Soft and Gooey Cookies at Home

There’s something special about baking cookies at home. The smell that fills the kitchen, the warmth from the oven, and the joy of that first bite when the cookies are still a little warm. If you love cookies that are soft, gooey, and full of flavor, this recipe is for you.

Ingredients (for about 12-15 cookies):

• 120 g (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted

• 150 g (¾ cup) brown sugar

• 50 g (¼ cup) white sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 180 g (1 ½ cups) all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 150 g (1 cup) chocolate chips (or chunks)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the dough
   In a bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla, then mix well.

2. Dry ingredients
   In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly fold this into the wet mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix.

3. Add the chocolate
   Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks. The dough should feel soft and slightly sticky.

4. Chill the dough
   Cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This step helps the cookies stay thick and chewy.

5. Bake
   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Scoop out 1–2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie and place them on a lined baking tray, leaving space between them. Bake for 9–11 minutes until the edges are set but the center still looks soft.

6. Cool and enjoy
   Let the cookies rest on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a rack. They will continue to set while keeping that gooey center.

Tips for the Best Cookies

• Use more brown sugar than white sugar for extra chewiness.

• Don’t skip chilling the dough it makes a big difference.

• For café-style cookies, press a few extra chocolate chips on top before baking.

Nothing beats the comfort of warm, gooey cookies fresh from your oven. Pair them with a glass of milk or your favorite coffee, and you’ve got the perfect treat.

Roblox and the Bright Side of Gaming

When people think about online games, the first reaction is often negative: too much screen time, less focus on school, or even addiction. But in my opinion, not all gaming deserves that bad reputation. Take Roblox, for example. This platform shows that gaming can also bring out positive sides if we look closely.

One of the strongest points of Roblox is creativity. Players are not just consuming games; they’re also encouraged to create. The platform allows users to design their own worlds, build unique characters, and even code mini games. That’s not only fun, but also develops problem-solving skills, design thinking, and basic programming knowledge. In a way, Roblox acts like a playground for future creators.

Roblox Obby Games

Collaboration is another aspect that often gets overlooked. Many Roblox games are multiplayer, which means teamwork becomes part of the experience. Players need to communicate, plan, and work together to reach goals. For younger users, this can be an informal but valuable lesson in cooperation and social skills.

And let’s not forget the global community. Roblox is played worldwide, which exposes users to different cultures and sometimes different languages. Simple interactions in English or other languages can give players a chance to practice vocabulary in a natural and playful context.

Of course, balance is key spending all day in Roblox is not healthy. But if approached wisely, Roblox proves that gaming is not just about distraction. It can be about learning, connecting, and creating. That’s the bright side of gaming we often forget to see.

When Memes Become Gen Z’s New Language

Scrolling through social media, it’s hard to ignore how memes pop up everywhere. They’re funny, fast, and somehow always feel relatable. But beyond the laughs, I honestly think memes can do more than just entertain. For me, they’ve become a surprisingly effective way to learn new vocabulary.

Memes usually play with words, whether it’s slang, puns, or expressions borrowed from English. Because they’re repeated so often, certain phrases just stick. I didn’t even realize I was picking up new words until I found myself using them in daily conversations. It feels effortless, like learning without really trying.

What makes memes special is the context they bring. A joke in a meme isn’t just about the word itself, but also about the situation, the tone, and the cultural reference. That’s something a dictionary can’t really give. Memes show how words live and breathe in real conversations, not just in examples on a page.

Of course, they’re not a perfect learning tool you won’t master grammar through memes alone. But as a way to expand vocabulary and understand how language is actually used, they’re hard to beat. And since memes are already part of Gen Z’s daily life, why not see them as more than just jokes? For me, they really are a new language.

Clash Of Champions Season 2: exciting challenges for Indonesia's Students

 

    Jakarta, July 1, 2025 Amidst government and private efforts to improve the quality of national education, Ruangguru is back with an innovative Clash of Champions (COC) Season 2 event. This event is not just a quiz, but an arena for students from all over Indonesia to compete in strategy, packaged with visuals and tension a la esports, creating a learning atmosphere that is completely different from usual. 

    The second episode, which aired on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 19.00 WIB, immediately caught the public's attention because it presented an "unexpected guest" who suddenly changed the dynamics of the game and the participants' strategies drastically. This sudden change challenged the participants' flexibility of thinking while adding to the appeal for the audience. Unlike conventional educational quizzes that tend to be monotonous, Ruangguru in COC combines lesson questions with real-time game elements, competitive sound effects, a digital point system, and attractive animated visuals. 

    All of this is designed to provide a learning experience that is not only informative, but also exciting, tense, and immersive. Participants are not only required to master the subject matter, but must also be fast, focused, and able to work together under pressure. Meanwhile, viewers from all over Indonesia can get involved directly through interactive quizzes on the Ruangguru application, collect Starchamps, and get exclusive digital photo cards that can be collected. COC has succeeded in presenting a competitive yet fun learning atmosphere, and making education a part of the digital lifestyle of the younger generation. With the number of viewers continuing to increase with each episode, this show has not only succeeded in stealing attention, but also shows the great potential of educational entertainment (edutainment) as the future of learning in Indonesia.

Foreign Tourist Missing While Hiking: Evacuation in Extreme Terrain!

    On Saturday morning, June 21, 2025, a Brazilian tourist named Juliana Marins, she was 27 years old was reported to have fallen into a 150-500 meter deep ravine in the Cemara Nunggal area, on the Mount Rinjani climbing route via Sembalun. The incident occurred at around 06.30 WITA when she was climbing alone. Authorities suspect she slipped due to the steep and slippery terrain. 

Picture 1.1

    Why did she come? Mount Rinjani is said to be one of Juliana's dream destinations after climbing various mountains in South America and Europe. She chose Indonesia because of its natural beauty, and Rinjani is a popular destination among international climbers. However, the Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR) said Juliana was not recorded in the e-Rinjani system, which means she climbed without official permission. 

    How was the search? After the report came in, the joint SAR team consisting of Basarnas, TNI, Polri, TNGR, and local volunteers, immediately conducted an intensive search. On Monday morning, June 23, 2025, a thermal drone managed to detect Juliana's body in a motionless condition. The location is on a steep cliff that is difficult to reach, with low visibility due to fog. Evacuation has not been possible due to extreme weather and the risk to rescue teams who have to descend with ropes into vertical terrain. 

Picture 1.2

    The incident has attracted widespread attention, both in Indonesia and Brazil. Netizens posted prayers and support on social media. Basarnas said the rescue mission was one of the most extreme this year. Tourism authorities have also begun to re-evaluate the safety system for foreign tourists, especially those traveling in dangerous areas without a guide.

Source: 

• https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-7347486/turis-brasil-hilang-di-rinjani-diduga-terpeleset-ke-jurang
• https://youtu.be/dK9YMEkybZQ?si=p7gKpAQxkF03OF3b
  

TAKI: My Way Out of Thesis Hell

To be honest, I used to think that graduating from college was definitely through a thesis. There was no other choice. But it turns out, the campus gave another option called TAKI (Final Scientific Paper Assignment). At first I thought this was like a fast track or a “shortcut,” but after I did it myself, it turned out to still be full of struggle and… quite challenging. 

TAKI is open to students who actively create scientific works, whether it’s articles, learning media, or academic projects that meet certain standards. In my study program, I happened to join a scientific article writing program with lecturers and friends. The article was processed seriously: from finding a topic, library research, writing up to five pages long, revising it many times, using journal references, and even having to follow a template. And you can’t just do it haphazardly the final result must be ready to be published in a journal. 

What makes it different from a regular thesis is that in TAKI we focus more on academic writing and the results can really be used or read by the public. Not just a formality. On the other hand, the challenges are still there: lecturers can revise it many times, time is tight, and sometimes enthusiasm goes up and down too. But the good thing is, I don't have to go to the field or make a questionnaire, and that really helps me mentally. 

In my opinion, the TAKI pathway can be a good alternative for students who have a passion for writing or who have certain limitations when it comes to conducting field research. But don't get me wrong — this is not an "easier" pathway, just a different form. It also requires hard work, discipline, and critical thinking. 

Do I regret choosing this pathway? Not at all. In fact, I'm happy because the work I create can be more "alive" not just piled up on the campus library shelves. And for me personally, this process also helped me get to know the academic world better, not just for the sake of graduating. 

So for friends who are currently confused about working on their thesis or feel stuck, maybe you can start finding out about alternative pathways like TAKI. Who knows, it might be a more suitable path for you!!!

Hajj Furoda Visa Crisis Shocks Indonesian Pilgrims

Source : MetroTV

Many Indonesian Hajj Furoda pilgrims were unable to depart for Mecca in 2025 due to the non-issuance of their visas by the Saudi Arabian government. The Furoda visa, which is a non-quota Hajj pathway, is typically chosen by pilgrims who wish to bypass the long waiting list of the official quota system.

Unfortunately, as of May 26, 2025, the Saudi government officially closed visa issuance for Furoda pilgrims. This left many who had already paid high fees ranging from USD 22,000 to USD 50,000 (around IDR 400-900 million) stranded and unable to make the pilgrimage.

In response, some travel agencies have offered 100% refunds to affected pilgrims, in accordance with prior agreements. However, the Indonesian Hajj Advocacy Commission (Komnas Haji) reminded the public not to blame the Indonesian government for the issue, since the Furoda visa is outside the national quota and fully controlled by Saudi authorities (Travel Kompas).

As a preventive measure, prospective pilgrims are advised to consider regular Hajj or special Hajj quotas for more certainty in future years.