I’ve just opened my wordpress.com blog few hours ago and yes a whole new look in the admin dashboard. Unfortunately, my wish list of wp 2.7 on widgets didn’t come true. The widgets I dislike is still there. Here’s what I said in the wish list:

I wish the return of “old-days” two sidebars admin that sitting together (see pic. 1). One of the disturbing feature of wp 2.5+ and 2.6+ is you cannot see two sidebars (if you use two sidebar theme) at the same time (see pic 2). Consequently, you cannot drag one widget in Sidebar 1 into Sidebar 2 smoothly. Instead, you need to click “remove” a particular widget in Sidebar 1, and try to find the removed widget in Sidebar 2 (after clicking “show Sidebar 2?). Very unnecessarily complicated. And such a waste of time.

So, I may not upgrade this blog into wp 2.7.

For that purpose, Blog Indonesia has given me a special column specifically dedicated for weekly blog review “Blogger Indonesia of the Week” (BOW).

Blog-indonesia.com is an aggregation, so I dont need to come to the site to fill up the column, rather whenever I make a blog review, the piece will automatically fills the particular space in Blog Indonesia for one week. It’ll only change when I make another review. That will make the blog under review more chance of limelight and therefore more exposure.

I hope this kind of cooperation in the end will benefit none other than the blogger Indonesia themselves.

For all Blogger Indonesia who’re just visiting this blog, I need to reiterate again some important points regarding blog that meet the criteria to be reviewed.

First, the blog should be written in English or at least bilingual.

Second, the blog should have a good content with Indonesian nuance (sci-tech, political, cultural, social, faith, art)

Third, original i.e. written by yourself; not the kind of news blog taken from third party.

Fourth, any kind of field reporting on certain socio-cultural events blended with a good commentary will be prioritized.

Fifth, blog which talk about socio-political and cultural commentary should have a sort of balance & unbiased opinion.

Sixth, no pornographic content.

Seventh, blog with anonymous blogger and unclear profile/identy will be the last resort to be reviewed. In another word, if your blog want to be reviewed, your identity should be as clear as crystal.

Any Indonesian blog (In English or bilingual) which I consider to be reviewed has been listed in this blog. If your blog has yet to be listed here and want to be reviewed please let me know by emailing me at fatihsyuhud-at-gmail-dot-com

In the meantime, for those who haven’t submitted their blogs to Blog Indonesia, you’re welcome and even encouraged to do so. The sooner the better. It’s the first Blog directory in Indonesia which doesn’t require registration or other requirements in order to submit your blog. Everybody invited! The only condition is you are an Indonesian or blogging something about Indonesia. What you need to do is just come to the site, click the Submit Your Blog menu. Done. That’s it.

Having said that, to show your gratitude, you are encouraged to link it back in your blog (it’s not obligatory, though), besides it’s another way to tell your readers about the new blog directory and hence, spreading the messages.

Blogs which have been submitted to Blog Indonesia and yet to be listed here, also will be under the consideration to be reviewed.

Lastly, the reason why I confine the review to English Blog only because I have the vision that blogging technology could be an affective medium for Indonesian, any single Indonesian, to contribute in his/her own way in promoting and introducing Indonesia–as a nation and country–to the world. The purpose of which is hard to achieve if you are blogging in a language other than English.

Happy blogging and happy weekend.

Update July 2008

It’s highly recommended that any blogger who want to get reviewed to give a comment (along with one’s blog URL) in the comment box here to make my task easier. Don’t forget to read some additional information there.