Burung-burung beryanyi menyongsong pagi dan suara ombak yang tak terpadamkan, suasana laut yang bergelora, sungguh suatu kombinasi yang sungguh alamiah, SEMPURNA!

can you see the sky? the small island? the incredible sea. how do you feel? let me know what you feel, if you were there!

 feels like i don't wanna go home! pleaseee!

with Aa and Daniel! wow we are young! this is amazing!

Such a beautiful beach! OMG! <3

JUST AMAZING!

Pukul 10:00. Pagi itu setelah balik dari bukit yang begitu indah kita langsung menenggelamkan diri, membasahkan tubuh di laut (baca: mandi) cuaca pagi yang begitu bersahabat, sungguh sangat mengasyikan! Firman teman saya yang tentunya coffeeholic juga tampaknya dia seperti paranormal yang bisa baca perasaan saya, seperti tak disuruh namun namanya juga teman jadi pasti sudah saling paham, dia buatin coffee and this is one of the best morning coffee ever! thank you bro!
Having coffee and smoking with friends in the beach is one of the best moment I've ever had in my life!

Pukul 11: Saatnya bersiap-siap untuk pulang, semua tenda dirombak dan saatnya membilas badan di kamar mandi, oh rasanya segar sekali.. sungguh ini adalah salah satu moment yang gak bakal saya lupakan dalam hidup saya! sekitar jam 12-an kita lalu say good bye and see you again to the beach! thank for for everything! I wish that one day I will come there again!

 

HERE WE ARE!! I MISS YOU GUYS LIKE CRAZY!! I MISS THIS PLACE SO MUCH!! <3

"Aku rindu malam kelam, dingin dan beraburan banyak bintang di angkasa, duduk di tepih pantai sambil menyalakan api unggun, berbagi canda-tawa dengan teman-teman dan sembari menyeruput secangkir kopi dalam gelap, menghisap rokok sambil mendengar dashyatnya bunyi ombak yang terpecah di lautan, sungguh aku kangen semua hal itu" - OLDRY RONALD

Rainy Night

Hari berganti hari, siang berganti malam dan musimpun berlalu, malam ini terasa begitu adem kota Jogja, gak sepeti biasanya, seluruh kota dibanjiri hujan, semoga ini sebuah pertanda yang baik.
Meskipun begitu tapi resah hati ini masih saja belom terjawab dengan sebagian hal yang selalu mengganggu dan membuat penasaran akan banyak hal.yang kunamai semua itu misteri, entah sampai aku bisa menemukan kunci untuk membuka dan mengetahui apa yang ada di dalam nya.
Dingin, sunyi dan hanya ditemani secangkir kopi dan sebungkus rokok, oooh, sebut saja ini semacam surga kecil-kecilan, saya selalu menanti saat-saat seperti ini, dimana mata tak terpejamkan dan pikiran kian membuncah dan memikirkan banyak misteri itu.
Di sebuah coffee shop, duduk sendirian dan mengotak-atik laptop sembari mendengarkan lagu-lagu jazz, whoa! what a night! sampai-sampai kelupaan kalau besok masih banyak hal yang harus dikerjakan, sungguh melanggar aturan main itu punya tantangan tersendiri, tak udah terlalu banyak dipikirkan.
Rasanya sudah berada di zona nyaman dan tak mau tuk diganggu, percuma saja kalo hidup senang tapi tak pernah nyaman, sekarang yang saya pikirkan hanyalah kenyamanan bukan kesenangan.
Tentu saja kesenangan itu penting namun itu hanya sesaat, aku lebih mengejar sesuatu yang parmanen.
Sejauh ini semua yang kujalani ini berjalan dengan lancar dan sungguh sudah bisa sedikit move on dari hal-hal gak penting.
Malam, sungguh engkau penuh dengan sejuta misteri, saya gak tak cukup pandai membaca suasana dan membaca apa yang akan terjadi besok karena sejujurnya saya bukan ahli nujum tapi saya selalu berharap semoga besok ketika saya bangun pagi semuanya akan baik-baik saja.
Memang tak mudah berperang dengan batin apalagi itu terus menerus dan  kian merusak hati tapi apa boleh dikata, semua itu kujadikan sebuah pelajaran untuk ku seorang.
Terkadang saya pengen berlari ditengah hujan yang dengan gigih membasahi bumi supaya tak seorangpun yang tak betapa dalam nya apa yang kurasakan sekarang ini, seberapa dalam luka parah akibata patah hati yang telah kau berikan padaku, tapi semuanya hasrat belaka, saya buka tipe orang yang sebodoh itu.
Kopi yang pahit ini seakan jadi saksi bisu akan rindu yang terkadang meronta-ronta akan tingkah laku mu dan semua yang telah kau buat dalam hidupku, pahit maupun manis, yang telah kita arungi bersama.
And in the of the story, in the middle of rainy night, I just hope that one day you'll realized that
HOW MUCH I'VE LOVING YOU BUT YOU NEVER CARE ABOUT THAT! I DECIDE TO LEAVE YOU BUT SOMETIMES YOU ARE SO HARD TO REPLACE FROM MY MIND!! BUT IT'S ALRIGHT, I HOPE YOU FINE! GOOD NIGHT FOR YOU AND SWEET DREAMS! :*

Hey kamu yang berinisial "A"

I was having coffee alone with you at coffee toffee, I went to sleep every night without thinking to somebody else, I'm just thinking of you every time, you were like sleeping pill to me.
It's been a week I miss you so much!! I miss swimming with you and talking everything! you and I text each other and it was like I am dating you! Hahaha
Hey kamu, yang di ajak ngomong apa aja selalu nyambung dan selalu sopan disetiap tutur katamu, aku tak pernah menyangka semua akan sedalam ini, sudah tak bisa dibohongi lagi tentang perasaan ini.
hey kamu yang berinisial "A" aku kangen!! kapan kita bertemu lagi? mari... bersama kita bunuh rindu ini.

Vesak Day

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” -Lord Buddha

Today is one of my very special day, you know what? I was accidentally being a members of the committe of Vesak Day in central of Java, I really enjoy to be with my friends and maybe I am the only one of those who are from the different religion, I mean all my friends are Buddhist.

I was invited by my friend Adi to join them and I really excited for it, hahaha  :)

This is such a great moment ever in my life,

It's Sunday and very burning hot day, I woke up in the morning and getting ready to attend for the celebration of it, I went to Prambanan temple, near to Sewu temple the place which usually used for the rogation. Being a member of it gives me some lessons in life, I am the human being and like the others we are mutual need one and each other in our life.

 

This is me and the Buddha at the Sewu temple (central of Java)

Me and my friend Adi

Me and Metta (Adi's girl friend)

 

Me and Paksi (Metta's brother)

 

Me in the Sewu temple (cental of Java)

After the is done, Adi and some of his friends invite me to go the Boyolali (their house) and I'm so much excited, and we were going there hehe

Adi and friends are study in Buddhist University, the are deepening the lesson of Buddha and it's nice ;) Adi's house is so simple and his town is so cold town ever!!

I went to some place to, wow too much story about my trip, I went there just for two days and every morning me and Adi are having coffee together, such a unforgettable moment indeed!!

This is Pagoda, Adi's school near to this place and such a beautiful indeed, i really love being here!! Thank you so much readers, this is one of the great story ever in my life, you know you must learn and try not just to be accepted but accepting too! That is one of life lesson I got :)