Body shaping: A touchy issue Reshaping the body through liposculpting is gaining popularity among the urban wealthy unhappy with their physical appearance. The Jakarta Post's Maria Endah Hulupi discusses this hot new trend. JAKARTA (JP): Long slim legs, a sexy back and full breasts are the ideal physical characteristics for women according to the traditional concept of beauty. Many women going to cosmetic surgeons say they envy Marilyn Monroe for her naturally sensuous body.

Guess What? Fariz RM Pop-jazz singer Fariz RM released a new album Dua Dekade (Two Decades) last Tuesday. To mark the launch of his new compilation album, Fariz performed with Syaharani at the Chicago For Ribs restaurant, in South Jakarta. The Jakarta-born musician acknowledged fellow musicians and friends who generously provided input that ensured the success of his previous albums, particularly Barcelona, which involved guitarist Eet Sjahranie.

14 bodies found in N. Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): At least 14 bodies have been found in two separate locations in Nisam district, North Aceh, about 350 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, over the past two days, Antara reported on Saturday. According to the news agency, residents of Alue Dua village found 10 unidentified bodies along Jl. Kertas Kraf Aceh on Saturday.

Using hair transplants for male baldness JAKARTA (JP): What a shock to look in the mirror and see the area of thin hair on the top of your head is widening and getting thinner! What can you do to stop the process? Surveys show that 1.5 percent of men experience male pattern baldness (MPB). They are men who inherit the trait from their parents and the hair loss occurs when they have reached the age of 40 years or older.

Art in context and art for social causes By Yusuf Susilo Hartono JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's paintings have developed along with the art's diverse facets. The philosophy, artistry, message, morals, economic and social aspects related to the paintings come forward in varying degrees of intensity. One of the prominent features is the economic perspective. This comes with the awareness that buying a painting means an investment.

What's so unique about 'Wah... Cantiknya' By Tony Ryanto JAKARTA (JP): Imagine Tom Cruise playing a mentally disabled man lucky enough to have Catherine Zeta-Jones tell him she wants to marry him because he is the only one she loves. Well, something like this is happening in the TV drama-comedy Wah ... Cantiknya, which for several weeks has occupied the number one position in AC Nielsen Indonesia's weekly ratings.

U.S. aid U.S. congressman endorses humanitarian aid for RI. Page 2 'Salak' Arid land in Bangunkerto turned into 'salak' orchards. Page 4 Batman Savor 'Fried Batman' in East Java town. Page 5 How to be good How to be good in the 21st century. Page 6 Preterm labor Preventing preterm labor for women. Page 7 Golf A privilege through memberships. Page 8 'Bumel' train 'Kereta Api Bumel' whistles at Jakarta students. Page 11 Comedy What's so unique about 'Wah...

Aspac beats Bhinneka to lead finals JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Aspac Texmaco of Jakarta took the lead in the best-of-three final of the Kobatama basketball league on Saturday, with an 87-72 defeat of Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta, Central Java. Aspac's 2.04m tall center Cokorda Satria Wibawa was named the MVP of the game after scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out three assists. For the honor, he received Rp 500,000 (US$44) from sponsor Kratingdaeng energy drink.

Every computer needs a peripheral By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Come to think of it, a computer system is so much like our stomach. It typically consists of one or more input devices, one central processing unit (CPU), and one or more output devices. The main different is perhaps that, unlike the output of the computer system, the output of our stomach is not normally to be displayed.

Student caught stealing BOGOR (JP): Police arrested on Friday a student of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture for stealing computer hardware from the campus. Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito said on Saturday that Rahmat, a 23-year-old technical agriculture student, broke into the campus early on Friday.

Tetet's exhibition reveals her distinctive style By Matdon BANDUNG (JP): Tetet Cahyati was formerly known as a short story writer and novelist of no less renown than other Indonesian writers such as Mira W and La Rose. The painting flair that her father, painting maestro Popo Iskandar, has bequeathed to her as a child has made her a woman painter with a distinctive style. Under the theme of Imagery Games she is exhibiting her works until July 16, 2001 at Griya Seni Popo Iskandar (GSPI) on Jl.

Message from the President To all our kababayans abroad, I convey my warmest felicitations on the occasion of the 103rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence. This year's Philippine Independence Day should be extra meaningful in light of another glorious moment in our history at EDSA II. This recent triumph of people power once more reaffirms the Filipino's unity and resolve in the face of any threat or challenge to the peace and stability of our beloved nation.

'Beautiful Eyes' offers a glimpse into Indonesian short stories Beautiful Eyes - Kompas Best Short Stories 2001; Translated by Rebecca Fanany; Kompas Book Publisher, 2001; pp xli + 191; Rp 35,000 JAKARTA (JP): For the ninth time since 1992, with an absence in 1998, Kompas has published an annual selection of its "best" stories printed in its Sunday edition. This year's collection is special as it comes out along with its English translation.

Kokam to field 10,000 guards SURABAYA (JP): The East Java chapter of the Muhammadiyah Youth Association said on Saturday they would deploy at least 10,000 people to safeguard the Muslim organization's property before, during and after the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly scheduled for Aug. 1. M.

Guess What? Fariz RM Pop-jazz singer Fariz RM released a new album Dua Dekade (Two Decades) last Tuesday. To mark the launch of his new compilation album, Fariz performed with Syaharani at the Chicago For Ribs restaurant, in South Jakarta. The Jakarta-born musician acknowledged fellow musicians and friends who generously provided input that ensured the success of his previous albums, particularly Barcelona, which involved guitarist Eet Sjahranie.

The luminous world of Benno Salinas Fevriarto By Maria Endah Hulupi JAKARTA (JP): During the daylight, the famed ninth century Prambanan Hindu Temple, some 17 kilometers east of Yogyakarta, has a grandeur and beauty that dazzles people from all over the world. At night, visitors and passersby can still enjoy its elegance as golden lights shower the complex situated on the Yogyakarta- Solo highway.

Customer service priority is to consider the client as king By Vishnu K. Mahmud JAKARTA (JP): Recently in the U.S., a computer consultant found a security flaw in an e-commerce site, which had the potential of displaying customer's credit card details. Although the consultant had informed customer services and management about the issue (as well as how to patch up the flaw), the website continued to operate for a few days even after it came to light.

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership Philippine-Indonesian relations are characterized by a genuine sense of brotherhood borne out of centuries of close and vibrant interaction as neighbors. In precolonial times, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples. Intermarriages and alliances solidified these cross-cultural and economic links. Over the centuries, the movement of peoples, goods and ideas between the two archipelagos intensified.

'Kereta Api Bumel' whistles at Jakarta students By Yusuf Susilo Hartono JAKARTA (JP): At a time when theatrical performances for children are rare, Teater Esok is working hard at introducing children and the general public to the arts. Between June 22 and June 30, 2001, the group staged seven performances of the classic play Kereta Api Bumel (Bumel Train) in the capital. Directed by Priyo S.

Arid land in Bangunkerto turned into 'salak' orchards By Ridlo Aryanto SLEMAN, Yogyakarta (JP): If ever you are in Bangunkerto village, Turi subdistrict, Sleman, some 17 kilometers north of Yogyakarta, you can let your eyes feast upon the ubiquitous snake fruit trees, or salak pondoh. One estimate has it there are some three million luxuriant salak pondoh laden with fruit around the village.

Tropical storm kills three in China, claims 100 in RP HONG KONG (AP): Tropical Storm Utor killed three people in China as it swept through the southeastern province of Guangdong, wiping out 4,700 homes and causing US$2.59 billion in damage, state-run media reported Saturday. The storm was downgraded from a typhoon on Friday as it slammed into China. It blew through the Philippines earlier, killing 100 people and leaving 58 missing, the government's disaster monitoring agency said Saturday.

On The Record Album : Persembahan (Musica); Artist : Chaseiro Nothing like the good ol' days. For me, it is definitely the 80s. Despite the hair (big), the outfit (puffed, loosed, flash dance-esque), and the accessories (gigantic), the music remains one of the best of all time, especially because nothing new really came up after that period. Among best collections of Indonesian music also emerged at the particular decade.

Message from Teofisto T.Guingona,JR. Vice President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs The Republic of Philippines It is with great pride and joy that Filipinos all over the world celebrate the 103rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence. Today, we honor with even greater attention the memory of our heroes. We recall their martyrdom for the freedom that we now enjoy. We are profoundly grateful.

Great promotions launched despite uncertainties JAKARTA (JP): Housing and property developers are currently promoting their projects with attractive advertisements in the media. Property exhibitions are also held regularly in the capital. However, the property market is still down, at least according to stock market analysts and property consultants.

RI's Angie reaches Wimbledon junior final JAKARTA (JP): Angelique Widjaja attracted the attention of tennis fans over the last week as she made history by becoming the first Indonesian to make it to the final of Wimbledon, albeit in the junior event. In many respects, her achievement exceeds that of former Indonesian star Yayuk Basuki, who reached the main Wimbledon quarterfinals in 1997. Angie, her nickname, will face Marat Safin's younger sister Dinara in Saturday's final.

President fails to name new attorney general JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid failed to fulfill his promise to name a new attorney general on Saturday, and it appeared he also did not succeed in forcing outgoing National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro to realize his promise to surrender his command baton.

Property market remains bleak By I. Christianto There are no promising signs yet that there is even a slow recovery in the property and real estate sector. Meanwhile, in the stock market, concerns over weak consumer demand has dragged down property and real estate heavyweights. JAKARTA (JP): Market analyst Yenny Fadjar of PT Harita Kencana Securities said the property sector had been generally stagnant. "Since 1998, the sector has been stagnant. This is partly due to our weak banking sector.

Indonesian maid dies in S'pore SINGAPORE (DPA): An Indonesian maid who told a colleague she was going to check if there was a snake in a corridor fell to her death from a block of Singapore flats, police said on Saturday. The 20-year-old woman was rushed to the National University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Neighbors said the unidentified maid started working for her employer only 10 days earlier. She told another maid she thought she spotted a snake and was going upstairs to check.

U.S. congressman endorses humanitarian aid for RI JAKARTA (JP): American congressman Tony P. Hall said on Saturday that he fully endorsed U.S. humanitarian programs in Indonesia, in spite of Jakarta's failure to punish the perpetrators of violence in East Timor two years ago.

Savor 'Fried Batman' in East Java town By Gin Kurniawan and Christianto W KEDIRI, East Java (JP): What comes to mind when you think of bats? Their appearance is indeed frightening and with their fang- like teeth, these creatures of the night are often associated with the notorious blood-sucking vampire. Most people cringe at the thought of the fruit-eating bat (cynterus macroglasus enyteris), but not so some residents of Kediri.

Snapshot Photo A: Friendship Kompas/Agus Susanto IMAGES OF FRIENDSHIP: Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Algerian Ambassador Soufiane Mimouni have a close look at black and white photos that trace the history of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Algeria since 1964. The photo exhibition opened at the Algerian Embassy on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Jakarta, on July 2, 2001.