Spending money in pursuit of coolness By William Furney JAKARTA (JP): The British comedian Eddie Izzard once said that coolness was the pursuit of youth and for some time now the youth of many Asian countries has been looking to the West in attempts to become the hippest, coolest, trendiest young things around. Take the youth of Japan for instance. The world and his mother known how "in" they are.

So, what else is new? JAKARTA (JP): Gus Dur and my wife share the same priority in facing the new year. The priority is, shaping up their respective Cabinet! My wife with her kitchen cabinet, and Gus Dur, as President Abdurrahman Wahid is popularly known, with his government Cabinet. In our home, it has been mutually agreed since day one that the mother of my children has full authority over the kitchen cabinet. Nobody is to put anything in it without her approval.

RI boxers fail in pre-Olympics bouts JAKARTA (JP): Two more Indonesian boxers were abruptly defeated in the second match of the pre-qualifying round for the 2000 Olympic Games at Tae Jeon City in South Korea on Saturday. Suwardoyo, competing in the flyweight division, and Willem Papilaya (light middleweight) trailed the earlier downfalls for teammates Marwan Muling (lightweight) and Steve Binalay (light welterweight) who both lost on points in the opening of the qualifying round.

Yogyakarta artist likens reform to fashion trend By Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): "Reform", which, as a word proper and a yell, is expected to bring about a change for the better in our social and political lives, and after Soeharto's fall, it has been shouted by Indonesians in places across the country. Unfortunately, it is nothing but fashion.

Why literature is not popular among students By A. Chaedar Alwasilah BANDUNG (JP): Literature is simply defined as a collection of the best writings. How good is the best? It is judged using a set of criteria accepted by the literary community. Members of this community share commonality, expectations, and values inherent in literary works. All of these constitute a convention established throughout a nation's civilization and is passed on through education.

Spotligth Photo G: Crowne Crowne Plaza MONEY, SUGAR AND RICE: Stefan Voogel, general manager of Hotel Crowne Plaza Jakarta, hands over a check to Haj Abdullah of Baitul Al Muklisin Mosque, while Albert Hinsen, the hotel executive assistant manager, looks on. The hotel also donated sugar and rice to nearby residents celebrating Idul Fitri.

RI shooters' chances 'slim' in qualifying for Olympics: Official JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian female shooters have slim chance of qualifying for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in September due to their poor world record, the Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association official in charge of target shooting, Sita Razni, said on Saturday.

Singaporean dancer displays her talent in five solo pieces By Julianti Parani SINGAPORE (JP): Amid the hustle and bustle of modern Singapore, where the rivers of culture from East and West meet, a vibrant arts scene resonates. One can take delight in enjoying a myriad of modern dance, music, theater, international acts, world-class exhibitions and other exciting events.

RI makes top ten in Transnational bridge event JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia men's team finished in the top 10 of the Transnational Contract Bridge World Championships at Bermuda Islands on Thursday. Indonesia collected 266 Victory Points (VPs), as did France. Kompas daily also reported that the national women's team earned 233 VPs to finish in the 43rd position. Both teams competed in the Transnational after they failed in early championships of Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup.

Taking in the stunning panorama of Mount Merapi By Ahmad Solikan BOYOLALI, Central Java (JP): Thin layers of fog carried on the wind penetrated the darkness slowly enveloping the villages clinging to the slopes of Mount Merapi in Central Java. In the yard of an old house built in the traditional Javanese style with plaited bamboo walls, a number of foreign tourists stepped off a white minibus and were warmly welcomed by four guides who had been on standby since the afternoon.

'Gajah Uling' batik: The pride of Banyuwangi By Antariksawan Jusuf BANYUWANGI, East Java (JP): When the name Banyuwangi is mentioned, many Indonesians think of it as the land of erotic Gandrung dance. But not many of them realize the significance of the type of batik worn by the dancers. It is certainly not the Surakarta batik with rich creams and browns juxtaposed by yellowish gold. Nor is it the somber opulence of brown and blue dyes as in the Yogyakarta style.

Mataram refugees put heavy strain on Bali DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The influx of refugees from riot-hit Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, to Denpasar and its vicinity is feared to create food and health problems. Priest Benedictus Benimary, who is active in helping the refugees, said here on Saturday that almost 5,000 refugees had packed churches, seminaries and residents' houses. "The refugees also need food, clothes, blankets and medicine. We can handle them just for a few days.

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 2:00 News 2:30 Children's Song 3:00 Sports 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Music 5:30 Sports 6:00 News (in English) 6:30 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 8:00 Variety Show 9:00 World News 9:30 TV Drama 10:30 Music 11:30 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Museums need to change with times: Expert By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Sudarmadji Damais, popularly known as Adjie Damais, knows a thing or two about museums. The head of the Jakarta History Museum from 1989 to 1999 has spent more than a quarter century in the museum world, earning respect for his part in the stunning makeover of the Taman Fatahillah area in North Jakarta.

New concepts needed to enliven museums Visiting museums is not what people here like to do. For them, museums are dull and unattractive. Why do they have such an idea? What should be done to improve their attitudes? The Jakarta Post's team of writers Rita A. Widiadana, Bruce Emond, Tam Notosusanto and Mehru Jaffer explore the issue. JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's museums are clearly losing out to more dynamic and vibrant entertainments.

'Social workers' make money from damaged roads By Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): For most people, potholes in the road are a major annoyance as you drive around them to avoid breaking an axle or chassis. To others, however, they are not so much an irritant as a way of making something resembling a meager income. These people are more aggravating than the potholes themselves.

Guided museum tours take the historical route By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): It started with some inquisitive members of Jakarta's expatriate community wanting to know more about a city that is home to more than 300 ethnic groups from all over the Indonesian archipelago and has been constantly adopting the people and customs of many foreign countries for centuries as well.

UN blamed for E. Timor TB cases By Joanne Collins DILI, East Timor (Reuters): From his ramshackle clinic in one of Dili's backstreets, Dr. Dan Murphy says the easily preventable disease tuberculosis is killing too many East Timorese. And he blames the United Nations administration. Murphy is the longest-serving Western doctor in the territory and worked without official permission from Indonesia until East Timor's de facto independence in September.

Religious leaders join forces in preventing riots JAKARTA (JP): In a fresh call for harmony, leaders of five religious communities pledged on Saturday to maintain peace and support for strict measures against perpetrators of violence. Muslim representative Habib Ali bin Abdurrahman Assegaf, Protestant representative Rev.

Candra and Tony clinch spot in Taipei Open JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia was saved a place in the men's doubles final of the US$150,000 Chinese Taipei Open after top seeds Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan defeated Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung of South Korea in Saturday's semifinals. Candra and Tony won 15-11, 8-15, 15-6 to face Malaysians Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock, the 1996 Olympic Games silver medalists, on Sunday.

Presumption of innocence From Neraca Apparently not everybody understands the principle of presumption of innocence. It is not rare that the defendant in a case experiences a trial by the press as well as a trial by the public. It happens because law enforcers, either intentionally or not, issue statements which put the defendant in a tight spot before there is a clarification in a court of justice.

Guess What? Eko Patrio A bachelor often becomes anxious when he turns 30, especially when it comes to girlfriends. Eko Hendro Purnomo, a member of the Patrio group of comedians, better known as Eko Patrio, is no exception. Born in Jakarta on Dec. 30, 1970, Eko is yet to get serious about a woman. Many rumors have circulated about him. One such rumor even casts doubt on his masculinity simply because he sometimes impersonates a transvestite. However, he insists he is not effeminate.

Taxi driver and accomplice rape and rob woman passenger JAKARTA (JP): Nobody expects rape to be hiding in wait for them, whether in a stranger, a neighbor, or any other person. Ruth, 23, never expected to be raped by the driver of a very unpopular taxi and the man hiding in the trunk of that taxi on Friday evening. She had been shopping in Melawai shopping complex, South Jakarta, for a souvenir her boss wanted to give to an important client. "I got into a taxi. It was green with red stripes.

No glut of visitors to lonely Taman Mini museums By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): A weekday is really not the best time to visit the museums at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreation park. For what you will find are sleeping ticket booth attendants. Sometimes the sight of a visitor on a workday is so unusual, a dutiful security guard will approach, asking suspiciously "Can I help you, Sir?" before realizing that all we want to do is check out the museums.

The pain and suffering of making that first move By E. Effendi JAKARTA (JP): More and more people are getting married these days as they believe that the year 2000, influenced by the dragon sign in Chinese horoscope, is blessed with good fortune. Every public building in town is host to wedding ceremonies each weekend, sometimes as many as three ceremonies a day. This trend has caused many people to want to get married as soon as possible, no matter how young they are.

RI cartoonists win TOKYO (Antara): Five Indonesian cartoonists have won three prizes at 21st Yomiuri International Cartoon Contest held by Japan's leading newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun. Zainal Abidin of Kendal, Central Java province, has won the Special Prize along with cartoonists from the United States, China and Japan.

Homeward-bound travel From Media Indonesia The media often say that one minute of television broadcast costs several thousand U.S. dollars, emphasizing that television reports must therefore be useful and efficient. What you actually see on television tells a different story. Every year, two weeks before and after the holidays (Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri) television stations broadcast special reports on homeward and city bound travelers on a daily basis.

A reminder of the importance of preserving the environment Archipelago: The Islands of Indonesia: From the nineteenth- century discoveries of Alfred Russel Wallace to the fate of forests and reefs in the twenty-first century.