#121: Five Fab Fellas (and a cast of thousands)

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Edge Message #121 from Brian Sweeney, producer NZEDGE.COM

From left: choreographer and writer Douglas Wright; historian James Belich; virtual engineer David Ten Have of Ponoko; writer and academic Denis Dutton; director Colin McColl (px Robert Catto)

NEW ZEALANDERS IN GLOBAL HEADLINES

New Zealand headlines in this sampling of global media appearing in Daily Express, Newstrack India, BBC, Telegraph, Newsweek, The Times, Maldon Standard, Hindustan Times, Inc. Magazine, Washington Post, The Star-Ledger, The Kansas City Star, The Scotsman, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Fox Business, Vogue, Guardian, The New York Times, Sun, The Age, The Salt Lake Tribune and Horse & Hound include:

• Douglas Wright’s Ghost Dance, in list of ‘Fifty Gay & Lesbian Books Everybody Must Read’
• James Belich, writer, illuminates “troubled history of Imperialism” in new book – The Times
• Ponoko, Wellington company, “designing a factory for the 21st century” – Inc. Magazine
• Denis Dutton, academic, muses “impressive” price tags of conceptual art – New York Times
• Colin McColl’s Italian Girl in Algiers not bound by European tradition – The Scotsman
• Silver Ferns, win inaugural Fastrack World Series beating Jamaica 32-37 – Daily Express
• New Zealand accent most attractive and prestigious outside UK – Newstrack India
• Suzie Moncrief, WOW founder, took “art of the walls” and put it on people – The Age
• Burt Munro, salt flats speedster, smuggled fuel disguised as wine – New York Times
• Samantha McIntosh, showjumper, 34, wins at Britain’s Horse of the Year – Horse & Hound
• Daniel Vettori “doughty batsman, skilful bowler and shrewd captain” – Dream Cricket
• Denis Dutton, Art Instinct author, bento boxes elevated to “art”, “superfluous” – New York Times
• Surf City, Auckland 4-piece, play NY CMJ Marathon; “buzz band” status – Washington Post
• Stoneleigh enables NZ pinot noir to gain foothold in US – The Star-Ledger
• Fallon Simchowitz, 17, exchange student, Kansas, bilingual in sign language – Kansas City Star
• Napier “offers engaging, strollable concentration of provincial 30s edifices” – Guardian
• New Zealand tramping “best and most economical way” to see country – CBC News
• Rhythm & Vines, NYE; Hot Water Beach, two of six best things to do in NZ – Guardian
• New Zealand base-jumper leaps 421m off KL’s International Tower – BBC
• Dr Rob Young, Respiragene director, says fear motivator for kicking habit – The Times
• FOTConchords’ I Told You I Was Freaky out in UK; “told you they were funky” – Guardian
• Jane Campion’s Bright Star one of her best films; leading Oscar contender – Times Online
• Cliff Curtis, Trauma star and “super hero”, 41, shuns stunt double – Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Txt2Quit, 26-week smoking cessation programme, offers mobile support
• Matt Reed, US-based triathlete, 34, wins Toyota Cup series, Dallas
• Alyn Ware, peace activist, awarded alternative Nobel for anti-nuke stance – BBC
• Myfanwy van Hoffen, Zimbabwean immigrant, proud to now be a NZer – Telegraph
• New Zealand has “good ideas” when it comes to tort reform – Newsweek
• Dunedin “quirkiest” in NZ with Nude Blacks; Jaffa race; Easter “love train”
• Erebus 30th anniversary sees Air NZ apologise to victims’ families – The Times
• Claire Bulman, author, former rifleman, publishes debut children’s book, UK – Maldon Standard
• Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones to screen for Queen, Leicester Square – BBC
• Lake Tarawera’s sizzling sandy edge a new sensation for Indian journo – Hindustan Times
• Jessica McCormack, UK-based jeweller, designs 2009 Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden trophy
• Kevin Roberts, nzedge co-founder, interviewed on state of the ad industry – Fox Business
• Atconz Real Estate to spend $100m on Iraqi housing development – Trade Arabia
• Sunil Kadri, marine biologist, Male Entrepreneur of the Year for salmon “fish disco” – Scottish Sun
• Coromandel “magical, mysterious”; author Fay Weldon’s favourite place – Telegraph
• Anna Paquin, True Blood starlet, 27, less Baywatch more Erin Brokovich – Telegraph
• Liam Finn, musician, “forging his own way” in tenor-falsetto; live in Wisconson
• New Zealand cricket: “meagre resources” but “better record than England” – The Times
• Rodd & Gunn raise bar of excess with AU$30,250 crocodile-skin bag
• Fat Freddy’s Drop compared to 70’s funksters Average White Band, War – Guardian
• Sirocco, randy kakapo, filmed mating with wrong species, a zoologist – BBC
• Jonah Lomu, took on bodybuilding challenge ahead of return to French rugby – The Times
• Jane Campion, director, “a friskily spontaneous breeze”, Harvey Keitel – Guardian

RUGBY COMMENTARY WITH ‘REAL BALLS’
The Alternative Rugby Commentary and its’ host Jed ‘Jedi’ Thian embark on another Northern Hemisphere jaunt in November, following the All Blacks on their end of year tour of the UK to give a fresh, frank and funny look at our national game. For five weeks the House Bar in Wimbledon will play host to the ARC with five confirmed shows for the All Blacks’ autumn internationals against Wales, Italy, England, France and the Barbarians. “If you are a Rugby lover but the guy on the TV has been giving you the s****, then the Alternative Rugby Commentary is where you want to be for this November’s autumn Internationals.” With growing fame all over the world as the driving force behind Alternative Rugby Commentary, Thian has been in the hot seat since 2005, bringing his unique brand of bombastic bluster and acerbic verbal jousting to the staid world of sport commentary. The ARC is simulcast on the web at www.arcrugby.co.nz for “real sports fans all over the world who want sports commentary with real balls.”