kutamaya

Perburuan terhadap para bekas petinggi Nazi Jerman tampaknya masih belum berakhir, meski perang telah usai lebih dari 60 tahun silam.

Dalam perkembangan terbaru, para pemburu Nazi menyatakan, mereka memiliki bukti kuat bahwa seorang pelarian rezim Hitler, yang dikenal sebagai si Dokter Maut, bersembunyi di belahan selatan Cile.

Simon Wiesenthal Centre yakin Aribert Heim berada di Patagonia, tempat putrinya diketahui bermukim.

Pusat itu mengirimkan wakil ke kawasan tersebut untuk melanjutkan pencarian.

Pada akhir Perang Dunia kedua, banyak pemimpin Nazi yang ditangkap dan diajukan ke pengadilan kejahatan perang Nuremberg.

Namun beberapa bunuh diri, seperti Adolf Hitler, dan ada juga yang menghilang antara lain dengan bantuan organisasi pro-Nazi, seperti Odessa.

Para pemburu Nazi --khususnya mendiang Simon Wiesenthal-- membantu penemuan Adolf Eichmann di Argentina, yang kemudian diculik Israel tahun 1960, diadili dan dieksekusi.

Kamp maut

Setahun kemudian Franz Stangl, yang dulu menjabat komandan di kamp maut Treblinka, ditangkap di Brasil.

Beberapa tokoh Nazi lain baru berhasil diungkap identifikasinya setelah bertahun-tahun, seperti Klaus Barbie yang disebut Tukang Jagal Lyon, yang diadili Perancis pada tahun 1987, dan Walter Rauff yang ditangkap di Cili namun dibebaskan oleh Jenderal Pinochet.

Penyembunyian Josef Mengele --yang dikenal sebagai Malaikat Kematian Auschwitz-- baru diketahui setelah dia meninggal tahun 1979.

Masih ada sejumlah pejabat tinggi Nazi yang belum diketahui, yang kalaupun masih hidup kemungkinan berusia 90 tahunan.

Mereka adalah Alois Brunner, asisten Adolf Eichman yang diperkirakan tinggal di Suriah. Juga tidak diketahui tentang Heinrich Muller, bos Gestapo, yang tidak pernah terlihat lagi sejak Tahun 1945.

Dan, Aribert Heim, yang menjadi dokter di kamp Mathausen, sebelumnya diperkirakan sudah meninggal, namun ditemukan petunjuk tentang sebuah rekening bank yang dicurigai.

Maka dimulailah perburuan atasnya di Cile, tempat putrinya tinggal sejak tahun 1970-an.

'Tanpa pembiusan'

Heim konon menyusun catatan korban yang dia siksa dan bunuh di kamp konsentrasi Mauthausen di Austria.

Dia dituduh membunuh orang-orang Yahudi dengan cara yang luar biasa kejam.

Menurut orang-orang yang selamat dari Holokos, dia melakukan operasi dan amputasi tanpa pembiusan untuk melihat ketahanan korban terhadap rasa sakit.

Menyuntikkan bahan bakar, air atau racun ke dalam jantung korban dilaporkan menjadi cara yang paling dia suka di Mauthausen.

Pasca perang, Heim ditahan pasukan pendudukan AS, tapi tidak didakwa.

Dia kemudian membuka praktik di Baden-Baden, Jerman sampai tahun 1962, ketika dia melarikan diri setelah mendapat informasi bahwa pihak berwajib akan menuntut dia.

Kelompok pemburu mantan pejabat Nazi menawarkan imbalan 315,000 ero (Rp4,5 miliar) untuk informasi yang bisa mengarah ke penangkapan Heim.

Jika dia memang masih hidup, Aribert pasti sudah berumur 94 tahun. [kutamaya]

a virus called W95/MTX@M in outgoing e-mail.

The question is, of course, how effective is it?

When I checked the ISP's website, I learned that they would only scan all e-mail messages and their attachments. They would discard a message or an attached file if they find a virus in it. The problem is, what if the message or the file is important? The intended recipient will never receive it. Obviously, what we would prefer the ISP to do is to sterilize the message and then deliver it to the addressees.

If you have a Yahoo e-mail account and you use it to send files, the attached files will also be scanned by Norton Antivirus.

Better still, the service is free. However, I have found out that it does not work with files created with Lotus WordPro.

Real Time Protection

The best protection against viruses should be a continually updated antivirus program installed in our computers plus a proper system for handling e-mail messages and attachments. We can still receive important messages and files sent to us, but the antivirus program will clean them for us automatically.

Nowadays there are several ways in which we can subscribe to services that protect our computers from these unwelcome intruders.

One of them, which I have mentioned a couple of times in this column in the past, is to subscribe to online virus protection offered by companies such as McAfee (www.mcafee.com).

At the moment, McAfee is offering a two-year subscription to Online VirusScan for US$39.90. You will need a 24-hour access to the Internet to really benefit from the service, though. There are also free services available from other companies. Trend Micro's PC Cilin House Call (www.trendmicro.com), for example, will also check your system remotely. However, as expected from a free service, it does not provide a real-time protection against viruses. What the visiting doctor does is just to detect a virus if it exists on your computer. You will have to kill it yourself. PC Cilin does offer information on the steps that you can try.

AVG Antivirus (www.grisoft.com/html/us_index.cfm) has gone a lot further by offering a free antivirus program. Called AVG 6.0, it offers nice features such as Resident Protection, E-mail Scanner, Scheduled Tests and Free Updates on a monthly basis, Automatic Update and a Virus Vault for keeping infected files contained. AVG also offers commercial services that include unlimited support for this free program.

Besides AVG Antivirus, McAfee and Trend Micro, there are other companies that also make very powerful commercial antivirus programs.

Symantec's Norton Antivirus is usually considered the best (www.symantec.com), but Panda Software (www.pandasoftware.com) also provides an award-winning antivirus program for home and business users.

If you have a virus problem, you can also take advantage of the evaluation version of antivirus products that you may download from the Web. Trend Micro and AVG Antivirus currently offer PC Cilin 2000 for a free trial period of 30 days.

One thing to keep in mind is that once you have chosen a particular antivirus program, you had better stick to it. The PC's performance usually degrades significantly if more than one antivirus program is running at the same time. These antivirus programs consume a lot of memory, too. If you want to switch programs, make sure that the old antivirus program is completely uninstalled before you install the new one.

Another thing about viruses is that a lot of information about them is also available at our disposal. To learn more about this particular virus, for example, we can go to McAfee Virus Information library (http://vil.mcafee.com/default.asp?). Here we can search for information on W95/MTX@M. The comprehensive information even includes the manual steps that you can take to get rid of it -- including deleting the infected files.

Antivirus Best Practices

Some types of computer viruses come into our mailbox and infect our system the moment it appears in the Preview window. This is very sneaky, because we do not have the chance to protect ourselves. What I have done to protect myself is to close the Preview window in my Outlook Express.

The downside is that I cannot immediately see the content of an e-mail message when Outlook Express is running. On the other hand, I now have the chance to check the credibility of each incoming message before double-clicking on it to see what it contains.

To close the Preview window in Outlook Express, click on the View menu item, and then on Layout. In the dialog box, uncheck Show preview pane, and then click OK.

What about dubious attachments? You must always check the names of the attached files. Be extremely careful if the names end with .com, .exe, .txt, .pif, .vbs and .bat. Some virus makers have tricked a lot of victims into believing that they are receiving benign picture files by inserting .jpg or .pic into the filenames, but they still end with .vbs or .exe.

As viruses can also come in document files in the form of macros, how can you protect against them? The best practice is never to open a file unless you are expecting it from the sender. If you receive an attached file that you do not expect, it is a good practice to ask the sender whether he has really sent the file to you. A lot of viruses and worms use our e-mail client program's Address Book to send out e-mail messages completely without our knowledge.

So, a practice that we all should probably adopt is to first inform the recipients that we are about to send them a file before we do it. Better still, we can include the names of the files that we are going to send them.[kutamaya]

The question faced by parents every year is how to choose a new school or consider a school change for their children, a crucial decision that could determine the future of the kids.

But the answer to this question is not easy to come by, putting parents, mainly mothers burdened with the task of finding schools for the children, under stress. Some have been influenced by the trap of schools that aggressively promote their institutions.

Indeed, the ads and leaflets produced by the schools are important to read as a starting point to learn about the schools. But parents should not rely solely on ads when making a choice, as they need more detailed information before making a decision.

In some countries social organizations and governments have made concerted efforts to help parents deciding where to send their children to school. Indeed, today parents, especially those who have access to the Internet, can get information from the Internet for free, in addition to information they pick up from neighbors, friends or groups of students' parents.

Most information available in books or on the Internet is general in nature, but is very useful in making an informed choice. What parents should do is:

Know the options available -- public or private schools. Public schools are by nature secular, while some private schools are run by religious organizations.

In principle, education at public schools, up to junior high school, in line with the government's nine-year compulsory education program, is free. But supplies and uniforms must be purchased, and there may also be special activity fees. Yet with the schools funded by the government, public education is the least expensive option.

But if your choice is a private school, which is the preferred choice for many wealthy parents today, you have to choose from an array of different options -- secular or religious-run schools, boarding or non-boarding schools, subdistrict, district or provincial school, or one outside these areas.

Each choice has its own advantages and disadvantages.

But whatever your pick, the following information is useful for making a choice:

First, consider your child and your family. Does your child need a more challenging environment or more individual attention? Does he need extra help or not? Do you want your child to study at a school within walking distance of your home or outside your neighborhood? Will you have your child bused or will you drive him or her to school?

Second, gather as much information as possible about schools, like their curricula, approach to learning, academic performance.

Third, visit and observe the schools you are interested in, talk to students' parents, teachers and administrators.

Fourth, apply to the school(s) you select. Consider applying to more than one school in case your child is not admitted to your first choice, as competition for places at both public and private schools can be very tough.

Fifth, consider your financial situation, even if your choice is a public school. Today's favorite state schools are not much different from private schools, charging various fees that only students from financially-able families can afford.

Last but not least, do not be afraid of being called picky by others. Choosing a school for your child is an important decision, and you have to do everything you can to give your child every advantage possible. [kutamaya]

It's time to go back to school after a long break. If your child is like just about every other kid, they're probably a little nervous and excited about the first day.

To help battle the anxiety, the most important tip is to get your children to pack their school bags the night before to prevent a last-minute morning panic. Tell them to make sure they pack everything they'll need for the day, especially gym clothes.

It might help for them to bring a favorite pencil or wear a special outfit on the first day. Help your little one pick a new outfit for the start of the school year -- but the real trick is just to be comfortable and relaxed.

If school requires wearing a uniform, choose the favorite bracelet or watch or something else your youngster really likes.

Once they know the way around the building and are used to the school-day routine, they will probably feel better. If your child still has anxiety after a couple weeks be sure to start a discussion. It might also help to talk to the guidance counselor at school to discuss you child's feelings.

For the student, try to follow these tips to prepare the way for a successful first day -- and every school day: * Get enough sleep * Eat a balanced breakfast to give the energy needed * Go to school with a positive attitude every day * Give school your best * Develop good work habits -- that means writing down assignments and turning in homework on time * Take time with assignments in and out of the classroom -- if you don't understand something, ask the teacher

Once school starts, homework is an important area where parents and children can help each other. For a first-grader, learning to read is as difficult as writing a long essay is for a high school student or as hard as finishing long division. If homework were always easy, there would be no point doing it.

Children may act like their life is on hold until that homework is completed and it's common to hear parents say: ""You can do that after you finish your homework.""

Well, there's a good reason why adults make a big deal out of homework. Homework is a great tool to teach responsibility and accountability. That's why it's so important.

Children should do homework in a quiet place without clutter and confusion. The child should have a clean, quiet study area that's free of distractions.

Parents might help by setting up a special quiet place in the house especially for study and stocking it with pencils, erasers, a ruler, a snack and anything else they might need. Teachers can help, they can check their pupils' notes to make sure they have written down all of the assignments and check their backpack to make sure nothing is forgotten.

Helping children learn is the teacher's job. Parents must ask the teacher for this extra attention if they want it.

Sometimes children struggle with homework. Don't be embarrassed if this happens to your child. Everyone learns at a different pace.

Some children might have to study for two hours instead of one, or might have to practice multiplication tables nine times instead of five to really remember them. The important thing is to put in as much time as your child needs to understand the lessons.

You may need to cut back on your children's playtime, soccer practice, or piano lessons until they are back up to speed.

If your children have fallen behind in schoolwork because of an illness or family emergency, ask the teacher for an extension on the assignments and maybe some extra help after school. Most teachers are happy to help a student who is trying to learn.

Once you know what works for you, you'll be on your way to success!

Good luck for the next school year.

Dr. Donya

[kutamaya]

Last week, a friend asked me to translate a short excerpt containing the principles of the Indonesian banking system from Bahasa Indonesia into English. She e-mailed me the text and then she called me and told me that she needed it in one hour. I took a look at it and said: ""No problem. You'll get it in 15 minutes.""

After we hung up, it occurred to me that there might be an English version of this excerpt and I might not need to translate it for her. So I went to Google, typed in the English title for the excerpt and voila! I immediately called her. I couldn't help laughing as I told her how easy it was for me to translate the stuff. Then I told her to check it out on Google so that she would not have to wait for my e-mail to get to her inbox.

The search engine is a very powerful tool when it comes to getting information quickly. However, there are basic and advanced techniques that you need to master if you want to get to the right website as fast as possible.

The techniques, of course, depend on the type of information that you want to find. I will use personal experiences to show you the techniques that I usually use. Keep in mind that my techniques are still far from perfect. I just know that not everyone is familiar with even the most basic techniques of using a search engine.

Begin with a strategy

As every information-hunting trainer will tell you, you have to start by thinking of a strategy. Using just any keyword that comes to mind will not always take you to the information that you are after. You will usually have to narrow your search by adding more words to your keyword.

Here is a real-life example. Another good friend of mine was contacted by a headhunter. After some discussion, he was asked to let them know how much he was earning at his current job. He asked me whether he should reveal the true figure or mark it up slightly so that he could get a better salary should he decide to jump ship.

I did not have an answer for his question, as no one has ever hunted my head so far. However, I knew he could find a lot of good advice on the Internet. I thought of a phrase that would call up all the documents on the Web that would let him know what to do. I said to him, ""Why not use Google and search for 'how to deal with headhunters?'""

To check whether or not I had given him a bad suggestion, I tried it myself at home. To my surprise, the first item on the list matched the keywords I gave him, word for word. There were many other sites that my friend could also browse for suggestions.

Then, I thought, ""Why not add 'salary issues' to further narrow the search?"" The resulting list contained a ""dos and don'ts"" item that would give him exactly the advice that he needed. And it was there for free!

Use quotation marks

I am not a native speaker of English and I am very bad at memorizing new phrases and words. I rely on the search engine a lot when I write. Here is an example: Earlier in this article there is the phrase ""jump ship"". Now let me tell you how I came to use that phrase.

I wanted to say ""change job"" in a more elegant way and I vaguely remembered that there was a phrase ""jump boat"". I was not sure whether it was the right idiomatic expression so I used Google to find out. I typed in ""jump boat"" in the keyword box.

Note that this time I put the two words inside quotation marks. What these marks did was tell the search engine that I wanted documents that contained these two words in precisely the same order and without being separated by another word. Without the quotation marks, I would have gotten numerous documents that contained the two words in random order. In addition, the two words might also have appeared in different parts of the same document. So using quotation marks is the first technique that you should remember.

This time, the search confirmed that ""jump boat"" was not the right expression for ""change job"". I then looked for another word that was somehow related to the word ""boat"". I thought of ""ship"", so I tried ""jump ship"", again using the quotation marks. This time it was clear that I had found the right expression.

Use wild cards

Remember the days when we still worked in DOS, the computer operating system that existed long before the Windows era? We used the wild cards almost all the time. It turns out that we can also use them in Google.

I use wild cards especially when I am not sure which preposition to use. English is a terrible language when it comes to prepositions, and that is because it is a living language with a lot of sloppy speakers and writers responsible for the chaos. So, to ensure that ""conform"" should go with ""to"" and not with ""with"", I would use the following keywords ""to conform *"" to confirm this. For a non-native speaker, this can be a bit difficult as English also has ""to comply with"".

Finally, do you say ""on daily basis"" or ""on a daily basis""? Try ""on daily basis"" as the keywords in Google and you will find a long list of documents that contain these three words. However, if you enter ""on * daily basis"" as the keywords, you will know that the latter is the more common usage.

Now, if you happen to have any tricks or strategies for getting at the information that you need as quickly as possible, please, share them with us. [kutamaya]

Everyone is familiar with Teflon, that non-stick surface noself-respecting housewife can do without. It was discovered by accident by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett in 1938 at DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey. Even though it was discovered in 1938, it wasn't used commercially until 1946, and even then, it was only used in industrial applications.

It turned out that Teflon was extremely difficult to work with. Known to science as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Teflon is inert to virtually allchemicals and is considered the most slippery material in existence. These properties have made it one of the most valuable and versatile materials ever invented. Teflon is slippery and impervious to most corrosive chemicals.

In 1941, when the United States was building the atomic bomb, scientists developed a method to separate two isotopes of uranium. This was accomplished with uranium hexaflouride, a highly reactive chemical. The U.S. government needed something that could coat the insides of tubes and gaskets that would not be eaten away by the uranium hexaflouride. Teflon's properties seemed perfect.

With the funding of the U.S. government, the difficulties of working withTeflon were overcome. That's the history, as DuPont registered the trademark, it has become a familiar household name, recognized worldwide for the superior non-stick properties associated with its use as a coating on cookware and as a soil and stain repellent for fabrics and textile products.

It's so inert that nothing sticks to it; to stick, it would have to reactin some way. So how does it stick onto the surface of a frying pan? Teflon is made up of only carbon and fluorine atoms, it is called a fluorocarbon. This is what gives it its amazing non-stick properties.

Fluorine, due to certain electrochemical properties (you'll thank me for not explaining now), bonds so tightly with the carbon in Teflon that it's virtually impossible for other substances, e.g., scrambled egg, to get a chemical-type grip or a mechanical-type grip.

Chemical attraction

You see, oils and fats have no chemical attraction to fluorocarbons. Thisis why most foods don't stick to Teflon pans. In early days, the Teflon waspressed onto the metal surface after the metal had been ""roughed up"" by abrasion and coated with a primer chemical with lots of microscopic cavities.

The Teflon squeezed into the cavities and stuck to the pan by sheer mechanical strength. But those early frying pans didn't keep their coating very long, because Teflon is so inert that its long molecules slither like wet spaghetti, and it often came loose from the mechanical primer.

In the end, these methods didn't hold up very well in everyday use. If you used a metal utensil on the non-stick surface you would carve off a strip of Teflon with ease. In order to save some cooking pans and a few marriages, the scientist went back to the drawing board to design a better method. So how do they get Teflon to stick to the pan now?

First, they sandblast the pan to create a lot of microscratches on its surface. Then they spray on a coat of Teflon primer. This primer, like mostprimers, is thin, enabling it to flow into the microscratches. The primer surface is then baked at high heat to get a reasonably secure mechanical grip. It is a sticky additive that grabs both metal pan and non-stick molecules. Then there's a second layer of PTFE non-stick that clings to thesticky first layer, and finally the topcoat is a clear PTFE that sticks to the PTFE particles of the midcoat layer. Got all of that?

Non-stick performance and durability are determined by the pan's thickness and the quality of non-stick coating. Overheating and utensil abrasion are the two factors that most affect non-stick durability. A superior thick coating on a thin pan makes no sense, as the pan will overheat easily. The resulting ""hot spots"" will damage even the best non-stick coating. Therefore, pan thickness is essential to non-stick longevity.

Teflon coatings still aren't perfect. Even though it's designed for high heat, it still gets soft when heated to extremely high temperature.

Additionally, if you leave an empty non-stick pan on a hot burner too long, you can roast the surface. This causes the bonds between some of the carbon atoms to break, giving other undesirable stuff a chance to bond. Teflon coatings that wear off cannot be repaired at home. They would have to be re-coated at very high temperatures in factory processes, which is not economical to do on a single pan.

Tip: Cleaning non-stick cookware

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) and an adequate liquid dish soap with water (enough solution in these proportions to about half fill the pan). Simmer this solution for five minutes in the stained pan.

Be careful, the solution will foam and if it boils over, it may stain theoutside of the pan. Remove from heat and check the pan surface. If the stain still remains, repeat the treatment.

This solution is a strong oxidizing agent and will cause some change in the color of Teflon becoming lighter (No wonder, it is used as whitener in toothpaste).

This bleaching effect does not reduce the non-stick performance of the pan. After the cleaning/stain removing treatment, thoroughly wash and dry the pan; then wipe it with cooking oil to condition before using it again. [kutamaya]

Most flower lovers are familiar with edelweiss -- a protected white flower that can be found only in mountainous areas 2,000 meters above sea level.

A tourist purchases a pot of edelweiss from a flower vendor at the Sinila Crater tourist site in Banjarnegara, Central Java. (JP/Agus Maryono)

If you want to see this flower but find the thought of scaling a mountain daunting, you can easily find it in Sikidang and Sinila Crater tourist sites in the area of Mount Perahu, Banjarnegara, Central Java.

Edelweiss is usually associated with mountaineering. It is also known as a flower that symbolizes a boy's love for his girlfriend, or vice versa.

For a mountaineer, edelweiss is proof that he or she has tackled a high mountain. Meanwhile, for a person in love, edelweiss is symbolic of the heights one would climb and the distances one would travel to prove their love for another.

"Edelweiss can remain on the stem for 25 years. The color changes but the flower remains beautiful," said Karso, 30, a mountaineer from Baturaden, Banyumas, Central Java.

In several locations, he added, edelweiss is a protected species, and freely picking the flower is prohibited.

"However, in certain places, it is not forbidden to pick edelweiss. In fact, this flower is freely sold (in those places)," said Karso, who claimed to have picked the flower from the top of Mount Slamet.

Edelweiss is quite expensive if you buy it far from where it is usually found.

However, in the Sikidang and Sinila Crater tourist sites of Banjarnegara, for example, edelweiss is sold at a very low price. A pot of edelweiss in these locations can be purchased for around Rp 2,000. If you buy three pots, a discount applies and the total amount payable is only Rp 5,000.

In locations further away, however, a pot of edelweiss can cost anywhere from Rp 50,000 up.

Other flowers that grow on Mount Perahu, which is close to the Sikidang and Sinila Crater sites, are also available at a low price. These include the flowers locally called bunga cemara lumut (mossy fern flower) and bunga palem gunung (mountain palm flower)

"Yes, we have a large supply of edelweiss here and can always meet an order no matter how big it is," Siti, one of the vendors selling flowers at the tourist site, told The Jakarta Post recently.

There are about 10 other flower vendors selling rare flowers in the area.

Siti said she can sell between 20 and 30 pots of edelweiss plus 10 pots of other flowers per day during the holiday season.

"Indeed, most people seek edelweiss. I don't know why. Perhaps edelweiss is considered the most beautiful.

"For me, however, it is just the same as other flowers," she said.

Those who wish to prove their love for another no longer need to take a strenuous mountain hike to pick their own edelweiss -- they can simply purchase it from vendors like Siti. [kutamaya]

Furniture, housewares, even beloved pianos and valuable computers were in harm's way when flooding swept homes in the capital last week.

As the floodwaters receded, mud, stains, mold and possibly rust were left behind.

""Rita"", who returned to her home in Pulomas, East Jakarta, on Wednesday after a week camped out at a relative's home, was greeted by a depressing mess.

Valuable imported speakers were irreparably damaged, rotten food in the refrigerator gave off a terrible stench and her clothing was soiled.

""It's going to cost me Rp 1 million to have the clothes and bedding cleaned at the laundry, but it's got to be done,"" she said. ""I'm cleaning up and throwing away a lot of stuff. I'm going to pare back to what I really need.""

For advice on salvaging furniture and household goods, we called on some experts in the capital. Hopefully, their tips will save you a trip to the dump.

Wood

Aris, a designer from Mahoni Furniture in South Jakarta recommended that, as soon as the floodwaters had receded and the sun had begun to shine, wooden furniture be taken outside and allowed to dry in the open air.

There are several kinds of wood, such as plywood, which should never be allowed to get wet, as it leads to swelling, causing irreparable damage. However, for furniture made from teak, for instance, a week or two in floodwaters should not cause lasting damage.

""Teak can endure a lot of water and heat. If the top coat or finish on the furniture is up to scratch, it only needs to be dried and then wiped with a soft cloth,"" Aris said.

Carpenters usually use varnish to coat teak furniture. Varnish could be bought at the market, and a higher price was indicative of quality, Aris added.

Rattan

Rattan furniture is more vulnerable to damage than other types of wood, but a lot depends on the quality of the rattan. Aris said that if the flooding was not too severe, rattan furniture should be checked after it had dried out to see whether it was still strong or had worn out, as water can easily damage the rattan fibers.

If the rattan was still strong, it was advisable to treat the furniture with varnish or paint.

""Besides appearance, the chemical in the paint is important in protecting the rattan from sunlight and also water. So if they are affected by flooding, the damage will only affect its coat of paint.""

Brass

If inundated for a week or more, brass-coated goods will usually start to peel and require professional restoration.

Tari from Krisna Kerajinan Kuningan said, however, that if the items were under water for only two or three days they could usually be salvaged by allowing them to dry (although not under direct sunlight) and then wiping them carefully with a dry cloth.

Tari said if there were stains or mud on the items, they should be rubbed with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. They could then be polished with Brasso, a popular product for treating brass-coated items.

Iron

For furniture made of iron, the worst-case scenario is corrosion.

Ling Ling from Subur furniture in Central Jakarta recommended that the goods be allowed to dry and then cleaned up using sandpaper to get rid of rust.

""After being dried and cleaned, it is also important to paint the iron because it will prevent corrosive damage, as there is no way of ensuring the weather will be dry all the time. Who knows if the rain will continue and the surroundings are damp,"" Ling Ling said.

Spring Beds

Most spring beds affected by flood waters are destined for the dump because the cost of restoring them is about the same as purchasing a new one.

Still, it's worth checking the condition of the springs (the most vulnerable part of the bed).

If the springs are not damaged, but only wet, dry them immediately and clean them using a dry cloth. Other parts of the bed such as the cover and the foam stuffing can be changed at a service center.

Dealers or producers of well-known brands usually have their own service centers.

Sofas

If a leather sofa gets wet (assuming it was not submerged for too long), wipe immediately using a sponge or chamois soaked in lukewarm water and a small amount of mild soap. Then gently wipe dry with a cloth. Never use saddle soap, shoe polish, oil, vinegar or any chemical substance to clean the leather.

Wawa from Maxi Leather Son in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, warned that leather goods were sensitive and needed special treatment.

In cases of severe damage, Wawa advised checking the condition of the sofa to determine whether it needed reupholstering or could be coated with a special leather ointment (which she described as a homemade ""family secret"").

The ointment allowed the leather to ""rejuvenate"" by itself.

""Such a treatment could also be applied to leather jackets or pants. One thing to remember is that leather garments cannot be washed.""

Carpet

Different types of carpet need different treatments. According to Wahyu, coordinator of operations at the Kuwera Jaya cleaning service company in East Jakarta, the thinner the carpet, the more difficult it is to clean.

""If it's really wet and isn't glued to the floor, just take it outside and dry it in the sun,"" Wahyu said, adding that, after it had dried, a vacuum cleaner should be used to get rid of any dirt still attached in the carpet.

For fixed carpets, the process is more complicated and involves special devices such as wet and dry vacuum cleaners, polishers and blowers -- so you probably need to call the experts.

Piano

If the damage is not too severe, pianos can be disassembled once dry, but be careful, because they contain lots of small screws.

Wipe each part using a clean cloth, and be careful you don't miss anything -- if even one small part is still wet or humid, it will affect the sound produced by the piano.

A mechanic at Sigma Piano House in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Tamsil, said, ""Hopefully it is not the mechanical part of the piano (located inside the instrument) that is damaged because it is very expensive. Even a small spare part of that kind costs Rp 3 million.""

Tamsil also said the piano wires needed meticulous treatment. Use a dry cloth then wipe them one by one; for the cords connected to them, rub each one using sandpaper.

""Finally, for the piano parts that are made of steel, rub them with any type of car wax,"" Tamsil said.

If your piano still sounds off-key, call a professional tuner.

Computers

Once the hard disk becomes wet, it's basically a goner, because the disk is not water resistant. However, the monitor and the keyboard can still be salvaged if they are not too badly affected by water.

But make sure that the monitor and the keyboard are dry. It is also advisable to open the covers on the monitor and the keyboard so that the inner workings can be dried. [kutamaya]

At least three Internet companies say they have blocked access to YouTube and MySpace because of an anti-Islam film by a Dutch lawmaker.

The move Tuesday was in response to a decree issued on April 2 by the Communication and Information Ministry.

IndosatM2, a popular Internet Service Provider, and two others, namely Telkomnet Speedy and IndoNet, said they had temporarily blocked YouTube, Multiply and other video-sharing Web sites.

According to IndosatM2 customer service officer, Deddy, in addition to YouTube, popular social networking website, MySpace and video sharing site Liveleak, were also blocked since Monday.

"The ban is based on a ministerial decree from the Information and Communication Ministry related to a recent criminal act,” Deddy told The Jakarta Post, referring to the hosting of an anti-Islam film by Dutch right-wing lawmaker Geert Wilders, 'Fitna'.

"We cannot say when the ban will be lifted, but until we receive a follow-up instruction from the DepKomInfo, the blockade will remain,” he added. [kutamaya]

Hotspot (Wi-Fi) adalah salah satu bentuk pemanfaatan teknologi Wireless LAN pada lokasi-lokasi publik seperti taman, perpustakaan, restoran ataupun bandara. Pertama kali digagas tahun 1993Brett Steward. Dengan pemanfaatan teknologi ini, individu dapat mengakses jaringan seperti internet melalui komputer atau laptop yang mereka miliki di lokasi-lokasi dimana hotspot disediakan. oleh

Pada umumnya, hotspot menggunakan standarisasi WLAN IEEE 802.11b atau IEEE 802.11g. Teknologi WLAN ini mampu memberikan kecepatan akses yang tinggi hingga 11 Mbps (IEEE 802.11 b) dan 54 Mbps (IEEE 802.11 g) dalam jarak hingga 100 meter. [wikipedia]

Setting Hotspot:

1. Pastikan wifi komputer anda telah siap untuk digunakan.
2. Klik Start-Control Panel-Network Connections, klik kanan pada Wireless Connections pilih View Available Wireless Network
3. Pilih salah satu jaringan yang akan kita gunakan.
4. Klik Connect pada tembol di bawahnya.

Untuk terhubung ke internet:

1. Pada browser yang digunakan inputkan proxy dengan cara:
• Klik Tools, Internet options, pilih Tab Connections, LAN Settings
• Klik Use a proxy, pada Address masukkan "proxy.xxx.xxx.id Port 8080"
• Klik OK
2. Authentikasi menggunakan alamat email lengkap beserta password

Semoga bermanfaat

Dewan Riset Nasional (DRN) Komisi Teknis Pertahanan dan Keamanan mengadakan loka karya berjudul, Suatu Pemikiran tentang Perang Asimetris (Asymetric Warfare), di Jakarta, Kamis (10/7). Loka karya ini bertujuan untuk menyosialisasikan pemahaman mengenai perang saimetris kepada masyarakat.

Loka Karya ini menghadirkan tiga pembicara, yaitu, pengajar dari FISIP UI Tamrin A Tamagola, alumni Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional (Lemhanas) Fayakun Andriadi, dan Kepala Pusat Teknologi Elektronika Dirgantara Lembaga Penerbangan dan Antariksa Nasional (LAPAN), Toto Mamanto Kadri.



Dalam paparannya, DRN menjelaskan, perang asimetris adalah suatu model peperangan yang dikembangkan dari cara berpikir yang tidak lazim, dan di luar aturan peperangan yang berlaku, dengan spektrum perang yang sangat luas dan mencakup aspek-aspek astagatra (perpaduan antara trigatra -geografi, demografi, dan sumber daya alam, dan pancagatra -ideologi, politik, ekonomi, sosial, dan budaya. Perang asimetri selalu melibatkan peperangan antara dua aktor atau lebih, dengan ciri menonjol dari kekuatan yang tidak seimbang.



Indonesia sendiri sebenarnya memiliki daftar panjang dijadikan sasaran perang asimetri. Sejak proklamasi kemerdekaan Indonesia pada 17 Agustus 1945, Indonesia terus melakukan perang asimetri terhadap pendudukan Belanda hingga 1950, Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), krisis Timor-Timur, Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan di Papua, dan lainnya.



Tamrin, dalam presentasinya berjudul "Perang Asimetris, Tanggapan dan Penajaman", membahas mengenai ancaman asimetris di bidang sosial-budaya dan agama.



Yang pertama adalah tidak meratanya persebaran suku-suku di Indonesia. Seperti diketahui, di Indonesia terdapat 653 suku bangsa. Akan tetapi dari Sumatra hingga Jawa (kecuali Sumatra Selatan) hanya terdapat beberapa suku mayoritas. Sebaliknya di Kalimantan, Su lawesi, dan Papua, banyak sekali suku bangsa yang menghuni satu kota. Bahkan setengan dari jumlah suku bangsa berada di Papua. Ini dapat menjadi ancaman disintegrasi.



Ancaman lainnya, bangunan keras: demokratisasi, desentralisasi, dan pemekaran wilayah. Desentralisasi pada saat ini, kata Tamrin, sudah kebablasan. Pemekaran juga luar biasa. Di Lombok misalnya, dari sembilan menjadi 18 kelurahan. Banyak sekali gubernur-gubernur yang tidak berkinerja.



Yang terakhir adalah bangunan lunak: kebangsaan, konstitusi, negara dan agama. Menurut Manuel Castells di dalam bukunya, The Power of Identity: The Information Age Economy, Society and Culture, kata Tamrin, dahulu negara adalah pihak satu-satunya yan g memiliki kekuasaan untuk mengatur dan memaksa. Namun sekarang, negara mendapat saingan kelompok yang bahkan membuat negara tidak berkutik, yaitu terorisme lokal, fundamentalis agama dan suku.



Fayakhun Andriadi, yang membawakan presentasi "Asymetric Warfare Strategy", memaparkan mengenai pengaruh teknologi informasi dan komunikasi terhadap perang asimetris. Menurut dia, teknologi informasi dan komunikasi semakin meningkat, dan menduduki peranan utama dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Karenanya, teknologi informasi telah menjadi sesuatu yang bernilai sekaligus dapat menjadi senjata perusak.



"Sekarang ini, lini pertempuan akan bergeser ke lini informasi. Bombardir informasi akan membentuk citra yang tertanam di kawasan lawan dan akan melemahkan posisi lawan," katanya.

Ia mencontohkan ketika Amerika Serikat (AS) dan Uni Soviet terlibat perang dingin yang memuncak di tahun 1980-an. Sungguh naif jika dikatakan Soviet hancur secara alamiah. Justru, AS melancarkan asymetric warfare terhadap Soviet. Amerika dan negara-negara barat pandai memainkan strateginya dalam perang informasi yang lebih bersifat psychological warfare. Secara ideologi, kemunculan glasnost dan perestroika sudah berhasil menyerang ideologis komunis yang telah lama menjadi perekat kesatuan Soviet.



Pembicara terakhir, Toto Marnanto Kadri, memaparkan pengaruh satelit terhadap perang asimetris. Menurut dia, satelit dapat digunakan untuk kepentingan pertahanan dan keamanan, dan memiliki fungsi untuk mengambil potret sinoptik pada daerah konflik, jaringan informasi, pusat komando, pendeteksi serangan misil balistik asing. [ kompas ]

Australia's tuna industry says climate change could be increasing the size of the fish.

The chief executive of the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Association, Brian Jeffriess, says this year has been excellent for quality and fish size.

Mr Jeffries says this can be partly attributed to climate change and its effect on feed species, such as sardines, in the Great Australian Bight.

For example, this year some of the oceanographers are saying they've never seen south easterly winds in a sustained strong way now that creates a lot of upwellings in the water, that brings nutrients to the surface," he said.

"There's a feed chain which feeds on those - the tuna is virtually the last part of that food chain and benefits from improvements in the other parts of the food chain." ABC

Fiji's Attorney General says a South Korean company's plan to manufacture electric cars in Fiji could reduce the country's reliance on fuel.

The company, C and T, makes electric cars and golf carts, and recently won a contract to supply cars for next month's Beijing Olympics.

It's looking for investors for a new assembly plant for electric cars, in Fiji.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the investment could bring in export dollars to Fiji.

"It also has the potential of an export market, because we have very competitive labour rates particularly in comparison to Australia and New Zealand and we are only about three or four hours away from Australia and New Zealand.

"So it has the potential to also earn us some foreign dollars too," he said. ABC

Fiji is preparing to name its envoy to New Zealand.

The Fijilive website reports the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Cama Tuiloma, will take up the post of acting High Commissioner in Wellington.

The Prime Minister's Office is yet to confirm its appointee.

However, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the appointment "given the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement" with Fiji.

Australia has also invited Fiji to appoint an Acting High Commissioner in Canberra. ABC

A review of national numeracy standards has found that too many Australian students are failing to acheive acceptable levels of proficiency.

The Council of Australian Governments commissioned the National Numeracy Review report in July 2006.

The report released today found that by international standards, overall maths achievements by Australian students are good.

But the report says too many students, particular from indigenous backgrounds, aren't meeting acceptable standards.

It cites as a major problem the belief that minimum standards are good enough.

Among its 15 recommendation, is that all states and territories work towards 5 hours per week of maths for primary school students.

It also recommends teachers who are teaching maths out of their area of specialty be given greater support. [ ABC ]

MEMASUKI tahun ajaran baru, setiap orangtua sibuk mempersiapkan keperluan anak untuk sekolah. Tak sedikit yang pontang-panting menguras tabungan dan menggadaikan peralatan rumah tangga ke Pegadaian demi biaya sekolah anak.

Ruang tunggu Pegadaian Cabang Cawang yang terletak di Jl Dewi Sartika, Jumat (11/7) siang, itu penuh. Antrean panjang para peminjam yang ingin "menyekolahkan" barang masih tampak hingga waktu tutup kantor berlogo rumah hijau itu. Selama beberapa hari terakhir, antrean panjang di gedung itu menjadi pemandangan biasa. Inilah antrean musiman menjelang tahun ajaran baru, pegadaian menjadi solusi bagi masyarakat yang membutuhkan dana cepat.

Seperti dikatakan petugas Pegadaian Cabang Cawang yang enggan disebut identitasnya, pinjaman yang keluar dalam seminggu ini rata-rata mencapai Rp 400 juta. "Kalau hari biasa uang yang dipinjamkan hanya sekitar Rp 200 juta, sekarang itu naiknya sekitar 100 persen, " tuturnya.

Petugas yang telah bekerja lebih dari 10 tahun itu mengatakan, kebanyakan orangtua yang sulit menutup biaya sekolah anaknya menggunakan jasa mereka akhir-akhir ini. "Jaminan yang diberikan sebagian besar biasanya berupa emas karena ada patokan harga yang jelas dan nilai ekonominya tinggi. Tapi ada beberapa orang yang juga menjaminkan peralatan rumah tangga seperti tape compo, televisi, dan dispenser," ujar bapak dua anak tersebut.

Jaminan yang diserahkan ke Pegadaian juga dicek oleh petugas untuk memastikan apakah masih layak pakai dan bisa digunakan. "Biasanya kalau barang elektronik seperti tape, VCD, televisi, pasti kami cek dulu untuk menentukan nilai barangnya juga. Besaran nilai barang yang dijaminkan itulah yang menentukan besaran pinjaman," jelasnya.

Menurut salah satu peminjam, Agung, kemudahan syarat dan jaminan menjadikan Pegadaian paling diminati sebagai lembaga pemberi kredit dengan jaminan termudah. "Saya terpaksa gadaikan kalung dan gelang istri untuk bayar uang gedung anak saya yang masuk SMP. Kalau mau pinjam bank, syaratnya terlalu rumit, di Pegadaian bisa cair secepatnya," tutur bapak berputra tiga tersebut.

Ia mengaku sudah beberapa kali menggadaikan barang untuk kebutuhan yang perlu dana besar. "Tahun ini masih mending cuma menggadaikan perhiasan istri, dua tahun lalu saya perlu uang untuk sekolahkan dua anak saya yang bersamaan masuk SMP dan SMA, beberapa barang seperti televisi terpaksa 'sekolah' juga disini," ungkapnya saat menunggu antrean.

Tetapi, barang yang di-'sekolah'-kan, kata pria yang berprofesi sebagai pedagang tersebut, selalu bisa ditebus meski waktunya agak lama. "Kalau di sini enaknya bunga itu rendah, saya pinjam Rp 2 juta bunganya cuma 1,3 persen, rata-rata tidak sampai 2 persen per 15 hari," jelasnya.

Bunga yang rendah juga menjadi alasan Minah menggunakan jasa Pegadaian untuk mengatasi masalah uang sekolah anaknya. "Sudah cari pinjaman ke sana-sini, tetap kurang. Ya, mau gimana lagi. Dari pada utang dengan bunga tinggi, saya gadaikan perhiasan yang dulu dikasih ibu mertua ke sini," tuturnya sembari menunggu antrean.

Ibu dua anak tersebut terpaksa "menyekolahkan" perhiasan emas demi membayar uang masuk sekolah SMA anaknya. Sehari-hari ia hanya berdagang kue kecil-kecilan di rumah untuk membantu suaminya yang tukang ojek. "Untuk masuk sekolah putri saya masih kurang sekitar Rp 1 juta, uang dari mana untuk nutup kekurangan itu. Sebelum gadaikan emas ini, saya juga sudah pinjam ke tetangga tapi tak nutup juga," tutur wanita paruh baya itu.

Minah pontang-panting untuk mencari biaya sekolah anaknya kali ini. "Kalau saya, makan seadanya gak papa asal anak bisa sekolah. Liburan kemarin mereka juga bantu saya bikin kue, tapi uangnya juga gak seberapa," katanya.

Ironis, saat anak lain menikmati liburan, ternyata ada yang mengisi liburan untuk bayar uang masuk sekolah. Kini liburan hampir usai, orangtua yang kekurangan dana untuk bayar sekolah anak beramai-ramai ke Pegadaian.[ kompas ]

Ini terdengar seperti mimpi indah. Bayangkan, sebuah PC yang bisa memperbaiki sendiri software-nya. Namun itulah yang ditawarkan Fujitsu-Siemens, yakni software yang secara proaktif mengenali dan memperbaiki masalah-masalah komputer yang muncul saat itu.

Software ajaib ini akan tersedia pada bulan September mendatang. Software ini menggunakan suite aplikasi yang disebut Questra, yang melakukan monitoring remote secara online dan otomatis memperbaiki masalah-masalah yang ditemukannya. Serupa dengan layanan service desk TI, begitu klaim Fujitsu-Siemens.

Menurut Fujitsu Siemens, software ini akan menyebabkan lebih sedikitnya telepon ke support desk serta menurunnya waktu tunggu sebelum kerusakan diperbaiki. Dengan kata lain, uptime dan produktivitas PC yang lebih baik.

“Melaporkan masalah via telepon atau e-mail ke petugas helpdesk sudah kuno,” kata Richard Schlauri (Executive Vice President of Infrastructure Services, Fujitsu Siemens). “Komunikasi mesin-ke-mesin lebih efisien dan bahkan dapat mencegah munculnya masalah di masa datang,” ambahnya. Ia yakin teknologi ini akan dengan cepat menjadi standar di bisnis layanan TI. kompas

Brunei telah menyatakan minat untuk memimpin Tim Pemantauan Internasional yang mengawasi gencatan senjata antara militer Filipina dan pemberontak Front Pembebasan Islam Moro, MILF.

Menurut Sekretariat MILF, Ketua Partai Pembangunan Nasional Brunei telah meyakinkan kelompok pemberontak tersebut bahwa pihaknya bersedia mengambil alih dari Malaysia begitu Malaysia selesai menarik tentaranya bulan depan.

Malaysia telah memulai penarikan bertahap pasukan perdamaiannya dari Filipina selatan karena lambannya kemajuan dalam perundingan damai antara pemerintah Filipina dan MILF.

Tim pemantau internasional itu terdiri dari tentara Malaysia, Brunei dan Libia serta seorang pakar pembangunan dari Jepang. [ ABC ]

Mahkamah Pidana Internasional akan mengusahakan penahanan Presiden Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, atas kejahatan perang di Darfur, menyebabkan Sudan marah dan mengancam upaya perdamaian di kawasan itu.

Jurubicara Deplu Amerika mengatakan kepada wartawan di Washington, tim jaksa berniat mengajukan informasi kepada majelis hakim dan meminta surat perintah penahanan.

Ini adalah upaya pertama di mahkamah independen tersebut, yang berkedudukan di Den Haag, untuk mengenakan dakwaan kejahatan perang atas seorang kepala negara yang masih memegang jabatan.

Pemerintah Sudan merespon dengan marah berita tersebut.

Menteri Luar Negeri Sudan, Al-Samani al-Wasila, mengatakan, Sudan tidak akan pernah tunduk pada Mahkamah Pidana Internasional dalam hal ini. [ ABC ]

A new report by the CSIRO has warned the cost of petrol could rise to as high as $8 a litre in the next 10 years.

The Fuel for Thought study by the Future Fuels Forum says that would be the worst-case scenario if oil production does not keep up with increasing demand.

Petroleum engineer Phil Hart from the Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas believes it will not be long before the demand for oil will outstrip supply.

"Oil production has been essentially flat since 2005, and we have only another couple of years at this same sort of level of production before we start seeing oil production going into decline," he said.

Doctor John Wright from the CSIRO has told ABC's AM program the study also suggests that such an oil shock would have a greater impact than a carbon emissions trading scheme.

"If we, for example, end up, as a result of an emissions trading scheme, [with the] price of carbon dioxide credit at something like $40 per tonne, which is probably reasonably likely, that would increase the price per litre of fuel by about 10 cents," he said.

Monica Richter from the Australian Conservation Foundation has told AM the report should serve as a wake up call to the Federal Government.

"So we need to do two things," she said.

"We need to urgently get [the] Government to help manufacturers re-tool, for building cleaner cars here in Australia.

"And of course the other thing we need to do to help vulnerable families and low income families is for the Government to invest in public transport." [ ABC news ]

As energy prices hit historic highs, film studios have been forced to shoulder higher production costs.

But the fuel spike does not spell bad news for everyone in the industry; for some, it is actually a boon.

And for the global industry, economists say that, despite some mixed signals, there is some evidence to support the truism that higher fuel prices boost box office sales by prompting consumers to opt for the local multiplex over longer trips.

A certain kind of film financier has been the most obvious beneficiary of the recent spikes. For instance, Leomax Entertainment, a Los Angeles- and Berlin-based financing and production banner, has found that the jump in oil prices has opened up its financing options.

The company has created a five-year slate using money from an oil-based hedge fund - one of its current projects is a thriller called Short Cut from Adam Sandler's production company - and found financing relatively easier to come by.

"If you need to shelter windfall profits, there's really no better place than the movie business," Leomax boss Ingo Volkammer said.

Basically, that's because tax laws in some countries require that windfall profits are taxed heavily unless the money is quickly invested in an intangible asset like film.

That has prompted oil investors to look more favourably on the film biz - any film, really - because it means that even if a movie loses 30 per cent of its money, investors still come out on top because those losses pale compared with what a government might have taken.

Box office

But the greatest potential upside to oil and fuel price increases lies with ticket sales at the box office.

Economists have long debated how much of a factor petrol prices are on movie attendance.

While there are data showing both sides - and experts say any connection is at best correlated, not causal - several pivotal years of box office growth during the past several decades did come at times of high oil prices.

In 1981 and 1982, for example, oil prices rose roughly 30 per cent and then 10 per cent year-over-year; in that same period, the global box office saw sizeable increases of 8 per cent, then 16 per cent.

In years when oil prices were roughly flat, like 1992, box office rose only 1 per cent.

Other years, however, show little correlation: 2005's notorious 6 per cent drop in box office came when oil prices actually had risen more than 25 per cent.

Economists say oil prices may not so much cause a box office spike as provide a cushion; where other industries see dips in times of recession and high gas prices, the movie industry can stay closer to flat, as the number of people switching to low-cost options like moviegoing offsets the consumers who choose not to spend at all.

University of Michigan economist Paul Edelstein, who co-authored a paper last year titled Retail Energy Prices and Consumer Expenditures, said that even though in his study consumption of events such as live theatre and spectator sports went down during a period of high fuel prices, there was "a positive response" - albeit a small one - for movie tickets.

"It's a low-cost option, so it's conceivable that in the aggregate, the movies don't feel as much pain," he said.

- Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

Posted 2 hours 26 minutes ago

The price of oil has hit new highs in London and New York.

In London, Brent crude rose to $US147.25 during trade - 56 cents above the record set last week.

Traders say the main reason for the rise is simmering tension over key producer Iran.

Light sweet crude reached $US146.90 in New York, which is 92 cents higher than the previous peak.

- Reuters

Greenpeace says two of its activists have been charged with stealing a box of whale meat while conducting a covert operation into suspected cases of embezzlement.

The public prosecutors office in Aomori, northern Japan, charged Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki with theft and trespass, the group said in a statement.

A spokesman for the Aomori Public Prosecutors Office declined to comment.

Greenpeace had used the meat as evidence when complaining to prosecutors that members of Japan's whaling fleet crew shipped large quantities of the meat home, which they said amounted to embezzlement.

Japan has come under fire from environmentalists and foreign countries for its whaling programme.

The Government says its whaling is for scientific research purposes.

Commercial whaling was banned under a 1986 international moratorium, but Tokyo has campaigned for a lifting of the ban, saying whaling is part of the country's cultural tradition.

A recent poll showed that a majority of Japanese support whaling, although whale meat is now less popular among the public than in the past.

The country's fleet caught only 551 minke whales compared with a planned 850 in its latest Antarctic hunt, after obstruction by anti-whalers.

- Reuters

Georgia's Ambassador to Russia has been recalled as tensions between the neighbouring countries escalate.

The move comes after Russia admitted to flying fighter jets in Georgian airspace earlier this week.

Georgia says it is recalling its Ambassador from Russia for consultations.

The Ambassador, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, has accused Russia of engaging in an open act of aggression against Georgia.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has admitted that earlier this week, Moscow sent warplanes over the disputed Georgian region of South Ossetia.

The Ministry says the aircraft were sent to cool down hotheads in Georgia and ward off a possible invasion of the breakaway region by Georgian forces.

Both countries have been accusing each other of stoking tensions in South Ossetia and another Georgian region pushing for independence, Abkhazia.

Georgia has threatened to shoot down any Russian military aircraft that violates its airspace.

A senior member of the Georgian Parliament's Defence and National Security Committee has told local media that if Russian military aircraft violate the country's airspace again, then Moscow will collect the wreckage. [ ABC ]

It might be the depths of winter in Antarctica but scientists say they're seeing more signs of global warming on the frozen continent.

New satellite photos show the Wilkins Ice Shelf is even closer to breaking from the peninsula. Experts say the effects of warming there now look irreversible.

That may eventually lead to rising sea levels in more populated parts of the world.

Neal Young is a glaciologist with the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre in Hobart, and is scrutinising pictures from the European Space Agency.

"What we can see is a sequence of images so you can from late May through to early July, showing this ice shelf, Wilkins Ice Shelf, gradually breaking up," he said.

"We can see large icebergs forming.

"We can see fractures forming in the shelf itself such that it is now reducing down to a slender strip of ice connecting to one island called Charcot Island, and back to another island behind it, Alexander Island."

Inevitable

Dr Young says he expects this ice shelf will break free soon.

"This ice shelf is in the region called the Antarctic Peninsula. This one is on the west side of the peninsula," he said.

"Two sections of another ice shelf called Larsen Ice Shelf on the eastern side of the peninsula broke up over the last decade or so - one section back in 1995 and another one, Larsen B in 2002."

He says it's a progression that calls attention to what's happening in Antarctica - and an irreversible one at that.

"There are indicators of change going on and the message that is coming through now is this change is continuing," he said.

"The way things are trending and what we can see right now, it certainly looks [irreversible]."

World is watching

On the other side of the world, developments are also being watched at the United States National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado.

Walt Meier is a research scientist there.

"Summertime is becoming warmer in the Antarctic Peninsula area where the Wilkins is and so we have had more melt than in the past, and that's obviously going to make things more susceptible to breaking up," he said.

"We also have had a strong decrease in sea ice in that area particularly in the summertime and that allows warmer ocean currents and oceans waves to kind of buffet that ice shelf, and that also probably contributes to the break up.

"So it's really a fundamentally, at the most basic level, a response to warmer temperatures."

Dr Meier contributed to last October's report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

He says it's no exaggeration to say the Wilkins Ice Shelf is hanging by the thinnest of threads.

"There is still a fair amount of ice there but one of the things that has been stabilising it is this rather thin kind of narrow slab of ice that is connecting the main part of the ice shelf to an island to the north," he said.

"You can see in the image - the most recent imagery - that that thin kind of connection, that thread so to speak, is getting thinner and thinner.

"And once that breaks away, it is going to destabilise the ice shelf. It is kind of like an arch in a cathedral or something.

"It can be quite a delicate structure but it can be reasonably strong because it is all connected but when you take away that keystone, you suddenly weaken the structure and it could collapse quite quickly."

Adapted from a story by Simon Santow for The World Today, July 11.

The Australian Government is facing fresh warnings that planned changes to the Medicare surcharge threshold will increase public hospital waiting lists by 200,000.

Catholic Health Australia says it's reached the figure by analysing private health insurance data, and the Government's Treasury estimate that the changes will lead 485,000 people to drop private cover.

The legislation to raise the threshold is currently before a Senate committee.

But the group's Chief Executive, Martin Laverty says an increase in public waiting lists will affect low income earners the most, and the government should reconsider the changes.

"We don't think the proposal to lift the threshold from $AU50,000 to $100,000 for individuals or to $150,000 for couples is appropriate," Mr Laverty said.

"We've asked the Government to give reconsideration to the needs of low-income earners around Australia because after all, it was low-income earners that this change in threshold was actually meant to help." [ radio australia ]

The Philippines Commission on Human Rights says an Australian mine operator will be investigated for alleged human rights abuses.

Oceana Gold (Philippines) Inc. would be investigated for rights violations at its gold and copper mine site in Didipio in the country's north.

Commission chairwoman Leila de Lima says the company has been accused of forcibly demolishing more than 180 houses owned by a local tribal community.

Other alleged abuses include a connection to "killings, forced negotiations and harassments" .

In a statement Oceana Gold says it continues to abide by laws governing its mine site

The firm is a unit of Australia's Oceana Gold Corporation and the 320-million-dollar project is due to start production in 2010. ( radio australia )

Dari keadaan porak-poranda, Botelho sanggup membalik nasib Embraer. Apa kunci suksesnya?

Sungguh, proses turnaround memang bisa berawal dari hal yang dipandang sederhana. Simaklah pengalaman seorang lelaki bernama Mauricio Botelho. April 2001, dia mengirim kotak kecil dengan tujuan "Robert Milton, CEO Air Canada di Montreal". Paket itu dikirimnya dari Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, tempat Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica (Embraer) bermarkas. Botelho adalah CEO pabrikan pesawat jet mini ini. Brazil, negara dunia ketiga itu punya pabrikan pesawat?

Ya, dan jangan keliru hanya mengidentikkan Brazil dengan sepak bola. Jauh sebelum Indonesia punya PT Dirgantara Indonesia (dahulu IPTN) yang nasibnya tak keruan itu (selain menghabiskan uang negara), Kementerian Aeronautika Brazil telah mendirikan Embraer sebagai pabrikan pesawat komersial dan militer pada 1969. Di awal 1980-an, Embraer bahkan mengalami masa jaya yang tak pernah dikecap IPTN. Tahun-tahun itu, seperti diungkap Sean Silcoff (Financial Post, 26 Maret 2005), Embraer menjadi bagian dari kemajuan industri militer Brazil. Penjualannya per tahun mencapai US$ 2 miliar, dan berencana melebarkan sayap dengan terjun ke industri pembuatan tank tempur serta kapal selam nuklir standar NATO.

Lantas, apa yang dikirimkan Botelho? "Halo, Robert," ujar Botelho ketika Milton mulai memutar keping DVD yang dikirim dari Sao Jose itu. Selanjutnya, laiknya sales, dia mempromosikan pesawat jet mini buatan Embraer sekaligus menyatakan kegembiraannya bila Air Canada juga berkenan menggunakan pesawat made in Brazil itu. Saat itu, Milton juga diinformasikan bahwa sebuah truk yang mengangkut interior pesawat Embraer yang sanggup menampung 70-118 penumpang tengah berkeliling Amerika Utara. "Tuan Milton, kami amat senang bila Anda sudi melihatnya," ujar Botelho merayu.

Botelho memang harus bekerja keras menjual pesawat jet mini yang diproduksinya. Semuanya bermula ketika di tahun 1982, krisis utang Meksiko meledak. Seperti penyakit menular, krisis utang pun menyebar hingga ke Brazil yang menggoyangkan perekonomian Negeri Samba itu. Dan Embraer, sebagai BUMN Brazil termasuk yang terkena getahnya: proyek-proyek bisnis berkurang, termasuk dari militer.

Seperti kemesraan yang terlampau cepat menyingkir, nasib Embraer tak ubahnya roller coaster. Penjualan terus menyusut, sehingga laba entah menguap ke mana. Puncaknya terjadi tahun 1994. Tahun itu, rapor kinerja keuangan benar-benar merah menyala: pendapatan hanya US$ 177 juta (tahun 1989 masih US$ 700 juta), dan kerugian mencapai US$ 190 juta, sehingga lebih dari 6 ribu karyawan (setengah dari total karyawan) dirumahkan demi mengurangi beban.

Menghadapi hal itu, Pemerintah Brazil sebagai pemilik tak punya jalan lain untuk menyelamatkannya kecuali memprivatisasi. Namun, laiknya negara berkembang, Embraer telah menjadi simbol kebanggaan. Banyak pihak menentang penjualan itu. Hanya karena perekonomian Brazil memburuk (krisis minyak akibat Perang Teluk II) dan kebutuhan untuk menyelamatkan BUMN-lah yang membuat privatisasi jalan terus. Pemerintah Brazil juga tak mau bertambah pusing, karena sebelumnya utang Embraer sebanyak US$ 700 juta telah dihapusbukukan, sementara uang sejumlah US$ 350 juta telah diinjeksikan agar tetap bisa beroperasi.

Akhir 1994, di tengah protes publik yang masih berhamburan, Embraer yang napasnya terus megap-megap resmi dilepas ke swasta. Sejumlah 45% saham pemerintah dijual kepada orang kaya Brazil, Julio Bozano. Dan September 2005, mendaratlah Botelho sebagai CEO baru Embraer.

Botelho ditarik Bozano karena reputasinya. Sebenarnya, Botelho adalah orang yang tak punya latar belakang dunia aerodinamika sama sekali. Namun, dia punya prestasi segudang. Di antaranya, sukses menangani sejumlah proyek konstruksi seperti generator pembangkit listrik tenaga nuklir, pabrik baja, petrokimia, dan memimpin sebuah perusahaan rekayasa papan atas di Brazil. Bozano berharap Botelho bisa mengeluarkan tuah tangan dinginnya untuk memperbaiki nasib Embraer.

Harapan itu, kini (2005) bolehlah dikatakan telah benar-benar dipenuhi. Seperti dikutip Fortune (11 Juli 2005), Embraer sekarang disebut-sebut sebagai salah satu privatisasi tersukses di dunia, dan termasuk pelaku bisnis di industri penerbangan dengan kinerja yang mengagumkan. Tahun lalu, penjualannya meningkat 61% dibanding tahun 2004, mencapai US$ 3,4 miliar. Sementara itu, laba meningkat dua kali lipat menjadi US$ 380 juta. Embraer bukan lagi perusahaan yang amburadul. Dan itu jelas buah dari tangan dingin Botelho, yang kini berusia 63 tahun.

Sejatinya, tantangan Botelho tidaklah mudah. Ketika dia tiba di Embraer, perusahaan ini benar-benar hancur lebur. Proyek bisnis yang didapatkannya hanya US$ 200 juta, sementara utang yang membelit mencapai US$ 400 juta. Namun, Botelho memang eksekutif jempolan sehingga di Brazil, bahkan di Amerika Latin, kelak dia disebut the living business legend. Semua situasi yang buruk itu diusirnya jauh-jauh.

Yang membedakan Botelho dari para eksekutif biasa adalah insting bisnisnya. Pada pertemuan sebelum mengambil kendali Embraer, dia bertanya pada CEO ad interim, untuk menanyakan bisnis Embraer. "Dia mengatakan, 'Bisnis kita adalah membuat pesawat'," ujar Botelho. "Saya katakan, 'Salah. Bisnis Anda bukan sekadar membuat pesawat, tapi melayani pelanggan'," tandasnya untuk menunjukkan betapa paradigma bisa membuat orang keliru dalam melakukan bisnis.

Berangkat dari paradigma tersebut, Botelho melakukan serangkaian perubahan. Untuk urusan SDM, faktor kepuasan pelanggan terus digenjot. Bahkan para teknisi tak luput dari penekanan arti penting kepuasan pelanggan. DVD yang dikirimnya pada Milton merupakan salah satu wujud konkret tentang arti penting kepuasan pelanggan dalam pemahaman Botelho -- atau tepatnya bagaimana membuat pelanggan tertarik untuk kemudian dipuaskan dengan layanan yang paripurna.

Sewaktu menerima DVD player seukuran tangan dari Brazil, Milton mengaku sama sekali tak mengenal CEO yang satu ini. Terlebih, Kanada juga punya pabrikan jet mini untuk penerbangan regional yang jauh lebih terkenal, Bombardier Inc. Bahkan markas besar Air Canada dengan pabrikan ini bersebelahan di Montreal, hanya sepelemparan batu. Bagaimana bisa Air Canada mempertimbangkan untuk membeli pesawat buatan Brazil? Begitu pikirnya.

Toh, iklan dan rayuan Botelho begitu menggoda dan sayang untuk dilewatkan begitu saja. Milton memenuhi ajakan Botelho, melihat truk yang mengangkut interior pesawat, untuk kemudian jatuh cinta pada pesawat made in Brazil itu. "Desain dan kenyamanannya benar-benar menggoda untuk orang-orang penerbangan," ujar pria yang kini menjabat CEO Ace Aviation Holdings, induk Air Canada.

Kemampuan menjual dan menarik pelanggan memang menjadi kelebihan Botelho. Akan tetapi, seperti disebut di atas, insting bisnislah yang menonjol dari lelaki ini, yang kelak menyelamatkan Embraer. Dan ide jet mini untuk penerbangan regional adalah bukti naluri bisnis itu, yang kelak menjadi kunci sukses turnaround Embraer.

Tahun 1990-an, tak satu pun pabrikan pesawat yang terbilang sukses di pasar jet mini berkapasitas 70-110 penumpang. Pasar masih dikuasai pesawat berbadan lebar karena penerbangan regional (point to point) belum marak. Ide jet regional kala itu tidaklah menarik. Namun, Botelho berani menggebrak pasar ini, bahkan dengan pesawat berkapasitas 50 seat.

Sebenarnya, Bombardierlah pelopor pasar jet regional, bahkan telah menjadi pemimpin pasarnya. Hanya, ketika Botelho melakukannya dari Brazil, maka perlahan-lahan, kian terbukalah pasar yang menghubungkan antara satu kota kecil dengan kota kecil lainnya. Dan Botelho beruntung karena idenya mendapat dukungan dari para pemegang saham. Bahkan, Pemerintah Brazil turut mengucurkan bantuan sebesar US$ 98 juta.

Yang lebih membuat Botelho beruntung adalah kenyataan bahwa sambutan pasar cukup baik. Maskapai banyak yang tertarik mengembangkan penerbangan point to point dan tertarik membeli jet regional. Embraer 145 pertama dijual ke Continental Express pada 1996. Kemudian menyusul The American Eagle. Dan nasib semakin baik ketika Bombardier ternyata tak memiliki keunggulan komparatif seperti yang dimiliki Embraer: buruh Brazil yang murah. Biaya tenaga kerja yang rendah ini memungkinkan Embraer menghajar Bombardier lewat harga yang lebih bersaing.

"Ini adalah sebuah contoh tentang bagaimana strategi dapat membuat perusahaan sukses, atau sebaliknya, membunuh manakala strategi itu keliru," ujar Botelho bangga. Dan dia memang patut bangga karena hanya dalam waktu tiga tahun kepemimpinannya (1998), Embraer yang merugi mulai meraup laba. Bahkan, perlahan tapi pasti, dengan pengembangan tipe pesawat jenis terbaru yang kapasitasnya variatif (di antaranya 110 seat dan 145 seat), pangsa pasar Embraer terus meningkat, terakhir mencapai 35%, sementara Bombardier 65%. Para pelanggannya juga meluas. Maskapai ternama JetBlue pun menjadi pelanggannya. Selain JetBlue, sejumlah maskapai low cost juga memesan pesawat Embraer. Di antaranya Paramount Airways dari India, dan FlyBE dari Inggris. "Mereka mengecoh semua ekspektasi orang," kata Ricardo Fernandez, analis ING Financial Market di Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Benar. Dan bukan cuma mengecoh. Keberanian Botelho menantang CEO Air Canada di tahun 2001 patut diacungi jempol karena langkah itu ibarat masuk ke kandang macan, mengingat Kanada adalah markas besar Bombardier. Di sini, Botelho beruntung lantaran Milton adalah sosok CEO yang cukup fair dalam berbisnis.

Setelah melihat truk yang mengangkut interior Embraer, Milton -- yang merasa tertarik -- sepenuhnya sadar bahwa tidaklah mudah begitu saja memesan dengan mengabaikan Bombardier yang notabene produk sesama anak negeri Kanada. Maka untuk membuat sistem yang fairness dengan tanpa melukai siapa pun, dia mengundang para pabrikan -- Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, dan Embraer tentunya -- untuk datang sekaligus mendemokan produk masing-masing. Milton juga mengundang media, analis, politisi, sejumlah pejabat Pemerintah Kanada, serta frequent flyer. "Kami tanya mereka, ‘Apakah penting Air Canada membeli pesawat buatan Kanada?’," kenang Milton. "Mereka menjawab, kita harus membeli pesawat terbaik." Jawaban itulah yang membuka jalan Embraer melaju lebih kencang, karena Air Canada menjatuhkan pilihannya pada pesawat made in Brazil.

Kini, dari keterpurukan Embraer telah melangkah dengan mantap. Memiliki 16.878 karyawan (per Juni 2005), Embraer menatap masa depan dengan cerah. Botelho pun senang dengan kondisi yang ada mengingat pasar penerbangan regional terus bertambah secara drastis. Sejak 1995, tercatat rute jet regional telah meningkat 1.000% di Eropa, dan 1.400% di Amerika Serikat. Kebanyakan peningkatan ini datang dari penerbangan komuter yang punya rute sendiri, atau rute kontrak untuk menghubungkan kota-kota kecil dengan hub miliknya. Maskapai yang aktif mengembangkan pasar ini, di antaranya Continental Express, American Eagle, Mesa, dan Horizon.

Namun, seperti halnya persaingan Airbus dan Boeing di pesawat berbadan lebar, langkah Embraer untuk menapak jenjang yang lebih tinggi, terus diintai Bombardier. Perseteruan mereka malah tak kalah panas dari rivalitas Airbus-Boeing. Di satu kesempatan, Embraer sukses menghantam Bombardier di pasar pesawat 80-118 seat dengan pesanan dari 170 perusahaan, termasuk GE Commercial Aviation Services. Kali lain, Bombardier mengalahkan Embraer lewat pesawat berkapasitas 70-86 seat.

Tentang siapa yang unggul di pasar ini, CEO Bombardier, Pierre Beaudoin hanya berkomentar singkat, "Aturan main di sini adalah menyeimbangkan antara kenyamanan dan biaya operasional." Maksudnya, siapa yang akan menang adalah mereka yang yang bisa mendesain pesawat yang nyaman, dengan biaya murah. Beaudoin sendiri kini tengah menekan Embraer lewat pesawat yang lebih segar, C-series dengan kapasitas 100-135 seat.

Siapa kelak yang akan unggul, memang tidak mudah diprediksi, sekalipun Embraer punya momentum untuk terus mengiris kue Bombardier mengingat jumlah pesanan pesawat yang terus berdatangan. Termasuk dari maskapai ternama, Southwest Airlines. Namun, menurut Ricardo Fernandez, tanpa pesanan Southwest sekalipun, Embraer setidaknya akan menjual 130 pesawat per tahun, selama 6 tahun ke depan.

Terlepas dari siapa yang menang, turnaround yang diraih Embraer, membuat Botelho senang bukan kepalang. Setidaknya, menunjukkan pada dunia betapa bisa kompetitifnya perusahaan Brazil (seandainya Dirgantara juga bisa seperti ini!). "Pers internasional kerap kali menghubungkan perusahaan Brazil dengan persepsi bahwa kami membakar hutan, membunuh anak-anak, tak bayar utang, dan mencuri paten," ujarnya. "Saya tak menolak kenyataan bahwa hal-hal itu memang terjadi, tapi itu bukan gambaran mendasar Brazil. Kami menampilkan sisi lain dari Brazil yang belum dipersepsikan dengan baik," sambungnya.

Ya, lewat "tarian Samba"-nya dalam upaya menyehatkan perusahaan, Embraer kini memang menampilkan sisi lain dari Brazil: kemampuan bersaing di pasar yang amat padat modal dan teknologi. Namun, seperti gading yang tak retak, langit pun tampaknya tak selalu cerah bagi Embraer. Begitu harga minyak meningkat, begitu kekacauan finansial terjadi di bisnis penerbangan, seluruh pabrikan pesawat akan menderita. Inilah tantangan yang mesti dihadapi Tuan Botelho. ( swa )