Life and music inseparable for Aida Swenson By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Life and music is inseparable for Aida Swenson Simanjuntak. Her eyes shine brightly, as she says, "Music has enriched my whole life." A few years ago, the name of Aida Swenson was not recognized in the Indonesian music circle. Now, she is one of the most talked-about individuals in the serious music community.

Score Roundup Badminton (players Indonesian unless stated) Men's singles: Alan Budi Kusuma bt Ardy B. Wiranata 15-10, 15-3 Joko Suprianto bt Chen Gang (Chn) 15-2, 15-7 Women's singles Susi Susanti bt Lim Xiao Qing (Swe) 11-2, 11-5 Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Mia Audina 11-6, 4-11, 11-7 Men's doubles Sakrapee Thongsari/Pramote Teerawiwatana (Thai) bt Denny Kantono/S.

Foreign tourists opt for traditional Balinese weddings By Intan Petersen DENPASAR (JP): Bali offers tourists more than just beaches and exotic culture, but also a place to solemnize and celebrate one of the most important events in life -- their wedding. Many still remember that in 1991 the legendary lead singer of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, married his long-time girlfriend and world-renowned model Jerry Hall in a traditional Balinese wedding.

Indiscriminate pickpocket SURABAYA (JP): Where there is sugar, there are ants, goes a well-known Indonesian proverb. Where there is festivity, even a religious occasion, there are pickpockets. That was what happened at the Istiqlal Festival II 1995's Tabligh Akbar (great sermon), held at Surabaya's Great Mosque Sunan Ampel on Friday night. And sure enough, the pickpockets didn't work halfheartedly. They chose celebrities as their victims.

One-stop wedding shop offers complete package JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians are influenced by foreign ways, American in particular, in many aspects of life. However, when it comes to getting married, they adhere to tradition. This orthodoxy hasn't escaped the attention of those in the wedding business. Puri Ayu Martha Tilaar, a one-stop beauty center in South Jakarta, is an example. As a center for traditional beauty care, Puri Ayu concentrates on traditional weddings.

Wedding invitation designs develop JAKARTA (JP): A reporter of the Jakarta-based Jakarta-Jakarta magazine recently distributed an unlicensed four-page mini newspaper. He wasn't arrested -- even though the Indonesian press law requires all media to have a publishing permit. No, he wasn't well connected or even lucky, what he handed out was an invitation to his wedding. Designed to look like a newspaper, the invitation didn't explicitly announce the date, place or time of the wedding.

City weddings: Thousands feast, newly weds dutiful By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): The back entrance to the Sahid Jaya hotel was full of people. The driveway was littered with colossal flower arrangements spelling out "Congratulations". A Jakarta wedding reception was underway. But it was not yet 7 p.m., and the bulk of the guests had yet to arrive. The people cramming the doorway were not friends or relatives of the bride or groom, but tourists curious about all the glamour.

Indonesia assured of two medals at badminton Cup JAKARTA (JP): Two All-Indonesia clashes, in the men's singles and the women's doubles, will highlight this evening's finals of the World Cup badminton championships in the Senayan indoor stadium. Whether Joko Suprianto can extend his 6-2 winning streak over Alan Budikusuma is one question. The other question involves which two women's doubles are better: Rosiana Zelin and Eliza, or Lili Tampi and Finarsih.

'Bar-obics' essential in bartender championship JAKARTA (JP): Sam, the womanizing bartender on the popular TV program Cheers, is the epitome of a great bartender who keeps his clients perched on their barstools.

Guess What? Who would have thought that Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono was an entertainer? And a good one, too. During a thanksgiving gathering of the Pesta Rakyat (People's Party) committee, the organizers of the great musical show on Aug. 12 were treated to Moerdiono taking the stage of Pasir Putih restaurant in South Jakarta. Without the slightest hesitation, the minister grabbed the microphone and launched into Koes Ploes' Telaga Biru and Ke Jakarta and Panbers' Awal Dari Cinta.

Popularity of sex shops moves upwards in the city By Imran Rusli JAKARTA (JP): "Rringg!" "Hello, Maryati?" "Speaking." "Please deliver a dildo to Chintya, Radio Dalam No. ... On the double, eh. I need it fast." "No problem, Miss." "That's one of my customers," Maryati explained while putting down the phone. It is also one of the calls that causes the phone on the shopkeeper's desk in East Jakarta's Jatinegara to ring frequently.

Lawyers bear brunt of Bekasi court violence By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Two lawyers were beaten black and blue by an angry mob early this week. Their mistake: Defending three men accused of gang-raping a woman and her two teenage daughters. Lawyers Petrus Bala Pattyona and Hendar Puji Astoro were stoned, hit, kicked and trampled outside the Bekasi District Court, about half-an-hour's drive from Jakarta.

How much does a wedding party cost in Jakarta? By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Weddings in Jakarta can cost nothing. Kidding? No. The Social Affairs Office of the Jakarta administration routinely funds and organizes mass wedding parties for vagrants and prostitutes to force them from a life of promiscuity to a decent life of matrimony. But who is willing to pledge fidelity to a vagrant or prostitute to get a free wedding?

Urban people prefer traditional weddings JAKARTA (JP): Although Indonesian families are becoming more democratic -- with parents allowing their children the freedom to make their own decisions and choose their own paths -- most parents still have the last say when it comes to a wedding. Many try to preserve centuries-old traditions, even though they lead a very modern life. This is because they believe the rituals enrich their lives.

Time worry The letter by Behme on Indonesian time (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 10, 1995) reminds me of a story I learned while a student in the mid 1950s. It happened that somebody wanted to know exactly how much two times two actually is. So he flew abroad to find out from people he met in different countries. When he landed in Frankfurt he asked the first German he met, who just happened to be a mathematician.

Investors urged to support RI development CILEGON, West Java (JP): President Soeharto has urged foreign investors to support Indonesia's policies in national development while they are doing businesses in Indonesia. "We do indeed open our door for foreign investments but we expect them to nurture Indonesia's spirit, orientation and destination in its development," Soeharto said at the inaugural ceremony of the country's first olefin plant in Cilegon, West Java, yesterday.

Benyamin fund set up JAKARTA (JP): Starting next week, the private-owned television station ANteve will open bank account No: 011.005.0224 at Nusa Bank for those who want to make donations for the establishment of a Betawi (Jakarta's native people) cultural center.

What the West has to know about Indonesia Western criticism of Indonesia is often based on a superficial reading of the country. Leonard C Sebastian looks at the issue. On Aug. 17, Indonesia celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Indonesian story drably detailed Indonesia Comes of Age: 50 Years of Independence Richard I Mann, editor Gateway Books, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1995 202 pages JAKARTA (JP): "You are interested in Indonesia but you have concerns. You don't know how things are done in Indonesia. You don't speak the language. Yet you want to know about all the opportunities and problems which may impact your business." The opening paragraph of the synopsis gives you the basic idea of what this book is about.

Guess What? Twilite Orchestra's director Addie M.S. wasn't the only one concerned if his orchestra's Simponi Kemerdekaan (Independence Symphony) concert at the Bogor Palace on Sept. 9 would be a success. The Executive Chairman of the National Committee for the 50th Independence Anniversary Emil Salim was also worried. His was a different kind of worry, though. Addie was likely anxious about the orchestra's performance, but Emil? He was worried it would rain.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit with Berty Tilarso 7:40 Film 8:05 Culture Program 8:35 Children's Stories 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Music 10:45 Youth Program 11:15 Science Program 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m.

'Former Points of View' depicts life in colonial era By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Postcards, I am sure, have been used to solve murders in movies. What could offer better clues? The picture shows where the sender was and the postmark shows when he or she sent the card. What is written on the card also hints at the sender's train of thought and the relationship between the sender and the addressee.