We held our head a little higher than usual on the way to the office today because . . . we made it on to the front page of The Economist magazine. It appeared in our letter box yesterday afternoon in a clear plastic wrapper. There, in a bold type face so big it shouted from the page: 'Mr Lai See. The world awaits your decision,' atop a photo of masses of Asian people apparently waiting for something. This got us pretty excited. We were becoming used to being a public figure, but the front page of The Economist? We opened it up and discovered we were not so famous after all: it is just a fantastic example of direct marketing. Like all magazines, The Economist loses a lot of its subscribers each year and needs to market itself intensely to stay ahead. So, it turns out it is not the world awaiting our decision, but rather the magazine's circulation director for Asia-Pacific, Peter Bakker. According to Mr Bakker, The Economist is one of the world's most influential publications. Perhaps that is why he is offering 50 per cent off a one-year subscription, or 60 per cent off three years. 'I believe that such an influential publication will appeal to you and I look forward to your positive decision today,' Mr Bakker urged. Whining slopes: Michael Robertson of Boutique Wines, which holds tastings every weekend at its Ap Lei Chau warehouse, will photograph practically anything in an attempt to get his company's name in the paper. A while ago he sent us photos of the Lamma Island power station's smoke trail in an otherwise clear sky. This time he sent us an e-mail complaining of the 'stupid number of slope registration signs' he has photographed along Lady Clementi's Ride, behind South Island School. Sure enough, his snaps show many slope registration signs, some right next to each other. 'Small Brother is still watching them,' Mr Robertson said, a reference to the phrase he used when reporting the power station scandal. Well, Mr Robertson, we agreed with your first expose - that power station just had to go. But this time we don't see what all the fuss is about. Please put away your spy camera and go back to offering 'the most diversified range of wines from Western Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania of any wine merchant in Hong Kong'. Mini fizz: Feel like a quick drink of champagne to liven up a quiet day in the office? Large bottles stand out in the shared office refrigerator, but now Moet & Chandon has found a solution: Mini Moet, a tiny two-glass bottle of bubbly so small you can leave it discreetly wrapped in a plastic bag at the back of the fridge, or even in your pocket, and no one will know. Moet & Chandon, one of the strongest brands in the world of fine booze, was founded in 1743. The company tells us the Mini Moets - Brut Imperial and Brut Imperial Rose - are already sipped backstage by glamorous models at catwalk shows in the world's fashion capitals. Now it is 'putting the fun back into fizz' in Hong Kong, too. So, as Moet says: 'Share it with your friends or indulge in a bottle of your own.' McKids' day: McDonald's is holding a very special event around the world tomorrow: our favourite company has declared November 20 'World Children's Day'. Many of its restaurants will be helping raise money and generate publicity for kiddie causes including McDonald's own Ronald McDonald House Charities. McDonald's chairman and chief executive Jack Greenberg said: 'As the needs of the world's children have increased over time, so has the need for every company and every citizen to play a role in affecting positive change.' A highlight of the day will be a Concert for World Children's Day featuring superstars Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Yolanda Adams and David Foster, among others. It will be broadcast live around the world by the ABC network and can be viewed on the Internet through http://rmhc.yahoo.com starting at 8pm Eastern Standard Time. Graphic: whee19gbz