Sexy Dewi Persik

Ross urges readers to support sexy dangdut singer Dewi Persik.

The disgraceful behaviour of the primitives in Tangerang towards that splendid young lady Dewi Persik deserves our interest.

To listen to some mediaeval oaf likening the cheery, pretty singer to a prostitute, because presumably she makes their Darth Vadar-lookalike women seem dowdy, was infuriating.

We who are guests in this country may not participate in demos or political manifestations of any sort, and that’s fair enough. But we can go to the movies.

Next week a new Indonesian horror movie, starring Dewi herself embroiled with pocongs (Tali Pocong Perawan), (I’d have thought the Mayor of Tangerang might be a better candidate for the attentions of fiendish horrors, but never mind) starts showing in Jakarta cinemas.

Let’s all go see her film, thus showing our support in a tangible but non-political way.

I don’t know if all the dangdut videos destroyed by the FPI ratbags were paid for -I doubt it, given their general reluctance to recognise rights for any but their own fellow-undesirables - but we at least can be sure Dewi will benefit from our attendance in the bioskops.

And it would be nice if some box-office records were broken, demonstrating that she can draw crowds in excess of the turn-out for cretin fanatic rallies.

And for those of you who only go to Western films, you’ll be surprised how enjoyable the local ones are. We watched Kesurupan last week and it was just as good as the American “One Missed Call”, which we saw yesterday.

Paper lingerie a 'hot' item

PENANG: Dressing up in sexy undergarments is not only for the living, it seems, as paper paraphernalia burnt for the dead now include lingerie.

Selling like hot cakes at Choon Ban Heong in Magazine Road here were sets of matching cardboard-made brassieres and panties in various colours and designs.

The colourful brassieres, ranging from simple plain colour ones to sexy leopard prints, were also carefully lined with colourful trimmings and decorated with tiny paper butterflies.

Shop owner Tay Lay Nah said the "intimate clothing" was already in the market last year but had improved a lot in its design and patterns.

“The paper undergarments that we imported from China this year were of much better quality.

“They also came in more creative designs this year, such as the sweet flowery prints and sophisticated monogram designs to cater to different tastes,” she said.

Tay said the underwear sets, selling at RM4 each, received good response from her clients.

“Most customers find them very cute and usually added a few sets to go with other paper clothing and items such as dresses, bags and shoes for their female family members to use in the other world,” she added.

She said many of the popular designs were already sold out earlier although Qing Ming only falls on April 4.

How can we get specs appeal?

Nicky - Yeah – well there’s two things that you’ve got to consider. The first

thing to consider obviously is the frame that suits your face. But not only just what

suits your face – you’ve got to think about what kind of look you want to achieve.

Do you want to look professional? Do want to be a bit more of a fashionista and go

for something a bit wild and wacky? Do want to stand out in the crowd or do you

want something subtler that sort of blends into the background? So there are lots

of things to consider when choosing a frame other than what just suits the shape

of your face. The other thing that I think is really important is – what lenses are

good for you.

Apparently 44% of people spend a lot of time considering the frame of their new

glasses but most of them don’t even think about the lenses and leave it up to

the optician.

So what I’m trying to do is educate people into thinking about what type of lens

they need. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors – maybe you need a transition

lens that protects you again UV. Do you spend a lot of time driving – do actually

you need something to protect your eyes when doing so? Do you spend a lot of

time in front of a computer, maybe you need an anti- reflective lens. So there are

so many things to think about. The optician is the person with all the answers. But

it’s up to you to ask the questions otherwise you’re going to walk out with a

bog standard lens that corrects your prescription and does nothing else.

IRB's conversation-stopper a big kick in guts for sport

By GRANT FOX
One of the great joys of being a rugby fan is indulging in the daily "conversations" the game drives. There's always an issue, a debate for us to follow, a player to speculate over - always something that fuels, each day, the enormous passion we have for rugby.

We all relish that opportunity to indulge our passion of talking, arguing and debating rugby.

When you think about it, it's largely the news media who drive that daily "conversation".

It's the newspapers and TV and radio news bulletins that inform us of the latest developments, the columnists who shape our opinions - or occasionally incite rage!

However you want to put it, the news media's daily reporting provides much of the "conversation" that keeps us all going between games.

That's why my ears pricked up on learning of the spat between media organisations and the IRB over accreditation for this year's world cup.

It's not a sexy subject, is quite complex and fans may not be aware of how the outcome will impact them.

My background is the reason I've taken an interest in the stoush. Being a former player, I am very aware of the media's role.

Now with my commercial work within rugby, I am even more attuned to the importance of positive relationships between media and sports bodies.

In some ways, the sports media can be a rugby team's best advertising agency.

The team stages regular press conferences during the week, holds open trainings and sponsor functions, all of which the sports media dutifully report on, filling pages with rugby content that helps drive ticket sales and keeps sponsors happy.

For a rightsholder like Sky, the daily news coverage is mana from heaven. It drives the "conversation" that entices us all to buy Sky subscriptions.

Without it, Sky would have to spend huge amounts on marketing and promotion.

If it had to do that, it would presumably want to pay less to rightsholders like the IRB and the NZRU.

Logic suggests it is in the interests of sports bodies like the IRB not to upset this balance. But that seems to be exactly what's happened.

Media organisations seem upset about several things they believe impinge on legitimate news gathering.

The non-rightsholders (Sky and TVNZ) are upset that they can only show 30 seconds of tournament news coverage daily. They want at least two minutes, as they've had in the past.

The print media companies are angry the IRB's telling them they can only provide written stories and still photos on their news websites, and not any audio or audio-visual content as they are increasingly offering.

In particular, broadcasting audio or audio-visual content from press conferences on news websites is a no-no - unless a fee is paid to the IRB who have effectively created a rights package around this area that it is seeking to sell.

If you're wondering how this topic has any relevance to you as a fan, that's it. You will end up being charged for that news content because whoever has paid for it has to pass on the cost plus a margin to run a profitable business.

The sports media is arguing the IRB is commercialising press conferences in a way that hinders news gathering.

They say they have no problem with the IRB's need to protect traditional rights revenue such as live TV broadcasts of matches, and to seek new rights via the internet.

But to restrict news coverage of trainings, daily and post-match press conferences makes no sense to them as it reduces the "conversation" and discourages media organisations from covering rugby.

The IRB disagree and are sticking to their guns.

I'm not taking a side in this one but what I am worried about is the spat.

I'm also concerned the IRB seem to be out of step with other major international sports bodies on this issue. I understand the International Olympic Committee, Fifa, Cricket Australia and the NRL are among sports bodies acknowledging the right of media companies to use audio and audio-visual content to present news on the internet.

The sports media believe the IRB want the internet world - and its profits - to themselves, and are therefore abandoning them, despite a profitable association over several decades.

The IRB shouldn't be surprised if the sports media reduces its commitment to the daily "conversation" that fuels fans.

The papers won't cut off their noses to spite their faces. They'll still report lots of rugby. But they'll be more circumspect about its presentation, and won't provide the free ride of publicity of the past.

That will reduce value for sponsors and commercial partners like Sky.

If that happens, rugby loses.

Grant Fox is a former All Blacks first five- eighths and a rugby columnist for the Sunday Star-Times.