Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) -- It’s hot in Indonesia these days, and I don’t just mean the equatorial weather. We’re talking about two things that rarely fuse together: Chili peppers and hot money. Try chatting up a local without both topics coming up. The reason: Record prices for the fiery spice Indonesians eat at breakfast, lunch and dinner are partly due to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. La Nina weather patterns also are to blame.

TEMPO Interactive, Bandung:The West Java Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) chief in charge of production statistics, Maman Sukherman, said the production of large and medium-scale manufacture industry in West Java has plummeted down to minus 0,12 percent, comparing the performance in the fourth quarter of last year with the previous quarter. The fall of nine industries was shocking, said Maman, because the industry has grown by 2,65 percent nationally.

None of the bribery, corruption, scandal, and general sleaze and fraud are the fault of the locals. Check the expats I didn't stand in line last week to buy tickets to Justin Bieber's upcoming concert in Jakarta. I would, however, consider lining up for a chance to slap him across the face. Call me mean, but I simply can't stand the kid's wind-swept hair and button nose. But then again, I should be praising Bieber for wanting to perform here in front of his Indonesian fans.