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23 and Beckham

This is the first post of 2023. It feels like 2022 went by so fast. And I didn't realize that number 22 already had to be put away and t...

10 online courses offered by Harvard University for free

10 online courses offered by Harvard University for free


Studying at one of the best universities in the world is my dream, and maybe your dream as well. But sometimes it's just become wishful thinking that is only imagined. It's just difficult and almost impossible with a below-average effort. But now, I and you can do that, no application or fee is required. All is free. Harvard University is offering free online courses for everyone who wants to study from everywhere. I got this information from Twitter and I think it will be more useful to share here, in my blog. 

So, here are 10 FREE online courses from Harvard University you don't want to miss:

1. Introduction to Computer Science


This is Harvard University's introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science and the art of programming for majors and non-majors alike, with or without prior programming experience. Topics include abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, resource management, security, software engineering, and web development. Languages include C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML. 

Date: January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023



2. Web Programming with Python and JavaScript


This course takes you deep into the design and implementation of web apps with Python, JavaScript, and SQL using frameworks like Django, React, and Bootstrap. Topics include database design, scalability, security, and user experience. Through hands-on projects, you'll learn to write and use APIs, create interactive UIs, and leverage cloud services like GitHub and Heroku. By the course's end, you'll emerge with knowledge and experience in principles, languages, and tools that empower you to design and deploy applications on the Internet.



3. Introduction to Programming with Scratch


A gentle introduction to programming that prepares you for subsequent courses in coding. Topics include functions, which are instructions that perform tasks; return values, which are results that functions provide; conditions, via which programs can decide whether or not to perform some action; loops, via which programs can take action again and again; variables, via which programs can remember information; and more.

Date: May 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023



4. Introduction to Programming with Python


An introduction to programming using Python, a popular language for general-purpose programming, data science, web programming, and more. In this course, you will learn Functions, Variables, Conditionals, Loops Exceptions, Libraries, Unit Tests, File I/O, Regular Expressions, Object-Oriented Programming, etc.




5. Understanding Technology


This is CS50’s introduction to technology for students who don’t (yet!) consider themselves computer persons. This course is designed for those who work with technology every day but don’t necessarily understand how it all works underneath the hood or how to solve problems when something goes wrong, this course fills in the gaps, empowering you to use and troubleshoot technology more effectively. Through lectures on hardware, the Internet, multimedia, security, programming, and web development, this course equips you with today’s technology and prepares you for tomorrow’s as well.



6. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python


Learn to use machine learning in Python in this introductory course on artificial intelligence. This course Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python explores the concepts and algorithms at the foundation of modern artificial intelligence, diving into the ideas that give rise to technologies like game-playing engines, handwriting recognition, and machine translation. 



7. Introduction to Game Development


Learn about the development of 2D and 3D interactive games in this hands-on course, as you explore the design of games such as Super Mario Bros., Pokémon, Angry Birds, and more. By class’s end, you'll have programmed several of your own games and gained a thorough understanding of the basics of game design and development.



8. CS50's Computer Science for Business Professionals


This is CS50’s introduction to computer science for business professionals. Through lectures on computational thinking, programming languages, internet technologies, web development, technology stacks, and cloud computing, this course empowers you to make technological decisions even if not a technologist yourself. You’ll emerge from this course with a first-hand appreciation of how it all works and all the more confident in the factors that should guide your decision-making.



9.  Mobile App Development with React Native


Learn about mobile app development with React Native, a popular framework maintained by Facebook that enables cross-platform native apps using JavaScript without Java or Swift. The course introduces you to modern JavaScript (including ES6 and ES7) as well as to JSX, a JavaScript extension. Through hands-on projects, you'll gain experience with React and its paradigms, app architecture, and user interfaces. The course culminates in a final project for which you'll implement an app entirely of your own design.



10. Introduction to Data Science with Python


Join Harvard University instructor Pavlos Protopapas in this online course to learn how to use Python to harness and analyze data. Using Python, learners will study regression models (Linear, Multilinear, and Polynomial) and classification models (kNN, Logistic), utilizing popular libraries such as sklearn, Pandas, matplotlib, and numPy. The course will cover key concepts of machine learning such as: picking the right complexity, preventing overfitting, regularization, assessing uncertainty, weighing trade-offs, and model evaluation. Participation in this course will build your confidence in using Python, preparing you for more advanced study in Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advancement in your career

Date: October 26, 2022 – October 25, 2023



I hope this information is useful and can help you study from anywhere.
23 and Beckham

23 and Beckham


This is the first post of 2023. It feels like 2022 went by so fast. And I didn't realize that number 22 already had to be put away and tied by number 23. Anyway, I've always liked number 23, not for one reason but for various reasons that I was confused to explain. 

23 became my favorite number when I first loved and followed football. That was when I used to play FIFA on my computer and lose track of time. Manchester United was my favorite club in the game, and David Beckham was my favorite player. At that time, Beckham moved to Real Madrid and became the most expensive player in the world. I was a bit disappointed, but I still followed Becks at Real Madrid. He wore the number 23 jersey, which is how I first came to love the number.
 
For me, Beckham is a player who not only relies on skill but also on intelligence in analyzing the match. The passes he gives to his teammates always show that he is a player with good vision. His passing technique and accuracy can also be considered high for a professional player. I even imitated the way he kicked, which was always swinging my left hand before the ball touched my right foot. 



Beckham made an unpopular decision that was very unfortunate for fans and even soccer observers, namely moving to the L.A. Galaxy. Apart from the fact that MLS is a league whose prestige is very far behind that of the Spanish league, soccer is also not a popular sport in the USA. Beckham was even willing to cut his salary by 70% (from $20 million to $6.5 million) in order to join the team. Crazy, stupid, and ridiculous were the football news headlines about him at the time. But that's the media, they just want to make information that brings in traffic by ignoring the full information.

Blasphemy and criticism continued to be received by Becks because of his decision. Finally, Beck silenced them all. He was willing to lower his salary and join MLS for a reason. There was a clause in his contract that made Becks the richest soccer player. It was a clause regarding the percentage of rights he would get from the club's total revenue, such as merchandise, tickets, sponsorship, and even hot dogs and beer sold at matches. This tremendously increased his income. A smart, careful, and calculated move. In the end, the risks Beckham took by stepping out of his comfort zone allowed him to turn his revenue from $6.5 million to more than $500 million. However, MLS also benefited from it, attendance, TV rights, and ratings all increased. It was a win for Beckham, his club (L.A. Galaxy), and also American soccer (MLS).



Back to the main topic, which is number 23. At L. A Galaxy, Becks used jersey number 23, and that makes me even more convinced that number 23 was a very special number. The number 23 Beckham was strong enough to prove to the world that things they saw were not completely the same as reality. It was also a legacy of Beckham's success in winning his career, even had a positive impact on all those associated with him. 

In the year 2023, I wish I could follow what Beckham has done. I don't mean exactly the same because that would be impossible. But at the very least, the decisions I make this year will result in something that makes me win and has a positive impact on many people.



Hi, I am back again

Hi, I am back again

I don't know how long I've been leaving this blog. Don't worry, this blog isn't being hacked, I'm just having trouble managing my time and expressing ideas. So many deadlines for my final examination. Besides, I feel like, I have no passion for writing this blog. 

However, I am back again, trying to start my writing habits here. 

Actually, I don't know what should I write to start this. But I think I will give some updates about my current life. Ok, let's get it started. 

Firstly, I got my article manuscript approved by a journal. I am so happy and a bit relieved although the journal is not my main target. But I think that was the most I could do with this predicament. So, I am just grateful for that. 

Currently, I am focused on the preparation of my oral examination. There is some problem, over and over again. I can't explain the detail, but it's drained my energy too much. This phase will be the tough moment this year, yet I am grateful that I finally have a partner who is enough to make me think positively. So I think everything gonna be alright.

That is my recent update, I hope my following writing will be better and more content than this one. But this is my start, and hopefully, I will keep going.



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Kopi

Kopi

Deadline dan banyak pekerjaan membuat saya kembali kepada kebiasaan lama saya, minum kopi. Nampaknya, belum ada booster yang bisa membuat saya terjaga dan fokus di depan laptop untuk waktu yang cukup lama selain kopi. Bahkan kali ini secara hierarki kebutuhan, kopi sudah bergeser menjadi kebutuhan primer di hidup saya. 

Nggak cuma di rumah, saya terkadang membeli kopi di coffee shop agar tidak bosan. Tentu beda rasanya, kopi yang saya buat dengan tangan sendiri dibandingkan kopi yang dibuat oleh barista menggunakan alat. Lebih detail, penyajian kopi di coffee shop juga sangat diperhatikan, mulai dari cangkir/gelas hingga estetika kopi itu sendiri. 

Hal tersebut membuat saya ingin memperbaiki cara penyajian kopi di rumah. Mulailah saya membeli cangkir kopi yang lebih estetik. Awal-awal, saya menjadi lebih semangat untuk membuat kopi setiap pagi, entah bagaimana kopi saya menjadi terasa lebih nikmat dari sebelumnya. Padahal cuma ganti wadah. 

Waktu terus berjalan bersama dengan kebiasaan ngopi saya setiap hari. Saya kembali menemukan kejenuhan dengan kopi yang saya minum. Apakah harus membeli cangkir yang baru untuk mendapatkan suasana ngopi yang baru lagi?. Beberapa cangkir dengan desain yang modern saya save di aplikasi belanja online. Sudah banyak wishlist yang saya simpan, tapi belum saya check out karena masih melihat-lihat banyaknya desain cangkir yang bagus yang tidak ada habisnya. 

Setelah Scroll demi scroll, saya justru semakin bingung mau beli cangkir yang mana lagi. Di tengah kebingungan itu, saya kembali menyeduh kopi. Secangkir kopi panas tanpa gula dengan takaran yang sama seperti yang biasa saya buat setiap hari. Bedanya kali ini saya menggunakan sembarang cangkir (bukan yang biasa saya gunakan). Sungguh kopi dengan rasa yang sama seperti pertamakali saya buat, dan itu membuat saya merenung sejenak. 

Saya dihadapkan fakta bahwa, cangkir sama sekali tidak menambah atau mengurangi kualitas kopi. Dalam beberapa kasus memang cangkir bisa membuatnya terlihat mahal, namun dalam kasus lain itu justru bisa menyembunyikan apa yang kita minum. 

Ternyata, apa yang benar-benar saya butuhkan adalah kopi, bukan cangkirnya. Tetapi secara sadar di banyak momen saya memilih cangkir terbaik. Dan kemudian membandingkan cangkir-cangkir tersebut. 

Mungkin kalau bisa diibaratkan, kurang lebih seperti ini: 
Hidup kita adalah kopi. 
Pekerjaan, jabatan, uang dan status sosial adalah cangkirnya. Mereka hanya alat untuk menahan dan menampung kehidupan kita. Jenis cangkir yang kita miliki tidak selalu menentukan, atau mengubah kualitas hidup yang kita jalani. 

Bahkan, ketika kita hanya berkonsentrasi pada cangkir, kita malah gagal menikmati kopinya. Sama seperti yang sedang saya alami. Saya terlalu fokus mencari cangkir kopi hingga baru menyadari bahwa kopi yang saya seduh dengan cangkir sembarangan ini memiliki rasa yang sama seperti halnya kopi-kopi yang biasa saya buat.

Memandang kopi dan hidup memang tidak sepenuhnya bisa disamakan. Tapi kali ini, sepertinya saya telah diingatkan untuk lebih menikmati kopi, bukan cangkirnya.