What is an ideal house? JAKARTA (JP): People have different ideas about houses. We interviewed a number about their houses and what they thought an ideal house would be like. Here are some of their comments: Apong Herlina, 29, lawyer. She lives with her younger sister in a rented house in East Jakarta: I want to have a small house with a big garden, where I can grow shady trees to beat the heat of the city. Well, Jakarta is hot and I think the trees will help a lot.

Permadi denies denigrating Prophet Muhammad JAKARTA (JP): Soothsayer Permadi, who has become the target of a Moslem backlash, denied yesterday the accusation that he once suggested that Prophet Muhammad was a dictator. More people condemned the controversial soothsayer yesterday, with one even likening him to Salman Rushdie, the Indian-born British author who was condemned by Moslems worldwide for blasphemy against Islam through his book Satanic Verses.

'Ngaben': A grand ritual of time , money and tradition By Benito Lopulalan GIANYAR, Bali (JP): The sacred and beautiful, a performing art for sawa, the corpse, a debt payment -- the way the living return what the dead once gives -- all that is what ngaben stands for. All the good things one has given during one's life to his family and community is paid back when a ngaben ceremony is held. A special ngaben took place in Singapadu, Gianyar Regency on Tuesday for Tjokorde Gde Agung ("Pak Cok").

A house more than a place to live for Ciputra Text by T. Sima Gunawan, photos by Arief Hidajat JAKARTA (JP): The closer you are to Ciputra's house, the less of the city's hustle-bustle you hear. As you step into his yard, you forget you're in Jakarta. The elegant house is situated in a peaceful neighborhood of an elite housing estate in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta. Finding the place is easy. "Turn left and go ahead.

Argentinean gets first major title JAKARTA (JP): Unknown Argentinean Jose Cantero, who has never won a major international event, got what he has been dreaming of when he fired a final round 4-under par-68 to win the Sampoerna Indonesia Open championship by one shot yesterday. Cantero fired six fine birdies but dropped a stroke at the par five 18th when his shot landed dead on the rough and missed a put for a bogey.

Diamond industries in Indonesia, Belgium to improve ties By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has long been recognized for its potential as a diamond producing country, yet it seems unable to keep up with the growth in global trade. Indonesia's diamond and jewelry trade has much potential for growth. The abundant resources in the diamond mines of Kalimantan and Indonesian craftsmanship support this fact.

Architecture in Indonesia, a project in progress By Bagoes P. Wiryomartono JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is seasoned with a diversity of building traditions resulting from land and aquatic cultural evolution. For several centuries houses on stilts with steep roofs formed the regional identity. The openness of the archipelago to the outside world constituted a formative structure of flexibility and impermanence of human settlement for centuries.

RI boxers to take on Thais in SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia gears up for an upbeat challenge against Thailand's foreseeable dominance in the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai in December. "Playing before their home crowd, Thai boxers are out to haul in as many gold medals as they can.

Short story One of the dangers of writing fiction in the first person is that it may be taken as truth. This was clearly the case with my short story, originally entitled Prakla, which appeared as an "article" in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 26 with a headline (written by the editors) instead of the title. I hereby inform all readers of the Post that the "article" which appeared under my name is a work of fiction, and was indicated to be such in the letter which accompanied its submission.

Urban problems hot subject throughout Southeast Asia Douglas Webster examines the challenges and opportunities facing the urban environment in ASEAN. The urban environment has become one of the leading issues in the ASEAN states. "Brown issues", as urban environmental concerns are now labeled, are surpassing "green issues", that is, primarily rural environmental issues, in terms of public concern and debate.

Boy's 15 minutes of fame rigged by quiz show By James Penha JAKARTA (JP): A member of the original television generation, I grew up in front of a small cathode ray tube. Color cartoons in black and white, I Love Lucy, and especially the quiz shows made up my day. I think I gained more cultural literacy from Hal March, Jack Barry, Bert Parks and all the other TV quizmasters than from my beloved books.

Be careful when buying diamonds: DIC expert JAKARTA (JP): Be careful when buying a diamond, otherwise you'll be very disappointed, warns a diamond expert. "Two diamonds that look alike may be very different. And two diamonds of equal size can be very different in value. Diamonds are unique. Unless we are knowledgeable, all diamonds may look similar," said Nanny Budiman of the Diamond Information Center (DIC).

Signs, signs everywhere signs! JAKARTA (JP): Jak Jaunt may be content to laze in the back of a cab, oblivious to the traffic around him. But he is missing a lot. Jakarta's traffic signs are an endless source of excitement. Having an international driver's license doesn't mean you will grasp the intricacies of driving in Jakarta. Not only because the roads are poor and crowded -- other big cities are even worse -- but because you will certainly face unique traffic signs.

Body of hanged maid welcome as hero SAN PABLO, Philippines (Agencies): Thousands of Filipinos, angry at both the Manila and Singapore governments, jammed into the small town of San Pablo yesterday to pay their last respects to a Filipina maid hanged in Singapore for murder.

From an Atlanta drugstore to a giant multinational Secret Formula: How Brilliant Marketing and Relentless Salesmanship Made Coca-Cola the Best Known Product in the World; Frederick Allen; 500 pages; Published by HarperBusiness, New York JAKARTA (JP): Question: Name one person who built Coca-Cola into the world's largest multinational company. Answer: None. Coca-Cola's success is too big to be attributed to a single individual.

Hatta: A quiet thinker with bright ideas By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): There was a contrast between Indonesia's two founding fathers, president Sukarno and vice president Mohammad Hatta. Sukarno was a remarkable orator who could keep the audience in a trance with his compelling and passionate speeches. Hatta, though, was a quiet person who talked more through his eyes. "Father did not talk much.

Architects face world competition By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Following last November's APEC summit, Indonesian architects will be faced with new challenges. At a time when many Indonesian firms are struggling to get commissions, the opening of the market to the international scene will bring greater competition. Indonesian architects already compete with foreign architects.

Thomas Klestil expected JAKARTA (JP): Austrian President Thomas Klestil is due to arrive here tomorrow for a three-day state visit, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced yesterday. Klestil's visit is aimed chiefly at strengthening economic ties between the two countries, Moerdiono told reporters at the Bina Graha Presidential Palace. He made the statement after accompanying Indonesia's Ambassador to Austria, Agus Tarmizi, to report to President Soeharto about the planned visit.

Europeans grab singles titles at All-England BIRMINGHAM, England (Agencies): European shuttlers spoiled Indonesia's badminton supremacy when they took all singles titles at the All-England championships yesterday. Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen scored one of Denmark's greatest successes when he whipped world number one Hariyanto Arbi 17-16, 15-6 to win the All-England men's singles title.

Indonesia enters post-mo in architecture Foreign influence on the architecture of Jakarta and its surrounding area has resulted in the city's houses and buildings becoming more and more internationalized. The Jakarta Post interviews experts on foreign influence, the U.S. in particular, on local architecture. The following is the excerpt of their views. JAKARTA (JP): One impact of globalization is housing designs in Indonesia have become more varied than ever.

Guess What? Gemala Hatta Not only was Indonesia's first president Sukarno a womanizer, he was a matchmaker as well. It was Sukarno who found a match for vice president Mohammad Hatta. "Father married mother because of Bung Karno," Hatta's second daughter Gemala Hatta told reporters Tuesday at a memorial service for Hatta who died on March 14, 1980. Held at Rahmi Hatta's residence on Jl. Diponegoro, Central Jakarta, the gathering started with a religious ritual.

Politician and publisher Soegeng given a hero's burial JAKARTA (JP): The late Soegeng Widjaja, a retired Army brigadier general who went on to become a politician and newspaper publisher, was given a military burial at the Kalibata heroes' cemetery in South Jakarta yesterday afternoon.

Guess What? Mien Uno "Indonesian tycoons like Ciputra, Liem Sioe Liong, Sudwikatmono, Murdaya, Eka Tjipta Widjaja, Tahiya, Ibrahim Risjad, Mochtar Riady and Nursalim should concern themselves more with preserving national culture," said Mien Uno, director of the Indonesian chapter of the John Robert Power school of personality development based in Boston.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fresh with Betty Tilarso 7:40 TV Series: Vicky The Viking 8:10 Around Us: Fresh Water Fish of Indonesia 8:40 TV Series: Voltron 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Music 10:45 Youth Program 11:15 Lacak Dunia with Rano Karno 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang ke Gelanggang 12:45 p.m.