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Article 1: Short people are most prone to jealousy, scientists say
PARIS - SHORT people should pray for a return to the Seventies fashion of stack heels, for the power of jealousy depends on how tall you are, the British weekly New Scientist says.
Researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and University of Valencia in Spain asked 549 Dutch and Spanish men and women to rate how jealous they felt, and to list the qualities in a romantic competitor that were most likely to make them ill at ease.
Men generally felt most nervous about attractive, rich and strong rivals.
But these feelings were increasingly relaxed the taller they were themselves. The more vertically challenged the man, the greater his feelings of jealousy.
For women, what counted most in jealousy was the rival's looks and charm, but these feelings were less intense if the woman herself was of average height. This makes sense in evolutionary terms, says New Scientist, in next Saturday's issue.
Taller men are most successful with women, and women of medium height enjoy the best health, fertility and popularity with men.
On the other hand, a woman of average height could in certain circumstances fall afoul of the green-eyed monster if their rival were taller.
'Taller women are more dominant and have greater fighting abilities than shorter women,' says the study, which appears in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour. -- AFP
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Article 2.1: HIP OR OFFENSIVE?
– Sports Council’s name for party to promote sporty lifestyle draws flak
by Debbie Yong
It was meant to be a theme party promoting a sporty lifestyle.
But the Singapore Sports Council’s name for the event, Spam – Sports Party Animal Movement – this Saturday has drawn flak from an invitee.
Last week, the irate guest, known as M L Lee, e-mailed the SSC two lengthy objections to the party invitations sent out by the council two weekends ago. A copy was also e-mailed to the media.
The writer felt that the choice of name for the event, to be held at St James Power Station, was offensive and humiliating as the term, “party animals”, and the acronym, Spam, equated the party’s guests to animals, canned meat or junk e-mail. The latter two are the more common meanings for the abbreviation.
“No human would enjoy being called an ‘animal’,” Lee said. “Are people who engage in sports a party of animals? Is there a lack of creativity in such a lapse?”
However, young party-goers my paper spoke to felt that the name could have been more hip, while marketing executives cheered the name, saying that it could have been bolder.
In an e-mail response to Lee, the SSC apologised, saying any offence was unintentional. The council told my paper that it was constantly trying new ways to engage the public.
The SSC’s director of sports culture Bervyn Lee said: “The term ‘party animal’ is a street slang for a person who enjoys partying. The aim of the event is to bring across the message that sports can be fun and exciting, just like any other lifestyle activity such as clubbing.”
Article 2.2: SPAM and sports don’t mix but some say, why not?
– SSC’s decision to call event Spam draws mixed reaction from students and professionals
by Debbie Yong
The stranger, the better. That is what marketing professionals felt when they learnt of the Singapore Sports Council’s unusual name for a sports-themed party at the St James Power Station nightclub this Saturday.
Its Sports Party Animal Movement event’s abbreviated name, Spam, drew ire from one invitee who received an invitation last week.
The invitee, M L Lee, felt that Spam, a common abbreviation for junk e-mail and a brand of canned luncheon meat, was “insulting” and the term “party animal” was humiliating.
But Mr Gary Tan, the marketing manager of Loof bar, felt differently. He said: “From a marketing point of view, anything that catches the eye is good. And party animal is a common expression.”
Ms Debbie Cai, editor of Marketing magazine, added: “People are bombarded with information on events and brands all the time, the good ones generate buzz to get your attention.”
Mr Ben Chung, who handles public relations at hip hop club Butter Factory, felt that the theme could have been “more intriguing”, such as letting guests wait till the event to find out what Spam stands for and its relation to sports, for example.
Peter De Maeyer, assistant professor of marketing at Singapore Management University said that playing on a word’s multiple meanings – or resonance, in textbook-speak – is a common tactic used by advertisers to grab attention.
“Spam is a quirky brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s imagery and advertising are quite humourous. Spam in the meaning of unsolicited email is one of these fun, informal words,” he said.
These associations, he said, should appeal to the segment the SSC is targeting: The 20 to 30-year-olds who lead an active lifestyle.
But young party-goers my paper spoke to were unimpresed.
“The word party animal is a bit cheesy, and isn’t Spam, as in junk mail, generally unwanted?” said Mr Ming Yuen, 18, a coordinator at Home club.
Mr Lim Aik, 23, a second year National University of Singapore student felt that the party’s name was just not catchy.
“It seems that the planning authorities have a hazy understanding of what appeals to youths. Perhaps they should get more youths’ feedback before they start naming and marketing their parties,” he said.
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well, yeah. just wanted to share these three interesting articles. (:
and with regards to
S.P.A.M., i guess it was just done in poor taste. i mean, what's up with
Sports Party Animals Movement. -.-" it just isn't right. i'm pretty sure they could've come up with something better. but of course, they know better now, haha.