As it turns out, there are bombs exploded at Ritz-Carlton and JW Mariott. Up until now, the [...]]]> This morning, while I’m bathing, I heard an explosion and felt a bit of tremor. Since our apartment is situated next to Rasuna Epicentrum development project, I assumed that some building materials must fell off or a truck tire exploded.

As it turns out, there are bombs exploded at Ritz-Carlton and JW Mariott. Up until now, the news are still confusing, but from the news at Kompas.com and Detik, the police have confirmed that the explosion is caused by high explosive bomb. It is necessary to note that Ritz-Carlton will be the hotel for Manchester United on their tour to Indonesia next week.

If there are any more details, I will post it here. For the time being, here are a few pictures that I got from Kompas.com and Detik.

The first thing that need to be decided is which hosting provider. Initially, I want to move to Windows hosting, but after looking around, I can’t find a Windows hosting that uses Windows [...]]]> After a lot of complaints from people that can’t access this website, we decided to move our server to Indonesia, to eliminate the issues.

The first thing that need to be decided is which hosting provider. Initially, I want to move to Windows hosting, but after looking around, I can’t find a Windows hosting that uses Windows Server 2008 and support PHP and MySQL. Hosters like Erudeye provides ASP.NET and SQL Server. No match there Finally, I search for Linux hosting, which is a lot in Indonesia. After looking around and getting a few references from my friends, I decided to use MasterWebNet (MWN). I take the Executive A package with 1.7 GB space priced at 85 thousand rupiah before tax.

Second, the migration technicality. Our website uses WordPress and Menalto Gallery. So, I read the documentations about migration, just as a precaution. Menalto has one special section about migration between servers, and I follow that. While WordPress only has one part about database backup, so the rest is based on my logic.

Third, the actual migration. I tar.gz all files in WordPress and Menalto folders. Also the g2data folder for Menalto. I also exported data from database using the instructions from each website. Then, in the new hosting, I created the databases and imported the exported data. After it’s done, I extracted the tar.gz to each www folders, except for g2data that I put into a folder outside of www. For WordPress, I only need to modify the wp-config.php file, to change the database name, user id and password. I tested that everything works fine, except the permalinks. I tried to disable and enable the setting, still doesn’t work. So I finally deleted the .htaccess file in the WordPress root and re-enabled the permalink. Done After a while, I found another error when trying to post using Live Writer. Apparently, in the Miscellaneous setting of WordPress, there is an upload path that still uses the old server path, so I change it to follow the new server paths.

With Menalto, it’s a bit different. After importing the database and extracting all files, I follow the step-by-step from Menalto. I deleted the config.php file and open the browser to go to /install. I follow the steps there. When asked for g2data path, I entered the extracted g2data path. And when configuring the database, I choose the option to reuse existing database. After that, everything went well, but some images doesn’t showed up. Looks like the problem with some image plug-ins, just like the warning from Menalto in the step-by-step guide. I go to Site Admin and reconfigure all plug-ins. There is a problem with inactive GD, so I have to ask MWN technical support to activate it. A bit of problem also with mod_rewrite, but I can fix it by following the steps mentioned by Menalto.

Fourth, the last, of course to change the DNS. I use Joker.com for my domains, so I login and change the DNS to MWN. I didn’t forget to configure the email forwarding in MWN’s Spanel, just like the old hosting. Done!

So, it’s not difficult to move WordPress and Menalto Gallery to a new server, is it?

The most interesting case [...]]]> Lately, Defamation case is the main topic of discussion, especially in relation with customer complaints, either thru Reader’s Letters (to printed media) or thru email. According to Kompas (Saturday, 6 June 2009, in Indonesian language), in 2009 only, there’s been 3 such cases: 1 thru email (Prita’s case) and 2 thru readers letters.

The most interesting case is of course Prita, because this is the first time a charge was made using Information and Electronic Transaction Act (UU ITE). This case immediately became center of attention, especially among mailings lists activists and bloggers, who feel the biggest impact. When the so-called free Internet is now bind to the written laws, suddenly there is a clash of interests, if not a clash of culture, between Internet users in one hand and government in the other hand.

In reality, the three cases is inseparable. It’s just a coincidence that one of the case is related to email and using UU ITE. But in principle, the three cases is the same: a customer complaint which is turned into a defamation case. This is the discussion topic of the Kompas article. So, where it the boundary? When is a customer complaint suddenly cross the boundary and becoming a defamation? Or, since all of us are customers and consumers, how to post a proper customer complaint without the fear of sued for defamation by someone or some institution?

I personally happened to have several experiences in sending Reader’s Letters to Kompas, from things related to apartment, bank fraud, hospital, etc. And praise the Lord, I haven’t got sued for it Based on those experiences, allow me to give some tips to all of you who want to send a Reader’s Letter, or want to write an email to a mailing lists.

First, the case must be your own, not somebody else’s, or even worst, a hearsay. This is especially true for emails to mailing lists. I think sometimes its too easy to type and email and say “A friend of mine said …” etc. If someone else experience it, then let it be his/her complaint, not yours. You might hear it wrongly. Your friend might said it wrongly. Etc etc. It’s too easy to turn this into a defamation case.

Second, the case must be real. Not “What if”, or “Imagine this”, or “For example”. Again, I think this is clear enough, it is very easy to turn this into a defamation case. Like what is said by Police PR Division Deputy Head, Brigadier General (Pol) Sulistyo Ishak, as quoted by Kompas in that article, “If the defamation case primary content is a reality, then it is not considered to be a defamation, and it is not considered a capital crime”.

Third, ensure that you have proof, or witness. When I have a bank fraud problem, I have a lot of proof, from a recorded conversation (using my mobile phone, come on guys, use technology), sworn statement, etc. In my apartment case, I have neighbors who feel the same problem. Well, sometimes there are cases where there are no proof or witness. What should you do? Then the question is this: is the case easily replicated / repeated? So that when you want to show it to everyone, it is easy to do.

Fourth, when sending the report, like a Reader’s Letter or mailing lists, don’t be emotional, don’t exaggerate, try to use neutral and objective words. If necessary, read and read again to ensure no possibility of misinterpretation.

Fifth, use anonymous Reader’s Letter. This is not applicable for mailing lists. If you don’t have a solid proof, no witnesses, and the case is difficult to replicate or repeat, still send the Reader’s Letter, but add a request to the Editors to remove your name and address. There is a huge possibility that the letter is declined, but at least you tried.

Sixth, and last: if your case is not “strong’ enough, then don’t send the complaint. Just pray for God’s help, and give it up to God, while you give forgiveness to the other parties, and move on with your life. To tell you the truth, I often use this option

On a side note from me: why did I mention “clash of culture” above? Because Indonesians have a tendency to “copy” a case from other countries, but only in pieces. In this case, a lot of people compare it with USA, which is said to have protection Freedom of Speech. Well, that’s true, USA have a Constitution that protects Freedom of Speech (First Amendment). But everyone also need to know, defamation lawsuits is a common thing in USA, and not something that people are afraid of. As long as we know we are right, complete with proves, you don’t have to fear defamation lawsuit.

I hope this tips can help you when posting your complaints.

So, we just updated the gallery with a lot of new photo albums. There are Joan’s photos for the [...]]]> It’s been a long time since we updated our photo gallery. There are 2 reasons for that. First, the website takes some time to move to WordPress. Second, we also move the gallery from Coppermine to Menalto Gallery.

So, we just updated the gallery with a lot of new photo albums. There are Joan’s photos for the last 1 year. There are photos taken from our family trips, from Bogor, Ancol, Singapore, even USA. And of course, there are birthday photos. You can see all of them in our photo gallery.