Nine-year-old singer Sherina a breath of fresh air By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): You don't ask Sherina about the shows she has done. Or the time when she recorded her first album. Or the various awards she has garnered, including the recent nominations she received for the upcoming Indonesian Music Awards (AMI). No, the spunky, energetic nine-year-old singer would shrug her shoulders and say "Ask my Mom" should such questions come her way.

Eros Djarot wants to be proud being Indonesian By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Seize the day are simple words for some, but they pose a challenge to popular composer, film director-producer and businessman Eros Djarot, gifted with many talents and does not waste them.

'Warung' as a place for reconciliation By Degung Santikarma DENPASAR, Bali (JP): As evening approaches a village in the south of Bali, the routine begins. The soft tones of cowbells fill the narrow lanes as the animals are led back to their pens. Farmers exchange friendly greetings as they pass each other on the way home from their rice fields. The laughter of children bathing in the river is broken by the sound of their mothers calling them to eat their supper.

Ananda receives kudos from Megawati JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has thrown her weight behind Indonesian Formula 3000 driver Ananda Mikola's ambition to promote the country during competition seasons abroad. Ananda's father, Tinton Suprapto, quoted Megawati as saying that Ananda's achievement on the international circuit would help Indonesia to improve its image. She made the comment at a Friday evening meeting at her residence with Ananda and Tinton.

Vendor of Tears By Prasetyohadi The compound housing the building of the People's Consultative Assembly and the House of People's Representatives (MPR/DPR) was noisy with students crowding the yard, filling up the stairs and even perching in great numbers on the roof. They hoisted flags and stretched out banners, shouting in a loud voice that dealt the sky a hard blow. Laymen crowded the street, taking a position very close to the front fence.

Guess What? Woman rocker Sylvia Saartje is working hard to rejuvenate her musical career. Once known as Indonesia's Janis Joplin, Sylvia, or Jippi, is shopping her new album around to producers. "I want to release my newest creation, a mix of alternative rock, blues and pop music. I still need to find a producer," the woman who graced Indonesia's male-dominated rock stages in the early 1970s said from Malang, East Java.

Fish market lures tourists despite the pungent odors JAKARTA (Antara): Just like other large cites in the world, Jakarta, in addition to having modern, shiny buildings, also has other dirtier and smellier places. But such places can attract tourists. The fish market in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, is one such place.

Corrupt legal system blocks justice for all By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Spouses who want a divorce not only have to face the sorrow of a family breakup, but also must deal with Indonesia's often corrupt legal system. Susi (not her real name) felt trapped in her unhappy marriage and wanted a divorce. However, her husband refused to grant her the divorce, so she took the case to court and lost.

Y2 what? Recognizing the virus that will crash your computers By E. Effendi JAKARTA (JP): Just when you thought you've had enough with bugs in your life, we have to deal with a new variety of bugs. These bugs are entirely different from the ordinary bugs that we see everyday in our houses. When we think about bugs, we usually think about something that crawls under desks, leaves a stain or two and takes years to get rid of.

Special disabled school faces community reluctance YOGYAKARTA (JP): SLB Darma Putera, a school for the disabled, was established in the Semin subdistrict, Gunungkidul, to accommodate some 600 local mentally handicapped people in the region. However, the school only has 36 students. "The toughest task is indeed making local people understand the importance of sending their intellectually disabled children to the school," said Sutarti, 41, one of the teachers.

Sinta Nuriyah, a down-to-earth first lady By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): It was not very long ago when Sinta Nuriyah, 51, was ironing the clothes Abdurrahman Wahid, her husband of almost 30 years and now President of the fourth largest country in the world, had washed. If there was a need, Abdurrahman also would willingly wash the dishes after his wife had cooked and served their meal.

Balinese art museums need more maintenance By Rosemarie F. Oei UBUD, Bali (JP): Since at least before World War II, Balinese artworks have left the island through sales and exhibitions. Foreign artists residing in Bali in the 1930s like Rudolf Bonnet and the Balinese themselves became concerned about how to keep the artworks in their place of origin.

Neiss gives green light after government talks JAKARTA (JP): International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss ended his one-week visit late on Friday, satisfied over Indonesia's handling of the high-profile Bank Bali scandal.

PwC affirms authenticity of report JAKARTA (JP): PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) managing partner Kemal Stamboel affirmed on Friday the authenticity of the copy of its audit of the Bank Bali scandal now in the hands of the House of Representatives. However, Kemal said there were some apparent discrepancies in the circulated report at the House due to technical problems during photocopying.

Boar's trilogy reflects people's aspirations By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The Trilogi Celeng (Trilogy of the Wild Boar) exhibition, which features painter Djoko Pekik's works at the Galeri Nasional, Nov. 5-12, is likely astonish most viewers, if not due to the subject matter of the works, then certainly due to the size and number that are displayed.

How much politics is too much? JAKARTA (JP): "My mom has turned into some sort of a political animal," complained a friend of mine as she entered my car, "I call it newspaper politics." "Is it so bad to actually follow what's going on?" I asked her. "I guess it shouldn't be. It just tires me to hear her talking about it all the time. Besides, I care little about politics anyway," she said.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Cooking Program 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Drama 12:15 p.m. Comedy 1:00 TV Series 2:30 Children's Song 3:00 Sports 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Documentary 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Music and Mode 10:30 TV Drama 11:35 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Guide gives insight into Jakarta's cultural riches The Jakarta Explorer, Cultural Tours in and Around the City; Publication coordinator: Diana Pabst Parsell; Updated version; Indonesian Heritage Society, Jakarta, 1999; xx and 302 pages; Rp 100,000. JAKARTA (JP): "We learn about how places made history, how people made places, how Jakarta grew, developed and changed", said then-chairwoman of the Indonesian Heritage Society, Mary de Tray, in the foreword to this guide.

Local gemstone market works its magic By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): It is something like entering into the fabled cave of Ali Baba where 40 thieves piled up camel loads of loot from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. But unlike the treasure cave of the Arabian Nights, no cabalistic words are required here to stand in the midst of the mounds and mounds of all that glitter and glimmer.

International Film Festival hits Jakarta's silver screens JAKARTA (JP): Here is the ultimate test for Jakarta film buffs: Can they sit in a darkened movie theater watching films back-to-back for hours on end for several consecutive days? They would probably say "been there, done that" with the week- long British Film Festival or the French Film Week coming to town regularly every year. The city's moviegoers are probably used to watching six to seven films on the big screen at a stretch.

Parents' blessings crucial in the life of designer Edo By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): What is wrong if a woman wears her hair in a ponytail but is clad in the national dress of a sarong, kebaya blouse and a pair of stiletto shoes? The answer is everything! According to fashion designer Edward Hutabarat, a sarong is not intended to be paired with a kebaya blouse. The kebaya, a long-sleeved traditional blouse with buttons, or pins, in the front, can only matched be with a batik dress.

Indonesia strives to woo investors SINGAPORE (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid appealed here on Saturday to the international community, including ethnic Chinese Indonesians, to reinvest their capital in Indonesia with the promise of equal and fair treatment for all. Speaking on the first stop of an eight nation southeast Asian tour, with wily political tact, the President even spoke a few welcoming words in Chinese to a gathering of businesspeople.

Life is bewildering My nephew, who is an ardent admirer of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), followed closely on television the presidential voting between Megawati Soekarnoputri and Abdurrahman Wahid. When Megawati finally lost the battle, he was so disappointed and angry that he vented his anger by punching the wall in front of him. He grimaced with pain when he smashed his knuckles. I don't know how to describe such behavior; is it overacting or simply childish?

Former Bank Bali chiefs placed to house arrest JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung and Attorney General Marzuki Darusman played a key role in permitting former Bank Bali president Rudy Ramli and three former directors to move from detention centers to be placed under house arrest, a lawyer said on Saturday. "I met Akbar Tandjung in his office at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and coincidentally Pak Marzuki was also there," Bob R.E.

Wismoyo denies claims unveiled in PwC report JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar denied on Friday evening claims made in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report that he received Rp 29.2 billion (US$4.3 million) from Bank Bali through PT Glora Raya Dianaabadi. "That's not true.

Bhinneka fans put pressure on players SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Sports teams expect support from their home fans, but sometimes this support can result in disaster. Just such a seeming contradiction occurred in the fifth series of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league here last weekend, when host Bhinneka Sritex fell to Surabaya-based Pacific Bank Swadesi 80-89.

Optimism for new cabinet From Rakyat Merdeka There have been many disgruntled comments on the newly formed National Unity Cabinet. The critics have expressed their doubts about the professionalism of the new ministers. I believe that President Abdurrahman Wahid's selection of assistants was the best decision although it does not satisfy all sides. I trust that the ministers can carry out their task in accordance with the people's hopes and expectations.