This weekend, one of my web design project is officially unveiled! Alison Pearce Stevens is a science writer with a passion for nature. She wrote various articles in children magazines and also currently working on her middle grade novel.
Go check it out at http://apstevens.com/ and let me know your thoughts 
Alison's website
My iPhone 4S came last Friday (yes, I pre-ordered). The reason I got it (apart from needing a new phone) is the camera. It was advertised as “the best camera ever on a mobile phone” and “might be the only camera you need”. As I love taking pictures on my walks, I figured I want this. But, is it really true?
Last weekend we had a perfect blue sky weather in Berlin. We went out to test the camera along side hubs’ Samsung Galaxy S and a Point-and-Shoot camera Panasonic Lumix TZ-7. We didn’t have any specific scenarios for testing, it was all basically done on a whim, but some of the pictures really showed the capabilities (and flaws) of iPhone 4S’ camera.
Berlin TV Tower and S-Bahn
This was taken with the iPhone. I love this picture. It’s Berlin. And the phone was fast enough to capture the S-Bahn as it came to view! With my other phone, the train would’ve already left 
.
On the next picture, one was taken with the iPhone, the other with Lumix TZ-7. Can you guess which one is which? (Note: I had to resize the pictures because of some site error)
Berliner Dom -1
Berliner Dom - 2
Picture one is taken with Lumix TZ-7, picture two is iPhone 4S. You could see the iPhone one lacks a little bit of depth due to the small lens size, but overall it’s quite impressive, eh? I will show the pictures taken in low light conditions on my next posts… so stay tuned .
And I’m still feeling overwhelmed. I feel like I’m a bad campaigner because I haven’t been visiting the sites of my fellow campaigner 
. So sorry guys!
I realized I might have been too ambitious on taking on this project. I registered myself in 4 linky lists, and when I listed all the people in my group, it totaled to 101 blog. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to get to know everyone but I’m still trying to work out a plan to visit everyone’s blog.
Currently I have it all on my list and I plan to visit at least 15 blogs a day. That way I know I’ll be able to make a round to everyone at least once a week .
Did I miss something here? Do you fellow campaigners have a better idea? Do share!
Today I found this quote going around my facebook circle:
When I was a kid, I didn’t have a laptop, iPod, Blackberry, PS3, Wifi or designer clothes. I played outside with friends, bruised my knees, made up stories and played hide and seek. I ate what my mom made, and would think twice before I say “no” to my parents! Life wasn’t hard, it was good & I survived.Re-post this if you appreciate the way you were raised. Thanks Mom and Dad, for making me who I am today.
It’s quite interesting of how many people are liking this, because at least in my opinion, it isn’t true.
When I was a kid, I didn’t have a laptop… it’s true. Back then, computers was still the size of a room (yes, I’m not that young). Not that I didn’t have a computer. My dad eventually got us an x86 computer, with 16MB of RAM (How cool is that?). I love it! I could do a lot of things on them (mostly playing games though), but most importantly, it made me feel very adept to computers (which in the end got me to be an Interactive Media Designer). So I really didn’t think a laptop is a bad thing for kids. Computer knowledge = survival skill.
When I was a kid, I didn’t have an iPod… true, but I got a Walkman! You know, that cool thing with cassettes?
That one had an FM/AM radio, mine wasn’t… but you got the point. (Picture taken from wikipedia)
When I was a kid I didn’t have a Blackberry… well, actually I would rather have an iPhone if I was a kid. At least a cool Android phone with lots of games and videos! I can’t say anything about this, since my house didn’t have even a landline until I was in 7th grade or something. Was I happier? Sometimes I did wish I could know why my mom was late, was she in stuck in traffic? Or I wished I could tell her I’d love to spend an extra hour at my friend’s birthday party. Then again, mobile phones are the things you can live without, if and only if you’ve never had them before.
When I was a kid I didn’t have a PS3, … Wifi? How does a kid know what’s a Wifi? I’m just going to assume they meant Wii. Made more sense. Actually, back then, games are… most likely in the form of this
(Picture taken from here) Actually, I didn’t have one. My parents never let me buy one of those. Nor they ever bought any of the gaming devices (Atari, PS, Nintendo). Eventually we got a PC. I played Tetris and Paratrooper on PC. My parents always spoiled me when it comes to books though. I think everyone still spoiled me with books, even now. I know some people argue that reading is better than playing games… but I like them both and I’d rather not choose just one thing for the rest of my life.
When I was a kid, I didn’t have designer clothes. Not so true… I might not have Marc Jacobs kids, but I have nice decent stuff that looked good! At some point, I got myself a very cool L.A. Gear shoes! Kids learn from their parents, I guess. My friends had more designer stuff than I did, but this happened throughout life anyways .
I played outside with friends, bruised my knees, made up stories and played hide and seek. Well, it’s true, I did all of that although I hated the bruised my knees part. I wonder if kids really don’t do this anymore? I admit I might play less outside than my parents did… but it was alright, I think.
I ate what my mom made, and would think twice before I say “no” to my parents! HAHAHAHA… Tell this to my mom and she’ll laugh. I was a very picky eater and an opinionated child. I said “no” MANY times! I’m lucky I have wonderful parents who would put up with my tantrums! Love you mama papa <3
I really appreciate the way I was raised. Couldn’t ask for a better mom and dad <3. They are the parents of awesome which made them super awesome!
I just don’t think we had it easier/harder than the previous/next generation. Everyone has their own challenges, thats all!
To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?
(Author: Eric Handler)
Find and go after your personal bliss, that one thing you just know you’re born to do. It might be as natural as being a mother, or as high-tech as inventing a new technology to change people’s life. It will make you happy and peaceful. Only the happy can spread happiness.
Courage to Connect by David Spinks
Men imagine that they communicate their virtue or vice only by overt actions, and do not see that virtue or vice emit a breath every moment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Who is one person that you’ve been dying to connect with, but just haven’t had the courage to reach out to? First, reflect on why you want to get in touch with them. Then, reach out and set up a meeting.
(Author: David Spinks)
I don’t think I really have one for now. At least none I’m particularly dying to connect with. James McAvoy would have been great, but the reason behind it would be purely selfish. Besides, I would probably just stand there agape, like I did when I was a feet distance from Andrea Bocelli.
Don’t worry though, if I’m really dying to meet someone for a good reason, I believe I will make it happen!
The Prompt:
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
We live in a society of advice columns, experts and make-over shows. Without even knowing it, you can begin to believe someone knows better than you how to live your life. Someone might know a particular something better – like how to bake a three-layer molten coconut chocolate cake or how to build a website – but nobody else on the planet knows how to live your life better than you. (Although one or two people may think they do.) For today, trying asking yourself often, especially before you make a choice, “What do I know about this?”
(Author: Jen Louden)
Most of the time, I didn’t know everything there is to know about what I chose. I’m someone who’d rather go with the guts when it comes to big choices. I found it paralyzing when I had to know everything before taking an action, I could end up not doing it at all. Ignorance is truly bliss sometimes.
I’m a stubborn child. When there’s someone telling me what to do, I wouldn’t want to do it. I know what I want and I would hardly settle for anything else. (Except my mom and my husband knows exactly how to persuade me into doing things.)
Do I have my doubts? Yes, there are times when I hope I could google my life so I could see what would be the best choice, but then again, what’s the fun in actually doing that? The greatest blessing in our life is choice. There are mostly neither right nor wrong. We just have to go with one, and learn as we go along. Don’t worry about making mistakes, as life without mistakes is boring!
I agree, nobody else knows how to live our life better than ourselves. Most importantly, because it’s OUR life, not theirs, and WE get to live it, not them.
First of all, a belated Happy New Year Wishes from me! Yes I know, it’s the 9th already, but there’s still 51 more weeks in this year… so I assumed it’s still in good spirits . I hope you are all set for 2011, ready to achieve your goals and dreams. May this year be better than our last!
We went out to celebrate New Year this time (not every year we went out, most times I love to just have a nice cuddle at home). This time we were in London over Christmas and New Year, so I feel that we just have to watch the new year firework show over the London Eye. Boy it was so much fun! I love the positive energy I got from the people around us (post coming up).
Anyways, I planned to start this year with a more frequent blogging (twice a week), more active in twitter and other social networking sites. I seemed to go on and off last year, although admittedly better than the year before. Or not. I just saw that I’ve only blogged twice in the past three months. Eeek! But last year is last year, and this year is new!
So, what else to say, a new year is a good excuse to start a good habit, kick out a bad one (procrastination, anyone?). A great start is good, but keeping it going all the way is always the hardest part. I got a nasty cold last week that kept me from working last week. *sigh* But now I’m better. I’m a believer that bumps on the road are designed to make us a better driver.
So, cheers to 2011. Don’t let hiccups stand in your way, keep on going towards your goal!
My bad, it’s already more than a month since I posted something . I’m currently working on a new design for my website/blog and I wanted to post after I’m done with it, but I realized it wasn’t going to happen in the next week, so I’ll just go on posting again with the old layout 
.
On to what happened the past weeks…
I took an online abstinence during the last weeks of the deadline. No twitter, no blogging, no facebooking, and it sort of carried on for a while. I have to admit it’s really helpful for getting things done! But of course I couldn’t abstain forever . A girl needs her social life! (Yes, I know it’s “only” virtual, but I love my online friends too)
I finished my first Indonesian novel last month, Addicted to Chili, just in time for submission for the Competition held by Jakarta Arts Council. They said they’ve received my entry, so now it’s finger’s crossed they are going to like it! Winner announcement is not until January, though *bites fingernails*.
I finished the website for a fabulous MG author, Jen K Blom, who wrote Possum Summer. It’s so pretty, I love it 
. Do let me know what you think of the website .
Last but not least, I’m going to start doing this daily morning pages, writing down stuff that are scattered on my brain every morning. I bet it’s a better way to start my day than playing Farmville or Restaurant City >.<. The reason I’m mentioning it, is because I just found a cute Moleskine limited Pac-Man edition. It’s so awesomely geeky, I just **have** to get it!
and the stickers!!! *swoons*
Now on to work again! I’m also currently plotting a new book, and since it’s close to November anyways, I’ll join NaNoWriMo again this year (for the 5th time!). Will you guys join in?
17th August is Indonesia’s Independence Day, my home country’s 65th anniversary.
That’s why it’s a very appropriate topic to write. A disclaimer: I’m not going to say I’m the most patriotic Indonesian out there, not even close to that. I live in Berlin now and I love it. But I still feel that there is something very lovable about Indonesia. I hope I’m not romanticizing it… so here is my list:
1. My family and some of my friends are there
It’s where I grew up and experienced a lot of my firsts. And I can’t help feeling that I’m home whenever I’m surrounded by the people I love.
2. Friendly Smiles
It’s hard to get lonely in Indonesia. There will always be someone who is willing to chat with you. True, sometimes it would feel like people is being noisy… But it’s a heartwarming feeling to know that there’s always someone who cares about you.
3. Yummy Food
I’m a good food lover. You just can’t beat the variety of Indonesian cuisine. We had so many different type of food as a result of a mix of cultures. We have spicy, sweet, savory, light, and heavy. You name it. Main course, snacks, sweets… mmmm… One day, I’m going to bring fame for Indonesian cuisine!
4. Climate
Don’t get me wrong, I love having four seasons. But sometimes, when it gets really cold outside or when I need to check the weather forecast just to decide how thick my coat should be… I wished the trees are always green and I could always run outside without a coat.
5. Relaxed and laid back attitude
I missed the slow tempo of things sometimes. Everyone takes things easy. Yes, you won’t be the first person getting anywhere, but you won’t be stressed either.
6. Laughter
We love to hang out, eat, and share a good laugh whenever we see each other.
7. Flexibility
Flexibility means almost everything is negotiable. This is a double blade sword, and it’s probably why Indonesia is very prone to corruption. The plus side is if you are very well connected, you can get anywhere.
8. Cheap living cost
Which also means you can buy other things with the money saved .
9. My roots
That’s just something that you can’t beat. A part of me will always belong to Indonesia. For better or worse .
Astrid Paramita Mochtarram lives in Berlin, Germany. She is a writer of romance and adventure mixed with fantasy by day and a freelance game development and author web designer by night. In her perfect world she could freely travel and taste food around the world with her beloved half. Her geeky side loves gaming, graphic design and puzzle solving. Her girly side can't live without shopping, makeup, and shoes.More...
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