for the international press through Edelman Worldwide, the publicity agency hired by the Bermuda International Business Association to build the Island's image as an offshore business centre.

BIBA wants to encourage its members and the Ministry of Finance to contact the BIBA office when planning overseas business trips so that Edelman can find journalists who may be interested in interviewing them or making some form of press contact.

BIBA marketing manager, Mrs. Wendy Davis-Johnson, made the point, "If BIBA members or the Ministry of Finance officials are travelling overseas, it's a relatively simple matter to arrange for some press contact.

"In raising the awareness of Bermuda as the premier international business centre, it is the objective of the overseas programme to represent as broad a cross-section of the industry as possible, so that small as well as large firms benefit from the programme.'' Does Edelman realise how much work it's about to embark upon with the frequent flyer miles racked up by many of our business leaders? * * * TOU Soca Moonsplash and barefoot fashion show. That's the way the Sonesta Beach hotel enticed Bermuda's business people to spend a Saturday evening at the opening of the new beach-side restaurant, Sea Grape Island Grill.

"An all night buffet, with music and a revealing fashion show with beach and barefoot styles from Calypso, Bananas, English Sports Shop and Trimingham's,'' was the advisory sent out.

With a backdrop of a cascading waterfall, with the ocean gently lapping the hotel beach, fashions were displayed under the lights of a silvery moon and tikki torches.

The chief artist of the culinary masterpieces for the restaurant is Executive chef, Craig Scott. Here's a taste: Trinidad curried chicken turnovers, coconut shrimp, spiced poached pineapple and tuna sashime. Grill fired dishes such as sesame encrusted pork tenderloin, brochettes of mahi-mahi and sea scallops, swordfish and local wahoo with freshly made chutneys and salsas. The desserts include Sea Grape almond taco.

The Sea Grape Island Grill is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, but only when the weather is fine.

* * * BUC Getting your voicemail messages can be a real pain, especially when callers drone on ad nauseum. Let's face it, some people find leaving a message on a machine as difficult as neophytes find using computers.

So you know an American company can figure out how to make money out of that.

Communispond Inc., which teaches business communication skills, is adding the art of voicemail to the services it offers. The company says its customers complain the messages they get are confusing, too long -- or sometimes, too short -- or just plain incoherent. Communispond has some suggestions for callers: Make the purpose of your call clear, and speak concisely. Say your phone number slow enough so someone can write it. Don't forget to leave your name. (And don't forget to hang up the phone after using it.) * * * BKS We all take zippers for granted, until they break or something gets caught in them, and then we just get angry. But Robert Friedel, who teaches the history of technology and science at the University of Maryland, has given the slide fastener its due, writing a history titled "Zipper: An Exploration in Novelty.'' The book reveals many facts about the zipper: It was invented 100 years ago, but it took 20 years for a dependable model to be developed. It took another two decades, until 1937, for the zipper to win acceptance by clothiers. By the 1940s, Fridel says, the zipper was a widely used prop in Hollywood seduction scenes and on stage.