Edisi 25 April 2011 | International Bali Post

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Monday, April 25, 2011

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Japanese tourists visit to Bali Museum decrease PAGE 8

IBP/File

The Hindus pray in Jagat Natha Temple during Saraswati day. The Hindus in Bali was celebrating “Saraswati Day” on Saturday, April 23, 2011. The day is commemorated as the day when knowledge from God is given to human on earth.

Lohan quickly released from jail in theft case PAGE 12

Hindus in Bali celebrate Saraswati Day Antara

Denpasar – The Hindus in Bali was celebrating “Saraswati Day” on Saturday, April 23, 2011. The day is commemorated as the day when knowledge from God is given to human on earth.

The Head of Hindu Dharma Association (PHDI) Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said “Saraswati is commemorated every 210 days and

WEATHER FORECAST TEMPERATURE OC

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BULELENG - Residents of two hamlets, namely Dasong and Buyan, Pancasari Village, Sukasada Subdistrict, began to suffer from itching on some parts of their skin. Allegedly, the skin disease was caused by unclean environment due to overflowing water of Lake Buyan recently soaking a number of homes at both hamlets.

Wayan Ngenteg, one of the Dasong Hamlet residents when having free medical check-up at SDN 4 Pancasari primary school on Friday (Apr 22) said that since about two months ago a number of small spots grew on his skin

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Residents of Pancasari attacked by skin diseases

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Goddess is worshiped in the form of Murti Puja while in Bali, she is worshiped on a special day called rerahinan,” he added.

During Saraswati, all books including holy book of Weda is gathered as the symbol of the place for Goddess Saraswati. Then, offering will be placed on the book.

As overflowing water of Lake Buyan Bali Post

SUNNY

it is done is temples and houses to worship the manifestation of God in the form of the Goddess Saraswati who give the knowledge to human.”

According to Sudiana, the Hindus in India describe Saraswati as a very beautiful Goddess who has four arms, each carrying different items which are wina, a musical instrument, kropak or holy book, genitri, and lotus.

“The Goddess Saraswati is sitting on top of a goose and accompanied by an ostrich. In India, the

that caused him to feel very itchy.

The disease was also attacking his wife and children. “At the beginning, this disease appears with itchy symptoms and then followed by the emergence of small spots.

In the long run, the tiny spots broke and caused a wound and pus came out,” he said.

Ngenteg admitted not to know for sure about the cause of such skin disease. However, he suspected if the disease arose because he was often in contact with the environment having stagnant water lake. In daily life, he did make use of clean water obtained from the springs around the lake.

Continued on page 6

IBP/File

Water from Buyan Lake flooding the housing in the area.

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International

Monday, April 25, 2011

Bali News Strictly guarded by apparatus

Kampong Lebah - Pande Kota still gripping Semarapura (Bali Post)—

Situation at Kampong Lebah and Pande Kota Hamlet, Klungkung, remained gripping, Friday night (Apr 22) through Saturday morning (Apr 23). After clash for two consecutive nights, Wednesday night (Apr 20) until Thursday morning (Apr 21) and Thursday night (Apr 21) until Friday early morning (Apr 22), hundreds of police and military officers guarded for 24 hours. One platoon of Bali Police Mobile Brigade was also deployed. They searched every corner of the two regions to disperse the crowd of citizens. Meanwhile, the road was still closed in both directions.

Ironically, the condition was even made an arena of spectacle by hundreds of other villagers. It even aggravated the work of the officers.

There were many alleys at Kampong Lebah and Pande Kota Hamlet and so were the shortcuts. As consequence, they were potentially infiltrated by certain elements who wanted to take advantage of the chaos on both sides. On that account, police, military, brigade mobile officers would not let the clash happen again. Every alley and shortcut was traced carefully.

Of course it was not with empty hands, but armed with rifles, stick, samurai, daggers and equipment of the officers alerted at hands or waist. They dispersed residents who were found congregating. So, quarrel was unavoidable when villagers group rejected to be dismissed and were asked to go home.

The officers did not only find difficulty to disperse the group of people or masses getting involved in the disputes, but also difficulty to disperse other villagers that thronged to watch around the location. When the night

turned later, their number even increased Chief of Klungkung Police Thomas Widodo Rahino and the Klungkung Military District Commander Herry Abriyadi had always been on guard at location since the beginning of the clash along with the whole range and strength. In the meantime, last Saturday night, Deputy Regent of Klungkung Tjok Agung and Head of Klungkung National Unity and Community Protection (Kesbanglinmas) Gede Kusuma Jaya also came to location to meet the village figures and citizens of both sides in their respective territory. “Hopefully, the problem could be resolved quickly,” he hoped.

Closing of the streets within the past few days set to really take effect for the general public in Klungkung. Their mobility was hampered because Kampong Lebah—Pande Kota Hamlet road section posed a busy route that

should be passed through by the community. “This dispute must be quickly resolved. How long should the local community find alternative route due to this road closure triggered by the clashes of individuals?” sighed a resident of Kampong Lebah who is also an honorary police officer in Klungkung, Mangku Made Raka Adnyana.

How long the Kampong LebahPande Kota should be strictly guarded like this? When asked such question, the Chief of Klungkung Police, Thomas Widodo Rahino, stated the guard would be carried out until the meeting prepared by residents and village apparatus with local government leaders and administration officials (Muspida) on Monday (Apr 25) resulted in a decision.

Similarly, the road closure was admitted to hamper the mobility of Klungkung community in wider sense. Bali Police Mobile Brigade

IBP/Bali Putra

The riot between Kampong Lebah and Pande Kota in Klungkung Regency. would also continue to be involved to participate in the custody in order to create a tranquil atmosphere. “By doing so, the community will be comfortable,” he said.

Earlier, the clashes occurred involving the masses of Kampong Lebah and Pande Kota Hamlet.

Even, it occurred for two nights in succession. They were throwing

stones, bottles and Molotov cocktails one another. There were no fatalities in the case. However, the impact of clashes destroyed three units of cars, motorcycles and family shrine of local resident. Police were still investigating the trigger of the clash. Allegedly, the clash was kindled by quarrel among the local youths. (kmb20)

To minimize rabies It’s the turn of Sulawesi Street, Free Kesiman to eliminate dogs from Parking Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The measure of Denpasar Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Affairs (Disnakanlut) to suppress the rabies cases continued to be done. Apart from mass vaccination, the elimination program was also continued. Even, the officers of Disnakanlut kept on performing dog elimination in the area of Kesiman on Thursday (Apr 21). At least, there were 15 stray dogs were eliminated to reduce the rabies cases in Denpasar.

Head of Denpasar Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, I Dewa Made Ngurah, when encountered in the midst of the elimination activity revealed that elimination of stray dogs was intended to suppress the rabies cases threatening the society. “We keep on resuming the activity in line with the program of Denpasar Municipality to prevent the widespread of rabies cases,” said Dewa Ngurah.

Dewa Ngurah added that such an action was not only done in Kesiman. However, it would continuously target other areas because so far many stray dogs were still found to be prone to bring in rabies cases in the community, especially when they bit humans. “This measure is meant to synergize with the other programs, such as mass vaccination,” he said.

The next mass vaccination program would be conducted in June 2011. The activity was also related to the implementation of the existing regulation, both the mayoral regulation and Bali regional regulation concerning with rabies. “These measures are intended to make Denpasar thoroughly free from stray dogs,” explained the head of services having a hobby in electronics.

Dewa Ngurah also admitted that mass vaccination program could be redundant if the presence of stray dogs was still rampant. Those wild

dogs could potentially serve as carriers of rabies in the community. On that account, his party always attempted to discipline the presence of stray dogs in Denpasar.

In the elimination operation, the team of Disnakanlut Denpasar was supported by the team of Bali Animal Husbandry Services (Disnak).

The Bali Animal Husbandry Services assigned the team with six personnel and five personnel from Disnakanlut Denpasar. Aside from executing eliminations, in the midst of the activities they also socialized the content of mayoral regulation and Bali regulation concerning with the rabies.

Kesiman was chosen as location of the elimination because quite a lot of cases occurred in this area. Additionally, it was also based on the requests of local residents to eliminate the stray dogs. “That’s why, we decided on the location so that it could help reduce the presence of stray dogs in Kesiman,” explained Dewa Ngurah. (kmb12)

Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The existence of vehicles parking at Sulawesi Street happening again due to unclear action from the Transportation Agency yet after several observation and research, it is decided to be free from parking of any vehicles. Kartini Street is also planned like so, as stated in a Adipura and Wahana Tatanugraha grading preparation meeting at Denpasar Transportation Agency Hall, last Thursday (21/4).

Head of the agency, I Gede Astika, revealed that in arranging Denpasar’s traffic, the agency has done several change in the city center’s routes which has effectively felt such as in Gajah Mada Street. The target was to decrease overload parking causing traffic jam at peak hours. For that Sulawesi Street will have the same action as this area usually passed by 2,364 vehicles every hour espe-

cially when motorcycles park in this route. At most there should be 310 motorcycle parking space and 10 for four wheels. Meanwhile at Kartini 160 for motorcycles and 15 four wheels parking spaces with 1,634 vehicles passing by per hour.

In Sanglah Market is also filled up around it and in Waturenggong Street 3,011 vehicles passed per hour with 178 motorcycles 11 four wheels parking spaces. Serma Made Pil Street also passed by 1,814 vehicles per hour with 208 motorcycles and 13 four wheels parking space. In Badung Market is a different situation, the 200 motorcycle and 144 four wheels parking space is not enough to fulfill the most visited market in Denpasar. There will be further observation to minimize traffic on these streets and also at Diponegoro-Teuku Umar route and Buton Street. (kmb12)

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Bali News

International

Monday, April 25, 2011

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Two Methamphetamine Distributor Captured Denpasar (Bali Post) –

IBP/file

The Colossal Drama Gong ‘I Cungih’

Colossal Drama Gong ‘I Cungih’

Reunion of increasingly marginalized artists Drama gong (a popular theatrical performance) artists of Gianyar Regency have shown off their existence through the show of colossal drama entitled Mantri Cungih (literally means harelip prince), Thursday night (Apr 20). The performance organized in the Cultural Center open stage in relation to the 240th anniversary of Gianyar City showed a success if compared to the previous one on the New Year’s Eve that was showered by rains. The performance was simultaneously a reunion of the Balinese traditional theater artists increasingly marginalized today.

The performance taking place at 8:30 p.m. until around 01:30 a.m.

Local Time was like a yearning reliever for people who missed the performance of drama gong. Additionally, as if the colossal performance was the revival of the drama gong which had increasingly receded. Such a hope was also delivered in person by the figure Balian Pengeng or crazy healer played by Wayan Sugita amidst the staging who also served as art director of the Colossal Drama Gong entitled Mantri Cungih whose idea of the manuscript was written by Wiyat S. Ardhi.

In the recent staging, the group involved approximately 98 dancers and gamelan players. The players were famous artists of drama gong such A.A. Payadnya, I Wayan Suwija, Cedil, Dadap, Senger and other artists. The colossal drama gong told about a settlement in Jumpungan forest within the territory of Jenggala Kusa Kingdom filled with vibrations of peace, prosperity and tranquility.

There lived a nuclear family consisting of father, mother and a child who had already been growing up. The youth was very intelligent but he had a physical disability namely harelip.

That’s why he was named I Cungih.

Once upon a time, I Cungih expressed an intention to his parents in order to be proposed Raden Galuh, a royal princess of Jenggala Kusha, for

his wife. It could be imagined how shocked and surprised his parents were. His request was illogical and could lead them to death. Therefore, his mother immediately rejected it.

However, I Cungih insisted on doing so. Since his mother was urged repeatedly to propose his dream girl to royal palace, his mother, Men Dukuh, ultimately came to royal palace for the purpose.

When Men Dukuh submitted her intention before the King in the royal assembly of Jenggala Kusha, the King was very angry over the harassment and impudence. Moreover, his daughter was a famous belle throughout Jenggala Kusha so that he was not willing to marry her with a harelip man living near the frontier of a dense jungle. As a result, the king ordered his chief minister to kill Men Dukuh.

Strangely, the corpse of Men Dukuh was found in the woods by I Cungih.

Due to his magical power, Men Dukuh could be revived and she was asked to return to the royal palace.

On seeing their arrival, the King was very surprised. Because of embarrassment, he instructed his men to kill Men Dukuh once again. If Men Dukuh could survive he promised to allow his daughter to be made daughter-in-law by Men Dukuh. Ultimately, Men Dukuh was killed again and I Cungih came to revive her. Having regained her life, she was taken to

royal palace by I Cungih to come before the King. As he would not like to break his promise, the King finally allowed his daughter to be married by I Cungih. After his married, I Cungih was awarded a title Mantri Cungih.

On the other side, in the Tampak Sirang Kingdom, the King intended to hand over his sovereignty to his son named Ida Dewa Agung Made. He accepted his father’s request provided that he was allowed to look for his brother who had lost since his babyhood because the kingdom was hit by devastating typhoons at that time.

Many people were missing and they were unknown whereabouts so far. Ida Dewa Agung Made wandered about while looking for his brother and finally arrived in Jenggala Kusha when the King celebrated the marriage of Raden Galuh with Mantri Cungih.

After the wedding party was over, Mantri Cungih was very sad because his appearance was always humiliated. At midnight, he himself left for graveyard to have a meditation.

At the end, the Goddess Durga was pleased to restore his face who was actually Ida Dewa Agung Putu, the prince of Tampak Sirang Kingdom.

Ida Dewa Agung Made could recognize Ida Dewa Agung Putu and requested him to be willing to replace the position of his father as the successor in the Tampak Sirang Kingdom. (kmb16)

Illegal drugs distribution in Bali still happens as almost everyday police captured who misused it either that’s psychotropic or narcotic. The recent imprisoned were methamphetamine distributors named Edy Subagio (31) from Banyuwangi and Nyoman Muliawan (31) from Pulau Bangka Street, South Denpasar captured in different locations last Wednesday (20/4).

According to information last Friday (22/4) accused Subagio was captured in front of Pondok Indah flats, Taman Pancing Street, South Denpasar after observed to be suspicious by police. “Accused was found being around there at 1.30 am local time,” unnamed Bali Police officer stated. After interrogated, accused admit was waiting for

a friend yet his explanation was going peculiar. Police then raid him and a packet of 1.70 gram methamphetamine was found in his pocket which then he admitted was waiting for his buyer for transaction.

In another place, police also captured Muliawan with the same case. He was captured at Pegok Field, Sesetan, South Denpasar after receiving a public member report that there will be a transaction in the area. It was then revealed as accused has 4,95 grams methamphetamine packet on him which will be bought by his customer.

Head of Bali Police Public Relation, Great Commissioner Gde Sugianyar, confirmed the capture by Bali Police Narcotics Directorate and the two accused has been imprisoned also further investigated. (kmb21)

Bird Flu Attacks Bangli

Hundreds of Birds Destroyed at Nyanggelan Bangli (Bali Post)

After a long time, now bird flu virus reached Bangli again and so far two villages at Susut and Tembuku found birds has sudden death. Workers and virus management team came down to Nyanggelan at Bambang Cillage, Tembuku, last Thursday (21/4) where hundreds of chickens found dead and it is bird flu positive after a rapid test was taken. Meanwhile on tens of chickens’ sudden death at Serai, Susut, has also been tested but it is still waiting for its lab results.

According to information received, turns out this has happened the past week where in the afternoon the birds’ looks well yet died in the morning. Worried about it, Bangli residents then reported it to Bangli Government. Bangli Health Agency with Livestock and Fishery Agency then came down to spray chicken cages and destroy those which had it.

Those which are healthy are given vaccine.

Head of Bangli Livestock and Fishery Agency, Ir. A.A. Ngurah Samba, last Friday (22/4) admitted Bangli was bird flu sensitive area because it is next to Klungkung Regency where bird flu has attacked earlier. It is suggested if there are suspicious death from chickens to please report it to the government also those who had contacts with birds and experiencing fever to go to the nearest Health Community Center or General Hospital straight away. (kmb17)

IBP/Pujawan

Officers of the Health Department are taking sample of a chicken in Bangli Regency.

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News

Monday, April 25, 2011

International

Libyan tribes try to negotiate Misrata rebel exit Associated Press Writer

TRIPOLI, Libya – Libyan tribal leaders are trying to get rebels in the city of Misrata to lay down their arms within 48 hours, a government official said early Sunday, after a day of fierce clashes between opposition fighters and Moammar Gadhafi’s forces.

If negotiations fail, Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said tribal chiefs may send armed supporters into the city of 300,000 to fight the rebels. In the meantime, the Libyan military is halting operations in Misrata, Kaim said.

However, the Misrata area is not known to have very large or dominant tribes, and rebels in the city questioned how much support Gadhafi had among them. It was also unclear whether the rebels are willing to negotiate, with Kaim saying tribal chiefs are still trying to get in touch with them.

Rebel officials have confirmed that Gadhafi’s forces have pulled back, but have expressed doubts that the regime will fully withdraw from the city.

Misrata, the only major rebel stronghold in Gadhafi-controlled western Libya, has become the most dramatic battleground in the Libyan uprising, which began in February

after similar revolts in Tunisia and Egypt ousted longtime leaders.

Fighting elsewhere in the country is at a stalemate, even with NATO airstrikes that began last month.

Hundreds of people have been killed in two months of a government siege backed by tanks, mortars and snipers firing from rooftops. Late last week, rebels drove snipers from a tall downtown building, in a setback for Gadhafi loyalists who had controlled the city center. The rebels have defended positions around Misrata’s seaport.

Kaim said the army has halted operations in Misrata since Friday, as part of the attempt of tribal leaders to negotiate an exit deal for the rebels.

However, residents reported heavy fighting, shelling and explosions in the east and south of Misrata and doctors said Saturday was one of the bloodiest days in weeks. At least 24 people were killed and 75 were wounded, many of them critically, said a doctor at a Misrata hospital who asked to be identified only by his first name because he was afraid of government retribution. He said that hospital officials who feared a strong attack Saturday had moved out some patients a day earlier to make way for more casualties.

AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev

Yoshiki Igarashi, 86, search for his belongings in the debris in the area devastated by the March 11 tsunami and earthquake in the town of Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Sunday, April 24, 2011.

Japan to launch massive search for quake bodies Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – Japan will send nearly 25,000 soldiers backed by boats and aircraft into its disaster zone Monday on an intensive land-andsea mission to recover the bodies of those killed by last month’s earthquake and tsunami, the military said.

AP Photo

Libyan rebel fighters flash the victory sign as they drive past a heavily-shelled building searching for pro-Gadhafi forces in the besieged city of Misrata, Libya, Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Agriculture officials also plan to send a team of veterinarians into the evacuation zone around a stricken nuclear plant to check on hundreds of thousands of abandoned cows, pigs and chickens, many of which are believed to have died of starvation and neglect. The government is considering euthanizing some of the dying animals, officials said.

About 14,300 people have been confirmed dead so far in the catastrophic March 11 tsunami and earthquake. Another 12,000 remain missing and are presumed killed.

Some of their bodies were likely

swept out to sea, while others were buried under the mass of rubble.

Cleanup crews have discovered some remains as they gingerly removed rotting debris to clear the area for rebuilding. But the two-day military search operation will be far more extensive, Defense Ministry spokesman Ippo Maeyama said Sunday. “We will do our utmost to recover bodies for bereaved families,” he said.

A total of 24,800 soldiers will scour the rubble, backed by 90 helicopters and planes, he said. Another 50 boats, along with 100 navy divers, will search the waters up to 20 kilometers off the

coast, he said. Police, coast guard and U.S. troops will also take part.

“It’s been very difficult and challenging to find bodies because the areas hit by tsunami are so widespread,” he said. “Many bodies also have been swept away by the tsunami.”

The operation will be the third intensive military search for bodies since the disaster last month. With the waters receding, Maeyama hopes the teams will have more success. The search was complicated by the decomposition of some of the corpses, he said. Some had already turned into skeletons.

“You have to be very careful in touching the bodies because they quickly disintegrate. We cannot tell the bodies’ gender anymore, let alone their age,” he said. The searches will continue, however, “as long as families want us to look for their loved ones,” Maeyama said.

Pope begins Easter as John Paul beatification nears Reuters

ROME - Pope Benedict led the world’s Catholics into Easter on Saturday, ahead of the beatification of his venerated predecessor John Paul II on May 1. The 84 year-old pontiff presided at an Easter eve service in St Peter’s Basilica, delivering a sermon around the theme of divine creation and receiving six adult converts from various countries into the church.

Saturday’s ceremony followed a cautious move on Good Friday to address a wider audience through a televised question and answer session between the pope and a selected group including a child in Japan and

a Muslim woman in Ivory Coast. The Easter celebration, marking the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion, will continue on Sunday, when the pope will deliver his twice yearly “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) address in St Peter’s Square.

The celebration was largely free of controversy seen last year, when allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests overshadowed the holiest occasion of the church year, although the pope referred to the scandal in his Good Friday address.

Instead, preparations were underway for the influx of visitors to Rome expected next week for the three-day programme of events during which the late Pope John Paul II

will be declared “blessed”, the last step before sainthood.The beatification has been seen as an opportunity for the church to renew its message and repair its image after the abuse scandal which deeply damaged its standing and credibility. At least 300,000 extra visitors are expected in Rome and preparations were visible in the streets of the Italian capital, where giant outdoor television screens will show the ceremony to the crowds who cannot get close enough in person.

The beatification is expected to be one of the biggest events in Rome since the late pope died in 2005 and millions came for his funeral and to view his body as it lay in state.

AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Faithful take place prior the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI for the Easter Holy Mass on April 24, 2011 at St Peter’s square at The Vatican. Later in the day, the pontiff will deliver the Urbi and Orbi message and blessing.

International

Activities

Monday, April 25, 2011

5

Piodalan at Aston kuta IBP

KUTA - On Friday, April 8th 2011, Aston at Grand Kuta Hotel and Residence held the Piodalan and Mecaru ceremony. Piodalan is a Hindu religious ritual which is an offering from the people to God. The purpose of the ritual is to pray for everything on earth to always be blessed by safety and prosperity in the body and the soul. Mecaru is the ceremony intended to deal with the balance between man and nature. Mecaru is the acts of giving offering that are made especially to please Bhuta (bad spirits in nature) and Spirits.

This is the second Piodalan and Mecaru ceremony since we opened on March 1st, 2010. Ceremony was attended by all hotel employees and held in the front of hotel building. Piodalan and Mecaru ritual was lead by a holy woman who was called Ida Pedanda.

Throughout the ceremony, songs and dance continues accompany by gamelan. The offering media used in this Piodalanand Mecaru ceremony was called upakara (bebanten) consists of fruits, flowers, incense, and animals with decorated set.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for March 21 through April 23, 2011 21 Mar Betara Turun Kabeh Ceremony Besakih - Karangasem Bukit Jati Temple Bangli Batur Temple Kalanganyar - Bangli Masceti Pejengaji Temple Tegallalang - Gianyar Dalem Temple Tangsud,Sukawati - Gianyar Penambangan Badung Temple Denpasar Lempuyang Madia Temple Karangasem Batur Temple Bangli Desa Temple Singakerta,Ubud - Gianyar Pasek Gelgel Temple Marga - Tabanan Gaduh Temple Ketapian, Sumerta - Denpasar Pasek Bendesa Temple Tuakilang - Tabanan Pasek Agung Temple Tatag Kelod,Peguyangan Denpasar Agung Pasek Bendesa Temple Tonja - Denpasar Pasek Gegel Angsri Temple Baturiti - Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Baleagung Temple Braban - Tabanan Dukuh Sakti Belatung Temple Timpag,KerambitanTabanan Puseh Dukuh Sakti Belatung Rendang - Karangasem Pitamaha Temple Palangkaraya - Kalimantan Tengah Candra Praba Temple Komplek Polri,JelambarJakarta Barat Agung Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar Pemerajan Agung Temple Puri Petak - Gianyar Dadya Agung Bendesa Tangkas Abiansemal - Badung Puseh Temple Sidemen - Karangasem Agung Giri Natha Temple Semarang - Center of Java 2 April Puseh Temple , Village Temple Sukawati Gianyar Pasek Gelgel-Bebetin Temple Sawan Buleleng Maspahit Temple Sesetan Denpasar Pasek Bendesa Manik Mas Tegallalang Gianyar Panti Pasek Gaduh Temple Sesetan - Denpasar Pedarman Arya Kanuruhan Temple Besakih Karangasem 5 April Kahyangan Tiga Temple Batur Kintamani - Bangli Batur Temple Camenggaon, Sukawati Gianyar

Luhur Bhujangga Temple Canggu,Kuta Badung Kawitan Kayu Selem Temple Batur, Kintamani Bangli 12 April Puseh Temple , Desa Temple Gianyar Luhur Dalem Segening Temple Kediri Tabanan Sanghyang Tegal Temple Taro,Tegallalang Gianyar 16 April Dalem Tarukan Temple Cemenggon, Sukawati-Gianyar Penataran Dalem Ketut Temple Pejeng Kaja Gianyar Puseh Manakaji Temple Peninjoan - Bangli Kawitan Gusti Celuk Temple Mengwi Badung 20 April Segara Temple Lombok Island Dwijawarsa Temple Malang East Java Puncak Tinggah Temple Baturiti Tabanan Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Temple Tonja - Denpasar Penyungsungan Pasek Tohjiwa Wanagiri,Selemadeg Tabanan Penataran Agung Temple Sidemen Karangasem Samuan Tiga Temple Bedulu Gianyar Kawitan Jati Luwih Bhujangga Jatiluwih Tabanan 21 April Dalem Taman Temple Peguyangan Denpasar 23 April Puri Agung Dalem Tarukan Pejeng,Tampaksiring Gianyar Rambut Siwi Temple Jembrana Batu Bolong Temple Canggu,Kuta Badung Pasek Temple Klaci,Tabanan Agung Pasek Temple Dauh Waru - Jembrana Ratu Pasek Temple Sangsit Buleleng Pasek Tangkas Temple Gede Tabanan Pedharman Batur Sari Ngiis Temple Jegu,Penebel Tabanan Desa Temple Banyuning Buleleng Srijong Temple Tabanan Puncak Mundi Temple Klumpu,Nusa PenidaKlungkung

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.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

News Australian bitten after taunting shark Agence France Presse

SYDNEY – An Australian teenager who was taunting a shark with a dead fish ended up getting bitten on the heel, according to reports.

The 17-year-old was airlifted for surgery after being attacked by the one-metre (three foot) reef shark near the west coast city of Carnarvon late Saturday, the Royal Flying Doctor Service said.

Witnesses said the teen was dangling a fish he had caught to try and attract the reef shark in shallow water and was bitten after being knocked over by a wave.

AP Photo/Martin Cleaver

FILE - This Aug. 2002 file photo shows Balmoral Castle, near Ballater in the Scottish Highlands. In real estate, it’s location, location, location. For royal honeymooners, it’s privacy, privacy, privacy.

Wills and Kate: Royal honeymoon ahead Associated Press Writer

LONDON – In real estate, it’s location, location, location. For royal honeymooners, it’s privacy, privacy, privacy. Once they are man and wife, Prince William and Kate Middleton may combine the two by honeymooning at the queen’s 50,000-acre Balmoral estate in Scotland, a family holding so vast that the couple could relax without worrying about their every movement being tracked by long-lensed paparazzi.

They would likely combine a stay in Scotland, a beautiful spot but with iffy weather, with a visit to a reliably sunny locale, royal experts believe.

“I think privacy will be the most important thing after all that they will have gone through,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine.

“Maybe a week in the sun and a week in Scotland, which is a traditional royal honeymoon venue. They can do their own thing up there.”

William and Middleton are somewhat limited by the prince’s military commitments. He is a Royal Air Force helicopter search and rescue pilot with two weeks’ leave available, so he will

have to be back at the base in Wales fairly quickly.

His parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, spent several months honeymooning, combining a twoweek Mediterranean cruise on the Royal Yacht Britannia (since decommissioned) with an extended visit to Balmoral in Scotland.

Little said William and Middleton seem to enjoy the active, outdoor lifestyle available in Balmoral, one of the queen’s favorite estates.

He said photographers who might be tempted to come onto the estate to photograph the couple with a telephoto lens would likely be warned

off in advance by the Press Complaints Commission, which would be expected to warn editors that intrusions on the couple’s privacy will not be tolerated.

Prince William’s press office has refused to provide any details about the honeymoon destination, although William has dropped several tantalizing hints about possible destinations.

On a recent trip to Australia, the prince told cheering crowds that it was possible he and Middleton would return for a honeymoon in Cairns so they could scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef.

Five women brutally murdered in Mexico beach resort Reuters

MEXICO CITY – Five women, all apparently connected to a beauty parlor, were found brutally murdered in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco on Saturday morning, state police said.

The semi-naked and bound bodies of two women and a 14-yearold girl were discovered in the salon in the early hours of Saturday morning. All three had their throats slashed.

Police later found the corpses of another two women with cut throats dumped in the streets.

Mexican media said both victims worked at the beauty parlor. No motive was given for the killings.

Acapulco, famed in the 1960s as a glamorous haunt for Hollywood stars, has been convulsed by drug violence in recent months as powerful cartels battle for smuggling routes, prompting the United States to warn tourists against visiting the downtown center of the

resort.

Mexican officials have been anxious to downplay the impact of the violence on tourism, one of the country’s main foreign exchange earners, pointing out that the number of visitors arriving in Mexico has continued to rise in recent years.

Spreading drug violence that killed more than 15,000 people last year has prompted foreign governments to issue a number of travel warnings for parts of Mexico.

Hindus in Bali...

From page 1 Based on the “Lontar Sundarigama” about Saraswati, the ceremony must be done in the morning or midday. During that time, it is not allowed to read and write especially those related to religious content.

“For those who carry out the Brata Saraswati, he or she can not read and write for 24 hours while those who doesn’t can read and write after midday and even at night they can carry out literary night,” Sudiana said.

He explained that Saraswati come

“(There were) heaps of people on the beach, heaps of kids in the water, so it was pretty silly really, feeding sharks when there were kids about,” one witness told ABC Radio. Reef sharks are not considered particularly aggressive but have been known to attack if provoked.

Sharks are common in Australia but fatal attacks are rare, with only 53 deaths in the last half-century, according to the Australian Shark Attack File. Most recently, a surfer and wakeboarder were savaged by sharks in separate incidents north of Sydney last month.

from Sanskrit words, Saras which means something that flows or saying and Wati means own. So Saraswati means something that flows or the meaning or words.

Knowledge is flowing constantly and never ending like water, it will not run out even if all human use it.

Sudiana said “knowledge is the basic materials needed to become a wise human. It is the basic to find happiness.”

Jagat Natha Temple which is located in the middle of Denpasar was packed by the people who want to pray. The similar condition was also seen in schools throughout Bali.

Residents...

From page 1 Allegedly, the springs had mixed with the lake water, so the quality of water became polluted and brought in germs. “Obviously, this disease occurs when the lake water is overflowing and the water we consume is also taken from the water resource around the lake,” he said.

Meanwhile, Putra Sedana, a physician who performed a free medical examination on the shores of Lake Buyan said the results of tests carried out on the people indeed showed that skin disease was the dominant disease suffered by local residents. From the observations, the disease probably occurred because of the inundated environment and they consumed less clean water as it had mixed with the lake water. “Virtually all people here suffer from itching and I think it is the impact of overflowing water here so the homes here are filled with stagnant water,” he said.

Aside from itches, added Putra Sedana, many of local residents also suffered from high blood pressure and stress. Allegedly, this condition was kindled by the burden increasingly heavier after their home and vegetable or strawberry garden had sunk so they lost their income. The mind had an impact on physical aspect of a person so he was getting weaker and the disease would be easy to attack. “Just imagine, the residents could previously live in peace with abundant proceeds of farming, but they suddenly disappeared as drowned by water. Automatically, the residents turn traumatic when thinking of their fate,” he

explained.

Such free medical treatment was held by the Chairman of Buleleng House, Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan, together with his colleagues. In addition to providing free medical services, Sukrawan also submitted a number of food packages to residents.

Hopefully, the assistance could alleviate the burden of people’s miseries to bravely accept the reality of life.

Besides, people would not get slumped. “We do hope that people could rise up and work to cultivate the potential of each region,” he said.

On the other hand, villagers living on the shores of Lake Buyan also expected that local government could lend a hand with equipment for carrying out the freshwater fish aquaculture by implementing a floating net cage system.

Meanwhile, Ketut Sueja, a resident of Dasong Village said that local residents so far lost their job because their garden had drowned.

Today, the most possible job was to develop the freshwater fish aquaculture. To set this business, his party needed equipment to make floating net cage. The appropriate fish to be cultivated with this cage system was tilapia. This fish production was easily marketed and the request was stable. “We are trying to make examples of floating net cage by self-contained effort. We really hope that government could help us so we can preserve our job as a fisherman growing the tilapia fish,” he said. (kmb)

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, April 25, 2011

7

TV cameraman named terror suspect Antara

JAKARTA - A cameraman identified by his initial IF has been named a suspect in a terror plot. “IF was officially named a suspect,” Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar, a spokesman of the National Police Headquarters, said.

AFP PHOTO / AMAN ROCHMAN

Indonesian activists participate in a protest against deforestation to mark World Earth day in Malang on April 22, 2011. Indonesia is the world’s third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, due mainly to rampant deforestation by the palm oil and paper industries, which according to a report released by the Indonesian government mostly operate illegally in Borneo.

RI forests under heavy pressure: NGO Antara

BOGOR - Indonesia’s forests are under heavy pressure due to illegal logging, encroachment and land conversion activities that threaten its biological diversity.

“The forest damage has affected the ecological system and is threatening human beings’ well being,” Ria Saryanti, conservation program manager of Bird Indonesia said in a statement here Saturday.

Around 40 million Indonesian people depend on the forest resources (wood, rattan and firewood) directly; millions of others get benefit indirectly, according to her.

Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands are the worst-affected forest areas.

Based on a study by Hansen and his colleagues (2009), around 70 percent of deforestation in Indonesia was concentrated on the two islands.

Since 1990, the low-land forest covers in Sumatra and Kalimantan have decreased up to 41 percent.

To commemorate Earth Day, Bird Indonesia (the Association of Indonesian Wild Bird Preservation), which is in partnership with England-based Global Birdlife International, has urged the Indonesian people to preserve forests.

“Preserving the forests means taking care of the Earth and controlling the temperature which has been increasing since the past few decades,” she said.

She further explained that by preserving the forests, living creatures,

including human beings living inside the areas, are also being saved.

Forests are sources of food, medicines, housing materials and genes, according to her. Almost a quarter of the world population relies on forests and 300 million live in forest areas throughout the world.

In the Climate and forest Conference 2010 in Oslo, Norway, it was disclosed that tropical forests can absorb up to 17 percent of gas emission globally and play important role in addressing the climate change.

Deforestation rate of tropical forests reaches 13 million hectares annually and threaten the survival of about 50 percent of bird species in the world.

“It’s no wonder that of 122 species on the brink of extinction in Indonesia, 12 species come from tribe Collumbidae,” she added.

Eight million Indonesians openly unemployed Antara

YOGYAKARTA - Some 8.32 million Indonesians or 7.14 percent of the work force of 116.53 million are currently in a state of open unemployment, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said.

“This condition is the related to many factors such as the large population, the limited number of job opportunities in the formal sectors and the fact that the country’s natural resources have not yet been developed optimally,” the minister

said in his address at the graduation of a number of students of the Indonesian Islamic University of Yogyakarta on Saturday.

The minister said multiple efforts to create job opportunities needed to be made to solve the unemployment problem and improve the people’s economy. He said the government had set itself the target of lowering the unemployment rate from 7.14 percent now to 5.1 percent by 2014.

According to the minister, one of the ways to create job opportunities was developing entrepreneurship among the people. Muhaimin ex-

pressed hope that educational institutions in Indonesia would adjust their curricula with the demands of the manpower market so that newly graduated students could easily find jobs.

“Students must also improve their skills in independent entrepreneurship so that after graduation they will no longer seek jobs but be able to create jobs,” said the minister.

Earlier, the government had announced it had set itself the target of reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percent from 7.5 percent in 2010 to 7 percent this year.

The plotters had invited IF and another media worker to cover the bombing attack they would carry out on Friday morning near Christ Cathedral at Gading Serpong, Banten, when members of the church would gather for Easter service, he said.

“IF agreed to meet the invitation but, as it turned out, the bombing attack did not materialize because the police detected the plot and found the bombs,” Boy said.

The police had so far arrested a total of 20 suspects, including IF, at different places, he said.

Three suspects identified by their initials as P, J and F, were caught in Aceh; P, A, A, E, and R were nabbed in Bogor, F, D, and Y in Kramat Jati, M in Rawamangun, A, D, M, R and A in Pondok Kopi, A in Bekasi, and one person identified by his initial as J in Tangerang, Boy said.

Last Thursday (April 21), security authorities found a powerful time bomb hidden under a gas pipeline of state gas company PGN at Cihuni village, Serpong in Tangerang district. The spot where the bomb was found was only 100 meters from the Christ Cathedral at Serpong, Banten Province.

National Police spokesman Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam on Thursday (April 21) stated the bombs in Serpong were supposed to be set off by terrorists on Friday (April 22) at 9 am on the occasion of a mass ahead of Easter at 10 am.

“The bombs had been planted to

cause major damage,” he said adding that the bombs were deactivated by a police bomb squad in time.

Meanwhile, Ansyaad Mbai, head of the National Agency for Tackling Terrorism (BNPT), said efforts to stop bomb attacks were being intensified after authorities found evidence that the terrorists who had sent package bombs were also planning more attacks, including on religious buildings.

The suspected leader of a terrorist cell known by his initial as P wanted the planned bombing in Serpong to be covered by international media.

“The essence is their planned action would be covered by overseas, international networks,” Boy said.

He said the terrorist cell led by P planned their terror action could be directly covered by international media. He said according to initial results of investigation the terrorists needed international publication of their action. They wished it would affect their struggle if it could be known widely.

Investigators alleged P had cooperated with a cameraman of a private television station known as IF to find international media that could cover their planned terror action in Gading Serpong. Boy said investigators were still investigating IF’s involvement in the terrorist cell led by P. He reiterated that IF’s arrest was not done in connection with his capacity as a television station cameraman.

Papua’s tourism potentials the best in world Antara

JAYAPURA - Chairman of the Jayapura Association of Indonesian Development Youths HendrikYance Udam said that the tourism potentials in the province are the most complete and the best in the world.

“All tourism models in Papua including its nature, culture, history, waters, fields, savannas and others are the best assets of the province,” Hendrik Yance Udam said.

He mentioned the snow hills in the subtropical areas are nowhere else found in the world, like the Kalimanjaro in Africa and another

one the Cartenz in Papua.

“Which means all the world’s tourism models are also found in Papua, but those in Papua are the best, and may be not found somewhere else,” he said.

Hendrik Yance Udam also mentioned the tropical forests, like those in Brazil with the Amazon, but those in Papua also have forest arms and have now even served as the lungs of the world. There are also the savannas like the Serenity in Africa.

There are also the mangrove forests in Papua and the beauty of the undersea world in Raja Ampat regency, West Papua.

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International

Monday, April 25, 2011

Bali Today Japanese tourists visit to Bali Museum decrease Antara

Denpasar – The number of tourists from Japan coming to Bali decreased 20% after the country hit by massive earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. Ida Ayu Arini, the Head of Education and Preparation Division in Bali Museum, said “since the disasters, the number of Japanese tourists decreased from 300 people a month into less than that, especially in April 2011.”

She explained that the phenomenon is common because the disasters affected the economics condition of Japan. “Usually, the tourists from Japan come to Bali in groups but in the last few months they came on their own,” Arini said.

There is great hope that the condition will improve along with the effort by Japan Government to recover the condition in Japan.

Arini explained that generally, the number of foreign tourists visited the museum is decreasing from February through March 2011. The

number of foreign tourists was almost similar to the domestic one.

In February 2011, the number of foreign tourists was 1,000 people but in March only became 900 visitors. While for domestic tourists, the highest number of visitors was in January 2011 which was 2,200 people while in February and March 2011 was only 900 visitors.

For the domestic tourist was still dominated by students. Bali Museum which was built in 1931 has the building which represents the current building model in Bali. It was design by PJ Moojen.

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

People pass the Museum Bali.

‘Made-in-Australia’ Puppets Gambier Cake, a Typical Balinese Taffy Not only rice wine and salted nuts favored by domestic tourists as typical souvenir of Bali, a number of snacks such as gambier snack is also responded positively by these circles. Gambier cake wrapped in leaves turns into a unique snack that can draw the intriguing interests of consumers to try.

“Gambier Cake can be said as typical souvenir of Bali that is no less attractive than rice wine, and salted peanuts,” said Ayu, a manager of souvenir shop providing typical souvenirs of Bali located around Denpasar not long ago.

Furthermore, she explained, as other regions in Indonesia, Bali also had a lot of typical and tempting snacks to enjoy. So far, she added, the current dominant market share for distinctive snack of Bali came from domestic tourists.

Evidently, quite many tourists purchased gambier cakes, and this even increased when entering the holiday season.

According to Rini, another souvenir seller, the gambier cake itself was wrapped with typical and attractive leaf as the one used for taffy. When eaten, people would taste a tenderly ground peanut sauce inside. She said it was very unique and delicious as the batter of black sticky rice processed into rubbery taffy cake was encapsulated by ground peanut. That’s why many domestic tourists such as from East Java, Jakarta and

BTN/Doc

Gambir Cake.

Bandung were always interested to purchase it as snack souvenirs when they paid a visit to Bali.

Witari, another perpetrator of similar business, expressed the same opinion. She said that gambier confectionary had become one of the targets for a number of domestic tourists visiting Bali so far. During their visit to Bali they considered it incomplete before enjoying and bringing along gambier cake as souvenirs. Nevertheless, she admitted that the gambier cake business was inseparable from some problems. One of them occurred when the price of ingredients such as sticky rice increased.

“In response to this condition, I still maintain the selling price unless the spike showed a significant increase in a long time. If the spike happens, I have no other choice but applying the price hike,” she said. (BTN)

Balinese arts are not just loved in the United States, Japan and other countries in Europe, but also become the main attraction for the people of Australia. Even, the vivacity of the people from the Kangaroo country is very high. They do not only thoroughly enjoy each presentation of Balinese arts such as dance, music, puppet and painting, but also get interested to learn more about it. Unsurprisingly, Balinese arts are then performed by foreigners like those from Australia, Japan, Europe and so forth.

“I recently gave a workshop in the Melbourne Art Center. Amazingly, the number of participants was 35, more than what I expected,” said I Made Sidia, an artist and lecturer in the Puppetry Department, Faculty of Performing Arts, the Indonesia Institute of Arts (ISI) Denpasar.

According to Sidia, from time immemorial the Balinese arts and culture had become the main attraction for foreign tourists. Even, they often made it an appropriate means to attract more and more tourists to visit Indonesia and Bali in particular. “So it is not mistaken, if the Balinese culture serves as the basis for developing tourism in Bali,” he said.

Lately, Balinese artists had familiarly traveled to Australia - Bali vice versa to make a performance or provide an art workshop. Similarly, his recent departure was specifically intended to give a workshop on Balinese traditional puppets and masks for two weeks (Apr 4-17) on the invitation of the Art Center of Melbourne. In addition to direct practice, the man from Bona Village, Gianyar, also made a presentation by Power Point especially about the art of puppet traditions in Bali. In that presentation, he introduced several compositions of contemporary puppet shows ever made, both the puppetry composition produced by the Campus of ISI Denpasar and Bali bombing puppet.

It was very possible, explained Sidia, because the participants were teachers of the arts in Melbourne. Such confidence was also boosted by their enthusiasm in practicing the making of puppets out of carton papers at the end of the workshop activities. They looked happy and quite clever in the making of those puppets, though it was carried out in a relatively short time. More-

over, all participants had learned Indonesian language, so it was easy enough for him to present the materials.

To reinforce the workshop materials, Sidia also made mask performance and puppet attractions, ranging from traditional to modern puppet or puppets that had been developed by him. Various creative works of art that had been made by Sidia such as Moksha staged by ISI Denpasar on the 10th Anniversary of the Gunarsa Fine Arts Museum (2004) and The Theft of Sita as an international multi-media production that had been staged at the Adelaide Festival (2000), Health Day as performance at the World Environment Day (2008) in Jakarta, Hunted

by Time posing a theater and multi-media performance (2005) presented in Darwin, as well as some other works.

Additionally, Sidia was also invited to give workshops in Perth in UNIMA in 2008. (BTN/015)

International

Monday, April 25, 2011

Balinese Culture Saraswati Day Knowledge is very important for Balinese. Every Saniscara, Umanis, Wuku Watugunung, they celebrate Saraswati Day, the knowledge day. It is based on the Pawukon (Balinese calendar) system and the Saniscara (seven day cycle).

The name Saraswati came from “Saras” meaning flow and “wati” meaning a women. So, Saraswati is symbol of knowledge, its flow (or growth) is like a river and knowledge is very interesting, like a beautiful women.

Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge, symbolized by a beautiful woman with four hands, riding on a white swan among water lilies to tell humanity that science is like a beautiful woman.

Her hands hold a palm leaf; a lontar, (a Balinese traditional book which is the source of science or knowledge); a chain (genitri with 108 pieces) symbolising that knowledge is never ending and has an everlasting life cycle; and a musical instrument (guitar or wina) symbolising that science develops through the growth of culture. The swans symbolise prudence, so that one’s knowledge may distinguish between good and evil and the water lilies (Lotus) are symbols of holiness. The Lotus flower is the holiest for Balinese.

In the afternoon of Saraswati day we are not permitted to read or write the book because all the books are offered. In the evening, called Malam Sastra, people read books (especially religious

books) in their houses or in the temple. * Pangredanan (the day before Saraswati) This is the day of preparation.

All the books and lontar are collected together, cleaned and dusted. * Saraswati Day Saraswati day itself is celebrated by the Balinese people bringing offerings to their holy books and scrolls in their houses, while students celebrate it at school, usually in the morning, and the office-workers in their office. The philosophy of Saraswati day is that the most important thing for human life is knowledge. * Banyu Pinaruh The day after Saraswati Day is Banyu Pinaruh day. “Banyu” means water and “Pinaruh” mean wisdom. In other words, we must have wisdom which always flows like water and which are useful for human kind. We pray for Dewi Saraswati (manifestation of God) to give us cleverness and wisdom. The people usually take a bath in the sea or a lake or river and drink traditional medicine which is made from many various leaves which is very good for our health. The philosophy of Banyu Pinaruh day is the second most important thing for human life is good health. * Soma Ribek Two days after Saraswati Day, on Soma (or Monday), Pon, Wuku Sinta, is Soma Ribek day.

“Soma” meaning Monday, and “Ribek” meaning full. On this day, Balinese bring offerings to

the rice box. They thank God for food and beverage in their lives and pray to Dewi Sri (Goddess of prosperity, manifestation of God) to give prosperity. This celebration reminds them to be selective when choosing food and not to over eat to improve their health.

The philosophy of Soma Ribek day is the third most important thing for human life is food and drink. * Sabuh Mas Three days after Saraswati Day, on Anggara (or Tuesday), Wage, Wuku Sinta, is Sabuh Mas day.

“Sabuh” means belt, and “Mas” mean gold. On this day, Balinese bring offerings to the deposit box or the place where they keep their jewelry. They thank Mahadewa (manifestation of God) for cloth, money, gold, etc in our lives. This celebration reminds them to be selective when spending money. The philosophy of Sabuh Mas day is the fourth most important thing for human life is cloth and gold, etc. * Pagerwesi Four days after Saraswati Day, on Buda (or Wednesday), Kliwon, Wuku Sinta, is Pagerwesi day.

“Pager” meaning fence and “Wesi” meaning iron. On this day, Balinese pray to Sang Hyang Pramesti Guru (manifestation of God). All Balinese have offerings to their Sanggah (temple in their home) and at all of their temples.

This is the second biggest holiday after Galungan day for the Balinese. The philosophy of this celebration is that they must keep knowledge, health, food, cloth and gold high in their lives to keep the universe in balance.

Pesan Be Pasih

(Grilled Fish In Banana Leaf) OVERVIEW: This is the Balinese version of a popular Javanese dish, Ikan Pepes. If banana leaves are not available, replace with greased aluminum foil. Small whole fish are often used in Bali instead of fillets cut from a large fish; just adjust the size of the banana leaf wrapping.

INGREDIENTS: 500 gr (1 lb) skinned boneless snapper fillet, cut in 4 1 tsp salt 1 cup seafood spice paste 8 sprigs lemon basil 4 Salam leaves 1 tomato, sliced 4 banana leaves, cut in 15 cm (6 in) squares PREPARATION: 1. Season fish fillet with salt and cover evenly with seafood spice paste.

2. Cover and leave to marinate in cool place for 6 hours 3. Place fish in center of banana leaves, top each with 2 springs of lemon basil and 1 salam leaf and tomato slice.

4. Fold banana leaves around fillets in shape of a small parcel, fasten with toothpick 5. Steam parcels for 7 minutes, then place on charcoal cooker or under a grill and cook for 5 minutes until banana leaves are evenly browned. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Sayur Pakis

(Fern Tips In Garlic Dressing) OVERVIEW: Fern tips also know as fiddleheads, have delightful, spinach like flavor.

INGREDIENTS: 400 gr (12 ½ oz) young fern tips 3 cloves garlic 4 cm (1 ½ in) kencur root, peeled and chopped 4 - 7 bird’s eye chilies 2 tbsp oil ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black peppercorns, crushed PREPARATION: 1. Blanch fern tips in boiling water and cool under running water. Drain and dry thoroughly.

2. Place all remaining ingredients in a food processor and blend coarsely, or grind in a stone mortar.

3. Combine this mixture with the vegetables and mix well. Serve at room temperature. (www.baliguide.com/ balifood) C.045 ibp

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Destinations

International

Tampak Siring Temple IBP

Tirta Empul Temple or Tampak Siring Temple is a holy spring water temple located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar regency and it is about 39 km eastwards from Denpasar town. It is set in the dale and encircled by the hill. In the west side of this temple, there is an Indonesian President palace which has been found by the first president. The name of Tirta Empul is loaded in a inscription which is kept at Sakenan Temple, Manukaya village, Sub district of Tampak Siring, about 3 km from Tirta Empul Temple. In this inscription, the Tirta Empul is named by the Tirta Ri Air Hampul and then the name has changed into Tirta Hampul and finally become the Tirta Empul.

Tirta Ri air hampul is meaning the water emerge or the holy pool (Petirthan) which is the water emerge from the land.

The wellspring emerges from the land is believed that it is the infinite creation. According to the history, that, that this water source is arranged and sanctified by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa in the year 882 Saka (960 M). He has given the name with Tirta ri air hampul. The data is loaded in the inscription that is located at Sakenan Temple. Besides of the above epigraphy data, in Tirta Empul Temple is also found the archaeology omission like Colossus Yoni, Arca Lion, Tepasana and Tirta Empul Pool. According to papyrus of

Usana Bali narrated that Tirta Empul is created

by Bhatara Indra (Sun Deity) when bearing arms against the king where his palace is located in Bedahulu Countryside. He is known as a very miraculous king, which he can lose or show suddenly, therefore he is named by Mayadenawa. Because of its miracle, he becomes the arrogance and expressing himself as a god. The Mayadenawa King owns the assistant (Patih) which is called Kalawong. They prohibit the people to do the Yadnya (praying to the god) so that is often happened the natural disaster, disease epidemic, agriculture fail and finally miserable life society. Finally Betara Indra (one of Hindu God) gives battle against the kings that happened in Tampak Siring and then the Mayadenawa is gone to the wall and disappear. King Mayadenawa has also created poisonous pools which can the team of Bathara Indra die and faint after drinking this water.

Then Bathara Indra stick the weapon of Umbulumbul and finally the water is emerging so that called by Tirta Empul and then it is passed to the dead and faint soldier that made them back to live. Therefore at the moment this pool water is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali and they believe that this water source can heal various of diseases, hence every day this place is a lot of visited by Hindu people to do the ritual and sanctify them self . This place has been opened for public and as a famous tourist destination in Bali.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

11

BUSINESS Japan economy likely shrink in first half 2011 Reuters

TOKYO – Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the country’s economy will likely shrink in the first half of 2011 due mainly to stalled output in the wake of Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

“We are now expecting production and GDP will decline in the first quarter and the second quarter,” Shirakawa said in the interview conducted on Friday, echoing the views of most private-sector economists who also see a first half contraction.

The focus is now on how quickly the Japanese economy will return to growth. This largely depends on when supply chain disruptions will ease and to what degree power shortages could affect factory output during the peak

summer period.

Shirakawa was quoted as saying supply constraints would likely continue at least until August before recovering.

“Once supply capacity is recovered, then the Japanese economy is moving back to the original growth path,” Shirakawa said in the interview.

The BOJ is expected to hold off on any further easing of monetary policy next week but will likely reiterate its readiness to act if the quake’s damage threatens Japan’s return to a

moderate economic recovery.

In a twice-yearly outlook report to be issued at next week’s rate review, the BOJ will cut its economic forecast for the current fiscal year, which began on April 1, from its January projection of 1.6 percent growth to reflect the impact of the quake, sources familiar with the BOJ’s thinking have told But many in the bank agree with the dominant market view that Japan will avoid a contraction for the full fiscal year as growth is expected to pick up from around autumn.

AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO

(L-R) Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon shake hands prior to their trilateral talks at a Tokyo hotel on April 24, 2011.

History repeats itself in China, South Korea rebuff Greek debt crisis Agence France-Presse

ATHENS – Austere-looking Europeans dictating economic policy are nothing new for Greece which went bankrupt over a century ago and had to accept an international commission of control over its finances.

The year was 1898. A much smaller Greek state had just lost a disastrous war against the Ottoman Empire and was forced to pay reparations when the government had officially declared insolvency five years earlier.

Determined to collect past loans, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Italy sent officials to monitor state receipts, taxes and customs duties that would repay Greece’s obligations.

“The Greek state was born in debt,” notes Stavros Thomadakis, a professor of business economics and finance at Athens University.

“In a way, debt is Greece’s original sin,” he told AFP. Fiscal profligacy caught up with Athens again last year when greater investor scrutiny of sovereign debt cast a spotlight on its parlous finances.

The incoming Socialist government of George Papandreou had just revealed that the size of Greece’s deficit had been misreported and pledged to set the record straight, but the confidence scare that followed caused Greek

loans to dry up.

With insolvency looming, Athens was forced to appeal, on April 23 2010, to its European Union peers and the International Monetary Fund for a bailout loan of 110 billion euros ($159 billion) in return for a sweeping overhaul of its economy.

The unpopular quarterly audits

by EU and IMF officials that followed echo a situation described in “The Control”, a long-lost play

by George Isaias that satirised the country’s woes some 110 years ago.

Revived this year by an Athenian troupe, the 1900 play chronicles the arrival of two foreign loan officers, the stiff German Von Gdare (Von Flayer) and the skirt-chasing Frenchman De Fagan (De Glutton), and the efforts of their Greek hosts to mollify them.

The closeness of the script to Greece’s current predicament is not lost on play director Costis Kapelonis.

“Once again, it’s a control that exceeds the powers of the Greek state and has an impact on everybody’s daily life,” he says.

Then, as now, major military spending took a large chunk of state funds.

George Dertilis, a director at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, noted that the Greek state directed over 33 percent of its spending on the

army from 1830 onwards.

At the time of the foreign powers’ commission, says Athens University’s Thomadakis, the image of creditors “drinking the blood of the country” was deeply embedded in popular culture.

“Today, people see the EU and the IMF as an occupation force even if this is not the case,” he says.

And although Isaias’ play closes with a call to resistance, Greece actually managed to rebound from bankruptcy, Thomadakis adds.

“The first decade of the 20th century was one of Greece’s most productive, to a great extent because of the order restored to the country’s finances,” he said.

Purported samples of Greece’s ornate 1898 bond certificates, backed in gold by the governments of Britain, France and Russia, can today be found on Ebay for under $10.

“You are about as likely to collect on this bond as you are Greece’s current debt!” reads one tongue-in-cheek comment.

In another brush with history, albeit unintentional, Papandreou’s ruling Pasok party was for decades headquartered on an Athens street named after Harilaos Trikoupis, the visionary prime minister who was forced to declare insolvency in 1893.

The Pasok party moved to new offices before the start of the crisis.

Japan on import restrictions after quake

Reuters

TOKYO – China and South Korea rebuffed on Sunday Japan’s calls for more “reasonable” restrictions on imports of food and other products that could be contaminated with radiation after last month’s nuclear disaster, showing the difficulty Japan will face in restoring trust in its products.

Trade ministers from China and South Korea also told their Japanese counterpart they hope Japan can quickly repair its supply chain, which was damaged after last month’s earthquake and tsunami, as shortages of Japanese manufactured goods will impact the global economy.

“I asked China and South Korea to make sure there is a scientific basis for restrictions on our imports,” Japanese Trade Minister Banri Kaieda told reporters after a summit meeting.

“South Korea’s response was that they have to place importance on peoples’ safety. China also stressed the importance of food products.”

Kaieda met with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon as Japan grapples with its worst crisis since World War Two.

A 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami towering more than 10 meters battered its northeast coast on March 11, leaving nearly 28,000 dead or missing and triggering radiation leaks at a nuclear power plant.

The government estimates the material damage alone could top $300 billion, making it by far the world’s costliest natural disaster.

Several countries have restricted food imports from Japan over radiation fears. China has banned imports of some Japanese food and agricultural products. South Korea banned food imports from four areas of Japan affected by the nuclear crisis until radiation concerns ease.

Shortages of electricity and important parts that manufacturers need to make their goods suggest there will be deep and long-running output disruptions that could production in other countries.

Much of what Japan sends to China are crucial high-tech inputs in its auto, machinery and electronics sectors. Assembled into final products, these are later exported by China.

In South Korea’s case, the country competes with Japan in exports of cars, semiconductors and electronics.

12

Entertainment

Monday, April 25, 2011

International

Lohan quickly released from jail in theft case Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – The day unfolded all too familiarly for Lindsay Lohan: a court hearing, a jail sentence, a quick release. The starlet appeared before a judge Friday for the fourth time in nearly a year and was sentenced to 120 days for violating her probation by taking a designer necklace.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner said she thought the actress had intentionally taken the $2,500 necklace from an upscale Venice store and shown poor judgment in not trying to return it until police became involved. The judge reduced the actress’ charge from felony grand theft to a misdemeanor and imposed the 120-day sentence.

Lohan’s attorney Shawn Holley filed a notice of appeal right before court closed, clearing the way for the actress’ release on bail.

She was freed at 9:21 p.m. after posting $75,000 bail, according to the sheriff department’s website. Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers said her office would consider appealing the ruling as well. Sautner agreed with Meyers that Lohan showed intent to keep the necklace, and said that she

thought Lohan’s conduct probably warranted a felony.

“I see the intent here,” Sautner said. “I see a level of brazenness with, `Let me see what I can get away with here.’” But the judge said felony grand theft cases involving higher-valued goods are often reduced to the misdemeanor level and thought it was appropriate in Lohan’s case.

“I’m going to give her an opportunity,” the judge said. She also said she hoped to give the “Mean Girls” and “Freaky Friday” star a dose of perspective by sentencing her to almost 500 hours of community service, including time at the county morgue and 300 hours at a women’s shelter.

It is unclear what effect the sentence may have on Lohan’s next acting role.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

Lindsay Lohan, left, arrives with her lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley for a preliminary hearing, Friday, April 22, 2011, at LAX Courthouse in Los Angeles. Lohan is in court for a hearing on a felony grand theft charge involving a necklace reported stolen by an upscale jewelry store.

Potter star Emma Watson to transfer from Brown Associated Press Writer

LONDON – A spokeswoman for Harry Potter star Emma Watson says she will be transferring from Brown University to another university in the autumn.

Vanessa Davies denied reports that the 21-year-old actress was “bullied out” of the Rhode Island university, saying there was no truth in reports by a number of online publications who cited classmates and “insiders”.

Davies said Saturday that Watson, who plays Hermione in the wizard movie series, has decided to pursue a different course not offered at Brown. She added that the star “has absolutely loved her time at Brown” and made many good friends there.

Watson has recently taken time out of her studies to focus on her movie career. She has said that her first days in college were difficult.

Davies did not identify the university Watson will be transferring to.

REUTERS/Beawiharta

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber performs at his “Justin Bieber, My World Tour” concert at Sentul International Convention Centre in Bogor, Indonesia West Java province, April 23, 2011.

Classic Hong Kong ghost film remade 24 years later Associated Press Writer

HONG KONG – When “A Chinese Ghost Story” hit movie screens in 1987, it wowed audiences with its novel plot of man falls for female demon in an ancient Chinese setting. The unlikely couple played by late Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung and Taiwanese actress Joey Wang quickly became a classic romance, and two sequels followed, as well as an animated movie.

Twenty-four years later, Hong Kong director Wilson Yip has reimagined the love story for a wider audience with a new cast, a new plot twist and modern special effects.

While the original was released during the heyday of Hong Kong cinema, the remake is largely targeted at the lucrative mainland market, where censors once averse to superstition are now more open to supernatural-themed productions.

The 1987 version, directed by veteran filmmaker and action choreographer Tony Ching, takes inspiration from “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio,” Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling’s famed collection of ghost stories. Cheung’s scholar-turned-tax collector Ning Caichen becomes smitten with Wang’s Nie Xiaoqian, a lonely demon who serves as a hunter for a tree devil who preys on human beings. Ning solicits the help of demon catcher Yan Chixia to free Nie of her enslavement.

Yip, whose career has taken off with the recent success of the kung fu biopics “Ip Man” and “Ip Man 2,” both starring Donnie Yen, has cast two baby-faced young Chinese actors as the new couple.

Yu Shaoqun, who rose to fame as a young Mei Lanfang in Chen Kaige’s 2008 biopic of the late Peking Opera singer, plays the innocent scholar. Liu Yifei, who made her Hollywood debut in “The Forbidden Kingdom,” the 2008 kung fu picture that marked the first collaboration between Jackie Chan and Jet Li, is the distraught ghost torn between love and servitude.

But the director has also spiced up the drama by adding a back story of Nie’s earlier romance with Yan, casting Hong Kong heartthrob Louis Koo as the gruff ghost hunter.

Veteran Hong Kong actress Wai Ying-hung, who is enjoying a career

renaissance, plays the tree devil — a role taken on by actor Lau Siuming in the original.

And then there is the advancement in computer graphics in the nearly 2 1/2 decades between original and remake. While the original boasted convincing creature effects and won a Hong Kong Film Award for Yee Chung-man’s art design — Yee went on to receive an Oscar nomination for his work on Zhang Yimou’s 2006 costume drama “Curse of the Golden Flower” — Yip has the benefit of an unfettered digital canvas, backed up by a $10 million budget — some 70 percent of which was devoted to special effects.

AP Photo/Kin Cheung

From left Hong Kong actor Louis Koo, Chinese actresses Wangdan Yili, Lin Peng and actor Yu Shaoqun attend the movie premiere of their latest movie ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’ in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Science

International

A one-horned rhinoceros cub stands in Kashara Chitwan National Park, some 200ksm southwest of Kathmandu.

The number of rhinos living wild in Nepal has risen above 500 for the first time since a civil war that led to rampant poaching of the endangered animals, the government says.

AFP/File/Prakash Mathema

Nepal’s rhino numbers ‘recovering’ after war Agence France Presse

KATHMANDU – The number of rhinos living wild in Nepal has risen above 500 for the first time since a civil war that led to rampant poaching of the endangered animals, the government said Sunday. It said wildlife experts who have spent the past month conducting an exhaustive survey had counted 534 rhinos in Nepal’s southern jungles — 99 more than when the last such study was carried out in 2008.

The new figures show the onehorned rhino population is recovering after a dramatic plunge in numbers during the 1996-2006 civil war, when soldiers deployed to prevent poaching left to fight a guerrilla insurgency.

Maheshwor Dhakal, ecologist with the government’s national parks department, told AFP the rhino population’s recovery was down to improvements in law en-

forcement and in local awareness of the importance of conservation.

“The government is encouraged by this positive result, although challenges remain in curbing poaching and protecting rhino habitat,” he added.

Thousands of one-horned rhinos once roamed the plains of Nepal and northern India, but their numbers plunged over the past century due to poaching and human en-

croachment of their habitat. The animals are poached for their horns, which are prized for their reputed medicinal qualities in China and southeast Asia.

A single horn can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on the international black market, and impoverished Nepal’s porous borders, weak law enforcement and proximity to China have made the country a hub for the illegal trade.

Monday, April 25, 2011

13

Dry ice lake suggests Mars once had a ‘Dust Bowl’ Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Think Mars today is a hostile place? It was worse 600,000 years ago, according to new research that suggests the planet had a dustier, stormier atmosphere. “It was an unpleasant place to hang out,” said lead researcher Roger Phillips of the Southwest Research Institute. He said Mars’ climate was probably a lot like the American Dust Bowl of the 1930s — but a lot worse.

The evidence comes from the discovery of a huge underground reservoir of dry ice, or frozen carbon dioxide, at its south pole — much more than scientists realized.

They suspect some of that store of carbon dioxide was once in Mars’ atmosphere, making it denser.

In the recent geologic past, when Mars’ axis tilted, sunlight reached the southern polar cap, melting some of the frozen carbon dioxide. This release would have made the atmosphere thicker and caused more dust to loft into the air, creating severe storms. Other times, carbon dioxide cycled back into the ground as part of a seasonal cycle.

There is an upside to that stormier climate: The thicker atmosphere back then meant there were more regions on the planet where liquid water probably existed. Water is considered an essential ingredient for life. Still, “it was not the balmy, tropical Mars” that existed even billions of years earlier, Phillips said.

Mars today is frigid, arid and constantly bombarded by lethal radiation. Its atmosphere, made up mostly of carbon dioxide, is many times thinner than the top of Mount

Everest on Earth. In fact, the Martian atmosphere is less than 1 percent of Earth’s. The red planet wasn’t always this unforgiving. A maze of gullies, canyons and river channels on the surface points to a warmer and wetter past very early in the planet’s history.

The underground dry ice deposit, roughly the size of Lake Superior, was discovered using ground-piercing radar aboard the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter designed to probe below the crust. Researchers estimate it represents 30 times more carbon dioxide than previously believed. Its presence may help explain how most of the Martian atmosphere disappeared.

“It really is a buried treasure,” said Jeffrey Plaut of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was part of the discovery team reporting online Thursday in the journal Science. “We found something underground that no one else realized was there.”

Though the newfound store sounds like a lot, it’s only enough carbon dioxide to double the mass of the feeble Martian atmosphere if released — not enough to warm up the planet substantially or allow water to pool. “The atmosphere would still be quite thin and would not have the density necessary to warm things up enough to have liquid water stable on the surface,” said Peter Thomas of Cornell University who had no role in the mission.

The mystery of what happened to Mars’ atmosphere has long intrigued scientists. NASA plans to explore the upper atmosphere and study how gases are lost to space with a new spacecraft in 2013.

Largest Fossil Spider Found in Volcanic Ash THE largest fossil spider uncovered to date once ensnared prey back in the age of dinosaurs, scientists find. The spider, named Nephila jurassica, was discovered buried in ancient volcanic ash in Inner Mongolia, China. Tufts of hairlike fibers seen on its legs showed this 165-million-year-old arachnid to be the oldest known species of the largest web-weaving spiders alive today — the golden orb-weavers, or Nephila, which are big enough to catch birds and bats, and use silk that shines like gold in the sunlight.

The fossil was about as large as its modern relatives, with a body one inch (2.5 centimeters) wide and legs that reach up to 2.5 inches (6.3 cm) long. Golden orb-weavers nowadays are mainly tropical creatures, so the ancient environment of Nephila

jurassica probably was similarly lush. [Image of fossil spider] “It would have lived, like today’s Nephila, in its orb web of golden silk in a clearing in a forest, or more likely at the edge of a forest close to the lake,” researcher Paul Selden, director of the Paleontological Institute at the University of Kansas, told LiveScience. “There would have been volcanoes nearby producing the ash that forms the lake sediment it is entombed within.”

Spiders are the most numerous predators on land today, and help keep insect numbers in check. So these findings help us “understand the evolution of the insect-spider predator-prey relationship,” Selden said, suggesting that golden orbweavers have been ensnaring insects and influencing their evolution since

the Jurassic Period. [Read: Ancient Spider Guts Revealed in 3-D] “There were many large or medium-sized flying insects around at that time on which it would have fed indiscriminately,” Selden said.

In modern golden orb-weaver species, females are typically much larger than males. This new fossil was a female, suggesting this trend stretches back at least as far as the Middle Jurassic, Selden said — that is, back before the first known bird, Archaeopteryx, or giant dinosaurs such as Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus.

Although this is the largest fossil spider known to date, it is not the oldest. Two species from Coseley, England, Eocteniza silvicola and Protocteniza britannica, both come from about 310 million years ago.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Rome/Southwest Research Institute

This undated image taken by the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter released by NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Rome/Southwest Research Institute shows a recently discovered underground deposit of carbon dioxide ice in the Martian south pole.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Sport

International

Messi becomes 1st player in Spain to score 50 Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Jon Super

Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez, center, celebrates after scoring against Everton during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday April 23, 2011.

Manchester United and Chelsea enjoy home wins

BARCELONA, Spain – Lionel Messi became the first player in Spain to score 50 goals in a club season, helping Barcelona rebound from its loss to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final with a 2-0 victory over Osasuna on Saturday night. Barcelona rested most regular starters in preparation for Wednesday’s first leg of the Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid — the third of four matches between the rivals in an 18-day span.

David Villa scored his 18th goal — and first in 12 games — in the 24th minute. Messi replaced Villa in the 58th and rolled home his league-leading 31st goal with three minutes left. With 177 goals for Barcelona in all competitions, Messi is one behind Josep

Samitier for third place on the Barcelona career scoring list, trailing Cesar Rodriguez (235) and Laszlo Kubala (196).

Seeking its third straight La Liga title, Barcelona extended its league unbeaten streak to 31 games and maintained an eightpoint lead over second-place Real Madrid with five games remaining.

Three days after hoisting its 18th domestic cup and first trophy in nearly three years with a 1-0 overtime victory over Barcelona, Real Madrid returned to the Mestalla Stadium and routed Valencia 6-3.

Gonzalo Higuain scored three goals, Kaka two and Karim Benzema one as Madrid became the first visiting team to score six goals at the Mestalla. Roberto Soldado, Jonas and Jordi Alba scored for Valencia. In the late game, Athletic Bilbao defeated Real Socidead 2-1.

Reuters

LONDON - Manchester United maintained their six-point Premier League lead with four matches remaining after they beat Everton 1-0 with a late header by Mexico striker Javier Hernandez on Saturday. Chelsea remained in the hunt by beating West Ham United 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Fernando Torres finally getting off the mark in his 14th appearance for the champions.

United, who visit Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, have 73 points after the striker nicknamed Chicharito, or Little Pea, ended Everton’s resistance six minutes from time at Old Trafford. Seventh-placed Everton were unbeaten in seven league games going into the match at Old Trafford but their record at the ground is dire, with their last win coming in 1992.

They were unable to end that drought on Saturday, although, wellorganised and hard-working in defence, they kept United at arm’s length for much of a sweltering afternoon.

United, beaten in the FA Cup semifinals by Manchester City last weekend and held 0-0 at Newcastle United on Tuesday, cranked up the pressure in the last 15 minutes and got their reward when Hernandez rose well to meet an Antonio Valencia cross and

power in his point-blank header.

United have now won 16 and drawn one of their 17 home league games. Victories in their next two league matches would secure the title with two games to spare but they are unlikely to be easy — away to Arsenal and at home to Chelsea. “Today’s game was tricky. Everton are very resilient and some of their defending was fantastic,” United manager Alex Ferguson told the club’s website (www.manutd.com).

“We had shots blocked near the line, some misses and the goalkeeper made two or three great saves. You say to yourself: `It’s going to be another late one here.’ You can just smell the history of the club and so it was to be.

“We took gambles, we took risks. We put Wayne Rooney in the middle of the pitch, we brought Ryan Giggs on, Michael Owen on. We just kept going

and I think we can be very pleased today.”

Chelsea, who left West Ham bottom of the league, are second on 67, with Arsenal, who are away to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday, on 64. Manchester City, who visit Blackburn Rovers on Monday, are fourth on 56 with fifthplaced Tottenham Hotspur on 55 after they could only draw 2-2 at home with West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool are only three points further back after thrashing Birmingham City 5-0 at Anfield, helped by a Maxi Rodriguez hat-trick.

Sunderland, who had taken just one point from their previous nine games, ended the dire run in emphatic style by beating Wigan Athletic 4-2 to ease their relegation worries. Wolverhampton Wanderers against Fulham, Blackpool v Newcastle United and Aston Villa v Stoke City all finished 1-1.

Marseille retain League Cup after Taiwo strikes Reuters

PARIS - Olympique Marseille became the first team to retain the French League Cup when a late Taye Taiwo goal gave them a 1-0 win over Montpellier in a scrappy final at the Stade de France on Saturday. Nigeria defender Taiwo struck the winner with a low shot from just inside the area following a poor clearance by the Montpellier defence after a freekick 10 minutes from time.

Last season Marseille went on to win the Ligue 1 title after their

League Cup triumph and they will be hoping their latest success spurs them on to another championship.

They are just a point behind leaders Lille, who visit FC Lorient on Sunday, with seven games left.

“It was complicated but we expected a tough challenge,” OM manager Didier Deschamps told a news conference. “Everything is fine. We will enjoy it tonight and tomorrow and then we will focus on the league because we have a game on Wednesday (against Nice).”

Montpellier coach Rene Girard added: “Once again, we concede a goal on a set piece. We knew set pieces would be the key tonight. But I am proud of my players, they gave everything.” Marseille had the best chances but they were made to wait for their breakthrough by stubborn opponents.

The result means Montpellier have still not won a trophy since they lifted the French Cup back in 1990 when Eric Cantona and Laurent Blanc were wearing the blue and orange shirt.

AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE

Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves and Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrate after scoring a goal during the UEFA Spanish League football match FC Barcelona vs Osasuna on April 23, 2011 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.

Sport

International

Monday, April 25, 2011

15

Portland rally stuns Dallas, others leave it too late Reuters

PORTLAND, Oregon – The Portland Trail Blazers, led by Brandon Roy, overcame a 23point deficit to stun the Dallas Mavericks 84-82, while late rallies by the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets fell short. Roy scored 18 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter including the game-winning basket with 39.2 seconds left, thrilling the fans at the Rose Garden, and leveling the best of seven series at two home wins each.

The Trail Blazers survived two missed three point attempts by the Mavericks in the closing seconds.

“It still doesn’t feel real yet. Just an unbelievable game, the comeback,” said Roy who underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in mid-January.

“With everything I’ve been through this season, it all came into that moment there on the court, when guys were grabbing me and cheering me on. It was real special.” LaMarcus Aldridge scored 18 points for Portland and Gerald Wallace recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with 20 points.

In Memphis, the eighth seeded Grizzlies hung on for a 91-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs to grab a 2-1 lead over the Western

Conference’s top seed. The Grizzlies seized control of the game early with a 14-4 surge spanning the first and second quarter, but needed a rare three-point basket from Zach Randolph with 41.9 seconds secure the victory.

Randolph led the Grizzlies with 25 points while the Spurs were led

by Manu Ginobili’s 23 points. In Indianapolis, the Chicago Bulls blitzed the Pacers in the final four minutes but were unable to complete the comeback falling 89-84.

Chicago outscored the Pacers 183 over a 3:30 span to move to within one point at 85-84 with 15.3 seconds but Danny Granger, who led the Pacers with 24 points, hit two critical free throws extending the Pacers lead back to three points. Chicago’s Carlos Boozer missed on a clear

three point attempt on a broken play with three seconds remaining and Granger hit two more free throws to finish the game. Joakim Noah led Chicago with 21 points and 14 rebounds and Rose scored 15 points and had 10 assists.

In the late game, the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounded from a dismal third quarter for a 97-94 win over the Denver Nuggets to take a commanding 3-0 series lead.

The Nuggets outscored Oklahoma City 24-15 in the third quarter to take a 73-71 lead into the fourth quarter. Russell Westbrook led the Thunder to victory in the fourth quarter with 13 of his 23 points. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 26 points and Kenyon Martin, Nene, and J.R. Smith scored 15 points each for Denver.

Nadal into Barcelona final with 500th win Agence France Presse

BARCELONA, Spain – Five-time champion Rafael Nadal recorded his 500th career win on Saturday to reach the Barcelona Open final where he will meet fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. Nadal managed a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 56th-ranked Croatian Ivan Dodig, which saw the 24-yearold become the second-youngest player ever to reach the 500-win milestone after Bjorn Borg, who was 23 years, 7 months.

“I’ve had many victories. I’m still young, but I’ve been around a few years,” said Nadal. “My career has turned out better than I’ve ever dreamed possible. I’m grateful for my life and those who have helped me. I’m enjoying it because you never know when it all might end.”

The world number one will play for his sixth title in seven editions at the Real Club de Tenis against Ferrer, who shrugged off a calf injury worry to reach his second straight claycourt final by defeating Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-4.

“Today I played worse than yesterday, but despite of that I won and that’s very positive,” said Nadal. “But Ivan had a great tournament, a start of a spectacular season.”

Nadal beat Ferrer a week ago for an historic seventh straight trophy at Monte Carlo with Ferrer having won just four matches from 16 in their series. Nadal enters his title bid with wins in 74 of his 76 sets on clay with a Barcelona win-loss record of 29-1.

The top seed lost breaks early in each of the sets against Dodig and had to fight through for his 33rd consecutive win on clay dating to a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling at Roland Garros in 2009. In the first set, the top seed ended up breaking the Croatian three times to take it in 39 minutes.

But the second set was equally tough for the Spanish crowd favourite, with Nadal forced to break back for 3-1 after losing serve in the previous game.

However, he kept his momentum to complete the win in a shade under 90 minutes with a total six breaks of his unheralded opponent who won a career-first title two months ago at home in Zagreb. Ferrer reached his home title shot in just over 90 minutes against Almagro, earning victory on his fourth match point.

“It was a tough win physically,” said Ferrer. “It was only two sets but they were hard-fought. I was lucky to play my best in the important moments.

AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO

Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal celebrates after beating to Croatia’s Ivan Dodig during the semifinal match of the Barcelona Open tennis tournament Conde de Godo on April 23, 2011 in Barcelona. Nadal won 6-3, 6-2.

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images/AFP

Gerald Wallace #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers lays up the ball against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.

Cyclist Gilbert aims for ‘Grand Slam’ in Liege Agence France Presse

PA R I S – B e l g i u m ’s Philippe Gilbert lines up for Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday with a rare chance of securing a Grand Slam of victories in the tough ‘Ardennes Classics’. Liege, the oldest one-day classic on the calendar, brings an end to the spring classics season with the oneweek stage races that lead up to the first of the three Grand Tours looming on the horizon.

Gilbert was untouchable in the first two of the three Ardennes one-day races, dominating Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday just three days after also winning the Amstel Gold race. The Omega-Pharma rider secured both victories with a strong final kick which left his rivals rooted to the spot.

However Liege is the toughest of the three and Gilbert, who grew up in a village at the

foot of one of its many climbs, knows it will present a different challenge altogether. “I have to ensure that I don’t go in there feeling over-confident. I know I will start in the hope I can win it and if I’m best on the day then I will,” said Gilbert.

Going on his recent form, Gilbert looks capable of emulating the hat-trick feat of Italian Davide Rebellin in 2004.

However Liege is coveted by many top racers and the French-speaking Belgian is not short of equally ambitious rivals.

Joaquin Rodriguez, for example, hopes Gilbert runs out of steam. “I’m looking positively towards Sunday,” said the Spaniard, who was runnerup to Gilbert in both Amstel and Fleche — races where the ability to finish with a quick burst of speed going uphill is an absolute must for victory.

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Monday, April 25, 2011

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

Sport

DRS could be banned in Monaco Formula 1 chiefs are considering banning the use of the Drag Reduction System for the Monaco Grand Prix because of safety considerations, AUTOSPORT can reveal. The introduction of the DRS this year has been viewed as a great success in helping improve the racing - with Nico Rosberg even claiming last weekend that it was one of the best ideas that F1 has ever had.

REUTERS/David Gray

Lotus Formula One driver Jarno Trulli (L) of Italy, teammate Heikki Kovalainen (C) of Finland and Williams Formula One driver Pastor Maldonado of Venezuela compete during the Chinese F1 Grand Prix at Shanghai International circuit April 17, 2011.

Turkish Formula One GP faces axe in 2012 Reuters

ISTANBUL - The Turkish Formula One Grand Prix faces the axe next year due to a disagreement with Bernie Ecclestone over payments for the race, the head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce said on Friday. “It looks like the Formula One race will not be held in Istanbul next year,” Murat Yalcintas said on his Twitter account.

There was no official statement but the Chamber of Commerce confirmed the comments separately to Reuters. Ecclestone’s office was closed for the Easter holiday.

The Hurriyet daily quoted Yalcintas as saying the government had rejected a bid by Ecclestone to double the payment to stage the race to $26 million from $13 million.

“Because it found this figure very high it looks like it (finance ministry) will not make the payment. That is the reason the race is not happening,” he said.

“Formula One says goodbye to Istanbul,” said a headline in the Haberturk newspaper. Ecclestone said last May that Turkey could expect to stay on the F1 calendar longterm despite attracting poor crowds at the circuit near Istanbul’s second airport on the Asian side of the Bosphorus strait.

In 2009, a mere 36,000 three-day passes were sold — a smaller turn-

out than at some of the pre-season tests in Spain — and last year some of the stands were entirely empty.

The current contract runs out after this year’s grand prix on May 8.

The undulating anti-clockwise track is popular with drivers, who have compared it to Spa’s challenging layout with the left-handed triple apex turn eight a real test when taken at around 250kph. Ferrari’s Brazilian Felipe Massa won there three times from 2006-2008.

Turkey’s absence from the calendar will make it easier for Ecclestone to slot in the planned

return to the United States next year, with a new track in Austin, Texas, pencilled in for a likely back-toback with Canada. This season was due to have a record 20 races, before the Bahrain season-opener was cancelled due to unrest in the country, and some would have had to be shed to make way for Austin and Russia’s Sochi circuit from 2014.

Turkey’s slot on the calendar has varied since the race’s debut in 2005, with the grand prix moving from late August to June and early May. Last year it was the race immediately before Canada.

However, AUTOSPORT understands that a number of drivers have expressed reservations about the use of DRS in Monaco because of the track’s unique characteristics. As well as there being no long straight where a DRS overtaking zone would be very effective, drivers are worried that its free use throughout practice and qualifying could compromise safety.

With grid positions so important at the Monte Carlo track, drivers could find themselves needing to take risks in running through some corners – like the fast right hander through the famous tunnel - with the wing open to reduce drag.

Although no final decision on the matter has been taken, sources have confirmed to AUTOSPORT that the FIA is considering not allowing the use of the DRS in Monaco.

It is understood that discussions will be held with teams and drivers at next month’s Turkish Grand Prix about the situation, with a final decision on what to do for Monaco being taken after that event.With the implementation of the DRS having been given the thumbs up by teams, drivers and fans, the FIA is sticking for now to the use of a single zone at each track where it can be acti-

vated in the races.

At the Turkish Grand Prix, the DRS zone will be situated on the straights between Turns 10 and 12, although it is not yet known how far the activation area will extend for. For the Spanish Grand Prix, the zone will be on the start-finish straight. Rosberg’s comments about the success of the DRS came after the Chinese Grand Prix, where use of the wing allied to the nature of Pirelli tyres helped produce a spectacular race. “F1 has done a brilliant job,” he told AUTOSPORT. “How exciting have the races been?

They have been stunning. “There is nobody saying we are having boring races. There is overtaking left, right, and centre - everywhere. So, they have done a really, really good job and that is the most important thing that needs to be highlighted.

“The people in charge have made the sport from one year to the next so much more exciting, and that is awesome for the fans and everything.

It is really cool, isn’t it? It is the tyres and the rear wing.

“The rear wing – best idea ever probably, for this sport. No? And tyres also. Pirelli, everybody has been criticising them, but they have made our sport spectacular. So that is cool.”