Edisi 21 Desember 2010 | International Bali Post

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Philippines fire kills 15, many nursing students PAGE 6

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Monday, December 20, 2010

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e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

Heavy snow hits air travel, roads across Europe Associated Press Writer

”Mesuryak” tradition on Kuningan Day PAGE 8

After Australia tour, Winfrey vacations in Fiji PAGE 12

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

22 - 31

JAKARTA

24 - 33

BANDUNG

20 - 28

YOGYAKARTA

22 - 31

SURABAYA

24 - 33

LONDON – Blizzards and freezing temperatures shut down runways, train tracks and highways across Europe, disrupting flights and leaving shivering drivers stranded on roadsides.

Airports in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark reported cancelations or delays to flights Saturday. Heathrow Airport would not accept any arrivals Sunday and would allow only a handful of departures after snow and ice forced the closure of runways, but was preparing for a full reopening Monday, a statement on its website said.

“We are extremely sorry for the disruption,” the statement said, urging passengers to check with their airline before traveling to the airport. Several hundred workers were doing their best “to keep passengers in the terminal as warm and as comfortable as possible while we do everything we can to get Heathrow moving.”

London’s Gatwick airport reopened late Saturday afternoon after 150 employees using dozens of plows worked to clear the runway of 10 centimeters (four inches) of snow, though officials warned flights would be limited and cancelations likely.

As Ireland was battered by its worst snow in decades, airports in Belfast and Dublin remained open but warned on their websites of cancellations and delays. Conditions on British roads were treacherous, Automobile Association official Darron Burness said. “One of the biggest problems is that large amounts of snow are falling very quickly on to frozen surfaces, making driving hazardous,” he said.

Hundreds of motorists were left stranded on a major road in northwestern England following a deluge, prompting police patrols to offer food and water to drivers.Jeremy Clarkson, host of BBC motoring program “Top Gear” said he was among drivers forced to abandon their vehicles close to Oxford, west of London. “It was very bad out there,” he said.

In Italy, the Autostrada of the Sun — the country’s main north-south highway — was jammed with hundreds of vehicles, whose chilly occupants slept in their cars, vans or trucks. Though snow had mainly cleared or melted early Saturday, the highway was still closed in one direction, with traffic backed up for nearly 25 miles (40 kilometers).

The snowfall also forced high-speed trains to bypass Florence’s central Santa Maria Novella station, stopping in suburban stations instead.Paris was sprinkled with a light coat of snow overnight, as many people prepared to set off on their Christmas vacations. More snow was predicted Saturday, leading civil aviation authorities to cancel 15 percent of flights at Charles de Gaulle airport between 4 p.m. (1500 GMT, 10 a.m. EST) and 11 p.m. (2200 GMT, 5 p.m. EST).Many flights were also canceled in northeastern France, where snow already blanketed the ground, and services were also canceled at the airports in the cities of Nantes and Rennes.

Continued on page 6

Porn film shown on Bangladesh airport screen Agence France Presse

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AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI

A man walks in front of the Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral as snow falls heavily on December 18, 2010 in Reims, northern France. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel Saturday and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.

DHAKA – Bangladeshi authorities have launched an investigation after a pornographic film was aired on a large display screen at the country’s main airport, a magistrate said Sunday.

Hundreds of travellers and waiting friends and relatives at the main terminal of the Shahjalal International Airport were shocked as the film was aired for five minutes on Friday morning, magis-

trate Siddiqa Akhter told AFP. The display screen usually shows recorded documentaries about the culture and geography of Bangladesh, a conservative Muslim country.

“The operator has been jailed instantly for two months. We have also summoned the owners of the cable firm to investigate the incident.

We have to find out whether any criminal intent was involved,” Akhter said. Every day, thousands of people throng the terminal to receive or send off their relatives.

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International

Monday, December 20, 2010

Bali News

Matchless Makotek tradition at Munggu Village Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Munggu customary village, Mengwi subdistrict, had just held a matchless tradition named makotek coinciding with the feast of Kuningan on Saturday (Dec 18). The tradition organized around the Munggu area was enthusiastically witnessed by thousands of spectators both of the local community and foreign tourists.

Implementation of such religious ceremony was intended to invoke the safety of devotees. Series of the makotek tradition was kicked off with a ceremony picking up the lord to Dalem Temple and then resumed with encircling the village and came to an end at Puseh Temple.

Each male villager carried a stick along of 2.5 to 3 meters. The upper end of the stick or the socalled wooden spear was nicely embellished with foliages. Those villagers then tightened their spear. Subsequently, they respectively attempted to lay down the spear of their opponent by mutually pushing the spear.

Position of all spears were facing upwards, forming a cone.

Well, occasionally a young man climbed to the top of the spear

and tried to hold the fort for some time. At that time, other villagers would keep on pushing the spear one another until the cone leaned to one direction and began to fall apart. All participants were absorbed in joyful ambience, though some of them were hit by the spear.

According to local community leader, makotek or ngerebek tradition had been performed through the generations since 1932. Originally, the makotek tradition made use of iron spear.

However, in harmony with passage of time and avoiding any injury among the participants, since 1948 it had began to be replaced by wooden spear, namely made of pulet tree. Meanwhile, the original spear was preserved and stored in the local temple. (kmb25)

IBP/Doc

The “mekotek” tradition which is being held in Munggu Village, Mengwi.

Never tinker with holy water and purity of Lempuyang Temple Lempuyang Temple harmoniously nestled on mountaintop of Lempuyang, Abang subdistrict, Karangasem, belongs to sad kahyangan or six main temples. The temple situated in the east of Bali Island is believed to be the abode of Lord Gni Jaya or Lord Ishvara.

The innermost courtyard of the temple situated atop of the mountain with an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level is also overgrown by some clusters of bamboo trees.

Those bamboo trees are believed to be the abode of Ida Bathara Tirta or the lord of holy water. Such holy water is called tirta pingit. Since it is a holy spring, the bamboo tree is consecrated or no one dare to cut it down haphazardly, except for the local temple priests. When there is a devotee who would like to invoke the holy water, the chief priest namely Jero Gede Mangku Wangi will notify (the identity of devotee, place of origin and his purpose), and beg permission for invoking the holy water. Having been notified, then one of the bamboo trees is cut, while

the holy water contained therein is poured into the container prepared.

The bamboo cluster is well maintained by installing bamboo security fence surrounding the entire cluster.

Meanwhile, to keep away from tinkers or disturbances of devotees or unauthorized persons who do not know that it is a place of holy water, pangempon or supporting devotees of the temple also put an announcement that everyone is prohibited to tamper the bamboo trees as the abode of holy water, so they will not be affected by any hazards. Aside from installing security fence and announcement board, it is also built a shrine as the abode of the lord of holy water. In addition, there are also a number of major shrines in the temple.

In the meantime, priest of the local temple, Jero Gede Mangku Wangi, some time ago said in Lempuyang that sanctity of the temple should be well kept by all parties, especially the Hindu devotees. It was for the sake of constancy of Bali in particular and the safety of people and all creatures. So far, preservation of the forest on the Mount Lempuyang and the surround-

ing mountains and hills is well maintained. As consequence, the springs are absolutely preserved and never dry.

However, presumably due to the impact of global warming, in a particular season and at a high altitude on the Mount Lempuyang even on the top, the cold temperature has reduced. Catch of rainwater from heavy rains causes the appearance of springs at the northern foot of the mountains and slopes as well as foothills in other directions. Even, Bunutan known as an arid village has springs throughout the year. It enables local people to cultivate a fairly wide area of rice fields.

Mangku Wangi cautioned not to attempt any exploitation on the Mount Lempuyang and its surrounding areas with any pretexts. As believed, it would never be allowed by deities abiding there. Additionally, it was believed that Mount Lempuyang and surrounding areas belonged to sacred area of the temple and also sat the panca datu (five metals as basic foundation) as the abode of the deities. It was based on Bhisama or religious stipulation of Ida Hyang Bathara Pasupati to his sons that the

base of Mount Lempuyang consisted of gold, ruby and the like. On that account, he ordered one of his sons to abide on the mountain in order to maintain the Island of Bali and surrounding areas, so that it would not be shaking, and could give grace to all beings.

“All parties have the same obligation to maintain the sanctity of the temple and the area of Mount Lempuyang,” he said. He added, when Hindu devotees invoked holy water because they would hold a particular ceremony or saying prayers the holy water sprinkled or invoked was such holy water. When devotees invoked the holy water, a bamboo tree would be cut by the temple priest.

They believed that when the bamboo was cut and contained much holy water, it signified the lord was delighted to bestow his grace. Mangku Wangi also said that apart from regular prayers, many devotees also frequently begged salvation and recovery from illness.

The sad kahyangan of Lempuyang Temple consisting of Lempuyang Luhur and had relation to the temple

of Penataran Lempuyang situated at Purwayu customary village, Telaga Mas as sacred bathing place of the lord and Pasar Agung Temple of Lempuyang.

Its anniversary is regularly held every six months (210 days). Peak of the anniversary falls on Umanis Galungan, like that on Thursday (Dec 9). After peak of the anniversary, the lord abided in Penataran Temple of Lempuyang at Purwayu customary village and the ritual lasted or nyejer for three days. On the temple anniversary, the pratima or sanctified effigy of the lord is taken down from the chamber shrine at Purwayu customary village, and then embellished with floral and foliage ornament. Bearer of the effigy is an appointed youth of the Purwayu customary village qualifying for the purity of mind, speech and deeds. Sanctified effigy of the lord is carried to Lempuyang Luhur to pick up the lord, then proceeded to perform purificatory rite at Telaga Mas and then abided in the shrine of Penataran Temple. (bud)

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Bali News

International

Monday, December 20, 2010

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Public Shouldn’t Be Afraid of HIV Sufferer Corpse If an HIV sufferer died, public shouldn’t be afraid of being infected as well when bathing it as HIV virus dies as the cell it lived on dies. For Sanglah Hospital, HIV sufferer corpses are treated the same as other infected sufferers dead body. There are some standard operating procedures applied so that the corpse is safe to bring home.

Head of Forensic Installation for Sanglah Hospital, dr. Dudut Rustyadi, SpF, stated before the HIV sufferer corpse being bathed, based on the WHO (World Health Organization) standard the body has to be left for two hours after stated dead clinically as it is assumed the virus will be totally gone then. Bathing a HIV sufferer corpse not only uses water but should have chlorine added which will kill and clean the virus also holes on the body should be closed with chlorine dipped cotton. If there are wounds, it should be plastered, “So when it’s brought home, it is safe.”

A family who will place a corpse in the corpse room has some procedures to be gone through. Before the corpse goes inside a cooler, it has to be left for four hours in room temperature first after stated clinically dead, “If it’s be placed inside the cooling unit before four hours it is worried the virus still survives. Based on a research, the virus can survive in a cold temperature for two weeks.” (san) IBP/Ole

The picture of the burning car in front of Sangsit traditional market in Buleleng.

Petrol Carrier on Fire at Sangsit Market Singaraja (Bali Post) –

Residents of Sangsit Village, Sawan on Kuningan Day last Saturday (18/12) were disturbed as a Suzuki Carry car all of a sudden on fire in front of Sangsit Traditional Market.

The residents were shocked as it came with an explosion. Luckily the fire was not caught by the market building, houses and shops around there. Yet in the incident the driver, Wayan Suwenten, resident of Bukti Village, Kubutambahan, was seriously burn wounded all over his body. He is still treated at Sakti Kertha Husada Hospital’s ICU at Singaraja.

The DK 1918 UA car got burned around 12.30 pm local time when it was going to Penarukan through the

Singaraja- Amlapura main route from West to East. When passing Sangsit Market, the car exploded followed by fire. Residents then got out of the area including the shop and house owners nearby. As the fire got bigger, the driver Suwenten successfully got out of the car yet got burnt. Luckily there were no passengers in the car yet inside the car the residents can see some jerry cans suspected had petrol in it.

Resident who brought Suwenten to the hospital, Ketut Sutama

Tongkok, stated the incident started when Suwenten all of a sudden brakes and then the jerry cans fell off. It is suspected the petrol inside it hit the machines and while the machine got on fire it also burnt the whole car.

Head of Sawan Police, AKP Nyoman Kartika, met on location stated that it is still being investigated what have caused it. The burnt car construction is now been moved so it won’t disturb the traffic in front of Sangsit market. (kmb15)

Landslide at Candikuning, Total Traffic Jam Tabanan DenPost

Landslide hit the two ways Denpasar-Singaraja route at Candikuning, Baturiti, causing total traffic jam from Friday (17/12) night at 9 pm until Saturday (18/12) afternoon. The 20 meter gorge slides off towards the south of Mentari Restaurant or south to Beratan Lake on a turning point. The landslide was as thick as 1 meter with distance 10 meters from the lake’s mouth.

The landslide happened when not many vehicles passed by. Yet as it got filled up, the traffic started and worsens as heavy rain started to pour. Part of the landslide got moved around 4 am on Saturday followed

by a help of one bulldozer unit to help out. With all the limits and forced situations the traffic started to move with open-close system by Tabanan Traffic Police and Baturiti Police also several local residents.

Even though, the traffic still happens until 3 pm.

Meanwhile, another total traffic jam happened on the border of Tabanan-Badung, east to Dakdakan Traffic Police Post, Kediri, on Friday (17/12). A number of bamboo trees fell down and blocking roads.

The traffic happened for two hours since 7 pm while police and residents then evacuated the trees.

Connecting to the condition and

weather, Head of Tabanan Traffic Police, AKP IGM Punia, admitted annoyed as there were not much institutions taking care or anticipate the possibility of nature disasters such as heavy rain causing landslides or trees falling down which cause danger to road users, “To arrange traffic due to traffic jam can be traffic police’s duty, but does police also take care of landslides while others who have the tools didn’t take action. Or at least there should be anticipation efforts prepared like on the trees that tend to go over the roads by cutting it so it won’t put road users to danger just like what happened lately.” (121)

Temple Anniversary of Dalem Sakenan Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Coinciding with Kuningan Festivity falling on Saturday (Dec 18), it was held a small temple anniversary of Dalem Sakenan. Though it was a small one, adequately large amount of Hindu devotees came to say prayers solemnly. They came from various regions throughout Bali.

Devotees had looked to arrive from early morning by cars and motorcycles. Before entering the temple area, devotees should park their car or motorcycle at the parking lot provided. Next, devotees should walk for tens of meters.

In such small pujawali or anniversary, it was offered an oblation called pregembal equipped with apology ritual. The anniversary was not followed by escorting the sanctified effigy of the lord to melasti or purificatory ceremony to the sea. Peak of the ceremony took place around 10:00 a.m. Local Time and was immediately ended in the afternoon. At the temple courtyard was offered a caru exorcism ritual in the form of red black white-feathered chicken and pejati ritual to the sea. The small-scale anniversary was led by Ida Pedanda Putra Bajing from Griya Tegal Jingga, Lebah.

Long queue of devotees saying prayers in Dalem Sakenan remained to occur, but they were not as crowded as in the anniversary six months ago. Likewise, congregation in Pesamuan Agung was not as many as in the previous anniversaries, either. By and large, long queues of congregation occurred in the Pesamuan Agung Temple, too.

As it has been known, Sakenan Temple consists of two pelebah or divisions, namely Dalem Sakenan Temple and Pesamuan/Penataran Agung Sakenan Temple. Furthermore, Sakenan Temple has three courtyards (tri mandala) namely the uttama mandala (innermost), madya mandala (middle), and kanistha mandala (outermost). Within the innermost courtyard sits a number of shrines as the abode of Lord Varuna, Lord Sandhijaya, Lord Rambut Sakenan and Dhang Hyang Nirartha. In addition, there are also chamber pavilion as the abode of the Lord Rambut Sedana of Sakenan. Then, in the middle courtyard lie some shrines and buildings such as psalmodic pavilion, offerings pavilion, stage pavilion, chamber pavilion and so forth.

Meanwhile, in the Pesamuan/Penataran Agung Sakenan Temple sit a number of shrines. Its courtyard fuses with the Dalem Sakenan Temple.

However, it only has two courtyards, namely the innermost and outermost courtyard. The shrine buildings are located in the innermost courtyard comprising the Padma Capah as the abode of Lord Masjati as well as the worship of Jro Dukuh Sakti, three-tiered meru shrine as the abode of Lord Batur, Intaran, three-tiered meru shrine as the abode of Lord Dalem Kapala from Kepaon customary village, Jati Chamber as the abode of Goddess Ratu Ayu from Pemogan customary village, and a threetiered meru as the abode of Lord Dalem Miu. Then, another three-tiered meru shrine is the abode of Lord Pemuteran, five-tiered meru shrine as the abode of Lord Mount Agung, chamber as the abode of Lord Agung Pesakih from Suwung Rangkan, Goddess Mas Petingan from Suwung Sakah and chamber of kris heritage of Pasek Agung Tegal Temple-Badung, another chamber as the abode of the Lord Dalem Braban and Lord Bwitan from Batubulan, Gianyar, three-tiered meru shrine as the abode of Lord Agung Dalem Camenggaon from Sukawati, Gianyar, bebaturan (sacred stone) as the abode of Lord Ratu Gde, piyasan pavilion as the abode of Agung Panembahan Dalem Sakenan, Lord Susunan Wadon as well as Lord Sakenan, Kelan. (08)

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Monday, December 20, 2010

News

International

China counters U.S. criticism of Pakistan as PM ends visit Reuters

ISLAMABAD – Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao lauded on Sunday Pakistan’s efforts to battle al Qaeda, just days after the United States said its ally could do more to crack down on militants, especially along the Afghan border.

Wen’s comments, made in a speech before parliament, appear part of China’s strategy to lend support to old friend Pakistan, often criticized by the United States and many in the West as an unreliable, but necessary, ally in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“Strengthening and promoting strategic, brotherly relations is our joint strategic choice and they are in the interests of two countries and their people,” Wen said, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to Pakistan.

Chinese leaders applaud Pakistan’s efforts to fight al Qaeda -led terrorism, he added, urging the international community to “endorse and support” them.

Pakistan’s porous border with Afghanistan is seen as a haven for militants and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that it needed to do more to control the flow of extremists, which a U.S. review of the Afghan war said was the main obstacle to ending the conflict.

While boosting trade and investment has been the main focus of Wen’s visit — the first in five years by a Chinese premier — analysts say the trip is about more than money. “It’s a clear signal of China’s growing, assertive diplomacy,” said independent analyst Hamayoun Khan.

“They (China) do not want Pakistan to be entirely dependent on the United States and the International Monetary Fund, and then get dictation from them,” Khan said. “China’s massive investment in this time proves two things. One is that China is a genuine ally of Pakistan, and second, it is a clear signal to the U.S. that if the U.S. supports India against China, China will support Pakistan.”

During the visit, which followed a three-day trip to India, the two countries signed commercial and trade deals worth at least $25 billion.

By comparison, Wen signed $16 billion in deals in India before arriving in Islamabad on Friday. Analysts say China is investing in Pakistan to such a large degree for two reasons: because it sees the country as a genuine friend, and because it irks India.

Sino-Indian relations have been dogged by long-standing border disputes, which led to a war nearly four decades ago. Since then, though, the world’s two fastest-growing big economies have forged a major trade relationship over the years.

China is the main supplier of defense and military hardware to Pakistan. China has also helped Pakistan to build its main nuclear power generation facility and is helping build another one.

AP Photo/Sunday Alamba

In this photo taken Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, UN police from Pakistan stand guard in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Gbagbo orders UN peacekeepers to leave Ivory Coast Associated Press Writer

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast – The man who refuses to step down from the presidency ordered thousands of U.N. peacekeepers to leave Ivory Coast immediately on Saturday, calling the global body that has endorsed his political rival an “agent of destabilization.”

The move was the latest act of political defiance by Laurent Gbagbo, who has been in power since 2000 and maintains he is the rightful winner of last month’s runoff vote in the West African nation despite growing international pressure on him to concede defeat.

The statement read on state television came just two days after as many as 30 people were killed in street violence in Ivory Coast. Earlier Saturday, masked gunmen opened fire on the U.N. base; no one from the U.N. was harmed in the attack.

Gbagbo’s spokeswoman said Saturday that the U.N. mission known as UNOCI has not remained neutral in the election dispute and accused it of arming the New Forces rebels allied with opposition leader Alassane Ouattara.

The United Nations certified results

showing that Ouattara had won by “an irrefutable margin.” The U.N. had been invited by the country itself to supervise the vote and certify the outcome following a peace accord after Ivory Coast’s 2002-2003 civil war.

“The state of Ivory Coast considers that the UNOCI has shown itself to be guilty of serious misconduct, which indubitably proves that it is an agent of destabilization and contributes to the further division of the Ivorian people,” she said.

In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was concerned about attacks on U.N. troops and that “those responsible for these actions will be held accountable” by the international community, according to U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. Ban noted that the U.N. Security Council had endorsed the statements of a number of African regional groups that Ouattara should be recognized as president-elect of Ivory Coast, Haq said. Ban said the council would meet Monday to discuss the situation in the Ivory Coast and the renewal of the UNOCI’s mandate, which is due to expire on Dec. 31.

Earlier, U.N. peacekeeping chief

Alain Le Roy chaired an emergency meeting of his department’s crisis team to discuss a response to Gbagbo’s request.

Nick Birnback, spokesman for the U.N. Peacekeeping Department, stressed that “the mission will continue to do everything possible to execute its Security Council-given mandate.” That mandate includes protecting civilians under imminent threat, U.N. staff and facilities.

It remains unclear what weight Gbagbo’s demand would have since the U.N. doesn’t consider him to be president. There are about 9,000 U.N. peacekeepers in the country, and about 800 of them have been protecting the compound from which Ouattara is trying to govern the country. Gbagbo also called for the departure of about 900 French forces who have been supporting the U.N. peacekeepers.

While the United States, France and the African Union have endorsed Ouattara as the rightful winner of the election, Gbagbo maintains control of both the military and state media. U.N. officials are extremely concerned about the deteriorating situation in Ivory Coast, especially in Abidjan.

Obama offers assurances to GOP on nuke treaty Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, right, shakes hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao prior to their meeting in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. Wen arrived in Pakistan on Friday for a rare visit expected to focus heavily on expanding trade between the Asian neighbors and longtime allies.

WASHINGTON – Pushing hard for a victory on a top national security imperative, President Barack Obama sought to assure Republican lawmakers Saturday that a new arms control treaty with Russia would not hamper U.S. missile defense.

In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Obama said that as long as he is president, the U.S., “will continue to develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect the United States, our deployed forces, and our allies and partners.”

Obama’s message was aimed at

some GOP critics of the New START treaty who have argued that the pact with Russia would limit U.S. efforts to deploy missile-defense programs.

Senate Democrats deflected an attempt by Republicans on Saturday to strike a reference in the treaty’s preamble to missile defense systems.

Approval of the measure would have effectively killed efforts to ratify the treaty before the end of the year, because any changes to the agreement would force the U.S. and Russia to enter back into negotiations.

Still, the 37-59 vote against the measure by Arizona Sen. John McCain exposes doubts about whether the Senate can ratify the

treaty as written before a new, more Republican Congress assumes power in January Obama has made ratification of the treaty a top priority, and has urged lawmakers to approve the accord before the end of the year. The treaty has received the backing of scores of current and former military and national security officials, as well as former Republican President George H.W. Bush.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has also backed Obama’s assurances on missile defense. During an appearance at the White House on Thursday, Gates said the treaty “in no way limits anything we want or have in mind on missile defense.”

Activities

International

Monday, December 20, 2010

5

“The Mask of Magical Night” at Aston Denpasar IBP

DENPASAR - The holiday season coming. If you are preparing your holiday for this upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday season, then you need to put Aston Denpasar Hotel and Convention Center in your calendar. In the occasion of welcoming 2011, Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center are proudly present the wonderfully new year’s eve celebration which entitled with “The Mask of Magical Night “. The theme made this New Year’s Eve celebration at Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center come different with another countdown party.

Featuring with various talent and event suplines, and many room stay voucher from Aston Inporter as well as DJ Rooland also known as ternational Indonesia Property throughout IndoneRoolandDJ, his passion to music and electric sia that will completing your new year’s eve celdance, mastered in spinning, electro,progressive, ebration. “The Mask of Magical Night” NewYear’s and hip hop made him become one of most inEve celebration ticket offers on Rp. 600,000 nett fluence DJ in his carrier. DJ Rara Tiara, also inclusive with Gala Dinner, Door Prizes, and The known as DJ Rara is one of the line up DJ with Party Novelties (mask and trumpet). many air exploration with a house track with a Spend your midnight countdown with stay touch of sweet vocals also the tech house and at Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center,the progressive. room package start from Rp2,736,000 nett for 2 Magic and Bizzare Show by Sucahyo, night stay at Studio Room, Rp3,136,000 nett for Sucahyo is the owner and entertainer from the 2 night stay at One Bedroom, and Rp4,836,000 Magic and Bizzare Show Entertainment, he came nett for 2 night stay at Two Bedrooms. The packfrom Surabaya and has been in the world of magic age are inclusive with Complimentary buffet for over 10 years. His achievement in the world of breakfast for 2 persons in Studio Room & One magic show was no doubt. This event has enliv- Bedroom and maximum 4 persons in Two Bedened also with the Fire Dance, Kecak Dance, Live rooms, New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner and Ticket Top 40 Band, MC and last but not least The Grand to “The Mask of Magical Night” for 2 persons in Prize Return Flight Ticket from Denpasar – Jakarta Studio Room & One Bedroom and maximum 4 – Denpasar, Jakarta – Singapore – Jakarta, and persons in Two Bedrooms, Complimentary Jakarta – Hongkong – Jakarta by Mandala Airinternet wifi in Public area.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for December 18th through December 25th 2010 18. “Kuningan” believed as the ascending day of the ancestral holy spirits back to Heaven after spending time with their descendants during Galungan.

Throughout Bali. “Makotekan” ceremony “village purification”, Munggu village, district of Mengwi, Badung regency.

“Perang Jempana” rituals when the temples adherents carrying temple-effigies strike one another as to indicate that the ceremony as a whole has been properly done, at Pura Panti Timbrah, Paksebali village, district of Banjarangkan, Klungkung regency.

Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Taman Pule, Mas village, district of ubud, Gianyar regency. * Pura Ularan, Takmung village, district of Banjarangkan, Klungkung regency. * Pura Bukit Jati, Guliang Kawan village, Bangli regency. * Pura Dalem Tegal Jaya, Batubulan village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dalem Guwang village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Jengengan Majapahit, Cemenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Sadha, Kapal village, district of Mengwi, Badung regency. * Pura Sakenan, Serangan Island, the municipality of Denpasar. * Pura Luhur Pakendungan, Tanah Lot Beach, district of Kediri, Tabanan regency. * Pura Dalem Sanding village, district of Tampaksiring, Gianyar regency.

19. “Pemendakan” Welcoming procession held started from Sakenan Temple to Denpasar, Serangan Island, south of Denpasar.

Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Dalem Pauman Bhujangga, Penatih village, east of Denpasar. * Pura Alas Arum, Batur village, district of

Kintamani, Bangli regency. * Pura Batuaji, Ubud Tengah village, west of Denpasar. * Pura Dalem Buleleng, downtown of Singaraja. * Pura Dalem Jagaraga village, district of Sawan, Buleleng regency.

21.T emple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Banua Besakih complex, district of Rendang, Karangasem regency. * Pura Dalem Semenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Desa Celuk village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dewa Agung Klungkung, Ulah village, district of Sidemen, Karangasem regency. * Pura Gunung Rena, Sidemen village, Karangasem regency.

22.T emple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Tanah Lot (well know as temple on the rock) Beraban village, district of Kediri, Tabanan regency. * Pura Bukcabe, Mas village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency. * Pura Puseh Ganggang Canggi, Batuan village, district of Sukwati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Masceti Sanding village, district of Tampaksiring, Gianyar regency. * Pura Luhur Batur Pucangan, Buahan village, district of Penebel, Tabanan regency. * Pura Dalem Tarukan Cemenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dalem Bangun Sakti, Kapal village district of Mengwi, Badung regency. * Pura Dang Kahyangan Penataran Agung Baturening, Mambal village, district of Abiansemal Badung regency.

25. Chritsmas

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

6

Monday, December 20, 2010

News Militants kill 10 Afghan soldiers in 2 attacks Associated Press Writer

AP Photo

Firemen sift through the still-smoldering Bed and Breakfast Pension House in Tuguegarao city, Cagayan province in northern Philippines, after a fire rapidly swept through the budget hotel early Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010.

Philippines fire kills 15, many nursing students

KABUL, Afghanistan – Teams of militants assaulted the Afghan army in the north of the country and in the capital Sunday, killing at least 10 members of the security forces, officials said, in two attacks claimed by the Taliban.

In the first major attack in Kabul for months, two insurgents strapped with explosives ambushed a bus carrying Afghan army officers to work during the morning rush hour on the outskirts of the capital, killing five and wounding nine, AP Photo/Fulad Hamdard said Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Afghan policemen take cover behind their armored vehicle as a Mohammad Zahir Azimi.

Taliban spokesman building housing an army recruitZabiullah Mujahid claimed ment center is in flames following responsibility for that at- an attack by Taliban fighters in tack, and for an assault on Kunduz, north of Kabul, Afghanian army recruitment center stan, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010. in the northern province of Kunduz which killed another five members of the Afghan security forces.

The Afghan capital has been relatively peaceful in recent months aside from some scattered attacks, including suicide bombings, with few casualties.

The attackers first opened fire on the bus, and then one managed to detonate his explosives near the vehicle. Soldiers shot the second dead, Azimi said.

A witness, Hamidullah Khan, said the gunmen ambushed the bus as it was heading down Jalalabad Road, a main route into the city center.

Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines – A fire rapidly swept through a budget hotel in the northern Philippines early Sunday, burning to death 15 people — several crammed in bathrooms where they fled in panic — and injuring 12 others. Many of the victims were nursing students in town to take a licensing exam, officials said.

Some firefighters, moved by the sight of the badly burned bodies in the upper floors of the five-story hotel, were moved to tears and prayed before retrieving the remains, fire investigator Daniel Abana said. The fire raged for eight hours and gutted the Bed and Breakfast Pension House in Cagayan province’s capital of Tuguegarao city.

The students who survived the fire went on to take the exam on Sunday, including one who showed up in slippers and sleeping clothes.

Relatives grieved at a morgue where remains of victims, 14 burned

beyond recognition, were brought.

Some fainted as body bags were brought into a funeral parlor. “Their families spent fortunes to send these children to school only to see them end that way,” Abana told The Associated Press by telephone.

The fire started on the ground floor, apparently fueled by car tires and other combustible materials stored in an automobile parts store. Paint cans also may have been in the building, which was recently renovated, Abana said.

Dozens of guests, roused by the commotion, were rescued by firefighters and police out of the still-smoldering build-

ing through the main gate and fire escapes. Some managed to escape on their own but others may have panicked and got trapped by the flames, Cagayan police chief Mao Aplasca said.

Many of the dead had crammed in bathrooms on the top two floors. One victim had a foot stuck out of a window in a desperate attempt to survive, Abana said.

At least 12 nursing students were taken to hospitals with minor burns.

The building was still smoldering when firefighters broke in and scrambled to search for the 15 victims, police said.

Fighting in Sudan’s Darfur forces 12,000 to flee Reuters

KHARTOUM – As many as 12,000 people have fled fresh fighting between Sudan’s army and Darfur rebels and are heading toward already overcrowded camps and settlements in the strife-torn territory, peacekeepers said on Sunday. Sudan’s army has clashed with insurgents in the South Darfur village of Khor Abeche at least three times this month, drawing sharp criticism from U.N. envoys.

“The Mission has noticed that

approximately 12,000 people fled the area and are moving toward Shangil Tobaya and Zam Zam internally displaced persons camp, near El Fasher, North Darfur,” said Darfur’s UNAMID peacekeepers in a statement.

Sudan’s army attacked fighters from the Sudan Liberation Movement loyal to Minni Arcua Minnawi last week and fighting continued on Friday, said the joint U.N./African Union peacekeeping force.

Minnawi was the only rebel leader to sign a 2006 peace deal with

the government. Sudan’s army declared Minnawi a military target earlier this month, accusing him of breaking a ceasefire and plotting to join rebels still fighting the government.

The fighting was the final nail in the coffin for the troubled peace deal, which was boycotted by the region’s two main rebel groups and did nothing to halt the spread of lawlessness, banditry and violence in the territory. UNAMID said 100 people had already arrived in North Darfur by Saturday.

Heavy snow...

From page 1 Significant numbers of domestic and European flights were canceled at Germany’s Frankfurt airport as it dealt with the disruption.

Germany’s railway operator Deutsche Bahn said it was pressing into service all the trains it could — though some journeys were subject to delays. “Everything that can roll is rolling,” spokesman Holger Auferkamp told the German news agency DAPD. The icy weather also swept over large parts of Scandinavia, causing problems particularly in Denmark, where dozens of flights were canceled at the airport in Copenhagen. According to Danish news agency Ritzau, train traffic between Denmark and southern Sweden was also disrupted because of track problems, partly due to the snow, forcing passengers to instead take buses between the two countries.

In Sweden, where media reports suggest the country is experiencing the coldest winter weather this early on in the season since the mid-1800’s, several road accidents were reported, with more than 20 in the Stockholm area alone.

Retailers said the poor weather would likely dent sales on what it

traditionally the busiest shopping weekend before Christmas.

London’s Brent Cross indoor shopping mall closed its doors early Saturday afternoon.

Elsewhere, a snowman greeted tourists at London’s Camden Market, while traders broke up ice and snow with shovels on the cobblestone paths. Two groups of tourists hurled snowballs at each other across the canal on the edge of the market.

Britain may experience its coldest December on record, weather service forecaster Mark Seltzer said.

“Temperatures will struggle to get over freezing and although the snow should ease off tonight, it will return to eastern areas on Sunday,” he said.

Police in Leicester, central England, said the snowy weather had helped uncover a cannabis factory in the city. Officers raided the premises after spotting that snow had melted on the building’s roof as a result of heat from industrialstrength lights used in the cultivation of the drug.

Horse racing meetings and dozens of soccer games in England and Scotland were called off as a result of the conditions, including a high profile match scheduled for Sunday in London between Chelsea and Manchester United.

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, December 20, 2010

7

Observers predict 2011 inflation to reach 6 percent Antara

JAKARTA - Economic observers have predicted that inflation in 2011 could reach up to 6-7 percent, which is far higher than the government’s and Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank)’s previous assumptions at 5.3 percent.

They based their predictions on various possibilities, including policies the government is likely to introduce in 2011 such as sn increases in fuel oil prices, the basic power rate and the threat of global crisis.

“The economic growth target of 6.4 percent is likely to be achieved but we are not sure about the inflation target. In a pessimistic scenario . inflation in 2011 could reach 7 percent,” A. Prasetyantoko, economic analyst of Atmajaya Catholic University, told a seminar on monetary policy on Thursday.

Prasetyantoko said inflation could be estimated at seven percent if the world oil price did not increase. “The story will be different if the world crude rises to US$100 per barrel,” he said.

He said that the seven percent inflation estimate had not yet included consideration of possible increase in world crude price from US$80 per barrel.

A moderate estimate was made by economic observer A Tony Prasetiantono who put the figure for 2011 inflation at 6 percent. “I predict the inflation rate next year at about six percent,” Tony Prasetiantono told a seminar on Indonesia’s economic outlook 2011.

He said that Indonesia at present was still facing three big problems, namely currency wars, global financial crisis and bad infrastructure conditions.

Tony, who is head of the Economic and Public Police Study Center of the University of Gadjah Mada, said

that an increase in electricity tariff rate and fuel oils as well as global crisis would have impact on Indonesia’s economy and boost inflation.

However, the inflation in that rate is still classified as reasonable and would not badly disrupt the country’s economy. This is because the rupiah exchange rate is inclined to be stable.

Although it will be facing internal and external constraints in 2011, Indonesia will still likely be strong to face it as it still has stable and strong domestic currency exchange value.

“I predict that the rupiah exchange rate against the US currency in 2011 would be at a range between 9.000 and 9.200 rupiah per dollar.

Economic growth and inflation rates

will respectively at 6.3 percent and 6 percent respectively,” he said.

Yet, according to Prasetyantoko, inflation can even exceed 7 percent. He said inflation would pose a challenge for the management of Indonesian economy in 2011.

The government’s plan to limit subsidized fuel oil consumption in March 2011 will drive up fuel oil prices. In addition, increases in world crude prices and climate change issues are likely to generate inflation and food prices.

“This all will create inflationary pressures. If conditions worsen inflation can reach over 7 percent,” Prasetiyantoko said.

He said that so far there were no indications whether global economic conditions would be improving or not.

“If economic conditions in Europe and the United States are improving there is the possibility of capital outflows from Indonesia that

would influence inflation in the country,” Prasetyantoko said.

Legislator Aziz Syamsuddin of the Golkar Party shared Prasetyantoko argument that limitation of fuel oil consumption will also trigger inflationary pressures and has a great impact on the economy because of the burden it will create for large segments of middle class society.

“The government should be really careful with its policy to scrap its fuel oil subsidy because it will affect the people’s interest and has a direct impact on them,” Aziz Syamsuddin, a member of the House of Representatives said.

In the meantime, BI also predicts that inflationary pressure in 2010 will continue to take place in 2011 but it will not exceed the 6 percent level. “The inflationary pressure would continue in 2011 from the beginning of the year but it would not exceed 6.0 percent,” BI Governor Darmin Nasution.

Indonesians embrace new media for old debates Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - To most Indonesians, Ahmad Mustofa Bisri is an influential Muslim cleric and a respected figure from the country’s biggest Islamic organisation, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama.

But to his 7,000-odd followers on Twitter, the 66-year-old is “Kyai Gaul”, or the Trendy Cleric, who thumbs daily Islamic greetings on his iPad and Blackberry.

Bisri is among a number of Islamic leaders — conservative and liberal — who are turning to the Internet in the struggle for the hearts and minds of the faithful in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

“I set up an account last month because I like to make friends with everyone. I don’t position myself as a mufti, a religious authority. I only share what I know,” said Bisri, who is better known as Gus Mus or “Brother Mus” — short for Mustofa.

“It’s important for those who understand the faith to spread the word. Those who don’t know, but say they do, may mislead,” he added.

Besides microblogging site Twitter, he has been preaching religious tolerance and moderation on social networking site Facebook, where he has 2,600 “friends” and 62,000 “fans”.

Islamists from hardline groups like Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) also have a Web presence, using the modern medium to advocate ancient capital punishments like stoning for adulterers.

The battle for Indonesia’s Is-

lamic identity is just one way the Internet is shaping and transforming public debate in the country of 240 million people, where Web usage has exploded in the past five years.

With its booming economy and burgeoning middle class, the archipelago has rapidly become one of the world’s biggest Twitter users, according to online research firm comScore.

Of 41 countries surveyed, it had the highest percentage of Internet users at home and work accessing Twitter in June 2010, or more than 20 percent of its 45 million people online, comScore said.

No one who wants to be anyone — not even the stick-wielding, fringe-dwelling religious fanatics of the FPI — can afford not to have a Twitter account and a Facebook page in Indonesia.

And almost inevitably in a country as diverse as Indonesia, questions of faith consistently top the list of trending topics of debate.

Twitter “wars” are being waged on a daily basis between liberals who promote pluralism and religious tolerance, and conservatives who advocate a stern interpretation of Islam and strict moral values.

Some of the old elite are uncomfortable in the brave new world of instant communication and user-generated content.

Scandalised by the release online of a local rock star’s homemade sex videos earlier this year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that the Internet “frenzy” was a threat to the nation’s moral fibre.

But blogger Purwaka, known online as Blontank Poer, says the more open flow of information and opinion is good for a country that

emerged from the tight grip of military strongman Suharto only in 1998.

“Twitter wars are good wars,” the 42-year-old said.

“The winner is the public. They gain a better understanding of Islam and can make their own conclusion after hearing different opinions from experts on the faith,” he added.

From homosexuality to atheism and the treatment of minorities, Indonesians are finding they can talk about subjects online which they would be reluctant to discuss in their offices, classrooms and around their kitchen tables.

Communications Minister Tifatul Sembiring, a conservative Muslim, is one of the nation’s most prolific and controversial Tweeters and boasts 120,000 “followers” — or other users who subscribe to his comment stream.

He drew international ridicule with a post describing how, as a pious Muslim, he had reluctantly shaken hands with US First Lady Michelle Obama at a state reception in Jakarta last month.

One of his critics, liberal Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Tweeted to his 35,000 followers: “Enough, enough, from now on, shaking hands with non-mahrams (those unrelated by marriage) is allowed.”

“It’s halal (permissible) if it’s the level of Michelle Obama,” he added.

Gus Mus advised the minister to “calm down” and put his beliefs in perspective.

“Calm down, sir. God is too BIG to supervise your handshaking with Mrs. Michelle,” he commented.

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

In a picture taken on December 15, 2010 Ahmad Mustofa Bisri, also known as Gus Mus and Kyai Gaul on Twitter, an influential Muslim cleric and a respected figure from the country’s biggest Islamic organisation, the moderate Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), poses with his iPad as he checks his friend timelines on twitter in Jakarta.

Sembiring later clarified his position in a series of Tweets, which only generated more howls of embarrassment from his liberal opponents.

“I’m fine as long as there’s an open debate and people convey their messages politely, without curses and insults,” the minister told AFP. “I’ll usually talk to them but if they continue insulting me and refuse to act in a civilised manner, after two to three times, I’ll block them.”

IT researcher and free-speech

advocate Donny Budi Utoyo said that while Muslim leaders had different views, those engaged in social networks shared an ability to cope with criticism and the cut and thrust of the new media.

“Both the liberal and conservative leaders who have joined Twitter so far seem to be open people who know how to smile.

If they’re attacked, they respond in a positive manner,” he said.

“This reflects the maturity of mind that is needed for any process of dialogue to be effective.”

8

International

Monday, December 20, 2010

Bali Today Hotels occupancy rate in Bali nearly 100% Antara

Nusa Dua – The hotel occupancy rate in Bali is nearly 100% near the Christmas and New Year celebration. Hanna Wati, an officer in Laguna Resort & Spa Bali, said “the booking started from December 20, 2010 through January 4, 2011 is full.”

She explained that most of the one reserve rooms already are foreign tourists who want to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Bali.

There are also domestic tourists who made reservation few months ago.

While Gusti Ayu Murthini, a hotel owner in Denpasar, said that her hotel is fully booked in the

year end holiday. Most of them are domestic tourists from Surabaya, Semarang, and Jakarta. “Most of our guests are groups from companies throughout Indonesia,” she added.

The secretary of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, Perry Markus, said

that the hotel occupancy rate in most hotels in Bali is almost 100%. This condition is commonly happen during Christmas and New Year holiday.

He explained that Bali is still the main destination for tourists who want to spend their year end holiday in the island.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Mesuryak tradition

”Mesuryak” tradition on Kuningan Day Antara

TABANAN – The locals in Tabanan has a unique way to celebrate “Kuningan” day which fall on Saturday, December 18, 2010.

The tradition is called “mesuryak” where hundreds of people try to gather money thrown upwards.The head of Bongan Gede Village in Tabanan, I Made Wardana, said “on Kuningan Day which is celebrated every six months, we always carry out the mesuryak tradition.” The locals try to gather the money spread

in the air.

There is no other regency in Bali that carries out the similar tradition during the holy day. “Every year, we always held the mesuryak tradition which is passed on from generation to generation,” Wardana said.

The people are afraid bad things will happen if they don’t do the tradition. Furthermore, the tradition is very unique and one of a kind so the people in the village decided to preserve it by carries out the tradition every year.

Wardana explained “the purpose

of mesuryak tradition is to take our ancestors spirit back to heaven because they have been on earth started on Galungan, 10 days before Kuningan day. During their way back, the relatives on earth give their ancestors some money by throwing it to the air.”

After praying in the temples, the people gather on the field and throw the money in the air. Others will grab on the money and gather it. The brotherhood is tightly bonded during the event and commotions rarely happen among them.

Statue of Great Heroes Guarding Denpasar On the way home from providing lectures overseas, Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk of India, dropped in the house of his friend, who is also a king.

There, he was entertained in familial atmosphere. In the meantime, they also talked about religion passionately.

His friend asked why the Hindus worshiped idol like statue. This young monk smiled while asking permission to his friend to borrow the picture of his grandfather on the wall. Having been taken and handed over by a servant, Vivekananda examined and placed it on the carpet. Afterward, Vivekananda politely remarked if his friend would not have the heart to touch the photo by the toe of his boots. Finally, the friend realized his mistake that worshipping a statue or the like would help in conceptualization.

Meanwhile, according to a French linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure, in the language of sign there are the signifying (object) and the signified (concept or reference). In this context, photograph is the object, while grandfather is the reference. God has been universally acknowledged to be the most perfect. To help concentrate the mind on God, the Hindus apply a medium like various kinds of sanctified effigies.

Each devotee has different ability to contact Him. Common people may use a medium, while those having higher spiritual knowledge do not need any medium. Therefore, none is wrong and it is a freedom.

Inspired by puranic or mythological stories, many Hindu artisans in Bali manage to make various kinds of sculpture. When visitors happened to have island excursion, you may encounter many statues such as outside the temple, at the end of each bridge, intersection, hotel’s gardens or even on the pavement on the protocol roads in Denpasar. Sacred statues are placed in the sanctum representing gods and goddess as well as heavenly creatures, decorative statue installed in commercial premises and the last one is statue to commemorate the great heroes.

Statues depicting the great heroes can be encountered in the regencies pursuant to their respective origin. One of the great heroes of Bali is I Gusti Ngurah Rai as the name of local international airport. Right in the east of the airport stands still the Statue of Ngurah Rai. He was the commander of Ciung Wanara troops of Bali struggling bitterly against the Dutch colonial for the sake of freedom.

With him, there were some other companions in arms. For instance, I Gusti Ngurah Bagus Sugianyar, his statue is strategically installed in the intersection of Jalan Gatot Subroto and Jalan Cokroaminoto, Ubung. As if he welcomes everyone entering the city from outside Denpasar and outside Bali from the west. Then, Cokorda Agung Tresna—Head of Badung Struggle Headquarters. His statue is installed on the intersection of Jalan Gatot Subroto and Jalan Nangka, right in the east of Sugianyar’s statue. Meanwhile, Ida Bagus Putu Japa was a member of Pembela Tanah Air (embryo of the Indonesian Military) immortalized with a statue put in the Renon roundabouts.

In the meantime, Puputan Badung Square located right in the heart of Denpasar City also retained statutes of other great heroes. The statues are placed in the northern side of the square.

They depict the bitter struggle of the Badung Kingdom against the colonial until their last bloodshed. This heroic incident occurred on September 20, 1906 and now it is celebrated as the Puputan Badung Day. Those statues are intended to show an appreciation over the merits of great heroes of Bali that had dedicated their entire life sincerely for the nation. Similarly, they denote an educational medium to introduce the heroes to younger generation so they get a simple illustration about the heroes living before their time.

Last but not least, they also give good visual impression to the arrangement of urban landscaping and attraction to tourists reflecting one of the artistic treasures owned by Bali. (BTN/punia)

http://kotajatiartindonesia.i-bizznet.com

One of Hero statues on Bali Island.

International

Monday, December 20, 2010

Balinese Culture Distinctive food of Serangan Island

From seaweed, klejat until chips of fish skin CONCURRING with the temple anniversary or piodalan in Dalem Sakenan, on the Island of Serangan, South Denpasar subdistrict, a typical cuisine of Serangan customary village is generally easy to find.

Along the way to temple of Dalem Sakenan, many local traders sell various seafood and snacks made of marine ingredients. What are those distinctive delicacies on offer?

The most famous one is seaweed.

Boiled seaweed flawlessly mixed with special seasoning made from ginger, shrimp paste, kaffir lime, gravy and grated grilled-coconut really kindles a distinctive flavor. This type of serving is generally favored by the community. Such seaweed delicacy is really scrumptious when served together with rice cake, fried red bean, klejat and crispy chips of fish skin. Among the several types of seaweed, there is a species named bignay seaweed. It is similar to the young bright green bignay.

According to some local traders on Serangan asked on Saturday (Dec 18), such bignay seaweed grew seasonally. “Right now, it is the season of bignay seaweed. However, they have not grown maximally and remained short. Ordinarily, this seaweed grows well at rather deep waters,” said a seaweed vendor. Meanwhile, some others said the seaweed was greatly favored by many people on account of its typical flavor.

As fishermen area, there were many fish vendors on Serangan Is-

land. They usually offered grilled fish to the community and devotees saying prayers. By and large, they sold tuna fish and other types of fish. They habitually purchased fresh catch fish from local fishermen and then cleansed it carefully. Having been clean, the fish was smeared with a blend of complete spices. To make the seasoning get absorbed well into the flesh, surface of the fish was scratched lengthwise. Then, after being smeared with spices and sprinkled with some salt, the fish was grilled in the ember of coconut fiber. Afterward, the cooked fish was ready for sale. The grilled fish on sale is completed with seasoning and raw condiment.

Interested praying devotees wishing to purchase can savor it along with white rice. Otherwise, devotees could have it wrapped to bring home.

The vendors ordinarily sold it at IDR 10,000—IDR 12,000 each for medium size. Aside from grilled tuna, they also offered chips of fish skin. It was wrapped in transparent plastic bag. Each was sold at IDR 2,000.

Another interesting delicacy was klejat. It was a kind of shellfish. Formerly, such shellfish was very easy to look for, but today it has been quite rare. Before made into chips, the flesh of klejat had to be separated from its shell. It should be boiled first and then its flesh taken out. The flesh of such small shellfish was chopped into small pieces and then dried for several days. Having been perfectly dry,

the flesh was fried. The marinade in use was sufficiently prepared from garlic and salt. It tasted adequately delectable and a small pack of this typical food was sold at IDR 2,000.

Aside from klejat, local traders were also selling dry marine eel. Such eels were also sold in the form of crispy chips. The price per small pack was IDR 2,000 as well.

“Once in six months, when saying prayers in the Dalem Sakenan Temple, I deliberately purchase rice cake with bignay seaweed vegetable along with klejat and fish skin chips. Indeed, it tastes distinctively. It is the only one typical delicacy of Serangan Island. I like it very much,” said a devotee from Kepaon, South Denpasar.

More than that, praying devotees could also enjoy mixed ice containing seaweed. It offered exactly tasty drink to quench your thirst. This distinctive delicacy of Serangan could not only be encountered during the temple anniversary. They were habitually sold on ordinary days. Roadside stalls commonly sold such distinctive delicacies, too. Likewise, grilled tuna could be found virtually every day on Serangan Island.

No less enchanting food specialty is the seafood (fish) satay. The satay instantly grilled by the vendor also kindled the appetite. Languan (tuna cubical flesh) satay served warmly was very appropriate to be enjoyed with rice cake. Serving of hot condiment made the seafood satay vastly nice to savor after saying prayers. (08)

C.045 ibp

Sate Be Pasih:

Blissful Flavor from the Sea Delicacy of seafood can conjure up your appetite to ask for again and again. Armed with excellent ingredient and blended with appropriate proportion of spices, it will make the serving more glorious and special. When you plan to travel to Bali, probably one thing comes to your mind, what good food the region offers.

Each region has its own typical nature and unique tradition of cuisine. Balinese people known as religious community have a variety of food related to their rituals.

One of them is satay. To fill in their oblation in the ritual activities, they prepare twisted satay with minced meat or skewer satay with sliced meat. In terms of its ingredient, the common satay used to fill in the oblation is that made of fork and chicken.

Meanwhile, satay for consumption is not only made of chicken and fork. However, they creatively keep on finding out some other new ingredients. Up to these days, there are satays made of shrimp, snail, gourami and tuna. In harmony with the passage of time, local people progressively like the seafood (tuna) satay.

Vendors of this satay can be found at roadsides, traditional markets and outermost courtyards or parking lots of temple during the temple anniversary. Even, in socio-religious activities like wedding or tooth filing ceremony, this satay is served to enrich the choice of the existing menus.

This tuna satay delicacy takes advantage of the Balinese complete spices. They comprise 8 cloves of shallot, 3 cloves of garlic, small chili (2), large chili (1), grounded lemongrass (1 stalk), candlenut (2), pepper (1/ 2 tsp), coriander (1/2 tsp), ginger, galangal and turmeric (respectively 1 slice), palm sugar (1 tbsp), salt (1 tsp), squeeze of lime (1 tbsp) and 10 stalks of lemongrass for skewer.

First of all, cleanse thoroughly the tuna flesh and then smear it by the squeeze of lime. Afterward, take aside for some 10 minutes and then grind it until tender.

Secondly, prepare the spices by grinding them well, too.

Take the tender tuna flesh, ground spices, salt, palm sugar and then mix them together evenly. Thirdly, take a stalk of lemongrass and some flesh batter. Twist the batter around the lemongrass skewer while pressing. Do the same until the batter runs out. Ultimately, cook the satay by grilling over a hot fire or charcoal embers.

Attempt to make it cooked at all sides. Do not leave them unattended! In order to look nice, serve them on a garnished plate. For garnish you can apply the slices of rape mango and flesh of pomelo. (BTN/punia)

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Destinations

International

Mas Village IBP

Mas Village is one of villages in Bali fundamentally identified as an artistic countryside by focusing in artistic of wood carving. Mas Village is located in Ubud sub district and Gianyar Regency, east part of Bali. It owns the typical style of wood carving art by placing forward the distinguish synergy the humanism and naturalism. The village’s popularity as an art village is famous in the national and world level which is not forgetting from the highness name of some maestros which has borne and found the spirit (taksu) and soul. The famous maestro who was borne in this village is Ida Bagus Tilem.

This Artistic countryside owns the long history root. The result of wood carving art in this village owns the immeasurable and wide dimension like idol for the devoting (arca idol), representative dimension of everyday Balinese social society life (farmer, fisherman, worker, intellectual, merchant etc), the abstract dimension as existing of actor imagination which is listening carefully of reality, dynamics and life philosophy. The villagers are same as villagers at other tourism countryside in Bali that have also experienced the transformation from agrarian society to the crafting society.

Even nowadays, it is continued to service society from commerce service until levying service of the souvenir for overseas and domestic tourist.

It is strategically located in the main road from Denpasar to Ubud and it can be reached from several of angle. It is about 15 km easterly go to the majors road to Ubud from Denpasar town. If you wish to go to this place from Denpasar, the starting spandrel points step into Mas Village is Sakah, where a big baby idol monumentally existing in the middle of road. The Baby idol is a symbol and representative of human being life early which is believed by local residents with full of philosophic value, religious and dynamism.

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Monday, December 20, 2010

11

BUSINESS EU, US vow to fine-tune trade regulations Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The United States and the European Union Friday vowed to cut back on trade barriers and hammer out a better definition of joint regulations, aiming to boost jobs amid a stagnant global economy.

“The more I do with respect to trade, the more I’m convinced that there is a lot of added value in (getting rid) of non-tariff barriers,” said EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht after talks here.

The two economic powers agreed to work together to draw up joint standards for such things as new technology, the intelligent electronic networks and electric cars. De Gucht was speaking after a meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), set up in 2007 to boost economic convergence across the Atlantic.

The meeting “looked at how the EU and the US can better cooperate

on new regulations early on in the process. They agreed to a set of agreed regulatory principles,” a statement said.

It also “saw the launch of a joint website against counterfeiting,” the statement added.

“The portal aims to help EU and US companies to fully utilize the intellectual property rights related resources and tools developed on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Long the two principal drivers of the world economy, both the United States and the EU have recently been mired in slow growth and relatively high levels of unemployment.

The trend — coupled with the

rise of emerging economies like China, India and Brazil — has further called transatlantic primacy into question, despite the United States and Europe accounting for around half of global gross domestic product.

Despite the talk of cooperation, both sides face a long list of transatlantic trade disputes, from agricultural subsidies to World Trade Organization disputes over aid to aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.

The two companies are currently locked in fierce competition for a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker contract worth tens of billions of dollars.

Chart showing how US trade narrowed in October to the smallest gap of the year.

IMF releases Greek loan, warns on growth Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The International Monetary Fund on Friday released a 2.5-billion-euro loan for Greece, as it warned of yet more economic pain ahead for the debtravaged nation.

Amid a brutal recession, skyhigh borrowing costs and draconian budget savings, the IMF said growth would slow to a crippling minus three percent next year.

The economy had been expected to contract by a marginally less painful 2.5 percent.

As part of efforts to avoid the country falling into default, the IMF approved the disbursement, worth roughly 3.3 billion dollars, bringing total IMF emergency loans to Greece to 10.58 billion euros, or 13.98 billion dollars.

The loan is part of a European Union and the International Monetary Fund 110-billion-euro loan approved in May that rescued the nation from bankruptcy.

As a condition of the loan, Athens has embarked on a series of dramatic spending cuts.

After reviewing Greece’s

moves to slash its deficit, the IMF said reforms were beginning to put the books back into good order.

“The Greek authorities are to be commended for their determined implementation of difficult and ambitious macroeconomic policies and structural reforms,” senior IMF official Murilo Portugal said.

“Inflation is falling and competitiveness improving,” and that the “overall fiscal adjustment to date has been impressive,” he said.

But it has not been without pain.

The country has been rocked by strikes and demonstrations that have paralyzed transport networks and occasionally turned violent.

Earlier this week protesters assaulted an ex-minister and clashed with riot police as thousands joined street demonstrations during a general strike.

Hours after parliament approved another batch of wage cuts, this time in the country’s inefficient public utilities, the center of the Greek capital was left

scarred with debris and the heavy smell of tear gas and smoke.

There may be more to come.

The IMF warned that Athens must accelerate structural reforms, including to the labor market, the tourism trade and the re-

tail sector.

The Greek government on this week gave the green light to a three-year privatization plan to raise seven billion euros through the sale and exploitation of state companies and other assets.

The finance ministry said the Socialist government intended to draw “at least one billion euro” in 2011 from the partial sale, joint management or outright privatization of hundreds of properties.

Malaysia announces 11.5-billion dollar transport project Agence France-Presse

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is to start work on a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system in Kuala Lumpur next July, premier Najib Razak announced Saturday, in an bid to ease congestion on the city’s transport network.

The 36 billion ringgit (11.5 billion dollar) project, part of the government’s economic transformation plan, will link the city’s disparate commuter lines, Najib said.

The new line from the city’s

northwestern perimeter to the southeast will pass through many densely populated suburbs that are not served by the present innercity light rail transit systems.

Much of the city’s workforce catchment area is currently not served by the rail network, forcing commuters to take to the city’s congested roads, creating daily gridlock.

“The Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line will serve a catchment area of about 1.2 million people,” Najib said in a statement.

The line will take six years to complete, Najib said, and is ex-

pected to transport more than 400,000 passengers every day, as well as creating 130,000 jobs during its construction.

With the introduction of the MRT, 50 percent of transport users will be using rail as their main public transport, Najib said, reducing congestion and making travel easier.

In September, Najib unveiled an initiative to transform the economy over the next decade, with the aim of creating 3.3 million jobs and propelling the country towards developed-nation status.

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Entertainment

International

After Australia tour, Winfrey vacations in Fiji Associated Press Writer

SUVA, Fiji – Fresh off an Australian tour with her frenzied talk-show fans, Oprah Winfrey is taking a respite in the South Pacific island nation of Fiji, where the military regime wished her “a great time.”

Fiji’s tourism minister said Winfrey was spending the Christmas holiday there and that officials wanted to respect her privacy. Local media reported she arrived Thursday and that she and longtime beau Stedman Graham were to stay until Dec. 26. “We know she is here for a holiday and respect that, and the government obviously wants Winfrey to have a great time,” Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum, the tourism minister, said Saturday.

Tourism on Fiji is active, though relations with other countries have been strained by the lack of democracy since a December 2006 military coup. Australia and New Zealand imposed travel bans on Fiji leaders, and international trade sanctions have been imposed, but elections have only been pushed back.

The U.S. State Department has

warned Americans to carefully consider the risks of travel to Fiji and to be vigilant while there. During a visit to Australia last month, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for democracy to be restored in Fiji and for political freedoms to advance.

The islands have been a frequent celebrity destination in the past. Rolling Stone Keith Richards famously fell from a tree at the exclusive Wakaya Club in 2006 and was rushed to New Zealand for brain surgery. The country is serious about maintaining its image as a destination for stars who want to get away from it all in a hidden paradise, said Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji’s top tourism official and its attorney general.

“Fiji is one of those destinations where we like people to come and have their own private time, and we’re here to ensure that happens,” he said. “We don’t want Fiji to become a playground for the paparazzi.”

Winfrey launched the 25th and final season of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” by surprising her audience with an eight-day trip to Australia. The lucky chosen fans snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, surfed at Bondi Beach and explored the rugged Outback before Tuesday’s grand send-off: two star-studded shows taped on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Winfrey lavished praise on her Australian hosts, the scenery and the citizens, and countered criticism about the government footing the $5 million bill by saying the publicity will reap millions more.

“It is immeasurable what four hours of a love festival about your country broadcast in 145 countries around the world can do,” Winfrey told reporters.

Her representatives in Chicago did not return calls for comment this weekend.

Larry King’s finale viewed by more than 2 million Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Larry King ended his 25-year run at CNN where he used to be all the time — on top of the ratings. The Nielsen Co. said Friday that an estimated 2.24 million people watched the last episode of “Larry King Live.” He beat the usual leader in cable news during that time slot, Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity, who had 2.16 million viewers.

King had been averaging 672,000 viewers a night this year, typically third in his time slot behind Hannity and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow — and sometimes even fourth behind HLN’s Joy Behar.

King, a pioneer in cable television news, had President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton wish him well on his final daily CNN show.

AP Photo/Jeremy Piper

American talk show host Oprah Winfrey is greeted by fans during the filming of Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010.

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2001 file photo released by CNN, former first lady Nancy Reagan discusses her husband’s health with CNN’s Larry King on “Larry King Live,” in Los Angeles.

AP Photo/Larry King Live, Rene Macura

Musical ‘Spider-Man’ on Broadway delayed again Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Producers have once again delayed the opening of the troubled new Broadway musical “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” the fourth major delay in performances this year for the much-mocked show.

The official opening was pushed back 27 days, from Jan. 11 to Feb. 7, because a key actor has missed several previews due to injury and after producers decided that the creative team needs to work out more kinks before allowing critics to weigh in.

“Due to some unforeseeable setbacks, most notably the injury of a principal cast member, it has become clear that we need to give the team more time to fully execute their vision,” lead producer Michael Cohl said in a statement Friday. “I have no intention of cutting a single corner in getting to the finish line.”

The $65 million musical was dreamed up by Tony Award-winning director and co-writer Julie Taymor and U2’s Bono and The

Edge, who wrote the music. More than eight years in the making, delays and money woes have plagued the show’s launch. In addition, three accidents have injured actors, including one who had both his wrists broken while practicing an aerial stunt.

The first preview on Nov. 28 did not go well. The musical had to be halted five times because of technical glitches and actress Natalie Mendoza — who plays Spider-Man’s evil love interest Arachne — was hit in the head by a rope and suffered a concussion. Her injury would eventually keep her sidelined for two weeks.

The show — whose costs easily dwarf Broadway’s last costliest show, the $25 million “Shrek the Musical” — may be about a comic book hero, but it has now itself become easy fodder for comics, with both Conan O’Brien and “Saturday Night Live” spoofing the show.

“The producers feel that the show is on track and they absolutely don’t want to open before the creative team has the opportunity to do everything they need to do to make it the show they want it to be,” said Rick Miramontez, a spokesman for the show.

While the show’s running time has been steadily cut and the number of in-show delays has dropped, audiences at previews seem confused about the role of Arachne and underwhelmed by the current finale.

Miramontez would not say what elements of the musical still need work. But he said the producers simply don’t want to open the show when it’s not ready. “The backstage mood is extremely upbeat,” he said.

“Everybody remains on their path.”

The songwriters, currently on tour with U2 in Australia, are due to return in January to help get the show ready. “When Bono and Edge are back from the tour, they will absolutely be at the theater, participating in the process,” Miramontez said.

In this theater publicity image released by The O and M Co., the Spider-Man character is suspended in the air in a scene from the musical ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,’ in New York.

AP Photo/The O and M Co., Jacob Cohl

Life Style

International

Bones found on Pacific island may belong to Amelia Earhart Agence France Presse

WELLINGTON - US aircraft history buffs are hopeful that tiny bones along with artefacts from the 1930s found on a remote Pacific island may reveal the fate of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart. In one of aviation’s most enduring mysteries, Earhart took off from Lae, in what is now Papua New Guinea, while attempting to circumnavigate the globe via the equator in 1937 and was never seen again.

A massive search at the time failed to find the flyer and her navigator Fred Noonan, who were assumed to have died after ditching their Lockheed Electra aircraft in the ocean, according to the Amelia Earhart Museum.

Now aviation enthusiasts from US-based group The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) say they

have evidence suggesting the pair made it safely to Nikumaroro Island in Kiribati and lived as castaways.

TIGHAR executive director Rick Gillespie said the group, which has carried out 10 expeditions to Nikumaroro over the past 22 years, found three small bone fragments on the uninhabited island earlier this year.

Gillespie said the bones appeared to be part of a human finger, although they could also be from a turtle, and had been sent to the Molecular Science Laboratories at Oklahoma University for DNA analysis.

“We’re very hopeful that this will produce the result we’re looking for,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Thursday.

AFP PHOTO / FILES

(FILES) An undated 1930’s file photo shows US aviator Amelia Earhart at the controls of an aircraft in Essonne, France. US aircraft history buffs are hopeful that tiny bones along with artefacts from the 1930s found on a remote Pacific island may reveal the fate of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart.

Sun’s Gravity Could Be Tapped to Call E.T. Our own sun might represent the best communications device around, if only we could harness its power, scientists say. If the sun’s gravity could be used to create a giant telescope, people could send and receive intensely magnified signals that could allow us to call an alien civilization, some researchers propose.

According to Einstein’s general relativity, the sun’s behemoth mass warps space-time around it, which

actually bends light rays passing by like a giant lens. If a detector was placed at the right focal distance to collect the light, the resulting image would be extremely magnified.

The only catch is, the nearest focal point is about 550 times the distance between the Earth and the sun. Nonetheless, eventually harnessing this power might enable Earth to view distant objects, communicate with interstellar probes, and even contact aliens, scientists

say. The technique could be applied to optical light, or longer-wavelength light in the radio spectrum, for example.

Plus, an even stronger network could be created by placing relay spacecraft near other stars to form “radio bridges” across the great voids between stars that weaken and distort cosmic communiques.

“If we use the sun as a gravitational lens, then we can keep in touch with our own probes even at

Monday, December 20, 2010

13

Review: Gingerbread makes Nexus S a smart cookie Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO – For some people, the holidays go hand in hand with gingerbread, in the form of houses or cookie-cutter men.

This year, you can add smart phones — specifically, the Nexus S, the first device running the freshest version of Google’s Android operating software, Gingerbread.

Developed by Google Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co., the phone AP Photo/Eric Risberg has a cool curved In this Dec. 13, 2010 photo, the Nexus S glass screen, backsmart phone from Google/Samsung , is and front-facing shown in San Francisco. cameras and the ability to read special tags on such things as stickers embedded with Near Field Communication chips. Combined with a fairly good price, it’s likely to be on a number of holiday wish lists.

Best Buy stores will sell it for $200 with a contract from TMobile, or for a more wallet-stretching $530 if you want it to work on either T-Mobile’s or AT&T’s network.

The Nexus S is the follow-up to the Nexus One, an HTC Corp. phone that Google trotted out early this year but stopped selling months later as plenty of similar Android-running devices became available.

Although Nexus One was a good phone, it wasn’t as amazing as Google thought it was. The company avoids this problem with the Nexus S, which is both a brainy and cool-looking handset.

First, let’s get to the brains. There are a number of subtle changes that come with Gingerbread, such as zippier overall performance.

The most obvious update is with the on-screen keyboard. It is better than previous versions of Android at recommending words as you type, such as last names and other words that you’ve typed before, but hadn’t been in the phone’s original dictionary. The keyboard features more space between keys and a multi-touch capability that make typing easier and speedier than on Froyo, Gingerbread’s Android predecessor.

The copy and paste tools are simplified in Gingerbread, too, with a little slider that appears on the screen that you can move to select text.

The phone’s most-touted feature has been its inclusion of Near Field Communication, or NFC, technology, which is a short-range wireless technology for transmitting data. This could ultimately function as a wireless payment system, eliminating the need for your wallet.

For now, though, Google is only letting the phone read NFC chips inserted in objects, such as movie posters you might pass at a bus stop. Once you are nearly touching one of these tags, the phone will automatically read it and, say, pull up a link to a film trailer. considerable interstellar distances,” said Claudio Maccone, technical director of the Paris-based International Academy of Astronautics, and author of a new study on the mechanics of the proposed technique. “This is key to exploring the neighborhood of our galaxy in the centuries to come,” he said.

And alien civilizations might have already discovered this means of long-distance calling, Maccone said.

If so, we might be able to intercept their messages. The research was detailed in a recent issue of the journal Acta Astronautica.

14

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sport

International

Barcelona top for Christmas after derby demolition Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Inter Milan team members celebrate winning the Club World Cup final soccer match against TP Mazembe at Zayed sport city in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010.

Inter lift Club World Cup crown Agence France Presse

ABU DHABI - European champions Inter Milan lifted the Club World Cup on Saturday after a 3-0 win in the Abu Dhabi final over African champions TP Mazembe. The Italians largely dominated proceedings and had the match in their pockets once Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto’o had bagged goals in quickfire succession inside the opening 20 minutes at Zayed Sports City.

Frenchman Jonathan Biabiany slid home a third to add further gloss in the closing stages as Inter succeeded last year’s winners Barcelona and added to Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 1964 and 1965 - a previous incarnation of the now expanded event.

The win meant that Inter chairman Massimo Moratti emulated his father Angelo, who held the post at the time of those two earlier successes. Mazembe, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, had already made history by becoming the first African team to reach the final after a 2-0 upset win over Copa Libertadores champions Internacional of Brazil in the semifinals - the biggest surprise in the 10-year history of the event.

But wily Inter proved a bridge too far as the experienced Italians struck early and then soaked up what limited and sporadic pressure the Africans were able to produce thereafter.

Inter had gone into the game hot favourites despite the injury absence of Dutch flier Wesley Sneijder - only the latest in a spate of injuries the Milanese have suffered this season, which had led to pressure on Inter coach Rafael Benitez as he attempts to replicate the success of the club last season under Jose Mourinho.

Adding the Club World Cup trophy to the Champions League,

Serie A and Italian Cup titles masterminded by his predecessor will relieve some of that pressure on the former Liverpool boss as he looks to lift Inter in the second half of the season from their current seventh spot in Serie A. Benitez, embraced by Moratti at the end, was a happy man having landed his first silverware since leaving Anfield - but also struck a cautious note.

“My relationship with the chairman is good - but I ask the club for help and respect - they did not come up with the goods after what they told me in the summer about (new) signings and so it’s not easy,” said the Spaniard in allusion to his desire to strengthen his injury-ravaged squad. But he insisted his overall relationship with the club was solid.

Mazembe have become a major force in the African game on the back of five league title wins in the last decade and also the last two editions of the African Champions League.

But Inter proved a class above as Pandev fired home a neat left-footed poke after Eto’o had helped tee him up in the 13th minute. Cameroon star Eto’o then claimed his own piece of the limelight as he drove in an instinctive right foot drive on the turn after Champions League final hero Diego Milito had combined with Esteban Cambiasso.

Milito should have made it three

after beating the offside trap but drove his shot against the feet of onrushing keeper Muteba Kidiaba, who had earlier led the customary goalline prematch prayer session for his teammates.

Brazilian defender Maicon went on the attack on the hour as Inter pressed for a third in style reminiscent of his World Cup goalscoring showing against North Korea - but could only hit the outside of the post as the Europeans continued to look comfortable.

Eto’o then tried to go it alone down the left rather than look for either substitute Stankovic or Milito but he ran into a forest of defenders and was hustled out of possession.

Again Inter came forward and Maicon whipped over a fine cross from the right in the 73rd minute but Pandev could not quite twist his head to make sufficient contact.

Inter had a brief but all too rare scare on 74 minutes when Dioko Kaluyituka went clear on goal but he lost his footing as he bore down on Inter keeper Julio Cesar, whom he tried to round but then knocked the ball too far before crumbling in a heap.

Biabiany, on for Milito, bundled home the third with five minutes to go after a Stankovic chip through the middle, to ensure that a European team would take the title for the fourth consecutive time.

Earlier, Internacional won the third-place play-off match 4-2 against South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa.

MADRID - Champions Barcelona will sit top of the Spanish first division for the Christmas break after notching a tenth successive league victory with a resounding 5-1 win over city rivals Espanyol at the Cornella-El Prat stadium on Saturday.

Spanish World Cup winners Pedro Rodriguez and David Villa grabbed two goals apiece with compatriot Xavi Hernandez, one of three players shortlisted for the Ballon D’Or crown, netting the other as Barcelona triumphed in the Catalan derby, and opened up a five-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.

Barcelona signed off 2010 in the perfect fashion, ending Espanyol’s 100 percent home record emphatically with a 5-1 thrashing and putting pressure on Real to win their game-in-hand against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Real have won all seven of their home matches in the league while Sevilla’s confidence is rock bottom after four successive league defeats.

Espanyol had a perfect seven wins and were flying high in fourth, however, Barcelona turned in a mesmerising display making it a remarkable 26 goals in their last five league matches with a drubbing of their local rivals to maintain their flawless away record with an eighth win.

“My team never cease to surprise me,” purred Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. “Espanyol had only conceded two goals at home in the league before this match and it isn’t a coincidence that they are up near the top of the table. “It is a great night for us because not only did we beat our local rival, but we also beat a very good team.”

Barca should have scored in the eighth minute with Dani Alves setting up Lionel Messi, but the Argentine somehow fired over the goal to let Espanyol off the hook. Messi made amends on 18 minutes by creating the opening goal with Pedro showing neat control to lay the ball off and Messi fed a incisive pass back into his team-mate’s path. Pedro raced clear and showed great composure to drill home.

The hosts were carved open again on 29 minutes as Barcelona released Xavi on the right. The playmaker watched as his centre ricocheted back to him and showed great technique to drive a volley into the opposite corner.

Barcelona made the running after the break and made it 3-0 close to the hour mark with Messi again the creator. The Argentine dribbled at incredible speed to leave three opponents in his slipstream and goalkeeper Carlos Kameni spilled his shot which allowed the alert Pedro to prod in the rebound.

Pablo Osvaldo quickly pulled a goal back for the home side, but Villa registered his tenth and 11th league goals of the campaign on 75 and 83 minutes to cap a memorable win.

It was an extra special night for Barcelona star Andres Iniesta who was warmly applauded by the home crowd that remembered his touching world Cup final tribute to former Espanyol captain Dani Jarque who died of a heart attack on August 8, 2009, at the age of 26.

After scoring the extra-time winning goal for Spain in the final, Iniesta lifted up his jersey to reveal a t-shirt for his close friend Jarque, declaring: “Dani Jarque, always with us”.

In other matches, Valencia took advantage of Espanyol’s defeat coming from behind to win 2-1 at promoted Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Argentine midfielder Tino Costa scored a terrific equaliser before Aritz Aduriz grabbed a stoppage time winner as Valencia moved above Espanyol into fourth.

Earlier on Saturday, Villarreal maintained their impressive unbeaten home record with a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca at El Madrigal to secure third place for the festive break.

AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE

Barcelona’s forward David Villa celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Espanyol RDC vs FC Barcelona on December 18, 2010 at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella de Llobregat. Barcelona won 5-1.

Sport

International

Monday, December 20, 2010

15

Champ Pascal to defend against ring legend Hopkins Agence France Presse

QUEBEC CITY - World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal will put his title on the line against a ring legend here on Saturday when he faces aging American warrior Bernard Hopkins.

“I’m going to bring my ‘A’ game and let’s see if the teacher can still teach,” the Haitian-born Canadian Pascal said on a conference call from his training camp in Miami last week. “I found some things I can exploit on December 18 — I have two or three surprises for him.”

Pascal, 28, was six years old when Hopkins made his pro debut in 1988, and the young champion is a heavy favorite against a challenger who will turn 46 next month.

Pascal’s last fight was a unanimous technical decision victory over previously unbeaten US

southpaw Chad Dawson on August 14, a bout halted by the ringside doctor in the 11th round after an accidental clash of heads opened a gash over Dawson’s right eye.

That sent the outcome to the scorecards and Pascal improved to 26-1 with his 17th victory inside the distance. It was Pascal’s third defense of the light heavyweight title he won with a 12-round decision over Adrian Diaconu on June 19, 2009.

Hopkins’ last fight was a 16round unanimous decision over Roy Jones jnr in a long-awaited rematch between two aging foes. Hopkins won on all three judges’ scorecards

to take his career record to 51-5-1 with 32 knockouts, but also dropped to a knee three times in the fight, including once in round 10 from an apparent low blow.

After the fight, Hopkins left the ring under his own power but collapsed in the dressing room and was briefly hospitalized.

Even so, Hopkins — who formerly unified four middleweight title belts — says the pundits who say it’s time for him to retire will be proved wrong on Saturday. “My life has been about proving people wrong,” Hopkins said. “Pascal has to worry about what I’m bringing to the table.

I’m known for ruining careers.”

Clippers end Bulls hot streak with rare road win Reuters

CHICAGO – Chicago guard Derrick Rose missed a free throw with less than a second left to hand the Los Angeles Clippers a 100-99 win over the Bulls on Saturday. The defeat is the Bulls’ first in eight games while the Clippers scored their second consecutive win on the road after losing their first 11 away from home this season.

The Clippers led by seven points with 42 seconds left, but the Bulls had trimmed that lead to two when Rose took a pass and drew a foul with 0.8 seconds left as he drove to the Clippers basket.

He made his first free throw but the second was short and bounced off the front of the rim. “I was gonna hit’em,” said Rose, of his thoughts as he went to the free throw line. “That’s basketball. I hope I get put in that position again. I know I’m not going to miss. It felt good, but I left it a bit short” Playing their second game in as many nights the Clippers outscored the Bulls 20-11 in the first six minutes of the game. “Our problem was our intensity to start,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. “In this league, you have to come ready to play every night, and if you don’t, you’re asking for trouble.”

The Bulls battled back but were outscored 33-22 in the second quarter by the Clippers thanks to Rasual Butler, who scored 11 points in the period to give Los Angeles a 6153 halftime lead.

The Clippers had five players score in double digits led by rookie Blake Griffin, who recorded his 15th consecutive double-double

with 29 points and 12 rebounds.

Rose led the Bulls with a gamehigh 34 points and Carlos Boozer added 25 points.

AP Photo/Charles Cherney

Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose drives on Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin during the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 100-99 in an NBA basketball game in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press - Francis Vachon

Jean Pascal, left, of Montreal, takes a right from Bernard Hopkins, of the USA, during their the WBC light heavy weight championship fight Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at the Quebec Colisee.

Henin eyes more Grand Slam titles, Olympics Agence France Presse

BEIJING - Former world number one and seven-time Grand Slam winner Justine Henin says she is not ruling out another major title despite seeing her comeback season cut short by an elbow injury. The Belgian, who will train in southern China this month before heading to Australia to open her 2011 season with the mixedteams Hopman Cup in January, also has her sights set on the 2012 London Olympics.

“Step by step I am heading in the right direction now, but only winning matches can give me that confidence,” Henin told the China Daily, as she passed through Beijing en route to tropical Hainan island. “I’ve been working very hard. If my elbow continues to improve in the next few weeks or months, I think I have good prospects for the future,” she said.

When asked about the possibility of winning another Grand Slam crown, the 28-year-old said: “If I am physically fine, I hope I can win another Grand Slam.”

She admitted that winning Wimbledon, the only Slam that has thus far eluded her, would be “fantastic”. She has twice been a finalist there. Henin’s 2010 comeback

season ended in June when she damaged a ligament in her right elbow at the All-England Club in a fall during her fourth-round loss to Belgian rival Kim Clijsters.

The four-time French Open champion returned to action earlier this month in an exhibition match against Clijsters, who took the match. Henin will pair with Steve Darcis for the Hopman Cup in Perth, where they are fourth seeds.

Henin admitted the rigours of life on the WTA Tour had taken their toll, and coming back in early 2010 after 18 months in retirement had not been easy.

“I had a pretty good start... but after playing tennis for 14 years it was physically very hard for me to come back. I am just slowly coming back to the top. I was never 100 percent fit this year,” she said.

Looking ahead, Henin — who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics — said she hopes to compete for another Olympic medal in London. “My goal is to play in London,” she said.

“Winning the gold in Athens was one of the best moments of my career. It’s special playing in the Olympics. You are playing for your nation and you don’t feel alone on court.”

16

Monday, December 20, 2010

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Sport

Webber demonstrates car for Thai King

Mark Webber demonstrated Red Bull’s Formula 1 showcar in front of a crowd in 150,000 in Thai capital Bangkok yesterday as part of the Thai King’s 84th birthday celebrations.

Webber, who had met King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Friday, demonstrated the car on the city’s Rajdamnoen Avenue. The crowd was the largest so far for one of Red Bull’s showcar events.

The team’s programme of street demonstrations this year has already seen its car running in Dubai, Poland, Lithuania, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Northern Ireland, as well as more traditional F1 nations such as Britain, Italy, Australia and Germany.

IBP/ist

Fernando Alonso

Alonso: 2011 rule changes will succeed Fernando Alonso is confident that Formula 1’s rule-makers have hit upon the solution to the sport’s lack of overtaking with the arrival of moveable wings and the return of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) next year.

The wing device will allow drivers to activate an F-duct-style drag-reduction system when within a prescribed distance behind a car ahead, giving the chasing driver a straightline speed advantage over their opponent who will not be able to trigger their own wing device in defence.

In parallel with this new initiative, the power-boosting KERS will be reintroduced after a oneyear absence.

Previous attempts to improve the racing in F1, such as 2009’s aerodynamic changes, have not proved particularly successful, but doub le world champion Alonso thinks the new rules package will succeed.

“Obviously every year nor-

mally Formula 1 changes rules to make it more spectacular, to have more overtaking manoeuvres and to have a better show,” said Alonso in an interview provided by the Ferrari press office.

“It’s true that in 2011 there are two big changes to the regulations, which is the KERS and the rear wing that we can move when we have an overtaking possibility.

I think these two combined give us a speed advantage that is quite big compared to the car in front.

“So I’m confident that next year, finally, the rules will help overtaking and we will have a better show for everybody.” He added that the combination of KERS, the wing system and the change to Pirelli tyres would pose a major

challenge for teams’ designers as they tried to ensure their 2011 cars got the maximum out of all three.

“One of the most important is the tyres, which normally change the behaviour of the car, so we have to make sure that Pirelli is well coordinated with our car,” said Alonso.

“Then we have the KERS, which comes back from 2009, and in 2011 will be a very important tool for overtaking and also for performance. We need to find a way of preparing the car to use the KERS in the best way possible.

“Then there is the moveable rear wing, that will try to make a better show, but also is a new area to experiment and exploit for performance.”

Rea: Honda MotoGP test unbelievable Jonathan Rea described his fourday MotoGP test with Honda this week as a ‘dream come true’ - but says he is still focused on World Superbikes for now.

The 23-year-old from Northern Ireland, who has finished in the top five in World Superbikes for Ten Kate Honda in both his seasons in the championship, had a four-day run with

Honda’s MotoGP test team at Sepang.

The originally-scheduled three-day session was extended to make up for time lost to rain.

“Riding the RC212V has been an unbelievable experience for me,” said Rea. “A four-day test is a dream that became true and I am really happy that HRC invited me here in Sepang.”

Rea said that by Friday he was feel-

ing totally comfortable on the MotoGP Honda, despite having not totally recovered from a wrist injury sustained at the Imola Superbike event.

“I started feeling the bike is ‘my bike’ and I had some good feeling riding it,” he said. “I hope I have been able to give the engineers some useful comments, even if my physical condition was not the best because my wrist is still not 100 per cent.”

AFP PHOTO / PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL

Formula One Red Bull driver Mark Webber passes Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Avenue in Bangkok during a “Red Bull Street Kings, Bangkok 2010” event on December 18, 2010.