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Moving on up

Op4 MARCH 8

2010

Bargainhunt

Splurgeof theweek

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Vertu takes elegance and stylishness, and the use of innovative material in mobile phones to another level with its Vertu Constellation Pure Collection. Th e handcrafted handsets in this collection retain the classic design of the original Constellation but have high-gloss fi nished coloured ceramic keys and pillow, paired with a fi ne leather back. Frank Nuovo, principal designer at Vertu, says the collection

“provides a juxtaposition of cool and warm, harnessing colours that have vibrant appeal and strike a chord with afi cionados of all things ‘pure’.” Th e phone is available in pure white, pure black, pure silver and pure chocolate, and prices start at RM30,000. Visit the Vertu boutique at the Adorn Floor of Starhill Gallery, KL.

Bulgari’s BLV Eau de Parfum II for women is

an expression of a new naturalness. It is inspired

by a modern vision of the colour blue, which

represents still unexplored space and is tinged with

distinctive, luminous nuances. Th e perfume,

bottled in an elegant geometric fl acon, unfolds

with vibrant head notes of violet delicately blended

with hints of star anise and liquorice, and brightened

by fresh mandarin. Th e fl oral heart note of iris combines with warm,

woody Haitian vetiver to give an exotic touch, before evolving into base notes of

intense patchouli fl ower. Th e perfume culminates with a sensual accord of

three amber notes: benzoin, ambergris and cistus fl ower,

and ending with velvety tones of musk. Available

in 50ml (RM270) and 75ml (RM368) versions.

Cultural commodities and consuming passions by Elaine Lau

alle

A general sense of optimism sums up the sentiment of a recent survey of women across the Asia-Pacifi c region. Th e recently released fi ndings

from the MasterCard Worldwide Index of Women’s Advancement found that women across 14 nations in this part of the world are feeling more confi dent and empowered when compared to the last six months.

Th e survey measures the socio-economic standing of women in relation to men using four key indicators. Two are based on source data from national statistics bureaus and show the ratio of female to male participation in the labour force and tertiary education. Th e other two are based on survey data, and measure the ratio of female to male respondent perceptions of whether they hold managerial positions at work and earn above median income. Th ese subjective factors are a gauge of how empowered and valuable respondents feel at work.

A score of 100 indicates equality between the sexes, while lower numbers indicate gender inequality in favour of males and higher numbers in favour of females.

Th is year’s pan-regional index score of 85.57, tabulated from surveying 3,306 women and 3,316 men, is up slightly from last year’s 84.47. A number of factors contributed to the increase. For one, more women were signing up for university degrees and going into the workforce, and a large number saw themselves as holding the purse strings in the household. At work, a higher proportion of women perceive themselves as earning above the average income and consider themselves to be in managerial positions.

“Women continue to make strides in labour force participation and tertiary education enrolment, and we are glad to see this translating into a greater sense of self worth in terms of their earning capabilities. Th is may explain the increased number of women who are viewing themselves as the major fi nancial decision maker in their households. It is heartening to note that women are feeling more empowered,” said Georgette Tan, Master Card vice-president of communications for Asia-Pacifi c, Middle East and Africa, in a statement.

How did Malaysian women fare? Very well, actually, with a total score of 93.51 versus 2009’s 66.96, joining countries such as India, Indonesia, South Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines that witnessed a rise in their scores. Enrolment in tertiary education programmes saw a slight drop, but a rather drastic jump up is seen in both the above median income and management position categories. Th at is certainly heartening to see.

Malaysia, along with Australia and Hong Kong, also boasted one of the greatest increases in the percentage of women who perceive themselves as controlling the household’s fi nances. More than half of these women in Malaysia plan to save up more in the next six months as opposed to spending on discretionary expenditures.

But when they do spend, what will Malaysian women spend most on in the next six months? Th e survey showed that household appliances topped the list, followed by fi tness and wellness, then dining and entertainment, and lastly fashion and accessories.

Th e survey also found that compared to their male counterparts, female consumers across the region are slightly more confi dent about the next six months, driven by optimism about the economy, the stock market, their income, their jobs and overall quality of life.

KRT

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Op5 MARCH 82010

It’s not often you get the chance to right a historical wrong.— Reggie Ballard, great-grandson of John Ballard, on the US Geological Survey’s decision to rename the racially-slurred Negrohead Mountain to Ballard Mountain. The new title honours a blacksmith and former slave called John Ballard, who was among the first men to settle in its foothills in 1880 after fleeing Los Angeles to escape persecution by segregationist police officers.

It doesn’t feel sexual, it just feels tribal, a gathering of humanity.— Art Rush, one of the more than 5,000 Australians who posed nude for a photoshoot by Spencer Tunick, an artist known for his nude group photos in public spaces. Rush was commenting specifi cally about the last set-up, where everyone came together in a united friendly kiss in front of Sydney’s Opera House.

Freequotes

Historic saleOne doesn’t usually associate seven fi gures — US$1 million to be exact — with a comic book. But that’s precisely how much one US collector paid for a rare copy of the fi rst comic book featuring Superman that was on auction at ComicConnect.com recently. It was a private sale, and neither the seller nor buyer released their names.

Th e 1938 edition of Action Comics No 1 is widely considered the Holy Grail of comic books. It features Superman lifting a car on its cover and originally cost US 10 cents.

Artdaily.com quotes comic book enthusiast and dealer John Dolmayan as saying that “it’s considered by most people as the most important book. It kind of ushered in the age of the superheroes”.

Th is copy fetched such a high price because it’s rated an 8.0 grade, meaning that it is in mint condition, completely un-restored. Dolmayan compared it to a very rare diamond or precious stone.

And so it is — only about 100 copies of Action Comics No 1 are believed to be in existence, and only a handful have such a high rating. And for these copies to be made available for sale? Th at pretty much happens about once in a blue moon.

Green screenResults from National Geographic’s second annual Consumer Greendex is out. Th e study measures and monitors consumer progress toward environmentally sustainable consumption, and this year, 17,000 consumers in 17 countries around the globe were surveyed. Th ey were asked about such behaviours as energy use and conservation, transportation choices, food sources, the relative use of green products versus traditional products, attitudes towards the environment and sustainability, and knowledge of environmental issues.

Here is the list of 17 nations and how their consumers fared — the higher the score, the better. To read the full report, log on to www.nationalgeographic.com/greendex/index.html.

American consumers 43.7Canadian consumers 47.5Japanese consumers 49.3British consumers 49.4French consumers 49.5Australian consumers 50.5German consumers 5 1 . 1Swedish consumers 5 1 . 1Spanish consumers 51.4Russian consumers 52.0Hungarian consumers 53.3Mexican consumers: 53.8South Korean consumers 54.6Argentinean consumers 54.7Chinese consumers 56.7Brazilian consumers 57.3Indian consumers 59.5

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