eric.setiawan.weblog

Hey, that’s one big change you got there, guys. I’ve been scouring for its content on the oldALA for some time, which I just found out it was version 3.0 and also meaning that they have had 2 other version before that. With the big names in Web Standards teaming up (Meyer and Zeldman), I am expecting to see something extraordinary. Am I asking too much? Well, the designing job went to Jason Santa Maria and I think it’s quite good. It got its clean and minimalist look. But forgive me, I can’t stop but comparing this new ALA with Stylegala. Frankly speaking, I like Stylegala better. Maybe that’s because I got used to 3.0 version and think of it as THE ALA style. Or maybe because of their new concept as Zeldman said “the design has a classic, almost scholarly feeling, although there is a hint of teasing play behind elements like the laurel wreath”. So, I guess it was only my subjective opinion. CSSing went to Eric Meyer (who else?) who I still see as (one of) the CSS master. I, as some of the commenters on Meyer’s article, was asking about the flexibility of the design. Try using 800x600 resolution and you’ll get yourself a nice sideway scroll. I’m assuming that there still no 360 degree scrolling mouse on sale except the Apple’s Mighty Mouse. The good thing is I don’t have to mentioned that they’re HTML and CSS valid, do I? Oh, and have I mentioned that this new ALA using Ruby on Rails for their publishing system? Cool. And I can’t wait to see these

Each issue will have its own color scheme. Imagine: Red and green for Christmas; blue underlined links for when Jakob Nielsen finally writes for us.

So can I start expecting those whites to turn into reds and greens or else?

This morning I read Nana’s latest post on my Bloglines. She wrote that Natasha has passed away. I never had a chance to know her before, but I read her blog from time to time. In time like this my feelings are so complicated, but I know one thing. Life is so short, everyone. So why don’t we make the most of our time. And don’t forget to enjoy it. So, goodbye Sha. Rest in peace. I guess I won’t be seeing another post from you.

“…applaud me when I run, console me when I fall, cheer me when I recover”

UPDATE: More posts about Sha, some also have linked back to me: Priyadi, Elzan, Triaji, Enda, Love for All Season, Nana, Axal.acidblog.net, Danin, Yulian, Doeljoni. You can see more of Sha on: Natasha Anya, Melodies of Life, Somewhere Out There, and Sha on Friendster.

Last Sunday, I have the opportunity to visit SOS-Kinderdorf in Lembang. Thanks to all my friends at Lil’ Finger. Quick review and facts about SOS-Kinderdorf, Lembang. This is the first village (as they call it) in Indonesia. Since its beginnings in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages has been committed to offering orphaned and abandoned children a home in a family-based environment. For further information you can visit SOS-Kinderdorf International’s website.

I never wanted to be a teacher, never learned to be one, never thought that I could become one. I came to Kinderdorf expecting only to be an observer, but then I was appointed to be a teacher of a group along with my girlfriend, Lita. Well, I was not actually teaching. I was talking with the children, playing, laughing a lot, joking around. I kind of having plenty of little brothers and sistes instantly. It was fun. Very tiring but fun. Afterward, we walk through some of their facilities. We also visited the home for the retired SOS mother. From this place, I learned some lessons. Family bond doesn’t always have to be with birth-parents. We find families through our journey of life. And being old doesn’t always have to be waiting for death, but to live each day the fulliest, praying for the best of their children and grandchildren. Thanks a lot for the lovely moment, kids. And thanks for the advice, the lessons and the blessing, grandma.

Thx to all Lil Finger staffs: Erwin, Handi, Khimkhim, Lily, Fong2, Lina, Ade, Fika, Ade, Eunike, Linda, Ani, Lita. Thx to STV crew: Cardo. Thx to the children in my group: Eno, Dewi, Maria, Aan, Leni, Mei, Ria, Suluh, Okto, Ignas, Flori, Siti. And all the cats in SOS-Kinderdorf.

I believe today, all citizens of The United States of America are celebrating their independence day. So I want to congratulate all of you Americans. Or at least all American bloggers. Or maybe those who read this blog. Or there might be no Americans reading my blog but I am going to say this anyway. Have a Happy Birthday, America! …

.. though I never has the chance to come to America myself and America might not be one of my favorite country. But don’t worry Mr. Bush, I still love American movies, American singers/bands and NBA. It just that I love my own country more :)

UPDATE: On the 4th of July, NASA launch a Discovery Mission called “Deep Impact”. No, this is not another Hollywood movie or sequel to a movie with a same title. But its mission is similar. To “impact” a comet, Tempel 1 Comet, with a spacecraft. For further details on its mission you can see on NASA, Space.com, and their mission page. But although all the websites I’ve encountered all wrote about the mission as a successful one, there are also other opinion that most people missed. Some people thought that this mission actually an anti-asteroid weapon test as in the movie Deep Impact. Some thought that this mission is intervening nature’s way. As for me, I think The Americans sure know how to make a big-celestial-firework for a celebration.

After lunch, I met with some people to do field work. Suddenly the cellphone of one of the worker beeping. There was an incoming short message. Guess what? It was a (unsolicited) message which the sender stated as “Presiden RI”, the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The message says

Stop penyalahgunaan dan kejahatan Narkoba sekarang. Mari kita selamatkan dan bangun bangsa kita, menjadi bangsa yang sehat, cerdas, dan maju.

Stop drug’s misuse and crime now. Let’s save and build our country to become a healthty(?), smart(?), and advance(?) nation (thanks to Nana for forwarding that message to me; sorry for the rough translation; and for a screenshot of the message, you can see on Jay’s posting). It is true that a couple of days earlier, the President has announced the presidential number for short messaging so that people can send one directly to the President, or at least someone close enough to him. Questions: Are these messages that people receiving real? Are there no other more important messages than drug problem? And I wonder how much profit PT.Telkom made just by the President sending short messages. And can it be considered SMS spamming? No offense Mr. President, but sending short messages to other people randomly and unsolicitedly is not quite polite (except in case of emergency or national security?). So people, what will you do if you are the one receiving it? I, myself, maybe saving it to my memory since this may be a rare moment when the President sending me message. Thank you, Mr. President, but not too often please.

UPDATE: Well, it seems that it is really the presidential short message (should we call it, SMS One?) as you can read it in Kompas Cyber Media. And I’ve just chat with my friend. I get a new perspective from this case. That this (or maybe other things too) can be considered special case. Although by definition what the President doing may be categorized as spamming, but we must considered what most people feel upon receiving such message. Don’t you think most of the people will be happy receiving message from “Presiden RI”? What the President and his team need is a “little” thing that fair for ALL the receivers. Option. Whether we want it or not, should be the receivers choice, not the sender. That “little” thing would have made so much difference. But spam or no spam, I will stand by my word above. IF I receive such message, I will keep it. Happily, Mr. President, but not too often please :)