Rugger stars are so cool

I AM not a sports fan at all. So it is a constant battle in our house when my husband wants to watch football or rugby.

A few weeks ago he proclaimed that it was imperative that he watch the France-Italy rugby game.

With no choice, I sat down beside him and read a magazine, while glancing now and again at the screen.

I was soon drawn in, not by the game but by the bunch of supermodels on the team. Bar a few, they could have walked straight out of a Calvin Klein ad.

The rugby pitch is a catwalk in disguise. I was quickly becoming a rugby fan. Forget about Replica Gucci Watch the rules, turn down the sound and put on some funky music and this is a great spectator sport.

Yachvili, Michalak, Pelous - what perfect specimens. How could they all be so good-looking and talented?

Maybe this is the way in all field sports. Maybe I could actually enjoy watching football and hurling as well.

So the next day when John decided that we had to watch a club- hurling match, I was up for it.

As the players ran on to the field I watched like a model scout to pick out those perfect jaw lines and six packs but I was disappointed.

What met my gaze was a bunch of lilywhite legs and rosy cheeks. This was a whole different ball game.

These guys were definitely picked for their skills with the hurley. They didn't ooze that continental panache and sexiness.

And their fashion sense was all wrong.

Rugby players wear Alain Silberstein Watch really cool jerseys with collars, which effortlessly stand up. Their shorts are crisp cotton not like those clingy, shiny polyester things that GAA players wear.

It helps that the French and Italians have perma-tans, which makes every muscle in their legs glow.

Maybe GAA players should invest in a bottle of fake tan or a few sunbed sessions and get Donatella Versace to design some new gear.

Other articles:
http://www.chinazgw.cn/Blog/View/?364
http://blog.0731fdc.com/?uid-88659-action-viewspace-itemid-4657

How will Beckham fit in

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - All-Star defenseman Jimmy Conrad was leaning over the railing discussing the future of soccer in America and holding a soccer magazine in his hand.

One hint as to who was on the cover: It wasn't Jimmy Conrad.

Major League Soccer is David Beckham's world now, and everyone else - even MLS All-Stars like Conrad - is just living in it.

That's been readily apparent this week, as the All-Stars get ready for today's game against Celtic FC, but can't escape the reality that all the buzz is about Beckham - who is scheduled to make his debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, but will be watching today's game from the commissioner's box.

"A very layered and complex question," is what Conrad calls the conundrum of exactly how Beckham will fit into a league that many believe he has come to America to save.

There will be star power, for sure. Beckham drew 5,000 to a glorified news conference last Friday where he was officially introduced to Galaxy fans. Adidas reports shipping 250,000 of Beckham's new jerseys to stores over the past week or so.

But there are issues, as well. How, for instance, will a guy who signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract fit into a league where the median salary is $52,965 and 91 players made $17,700 or less.

"It feels like a slap in the face," All-Star Dwayne Replica Zenith Watches De Rosario said.

Beckham's debut is scheduled for Saturday in the Galaxy's friendly against Chelsea, though an ankle injury could sideline him.

Commissioner Don Garber said he was putting no pressure on Beckham to suit up Saturday.

"Certainly, David is going to be healthy. We hope he gets better quickly," Garber said. "But this is a long-term commitment. There's no need to rush this."

During his "State of the League" news conference Wednesday, Garber spent nearly an uninterrupted hour discussing all that is right with MLS, the 12-year-old league that has struggled to gain a foothold in a country reluctant to embrace soccer.

The commissioner mentioned Beckham only a few times - giving the impression that soccer's biggest name was more like a mere piece of the puzzle than a savior.

To Garber, Beckham's arrival fits with the league's announced return to San Jose, four new national TV contracts, a good expansion experience in Toronto, this year's 300 percent increase in jersey sales (not including Beckham jerseys) and broader plans for international play. All are part of the big strategy that the commissioner says will eventually put MLS in with the so-called major sports in America.

"The enlightened ones are getting that," Garber said of the sports editors he meets with to ask for more space in their sections. "The non-enlightened ones are not, and they're missing out."

Conrad agrees that the MLS is making strides, but thinks it must handle Beckham's arrival the right way for things to really take off.

Other players are going to see the red-carpet treatment Beckham gets in every city.

"Then, they're going to want that, too," Conrad said. "If it happens one night, and then it doesn't come Louis Vuitton Handags Replica back the next, some guys are going to wonder."

He'd also like to see a day when the MLS' tightly controlled salary structure is loosened up. Teams have a $2.4 million salary cap, but this year, an exc
Other articles:
http://www.cfu100.com/Blog/View/?318
http://www.csdtd.com/Blog/View/?570

COL'S UGLY TIME

WAYNE Rooney's shopaholic fiancee Coleen McLoughlin has compared herself to Betty Suarez - star of US smash hit drama Ugly Betty.

The fashion-loving 20-year-old, pictured, told Closer magazine: "Like Betty, I wore a brace and glasses when I was younger.

"After wearing glasses since the age of seven I got contact lenses at 12, and then my brace was put in about a year after.

"Loads of other girls wore them so I wasn't at all twilight Cartier Jewelry embarrassed.

"Everyone has been saying it [Ugly Betty] is really good, so I'm trying to find someone who's taped it."

Audemars Piguet Replica

One show Coleen will not be watching is Big Brother - because she doesn't know who any of the celebrities are except Jade Goody.

Coleen said: "It's great that Jade's back on BB because that's where she started out and she's done so well since.

"She's very sweet, but I don't know any of the other housemates."

Other articles:
http://blog.anshan1.com/?uid-4615-action-viewspace-itemid-8484
http://www.111111.cc/Blog/View/?288

Men 'soap' it up! [ ]

Everybody talks about women spending hours in front of the television for their daily dose of saas-bahu serials. But then, men are not far behind on this front.

There are certain truths in this world which are best left hidden. One among them is that men don't read women's magazines. Nothing new in this. But then men also 'don't watch daily soaps'. Wrong.

Though they would hate to admit it, there is a rising number of men who can't help being hooked to the melodramatic saas-bahu sagas on telly.

Talk to Vishnu M, a 56-year-old who is an ardent fan of these serials, and he says, "Initially I didn't follow these serials so regularly but now I am totally addicted to them."

Ask him about the emotional overdose of never-ending serials and he says, "Many Hublot Replica Watches of these emotions can't be felt in our daily life. Which is why there is nothing wrong in trying to understand them by watching these serials."

And then there are many who are 'forced' to follow the daily lives of our much-talked about tele bahus and their extended khandaan.

The reason behind this is the popular choice of other family members (read mothers, wives and sisters). Altaf Kotwal, a 24-year-old still prefers to watch action shows and sports events, but doesn't miss two prime time soaps.

"These serials are aired during dinner time. So I am forced to watch them with other members of my family." Television actor Abhay Vakil, who is himself a part of a number of telly serials has a huge following among his buddy brigade.

"I think many men enjoy these family dramas more than women do. They hate to admit this but it is a 'hidden' fact akin to men saying that they don't cook at home. I have to admit, my father too is hooked to many of these soaps."

However, Nivedita Basu, creative head of a leading production house feels that male-viewership depends on how the male leads have been characterised.

"If the male leads are portrayed as strong characters, it draws the attention of male viewers. Men still don't watch serials where the women have a stronger role. They feel it is very wimpy and dumb. I have received a lot of flak for many of my such serials."

Agrees Aatish Kapadia, a scriptwriter, "Men are no longer averse to watching soap operas. But then the story should have something vital in it for them."

Though admitting that it is difficult to wean away the male audience from their favourite sport shows, Replica Gucci Handbags Kapadia adds, "If you can weave all the elements and provide wholesome entertainment, you are bound to attract male viewers."

Other articles:
http://blog.catr.cn/?uid-121194-action-viewspace-itemid-399486
http://blog.365master.com/?uid-212506-action-viewspace-itemid-26050

'Thank You' for hanging in there, Mr. Poster Boy

I AM CERTAIN that one day I, like so many others, will finish writing the Very Good American Novel and have it published.

It is my dream, it is my desire -- to see it displayed in bookstore windows and in newspaper and magazine ads, and, at the same time, to watch my bank account swell to the status of not- embarrassing.

Although the writing often becomes stalled because of one excuse or another, the Very Good American Novel will come to pass.

It will because I want it to. And because Jason Reitman, my current role model, realized his dream despite running into a host of obstacles, one of which is named Mel Gibson.

Reitman, who helmed "Thank You for Smoking," is the poster boy for hanging in there.

Maybe poster man would be more accurate, since he's 28.

Because Reitman was willing to hang in there for five years, he nailed his first feature-film gig -- writing and directing the movie he has wanted to make ever since he finished reading Christopher Buckley's 1994 novel "Thank You for Smoking."

"The first time I spoke to Buckley I was nervous because I was talking to my favorite writer," Reitman says.

"I fell Replica Zenith Watches Bags Replica in love with the book in the late '90s."

Buckley's satire follows Nick Naylor, head lobbyist for Big Tobacco, as he travels across America putting a positive spin on huffing and puffing and debunking medical studies that say cigarettes can put you out.

The novel was a gift from a friend who told Reitman it was written for him. "I read the first line and said, 'OK, I love you.'"

He doesn't sound impetuous during our phone interview. Or loopy. Reitman sounds at ease, happy to be there, happy to be anywhere, as he recalls his obsession. "My life became about getting the gig," he says.

Enter Gibson.

The Oscar-winning director of "Braveheart" -- I still don't fathom that, but I didn't have a vote -- bought the rights to the book in the early'90s. He wanted to reshape it into a Mel Gibson comedy. "But the studio would not pay for a comedy that makes light of lung cancer," Reitman says.

Enter the dreamer.

One of Reitman's short films won him a commercial, which got him an agent, which opened doors previously closed to his adapting Buckley's novel.

"I pitched my heart out," he says. "I sold them on a kind of 'Citizen Ruth' version, a small dark comedy that explored the hysteria around cigarettes."

The studio fell for his pitch, hired him for scale, and he wrote the screenplay.

"I even got a call from Mel Gibson," Reitman says. "He dug it. He thought it was as ballsy as the book, and that's what he wanted. He felt the previous drafts (by others) were not as subversive as the book."

Happily-ever-after was put on hold for a few years. Studios refused to make the movie because it involved the all-powerful tobacco companies.

"At one point my dad said, 'You need to make a movie. If you don't make a movie soon, people will think something's wrong.'"

His father is producer-director Ivan Reitman, whose fat resume includes the "Ghostbusters" movies, "Stripes," "Dave" and "Kindergarten Cop." When he speaks, his son listens, but does not always heed.

"Films were coming in,
Other articles:
http://blog.cnii.com.cn/?uid-168405-action-viewspace-itemid-406763
http://www.khgd.net/Blog/View/?4256

'Size matters' for snacking pattern

Research suggests the size of food packaging could lead to more snacking.

Scientists gave different sized bags of crisps, divided into small and large packets, to 140 students recruited for what they were told was an experiment on advertising and television. Each was given either two 200g bags or nine 45g bags, to munch as they watched TV. The group was asked a series of questions and weighed.

The findings, published in New Scientist magazine, show students who were worried about their weight ate twice as many crisps if they came in small packets.

Rado Fake

The group were also more likely to open the crisps and start eating them if they came in a smaller bags.

Almost 60% of those with small bags opened them and started eating, compared with only a quarter of those who were assigned large bags.

The researchers behind the study, from Tilburg University in Holland, believe the size of small bags could encourage dieters to drop their guard.

Dimmable LED Down Light K1108 - 2x1x1W / 2x1x3W

Rik Pieters, a professor of marketing who led the study, said there could be a range of reasons why companies continue to sell smaller sized products if they make people eat more. He said: "Some may truly want to help consumers (with these products) - although our results suggest they won't."

Other articles:
http://www.hslx.net/Blog/View/?400
http://www.cn0631.cn/Blog/View/?784