Phew.... 1 kata: bingung!

Buat kamu yang mau webhosting, mesti hati-hati karna blakangan ini buanyaak banget hosting baru baik di indonesia maupun luar negeri, menjamur dimana-mana ... tapi sbenarnya, kebanyakan dari mereka itu cuman RESELLER alias ga bener2 punya hosting gituu ...

Personally, gua udah cukup malang melintang didunia per-web-an indonesia dari kuliah kira-kira hmm tahun 2006, waktu itu gua beli domain flyingvi.com yg pertama banget, trus apa ya hmm mightybrick, asiabrick ... ketiga domain tsb gua hosting masing2 di idwebhost, nicspace, dan idebagus dan semuanya itu ngga ke-develop dengan baik, yang di idebagus malahan bolak balik database error (jadi males kaan). setelah dot com, trus gua beralih ke web.id ... sempet beli 1 dari idebagus tapiii haduh bener2 payah! ngga bisa gua manage sendiri sampe akhirnya gua beli sendiri deh ke Pandi.

OK, jadi begitulah ... domain web.id nya saja udah sip. Sekarang domain dot com. Ini bener2 cukup mengejutkan karna bayangin orang punya domain tapi ngga dapet hak mengurus domainnya sendiri? ga peduli dia ngerti ato ngga... itulah kasus gua duluuu ... tp sekarang yg gua bisa saranin adalah belilah domain dari Registrar resmi. Registrar disini maksudnya adalah lembaga2 yang sudah di validated sama ICANN dan mereka punya full control terhadap domain yang udah kita beli. Pengalaman gua sendiri baru pernah beli dari Name.com 3 hari yang lalu :) seharga 8.99 diskon 1.04 dolar. Ga usah khawatir tentang technicalnya karna dokumentasi mereka udah lengkap banget, yang terpenting adalah gua punya hak penuh atas domain gua, lagipula lebih murah daripada yang di charge idwebhost (125ribu)

Nah sekarang ttg webhosting ... ini rupanya jauuuh dan amaat membingungkan. Kenapa? bicara ttg hosting adalah dimana data2 spt file dan database website kita berada. Selalu baca Terms of Service dan Privacy Policy dari hosting provider karna disitulah sebenernya, apapun yg kita upload ke server, mereka punya hak atas file2 kita. Belum lagi masalah support yang lama responsenya, problem down time dan yg terparah ... hilang kontak alias yaaa gitu deeh hehe bangkrut atau tiba2 ilang aja gituu.

Untuk sementara ini gua masih belum tau mau hosting dimana nih ... :(

Gambar diatas gua pinjem dari blognya kak Pipit, dijepret pas dia nonton parade karnival di kota Oldenzaal. Dia salah satu mahasiswa dari Indonesia yang sekarang lagi lanjutin master degreenya di kota Enschede, Belanda. Fiuuuhhh ... belajar diluar negeri itu memaaang menyenangkan ... karna sambil jalan-jalan, kita bisa belajar *oops kebalik yaah hehe* ... maksudnya sambil menimba ilmu, kita bisa dapat banyaaak hal-hal baru, teman baru, budaya baru, bahasa baru bahkan ehem ... jodoh :D yang bisa dibilang itu tuh priceless alias ngga bisa dinilai dengan uang!!

Ketika kita mulai menimbang-nimbang "mau ke negara mana yaah gua", selain faktor finansial, faktor bahasa bisa jadi sangat menentukan... sehingga kebanyakan lebih milih negara yang berbahasa Inggris karna kita udah cukup bisa laah little-little ;) tapiii ternyata Belanda sebagai negara berbahasa non-Inggris pertama dari tahun 1950 hingga sekarang sudah punya lebih dari 1300 program studi Bachelor, Master, PhD dan short course menggunakan bahasa Inggris yang telah diakui secara internasional. Sistem pendidikannya diklaim mudah untuk international student, interaktif dan fokus kepada teamwork.

Tinggal disana ngga usah khawatir meski ngga bisa bahasa Belanda karna penduduknya 95% berbahasa Inggris, dijamin ngga ngerasa asing ^^. Budaya dari negara tetangga seperti Inggris, Perancis, Jerman dengan mudah berbaur lewat acara tv atau film-film bioskop. Temen gua Carly Scheffer ngga bisa bahasa Belanda tapi 3 tahun lalu dapet beasiswa S2 StuNed di bidang international communication di The Hague University. Intinya, bahasa Belanda bukan masalah banget dan malah kita bisa blajar banyak bahasa disana (^^)v

Belanda punya posisi strategis di tengah benua Eropa dan deket sama kota-kota terkenal sperti Paris, Berlin, Brussels. Dari ibukota Belanda Amsterdam naik pesawat cuman satu jam looh sperti Jakarta Singapura aja gitu..; juga bisa nyewa & nyetir van rame-rame bareng temen lewat jalan darat. *imagine ... adventure woow* Pelajar dari negara tetangga pun banyak yang ke Belanda untuk study tour atau ikutan jadi exchange student.

Ada 2 jenis universitas di Belanda: Universitas (universiteiten) dan University of Applied Sciences (hogescholen). Hogescholen sesuai dengan namanya, lebih menekankan praktek demi mempersiapkan lulusannya lebih siap kerja (penting banget nih!). Selain itu juga ada khusus Institut Pendidikan Internasional yang fokus ke program studi terkait pembangunan, berbasis pada kerja kelompok dalam skala kecil, pertukaran pengetahuan dan interaksi antar mahasiswa dari berbagai latar belakang budaya, yang difasilitasi oleh pengajar yang memiliki pengalaman kerja di negara-negara berkembang.

Kualitas dan reputasi pendidikannya, ga usah diragukan lagi karna sistem pendidikan Belanda udah memenuhi standard dan diakui internasional. Menurut lembaga independen QS Quacquarelli Symonds lewat websitenya www.topuniversities.com, taon 2008 aja ada 4 universitas Belanda yang masuk dalam Top 100 The Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings plus 6 lagi di Top 200.

So, what do you think? Studi di Belanda ibarat sebuah tiket memasuki global community dimana kamu bisa studi di lingkungan multikultural, punya temen dari berbagai negara (bahasa kerennya: networking) bahkan sangat mungkin untuk dapet kerjaan di multinational company atau bisnis kita bisa go international! modal bahasa Inggris bisa dapet internationally recognized degree with huge global friends and opportunities.... fantastic challenge bukan?! Grab the ticket, enjoy the ride!

Referensi:
Neso Indonesia's article: Sistem Pendidikan Belanda | Kak Pipit's Blog (thanks udah bolehin aku pinjem fotonya ^^) | QS Article: Study abroad in the Netherlands | EuroGates' article: Why Study in Holland? | My friend, Carly Scheffer

Ini lagu dalem banget artinya... diambil dari Disney OST Snow White.

A dream is a wish...

Yeah, Yeah...

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for you keep, ha
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving, If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

Hey yea (girl yea) hey yeah
Hey yea yea yea hey yea

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're feeling small (feeling small)
Alone in the night you whisper
Thinkin' no one can hear you at all (no one can hear you at all)
You wake with the morning sunlight
To find fortune that is smiling on you (smiling on you)
Dont let your heart be filled with sorrow, for all you know tomorrow
The dream that you wish will come true

Hey yea yea yea hey yea
A dream is a wish
Hey yea yea yea hey yea

When you can dream, then you can start (then you can start)
A dream is a wish your make with your heart (make with your heart)
When you can dream, then you can start (a dream is a wish)
A dream is a wish your make with your heart

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep (when you're fast asleep)
In dreams you will lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for you keep
You wake with the morning sunlight
You find fortune that is smiling on you (fortune that is smiling on you)
Don't let your heart be filled be sorrow, for all you know tomorrow
The dream that you wish will come true
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true

Yeah, yeah
(yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah)
A dream is a wish...
Now you can dream, then you can start
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (a dream is a wish)
Now you can dream, then you can start (a dream is a wish)
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (make with your heart)
Now you can dream (whoo), then you can start
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (yeah, yeah)
Now you can dream, then you can start
A dream is a wish you make with your heart
A dream is a wish...
Now you can dream, then you can start
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (a dream is a wish)
Now you can dream, then you can start
A dream is a wish you make with your heart (yeah yeah yeah)

Ok, what are you going to find down here are some LEGO's pictures released this year. It could be sets or non-sets, I mean ... bags, keychains, or whatever. It's been quite some times I didn't write about LEGO here ... in fact, I stopped buying LEGO from eBay this year due to high USD rate :( HOWEVER ... we can still hope buying them locally during Metro Big Sale or toys fair (yes of course: discount!)

1. Indiana Jones theme is continuing ... even nicer minifigs!! Last year, only one type of torso for Indy .. now we have more (handsome?) Indy!
2. City Farm. Ooooh ... I was waiting for these sets so much! well ... the citizens in the city need food right ... farm produces food it is essential part of city and buyer should get bonus of Horse Trailer yay :)
3. Technic. I'm not a big fan of Technic but to be honest ... they're deadlier this year (makin asyik .. maksudnya pusing deh masangnya hehe)
4. Castle. In January, the rumour for set 10193 Medieval Market Village was really ... boom... even if you're not a Castle lover, this set is a must. Really want this set.
5. Star Wars. You like the 6th movie? missed Han Solo and Princess Leia on the battle? You'll love this set 8038 Battle of Endor ^^ ... I saw the price is USD $99.99 in the US .. not sure how much when arrive in local store (pasti mahal :[ soalnya 12 minifigs!!)
6. Pirates. Repeat old LEGO's glory hahaha ... I see some ships are similar but the minifigs are completely different. Much much better (fancier, cuter)!!
7. Power Miners. Remember old theme Rock Raiders ... Power Miners are well... similar but more errm .. colorful .. machines. Not really into this but we'll see...
8. New magnets. The minifig is standing on the brick ... but .. i wonder why the brick has to be that way ?? .. heard from Chief Victor these magnets won't be available soon in Jakarta. Gotta buy from eBay.

9. I'd love to eat using these LEGO spoon, fork and knife hehe .... but may be I'll eat more then (_ _')
10. LEGO toolbox is just as cool as my dad's toolbox ... even the studs can be opened!

11. And may be play chapsa with these cards to kill time ?
So, what do you think? Things I wrote here are ONLY A LITTLE BIT of what is LEGO actually released or will release ... but I must say they are GOOD !! They launched innovative products and I'm proud becoming part of LEGO AFOL ...

Discuss more about LEGO from Bricks Indonesia or my AFOL Forum (AFOL is Adult Fans of LEGO).

I'm lovin bricks .... Keep brickin buddy!!

---

Disclaimer: LEGO, LEGOLAND, BELVILLE, BIONICLE, BLOCK-O-DILE, CLIKITS, DUPLO, EXO-FORCE, KNIGHTS KINGDOM, MINDSTORMS, QUATRO, ROBOTICS INVENTION SYSTEM, the DUPLO logo, the QUATRO logo, the LEGO and LEGOLAND logos are trademarks of the LEGO Group.

BECKY BLOOMWOOD .... what a ... captivating name hehe ... namanya ngingetin gua ama masa-masa krisis kuliah dulu, pas bikin project akhir :)

Ceritanya, Reni, Agnes dan Dora nginep di rumah gua buat bikin project erm lupa ttg apa tp sptnya deket2 final project. Kebetulan si Dora bawa 1 novel. Pas lagi kita ber3 stress-stressnya bikin program, dokumentasi, dll ... eeh si Dora malah ketawa2 sendiri dgn kocaknyaaa huahahaha.. so, intinya malem itu kita bukannya ngerjain project tp malah ikutan baca cerita si Becky nyiapin pesta pernikahannya (Shopaholic Ties The Knot)... well .. gua jadi ngefans deh sama Shopaholic series dan wweeeww akhirnya filmnya tayang juga di bioskop ini bener2 fantastis!

Sejak diannounce bakal dibikin movie, g tau beritanya dan bener2 curious siapaaa yg cocok meranin tokoh se-kreatif (tapi dummy) Becky? se-cool Luke ? se-best friend Suze ? dan se-aneh Tarquin? nah pertanyaan2 itu terjawab sudah di film ini hehehe.... bahkan karakter sperti Derek Smeath, gua ga kepikir se-serem itu.

Pas nonton di bioskop Lippo Karawaci kemaren Kamis sama Sam, lumayan lowong tapi tebakan gua, yang nonton juga pada udah baca novel krn dari awal mrk tertawa seakan2 udah tau kalo Becky itu lucu :) ... plotnya memang terlalu singkat untuk dijadiin movie, bahkan Suze udah tinggal bareng Tarkie dan mau married, tidak ada Sacha (mantan pacar Luke yang di novel), tidak ada debat antara Becky & Luke mengenai produk investasi Successful Savings, tapi mereka berdua justru kerja di perusahaan tsb, dan lain lain hehe

Scarf di movie bikin Becky jadi terkenal dgn sebutan "The Girl with the green scarf" padahal bayangan gua, scarfnya biru hmm ... violet ... agak romantic gitu hihihi

Tapi overall, Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, udah baguss banget meranin sbg Becky & Luke, kecuali (menurut gua) scene dansa mereka pas Becky pake kipas, kynya agak over gitu ^^ Isla itu lincah dan keliatan polos sedangkan Hugh Dancy, dgn aksen Britishnya ... he's quite handsome.

OST (Original Soundtrack) nya juga bagus (skrg lagi dengerin looh) demen banget yang ending instrument judulnya Shopaholic Suite by James Newton Howard.

Sayang bener-bener sayang, endingnya harus sperti itu ... bener-bener berharap bakal ada movie lanjutannya tapi belum ada kabar nih.

Pesannya, gua baca di Kompas Minggu kemarin adalah supaya orang2 sadar berbahaya banget kalo belanja pake kartu kredit sampet ngutang gitu .. tapi kenyataannya ... abis baca novel ini, dulu kita ber4 malah pengen jadi shopaholic hahahaha ...

So, sudahkah anda nonton film ini? Liat behind the scenenya di video berikut

Ok, kenyataannya adalah mulai hari gua "restart" alias mulai dari awal lagi.

Udah setahun blakangan ini, gua coba-coba cari beasiswa buat nerusin kuliah ke S2 .. cuman, gua sempet bingung juga mau kemana dan agak trauma sama kegagalan yang kemarin hehe .. dan kuliah S2 itu sangat-sangat beda drpd S1 (sptnya bgt ^^)

Stiap ada iklan pameran pendidikan di Kompas, selalu pengin dateng. Pernah dateng beberapa kali tapi entah kenapa blm ada yang sreg dan selalu kendala biaya. Krn ade gua blm lulus kuliah, so dana-dana dialihkan dulu ke dia minimal sampe dia lulus hehe ... selain itu, bukannya gimana koq gua merasa pendidikan sekarang lebih bersifat komersil daripada sebelumnya (diluar maupun dalam negeri)

Kemudian, masalah jurusan apa yang mau gua ambil? IT lagi atau bisnis atau jurusan lain? Beberapa option memang udah gua minat sperti IT Management di SP Jain which is yang batal test kmrn Jumat gara2 agentnya salah perhitungan waktu *rada sebel juga* padahal scholarship udah tinggal 2 langkah test :( ...
Atau SAP course di Victoria University (mahal, tp enak bisa by coursework)
Atau Spesialisasi SOA di Keio University, Jepang ? (stuck waktu bikin research proposal)
Atau univ apa itu ya di Jerman juga lupa namanya, tapi pernah telpon dan dikirim buku setebel novel Shopaholic hehe .... murah sih tuitionnya, tapi lulusan Aussie susah masuknya krn ngga 4 tahun masa studi, selain itu mereka saklek banget..kalo ngga qualified ya ga usah apply, email pun ga bakal di bales
Atau di Belanda sperti Carly dapet beasiswa StuNed? she worked in Metro TV before dan jujur aja she's really good!
Well, tapi ini bisa disesuaikan kan sama apa yang ditawarin sekolah bersangkutan.

Gimana kalo kuliah sambil kerja? nah ini dia ... gua belom nemuin yang spt ini, dimana gua bisa belajar skaligus berdiri diatas kaki sendiri? So far, tiap ari dapet digest emailnya bbrp milis, may be one day ...

Yaah ... akhirnya semua balik2 lagi ke satu kalimat: never give up
Untuk sekarang, g jalanin aja dulu kerjaan gua dgn motivasi yg benar spt yg gua dapet kemaren minggu, in the right time, in His very best time, kalo Tuhan berkehendak gua akan dapet semua yang terbaik.

Have a nice week!

Some like Sunday some like Monday, but i like my friends' birthday hehe ... especially if they treat me :P *just kidding*

Today is Wina's birthday, so, wish her is having a blessed birthday ... i haven't been able to meet her in person since she came back from Melbourne :( I'm working in Jakarta while she's helping her father's business in Lampung

Well ... i'm gonna say my other wishes can wait but prays for friends must come first.

Whoaa... i've been really really occupied for these couple weeks. A lot of chances did come to my life but guess what I think I failed them all because of me being careless :( and, or my motivation wasn't right in term of Father God's.

And I think I just realized it yesterday when I failed the biggest one, last Friday. and ...i think I just got the right answer this morning when I was in church, listening to Pasteur Gilbert Lumoindong's preaching. Well all he said was about what our heart is up to in this life. It is incorrect if we asked "God, give me more money coz i'm tired of being poor", "God, give me power coz i'm tired of being underrated". These mean we're doing wrong path to destiny.

In fact, when we set our heart only to please HIM, all the good things in life come automatically!! and so abundantly instead of "enough" or what we call: pas-pasan. I suddenly reminded with The Purpose no.1 in Purpose Driven Life book: We live to please our Creator.

The other message is about Faith. The uniqueness of faith are it can't be seen physically eventhough you are wearing religious accessories but in the other side he said it is too clear to be seen (by God). Faith in the Lord is amazing because I believe that HE exists in the past, HE gives me strength to live today and surely the brightest future ahead. Isn't it beautiful? There's nothing compares to the promise I have in Jesus!

Then have spirit!