When I was in Jakarta, my littlest sister one day threw tantrums to her boyfriend because he had not replied her text messages for several hours. Or not @-replying her on Twitter. Whichever it was.

I was like, “Seriously, sis? Maybe he’s just busy doing something else?”. And my sister shot me a blank look, depicting something like “Even if he’s busy he should be able to reply me”.

Isn’t that the bane of today’s world? It’s unbearably instant (borrowing phrase from my friend Putu). Decades ago, lovers will send each other love letters and wait weeks, even months, for a reply. To even receive a reply is a lovely surprise.

Right now we have text messages, IMs, Twitter, and many other applications that claim to bring people closer together, but create attention-deficit impatient people instead. We don’t even send long e-mails anymore (except perhaps when your groupmate is acting really obnoxious. SMU joke – if you don’t get it never mind). When was the last time you sent an e-mail like a real mail? Something like how are you, how is it like at your place, what has been going on, and yadda yadda yadda. Never? I am not surprised. Too often the longest emails I received are from my aunt who just caught the e-mail forwarding virus (yes, in 2010!).

Do we not have enough time to stop and wait? Or are we expected NOT to have time? Because everything is unbearably instant…

Here’s a suggestion. You don’t even need to send a real hand-written letter via post (do people even know that postal service still exists?). Try sending long e-mails. Write to a friend. Tell him/her how you are doing, what have you been up to. Ask him/her about what he/she has been planning to do, or even about his/her quirky hobbies.

Send the e-mail.

And then wait for the reply.

Savour the time.

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CommunicAsia 2010
Skype at CommunicAsia 2010
Giveaway!

CommunicAsia2010 and BroadcastAsia2010 is Asia’s premier business event for the global infocomm technology (ICT), broadcasting and media industries. It’s held at Singapore Expo from 15 – 18 June 2010.

The exhibitions feature almost 2,000 exhibiting companies from 57 countries and regions, keen on unveiling their latest offerings.
(info from CommunicAsia’s press release)

On June 16 I had the privilege of attending the blogger’s session from Skype at CommunicAsia 2010. I have Daphne from XPR to thank for that.

I was so in love with the Skype booth. It’s so cheery, with sky blue and rainbows all around!

Isn’t that just pretty?

We were guided around the booth by Peter Parkes, social media lead of Skype, who explained to us the new features/functionalities of Skype.

Yes that’s me listening. Hehe.

Basically what Peter informed us is the availability on Skype on other platforms other than the more traditional computer (PC/Mac alike). Skype is now available for mobile devices (Symbian phones, iPhone), and even TV!

Yes, TV!

It actually supports HD video, and the camera/microphone combo has 4 microphones and is able to pick up sound from 45 metres.

Example of the video:

There was very little grain/noise. It was quite impressive.

However the Skype on TV is only available as embedded software within select TVs. Currently Panasonic Viera HDTV supports it, with the requirement of a communication camera (sold separately). Not sure whether it’s required to use Panasonic’s own communication camera or it’s possible to use other compatible cameras. Peter also mentioned Samsung and some other brand of TV to embed the Skype software. Not sure about the details.

And then of course there was Skype for iPhone and Symbian phones. Skype in the Nokia N900 is not even a separate application, it’s actually seamlessly embedded in the phone. When you scroll through your contact list, for example, you can see the option “Call using Skype” appear. Interesting! After the event, I just had to download Skype to my Nokia E72 and it’s pretty easy to use! It can also merge the Skype contacts and the phone contacts together, but it’s not yet seamless like N900′s.

Screenshot:

Peter also talked about Business usage for Skype. Basically Skype will help businesses (Peter mentioned especially small and medium businesses) save costs on communications. Makes sense, because Skype can enable people to call, chat, send files, and even do conferences/group callings at the same time! The new feature available at Skype Business is Skype Manager, which is a web application you can use to manage the usage of Skype inside your organization. For example – if you want to manage how much Skype credits to give to your employees. You may go to Skype for Business website for more details.

Oh, and I think the Skype Manager ad is so cute!

By now you might be wondering – even if it’s on mobile phones, how exactly can I call people without Skype? Understandably, Skype has traditionally been used for free Skype-to-Skype calls but apparently it can also be used to call landlines/mobiles. You can purchase Skype credits to do so, or even better, you can use Skype subscriptions for unlimited calls to countries/Europe/World. Pretty good deal I think! Sadly, the Skype subscription worldwide that I got excluded Indonesia (my home country), so I said good bye to my unlimited calls to home. Sigh.

Giveaway! (updated!!)

Yeay! Now it’s time for the giveaway!

I have 2 Skype iPhone covers to give away!

(They both have the same design, only different colours – white/black)

To enter the giveaway contest is simple!

1. Leave a comment at this post with your name and (valid!) email, stating what you use/you can use/you plan to use Skype for.

And that’s it! Yes, it’s that easy.

You can also have another chance by tweeting about this giveaway. Please see the directions at the first comment below!

Some T&Cs:

1. The last entry of the contest will be accepted at 23 June 2010 23.59 PM 25 June 2010 23.59 PM. Winners will be announced at latest by 30 June 2010.
2. This contest is open to people who reside at Singapore or have a Singapore mailing address.
3. Postage fee will be borne by me a.k.a postage is freeeeee
4. One person (with one e-mail) is allowed one entry via comment on blog post and two entries via Twitter (directions at the first comment below!).
5. There will be 2 winners. Winners will be chosen by random numbers (Random.org)
6. Colours will be determined by random too.

Looking forward for your entries!

Note:  A number of other blogs will be having the same giveaway, I’ll post links to their giveaway’s so you can have more chances of winning one!

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When I close my eyes, I’m there
When I fly away, I’m there
I wish I were there, my Jakarta..

Then I close my eyes and pray
That soon I’ll find my way
to place that I call home, my Jakarta..

(A snippet of lyrics of my yet-to-be-finished song)

So. Last year brainwashed people attacked Mumbai far away in India and I was upset about it.

So imagine how I felt when I came to know that my own hometown, the town that cherished and brought me up, was bombed. Again.

To say that I’m upset is a terrible understatement.

 Fine. I know that bombings are really a “usual” thing in Indonesia. Like how worse can it get? I was in Jakarta when the first bombing of Marriott occurred (yes it wasn’t the first one). Also when there were several Christmas Eve bombings. Also when the Australia Embassy was bombed. Been there done that buddy.

I think it’s particularly bad because this happened after years of peace and great economy growth for Indonesia. And of course it’s bad because it happened just right after elections. Some people say it’s a rage from those defeated president hopefuls but hey.. Don’t point your fingers just yet.

So screw you, whoever planted that bomb and thought it was a great thing that you’re destined to do (I’ve received reports that they were suicide bombers but I can’t confirm just yet – please read the news). Because you know what? Indonesia unites and we will seriously screw you.

I am angered and full of hate, but I remember that hate was the thing that started it all in the first place. So come, let’s not scoop down to their level. Resist and they’ll be gone. Hopefully forever.

Stay away from my Jakarta, my Indonesia, because it rocks and it can be better again. We’ve come out stronger and stronger after a series of unfortunate events and there’s no reason that we can’t come out stronger again.

Oh and to you Jakarta citizens who only lamented that Manchester United cancelled their plan for a friendly match in Jakarta because of the bombings, screw you too. People died and some are badly injured and you only care for that? Just how egoistic can you be? Look I know it was a hard hard effort to even get the tickets but hello! People died! Can you imagine if that happened to your family? A person’s life wasted makes all your reasons for lamenting of cancelled MU match void.

So anyway.

Come on Jakarta. We can fight them together.

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I should have written this piece long ago, I know. But what do you expect of me? Thank you 20 visitors who came yesterday

As I’m now over 17 (and subsequently have left the teen years. Nooooooo ), I’m eligible to vote and I WILL vote.

The golput (golongan putih – white party, the people who did not vote despite being eligible) was a shocking 29.1 percent of the eligible voters list. I do not know why. Perhaps some couldn’t do it because they live in a remote area where travel to the nearest ballot box is hard. Perhaps they have some disabilities hindering them from voting. Physical and mental alike. These are perhaps-es. But I do know some people chose not to vote.

Because (they said) one vote will not make a change. Because one vote doesn’t matter. I tell you what, my friend. Maybe it doesn’t. But 29.1 percent of 171,265,442 (that’s the total number of eligible voters) means 49,677,776 so a big HELLO! It matters! (statistics from kompas, btw)

So I don’t understand, my friend. And yes this is especially directed to you guys who call yourself my friends. If you are my friends at this stage, most of you should at least be in a university. So I have a right to call you educated. You’re educated, so I don’t understand why you will let the so-called uneducated people whose votes are dependent on how much money the campaigners give them decide your country’s president.

I know one thing for sure. I don’t want to be a part of approximately 40 million people (after substracting people who might have valid reasons – in my own opinion) who are ignorant and do not want to be a part of making a better country to live in.

Perhaps it’s not time for CHANGE yet. However I believe in hope of a BETTER place.

I’m getting off my chair now to go to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to register my vote.

While some of you can rot.

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My heart aches for you, Mumbai. Especially your people who are hurt, saddened, and brought down. This is just too familiar to me. Some unknown people just came, hurting everybody, with unknown reasons.

They might think they’re doing something great. They might think they’re contributing to something big.

Big stream of pain, I see. Big cloud of terror that just hurt everybody.

I cry for you, Mumbai.

I pray for your peace. I pray for safety, and mercy.

I know you can see brighter days again…

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When did blogging becomes such a hard task to accomplish?

When will I come back to my blogging frenzy days?

When will people stop intimidating me by blogging every single day?

When will this blog be most alive again?

Leave what you want me to write about in comments. You want my boring mundane life? You want my school life? Anything. I need inspiration.

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Ahem.

Ok, so I was invited to the Samsung’s first blogger night (after shamelessly e-mailing Daniel from Samsung to be included. WAHAHAHA. Srsly!)

I arrived late because I had class until 7 PM. After class I hurriedly checked gothere.sg for directions hahaha!

Apparently Vivocity is quite big I spent quite some time trying to find the Samsung Flagship store.

I finally found it and quickly sat on a sofa beside Rinaz and listening to the presentation. Was quickly impressed by the specifications.

Photo courtesy of Nicole.

I mean, seriously, 8 megapixels? With smile shutter and blink shutter? I WANT. My current camera Sony DSC T70 has it, but then it will be great if my phone has it so I don’t need to bring 2 gadgets (heavy!).

And the great news is.. It uses Symbian S60! Woohoo! If there’s one thing that always makes me hesitant to “jump ship” from my current phone manufacturer, it’s the operating system. I’m so used to Symbian and I think it rocks. Plus, using Symbian means opportunity to add applications developed for Symbian. Yeay to Symbian!

So after the presentation, came the most exciting part : The Game! (and when you remember about it, you lose)

Photo courtesy of Nicole.

Anyway, we were supposed to take 3 pictures with our cameras (remember they asked us to bring camera in the invitation?) about the things that inspire us about Samsung Innov8.

The entries were then pasted together on this board..

Photo courtesy of Nadnut

Ok I forgot to take a picture of my own submission Nevertheless here it is, created by ScrapBlog. Haha. I RULZ.

And.. And…

I didn’t win. Sighness.

Anyway, it was a fun night. It has a relaxed atmosphere and I enjoyed myself. It was my first blogger event ever and well, what an event! It’s not big or extravagant and stuff but it was fun, to the point, and no fluff.

And before I sign off…

I CAN HAZ INNOV8????

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Probably it’s the timing that makes it inevitable that people think it is, and I have to admit that in some way or other the post has triggered me to write “Dear Bloggers”. In any case you still think I’m lying or sort, I actually wrote about my concern of writing something “meaningful” and “valuable” almost 2 years ago in The Burden to Write.

My intended message in “Dear Bloggers” was actually this : Don’t be afraid to blog, don’t stop blogging.

Blogging is good, and it’s not discouraged to start young. Sure, your writing won’t be too good, but at least you try. Ever heard the cliche “You’ll never know until you try”? There’s a reason why it became a cliche : it’s true.

Doing writing constantly and practicing to express your thoughts will only do you good. Nothing bad will come out of that, really. If you don’t believe me, you can just browse my archives from years ago and compare it to now. You might see that my writing has improved.

And I think that I missed a point in Dear Bloggers. Being a blogger is one thing, but being a likable/popular blogger is another thing. “Blog what you want, blog responsibly” is just the basic of being a blogger.

So, you want to be a popular blogger? Or at least recognizable blogger? Well make your blog interesting, and take care of your readers. The first thing of all is to know your readers. Position yourself as the reader, and ask yourself, what do I want to see? What will interest me? If you’re not planning to make a niche blog to attract certain groups, the least you can do is to add some flair in every posts and always remember to give sincere effort to each of them.

My friend Isaiah just posted a comprehensive summary about how to be an interesting blogger (or at least be a person who has an interesting blog). Do read up, since it’s one opinion from a reader (hell yes there are bloggers who are not blog readers. Selfish.). Alternatively, I urge you to read up Problogger. This is THE ultimate resource of how to make your blog interesting. Visit there, and read the archives. No need to swallow it all in one day. Blogging in an interesting way takes time, as it’s a habit. Habit takes time to form.

So all in all, my message is simple, really. Don’t stop blogging. Don’t be afraid to blog. And remember the two things each time you’re going to update your blog : Blog what you want, but blog responsibly.

Cheers.

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If you have a blog and you update it regularly voluntarily (under no pressure of other people or rather money pressure), you’re a blogger.

This is my personal opinion, but after muddling around the blogosphere for years, this is the best term that I think defines a blogger.

And you better believe me rather than those people blogging since 2007 or later.

A blog is your space. Your personal space. Your proof of claim of that tiny space in the cyber world. It is yours. It’s read by everybody, but it’s yours. Your content is yours. Your words are yours.

And whenever you want to update your blog, there are only two rules:

1. Blog what you want.
2. Blog responsibly.

Yes, blog what you want. Blog about how you tried to trim your dog’s nails but it refused so it scratched your arm. Blog about your chance encounter with some hot guy in the fitness center. Blog about your grandma who told you her old stories from the war time. Blog about your hot night out with some friends.

No, blogging about technology stuff and gadgets doesn’t make you instantly cool. Blogging about social media doesn’t get you into the “top bloggers” list instantly. Trying to teach people about how to make money doesn’t make you compelling. Talking about the latest update in politics doesn’t make you smart all of a sudden.

Only blog about stuff because you WANT to. Sure, blog about that new gadget that catches your fancy because it has the cool feature you’ve been longing for. Blog about social media because you’re so excited that it can help your business’ next marketing project. Blog about making money scam you’ve encountered (oh come on, there’s a lot). Blog about politics because you study political science and you think what you studied doesn’t really apply in the real politic world.
(note that the reasons are not exhaustive, in case there are some real ahem… less intelligent people who think so)

Don’t ever feel forced. Don’t fall into peer pressure. You know what happens to the teenagers who took drugs because their friends took it too.

And secondly, blog responsibly. Now that you can blog whatever you want, be responsible. This mainly concerns your readers. Let’s just assume your blog has readers, unless it’s somewhere out there locked by password that only you know (now that, I don’t know if it’s still a blog). As I mentioned before, your blog is yours but your readers are not. And your readers’ perceptions are not yours either. And since the words are yours, they will always be attributed to yours and you can’t deny them.

Sure you had a boring day in office and your boss scolded you for not finishing your work. Well we all have our bad days don’t we? But saying “Working in ABandC Company sucks! Don’t work here” won’t be a responsible thing to say, no? Sure you met an annoying person in the bus this morning. But talking about the race of that person and labelling that race as inferior is not a wise move, right? Sure you had a big fight with your parents today but flaming them behind their back and letting out family secrets are not in any way good, are they?

You might eventually apologize and take down the post but in some readers’ memory (or in Google cache, or in screenshots), it will stay and you’ll still be labelled as irresponsible blogger.

Don’t defend your stand because of “It’s my blog and who the heck cares!”. In whatever you do, not only blogging, think about the impact of your actions. In either online world or offline world you don’t live alone, and stop pretending that you are.

There’s no gauge for good or bad blogger. There are only popular bloggers and they all have many different things that made them popular (sadly, preference to flame people and showcasing unnecessary skin included but no, you don’t have to do that, really)

I’m a blogger. You’re a blogger. Together we make the blogosphere. Not only 1 or 2 or 3 popular bloggers. We’re included too.

We are the blogosphere.

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Nevertheless I’m sure people will rejoice in this independence day (which falls on a holiday no less!). Though you might not have big platform with thousands of people performing/watching or magnificent fireworks like what the country I live in had, I’m sure independence day is a happy moment, happier than all things.

63. You’re getting old. But still strong. Be proud. So far the only thing we lost is the East Timor which is not that big loss anyways. A lot of rebels tried to break free but no, they’re still there, and we’re still one. Indonesia.

Yes I guess it’s time to pat yourself in the back and be glad that, well, after years of threats, you’re still one. United.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia. Even though I’m not there at the moment you know my citizenship still belongs to you.
And my heart too.

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