Yesterday.sg

Ah-choo! A history of flu

2009-05-13T05:27:50Z

For a while last week it looked as if the threat of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus that originated from the Americas was abating, but reports of new cases in Asia and other parts of the world show that a pandemic is still imminent. At the start of the outbreak, the flu was commonly known as ’swine flu’ because the flu was identified as one that was present in pigs, but it turns out later that the virus also contains aspects of human as well as avian (bird) flu attributes as well. It’s important to note that the flu is not transmitted by the consumption of pork -and so it’s safe to eat you char siew and pork chops. The H and N in the virus’ name refers to hemaglutinin and neuraminidase proteins that are present on the surface of the virus. Of course, the H1N1 virus isn’t particularly new - the worst pandemic in history was also a H1N1 virus. While Singapore is taking precautions against any outbreaks of the H1N1 virus, let’s take a look at some of the flu pandemics that have plagued humankind in the last 100 years.

The 1918 Spanish Flu
Like the present flu, the 1918 influenza is a H1N1 virus which spread around the world between 1918 and 1920. Unlike most flus, the Spanish Flu was particularly damaging to healthy people between the age 20 and 40. The Spanish Flu is notorious for being the worst pandemic in history, resulting in 20-100 million deaths - more than the great war (World War I) that the world was then recovering from.

The Asian Flu of 1957-58
The Asian H2N2 strain originated in China, which mutated from wild ducks (and hence an avian flu) and then combined with a human strain. By 1957 it had reached Singapore before cases were reported in Hong Kong and the US. An extimated 1-4 million people died from the pandemic.

The Hong Kong Flu, 1968
Like the name suggests, this H3N2 virus originated from Hong Kong, and moved on to claim over 1 million people worldwide. Cases were reported in Singapore and Vietnam; from Vietnam, troops returning from the war spread the flu in the US from California.

Bird Flu
Besides the current H1N1 virus, the Avian Influenza H5N1 is still one of the largest threats to human health today. The H5N1 virus affects birds, but because of the potential for the virus to mutate and affect humans, outbreaks found in the wild and especially in farmed animals are treated quite seriously, and widespread cullings have taken place in 1997 and 2008.

As you can see, flu outbreaks have plagued the world in the last 100 years and have been particularly devestating, resulting in millions of deaths. Flu outbreaks are particularly troubling for a country like Singapore, because we are an international hub with many travellers passing through our borders everyday. Not too long ago, Singapore was hit hard during the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, with over 200 reported cases causing 33 deaths. To help prevent potential infections, remember to wash your hands with sanitzers frequently and also avoid human contact if you’re feeling under the weather.

Unsolved mysteries: The Shooting at Queenstown

2009-05-12T02:08:29Z

One of the real prides of living in Singapore (after having lived in Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines) is the low rate of crime here. Most people who have been in a position to compare will say that Singapore is a safe country (check out our crime statistics here). Murders are rare in Singapore -under 30 in 2008, which was relatively high compared to previous years - and so homicides generally raise eyebrows. Chun See takes us back to 1972, where one such homicide in Queenstown really caused a stir when a woman was mysteriously shot dead in broad daylight.

Any shooting incident in this little country of ours which has one of the strictest gun laws in the world is always big news. But what makes the incident that I am about to narrate truly unprecedented and bizarre even is that it happened in broad daylight.

It happened around noon time in Queenstown, 18 September, 1972. A 22-year old seamstress by the name of Cheng Li Zhen (曾丽珍) was walking with her 19-year old sister Li Bao (丽宝) somewhere along Queenstown (I think it was Margaret Drive) when she suddenly gave a scream and collapsed on the ground. Blood was oozing from her chest. It was only after she was sent to the Singapore General Hospital that they discovered she had been shot. She died from her wound without regaining consciousness. She was from a small Malaysian town called Kluang.

The shooting was big news during its time, and to date the case has not been solved. The case was featured in the Sin Ming Daily’s 40th anniversary book - but you can read about Chun See’s recollection of the case here.

Win tickets to Night At The Museum 2 movie premiere!

2009-05-11T10:29:01Z

Night at the Museum 2 ™ & © 2009
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
All rights reserved.

In line with International Museum Day 2009 (IMD’09) celebrations, we have five pairs of Night At The Museum 2 movie premiere tickets up for grabs! The premiere will be held at the National Museum of Singapore on 20 May, Wednesday, at 8pm. Be amongst the first in Singapore to catch the hilarious Ben Stiller as he reprises his role as security guard, Larry Daley, who finds himself in another magical night-time adventure at the museum.

So how do you go about getting your hands on these exclusive invites? Simple! First, register as a Yesterday.sg member, then tackle these four questions on IMD’09.

1) What is the theme for IMD’09?
2) Who are the focus of IMD’09?
3) Name three IMD programmes / activities.
4) How many museums are participating in IMD’09?

All the information can be found on the IMD’09 website. Send your answers to yesterdaysg@gmail.com by 17 May 2009, Sunday and remember to include the following details in your email:

Subject header: Bring me to Night At The Museum 2!
Followed by your name, IC number, Yesterday.sg username, contact number and email address.

Winners will be notified via email on 18 May. Good luck!

… and never the twain shall meet

2009-05-08T02:24:15Z

Sleek, fast , deadly - main battle tanks moving in formation seeking out the enemy. This is the epitome of today’s modern digital battlefield. Camouflaged to blend in, their hues range from the dusty browns of the desert to the speckled greens of the jungle.

But over at the National Museum, they come in shades of girlie Barbie Doll pink that would make General George S. Patton turn in his grave!

Love Tanks is the creation of Indonesian artist S. Teddy and it takes centrestage at the entrance of the museum.

Despite vain attempts from some quarters to “educate me”, I honestly don’t profess to be a lover of art, especially the abstract variety. What little I know can be written on a single 4×3 Post It note with lots of room to spare for some creative doodling.

I sat there and stared wondering what would possess a man , to try and sync steel weapons of war with the fickleness and fragility of love.

So I read the poster stuck on the wall. Stacked one on top of another, the seven tanks and supposed to resemble a pagoda - a symbol of Asian sereneness (okay I can buy that I guess). The tanks were covered with the lotus motif, an Asian symbol of peace and harmony.

“Tanks, synonymous with the landscape of war, are instrumental war machines in the propagation of western supremacy.” said the poster… hmmm, “propagation of western supremacy” - I found that a bit hard to swallow - don’t armies on this side of the world have tanks too? Didn’t Asia invent gunpowder which upped the ante in modern warfare? That line tends to convey in a less than subtle way the egotistical notion that the WEST is still hell-bent on destruction and domination while the EAST remains shrouded, untainted in its virginity of peace and brotherly love.

“The tanks are decorated or camouflaged with red lotuses and the juxtaposition transforms the killing machine into one that conveys love and peace to humankind.” - So adding a splash of gaudy colour transforms “the killing machine” to a symbol of “love and peace to all mankind”. Really??? Maybe I’m over thinking this … and maybe it’s just me but I don’t think even a caffeine-induced mind can find the nimbleness to make that quantum leap of imagination.

If art like this is meant to provoke conscious thought then in a sense it works. But if the artist hopes to convince the viewer that his installation bridges the crustiness and horror of war with the teddy bear fuzziness of love, in my book, I remain unconvinced. Right or wrong, they remain worlds apart.

Kampongs Yesterday and Today

2009-05-07T00:36:43Z

How does the kampong of yesterday, where yg grew up in, compare to the last remaining kampong in Singapore today? There are indeed some subtle changes to the way ‘kampong life’ is lived now, then it was a generation ago. Plants, environmental systems, security and racial makeup are some of the changes that he observes in Kampong Buangkok today.

those days, we hardly grew our plants in earthern pots. we either planted them directly in the ground or we used metal tins to contain the plants. we grew plants not for decoration but for their practical utility. in our kampong plots, we grew mainly herbal plants and fruit trees but not so much flowering plants like orchids, hibiscus or bougainvillea.

He also reflects on the juxtaposition of the urban and rural landscapes: Kampong Buangkok is within sight of high-rise HDB flats (arguably our Kampongs of today) and private housing estate in Mugliston Park. I wonder what it feels like living in the threshold of yesterday and today.

The National Service Journal - 3

2009-05-09T01:37:09Z

I am worried that I am getting myself into trouble. Is this against the law?

St Luke’s Church at Lorong Buangkok

2009-05-07T00:37:35Z

yg takes us to a small 81-year-old chapel near the old Woodbridge Hospital - St Luke’s Church that has an interesting sign just above the door.

This St Luke’s in Lorong Buangkok - not to be confused with the St Luke’s Chapel at the Changi Museum - ministered to the Anglican and Protestant community in the nearby hospital, as well as the local community.

There’s still an interesting question about the sign above the door though - it says “Om Sai Ram”. Does anyone know anything about it? The only reference I could find about it is a reference to the Sai Baba movement.

Wear RED to Christian Lacroix the Costumier !

2009-05-07T00:38:17Z

Have you seen the exhibition of Christian Lacroix the Costumier yet? Oui? Non? Well, visitor to National Museum of Singapore, Ingrid and her friends did and judging by her review, they sure enjoyed themselves. Here’s a taster of what the French master of haute couture has brought to Singapore:

“Design wise, you will definitely be impressed by the details and depth of his work. His sketches were stunning to begin with and I love his dramatic use of color and fabric. In case you have no idea, he first began with ready-to-wear designs to the displays you see in National Museum which are his works for operas, theatre and dance. For example, you will probably know “Carmen” and Shakespeare’s “Othello”. I think it is quite a rare opportunity for Singaporeans to be in touch with this aspect of the Arts since Opera is not a very “hip” thing in town.”

Christian Lacroix the Costumier is showing till 7 Jun 2009 and if you wear RED to the exhibition this weekend (9-10th May 2009), you’ll enjoy free entry. French lace completely optional.

Old Singapore Quiz (7)

2009-05-05T02:58:04Z

Questions:

1. What is the name of this place in Singapore?

2. What was its old name?

3. What was it popularly used for in the 1970s?

4. What is the name of the eatery located there?

5. Where was the eatery formerly located?

Clues:

1. The place is more than 30 years’ old; and

2. As is obvious from the photo, there are water, greenery, and sunlight (or rain in inclement weather).

For the answers, check out Victor’s blog in a week’s time.

Goldkist Beach Resort

2009-05-04T02:35:40Z

I think most of us who visit East Coast might have noticed these red-brick structures around the area. That is the Goldkist Beach Resort, formerly it is the Costa Sands Resort (East Coast), it is very near Victoria Junior College. It has its share of ghost stories like other resorts and it has a good deal of history as well.

This resort is quite old, dating back to the 1970s, making it one of the earliest chalets around Singapore. The resort ceased operations in early 2006 when the lease expired. It reopened again in the same year under a new tenant following a makeover.

I had the chance to visit the place yesterday as my friend had his birthday celebration held there. The place is rather quaint, you can still spot some of the old pink lamps around the premises. The turnstiles are no longer in use making it more convenient to move in and out of the place.

They have a group of people who goes around to make sure no rules are broken like no external catering etc to details like no chairs outside the chalet probably due to fire safety concerns. We nicknamed one of them as the RSM aka Resort Sergeant Major.