Edisi 25 Agustus 2011 | International Bali Post

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Investors set their eye on gold amid price keeps rising

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

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16 Pages Number 176 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

Families sit inside a train wagon for hours before departure to make sure they secure the seats at Jakarta’s train station on August 24, 2011 a week before Eid alFitr celebrations.

Fitri celebration still a week to go leaves a variety of business opportunities for local people because most Moslem businessmen are going home during that period.

PAGE 8

Tests show no illegal drugs in Winehouse body PAGE 12

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

Idul Fitri moment

Uncultivated business opportunities Bali Post

DENPASAR - Idul Fitri celebration remaining a week to go leaves a variety of business opportunities for local people because most Moslem businessmen are going home during that period.

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

21 - 30

JAKARTA

24 - 32

BANDUNG

17 - 25

YOGYAKARTA

19 - 31

SURABAYA

19 - 31

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

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Such homecoming activity was also undertaken by diaspora communities from Tegal coalesced into the Tegal Resident Fraternity of Bali departing together from Denpasar to their home villages in Tegal, Central Java, Tuesday morning (Aug 23).

The homecoming activity was followed 397 participants who worked in Denpasar and surrounding areas, such as Tabanan, Badung and Gianyar. The business opportunities left should be taken over by younger generation who did not celebrate Idul Fitri.

Unluckily, the generation that should take advantage of the opportunities creatively and energetically even tended to choose job with higher position. As a matter of fact, a number of informal businesses that are never ogled by Balinese people, chiefly younger generation, if managed well and coupled with innovation and creativity will surely bring in good earnings rather than working in an office.

Continued on page 6

Quake rocks East Coast of US, no major damage Associated Press

MINERAL - One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded on the East Coast of the United States shook buildings and rattled nerves on Tuesday and forced the evacuations of parts of the Capitol, White House and Pentagon.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, but fire officials in Washington said there were at least some injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake registered magnitude 5.8 and was centered about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Richmond, Virginia.

Two nuclear reactors at the

North Anna Power Station, in the same county as the epicenter, were automatically taken off line by safety systems, said Roger Hannah, a spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Around Mineral, Virginia, a small town close to the epicenter, people milled around in their lawns, on sidewalks and parking lots, still rattled and leery of re-entering buildings.

There was least one aftershock.

All over town, masonry was crumpled, and there were stores with shelved contents strewn on the floor.

Several display windows at businesses in the tiny heart of downtown were broken and lay in jagged shards.

Continued on page 6

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

People who came out on the street after an earthquake look up at a window that cracked during the quake on Market Street in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

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International

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Bali News Feasibility study completed

Investors of airport welcomed like a king Singaraja (Bali Post)—

Atmosphere of the official residence of Buleleng Regent on Tuesday (Aug 23) was completely different from usual. Investors from India who had been doing a technical study for the international airport that will be built in Buleleng were welcomed like a king.

Having been picked up at the Ngurah Rai Airport, the group of investors was treated to lunch at the regent’s official residence. Such luncheon took place extravagantly and festively. The group of investors arrived at regent’s official residence around 12:30 a.m. Local Time. Once out of the car, they were immediately greeted by the presentation of gamelan music. Then, three beautiful women draped flower garland to them.

Ridiculously, the officials of the same level as the head of agency and division head were lining up neatly while conveying their greeting and welcoming the investors. Those officials lined up to make a posse like school children welcoming the regent or officials who visited their school.

After receiving the greetings, the investors were directed to the main lobby fitted with red carpet. Prior to entering the room, the entourage was greeted again with a traditional Balinese dance. For approximately fifteen minutes, the entourage was invited to have a seat for enjoying a lunch with special dishes served by well-known restaurant in North Bali.

Indian investors coming last Tuesday consisted of four persons namely Karti Gajendra, Hari Adul Jafar, Mushasa Djalal and Raju. Unfortunately, there were no officials who knew their position including their company name. Those investors were accompanied by the Regent Putu Bagiada, Deputy Regent Made Arga Pynatih, Secretary of Buleleng Government Dewa Ketut Puspaka and a number of regional leaderships (SKPD) in the scope of Buleleng Regency. Meanwhile, no single legislator of Buleleng House looked to attend the luncheon. After the luncheon

and ceremonial program, it was resumed with mutual handover of souvenirs. Later, the Regent Bagiada invited the four representatives of investor to have a meeting in the villa owned by the regent located in the region of Celuk Buluh, Lovina.

Before departing to location of the meeting, the four representatives of investor refused to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, the Regent Bagiada stated that their presence was in relation to convey the development of investment plans in Buleleng.

Regent Bagiada said the feasibility study of the international airport undertaken by investors in Buleleng Regency took place for three months and it had now been accomplished. According to the regent, the most urgent results of the feasibility study was regarding to location of the airport. Pursuant to the results of feasibility study, the exact location had not been decided by the investor. However, location of the airport was more focused on the region of West Buleleng. “The exact location remains in a further study. But, from our talks, the project seems to be more focused on the region of West Buleleng,” he said.

When asked about the readiness of land, the regent said it would be studied further. It was in accordance with the agenda of investors that after the feasibility study would be continued to the next stage. As planned, the result of feasibility study including the land issues would be studied in depth through a meeting in central government. “It will be included in subsequent studies. After this, there will be a discussion in central level. Of course, the land issue would be discussed and re-examined further,” he added. (kmb/kmb15)

IBP/File

The condition in Ubung Terminal near the Idul Fitri Day.

Idul Fitri homecoming

Interprovincial city bus users sucked by travel Denpasar (Bali Post)—

In fact, the Idul Fitri homecoming season this year indicates a change of phenomenon in choosing the transport modes. Until seven days before Idul Fitri feast day, the number of passengers using interprovincial city buses (AKAP) stays minimal. Even, the ticket reservation to several cities in Java has not significantly increased.

It was delivered by one of the ticket sellers of Malang Indah, Wawan, at Ubung Bus Terminal on Tuesday (Aug 23). Wawan admitted the increase in homecomers from Ubung Terminal would possibly occur from five days before holiday. “Most homecomers who have reserved a ticket will depart on August 25,” he said.

According to Wawan, lacking of homecomers using intercity buses occurred because many people rode motorcycles. Similarly, a new phenomenon had ensued since several years ago where the homecomers also took advantage of tourist transport as considered more practical. “Since many homecomers take tourist

transport, passenger of bus tends to decline. Since 2009, the number of homecomers taking regular buses continued to decline,” he said.

Decline in passengers using the intercity buses had no significant impact on the ticket fare set by bus operators. Even, for this year, a ticket of executive class bus remained to be offered at IDR 200,000 for Denpasar-Malang route. “It is the same as the last year’s fare,” he added.

Comparable condition was also recognized by a bus driver of Denpasar-Surabaya route, Made Purya. He acknowledged there was a decline in the number of passengers each year. For this Idul Fitri, the bus he drove was only able to hold maximally 90 percent.

Even, on normal days, the seat occupancy was up to 75 percent.

“Ahead of this Idul Fitri, it indeed shows a slight increase compared to normal days,” he explained.

Wawan added again that in 2010 and perhaps this year his party would have no additional units of bus. Such minimal number of passengers could be accommodated by the existing buses. “After 2005, the

bus operator where we work no longer launch additional buses every Idul Fitri,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Bali Land Transportation Organization (Organda), Edi Ketut Putra Dharma, assessed the choice of transportation mode for homecoming was inseparable from the comfort demand of each user. On that account, bus operators were required to provide more comfort to draw passengers. “If intercity bus wants to attract passengers, the service extended to passengers should be improved. We cannot force the passengers because they have freedom to choose their preferable transport. All passengers surely choose the most convenient. Thus, the only way to lure passengers is to improve services,” he explained.

In the meantime, the Denpasar Transportation Agency in this year’s homecoming season prepared 146 units of regular intercity bus with 4,964 seats. Besides, it was also added with 18 units of reserve bus with a total of 630 seats. Totally, there were 164 units of buses with 5,594 seats that were ready to serve the homecomers. (kmb12)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 0215357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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Police to secure homecoming flow Gilimanuk (Bali Post) –

Head of Bali police, General Ispector Police Totoy H Indra, instructed the officers in Gilimanuk and posts nearby to maximally give services to those on the way homecoming and no arrogance during an observation at Gilimanuk last Tuesday (23/8) afternoon, which welcomed by Jembrana Council including Jembrana Regent, I Putu Artha and Head of Jembrana House of Representatives I Ketut Sugiasa.

Besides Gilimanuk itself, Indra also observed posts along Denpasar-Gilimanuk. Indra stated his thank you for all the help and support that the regional government has gave for security in this year ’s homecoming. He also checked the motorcycle ticket locket while having some conversation with a number of home comers then tested the transportation that is used to go to Ketapang Harbour.

On Monday (22/8) evening there was a queue of trucks at Gilimanuk where they came almost all together. The queue started at 10 pm which was seen from the Gilimanuk terminal up to Gelung Kori around 2 kilometres from the locket. Trucks that usually queued at Manuver Parking space was moved to the front of Gilimanuk shops as there was a demolishing of a retribution post building. The queue went calmer at 3 am. (kmb26)

Ascertained to operate in 2012

Development of water recreation at Bukit Jati Gianyar (Bali Post)—

The discourse on the swimming pool development plan into a tourism water recreation at Bukit Jati in East Gianyar has been ascertained to work in 2012. At least next year, the operation of the tourist object can be utilized for family recreation by the public and tourists. Thus, the Team Leader of the Bukit Jati Tourist Attraction Development, in this regard held by the Head of Gianyar Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Ida Bagus Nyoman Rai, revealed on Tuesday (Aug 23).

Development plan of the water recreation at Bukit Jati was intended to maximize the existing facilities. Function of swimming pool would be changed, but it could still be used for training of the athletes. To develop the water recreation was required a land area of 2.5 hectares. For the time being, local government only had 1.3 hectares of land. The shortage would be added through expansion to the back of swimming pool area. However, in the first stage the investor would only maximize the existing capacity, he explained.

In the matter of later develop-

ment, the Regency Government appointed Bappeda as team leader that would only mediate the landowners and investors. “At the moment, there is a change in design plan to meet the local wisdom, such as buildings with Balinese architecture,” he explained.

As reported previously, in developing the Bukit Jati tourist area Gianyar Regency made partnership with PT Karya Makmur Dewata Group to develop a water recreation at the Bukit Jati swimming pool. On the land would be established a water park divided into three zones, including ample parking that could accommodate 10 tourist buses, dozens of cars and hundreds of motorcycles.

Meanwhile, at the zone of the main building would be built changing rooms and a place to relax, then third zone would be earmarked for water rides such as swimming pool and other water games. Recreational facilities planned to be developed would be similar to those in Bantul Regency.

Additionally, it would be provided a special location for small traders.

On that account, the Bukit Jati was expected to be a water tourist attraction for the community of Gianyar and the surrounding areas. (kmb16)

IBP/File

Students are forced to study near the drainage becuase their school is damaged

School building damaged

Students studied near drainage Amlapura (Bali Post) –

SD Filial primary school at Baru, Munti Gunung, Kubu, Karangasem was holed after a technical problem have failed the building’s state also being hit by landslide three months ago. Due to the limited number of classrooms and being used for meetings, a number of students have to learn near a drain. This was seen during a visitation by Karangasem Regent, I Wayan Geredeg, and Vice Regent, Made Sukerana, accompanied by several Agency Heads and Karangasem Representatives from Golkar Party Fraction last Tuesday (23/8) where two from 91 pupils, Gede Noki (8) and Dewi (8), year 2 pupils had to do their school task there. Noki is a smart boy, keen in learning and got second rank in his class. He has a dream to be a pilot so he can fly everywhere, no need to walk far as when he goes to his village he has to go through a severely damaged tarred road that was never repaired. Noki explained as the classroom is in the hall or cooperative hall and now used for the meeting with Regent, so he moved near the drain for studying. No matter what he loves studying here as it is near to his home.

Head of Karangasem Education Agency, Drs. I Gede Ariyasa, M.Pd, who joined the group did not decline the situation of this just one year existed school built using Karangasem Budget and Expenses.

From three classrooms roofed with aluminium only two can be used as one of them is holed by the landslide and its support also damaged three months ago as it can’t contain the soil with rain waters as it is on the tip of a gorge. Ariyasa stated due to the construction was managed by the locals, it might not look up

to the technical matters such as the strength of the soil where its wall base was not built diagonal. On the dry season, the field is filled with dusts causing the pupils clothes and body filled with it yet another pupil Nengah Merta admitted to still have fun playing with it and still wants to learn no matter what. “There is a plan to build the base and wall again. This school has definitely helped pupils and locals to schooling their children having the location near yet sadly only until year 4 as for 5th and 6th they have to go to the main school so their education is more intensive,” Ariyasa explained.

Head of Tianyar Barat Village, I Gede Rudana, stated around here there are five SD filial consisting of 800 pupils. Public figure of Baru and Kulkul I Munti Gunung Group, Jero Ngoman Budiasa, explained this primary school is very important as mostly now children of this age here have joined the school, not only from Munti Gunung but also from Songan, Bangli.

The way to 28 groups (tempek) at Munti Gunung has always been an unfriendly road. Being a narrow with never repaired severely damaged tarred road, steep, and zig zag, can easily cause traffic accidents such as falling to the gorge. The hardtop car year 1979 DK 779 used by the group of Karangasem Public Works staffs accompanying the Regent had one of its wheels coming off and the car still safe as it didn’t follow the wheel that fell to the river. The wheel got off because of its six bolts off before it was used. It was managed found after several locals helped out. “Next time the bolts should be checked first, is it still in place or not,” a local resident clarified. Thank you, Bli! (013)

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

News

International

Medvedev in Siberia for summit with Kim Jong Il Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev started talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il that are expected to focus on energy deals, economic aid and nuclear disarmament, Russian media reported Wednesday.

The summit takes place at a military garrison outside Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, a Buddhist province near Lake Baikal.

Kim arrived at the base in an armored Mercedes limousine and wore his trademark pea green suit, the Interfax news agency reported.

His custom-built, blast-proof train has rolled across sections of eastern Russia in a trip that began Saturday. He is expected to start his return trip home “immediately” after the talks, the Itar Tass news agency said.

It is Kim’s first visit to North Korea’s Cold War ally since 2002.

The Kremlin said the leaders will discuss how to quickly re-

sume long-stalled six-nation talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear weapons program in return for aid.

Another likely topic would be Moscow’s proposal to build a pipeline through the North’s territory that would allow Russia to stream natural gas to South Korea. North Korea, long reluctant, has recently shown interest in the project, South Korea officials said. Seoul has expressed hope that negotiations on the project will make progress.

“One of the pressing themes on the agenda will be prospects for launching tripartite economic projects with the participation of Russia, South Korea and North Korea,” the Kremlin statement said.

Also under discussion is an energy project that would involve the extension of power lines to make it possible for Russia to sell electricity from plants like the Bureya hydroelectric plant that Kim visited at the start of his trip.

Rebel fighters trample on a head of Moammar Gadhafi inside the main compound in Bab alAziziya in Tripoli, LIbya, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev

Gadhafi says he retreated from besieged compound Associated Press Writer

TRIPOLI, Libya — A TV channel is quoting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi as saying he retreated from his Tripoli compound in a “tactical move” after 64 NATO airstrikes turned it to rubble.

AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, second right, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, second left, walk during a meeting an a military garrison, outside Ulan-Ude, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011.

Al-Rai TV said Wednesday it would air the comments from Gadhafi in full soon and reported an excerpt in which the leader of Libya’s crumbling regime vows his forces will resist “the aggression with all strength” until either victory or death.

It was not clear from the remarks when Gadhafi abandoned the Bab al-Azaziya compound, which was overrun by rebel fighters Tuesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Hun-

dreds of Libyan rebels stormed Moammar Gadhafi’s compound Tuesday, charging wildly through the symbolic heart of the crumbling regime as they killed loyalist troops, looted armories and knocked the head off a statue of the besieged dictator. But they found no sign of the man himself.

The storming of Bab al-Aziziya, long the nexus of Gadhafi’s power, marked the effective collapse of his 42-year-old regime. But with Gadhafi and his powerful sons still unaccounted for — and gunbattles flaring across the nervous city —

the fighters cannot declare victory.

The rebel force entered the compound after fighting for five hours with Gadhafi loyalists outside, using mortars, heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. They killed some of those who defended the compound and hauled off thousands of rifles, crates of weapons and trucks with guns mounted on the back in a frenzy of looting.

“We’re looking for Gadhafi now.

We have to find him now,” said Sohaib Nefati, a rebel sitting against a wall with a Kalashnikov rifle.

Abdel-Aziz Shafiya, a 19-yearold rebel dressed in camouflage with a rocket-propelled grenade slung over one shoulder and a Kalashnikov over the other, said the rebels believe Gadhafi is inside the compound but hiding underground.

NKorea reported ready to halt WMD tests Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW — North Korea is ready to impose a moratorium on nuclear missile tests if international talks on its nuclear program resume, a spokesman for Russia’s president said Wednesday after talks between the two leaders.

Russian news agencies, meanwhile, reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il said his country is ready to resume talks “without preconditions.” Kim and Russian President Dmitry Medevdev met Wednesday on a military base near the city of Ulan-Ude in eastern Siberia in Kim’s first trip to

Russia since 2002.

The six-sided nuclear talks have been long-stalled, but Kim’s Russia trip comes as his country pushes to restart them. South Korea and Washington have demanded that the North first show its sincerity on fulfilling past nuclear commitments.

The Korean peninsula has seen more than a year of tension during which the North shelled a South Korean island and allegedly torpedoed a South Korean warship.

Medvedev spokeswoman Natalya Timakova was quoted by the ITARTass news agency as saying that Kim expressed readiness to return to the six-sided talks without preconditions

and “in the course of the talks, North Korea will be ready to resolve the question of imposing a moratorium on tests and production of nuclear missile weapons.”

Medvedev said Russia and North Korea also moved forward on a proposed project to ship natural gas to South Korea through a pipeline that crosses North Korea.

North Korea had long been reluctant about the prospect of helping its industrial powerhouse archenemy increase its gas supply, but recently has shown interest in the project. The South wants the Russian energy but is wary of North Korean influence over its energy supply.

AP Photo/Anna Ogorodnik

A special armored train, foreground, transporting North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is seen parked at a railway station in Ulan-Ude, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

International

Activities

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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Green Globe Certification for Anantara Seminyak IBP

SEMINYAK - Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, Bali has proudly achieved Green Globe Certification, making the luxurious boutique retreat along the sought after Seminyak coastline the very first hotel in all of Bali to be rewarded with this status under Green Globe’s revised standards.

Green Globe Certification is the travel and tourism industries’ worldwide hallmark for sustainability, and this recognition highlights Anantara Seminyak’s sincere commitment to operating in an environmentally, socially and culturally responsible manner through a broad spectrum of initiatives.

Anantara Seminyak incorporates all aspects of Green Globe standards in its daily operation, principally in environmental conservation such as water, energy and waste management efficiency. The resort supports its local community and environment through charitable events, and promotes the island’s social and cultural heri-

tage through resort and area experiences.

Anantara Seminyak also proudly participates in local, national and international sustainability and cultural events, such as Environment Day, Earth Hour and Earth Day. I Wayan Sucitra, the resort’s Environment Officer, comments – “Ongoing environmental and sustainability training for all of our resort associates continuously strengthens our green, social and cultural initiatives and we look forward to developing our heartfelt commitment and sincere sense of responsibility to our beautiful island.”

“Our associates also implement our green workplace policy in their own homes”, commented Ivan Casadevall, General Manager for Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa, who adds, “At the same time as celebrating our achievements, we are fully aware that there are even more opportunities to improve our sustainable efforts in an ever changing global climate. We are therefore delighted that our international guests can enjoy complete peace of mind in knowing that Anantara Seminyak is truly committed to a future of caring for our environment.”

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for August 7 through August 30, 2011 7 Aug Redite Paing Pahang Pasek Toh Jiwa Kekeran - Mengwi -Badung Pasek Sadra Peguyangan - Badung

15 Aug Soma Keliwon Krulut Pasel Gelgel Kekeran Temple Mngwi Badung Merajan Pasek Subadra Temple Kramas-Gianyar

9 Aug Anggara Wage Pahang Batu Madeg (Meru Tumpang Sanga) Besakih Hyang Tibha Batuan Sakah

20 Aug Tumpek Krurut Pasek Gelgel Temple Br Tengah Buleleng Dalem Pemuteran Temple Jelantik Tojan - Klungkung Pedarmaan Bhujangga W. Temple Besakih Taman Sari Temple Gunungsari Penebel - Tabanan Dalem Tarukan Temple Bebalang Bangli Benua Kangin Temple Besakih Merajan Kanginan Temple Besakih

10 aug Buda Keliwon Pahang Luhur Puncak Padang Dawa Baturiti Tabanan Silayukti Temple Padangbai-Karangasem Aer Jeruk Sukawati Dangin Pasar Batuan-Sukawati Penataran Temple Batuyang-Batubulan Desa Lembeng Ketewel-Sukawati Pasek Bendesa Dukuh-Kediri-Tabanan Kawitan Dalem Sukawati Gianyar Kresek Banyuning-Buleleng Puseh Temple Bebandem-Karangasem Merajan Pasek Kubayan-Gaji Merajan pasek Gelgel Jeroan Abang-Songan Merajan Pasek Subrata Temaga Merajan Pasek Gelgel Bungbungan Sad Kahyangan Batu Medahu. S Nusa Penida Buda Kliwon Penatih-Denpasar Penataran Dukuh Nagasari Bebandem Karangasem Pasek Bendesa Temple Tagtag Paguyangan Pulasari Temple Sibang Gede Abiansemal Batur Sari Temple Ubud Penataran Agung Temple Sukawati 13 Aug Purnama Karo Gelap Temple Besakih Dangkahyangan Temple Pengukur-ukur Pejeng Merajan Gerya Temple Kebon Tabanan Candi Goro Temple Tianyar-Kubu Karangasem Ponjok Batu Temple Tejakula-Buleleng

21 Aug Redite Umanis Merakih Parangan Tengah Temple Ceningan Kangin - Lembongan Dalem Temple Celuk Sukawati - Gianyar 24 Aug Buda Wage Merakih Bendesa Mas Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar Selatan Natih Temple Banjar Kalah - Batubulan Puseh. Temple Silakarang - Singapadu dalem Petitenget Temple Kerobokan - Kuta Dalem Pulasari Temple Samplangan - Gianyar Kubayan - Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar - Selatan Pasek gelgel Temple Banjar Tanahpegat - Tabanan Paibon Banjar Bengkel Sumerta - Denpasar Pasek Temple Lumintang - Denpasar Panti Penyarikan Medahan Sanding - Tampaksiring Pasar Agung Temple Kaba-kaba - Tabanan 30 Aug Anggar Kasih Tambir Dalem Puri Batuan Temple Sukawati Dalem Kediri Temple Silakarang - Singapadu Dalem Temple Sukawati Dalem Temple Singakerta - Ubud dalem Lembeng Temple Ketewel - Sukawati Paibon Pasek Tangkas Temple Peliatan - Ubud

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali.

There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

6

Thursday, August 25, 2011

News

U.S. East Coast alerted to Hurricane Irene threat Reuters

NASSAU - The U.S. put its eastern seaboard on alert for Hurricane Irene on Tuesday as the powerful storm barreled up from the Caribbean on a path that could hit the U.S. coast on the weekend.

Even as the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season pounded the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeast Bahamas with battering winds and rain and dangerous storm surge, coastal residents in Florida and the Carolinas were preparing for Irene’s approach.

“I pray God’s blessing on us all,” Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said as he urged residents of his Atlantic archipelago nation southeast of Florida to take shelter.

Irene is the ninth named storm of the busy June-through-November season and looks set to be the first hurricane to hit the United States since Ike pounded the Texas coast in 2008.

It weakened on Tuesday to a Category 1 hurricane on the fivestep Saffir Simpson scale of intensity, but could strengthen into a

major Category 3 storm with winds over 111 miles per hour (178 km per hour) by Thursday, the Hurricane Center forecasters said.

While warning the entire U.S. East Coast to be on the alert, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate and National Hurricane Center Director Bill Read said it was too early to be certain where Irene would directly hit the coastline.

“We’re going to have a very large tropical cyclone move up the Eastern Seaboard over the next five to seven days,” Read said on a conference call in which he spoke along with Fugate.

The “best guess” forecast was that it would approach the coast of the Carolinas on Saturday morning as a major storm of Category 3 or upward, Read said.

REUTERS/Ana Martinez

A boy walks in a flooded road after Hurricane Irene hit the municipality of Loiza, Puerto Rico, August 22, 2011.

Uncultivated...

Quake...

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Putu Suartama, 19, for example, a youth graduated from senior high school (SMU), preferred sitting at home as he was not absorbed in the existing job opportunities. He admitted to feel ashamed of diving into business as a food seller where the opportunity was mostly taken over by many regional migrants. “I feel ashamed of taking such kind of job. Now, I’m still looking for a job according to my competence,” he said.

Unavoidably, such mindset has caused a number of regional migrants speculating on the Island of Bali to take that potential easily. For example, so far the opportunities as hawker of a variety of food were mostly taken by migrants. Originally, many of them were only working with others and eventually opened their own business such as selling meatballs, fried food and so forth.

The Head of Coordinator of Private Higher Education of Region VIII, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Sucipta, said that so far Balinese people especially the younger generation indeed had a high creativity and innovation, but they lacked of entrepreneurship. “We can see in a kite and ogoh-ogoh (papier mâché demon) competition they look vivacious to create a variety of highly creative and innovative works. Unfortunately, their creativity and innovation in the field of entrepreneurship is very minimal,” he said.

He said Bali was starting to look deserted because most of the informal sector businesses began closing as left

to go home. Seeing this, young generation should be able to take the potential business opportunity in accordance with their skills. “For instance, young creative and innovative people can make meatballs or fried food with new flavors. Now is the right time to market them. At least, after Bali is invaded by thousands of informal businesses, the youth of Bali has managed to take these opportunities,” he affirmed. Furthermore, the former Deputy Rector III of Udayana University said that a few opportunities in informal sector were taken by the younger generation of Bali because they lacked of entrepreneurialism.

Even, so far they seemed to pursue the tourism sector becoming the excellence of Bali. Sucipta added that lately many analytical studies and researches related to solution of the problems. Now, it was the right time to implement them. According to him, the education on understanding of entrepreneurship should be carried out persistently to encourage the younger generation since entering senior high/ vocational high school because the understanding would trigger their creativity and innovation in the field of entrepreneurship.

“Here lies the important role of formal education, non formal education and government because based on the data in 2011, the number of new entrepreneurship in Indonesia has just reached 0.02 percent, whereas the standard set is 0.2 percent of the population,” he said. (bit/par)

The earthquake came less than three weeks before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and in both Washington and New York it immediately triggered fears of something more sinister than a natural disaster.

Obama, who is vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, led a conference call Tuesday afternoon on the earthquake with top administration officials, including the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At the Pentagon in Washington, a low rumbling built until the building itself was shaking, and people ran into the corridors of the complex. The shaking continued there, to shouts of “Evacuate! Evacuate!”

The Park Service closed all monuments and memorials on the National Mall, and ceiling tiles fell at Reagan National Airport outside Washington. All flights there were put on hold.

Also in Washington, the National Cathedral said cracks had appeared in the flying buttresses around the apse at one end. “Everyone here is safe,” the cathedral said on its official Twitter feed. “Please pray for the Cathedral as there has been some dam-

age.”

In New York City, the 26-story federal courthouse in lower Manhattan, blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center, began swaying, and hundreds of people streamed out of the building.

Also in New York, workers in the Empire State Building spilled into the streets, some having descended dozens of flights of stairs.

“I thought we’d been hit by an airplane,” said one worker, Marty Wiesner.

Another, Adrian Ollivierre, a 28-year-old accountant who was in his office on the 60th floor when the quake struck, said: “I thought I was having maybe a heart attack, and I saw everybody running. I think what it is, is the paranoia that happens from 9/11, and that’s why I’m still out here — because, I’m sorry, I’m not playing with my life.”

The last quake of equal power to strike the East Coast was in New York in 1944. The largest East Coast quake on record was a 7.3 that hit South Carolina in 1886.

Amtrak said its trains along the Northeast Corridor between Baltimore and Washington were operating at reduced speeds and crews were inspecting stations and rail-

road infrastructure before returning to normal.

More than 12 million people live close enough to the quake’s epicenter to have felt shaking, according to the Geological Survey.

Social media site Twitter lit up with reports of the earthquake from people using the site up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard.

“People pouring out of buildings and onto the sidewalks and Into Farragut Park in downtown DC,” tweeted Republican strategist Kevin Madden.

John Gurlach, air traffic controller at the Morgantown Municipal Airport was in a 40-foot (12-meter) tower when the earth trembled.

“There were two of us looking at each other saying, ‘What’s that?’” he said, even as a commuter plane was landing.

“It was noticeably shaking. It felt like a B-52 unloading.”

Immediately, the phone rang from the nearest airport in Clarksburg, and a computer began spitting out green strips of paper — alerts from other airports in New York and Washington issuing ground stops “due to earthquake.”

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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Indonesian mayor seeks to ban church construction Associated Press

JAKARTA - A mayor is trying to ban Christian churches on streets with Islamic names, the latest attempt to block construction of a new parish in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Women shop around traditional dress for sale at a market place in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011. Muslims shop for new clothing for the celebration of Eid-al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan all across the capitol of the world’s most populous Muslim country.

GOWA reports suspected corruption in e-id card project Antara

JAKARTA - The non-governmental organization (NGO) Government Watch (GOWA) has reported suspected corruption in the home affairs ministry‘s electronic identity card (e-ID) project to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a spokesman said.

GOWA Executive Director Andi W Syahputra said here on Tuesday there was suspicion that efforts had been made to let a certain consortium win the tender on the e-ID card project.

The financial loss to the state could reach Rp1 trillion if there had been corruption in the process of

the e-ID card project‘s planning, budget proposal, up to the auction‘s implementation, he said.

“Everything had been directed to support a certain consortium,” Andi said.

GOWA had conducted an investigation on the project from March to August 2011 and found indications of collusion in the procurement of the e-ID card equipment carried out by the home affairs ministry‘s directorate general of population and civil registration, he said.

The NGO‘s forensic investigators had found 11 visible irregularities and violations in the equipment‘s procurement tender, he said.

The home affairs ministry had allocated a total budget of Rp6.3 trillion from the state budget for the introduction of the e-ID card system, including for system‘s logistics such as cards, card readers, finger print scanners, cameras, signature pads, servers, and training for 40,000 operators in every district/city.

“We need to be careful with the budget because it requires around Rp 6 trillion ($642 million),” Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzie said last year.

The minister had asked the KPK to help monitor the project‘s implementation to prevent corruption in the procurement of the needed equipment.

Mt Lokon showing increased activity again Antara

MANADO - North Sulawesi‘s Mount Lokon is showing increased volcanic activity again, meaning people had to prepare for the possibility of another eruption.

“The volcano`s seismicity keeps on increasing, this indicates the possibility of another eruption in the future, we are only predicting but we don`t know when it will happen,” said Farid Ruskanda Bina, head of a Mt Lokon observation post in Tomohon, on Tuesday.

The mountain‘s increased activity was indicated by a rise in its tremors‘ amplitude after the eruption on Wednesday (Aug 17) from 0.5-5 millimeters to 2.12 millime-

ters on Monday (Aug 22).

“The tremors` amplitude reached 2.12 millimeters on Monday (Aug 22), which indicates an increase in volcanic activity,” Farid said.

Besides tremors, the observation post had also recorded a local tectonic earthquake, one volcanic earthquake and three earthquake gusts.

“We just hope people will stay alert. Another eruption is possible.

We will continuously monitor increases in its activity,” he said.

There is also still a statement that relating Mount Lokon‘s increasing volcanic activity followed by the three kilometers radius resident evacuation.

“We will evaluate this situation, for the moment, there is no resident evacuation plan yet,” Farid said.

According to Farid, the mount‘s status is now on the alert level III. “The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) Bandung has not raised the status to be careful level IV or alert level II,” Farid said.

Mount Lokon last erupted on July 14 and 17, 2011 which forced thousands of residents of Kinilow Village I, Kinilow and Kakaskasen I, the District of North Tomohon, Tomohon to flee their homes.

On July 10, 2011, the alert level III status was raised to alert level IV, and lowered back to level II after the eruption on July 24, 2011.

Critics say the proposal — however arbitrary — are another example of growing religious intolerance.

The Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church was supposed to open in the city of Bogor in 2008, but residents protested, claiming its permit was illegal.

Though the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the church in December, Mayor Diani Budiarto refused to comply. He argued he was pushing for a decree to make it illegal to open churches on streets with Islamic names.

Indonesia, a secular nation of 240 million, has a long history of religious tolerance, but a small extremist fringe has become more vocal — and violent — in recent years.

Critics said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono — who relies heavily on Islamic parties in parliament — has remained silent

as minorities have been attacked by hard-liners or seen their houses of worship torched or boarded up.

Christians, who make up 10 percent of the population, also say it can take years to get permits to build new churches.

The Taman Yasmin worshippers have been holding weekly services in front of their sealed off building for nearly three years, said Bona Singalingging, the church spokesman.

He called the mayor’s latest proposal part of a “dangerous” trend. The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, a human rights group, says attacks on religious freedom by hard-liners more than tripled in the last two years.

In 2010, there were 64 incidents, ranging from physical abuse to preventing groups from performing prayers and burning houses of worship, up from 18 in 2009 and 17 in 2008.

RI halts Tripoli embassy operations over security concerns Antara

CIPATAT - Indonesia has stopped the operations of its embassy in Tripoli, Libya, due to the insecure situation in the country, and moved the mission‘s services to Tunisia.

“We have stopped the operations of our representative office there and for the time being all diplomatic duties in the office are carried out by the embassy or our representative office in Tunisia,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday.

The security risks were too high and therefore the government had decided to evacuate its citizens from Libya, he said during a visit to the Infantry Education Center.

President Yudhoyono hoped

the war in Libya would end soon and that God would protect the people of Libya so that they could build a better future in accordance with their aspirations.

He said the Indonesian government was very concerned over the death of many civilians there and hoped a peaceful settlement could be reached to prevent more civilians from being victimized.

President Yudhoyono also said the democratic transition that would likely happen in Libya must involve all elements so that Libya‘s future would be like what the Libyans wished.

“We also hope that after the end of the conflict later Libya could conduct consolidation and transition towards the future that its people wish to build and restore its economy,” he said.

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International

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Bali Today Investors set their eye on gold amid price keeps rising IBP

DENPASAR – The rise of gold’s price on global market during the crisis that hit United States and Europe making this precious metal look more promising than ever. Investors have been putting money into gold because of concerns about the slowing global economy and wild swings in stock indexes.

Investors in Bali also have the same feeling to purchasing gold these days. They choose gold over foreign exchange because they worried that forex will keep drop amid the economic crisis.

According to Operational Manager Gallery Kohinoor Nur Octaviana Jiwaji, the rise of gold’s price doesn’t deter investors to purchase this metal.

She said the more expensive the price, the more people try to buy gold as their investment portfolio. ‘’Gold’s price is rarely dropping drastically like forex.

Because of that, investors changing their portfolio to gold,” she explained.

She explained investment on gold can be divided on three types, local gold, gold that being produces by Aneka Tambang (Antam), and UBS.

From all types, local gold is the cheapest one. Usually local investors are purchasing this gold because it is lot cheaper than UBS and Antam. Meanwhile Antam is the expensive one and have international certificate so it can be sold throughout the world.

As per Tuesday afternoon, 100 gram of local gold was sold around IDR520,500 per gram, whilst Antam production was sold IDR554,000 per gram.

Nur said the gold price in Indonesia also being affected by Idul Fitri celebration. On this celebration, Moslem people purchasing gold’s accessories, like ring, bracelet, and necklace, to complete their celebration outfit. During this time, gold price usually rise steadily. (kmb18)

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Operational Manager Gallery Kohinoor Nur Octaviana Jiwaji showing Antam’s gold that sought by investors during the rising of gold’s price recently.

Endek Clothes of Klungkung Penetrates Italian and Japanese Market Various handicrafts or household crafts begin to show off their pace in Klungkung Regency. One of them is the weaving business of endek clothes.

Amazingly, the demand continues to increase, not only from the local community of Klungkung, Bali or nationally, but also from overseas like Italy

and Japan. Though an earthquake followed by tsunami disaster hit Japan, the effect is not so significant to the demand for endek fabric from the sunrise country.

Increasing interests in endek clothes have an impact on craftsmen where the demand for endek clothes

IBP/Net

also shows a rapid growth in Klungkung Regency. Even, a single craftsman can produce up to 500 meters of endek clothes every day. The endek clothes produced are divided into two types, namely plain cloth and cloth with motif. One of the handicraftsmen is Wayan Suartika, the owner of ‘Ardini’ endek clothes handicraft at Jabon, Sampalan Tengah, Dawan Subdistrict.

However, amidst the increasing demand, labor difficulties haunt the craftsmen. They have difficulty to obtain some labors that are willing to weave endek clothes in order they can meet consumer demand. As a result, artisans are unable to meet all requests, whereas until now the Klungkung Regency actually still has thousands of unemployment, both educated and uneducated ones.

Meanwhile, the Head of Klungkung Social, Manpower and Transmigration Services, Nyoman Rahayu, said that unemployment rate in Klungkung Regency reached 4005 people from about 134,380 job seekers with age of 15 years or older.

Klungkung Regency was unable to reduce the number of unemployment and to create job opportunities other

than opening vacancies of civil servant aspirants each year. Rahayu also admitted that her party could not engender skilled unemployment because until now Klungkung Regency did not have a vocational training center (BLK).

This condition is certainly in contrary to the difficulty undergone by the endek weaving handicraftsmen.

Wayan Suartika also experienced similar condition. The demand for his endek weaving works (Ardini Endek Handicraft) was admitted to increase.

It was not only from locally Bali (except for Gianyar) but also from outside Bali such as Lombok up to overseas like Italy and Japan.

Formerly, to accomplish the orders, Suartika employed more than 200 workers. However, last year his workers only remained some 100 people.

Related to decrease in the number of workers, the man familiarly addressed as Songkrong by most of his relations said that younger generation of Bali today, especially the younger generation of the serombotan (assorted salads served with hot spices) land preferred to choose other jobs such as working in supermarket or a career in offices,

public and private sector. In reality, income of an endek weaver was not less than a career in the office or working in supermarket. “The weavers working with us get a minimum income of IDR 800,000 per month.

Of course, such amount of salary cannot certainly be earned if working in supermarket,” he said.

Suartika had pioneered the endek weaving handicrafts since 1982. Initially, his business was initiated by one cagcag or non-mechanical loom (ATBM). Now, the numbers continued to increase even reached 200 units. The price of cagcag equipment reached up to IDR 2.5 million per unit. With such a amount of equipment he owned, Suartika could produce endek clothes up to 500 meters with various motifs each day.

Other than endek clothes, Klungkung Regency also has unique weaving works, one of the products is cepuk cloth in Nusa Penida. Unfortunately, the number of weaver in Nusa Penida has decreased. On that account, it requires serious attention of government to re-encourage them, so distinctive characteristic of Klungkung can be well maintained in the future. (bal)

International

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Balinese Culture Jukut Belimbing

Ngelawar:

(Star Fruit Leaves in Sweet Sauce)

From Togetherness with Love to Flavor Each region in Indonesia has different delicacy pursuant to surrounding environment providing the ingredients and tradition maintained. Bali, for instance, has lawar. It has been renowned and tasted by the tongue of foreign tourists. Hot spices supported by a variety of tubers and thinlychopped vegetables like the young coconut shell, string bean, grated coconut or young papaya will kindle the appetite from the beginning until the end. Then, chopped meat such as pork, beef, chicken, duck or others are used as the main ingredient, and it gives the name of the lawar itself. This lawar delicacy is over and over again introduced in every occasion of traditional culinary event.

At villages, the ngelawar (preparation of lawar) tradition is begun by togetherness. Villagers usually slaughter a pig or the like and prepare the dishes collectively for special occasions such as personal life-cycle rituals or temple anniversary. From early in the morning, they have been ready to go by bringing along with a sharp knife. Few moments

later, the chopping boards turn crowded sounding tek...tek…tek…tek and goes on.

Some prepare spices and vegetables, while the others slice thinly the meat in use. In essence, the pebat or kitchen department is very busy.

Meanwhile, when celebrating the Galungan and Kuningan festivity, Balinese people (Hindu) may join the collective slaughter known as mepatung while food preparation is undertaken individually. This has something to do with slightly different tastes and interests. The food is prepared for filling some oblations other than for consumption. Their food habitually consist of lawar, satay, komoh (clear soup), urutan (sausage), skin crackers, tum (chopped meat mix with spices and then steamed) and so forth.

Other tradition remains to be maintained is ngejot or presenting food gift to neighbor and relatives. Though they equally have the same delicacy, it is intended to maintain social relationship and exchange the food as theirs may have different tastes. Simi-

larly, family members will also visit relatives where parent or grandparent comes from. To share the happiness with the ancestral souls, at least family will also bring along sagi offering and be presented to them in the home platform shrine at bale dangin or eastern pavilion.

Today, probably many people are very busy as they must be in charge to work. However, there are always people offering their services by providing ready-toserve lawar. It is variedly packed in nice bamboo basket containing particular number of satay, lawar and serapah (grated coconut with meat). On that account, people will not be busy to prepare it in case of organizing an event or socio-religious activity.

When making a visit to Bali, it also a good opportunity for you try these delicacies. At least, try the lawar as it has been identical to Balinese cuisine. Seemingly, your visit to Bali would be incomplete without ‘pampering’ your tongue by this delicacy. Of course, it will enrich your culinary adventure, too! (BTN/punia)

Star fruits trees grow in many Balinese gardens, a convenient source of leaves for vegetable dishes. The leaves are crunchy with a slightly bitter tang. If not available substitute with spinach leaves.

INGREDIENTS: 400 gr star fruit leaves, washed ½ cup basic spice paste 2 cups coconut milk 2 salam leaves 300 gr beef rump, minced 30 cm square of banana leaf ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black peppercorn, crushed PREPARATION: Bring 3 liters (12 cups) of lightly salted water to the boil in a stockpot. Add star fruit leaves. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain leaves, and then cools to room temperatures in ice water. Drain and dry well.

Place half of the spice paste into saucepan and sauté for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk and salam leaf, reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens. Season minced beef with the remaining spice paste. Place on banana leaf and roll up very tightly into the shape of a sausage. Steam for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, open banana leaf and break meat into its original minced consistency. Mix the coconut milk and mince beer well and add star fruit leaves and mix again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature with steamed rice. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

BASE GEDE (Basic Spice Paste) INGREDIENTS: 300 gr large red chili halved, seeded and chopped 100 gr garlic, peeled and chopped 75 gr ginger, peeled and chopped 500 gr shallot, peeled and chopped 75 gr laos, peeled and chopped 100 gr kencur root, peeled and chopped 175 gr fresh turmeric, peeled and chopped 2½ tbsp dried shrimp paste, roasted 2½ tbsp coriander seed crushed 75 gr candlenut 1¼ tbsp black pepper corn crushed 2½ pinch nutmeg, freshly grated 8 cloves 150 ml coconut oil 250 water ¾ tbsp salt PREPARATION: Combine all ingredients except water in food processor and grind coarsely. Place in heavy sauce pan, add all remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for approximately 60 minutes or until all water is evaporated and marinade changes to golden color.

Cool before using. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

C.045 ibp

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Destinations

International

Yeh Pulu Relief:

Description of Life in Bali Ancient Kingdom IBP

Bali is a bijou island, but the content of traditional values, arts, history and culture is not as small as the area.

Artistic heritage, history and culture almost spread throughout the nine regencies and city existing on the Island of the Gods. The search on the heritage, arts and cultural relics of this time is to Yeh Pulu Relief.

Relief of the ancient rock stone is located at the Bedulu (Bedahulu) Village, Blahbatuh Subdistrict, Gianyar Regency. Location to Tampaksiring and Kintamani is only about 40 minutes drive from Denpasar City. The entrance to the tourist attraction of holy water is not far from the main road east of Goa Gajah Temple, to the right, into the village street. Visitors should be careful because there are many road junctions without a clue heading for the object of Yeh Pulu Relief, or ask

the way to local residents.

The monument in the form of relief becoming the main attraction to tourists, especially foreign tourists, was discovered in 1925 by a courtier or Ubud Royal family. The name was taken from the barrel (or container of rice in the past) located at the central axis of purified water nestling in the west of the relief. The word yeh in Balinese language means water and pulu means a barrel.

The appeal of this monument is not only because of the uniqueness of relief sculpture immortalized on the rock stone wall of the hill, but also due to the spread of rice field view along the two-hundred-meters and the sound of clinking water on the left-right path to location is always neatly trimmed and maintained sustainably, emanating a natural beauty.

With such a natural atmosphere, the clear and the sharpness of splash-

ing water are always flowing along the trench making the ambience around this object really peaceful and enchanting. On that account, it is not mistaken if the niches (caves) in southern relief suspected as the hermitage of the last Balinese ancient King before the collapse of Bali to Majapahit administration in 1343.

Relief with magical nuance and meaningful is 25 meters long and 2 meters high. Many researches conducted by experts from home and overseas to recognize the implicit meaning behind the wall relief of the rock cliffs on the hills. As consequence, it drove many commentaries and analysis to uncover the mystery behind the veil of the true meaning of the relief. Overall, the theme of this story recounts the life in the forest atmosphere and daily life in the ancient kingdom of Bali. In addition to the Balinese classical carvings, this monument also has niches of

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

Bedahulu Royal Hermitage before his death against the army of the Majapahit kingdom in 1343 AD. Yeh Pulu Relief poses one of the many historical classical monuments of Bali originating in ancient Bali (14th century AD) retaining full knowledge of art, which until now is still sustainable and be cared

by the members of Subak, as one of the classical organizations that in particular organizes farmers and manage all aspects of rice field cultivation. For tourists who would like to visit this object first should purchase admission ticket of the object, at IDR 6,000 for adult and IDR 3,000 for child.

... gets maximum benefits with minimum charge Denpasar : +62 361 22-5764 Jakarta : +62 21 535-6271

Jl. Kepundung 67 A, e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id Jl. Palmerah Barat 21 F

Thursday, August 25, 2011

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BUSINESS Moody’s downgrades Japan’s credit rating Associated Press Writer

TOKYO — Moody’s downgraded Japan’s credit rating, citing the country’s weak growth prospects, massive government debt and constant political uncertainty.

AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO

Shoppers walk past an apparel shop with a sale sign in Tokyo on August 24, 2011. Ratings agency Moody’s downgraded Japan’s credit rating by one notch on August 24, blaming a build up of borrowing and revolving-door politics for delaying efforts to cut the world’s largest debt.

The cut in Japan’s government bond rating Wednesday to Aa3 from Aa2 puts the country three notches below Moody’s top Aaa rating. Moody’s Investors Service said the outlook for the rating is stable.

The rating cut comes ahead of another leadership shuffle in Japan. With his popularity sinking, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Cabinet are preparing to resign next week. That would set the stage for a leadership election within the ruling party and a new prime minister — Japan’s sixth in four years.

Frequent administration changes have prevented Japan’s government from adopting effective long-term economic and fiscal policies, Moody’s said.

Kan has been criticized for lacking leadership after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and subsequent nuclear crisis, and survivors of the disasters complain of slow relief and recovery efforts.

Polls show his approval rating is below 20 percent.

The country’s economic problems are compounded by the natural disaster and the ongoing nuclear crisis. Japan’s ballooning debt is now twice the size of the

country’s gross domestic product.

“These developments further hamper the economy’s ability to achieve a growth rate strong enough to steadily reduce the budget deficit,” Moody’s said.

The downgrade puts Moody’s Japan rating in line with other major agencies. Both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch rate Japan AA-, three notches below their top AAA ratings.

In May, Moody’s warned it could downgrade Japan after the world’s No. 3 economy slipped back into recession in the first quarter due to tumbling output and exports following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Moody’s has maintained its AAA rating on the United States while Standard & Poor’s earlier this month took the unprecedented step of downgrading the U.S., blaming large deficits and political gridlock.

The decision compounded worries about the fiscal health of the world’s biggest economies and unnerved already volatile financial markets.

Reaction to Japan’s rating cut Wednesday was more muted. Analysts described the move as hardly a surprise, and bond markets re-

mained calm.

Noriatsu Tanji, a fixed income strategist at Barclays Capital in Tokyo, said that unlike the U.S., a rating cut is not new territory for Japan. At one point in 2002, Moody’s had dropped its assessment on Japan to as low as A2 before gradually upgrading it starting 2007.

“The latest downgrade puts Japan’s rating at a level it has already seen before,” he said in a research note.

Japanese government bonds have historically weathered rating cuts without sharp drops. Unlike the U.S., the vast majority of the Japan’s public debt is owned domestically.

Even as it downgraded its view on Japan, Moody’s highlighted the country’s large economy and dependable domestic funding base that enables the government to fund itself “at a lower nominal cost than any other advanced economy.”

“Furthermore, throughout the global financial crisis, in the months after the March earthquake, and in recent days with renewed turmoil in global markets, (Japanese government bonds) continue to demonstrate exceptionally strong safe-haven features,” it said.

Wall Street set for fall

Bernanke speech awaited Reuters

NEW YORK - Shares were set to fall on Wednesday, giving up some of the hefty gains of the previous session, which were based on hopes that Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke will announce measures to stimulate the struggling U.S. economy Bernanke speaks to a central bank conference on Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Analysts and commentators are divided on how much scope he has to announce further stimulus measures.

Heineken NV , the world’s third largest brewer, fell 12.3 percent after first-half profit came in below forecasts and it said volumes in Europe and the United States would suffer from economic uncertainty.

The Nikkei stock average fell 1.1 percent on Wednesday as Moody’s Investors Service’s downgrade of Japan’s sovereign debt rating spurred investors to take profits, erasing intraday gains made on speculation of more U.S. easing.

Orders for cars and planes probably helped U.S. durable goods orders rebound. After a disappointingly weak June, orders likely rose 2.0 percent, reversing the prior month’s 1.9 percent decline. Data for July is due at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Quarterly profit at Applied Materials is expected to increase to 33 cents per share, 4 cents per share better than the same period one year ago. The chip-manufacturing equipment maker last month said tough economic conditions in Europe and the United States were hurting de-

mand.

U.S. stocks shot higher on Tuesday on speculation Bernanke this week would signal new help for the economy, giving investors hope a four-week rout was nearing an end.

Weak data in housing and regional factory activity triggered the latest round of bets that Bernanke will act, even though the Fed’s options appear limited.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 3 percent; the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.4 percent; the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 4.3 percent.

A strong earthquake rattled the U.S. East Coast on Tuesday, sending tremors as far as Canada, damaging well-known buildings in the nation’s capital and sending scared office workers into the streets.

Michael Nagle/Getty Images/AFP

The street sign for Wall Street is displayed in front of the New York Stock Exchange on August 19, 2011 in New York City.

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Entertainment

International

Tests show no illegal drugs in Winehouse body Associated Press Writer

LONDON — Amy Winehouse had no illegal drugs in her system when she died, and it is still unclear what killed the singer, her family said Tuesday. The family said in a statement that toxicology tests showed “alcohol was present” in the singer’s body but it hasn’t yet been determined if it contributed to her death.

The 27-year-old soul diva, who had battled drug and alcohol addiction for years, was found dead in her London home on July 23, and an initial post-mortem failed to determine the cause of death.

A statement released by spokesman Chris Goodman on the family’s behalf said “toxicology results returned to the Winehouse family by authorities have confirmed that there were no illegal substances in Amy’s system at the time of her death.” The statement did not mention whether any legal drugs were found.

It said the family awaited the outcome of an inquest that is due to begin in October. Winehouse’s father, Mitch, has said his daughter had beaten her drug dependency three years before her death, but he

admitted she was still struggling to control her drinking after several weeks of abstinence.

Mitch Winehouse told mourners at the singer’s July 26 funeral that she had said to him, “‘Dad I’ve had enough of drinking, I can’t stand the look on your and the family’s faces anymore.’”

The Winehouse family announced plans to establish a charitable foundation in the singer’s name to help people struggling with addiction — although Mitch Winehouse has said the plans are on hold because someone else had registered the name Amy Winehouse Foundation.

In her short lifetime, Winehouse frequently made headlines because of drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, destructive relationships

and abortive performances. Her health often appeared fragile. In June 2008 and again in April 2010, she was taken to hospital and treated for injuries after fainting and falling at home.

Her father said she had developed the lung disease emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack, although her spokeswoman later said Winehouse only had “early signs of what could lead to emphysema.” She turned her tumultuous life and personal demons into songs such as “Rehab,” from her Grammywinning album “Back to Black.”

Her death prompted an outpouring of emotion from fans — many of whom left flowers and offerings outside her house in north London’s Camden neighborhood — and from fellow musicians. Her final recording, a duet with Tony Bennett on “Body and Soul,” is due to released next month as a charity single.

In Britain, inquests are held to establish the facts whenever someone dies violently or in unexplained circumstances. Winehouse’s inquest is due to begin Oct. 26 in London.

Ben Stiller to receive British comedy award Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

FILE - In this July 24, 2009 file photo, British singer Amy Winehouse leaves Westminster magistrates court in London after a judge acquitted her of assaulting a fan who asked to take her picture.

Pacino, ‘Scarface’ cast celebrate film’s legacy Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — Ben Stiller is being honored for his comedic contributions by the British Academy of Film and Television. The group’s Los Angeles branch says Stiller will receive the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy.

Veteran producer Nigel Lythgoe called Stiller “a master of comedy who, just like the legendary filmmaker for whom this award is named, embodies the remarkable multi-hyphenate talents of actor, writer, director and producer.”

Lythgoe serves as chairman of BAFTA Los Angeles. Stiller will receive the honor at the Brittania Awards on Nov. 30, when actress Helena Bonham Carter and animator John Lasseter are also being recognized.

The 45-year-old Stiller has earned boxoffice success and critical acclaim as a writer, director, actor and producer. He will next be seen opposite Eddie Murphy in “Tower Heist.”

LOSANGELES —Al Pacino says he got burned while making “Scarface.” Literally, he grabbed the hot barrel of a gun that had just shot 30 rounds during one of Tony Montana’s violent scenes. “My hand stuck to that sucker,” the 71-year-old actor recalled.

He couldn’t work for two weeks.

Pacino relayed the experience during a discussion with “Scarface” co-stars Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia and F. Murray Abraham and producer Martin Bregman at a party Tuesday heralding the film’s Blu-ray release. Part of the charm of the film, Pacino said, is that it wasn’t initially a hit.

“It’s one of my favorites because of its whole evolution,” he said. “It (was) sort of eviscerated after it opened by the press. ... Nobody was fond of it, except it had good audience participation.”

He said “it’s almost a miracle” audiences continue to discover and appreciate the film.

He wanted to make it after being inspired

by Paul Muni’s performance in the 1932 original. Sidney Lumet suggested he make the main character Cuban instead of Italian.

Pacino’s “Scarface” is set in 1980s Miami, and Tony Montana is an ambitious immigrant who runs a growing drug empire until he eventually collapses under greed and addiction.

Pacino’s performance as the gun-wielding, cokesnorting Montana is among his most memorable.

He said that during the nine months he was shooting the film, his character practically inhabited him. When a friend’s yappy little dog lunged at him, Pacino said he cocked back his fist instinctively, as if threatening a punch. “So I love Tony Montana, man, because I couldn’t do that!” Pacino said Tuesday.

Bregman called “Scarface” a “perfect, perfect movie.” Its timeless themes of greed, desire and ambition would make it controversial even if it were just released today, Pacino said.

Screenwriter Oliver Stone and director Brian De Palma were both “trying to talk about the avarice of the ’80s,” Pacino said. “At that time, there was this whole thing about greed, which was Wall Street and everything, and I think that’s part of it. A great character, too, Tony Montana — a person who dares to do anything, who flies like a Phoenix, like Icarus, close to the sun.”

AP Photo/Matt Sayles

Actor Al Pacino arrives at “Scarface” Legacy Celebration Event in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011. “Scarface” will be released on Blu-ray September 6, 2011.

Science

International

This undated handout image provided by the National Museum of National History in Paris, France, shows a blind new species, distantly related to the squat lobster family, which was found in 2005 in hydrothermal vents where the East Pacific Rise meets Antarctica. We live in a much wilder world than it looks.

AP Photo/Michel Segonzac, National Museum of National History in Paris, France

Wild world: Millions of unseen species fill Earth Associated Press Writer

“We are really fairly ignorant of the complexity and colorfulness of this amazing planet,” said the study’s co-author, Boris Worm, a biology professor at Canada’s Dalhousie University. “We need to expose more people to those wonders. It really makes you feel differently about this place we inhabit.”

While some scientists and others may question why we need to know the number of species, others say it’s important. There are potential benefits from these undiscovered species, which need to be found before they disappear from the planet, said famed Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson, who was not part of this study. Some of modern medicine comes from unusual plants and animals.

“We won’t know the benefits to

humanity (from these species), which potentially are enormous,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning Wilson said. “If we’re going to advance medical science, we need to know what’s in the environment.”

Biologists have long known that there’s more to Earth than it seems, estimating the number of species to be somewhere between 3 million and 100 million. Figuring out how much is difficult. Worm and Camilo Mora of the University of Hawaii

used complex mathematical models and the pace of discoveries of not only species, but of higher classifications such as family to come up with their estimate.

Their study, published Tuesday in the online journal PLoS Biology, a publication of the Public Library of Science, estimated the number of species at nearly 8.8 million.

Of those species, 6.5 million would be on land and 2.2 million in the ocean, which is a priority for the scientists doing the work since they are part of the Census of Marine Life, an international group of scientists trying to record all the life in the ocean.

The research estimates that animals rule with 7.8 million species, followed by fungi with 611,000 and plants with just shy of 300,000 species.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

13

Facebook to let users pre-approve photo tags Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Drunken revelers rejoice: Facebook will now let you decide whether your friends can attach your name to a photo before it is circulated. Currently, your friends can add your name to a photo on Facebook without your consent or knowledge. You can remove it later, but only after lots of others may have seen the embarrassing shots. Now, you can insist on pre-approval.

This won’t affect whether your friends can add a photo of you, only whether your name is attached to it. Still, not having the name, known as a tag, can make it more difficult for people to find a potentially embarrassing photo in a search.

Facebook said on Tuesday that the change is in response to user requests. Pre-approving photo tags has been the most requested change, said Kate O’Neill, product manager for Facebook. The pre-approval process will also apply to written

posts that others tag you in. In addition, you have the option of pre-approving what others tag on your own photos and posts.

The company is making other changes to its privacy controls, too. These changes won’t affect what information will be made public or private. Rather, they will affect how users can control what they are sharing in an effort to make the process simpler.

“We are making it easier for people to share what they want, every time (they) post,” O’Neill said. The changes will be rolled out starting Thursday.

Facebook has long been trying to simplify its privacy settings, which have many moving parts and have confused a lot of users. That confusion partly results from Facebook’s efforts to let users apply different privacy settings to different parts of their profile on the site. But the company has also come under fire for pushing users toward disclosing more about their interests to the public.

AP Photo/Facebook

In this screen shot provided by Facebook, a photo pre-approval feature is shown. Facebook will now let you pre-approve photos before your friends can post them with your name attached.

Hospitals are giving faster heart care, study says

AP Photo/Stephan Savoia

In this photo taken Aug. 19, 2011, Linda Tisch poses in her back yard at her home in Westerley, R.I. Tisch suffered a heart attack on Saturday Aug. 13, 2011, was treated in a record 16 minutes and is returning to work today just 10 days after treatment.

IN a spectacular turnabout, hospitals are treating almost all major heart attack patients within the recommended 90 minutes of arrival, a new study finds. Just five years ago, less than half of them got their clogged arteries opened that fast.

The time it took to treat such patients plunged from a median of 96 minutes in 2005 to only 64 minutes last year, researchers found.

Some hospitals are moving at warp speed: Linda Tisch was treated in a mere 16 minutes after she was stricken while visiting relatives near Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut this month. Emergency responders called ahead to mobilize a team of heart specialists.

Once she arrived, “they had a brief conversation and I went straight into the OR. My family was absolutely flabbergasted,” said Tisch, 58, who went home to Westerly, R.I., two days later. Tisch wasn’t a fluke. The hospital took 26 minutes on another case on Thursday.

“Americans who have heart attacks can now be confident that they’re going to be treated rapidly in virtually every hospital of the country,” said Yale cardiologist Dr. Harlan Krumholz. He led the study, published online Monday by an American Heart Association journal, Circulation.

What is remarkable about this improvement, Krumholz said, is that it

occurred without money incentives or threat of punishment. Instead, the government and a host of private groups led research on how to shorten treatment times and started campaigns to persuade hospitals that this was the right thing to do.

“It’s amazing and it’s very gratifying. I’m surprised that we were able to achieve that type of dramatic improvement” so quickly, said Dr. John Brush, a cardiologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Va., who helped the American College of Cardiology design its campaign, which involved more than 1,000 hospitals.

14

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Sport

International

Russia’s Anzhi agree to sign Eto’o from Inter Reuters

MOSCOW - Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o is set to leave Inter Milan and join Anzhi Makhachkala after the two clubs agreed terms, the Russian Premier League club said on Tuesday.

Anzhi did not reveal the transfer fee but media reports put it at around 30 million euros ($43 million), saying the four-times African Footballer of the Year could become the richest player in the world by making 20 million euros a year.

“The transfer sum has been agreed, making both clubs happy,” the wealthy club from the volatile North Caucasus region, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, said on their website (www.fc-

anji.ru).

“Tomorrow, the player will undergo a medical, and if he passes it, he would sign a threeyear contract.”

Eto’o, 30, won two Champions League titles with Barcelona before joining Inter in 2009. He won a Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League treble in his first season in Italy. Anzhi, who also boast Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos and former Chelsea midfielder Yuri Zhirkov, said Eto’o could make his Russian league debut this weekend.

“Samuel should arrive on Thursday to begin preparation for our league match against Rostov,” said Anzhi, who play their home games in Makhachkala but train near Moscow.

AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt

Bayern Munich’s Luiz Gustavo, right, and FC Zurich’s Marco Schoenbaechler, left, fight for the ball during the Champions League qualification round second leg soccer match between FC Zurich and FC Bayern Munich at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, Switzerland, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011.

Bayern sail through, Rossi rescues Villarreal Reuters

ZURICH - Bayern Munich sailed into the Champions League group stages with a 1-0 win at FC Zurich on Tuesday while two goals from Giuseppe Rossi rescued Villarreal in their playoff against Odense. Danes Odense were one of three teams who failed in their bid to qualify for the first time, along with Wisla Krakow and Malmo.

Polish side Krakow fell at the final qualifying hurdle for the seventh time, losing 3-1 at APOEL Nicosia who scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute to win 3-2 on aggregate.

Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia progressed 4-3 overall despite losing 20 to Malmo in Sweden.

Racing Genk, who are without a coach, beat Maccabi Haifa on penalties to become the fifth team in the hat for Friday’s draw in Monaco where they will be joined by Europe’s elite. Another five clubs will go through on Wednesday, the pick of the matches being troubled Arsenal’s visit to Udinese.

Bayern, who have played in 13 of the last 14 group stages, were haunted by the prospect of failing to qualify in the season their Allianz Arena will host the final in May. However, their tie with Zurich was little more than a minor inconvenience and they effectively booked their place when Mario Gomez scored in the seventh minute of the second leg at the

Letzigrund.

NOISY FANS

After that most of the fireworks came off the pitch as Bayern’s noisy contingent of fans ignored the stadium announcer and let off firecrackers throughout the game while lightning flashed around the ground on a sticky evening. Swiss Super League runners-up Zurich were lively but rarely threatening while Bayern forward Franck Ribery was given the freedom of the pitch.

Bayern, though, will be concerned they did not take advantage of the many openings created by the France playmaker’s trickery. “It’s a shame the goal came so early,” said Zurich coach Urs Fischer. “We saw the difference between domestic and international football.”

Villarreal, facing a 1-0 first leg deficit against Odense, struggled to break the deadlock until Rossi struck twice in 16 minutes in the second half. The Italian, linked with Juventus in the close season, got in

front of his marker to open the scoring five minutes after halftime and then rifled in a brilliant volley in the 66th minute. Carlos Marchena added the third goal.

Brazilian Ailton netted twice as APOEL produced more heartbreak for Wisla who had a 1-0 lead from the first leg. Ailton’s second goal came in the 87th minute just as the Poles appeared set to end their jinx.

Dinamo, national champions for the last six seasons, took a 4-1 lead to Malmo but were made to suffer after Sime Vrsaljko was sent off in the 50th minute.

Wilton Figueiredo put Malmo ahead from a 69th-minute free kick.

Pontus Jansson then scored to set up a tense finale and the visitors held on thanks to some fine saves from goalkeeper Ivan Kelava. Genk beat Israelis Maccabi 4-1 on penalties, after winning the second leg 2-1 to record a 3-3 aggregate draw. The Belgians were playing under stand-in coach Pierre Denier after Frank Vercauteren quit following last week’s first leg.

IBP/ap

Samuel Eto’o

Sport

International

Thursday, August 25, 2011

15

Blake Griffin begins internship at Funny Or Die Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Stymied by the NBA lockout, Blake Griffin is going to work for Will Ferrell instead. This week, the Los Angeles Clippers AllStar forward is interning at Funny Or Die, the comedy website co-founded

by Ferrell and Adam McKay. Griffin arrived at the site’s LA offices Tuesday to begin three days of work in video production.

He will help write, shoot, edit and act in several videos for the site.

Funny Or Die quickly creates digital comedy videos, often with celebrity guest appearances.

Griffin said he’s a big comedy fan and an avid viewer of Funny Or Die. As an intern, he hopes to learn more about film production. “Just to get an inside look at how things are run here is exciting to me,” Griffin said by phone Tuesday. “I don’t know what interns at Funny Or Die are like, but I’m about to find out, I guess.”

Mike Farah, president of production at Funny Or Die, pledged that Griffin will be treated like other interns. He noted that the 22-year-old Griffin is, after all, about the same age as most of the site’s college interns. (The others, of course, may not be able to dunk over midsize sedans.)

“We’re going to put him to work,” said Farah. “He’s shooting a series of videos, and he’s also coming to meetings. He’s basically doing everything that an intern does.”

Griffin counts “Old School,” ‘’Wedding Crashers” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” among his favorite movies. On Funny Or Die, he likes Zach Galifianakis’ mock interview series “Between Two Ferns.”

“I’ll go see a bad comedy over a good action movie any day,” Griffin said.

Adidas launches barefoot shoe Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Oregon — Adidas is going barefoot. The world’s second-largest athletic company unveiled its first “barefoot” training shoe Tuesday, which is designed to mimic the experience of exercising barefoot while providing the protection, traction and durability of a shoe. The Adipure Trainer, which is a cross between a glove for the feet and a traditional shoe, hits U.S. stores in November priced at $90.

The barefoot shoe is part of a strategy by Adidas, which is based in Germany, to expand into the U.S. where rival Nike dominates. Adidas joins a list of athletic makers trying to tap into the small but burgeoning U.S. market of fanatical runners and gym-goers who swear by shoes designed with as little material between the wearer and the ground as possible.

“People who believe barefoot is the way to go...are very emphatic about it,” said Matt Powell, an analyst with industry research organization SportsOneSource Group. “They want to spread the message. It sounds religious but some of them are evangelical about it.”

The athletic shoe and clothing business has been fairly resilient during the U.S. economic downturn, but it is an industry that thrives almost entirely on new products. When it comes to shoes, the latest and greatest captures the U.S. customer. While barefoot shoes make up a tiny fraction of the $22 billion U.S. athletic shoe industry, it is one of the fast-growing categories. Sales have more than doubled in the past year to roughly $750 million, according to SportsOneSource.

Nike, the world’s biggest athletic company, holds roughly 65 percent of the market and appeals to barefoot loyalists and mainstream exercise enthusiasts alike with the traditional running shoe look of its “Free” line. Vibram has about 10 percent of the market with its FiveFinger shoe, which encases each toe separately and has come to define the style. Other big companies such as Merrell, Fila, Saucony, Asics and New Balance also have their own barefoot or so-called minimalist offerings.

AP Photo/Adidas

In this product image provided by Adidas, the Adipure Trainer M, in red and black, is shown.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette

Serena Williams, of the United States, reacts moments after defeating Samantha Stosur, of Australia, during the Rogers Cup finals women’s tennis tournament in Toronto on Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011.

3-time champ Serena Williams seeded 28th at Open Associated Press Writer

Serena Williams was seeded 28th for the U.S. Open, which stuck with its policy of following the rankings instead of taking into account players’ past performances. That decision means Williams could face one of the Grand Slam tournament’s top eight seeded players as early as the third round.

The 29-year-old American leads active women with 13 major championships, including three at Flushing Meadows — in 1999, 2002 and 2008. She recently won consecutive hard-court tuneup tournaments at Stanford and Toronto, making her one of the favorites to win the U.S. Open, which starts next Monday.

A former No. 1, the American is ranked 29th this week. That’s up from 175th in July, a few weeks after she returned to the tour following nearly a year off because of a series of health problems.

“After careful deliberation regarding Serena Williams’ seeding, we decided to maintain the objective criteria in place to determine the women’s singles seeds at this year’s U.S. Open,” tournament director Jim Curley said in a statement re-

leased Tuesday by the U.S. Tennis Association. Chris Evert, an 18time major champion, thought the tournament erred by not lifting Williams’ seeding.

“It hurts the field, is what it does.

It really doesn’t hurt Serena as much as it hurts the other players.

One of the top seeds will get her in the third round,” said Evert, who will call U.S. Open matches for ESPN2. “I think they could have made a much better judgment call.”

In the past, Grand Slam tournaments have taken into account factors other than the official rankings when determining seedings.

At the most recent major tournament, Wimbledon, two-time defending champion Williams was moved up to No. 7 in the seedings, 19 spots higher than her ranking at the time, even though it was only the second tournament of her

comeback. She wound up losing in the fourth round at the All England Club.

Her older sister Venus, a fivetime Wimbledon champion, also was bumped up in the seedings there. But Venus Williams isn’t seeded at all for the U.S. Open, which she won in 2000 and 2001; she’s ranked 36th this week. Topranked Caroline Wozniacki, the 2009 U.S. Open runner-up, is also No. 1 in the women’s singles seedings announced Tuesday, followed by Vera Zvonareva, last year’s losing finalist.

Two-time reigning U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters, who is ranked No. 3, will miss the tournament this year with a stomach muscle injury. Fourth-ranked Maria Sharapova, the 2006 champion in New York, moves up to third in the seedings.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

16

Sport

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Ferrari working flat-out on 2012 FERRARI is now working flat-out on the development of what it claims is a ‘very innovative’ 2012 car, even though it still holds out some hope that it can haul itself back into this year’s championship fight.

Fernando Alonso’s recent run of good form, which included victory in the British Grand Prix, has put him 89 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel - and his only realistic hope of closing that gap down dramatically is if his Red Bull rival hits some trouble.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali says his team’s approach right now is on simply trying to win each grand prix, and then in a few race’s time the outfit can take a better look to see if there is still a chance of the title.

Meanwhile, he openly admits that the real effort at Maranello is on delivering a much more aggressive car design for next year, having realised the team was too conservative this season.

“Our realistic goal for the remaining eight grands prix is to win races, to score as many points as possible,” Domenicali told the official Ferrari

website. “I am sure we can achieve good results, but we should avoid looking at the classification, because we know the championship will be very difficult given the current gap, but let’s see where it is in a few races. We have the potential to do well and we have to believe in ourselves.

“In terms of the development of the 150º Italia, we are almost at the end of the road but this does not mean that work on this year’s car has come to a complete halt, but as of now, we are working full throttle on the 2012 car.

“As far as next year’s regulations are concerned, apart from rules regarding the exhaust system, there are not many changes; therefore the new cars can be described as a development of the 2011 car. However, what I can say, having seen the model in the wind tunnel and the work going on in the drawing office, is that it will be a very innovative machine.

“In fact, this is to be expected, this is necessary given that our first goal is that, in 2012, we must be competitive right from the very start of the season.”

REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain drives during the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest July 31, 2011.

Marco Simoncelli close to extending contract Marco Simoncelli is close to extending his MotoGP contract with Honda, with the Italian rider saying negotiations with HRC are ‘ongoing’ and now on a technical details level. There has been much speculation over HRC’s 2012 line-up after the devastating effects of the tsunami that struck Japan in March put the team under pressure to make drastic cuts said to be 30% - to its racing budget.

“Negotiations are ongoing,” Simoncelli is quoted as saying by Gazzetta. “We are discussing technical details. “I’m open to reinforcements, but changing the crew completely is not right. After two years where we’ve improved together, it would be strange to break it all apart when it’s time to reap the fruits.

“We’ll see in Indy and I hope to be as optimistic as I feel now. I’d like to go back home with a clearer situation, because it would be important to have a decision, even if it’s not the proper contract yet, by Misano.” Livio Suppo, the former The Japanese manufacturer is likely to have only two works Ducati head who switched to Honda for 2010, confirmed that bikes, for Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, which has raised HRC had asked Simoncelli to switch crews but said he was the prospect of either Simoncelli or current works rider An- open to negotiation on the issue. “[HRC vice president Shuhei] Nakamoto would like to drea Dovizioso being dropped for 2012.

Simoncelli is reportedly close to agreeing an extension with strengthen the technical side in order to give Marco maxiHRC, with Italy’s Gazzetta reporting that an offer is on the mum support because, even if the team has improved, he still table - although it could force Simoncelli to abandon the crew sees something lacking. “We understand the importance the that has followed him since his 250cc title season, something rider gives to his current crew though so at Indy, during negotiations, we may backtrack on this point.” the Italian does not feel is right.

If an agreement is reached Simoncelli would stay with the satellite Gresini team, for whom he scored his first podium in MotoGP in the last round at Brno. Fausto Gresini says that retaining Simoncelli, and having two bikes to run, are crucial if the relationship with Honda is to be maintained.

“This time is really delicate and I hope everything gets sorted by Indianapolis already.

That’s because for me it’s important to continue the long relationship I have with Honda, but it’s vital to carry on with Marco.

“Being able to field two bikes is fundamental, even if one of them has the engine derived from road production. It’s a bit of a troubling matter for the Japanese.” Gazzetta reports REUTERS/Petr Josek that, as a result of the Simoncelli Honda MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli of Italy cuts a curve during the sec- developments, Dovizioso is not ond free practice session at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno August 12, 2011. expected to be retained.